Weird Cultivation, I have a five-organ temple

Chapter 701 The Idea of ​​Establishing a Sect
After a moment of silence, Bai Lingxu let out a bitter laugh.

"Junior Brother Shang, to be honest, I really haven't thought about what to do after killing Jin Yutang."

Even on this trip, I never imagined that I would be able to successfully take revenge.

I originally thought that as long as I could severely injure Jin Yutang, even if I died, it would be worth it!

I never expected that in just a few months, Junior Brother Shang's cultivation would have become so terrifyingly strong!

Although Jin Yutang had only recently broken through and his cultivation was unstable, his guards were all seasoned veterans of the Tongtian Realm. Yet, before you, none of them could withstand a single blow…

The more Bai Lingxu talked, the more curious he became about Shang Lu's experience in Xingshan.

Being well-informed, he naturally knew that an extremely terrifying and ominous place had appeared in Xingshan, which not only polluted the surrounding mountains for hundreds of miles, but also caused the deaths of countless soldiers and sorcerers.

That area is currently being barely suppressed by the combined witchcraft arrays used by the witches of Ba and Chu.

But it only suppresses the problem, it cannot eradicate it, and no one dares to easily step into it.

All living beings will suffer rotting flesh and falling off after stepping into that area, turning into skeletons and dying in excruciating pain!
No matter how high one's cultivation level, it cannot withstand the bizarre rules within this terrifying and dangerous place.

Bai Lingxu also knew that Shang Lu had almost died in the incident.

"So, Junior Brother Shang's skills were all honed through struggle and hardship in that terrifying and dangerous place?"

Such an opportunity is truly enviable.

Ordinary people, lacking the necessary luck, will only become a pile of bones in that terrifying and ominous place.

Shaking his head, Bai Lingxu shook off the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

He looked down at the spiritual root in his hand and said with a wry smile, "Although I have a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Root, I have already been sent away and can no longer return to the Witch Academy. From now on, I can only try to recover my cultivation in the Witch Temple in Fangting County and strive to be able to use this spiritual root one day."

Shang Lu frowned: "Go back to Fangting County? Aren't you afraid that after news of Jin Yutang's death reaches the Jin family, you'll face their retaliation?"

Bai Lingxu said with a hint of self-deprecation, "With my current cultivation level, who would believe that I could kill Jin Yutang?"

Shang Lu shook his head: "Senior Brother Bai, don't you understand? The Jin family doesn't care whether you have the ability to kill Jin Yutang or not. As long as you have a grudge against him and a motive, they will kill you. As for whether it's right or wrong, they don't care at all."

Bai Lingxu fell silent.

He knew that Shang Lu's words made a lot of sense.

It's not just the Jin family; many powerful families and sects are extremely domineering towards independent cultivators or those from smaller sects.

Take this matter for example, if the Jin family knew about Jin Yutang's death, they would definitely kill him.

Whether it's to vent his anger or to establish his authority, he's definitely not going to live!
The Jin family is now a newly emerging first-class family in Baiyi County.

Killing a local shaman in a small county is no different from killing a chicken or a dog. And no one would risk offending the Jin family for a mere, hopeless shaman.

"You're right. Regardless of whether Jin Yutang's death has anything to do with me, the Jin family will not let me off the hook!"

The Jin family needs to establish their authority!
Jin Yutang was an outstanding member of the younger generation of the Jin family. His mysterious death will be a major blow to the Jin family's prestige and reputation!
The Jin family will definitely use ruthless and bloody methods to restore their reputation! They will use the killings to warn those who are tempted to make trouble!
Regardless of whether Bai Lingxu killed Jin Yutang or not, he will become the scapegoat.

Having thought it through, Bai Lingxu solemnly cupped his hands and said gratefully, "Thank you for reminding me, Junior Brother Shang. If I were to return to Fangting County, it would be tantamount to walking into a trap."

He was decisive and immediately said, "If that's the case, then I'd rather not be a shaman. I'll change my name and identity, leave the Kingdom of Ba, and become a wandering cultivator elsewhere. I refuse to believe that without the curse, the Jin family can still capture me!"

However, the pokeweed poured cold water on the idea once again.

"Going to another country to become a rogue cultivator could certainly help you escape the Jin family's revenge. However, as a rogue cultivator, you would have little access to cultivation resources. And once the fact that you possess a heaven-reaching spiritual root is exposed, and other powerful families and sects set their sights on you, you might end up repeating today's mistakes."

"This……"

Bai Lingxu opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

He had a wide network of connections and knew many local shamans and independent practitioners, so he knew that the claim about pokeweed was not an exaggeration.

As a lone cultivator, it is indeed difficult to have cultivation resources.

If one's cultivation level is high, they can seek refuge with the government or powerful clans to obtain cultivation resources. Otherwise, lacking resources, their cultivation level will inevitably decline... or they will go astray and become evil cultivators, just like the band of bandits they wiped out before!
Someone like Bai Lingxu, who only has the cultivation level of Qi Refining, would have very limited cultivation resources even if he joined the government or a powerful family or sect. Instead, he would be used as cannon fodder.

However, once his extraordinary spiritual root and other treasures are exposed and become known to others, it will inevitably bring about his death!
Staying means death.

Escaping doesn't seem to have a good outcome either.

For a moment, Bai Lingxu was at a loss for what to do.

He looked at Shang Lu, only to find Shang Lu smiling at him. He immediately realized what was going on, and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Junior Brother Shang, you must have an idea, right? Please enlighten me!"

"Senior Brother Bai, you don't need to be so polite."

Shang Lu stepped aside, returned the greeting, and then said, "I have nothing to teach you. I was just thinking that in this world, there must be quite a few independent cultivators like you and me without any connections, or even minor members of powerful families who are neglected and bullied, right?"

“Indeed quite a lot.” Bai Lingxu nodded.

He didn't understand why Shang Lu had suddenly jumped to such a far-fetched topic, but he still went along with it, saying, "I know quite a few of them."

Shang Lu stopped beating around the bush and revealed his thoughts: "Since we are all pitiful people who are being exploited and bullied, why don't we unite and stick together for warmth?"

Bai Lingxu, who was skilled in business and always quick-witted, immediately understood.

"You mean, to establish a new sect composed of independent cultivators and members from collateral branches?"

“That’s right.” Shang Lu nodded.

Bai Lingxu shook his head and smiled bitterly. In his opinion, Shang Lu was being a bit delusional.

"Establishing a sect is no small matter. Putting aside everything else, where will the cultivation techniques and resources come from? Without these, everything is just a mirage, unrealistic! You can't unite people by just making empty promises. Besides, it's one thing for independent cultivators, but those branches of aristocratic families and sects wouldn't dare to betray their sect and join another."

Shang Lu was well aware of these problems; he had already given them careful consideration on his way to find Bai Lingxu.

At this moment, he was very happy to see that Bai Lingxu had pointed out the key issue.

"As expected of Senior Brother Bai, you hit the nail on the head! I've acquired quite a few cultivation techniques and methods on this trip, and I can provide them. I wouldn't dare say they're incredibly powerful, but at least they'll be useful once you reach the Mingxin Realm."

Shang Lu acquired quite a few cultivation techniques during his trip from the states of Chu and Jiang.

Not to mention, in the perilous land of the Divine Dream, Shang Lu also "saw" many ancient cultivation techniques through the gods. These techniques covered multiple schools and varied in quality. Although most of them had problems such as incompleteness, they were enough to support a small sect.

Moreover, Pokeweed has other plans.

"Our sect doesn't discriminate based on social status or wealth, nor even whether one is human or demon; we teach without discrimination. Those who join only need to swear an oath to be comrades and brothers, helping and supporting one another. There's no need to betray your original sect. After joining, you can choose a suitable cultivation method. However, if you later wish to learn other methods, you can exchange techniques—using methods not available in the sect—for the ones you want to learn. Alternatively, you can participate in repairing or compiling incomplete techniques, or innovating and improving existing ones, in exchange for the techniques you desire..."

Shang Lu didn't need these people, so he betrayed his family and sect.

Those who remain within their own sects are more able to clearly discern right from wrong.

Moreover, they can be of great use in critical moments if they stay in their respective sects!

Bai Lingxu was no stranger to repairing incomplete cultivation techniques and improving ancient secret arts, which was also a major responsibility of the various local witch academies.

At the beginning of the establishment of the Witchcraft Academy, in addition to the imperial court's desire to cultivate talents and suppress aristocratic families and sects, it was also to adopt the strengths of various schools of thought and translate and improve the various cultivation methods "archaeologically" discovered in the secret realm.

Some of the cultivation techniques discovered in the secret realm can indeed be practiced directly after translation.

However, some of the texts and content have been corrupted by strange forces, resulting in distortion and changes.

Rushing into spiritual practice can lead to either hearing insane ramblings and going insane, or other problems that result in demonic possession.

These techniques need to be translated, improved, and refined before they can be practiced.

Even translating and improving the practice methods were compulsory courses for students of the shamanic academy, so that the academy could select people suitable for "archaeology" and "compilation".

However, with the infiltration of powerful families and sects, these departments within the Witchcraft Academy have long been controlled by these powerful families and sects from various regions.

The best translated and improved techniques belong to various sects and schools.

Only those of the second rank were reported to the imperial court.

As for those left for the Witch Academy and given to small sects or even independent cultivators, they were low-level items that had been filtered out and deemed unworthy after layers of selection.

Bai Lingxu pondered, “Among the rogue cultivators and the disciples of the side branches who are not valued, there are indeed some people with outstanding talents.”

If we could unite them, we could actually repair the incomplete techniques, or even connect the techniques from different stages and compile a new technique.

Many of these people had actually participated in similar missions, but the things they painstakingly compiled and improved ultimately had nothing to do with them.

I know a senior sister from another county's witch academy. Although she is not from a branch of a non-hereditary sect, she is from a small sect.

A few years ago, she got an opportunity to participate in the translation and restoration of an ancient martial arts technique. However, after more than a year of seclusion, she forgot everything related to that technique.

Even so, that's considered good. I've heard that some people, after participating in archaeological excavations or compilations, completely disappeared.

Shang Lu said, "It's not surprising. For powerful families and sects, cultivation techniques and resources must be controlled by them. Only in this way can they control the people and make them serve them."

“That’s true.” Bai Lingxu sighed.

Even in the sorceress, they were the same.

The teachers in the Witchcraft Academy mostly come from various sects. They only teach the basic courses of each sect within the academy. If one's cultivation reaches a certain level and one wishes to learn more advanced content, one must become an apprentice.

Once you become a disciple, you join the sect behind it, and your life and death are entirely in the other party's control.

If the sect is enlightened, then there is no problem.

However, the powerful clans of today have long been rigidly hierarchical.

A small group of people with high cultivation levels control a large amount of cultivation resources, but they are unwilling to let those below them break through, fearing that the resources will be taken away and affect their own cultivation.

These same people use cultivation techniques, resources, and materials needed for breakthroughs as bait to lure their disciples into working for them.

From this perspective, the Dark Ages have not completely passed. The powerful clans and sects have simply changed their methods, continuing to drain human blood and refine human elixirs for their own cultivation.

Bai Lingxu used to have no choice. But now, Shang Lu has shown him a new path.

Although the road ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, even rugged and full of thorns, it filled him with immense excitement.

Following Shang Lu's line of thought, he analyzed:

"If we really do it this way, as long as the rewards and punishments are fair and we don't discard those who have served their purpose, then we really don't need to worry about the cultivation techniques. Moreover, as more and more people join, there will be more and more cultivation techniques, and they will become stronger and stronger. We just need to strengthen the screening process to prevent these cultivation techniques from being stolen by those powerful families and sects."

Shang Lu nodded. "We'll definitely need to have preventative measures in place for all of these."

"We have the cultivation techniques, but what about the cultivation resources?" Bai Lingxu asked again.

Shang Lu said, "There are actually quite a few cultivation resources in the world today, but they are controlled by the princes and nobles in the imperial court and the powerful families and sects in the local areas. Senior Brother Bai is well-informed, so you must know that many new secret realms have emerged in various places recently, right?"

Bai Lingxu frowned and guessed, "You want to seize and develop a new secret realm before the imperial court and the major aristocratic families? That's probably not going to be easy."

Shang Lu did not reveal that he already possessed a "cursed land".

He smiled and said vaguely, "It's all up to human effort. Back then, weren't the bandits and the Netherworld Ruins hidden very deep in the Pingdu Mountains? If they hadn't been so eager to succeed and rushed out to plunder infants, they probably wouldn't have discovered that there was a dangerous place hidden there!"

Bai Lingxu sensed that Shang Lu's words had a hidden meaning and wanted to ask, but after hesitating for a moment, he swallowed his words.

After thinking for a moment, he simply said, "Alright, since I don't plan to go back to being a shaman anyway, I'll follow you all over the country to find undiscovered secret realms!"

Shang Lu said, "I have already asked Uncle Huai to handle this matter. Now, I must set off for Wushan."

Bai Lingxu said without hesitation, "I'll go with you."

Shang Lu looked at him and said, "Senior Brother Bai, aren't you going to ask me what I'm going to do in Wushan?"

Bai Lingxu laughed heartily: "You saved my life. Even if this journey to Wushan is a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I will go with you. Why ask any more questions?"

Shang Lu laughed, a surge of pride welling up within him: "Alright. You and I, fellow disciples, shall venture into this dragon's den and tiger's lair and give it a good try!"

After a pause, he added, "Before we go to Xingshan, I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Bai to do a few things."

Bai Lingxu clasped his hands in response, "Junior Brother Shang, you're too kind. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know!"

(End of this chapter)