Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 121: Two Tigers Fighting
In the main hall of Guzi Peak, Song Xian sat in the main seat, Lin Zixiang and Zhong Wenyuan sat on both sides, and three people stood in the middle.

The leader was the newly joined Cheng Qian. One of the people behind him was over forty years old, with a weathered face and a dark complexion. He was at the fourth level of Qi Refining and his name was Wang Huan.

The other man was about thirty years old, with a strong build, but he looked honest and simple. He was at the third level of Qi Refining and his name was Xu Zhen.

Both of them were independent cultivators. They had followed the same caravan before, but later the caravan was disbanded. They went solo and worked together to do some small business in the market. After a few years, they didn't make much money and just lived one day at a time.

These two people were recommended by Cheng Qian, and it was he who brought them to the mountain gate.

The two had long been tired of the days of wandering and wanted to find someone to rely on and live a stable life. Knowing that Hunyuan Sect was recruiting people and the salary was not bad, they agreed after discussion.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Huan was born in Huanglong Village, Bianshan Town. Since he was seventeen, he has been traveling with the caravan led by Fellow Daoist Lin Long. Seven years ago, when Fellow Daoist Cheng Long's caravan disbanded, he started doing business independently at Qingfengfang, mainly buying and selling spiritual medicines."

"Fellow Daoist Xu Zhen was born in Lujiazui, Bianxi City. He joined Fellow Daoist Lin Long's caravan at the age of fifteen. The caravan disbanded seven years ago. Over the years, he and Fellow Daoist Wang have been working together on small businesses."

"I've known them for a long time. When I was refining pills, I often bought elixirs from them. They are honest people, their prices are fair, and they never cheat anyone."

"The two knew that our sect was recruiting talents, and they were willing to join us, so they brought them to see the Sect Master."

Cheng Qian briefly introduced the life stories of the two men.

"Are you two fellow Taoists sincere in joining our sect?" Song Xian asked, looking at the two of them with a smile.

"Yes." The two of them answered almost in unison. Wang Huan added, "If Sect Leader Song doesn't mind, we two will follow Sect Leader Song's lead and obey his orders from now on."

"Our sect has always treated everyone equally. Regardless of whether you joined earlier or later, once you've entered the sect, you're all brothers. We're all equals, with only different responsibilities, no distinction between high and low. I'm no exception." Song Xian waved his hand and said, "Junior Brother Cheng, you and your two fellow Taoists can go and rest first. I've asked someone to prepare a banquet to welcome you two tonight, and the formal initiation ceremony will be held in a few days."

"Yes." Cheng Qian responded, "Friend Lin, Friend Xu, follow me!"

The two men saluted and turned away.

Only after the three figures disappeared from sight did Song Xian look at Lin Zixiang and Zhong Wenyuan: "Senior Brother Zixiang, Senior Brother Wenyuan, what do you think of these two people?"

Lin Zixiang was the first to speak: "His cultivation is a little low, but fortunately his identity and background are clear. Since the sect is in need of people now, it is not a bad idea to recruit him."

Zhong Wenyuan frowned slightly and said nothing.

"Brother Wenyuan thinks they are not suitable?"

Zhong Wenyuan glanced outside the hall, and seeing that the three men were gone, he spoke up, "Even if we need to recruit independent cultivators, Cheng Qian shouldn't be in charge. He's only been in the sect for a short time, and he's already recruiting new members. The Sect Master should be vigilant and prevent these people from forming a group."

He said this very directly, without any ambiguity. Although Song Xian was a little surprised, he was not surprised. Zhong Wenyuan was the representative of the original disciples of Qingyun Sect, and naturally did not want another faction to appear in the sect.

He nodded noncommittally.

"I was thinking that Junior Brother Cheng Qian has been in Bianxi City for many years and knows a lot of people from all walks of life. He's much more familiar with the situation here than we are, so I asked him to find a few honest and sincere people who know us well. Since Senior Brother Wenyuan said so, I'll leave this matter to you! You can select the personnel yourself. I think these two people are okay. Since they have been brought to the mountain gate, accept them!"

"What tasks does the Master plan to assign to them?"

"These two are from caravans and are familiar with trade. Let them follow us to the Muhe Grassland to do business!"

Zhong Wenyuan had previously been to the Muhe Grassland with a capital of 5,000 spirit stones. In three months, he had successfully earned several hundred spirit stones in total.

Since the pass is valid until the end of the year, according to him, he has to make one or two more trips this year, and he can earn 3,000 spirit stones in a year.

"These two people are originally in the same group, so we should try our best to separate them. We don't know what these independent cultivators are thinking, so we still have to be on guard. Let Wang Huan follow me to Muhe Grassland, and Xu Zhen will arrange another task for him." Zhong Wenyuan had just finished speaking when he saw Zhang Ningyuan walking in from outside.

With a hint of excitement on his face, he kept saying, "It's getting chaotic, it's getting chaotic," as soon as he entered the hall.

"Brother Ning Yuan, what's going on? Sit down first and talk slowly."

Zhang Ningyuan sat down next to Lin Zixiang. "The Qingyuan Sect and Yunfeng Trading Company are fighting. First, the Qingyuan Sect seized a forest farm occupied by Yunfeng Trading Company and killed several of their people. Later, Yunfeng Trading Company retaliated by looting a batch of supplies from the Qingyuan Sect and killing several people. Now both sides are gathering troops, and it looks like a major battle is about to begin."

When the three heard this, they were all shocked. Their eyes met with each other, and they could not hide their surprise.

The war between Qingyuan Sect and Yunfeng Trading Company was something no one expected. It might affect the entire Bianxia Town and drag Hunyuan Sect into the vortex.

Needless to say, the Qingyuan Sect is the largest sect in Bianxia Town. Since the establishment of the Nanyuan Valley Market, they have relied on this market to gain a firm foothold. They have also established relations with the Beastmaster Sect and taken over several of its industries.

The Yunfeng Trading Company is not simple either. Although it does not belong to a formal sect, its influence is not small.

Bianxi City has a population of 10 to 20 million, thousands of cultivators, and the five major regular sects, Luoyun Sect, Kong Family, Yuyuan Sect, Qianfeng Sect, and Liu Family, with a total of less than 2,000 people.

In other words, there are still about three to four thousand independent cultivators in Bianxi City, all of whom have a common tendency to gather together for warmth. Independent cultivators are at the bottom of the cultivation world. Although they are free and unrestrained, they are often bullied by the sects.

Therefore, many people banded together, firstly to protect themselves, and secondly to make a living, after all, there is strength in numbers.

Smaller groups of independent practitioners may consist of just a few people, forming a caravan or doing other business.

A larger force may have dozens or even hundreds of people. The largest independent cultivator force in the entire Bianxi City is undoubtedly the Red Dragon Bandits who have lived in the Tianshan Mountains all year round. It is rumored that they have more than 200 people.

Yunfeng Trading Company is also a relatively large independent cultivator force. Although it cannot compare with the Tianshan Sect, it has been in operation for many years and has dozens of cultivators under it. It owns several industries in Bianxia Town. Apart from the Red Dragon Bandits, it is the largest independent cultivator force in Bianxia Town.

These independent cultivators, apart from not being recognized by the laws of the Qianqing Sect, are actually no different from the orthodox sects and aristocratic families in other aspects. The only thing is that they cannot establish their own sects or call themselves sects.

The Qianqing Sect has strict regulations on the qualifications for founding a sect. One must have served in the Qin coalition forces, achieved military merit in the war, possessed a title, and reached the Golden Elixir realm in order to establish a sect.

No matter how big the independent cultivators' forces become, they are not recognized by the law.

Without recognition, there is no protection.

The biggest beneficiary of the law was the Qianqing Sect. They established rules and regulations in order to divide and rule the various sects in the Qin State.

This is also why, although there are so many independent cultivator forces in Bianxi City, after Bianxia Town and Bianshang Town were ceded to the Qin State, the Qianqing Sect still had to dispatch sects from the inland to guard these two places.

"Junior Brother Zhang, where did you get this news? Are you sure it's reliable?" Zhong Wenyuan asked solemnly.

"Didn't I go to Nanyuan Market to deliver the raw materials for the Jade Fragrance Pill? The entire market is under martial law now, and many people are discussing this matter. On my way back, I passed by Huajing Mountain. It was originally a forest farm occupied by the Yunfeng Trading Company, planted with silver flower trees, but now it's been replaced by members of the Qingyuan Sect. I saw with my own eyes two monks dressed in Qingyuan Sect attire carrying carts of silver flower trees away."

Song Xian's mind was full of thoughts. Qingyuan Sect and Yunfeng Trading Company had always kept to themselves before, but now they suddenly started a war. It seemed unexpected, but when you think about it carefully, it was reasonable.

Qingyuan Sect, as the largest sect in Bianxia Town, has moved to Bianxia Town for more than two years. However, except for the first-grade superior spiritual vein at the mountain gate, there are no resources or industries outside, and all have been occupied by other forces.

Now they have completely established their foothold by relying on the market and cooperation with the Beast Taming Sect. The next step is of course to expand the territory and increase the influence of the sect.

Although Yunfeng Trading Company is quite powerful, it is not a legitimate sect after all and is not protected by the law. However, it occupies a lot of resources in Bianxia Town. Qingyuan Sect does not even need any reason or excuse to plunder their industry.

However, this battle between the two sides may have a ripple effect.

The situation in Bianxia Town is already very delicate. Qingyuan Sect, Xuri Sect, Ding Family, and Hunyuan Sect are all regular sects that migrated from the inland and are protected by the law. However, since they are outsiders, they have no roots here and are unfamiliar with the place. Apart from a spiritual vein that serves as their mountain gate, they have no other resources or industries.

Previously, Bianxia Town was a lawless area with a mixed crowd of good and bad people, and many independent cultivators had their foothold here.

These independent cultivators were not formal sects, but after Bianxia Town was ceded to the Qin State, they took advantage of the chaos and occupied many resource-rich territories.

The contradiction is already obvious. If the four regular sects that migrated from Bianxia Town want to develop steadily, they must eliminate these independent cultivators and take back the resources and territories they occupy.

The Qingyuan Sect just fired the first shot. It is only a matter of time before the conflict between the two sides breaks out. If they don't fight this year or next year, they will definitely fight in the future.

The biggest advantage of the Qingyuan Sect is that it belongs to a regular sect and is under the protection of the law. Only it can capture other people's base camps, and it is impossible for others to capture the Qingyuan Sect's mountain gate.

Apart from the mountain gate, the Qingyuan Sect has only one important industry managed by the Nanyuan Market. This industry involves interests from all aspects. Unless the various parties including the Beastmaster Sect and the Luoyun Sect can be appeased, it will be difficult to squeeze the Qingyuan Sect out of the market.

In other words, regardless of whether the Qingyuan Sect wins or loses, its basic base is guaranteed, so it dares to take the lead in attacking.

Even so, war is no joke after all. As the saying goes, if you kill one thousand enemies, you will lose eight hundred of your own.

It would be fine if we won, as we could take over the resources and territory occupied by the other party, which would naturally be more beneficial than harmful.

If they were defeated in the war, it would not only lead to the loss of soldiers and generals, but also the waste of financial resources. Even the lives of the sect leaders themselves might not be saved.

Others cannot capture the mountain gate, but they can ambush outside. We can't hide in the mountain gate forever!
There are about forty to fifty cultivators under the Yunfeng Trading Company, and they have been entrenched in Bianxia Town for many years, so they are not easy to deal with.

Apart from other people, the other independent cultivator forces in Bianxia Town might not just stand by and watch. Even though they are not in the same group, they still understand the principle of "lips and teeth are cold".

If I watch Yunfeng Trading Company being destroyed by Qingyuan Sect, I might be the next one.

Therefore, the scattered cultivator forces in Bianxia Town are likely to form an alliance to fight against Qingyuan Sect.

Once the camps are formed, Hunyuan Sect will have to choose one of the camps to join, otherwise it will be caught between the two sides.

To stay out of trouble and maintain a fence-sitting position requires sufficient strength, and the Hunyuan Sect obviously does not have this strength yet.

(End of this chapter)