CHAPTER 551: 284、MASTER XU... HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO HONGCHEN PAVILION?

Inside the Token, there was nothing special, just an ordinary Fourth-level entrance and exit prohibition. This was common in Nascent Soul Cave Mansions.

"It seems the opportunity Hong Wenren encountered in Tianyi Gorge was a Nascent Soul Cave Mansion," Xu Xing mused. "This trip might be worth checking out."

His Forty-Year Agreement with Yan Luanqing was approaching—due within the next year and a half. With the Butian Sect’s development now on track, it was time for him to step back as a hands-off manager and head to the Nanyan Continent. For a Cultivator, the most important thing was still Cultivation. The Immeasurable Sect in the Nanyan Continent was merely a minor sect to him at this time, but it could serve as a stepping stone for him to join the Emperor’s Son Pavilion. Compared to the Zhongtu Dao State, today’s East Huangzhou seemed like a minor place.

The Lishan Hong Family has also produced quite a few young talents. If feasible, they could join my Butian Sect as Disciples... Xu Xing mused, slipping the Token into his Sleeve. He smiled and glanced at Hong De.

Both the Lishan Hong Family and the Zuoqiu Clan were affiliated families of the Nanhua Sect, and their Disciples were given priority to join the Nanhua Sect. However, there were always exceptions. The saying "A Hundred-year Dynasty, a Thousand-year Aristocratic family" was not just empty words. Most cultivation families believed in the principle of "a cunning rabbit has three burrows." Hong Wenren’s ability to condense his Nascent Soul without relying on a sect was proof enough of his aptitude. The fact that the Lishan Hong Family hadn’t allowed such a talented Cultivator to join the Nanhua Sect revealed their underlying intentions with just a little thought: it was all for the sake of their Family’s interests.

Within the Lishan Hong Family, besides members trained internally by the Family and those who joined the Nanhua Sect, there was another group who would choose to join other sects. Therefore, his current suggestion didn’t excessively violate the Nanhua Sect’s taboos.

"Yes, Master Xu, this old man will immediately arrange for some talented family members to join the Butian Sect..." Hearing this, Hong De was overjoyed and quickly nodded in agreement.

The Butian Sect was a rising power, unlike other sects with already solidified internal hierarchies. Disciples from the Lishan Hong Family joining the Butian Sect would have more opportunities for development than if they joined other equivalent sects. Sometimes, one couldn’t simply join sects in the Cultivation World even if they wished to; it depended on the disciple’s background. For instance, a large aristocratic family like the Lishan Hong Family was often viewed with apprehension by Sects. Compared to aristocratic families, Sects were more willing to accept Commoner Disciples.

「Half an hour later.」

The Lishan Hong Family had selected a group of talented family members from various branches. They now stood in the family’s Great Hall, ready for the Butian Sect elder to choose from.

After selecting eight young members of the Hong Family to become Disciples of the Butian Sect, the Third Elder of the Butian Sect suddenly asked, "Is there any family member from Hong Wenren’s line among these people?"

The Hong Family members who had just joined the Butian Sect were visibly frightened. One responded in a low voice, "Replying to Elder, there are no people from the Sixth Branch. Seventh Granduncle committed a grave error, and the people of the Sixth Branch are bearing the sins. Now, all members of the Sixth Branch have been placed under surveillance by the Clan Leader..."

"If it’s discovered that anyone from the Sixth Branch is causing trouble," the Third Elder said with a smile, "then the Butian Sect and the Lishan Hong Family... will become enemies once more. At that point, it will be difficult for you to protect yourselves..."

Stationing a Butian Sect Deacon in the Lishan Hong Family to monitor them and ensure they eliminated any future trouble from Hong Wenren’s descendants was feasible. However, if the Lishan Hong Family intentionally harbored anyone, it would be difficult for the Butian Sect to uncover. After all, if the Lishan Hong Family ordered all its members to remain silent, the Butian Sect would be powerless to investigate, regardless of its capabilities. However, if they could incite internal strife within the Lishan Hong Family, prompting its own members to expose any wrongdoings, the task would become much easier. Of course, Xu Xing’s intention in allowing members of the Lishan Hong Family to join the Butian Sect was also to ease the conflict with them; further eliminating future troubles through this matter was merely an incidental benefit.

"This..." The faces of the eight young Hong Family members turned uncertain upon hearing this. They exchanged glances.

Then, the one with the best aptitude stepped forward and said, "Elder, Seventh Granduncle’s direct grandson, Hong Chuan, and his mother have escaped from Lishan. They are now heading to Phoenix Mountain. His mother, Gan Yi, is a Cultivator from the Gan Family of Phoenix Mountain."

It was a case of "better a Daoist friend dies than I." The Lishan Hong Family had such a long history that the various branches were practically strangers to one another; they weren’t willing to sacrifice their own futures for someone they barely knew. Besides, it wasn’t that they were indifferent. Giving up one’s cultivation path was not the same as losing one’s life. And after all, the Sixth Branch had indeed committed a wrong.

As these words fell, the Great Hall of the Hong Family was instantly plunged into a heavy silence.

"Send people to pursue them," Xu Xing ordered without hesitation.

"Together with the Butian Sect Disciples, pursue them to Phoenix Mountain. Capture Hong Chuan and his mother, Gan Yi," Zuoqiu Lin echoed.

As his words fell, several figures behind the two vanished, transforming into streaks of Escaping Light that disappeared from the Hong Family’s Great Hall, speeding towards Phoenix Mountain.

"This... this old man... I’ve made a mistake... The mistake lies in..." Hong De stammered, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

He wouldn’t dare secretly sabotage the Butian Sect; the risks were too great for too little reward. With the two having fled, the Lishan Hong Family could claim no direct responsibility, at most a failure in supervision. They could clear themselves of blame. But who could have known that such a small ploy by the Butian Sect would make the Hong Family’s younger generation spill the news of Gan Yi and her son Hong Chuan’s escape? Turning a blind eye... after all, they were his own family members, and there was the long-standing friendship with Hong Wenren...