The Trash Sect's Ascension - chapter 9

Under the mediation of Master Wuliang, both sides temporarily ceased fighting.

We moved into Zuowang Peak, waiting for the explanation promised by Master Wuliang.

Zuowang Peak was where I used to live. After I perished in the Demonic Abyss, the place had been left vacant.

I had thought that after a hundred years, the courtyard would be long deserted. Unexpectedly, every tree and blade of grass remained just as they had been when I left; even the koi in the pond were still alive.

That night, Xie Changgeng came to see me, handing me a small green medicine bottle.

He is the Flowing Wind Sword Master; with the special salve he made, my wounds would heal much faster.

I wouldn’t make things difficult for myself.

He casually scattered a handful of fish food, and the fish in the pond immediately swam over, acting very familiar.

“Have you been feeding the fish for me all these years?”

“Mm.”

“They’re just some ordinary fish scooped up from a little creek in the mortal realm. How could they have survived until now?”

“…I did a small favor for the Spirit Beast Sect in exchange for some Nine-Leaf Dew.”

I was momentarily stunned.

Nine-Leaf Dew is the Spirit Beast Sect’s greatest treasure, used especially to help high-level spirit beasts and demon beasts take human form. The current sect leader of the Spirit Beast Sect is known to be stingy; if he was willing to part with such a treasure, then the ‘small favor’ Xie Changgeng spoke of must have been no trivial matter.

“Was that really necessary? They’re just a few mortal fish, their lifespans should have ended long ago.”

His hand paused mid-motion. “…Because Senior Sister likes them.”

The night wind rose, pine waves surging like a jade-green sea.

Xie Changgeng set down the fish food and stood before me.

Beneath his purple headband, his gaze was clear as water, just like years ago when he silently followed behind me to learn the sword.

He took out a booklet from his robes: “Senior Sister, forgive me. I didn’t know beforehand that Sect Leader Zhao had once saved your life. I heard that his lifelong wish is to revive his sect, so this is a collection of my sword training insights over the years, offered as compensation.”

“With you at the Sunset Glow Sect, Senior Sister, I really shouldn’t be showing off. But when it comes to guiding ordinary disciples, Senior Sister, I am superior.”

“Senior Sister, you stand too high. Ordinary disciples can only look up at you; they can’t learn anything from you. When you went to the Sword Pool as a child to seek a sword, the Ten Thousand Swords Bowing was triggered. Later, you were recognized by the Divine Sword Xian Shuang, and merged with the Sword Spirit within months. Your talent is unmatched in all the Nine Provinces.”

“But I am different. I struggled from being an Outer Sect Disciple all the way to where I am now, stumbling through many detours. I have more lessons than successes. With this booklet, I dare say that within a hundred years, the Sunset Glow Sect will surely rise, and Sect Leader Zhao’s wish will be fulfilled.”

In the pursuit of the Great Dao, many must grope their own way. If they receive guidance from seniors, cultivation becomes twice as effective with half the effort.

As the Flowing Wind Sword Master, Xie Changgeng stands at the pinnacle of swordsmanship. His insights would indeed be a great boon in recruiting disciples to the Sunset Glow Sect.

I flipped through the booklet. He had put genuine effort into it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it.

I tossed the booklet back to him: “Xie Changgeng, the rise of the Sunset Glow Sect is up to me and my Junior Brothers and Sisters. There’s no need for you to worry.”

“Senior Sister, I meant well-”

“Meant well? Have you considered that if the sect grows by relying on your reputation, will it still be the Sunset Glow Sect, or will it become a second Sword Sect?”

“And another thing-don’t dismiss other people’s efforts just because you see talent. How do you know you’re the only one who works hard? How do you know I haven’t suffered and taken detours? If cultivation along the Great Dao could be decided by talent alone, then how did my father, with the obscure Imperial White Sword, defeat the Wolan Sword Master who wielded a Divine Sword and ascend to the position of Sect Leader?”

“Also, Xie Changgeng, calling yourself an ordinary disciple is too self-deprecating! Though you started as an Outer Sect Disciple, within a year-thanks to your astounding talent-you skipped the seven layers of the Inner Sect Examination and were accepted as a Personal Disciple by my father. What ordinary disciple could do what you have done? What ordinary disciple could enjoy the resources you have enjoyed?”

“What, is it your style as Flowing Wind Sword Master to talk about hard work in front of those more talented than you, and talk about talent before those who work harder than you? After all these years, I didn’t expect you to have become so arrogant.”

“Besides, how do you know I can’t teach ordinary disciples? If I could teach someone like you, of course I can teach a second, a third. Of all you said just now, only one thing was pleasing to hear: that the Sunset Glow Sect will definitely rise within a hundred years.”

“Not only that, I will see it surpass the Sword Sect!”

A trace of anger flickered across Xie Changgeng’s face.

Disciples of the Sword Sect value their sect’s honor more than their own lives. If not for the ties of our past, I fear he would have already drawn his Flowing Wind Sword.

“Senior Sister, you are being far too arrogant. The Sword Sect has stood atop the Nine Provinces for tens of thousands of years, always the leading sect. The Sunset Glow Sect is a minor branch, secluded in one corner, only founded a few decades ago. Zhao Qingsong’s talent is mediocre-he wouldn’t even meet the threshold for an Outer Sect Disciple in the Sword Sect. And the Sunset Glow Sect’s disciples-counting you, Senior Sister-number only three.”

“A sect with no foundation, no Sect Leader, barely any disciples-under such circumstances, even to rise in a hundred years is difficult, let alone surpass the Sword Sect! It’s pure fantasy! Not to mention that Xian Shuang is now broken, even at your peak, Senior Sister, it would have been impossible! If you don’t wish to accept my good intentions, so be it, but there’s no need to so insult the Sword Sect.”