Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

The sect leader not only showed no mercy, but also let Mu Lan and her group of barbarians in, suppressing us at every turn! He... he's clearly using us and then discarding us! How can someone who acts like this be worthy of our service?

His words were full of resentment and indignation, and he shouted out what many people in the room dared not say.

However, before he could finish speaking—

"Snapped!"

A crisp, resounding slap landed squarely on his face! The one who struck was a Nascent Soul Peak cultivator sitting at the head of the table, who had been keeping his eyes closed and silent. He came from Huangfeng Valley of the former Yue Kingdom, and his surname was Liu. He was the most powerful and composed person among those present.

The Nascent Soul peak cultivator surnamed Liu withdrew his hand, his face as cold as iron, his eyes flashing with cold light, staring at the stunned Nascent Soul cultivator from Huadaowu, and said sternly.

"If you want to die, go find a secluded place to die! Don't spout nonsense here and drag us all down with you!"

He looked around and, seeing that everyone was stunned by the slap, lowered his voice and said, word by word.

"Who among you has the ability to break the seal on the jade slip of the Nascent Soul cultivation technique? It was personally set up by the Nascent Soul cultivator. Apart from the Nascent Soul cultivator himself, or someone who is equally proficient in this path and has a similar cultivation level, who can open it?"

"As long as the sect leader doesn't leave, or doesn't personally break the seal, those cultivation techniques are just a pile of stones we can see but can't touch!"

He took a breath, his voice carrying a cruel truth that he had seen through.

"Don't you understand? The sect leader... has never regarded the Tianxing Sect as a sect that needs to be managed in the long term! He has never regarded us as 'one of his own' that he needs to be wary of! If he really cared about the sect's inheritance, would he have turned a blind eye and even deliberately condoned those Nascent Soul elders who were deceiving their superiors and only caring about their own interests?"
If he truly cared about the sect's future after his departure, would he have introduced these ticking time bombs from the Mulan Grasslands at this crucial moment, exacerbating the internal strife?

The words of the cultivator surnamed Liu were like an ice pick, piercing the last shred of hope and illusion in everyone's hearts.

"Tools... In the eyes of the sect leader, all of us, including the Mulan people, are just tools to help him collect resources and explore clues."

An elderly mid-Nascent Soul cultivator replied bitterly.

"Once tools are used up, or are about to break down, they will naturally be discarded, or even... replaced by new tools. What we need to do now is not complain, but to extract the last value from these tools before they are completely discarded—those cultivation techniques!"

The Nascent Soul cultivator from Huadaowu, who had been beaten, covered his face. The resentment in his eyes had not dissipated, but rather intensified, though with a hint of urgency.

“Senior Brother Liu is right! But… but those dozen or so new cultivation techniques require an astronomical number of points! We’ve already exchanged our previous Nascent Soul cultivation techniques for the points we accumulated, and now, in order to suppress the Mulan people, we have to exchange most of our magic treasures and materials… where are we going to find any extra points?”

"Do we really have to dig up our ancestral graves and use the sect's last remaining ancient spiritual root..."

He became more and more anxious as he spoke.

"We joined the Tianxing Sect back then because the sect leader had a direct path to the Nascent Soul stage. We thought we could cultivate in peace and at the very least reach the peak of the Nascent Soul stage... Who would have thought that the sect leader didn't care about the future of the sect at all, and those elders only cared about themselves! Now that the sect leader is about to leave, what are we going to do?"

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

"By the way! The sect leader seems to value that four-spiritual-root kid in the Spirit Plant Hall exceptionally much! Not only did he personally advance him from Qi Refining to Golden Core, but he also bestowed upon him many magical treasures and even gave him the position of hall master! That kid must have received even more benefits from the sect leader, or he knows some secret! Why don't we..."

"Snapped!"

Another, even harder slap landed, silencing him completely and causing blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth.

The Nascent Soul Peak cultivator surnamed Liu stood up, looking down at him with eyes as if he were looking at a dead man, his voice chillingly cold.

"Fool! Is your brain filled with grass? If the sect leader really wanted to support that kid in inheriting the sect, would he have crammed all the Mulan people in at this time? Would he have made such a mess of things?"

Leaving a nobody with no background, extremely poor aptitude, and only Golden Core cultivation as his successor is clearly just randomly placing an insignificant pawn! It might even be... a deliberate target!

He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and spoke to the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Blade Transformation Valley.

"If you're tired of living, you can try to mess with that kid right now. Let's see if you succeed first, or if the sect leader's lightning strikes you to ashes first. Then, all of us can be buried with you."

These words silenced the Nascent Soul cultivator from Huadaowu completely, and cold sweat poured down his back.

The cultivator surnamed Liu stopped looking at him and turned to the others. His tone returned to calm, but carried a ruthless edge like that of a lone wolf.

"With the sect leader here, we can't stop the Mulan people from exchanging cultivation techniques, that's a fact. But we can suppress them! We can reduce their efficiency in exchanging techniques and make them pay a higher price! We still outnumber them."

If we can temporarily set aside some minor internal squabbles and truly unite, we can create obstacles for them in the allocation of tasks, review of resources, and evaluation of contributions in each branch, thus delaying their accumulation of points!

At the same time, we must offer everything we can, even our most prized possessions, to exchange for points! We must seize this window of opportunity before the sect leader leaves!

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

"After the sect leader leaves, the Tianxing Sect will surely be in chaos. We and the Mulan people will inevitably have a life-or-death battle. The victor will take everything—including the opponent's points, resources, and even... those jade slips of cultivation techniques that have been exchanged but not yet successfully cultivated! But no matter who wins, that four-elemental-roots Golden Core brat, as long as he doesn't court death, most people will probably not touch him."

Killing him would only cause trouble and completely ruin the reputation of the 'Tianxing Sect'. What good would it do? Keeping him alive would at least preserve the 'Tianxing Sect's' reputation and help deal with potential criticism from the outside world.

The sect leader probably chose him because he had this in mind—a puppet who is insignificant yet bears the title of sect leader's successor might actually be the safest option in a chaotic situation.

Upon hearing this, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their minds racing with various thoughts. Though unwilling, they had to admit that the cultivator surnamed Liu's analysis was likely the closest to the truth and the most realistic solution.

"So put away your useless resentment and unrealistic fantasies."

The Nascent Soul peak cultivator surnamed Liu spoke last, his voice resolute.

"Now, contact all those we can reach who harbor resentment towards the Mulan people, regardless of their previous nationality or faction. What we need is to seize as many resources as possible before the sect leader leaves!"
The goal is to have enough power to kill the Mulan people after the sect leader leaves, or... to seize enough resources to escape before they kill us! Let's act!

Inside the cave, a cold and resolute aura of conspiracy permeated the air.

...Meanwhile, in the Spirit Plant Hall, inside Han Li's private quiet room.

Ying Xuan appeared out of nowhere and casually handed the shimmering yet slightly somber five-colored feather robe to Han Li.

"This item is called the 'Seven-Colored Spirit Vulture Robe,' and it is made primarily from the natal feathers of a Nascent Soul stage spirit bird, supplemented with dozens of rare and precious materials."

Not only does it possess astonishing defensive capabilities, able to withstand ordinary attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators, but it also contains a trace of the spirit bird's innate divine power, enabling it to actively protect its master in crucial moments, and even sacrifice itself once in its place.

Ying Xuan introduced it in a calm tone.

"Although it was used once before and its power was damaged, it is still a top-tier defensive treasure in this world. Today, I bestow it upon you as one of the heirlooms of the next leader of the Tianxing Sect."

Han Li's hands trembled slightly as he accepted the feather robe, which felt as light as a feather yet as heavy as a mountain. The robe was icy to the touch, and the dim, multicolored light flowing across it seemed to record the fall of a Nascent Soul cultivator and the changing of an era.

A surge of overwhelming emotion and a profound sense of responsibility instantly filled his chest. The sect leader had... officially confirmed his position!

"Disciple...Disciple Han Li thanks the Sect Leader for his generous gift! I will certainly live up to the Sect Leader's expectations and do my utmost to protect the sect's legacy!"

Han Li's voice choked with emotion as he held the feather robe and bowed deeply.

Looking at Han Li's young and passionate face, Ying Xuan's eyes flashed with a smile he could hardly conceal. The infamous "Han the Runner," this time, he himself had used the two strongest ropes, "gratitude" and "responsibility," to firmly bind himself to the Tianxing Sect, a ship destined to weather storms.

He could almost foresee the future.

After I leave, the Tianxing Sect, without the suppression of the Nascent Soul cultivators, will immediately become the target of the entire cultivation world! In recent years, how arrogant have the cultivators of the Tianxing Sect been, relying on the Nascent Soul cultivators and hundreds of fellow disciples to back them up?
He stole magical treasures, seized spiritual herbs, forcibly occupied mineral veins, and demanded cultivation techniques... It can be said that he offended almost everyone he could and couldn't afford to offend! In the past, no one dared to utter a sound because they couldn't beat him, nor could they afford to offend that Nascent Soul sect leader who killed at will.

But once his greatest deterrent disappears... all that pent-up hatred, greed, and fear will erupt like a volcano! At that time, let alone Han Li, a Golden Core cultivator, even a peak Nascent Soul cultivator would be absolutely unable to suppress the raging backlash!

Cultivators from all over the world would probably pounce on the Tianxing Sect like sharks smelling blood, wanting to tear off a piece of fat flesh from the collapsing sect to avenge past grievances or seize its astonishing legacy.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, Han Li has been with the Tianxing Sect. He has received great kindness from me and has been promoted from the bottom to where he is now. He has a deep affection and sense of belonging to the sect.

Entrusted with the "important responsibility of inheritance," and given his youthful passion and commitment to keeping his promises, in this situation of internal and external troubles and enemies from all sides, would he still be as decisive as in the original work, "running away" at the first sign of trouble?

Yingxuan was eager to see the answer.

He wanted to see how Han Li, whom he had prematurely "ripened" and instilled with different ideas, would lead the doomed Tianxing Sect through its struggles and battles in that bloody storm, and what kind of different path they would forge.

This might be the most interesting seed he planted before leaving this world.

"This disciple swears! No matter the cost, I will ensure the survival of the Heavenly Star Sect and the continuation of its lineage!"

Han Li straightened his back, loudly agreed, and his eyes were unwavering.

But then, his gaze toward Ying Xuan revealed deep doubt and confusion. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked.

"Sect Leader, I have a question and would like to ask you... You know that the Mulan Grassland and our sect's old members have a deep-seated grudge, so why do you still accept them all into your sect at this time? This... won't this exacerbate internal strife and make the sect's future even more difficult? I don't believe that with your abilities, Sect Leader, you can't see through this. Could it be... that you really have to show some 'morality' because of the coordinates of that void passage?"

Han Li paused, then added.

"Moreover... I know that I have sent many cultivators out to act, which is indeed... indeed a bit ostentatious and has made many enemies. Sect Leader... it seems that you have never restrained them."

This is the biggest knot in his heart.

He didn't believe that a Nascent Soul cultivator who was decisive and shrewd would do something so obviously "self-destructive and beneficial to others".

Looking at Han Li's eyes, which were full of curiosity and confusion, Ying Xuan's smile deepened, but he did not answer his question directly.

"The techniques and unique traditions of the Mulan Grassland are of little use to me now."

Ying Xuan downplayed the issue, pointing to the feather robe in Han Li's hand and the view outside the quiet room window.

"But for you, and for the future disciples of the Tianxing Sect, it is a valuable asset that broadens your horizons and allows you to draw inferences from one another. The collision of different systems can sometimes spark unexpected insights."

While I am still in the sect, the library has the fewest restrictions on exchanging these new cultivation techniques and classic texts. You need to seize the time and try to learn about and exchange for those that you think are valuable and different from the mainstream of Yue Kingdom and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance.

Don't limit yourself to human cultivation methods; try to understand those of demon cultivators, Mulan shamans, or even some unorthodox practices, as long as you find them useful.

He looked at Han Li meaningfully.

"Your vision determines how far you can go. I can only offer you limited direct help, but this knowledge is the greatest treasure I leave to the Tianxing Sect, and also to you."

As for why he didn't take Han Li with him when leaving this realm, Ying Xuan didn't say. Taking a cultivator with deep ties to this realm and low cultivation level across the void was fraught with unpredictable risks and would disrupt his own plans. As for ordinary cultivators, his original plan was to take a group of them as "living samples" and "basic labor," so this didn't conflict with his original plan.

Han Li seemed to understand, but since the sect leader was unwilling to discuss it further, he dared not ask any more questions and could only suppress his doubts and nod emphatically.

"Disciple understands! I will cherish this opportunity, read widely, and live up to the sect leader's expectations!"

Ying Xuan nodded slightly, said no more, and his figure slowly faded away, disappearing into the quiet room.

Han Li was left alone, clutching the shimmering, seven-colored feather robe, staring blankly in the direction the sect leader had disappeared. The sect leader's words seemed irrelevant, yet they also held a deeper meaning. Broaden your horizons? Hurry up and exchange them?

What exactly is the sect leader plotting? And how can I find the path to the future in this increasingly unpredictable situation?

Han Li held the seven-colored feather robe in his palm, feeling its cool, silky texture that contained immense spiritual energy. His heart involuntarily quickened. (End of Chapter)