Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 204 New Director
Song Xian also decided to hand over the second-level spirit pool in the Water Curtain Cave to Wei Lian after careful consideration, mainly because he was worried that the secret would be leaked.

However, since the sect really cannot find anyone capable of cultivating spiritual herbs, if it does not hand it over to Wei Lian, it will still have to hire someone to take care of it, and there is still a risk of leakage.

Wei Lian has been cooperating for at least so many years, and the two sides have established a certain foundation of trust. Moreover, this matter is also beneficial to him. Everyone has the same interests, and he will also suffer losses if it is leaked.

Although a top-grade training room has been built there, there is still excess spiritual energy in the spirit pond, which can be used to grow some low-level aquatic spiritual medicines. It is a waste to leave it empty.

Originally, the spirit pond was used to grow three-color spirit lotus, but now most of the spiritual energy has been transferred to the training room through the spirit gathering array. The remaining spiritual energy is not abundant enough, and naturally it is not suitable for growing high-level spiritual medicines such as three-color spirit lotus.

In addition, the three-colored spiritual lotus takes a long time to grow, and it takes thirty to forty years to bear fruit. In terms of benefits, it is far less than the large-scale planting of low-level spiritual medicines.

"Master Song, rest assured. I guarantee with my life that I will never reveal the matter of the second-level spirit pool to anyone." Wei Lian immediately raised his hand to take the oath.

Being able to take care of a second-level spirit pond is not an opportunity that everyone has. For cultivators like them who make a living by cultivating spiritual herbs, this is a great opportunity. Not only can they train and improve the level of spiritual plants, but they can also increase their own value.

"Besides that, I have another small request. I need to send a disciple to assist you, and ask you to teach him the art of plant cultivation. But please rest assured, we will never take back the spiritual garden and spiritual pond that you have been entrusted with. You will still be responsible for their care in the future. If you agree, then this cooperation is complete."

"Well... okay!" Wei Lian pondered for a while and finally nodded.

The two chatted for a while, and at this time, the housekeeper came to report that Zhang Ningyuan wanted to see him about something important, so Wei Lian tactfully said goodbye.

Soon, Zhang Ningyuan arrived and said, "Master, the leader of the Beast Taming Sect has really been replaced. I just heard that Yang Jinzhang has resigned, and the new leader is a man named Jiang Feng."

Song Xian was slightly surprised. The rumor turned out to be true. It was not groundless.

He had just heard about this matter from Zhang Ningyuan half a month ago. He didn't expect that the new person in charge had already taken office in just over half a month.

"Who is this Jiang Feng?"

"I don't know either. I only heard that his name was Jiang Feng. He seemed to have a very high level of cultivation. It is rumored that he has reached the late stage of foundation building."

It wasn't surprising that a late Foundation Establishment cultivator took over the position of Beastmaster Sect's West City Leader, as this position was already very important. What was strange was why Yang Jinzhang suddenly resigned. Was he promoted or demoted?

Logically speaking, it shouldn't be a promotion.

This is because Yang Jinzhang has not yet broken through the late foundation-building stage. He has been in this position for nearly a hundred years. This is a very popular position in the Beastmaster Sect. Without further progress in his cultivation, it would be difficult for him to find a better position than this one.

Although Song Xian didn't know much about the internal situation of the Beastmaster Sect, he still knew a little about its basic situation after so many years in Bianxi City.

"Where's Yang Jinzhang? Was he promoted or demoted? Has he left Bianxi City yet?"

"I don't know. I just heard that the new leader of the Beast Taming Sect has arrived."

Song Xian's mind was racing. He wondered what impact the arrival of the new leader of the Beast Taming Sect would have on Bianxi City.

Although the Hunyuan Sect did not have many connections with the Beast Taming Sect, with only three industries, Bianxia Town was originally controlled by Yang Jinzhang. With the change of emperor, new ministers come into power. Now that Yang Jinzhang is gone and a new leader takes office, it is hard to say whether Bianxia Town will still be as peaceful as before.

Let’s not talk about anything else, let’s just talk about the peace treaty that was previously signed. Is it still valid?

The peace among the various forces in Bianxia Town was decided by Yang Jinzhang. When he was in power, everyone was afraid of him and no one dared to disobey him.

Once he leaves, those independent cultivator forces may not be willing to obey unless the new leader gives the order.

It seems necessary to pay a visit to the new leader of the Beast Taming Sect. Song Xian made up his mind to find an opportunity to go to Bianxi City as soon as possible to inquire about the situation.

"Brother Wenyuan, please try to find out more about this person's background and identity, as well as where Yang Jinzhang went and why he was transferred."

"Okay, I'll find out. Master, there's no need to worry too much. Our sect has little to do with Yang Jinzhang. The arrival of the new leader won't have much impact on our sect."

"It's hard to say. Many things are interconnected. A small disturbance in a large sect can cause a huge wave in a small sect."

As Song Xian finished speaking, the housekeeper hurried over and said, "Master, Immortal Master Lu Yuan is here and wants to see you regarding something important."

Why did Lu Yuan come? Song Xian had a bad feeling in his heart: "Hurry up and ask him to come."

Nowadays, Lu Yuan is in charge of many affairs of Guzi Peak. Because Zhong Wenyuan went to the Water Curtain Cave to practice, Song Xian and Lin Zixiang both have a practice room in Qingyuan Sect, where they practice on weekdays, so the sect affairs are now handed over to him.

He came here in person, so it must be something important.

Not long after, Lu Yuan entered from outside. After bowing, he said, "Master, a few hours ago, the Beastmaster Sect sent someone to the mountain gate, saying that the new head of the Beastmaster Sect stationed in Bianxi City, Jiang Feng, requested that Master come to the Beastmaster Sect's Bianxi City headquarters on the 15th of this month to report to him about the three properties we have taken over."

Upon hearing this, Song Xian and Zhang Ningyuan couldn't help but look at each other, both a little shocked. They had just talked about the new leader of the Beastmaster Sect, Jiang Feng, and they didn't expect that the new leader would send people to the Hunyuan Sect so quickly.

Jiang Feng even sent people to notify the Hunyuan Sect, which had little to do with the Beast Taming Sect, not to mention other forces that had more cooperative industries with the Beast Taming Sect.

But he didn't know what Jiang Fengdu's intention was in summoning them. Song Xian felt that things were not simple and a storm might be coming.

...........................

In April in Bianxi City, it is the season of spring, flowers are blooming, all things are reviving, and birds are singing and grass is growing.

On April 15th, the sun is shining and the wind is gentle.

Qiyuan Mountain, the Beast Taming Sect's headquarters in the western city, was unusually lively today, with people coming and going in an endless stream. In the distance, another flying magic weapon slowly descended.

Song Xian, Lu Yuan and Zhang Ningyuan jumped down from the magic weapon and came to the south entrance of the mountain gate, which led directly to the stone steps on the top of the mountain.

Not far away, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect sat behind the desk, with several disciples of the Beast Taming Sect with lower cultivation standing beside him.

"My fellow Taoists, I am Song Xian, the headmaster of Hunyuan Sect. I have come to visit Senior Jiang. Please inform him." Song Xian bowed.

Over the years in Bianxi City, he had dealt with the Beast Taming Sect several times, but this was his first time visiting the Beast Taming Sect’s headquarters. In the past, he had always visited Yang Jinzhang at the Yang Mansion.

From this point alone, it can be seen that the style of the new leader of the Beastmaster Sect is different from Yang Jinzhang's.

Of course, it is also possible that Jiang Feng deliberately made this gesture to show the difference between him and Yang Jinzhang.

"Junior Brother Zhu, take him to Room 3 in Yard 4." The Beast Taming Sect disciple sitting at the desk looked up at him and said expressionlessly.

"Fellow Daoist Song, please follow me!"

"Wait, who are you two?" Seeing Zhang Ningyuan and Lu Yuan also follow Song Xian forward, the Beastmaster Sect disciple sitting upright immediately stopped them. "These two are disciples of our sect."

"The rest of you stay here and wait." The man said impatiently.

"Senior Brother Ning Yuan, Senior Brother Lu, please wait here!"

Song Xian had no choice but to leave the two men behind and follow another man along the straight stone steps to a house on the top of the mountain.

"Just wait here, someone will come to tell you when the time comes." The man from the Beast Taming Sect who led him in said this and turned away.

"Master Song, long time no see." As the man left, a thin man in his fifties came out of the room opposite the courtyard and greeted him with a smile and bow.

This person is none other than Chen Gongzheng, the head of the Chen Mansion in Bianshan Town.

"Palace Master Chen is here too!" Song Xian returned the greeting and went over to greet him. "Has Palace Master Chen met Senior Jiang?"

"How could it be so fast? I just arrived and heard a noise outside, so I walked to the door and took a look. I didn't expect it to be Master Song. It's been a long time since we last met."

"I don't know why Senior Jiang summoned us here?"

"From what I know, Senior Jiang has summoned all the sects and forces that have cooperated with the Beast Taming Sect. I think he wants to untie the industries that the various sects and forces are responsible for with the Beast Taming Sect. After all, he is a new official! He may know too much about the situation here."

Song Xian looked around the courtyard and said, "I wonder which fellow Taoists have come to Bianxia Town? Does Master Chen know?"

"I don't know about that. Sect Leader Song should know better than me! Your Madam is Senior Wen's niece. Didn't you ask Luoyun Sect about Senior Jiang's background and the purpose of summoning us?"

Of course Song Xian had asked Wen Yiren about it. The first thing he did when he came to Bianxi City was to take Su Zhirou to visit Wen Yiren to inquire about the identity and background of the new head Jiang Feng.

As the largest sect in Bianxi City, Luoyun Sect is naturally well-informed. They had already learned about such a major event as the replacement of the Beastmaster Sect's leader in Bianxi City through various channels.

Wen Yiren did not hide anything from him and told him Jiang Feng's background truthfully.

Wen Yiren now earns tens of thousands of spirit stones from the Jade Fragrance Pill of Hunyuan Pavilion every year. Even for a cultivator who is building a foundation, this is definitely a huge income. The key is that this income goes entirely into her personal pocket.

Hunyuan Sect has almost become her cash cow, so Wen Yiren is very satisfied with Song Xian. In addition, with the relationship with Su Zhirou, she naturally would not hide this little thing.

According to her, Jiang Feng was originally the person in charge of auditing and reviewing domestic capital of the Beastmaster Sect, and he had previously served as the head of Anyuan City.

The most important thing is that this person does not get along with Yang Jinzhang. The two of them once competed for the position of the head of Bianxi City. In the end, Yang Jinzhang, who had a deeper background but less experience, took the position, and he held this position for nearly a hundred years.

Originally, Jiang Feng had a great chance to enter the Beastmaster Sect's cabinet. If he had been able to take this position and gain some experience, he could have taken over the position of one of the cabinet disciples who was already very old.

It was because he failed to compete with Yang Jinzhang at the beginning, and was slow at every step, which led to his failure to enter the cabinet and his position was snatched away by others.

The Beastmaster Sect's cabinet has five seats, which are filled by disciples in the late Foundation Establishment stage. They are responsible for all sect affairs. All personnel transfers, all financial expenditures, and all major matters of the Beastmaster Sect must have cabinet provisions.

The power of the head of the cabinet is no less than that of the sect's Jindan elders, because the cabinet reports directly to the head of the Beastmaster Sect. Even the orders issued by the sect elders have to go through the cabinet.

Entering the cabinet is equivalent to entering the core power circle of the Beastmaster Sect. The benefits are self-evident. The most important thing is that only the cabinet disciples can obtain the sect's Dan-forming resources, otherwise they can only find a way on their own.

Therefore, all the foundation-building disciples of the Beast Taming Sect tried their best to squeeze into the cabinet.

Jiang Feng and Yang Jinzhang had a disagreement because Jiang Feng had criticized Yang Jinzhang for his excessive wealth accumulation and corruption in Bianxi City when they were in the sect, so the two of them were very incompatible.

Wen Zhirou also told him what she knew about why Yang Jinzhang was suddenly transferred. It turned out that there was trouble behind Yang Jinzhang's backstage, which led to him losing his position as the head of West City.

Originally, when the new boss took office, the "old man" Yang Jinzhang was supposed to stay here and hand over all matters before leaving. However, because the two of them didn't get along, Yang Jinzhang simply quit and left.

"I just arrived today and haven't visited Senior Wen yet."

Song Xian naturally wouldn't reveal the inside story. This was all very important information, so how could he casually tell others: "Master Chen, have you seen the leader of the Tianshan Sect? I wonder if the Tianshan Sect has been invited."

"I don't know about that. I didn't see it."

The two chatted for a while, but Song Xian didn't get any useful information, so he returned to his room.

After waiting for a long time, until around noon, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect arrived and led him out of the room and into a majestic and spacious hall, where he asked him to wait.

After a while, a man walked out from the darkness in the corridor. It was none other than Chen Gongzheng.

After he left, Song Xian was taken to a room in the corridor. Inside sat a tall man with slightly gray hair, who looked to be in his fifties. He had a stern face, was stern and serious, and had an awe-inspiring look that made people feel difficult to talk to him at first sight.

Unlike Yang Jinzhang, who has a fair complexion, elegant appearance, a slight smile, and an approachable look.

From their expressions, it can be seen that the two people have completely different personalities.

"Uncle Jiang, this is Song Xian, the headmaster of Hunyuan Sect." The disciple of the Beast Taming Sect who led him in bowed and saluted.

"Junior greets Senior Jiang." Song Xian also bowed.

Jiang Feng didn't even raise his head, just staring at the scroll in his hand. His voice was as hard as iron: "How many spirit stones do you give to Junior Brother Yang Jinzhang privately every year?"

Song Xian didn't expect that his first sentence would be so straightforward. It didn't seem like he was trying to understand the situation, but rather like he was verifying the case and examining the criminal.

After a moment of hesitation, he immediately answered truthfully.

"Our sect inherited three businesses from Senior Yang. Senior Yang entrusted us to raise 12,000 black arrowfish, 1,000 beast soul incense sticks, and 1,000 kilograms of Xuanbu spiritual liquid every year."

"The Black Arrowfish are being purchased at the price of four for one first-level spirit stone, the Beast Soul Incense is being purchased at the price of four first-level spirit stones, and the Mysterious Soul Liquid is being purchased at the price of seven first-level spirit stones per pound."

"Senior Yang has instructed our sect to purchase raw materials from the Beast Materials Pavilion in Fengyuan Town's market, totaling four thousand spirit stones. Additionally, our sect will privately give Senior Yang three thousand spirit stones and Fellow Daoist Zeng Rou two thousand spirit stones each year."

Song Xian told all the inside story without hiding anything.

He didn't know whether Jiang Feng's real purpose was to collect evidence of Yang Jinzhang's crimes and completely capture Yang Jinzhang, or simply to gain a deeper understanding of the situation.

In short, the person in charge of Bianxi City has changed. Yang Jinzhang is a thing of the past. If Hunyuan Sect wants to develop, it must not offend this person. So no matter what he asks, he just answers truthfully. This is the response strategy he had thought of before he came.

(End of this chapter)