Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 825: Chapter 63: Six Paths Ceasefire, Alliance Hierarch’s Task Completed

Tai Yin Sword Master, has emerged from Shushan.

This news swiftly spread across the world. The sects of the Six Paths that received this message rapidly reconvened their meeting.

Aside from the Mortal Life Path and the Nether Ghost Path, the other sects unanimously reached a consensus to withdraw their forces, especially the Asura Path who stated it most bluntly:

“If we don’t withdraw now, are we waiting for the Tai Yin Sword Master to come slaying his way up to Iron City Mountain?”

“Since the Tai Yin Sword Master has cleaved Emei, it proves that his relationship with Shushan isn’t that harmonious,” Wen Yang began, “Whether he truly wishes to serve as Shushan’s vanguard remains unknown.”

Clearly, although the Nether Ghost Path did not explicitly state their stance, they were certainly not inclined to withdraw their forces.

“If the Tai Yin Sword Master doesn’t come to us, your Nether Ghost Path can continue to plunder profits from Guanzhong,” the sect leader of the Eastern Emperor Path, Shi Yao, said coldly, “And if he does come, then the Asura Path and the Eastern Emperor Path will be the ones to bear the brunt. Your sect is playing a very clever game.”

Wen Yang was neither angry nor resentful, but only said in a deep voice:

“The remuneration for joining the united battle has already been paid to you all in advance, not just to my sect alone.”

“The agreed-upon united battle—we have already fulfilled our obligations,” the real person of the Heavenly Demon Path, Yun Zhen, spoke slowly, “It is not that we are reluctant to fight, but that the situation truly calls for no other choice.”

Wen Yang quietly listened to the end, then turned to Wei Dongliu and asked:

“What does the Mortal Life Path mean by this?”

“The Tai Yin Sword Master is not an opponent one can contend with,” Wei Dongliu said indifferently.

So Wen Yang said nothing more.

The meeting came to a temporary conclusion, and Wen Yang went back to report in detail to the Honored White Bone about the attitudes of all parties, eventually stating:

“If the Tai Yin Sword Master can really exhibit the strength he did that day, then what we need to discuss is not how to cease the battle, but how to preserve the lineage of our path.”

“But presently, aside from promoting themselves, Shushan has shown no further action, which indicates that either they cannot freely command the Tai Yin Sword Master, or the Tai Yin Sword Master cannot always unleash the full power of the Tai Yin Suming Sword at will.”

The Honored White Bone laughed bitterly. What Wen Yang said certainly made sense, but the problem is that in this world, it doesn’t mean others will listen to you just because you are reasonable.

Aside from the Nether Ghost Path, which gained substantial profits, and the Mortal Life Path, which gained fame, the enthusiasm of the other three paths to participate was not high to begin with.

Originally, aside from many other factors, the main consideration was whether there were any easy gains to be made. After fighting for so long, they realized that the results were mediocre. Coupled with the emergence of the Tai Yin Sword Master, it became natural for them to take this as a reason to exit.

Wen Yang said the Tai Yin Sword Master was not worth worrying about, but even without the emergence of the Tai Yin Sword Master, the allies would find other excuses to cease hostilities, it just wouldn’t be as swift and unanimous as now.

“Let’s cease fighting!” declared the Honored White Bone.

So the second meeting began, and Wen Yang readily announced the Nether Ghost Path support for cessation of hostilities, to the great joy of all parties involved.

Although a ceasefire was decided, with Kunlun still entrenched at the foot of Iron City Mountain, they obviously could not just retreat directly, otherwise what if the enemy took advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack?

Wei Dongliu thus declared:

“How about we execute the strategy of reducing troops while increasing battles, with the sects withdrawing in batches in an orderly fashion.”

The so-called reducing troops while increasing battles means reducing the number of troops stationed on one hand, while on the other hand, increasing the frequency of battles.

The latter would give the impression to the enemy that “the attacking vigor of the enemy forces is growing stronger”, naturally deterring them from thinking in the direction of the former.

“If you start to withdraw and Kunlun suddenly launches a major attack on Iron City Mountain halfway through, what then?” a Venerable Master from the Asura Path asked.

“Kunlun will not,” Wei Dongliu asserted confidently.

“Why?” The monk was startled at the remark.

“If I’m not mistaken, Kunlun must also have the intention to retreat.” Wei Dongliu said with confidence, “With the emergence of the Tai Yin Sword Master in Shushan, how could Kunlun not worry?”

Everyone laughed.

As both strategic allies and competitors, who could be more skilled in these matters than the folks of the Six Paths? Just the art of “how to secretly weaken an ally without causing them to react” alone, the people present had ten thousand ways to achieve it, and Kunlun was no match in this regard.

“With the emergence of the Tai Yin Sword Master in Shushan, Kunlun must be truly in a frazzled state.” Wen Yang also agreed, laughing, “If handled improperly, the leader of the Orthodox Sect might just end up in their court.”

“Eh?” An Asura Path master suddenly had a brainwave, “Since Kunlun also fears Shushan, why don’t we join hands with Kunlun to jointly oppose Shushan?”

The laughter stopped abruptly as everyone looked at the foreign monk elder as if he were an idiot.

“Ahem.” Realizing his flights of fancy, he quickly rectified, “I meant in secret, in secret.”

Even in secret, that’s impossible! Putting aside the risks to one’s reputation and Kunlun’s own loftiness, just in terms of strength alone, the combined might of the Six Paths was not yet enough to make Kunlun consider an alliance.

If the Six Paths truly unified, presenting a united front, then maybe Kunlun would actually consider it.

However, everyone knew that the Six Paths Alliance was only united in interest and did not represent diplomatic consistency. The so-called “cooperating with the Six Paths Alliance” actually meant negotiating separately with each entity… The cost-effectiveness was simply not worth it, especially for Kunlun.

“In conclusion.” Wei Dongliu spoke calmly as if he hadn’t heard the other person’s words, “Kunlun won’t stay in Iron City Mountain for too long, the rest of you can prepare to return to your Sects.”

“However, after returning, please keep a low profile and try to avoid high-profile actions.”

He spoke unhurriedly, and among those seated some had expressions as still as water, some were unreadable, and some were disdainful.

Those in the know understood that Wei Dongliu was reminding everyone that although Kunlun was retreating openly, there would definitely be several successive punitive expeditions meant as retribution.

Although everyone had immense experience in avoiding confrontations, if someone carelessly fell victim and many people died, it would indeed be a severe blow to their vital energy.

Of course, not everyone at the meeting could guess Wei Dongliu’s intentions.

Some who were unaware thought to themselves that Great Alliance Leader Wei was only the leader during this war. Now that a truce had been confirmed, his role as the leader was already null and void, yet he was trying to give us orders?

I simply won’t listen!

Wei Dongliu’s face remained expressionless, taking note of those young hotheads showing dissatisfaction, contempt, and scorn, and finally said:

“Then, everyone should return and carry out the retreat.”

The meeting ended, and there were a lot of tasks to arrange afterward, so everyone went their separate ways.

“Sect Master Wei seems to be quite radiant lately.” With Jiang the Witch not around, Wen Yang came over to chat.

“Is that so?” Wei Dongliu felt like crying without tears.

Radiant? It’s probably more like the last glimmers of life.

If this night-to-night torment continues, I might really get killed by her.

No, I must think of a way.

As Wei Dongliu was thinking this, he suddenly felt something vibrating at his waist.

It was the Communication Treasure given by the Hell Path’s Luo Daozhang.