Comprehension Ability: I Forge a Villainous Longevity Family

Chapter 588: Chapter 456: Mangcang_2

"Sect Leader, does this mean our Mangcang Sect can only wait to die? Shouldn’t we at least contact other nearby families and sects? Perhaps if we unite, we could resist the Iron Sword Sect and make some impact?"

"Sect Leader, I know that people from the Iron Wood Family are the least willing to join the Iron Sword Sect. After all, the Iron Wood that the Iron Wood Family produces every year is top-grade material for crafting magical weapons. Surely, the two True Self Realm great cultivators of the Iron Wood Family won’t just surrender for this source of wealth?"

"And the Wang Family, although one of theirs has only recently broken through to the True Self Realm, they’ve connected with a Grand Sect in Central State that has a Venerable of the Peak overseeing it, intending to join for cultivation. If Wang Churan of the Wang Family succeeds in becoming an apprentice, their sect might be able to block the Iron Sword Sect...."

"The Feng Family from the Water Pool also hinted at asking about our Mangcang’s attitude a few days ago."

"Even the Brahma Royal Family has inquired before!"

With two elders taking the lead, the stewards of the Mangcang Sect began listing individuals and sects that might influence the Iron Sword Sect’s annexation this time. According to their calculations, perhaps there are more than a dozen True Self Realm cultivators and nearly as many sects unwilling to submit to the Iron Sword Sect.

But are these efforts useful?

Wang Hao clearly saw that after hearing these sects and individuals willing to unite in resistance, their sect leader’s expression did not relax. He still wore a worried and grim look.

At the end of the meeting, the sect leader waved his hand at the crowd.

"Sigh, give me two days to think. Resisting the Iron Sword Sect is a big matter, one that could cost lives. It’s not something that can be decided with just a few words."

As he said this, seeing that everyone still had no intention of leaving, the sect leader could only sigh, stand up, and lead the way out.

...

The sect leader left, but the conference room remained noisy.

Some said, "As strong as the Iron Sword Sect is, can that Divine Sword Elder kill all of us?" Others said, "As long as everyone sticks together, the Iron Sword Sect wouldn’t dare bully us."

Yet, despite all the words, Wang Hao realized that when it came to dealing with the Divine Sword Elder, none of the elders of the Mangcang Sect offered any useful suggestions.

This once again reshaped Wang Hao’s perception of Nirvana Realm, the top cultivators of Gan State.

"Can it be that even a group of True Self Realm experts banding together can’t resist that Divine Sword Elder?"

The elders and stewards in the conference room argued for an entire morning. After adjourning, Wang Hao, with a peculiar mindset, couldn’t hold back and went to find Sect Leader Hee Qiang.

He, too, needed an answer.

Whether the Iron Sword Sect’s power could be opposed, and if their lack of intervention by Snow Fox Mountain meant that no matter how many True Self Realm cultivators they gathered, they couldn’t withstand that Divine Sword Elder!

To figure this out, Wang Hao first went to Moon Pool in the depths of Bamboo Sea. Not finding the sect leader there, he then went to the sect’s Ancestral Hall.

Sure enough, Wang Hao found the sect leader there.

The sect leader was kneeling on a cushion in the Ancestral Hall, eyes closed, seemingly contemplating something directed at the altar, which displayed the portraits of dozens of former sages of the Mangcang Sect.

Wang Hao paused at the door, hesitating briefly before quietly saying:

"Master, your disciple seeks an audience for something."

Yes, Hee Qiang was Wang Hao’s master. To be precise, Wang Hao had been brought back by Hee Qiang from outside the mountain since childhood, nearly considered Hee Qiang’s half-son.

Upon hearing Wang Hao’s voice, the Ancestral Hall remained silent for over ten seconds before Wang Hao heard his master Hee Qiang’s calm voice.

"Come in and speak."

"Yes."

Wang Hao stepped into the Ancestral Hall, seeing his master still kneeling upon the cushion without standing up, Wang Hao found a cushion and knelt down behind his master.

Then, he softly asked:

"Master, is our Mangcang Sect truly destined to be annexed by the Iron Sword Sect?"

"Hmm." Hee Qiang’s voice was so calm that it conveyed no emotion.

A chill ran through Wang Hao’s heart, yet he quickly asked:

"Then the debates of our elders in the conference room earlier...."

"Their debates are their own; they need to do it in front of me. If not, how else would they show their loyalty to our Mangcang Sect, to me as their Sect Leader?"

"Master, you mean...."

"Me? I have no particular meaning."

Hee Qiang’s voice remained as serene, as though the matter at hand concerning the ownership of the Mangcang, belonging to him and his Hee Family, was nothing more than a triviality unable to disturb his peace.

"When splitting the family, people have ambitions, after all, our Mangcang Sect has accumulated many spiritual objects over the past century. Since the Iron Sword Sect intends to annex us, as the Sect Leader, I can’t just hand over our accumulated heritage altogether. It’s not right, nor reasonable."

"Are you saying the elders acted out this scene in front of you wishing to take spiritual objects from your hands?"

"That’s indeed the case."

"Master, since you’re aware, why not...." Wang Hao initially intended to ask why his master wouldn’t expose whatever was happening. Even if not, he could flee with Mangcang Sect’s century-old accumulated spiritual objects before the Iron Sword Sect’s people arrived, instead of remaining here, kneeling in the Ancestral Hall!

But those words he couldn’t speak.

There was no other reason but because, facing the tablets of countless Mangcang Sect ancestors, Wang Hao couldn’t utter the words asking his master to leave the sect.

The education he received since childhood prevented him from doing so!

And Hee Qiang?

Hee Qiang didn’t say anything. He simply murmured for a while longer before finally opening his eyes, turning around to gently touch Wang Hao’s head.

"There’s nothing to it, merely merging into the Iron Sword Sect. We masters and disciples might lack some sources of spiritual objects, but instead can learn profound cultivation techniques within the Iron Sword Sect. Ultimately, it might give you and your senior brothers a chance to cultivate to the True Self Realm. To you, joining the Iron Sword Sect isn’t necessarily a bad thing."

"But Master, what about you? The Mangcang Sect is your family property, how can you bear handing over this heritage which has been passed down for generations to the Iron Sword Sect?"

"Detachment, nothing to be reluctant about. Since it can’t be retained, let them take it."

Hee Qiang shook his head. Seeing Wang Hao still fixedly gazing at him, he ultimately sighed and said, "Don’t worry about me as your master. The Hee Family has been rooted in Mangcang for over two hundred years; even without the Mangcang Sect, I can still provide for your and your senior brother’s cultivation resources. When the Iron Sword Sect arrives, just welcome them with your senior brother. There won’t be much change."

"Master!" Tears glistened in Wang Hao’s eyes.

"That’s enough. Don’t disturb my time with the ancestors."

...

From his master Hee Qiang’s words, Wang Hao discerned that his master had no intention to resist the annexation by the Iron Sword Sect.

But is this really the case?

Wang Hao didn’t know.

He only knew that before the Iron Sword Sect arrived, two of the six stewards in the sect had gone out for some reason, and prior to that, two elders had prematurely harvested new Moon Ancestor Bamboo shoots growing along the Moon Lake Shore.

The sect’s main storage was also depleted significantly during this time; what previously appeared affluent had become nearly empty, as if everyone was preparing for the takeover by the Iron Sword Sect.

Only at night did Wang Hao constantly observe the two elders making trips to his master’s courtyard, sometimes through arguments, occasionally overhearing severe words interspersed with ’Moon Lake Secret Realm’, ’Hee Family Blessed Lands’, ’Moon Ancestor Bamboo’, and more.

So, does the Mangcang Sect truly have a Hidden Blessed Land Secret Realm that even he, Wang Hao, is unaware of?

Never mind, thinking about it doesn’t concern him.

His master hadn’t told him, indicating it’s not related to Wang Hao. Presumably, it’s a secret realm passed down in his master’s family, and when the Iron Sword Sect arrives, perhaps his master could use this secret realm to exchange for good things, allowing his master to quickly break through to the True Self Realm?

This might, in fact, be a positive development?

It should be, indeed.

With such thoughts, Wang Hao continued his calm cultivation on Mangcang Mountain.

Until the day the Iron Sword Sect arrived...