Chapter 00137: Preserve One's Demeanor
# Preserve One's Demeanor
Chapter 137
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 137: Preserve One's Demeanor
Wen Xinran furrowed his brows slightly.
The Western Elder held a long-standing position within the Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect, but that did not mean he could use his seniority to intimidate others.
For so many years since joining the sect, Wen Xinran had dedicated himself wholeheartedly to it.
After the previous sect master, Shan Changxiu, was seriously injured and lost his cultivation, he had become the sect’s highest-level practitioner.
In order to ensure the survival of the sect, Wen Xinran had not practiced his own cultivation during these years.
Instead, he devoted nearly all his time to protecting the sect.
Even when disciples like Shan Qianyue and Cheng Yixi had opportunities to venture outside, he remained within the sect, fully prepared to sacrifice everything for its continuity.
During these years, every member of the Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect felt the frustration, and Wen Xinran felt it the most.
When disciples were bullied, the sect did not dare speak loudly about it.
In fact, they had even apologized, which made him, as an elder responsible for the sect’s protection, feel utterly humiliated.
Everything changed when Lan Xiaobu arrived at the sect.
The sect master handled matters with decisiveness and efficiency, which deeply impressed Wen Xinran.
He recalled how Lan Xiaobu dealt with the incident involving the Crescent Moon Pill Tower, where he had directly confronted and killed its manager to settle the score.
You could discuss reason with me, or even demand compensation from me, but insulting the disciples from our sect was absolutely unacceptable.
Such a sect master was necessary to revive the Thousand Clouds Immortal Sect.
Only someone like this could unify all the disciples within the sect.
Sure, Lan Xiaobu might bring some unknown dangers and could even risk the destruction of the sect.
But what good was a sect without character? Better to be destroyed than to exist in misery.
A cultivator should not live a life bending their back in compromise.
Wen Xinran had had enough.
No matter how long you, the Western Elder, have held your position, where were you when the disciples of the sect were insulted, when the sect's spiritual veins were drained, or when our secret realms were occupied?
I don’t care what your name is; trying to remove Lan Xiaobu from his role as sect master is simply out of the question.
The Western Elder looked far away at the majestic Thousand Clouds Peak and slowly spoke, “My surname is Wang, and my previous name was Wang Yingshan. I later changed it to Wang Xiyue…”
“Huh…” Shan Changxiu stared blankly at the Western Elder.
After a moment, he knelt down, “You are Sect Master Wang?”
The founding master of the Thousand Clouds Sect was Fu Luan, whose greatest disciple was Wang Xindan.
Wang Xindan was also the sect master, and he had a descendant named Wang Yingshan, who was the seventeenth sect master of the Thousand Clouds Sect.
However, records showed that Wang Yingshan had gone missing afterward, with no trace left behind.
No one had ever imagined that Wang Yingshan had been present in the Thousand Clouds Sect all along, guarding the scripture pavilion.
“Master Yingshan…” Wen Xinran murmured, astonished by the identity of the person before him.
If this was indeed Master Yingshan, then he truly had the qualifications to prevent Lan Xiaobu from being the sect master.
“But Master, since you are still alive, then why didn’t you…” Shan Changxiu spoke hesitantly, unsure of how to articulate his thoughts.
Everyone understood his implication.
They wondered why someone as powerful as a Virtual God would let the sect's disciples suffer so humiliatingly, not stepping up even when the sect master was severely injured.
Wang Xiyue also understood Shan Changxiu’s meaning and sighed, “It is not that I do not wish to step forward, but rather that I cannot. I, too, have lost my cultivation. There is a problem with the golden crow technique of the Virtual God realms; I made an error in my practice, and after stepping into that realm, my body faced issues.”
“No wonder…” Situ Tong and Cheng Yixi exhaled in relief.
They had initially believed that Wang Xiyue was unable to recover his strength.
Even Wen Xinran had thought that Wang Xiyue was just improvising a solution.
Wang Xiyue, wise from age, clearly understood what everyone was thinking.
He smiled faintly, “Now that my strength has returned, even if Gui Wushou dares to take action, I have the confidence to make sure he cannot escape.”
“Master Xiyue, your strength has truly returned?” Shan Changxiu asked uncertainly.
Wang Xiyue nodded, “Yes, not long ago, the golden crow technique in the scripture pavilion was replaced with the method passed down by our ancestor. I have now re-cultivated the gold crow technique and regained my strength.”
“Elder Xiyue, the golden crow technique was brought back by Sect Master Lan,” Wen Xinran immediately replied.
In his heart, he thought: now that's what you call cutting off the bridge after crossing it! You, Elder Xiyue, practiced the technique brought back by Sect Master Lan and regained your cultivation but now want to strip away his position as sect master? How ridiculous!
Seeing Wen Xinran’s expression, Wang Xiyue understood his thoughts immediately.
He answered calmly, “The golden crow technique was indeed recovered by Lan Xiaobu. His contribution to the Thousand Clouds Sect in retrieving the ancient techniques from the Red Cloud Ancestor is enormous. While we can express our gratitude to him, we cannot allow him to remain the sect master, as his temperament does not suit that role. Everyone witnessed what happened before; if Lan Xiaobu continues to stay in the Thousand Clouds Sect, similar events will keep occurring. Today it is Gui Wushou; tomorrow, it could easily be the master of Western Kunlun or some other five-star sect master. To ensure that the Thousand Clouds Sect does not perish, I must act this way. Even if you perceive me as heartless, so be it.”
“But, Master Xiyue…” Shan Changxiu felt that while Lan Xiaobu might not be suitable as sect master, stripping him of his title felt excessive.
Furthermore, how could the sect express gratitude to Lan Xiaobu now? The sect had nothing to offer him.
Since becoming the sect master, Lan Xiaobu had accomplished far too much in a short time for the Thousand Clouds Sect.
No matter the form of appreciation, it would scarcely suffice.
Wang Xiyue waved his hand, “This matter is settled. I will temporarily take on the role of sect master and will look for and cultivate a new successor. Cheng Yixi, please go to the Kunxu Square and bring back the sect master’s token when Lan Xiaobu emerges. Also, take with you the pet he left on Thousand Clouds Peak.”
After saying this, Wang Xiyue turned and strode away, decisive and efficient.
Now that his strength had returned, he needed to restore the Thousand Clouds Sect to its former glory, at least back to the status of a five-star sect.
So what if Western Kunlun exists? In terms of ancient heritage, it would not last longer than the Thousand Clouds Sect.
Wen Xinran took a deep breath and addressed Shan Changxiu, “Grand Elder, I am leaving the Thousand Clouds Sect. I have given my all to it over the years, but from this day forth, I will no longer be an elder or disciple of the Thousand Clouds Sect.”
Wang Xiyue’s steps halted and, turning back to glance at Wen Xinran, he let out a snort before continuing to walk away.
Previously, Wen Xinran had indeed been the strongest in the Thousand Clouds Sect, contributing immeasurably.
But now, to Wang Xiyue, a mere Condensation Stage cultivator was no different than a fledgling disciple.
Shan Changxiu opened his mouth but didn’t know how to persuade Wen Xinran.
Wen Xinran handed over his elder token without hesitation and turned to leave.
Yet, he did not head towards the sect but rather outside its boundaries.
This was a sect he had fought for, shed blood for, and dedicated himself to.
But today, there was nothing here left worth reminiscing.
He would rather stay with the sect to perish together than remain in a sect that had lost its persistence and conviction.
...
After stabilizing his Golden Dan cultivation, Lan Xiaobu did not continue with his training.
His Soul Thorn's attack capability had also multiplied, but he understood that eliminating Gui Wushou, who was at several levels above him in strength, was still unrealistic.
Under what conditions could he possibly defeat someone of such superior strength? Rubbing his head and sighing, he thought of the sort of people he had attracted.
Wait, he hadn’t even provoked Gui Wushou at all; it was that scoundrel who had come after him first. “Curse you!” he thought, “I, Lan Xiaobu, have not offended you, yet you dare take the first step towards me!”
No, if he were to be chased around by Gui Wushou this time, it would tarnish his demeanor in the cultivation world.
Since arriving in the Yuan Continent, when had he ever been chased before? He hadn’t run away once from Mubei Market to White Feather Immortal City.
Even at Kunxu Square, he had directly dealt with Gui Haipeng.
It was precisely because of his assertiveness that Meng Ao had not dared to take advantage of him nor spoken out against him.
No matter what, he could not afford to lose this kind of demeanor.
Otherwise, would it mean that a little more strength would allow anyone to hunt him down? He was still a sect master; being targeted was not something to take lightly.
Just as Lan Xiaobu was in deep thought, the Seven Sounds Model signaled that the intermediate-level array chapter had been completed.
He shook off his worries.
Previously, he could only set up level-three arrays primarily due to the lack of an intermediate array chapter.
Now that the chapter was available, he could study level-four arrays.
Thinking of arrays, Lan Xiaobu suddenly imagined: if he could break through to become a level-four or even a level-five array master.
At that point, if he set up a trapping formation and lured Gui Wushou into it…
But that was still unreliable.
While the method was usable, it was not enough.
Let’s not even mention a level-four trapping formation; even level-five might not suffice to confine Gui Wushou.
With his current cultivation, there was no better strategy.
He could only rely on the formation to trap Gui Wushou, but would need other means for assistance.
It would be best to find a way to restrain Gui Wushou’s true essence and divine sense.
What could possibly restrain the true essence of a Virtual God?
Lan Xiaobu immediately etched this thought into the Seven Sounds Model, instructing it to build something that could counter the true essence and divine sense of a Virtual God.
Meanwhile, he focused on studying the intermediate-level arrays.
The Kunxu space had such an abundance of valuable resources.
Aside from the colorful immortal fungus, the rest had little relevance to Lan Xiaobu.
He now barely had time to study formations, where could he find more treasures?
If it were not for the matter involving his own life, Lan Xiaobu certainly would not have spent all this precious time researching formation pathways unless he had completely lost his mind.
At this point, he had no choice but to proceed this way, despite his desire to maintain an unpursued demeanor.
It felt as if Gui Wushou had turned into an inescapable nightmare lingering over him.
(End of Chapter)