Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds

Xu Xing didn't plan to abandon the persona of Yao Dang.

Sometimes, an extra persona could provide an additional layer of security.

So, after saving the Qiming Sect, he made an excuse to go into seclusion and returned to the Five Thunder Mountain Spiritual Land.

Two days later, an Elder from the Qiming Sect arrived at the Five Thunder Mountain Spiritual Land with a decree, asking him and the other four female cultivators to return to the Qiming Sect to help rebuild it from its dilapidated state.

"The Sect regards us as its successors. Now that the Sect is in trouble, we should dedicate ourselves completely to rebuilding it..."

On the way back to the Qiming Sect, the four female cultivators whispered among themselves, their words filled with gratitude for the Sect.

If not for the Sect's kindness this time, they, like most other disciples, would likely have perished on the spot when the Fragrant Fox Sect succeeded in breaking the array.

Their aptitudes weren't top-tier, so for the Sect to treat them this way was a profound grace of acknowledgment and protection.

"Indeed!" another female cultivator agreed. "After returning to the Sect, I plan not to enter seclusion even once for a hundred years. I will devote all my energy to helping the Sect nurture new disciples."

The primary goal of a cultivator is longevity.

Dedicating oneself to the Sect comes second.

Being willing to forgo seclusion for one hundred years was akin to sacrificing a hundred years of one's life to contribute to the Qiming Sect's restoration.

Hearing this, Xu Xing shook his head and remained silent.

Dayue Mountain was the true land of inheritance for the Qiming Sect. Five Thunder Mountain was just an ordinary place with spiritual veins. In other words, these four female cultivators were mistaken; they were not the truly vital inheritors of the Qiming Sect. It just so happened that this "trap" targeting him required four pawns, and they had unfortunately become those pawns.

However, Xu Xing had no intention of revealing the schemes of the Qiming Sect's high-level members.

This was an internal affair of the Qiming Sect and had nothing to do with him. It was common for lower-level disciples to be treated as consumables by their Sect... No power could escape this reality.

However, while on the journey, he constantly reminded himself not to let his increased strength lead him to neglect strategy and schemes.

While it was true that overwhelming strength could often overcome trickery, insufficient strategic thinking could lead to an end like that of the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. "A perishing ruler is invariably arrogant, convinced of his own wisdom, and heedless of his surroundings. Arrogance alienates capable individuals; self-wisdom leads to isolation; and heedlessness leaves one unprepared..." He recalled this quote from "Lu's Spring and Autumn." The principle was largely the same. When one's cultivation reached a high level, one might become too lazy to employ schemes for matters that could be easily resolved with strength, believing everything could be crushed by power without the need for calculation. However, sometimes, ants could successfully scheme against elephants, just as he had schemed against others before. This time, he had nearly suffered a significant loss.

...

...

After traveling for about half a day, Xu Xing led the four female cultivators to the Qiming Sect's headquarters.

"Elder Yao, please wait a moment..." a disciple guarding the Sect stopped Xu Xing respectfully. "The Sect Master will be here shortly and has further instructions for you."

"Then I shall wait for the Sect Master," Xu Xing replied. He stopped, gathered his sleeves, gave the disciple a deep look, and then nodded.

The disciple guarding the Sect was merely following orders. There was no need to make things difficult for him. The Qiming Sect wouldn't let him enter. He made a quick guess and understood immediately. It was still due to their distrust of him. Now that the Qiming Sect's high-level members lacked combat power, an uncontrollable outsider like him, an Elixir Mark Realm cultivator, would not be allowed in. He would naturally be stopped.

About one hour later, Hua Shu emerged from the mountain gate, perfectly on time. She approached Xu Xing, bowed with an apologetic expression, and said, "The Sect is in the midst of rebuilding, and affairs are hectic. I have been somewhat neglectful towards Elder Yao. Please don't take offense."

Her original intention had been to make Xu Xing wait for a while to test his attitude towards the Sect. But she hadn't expected Xu Xing to stand outside the mountain gate with his eyes closed, perfectly composed and showing no sign of impatience. He didn't resemble a prideful genius at all. Instead, he seemed like an old creature who had seen through the world's vicissitudes.

"Sect Master, you are too kind," Xu Xing returned the courtesy, his words as reserved and few as always. "This is what I should do."

This time, he wanted to see what game Hua Shu was playing.

"This battle has caused the Sect to suffer grievous losses," Hua Shu began, outlining the extent of the Qiming Sect's recent devastation. "We originally had five Elixir Mark Realm Elders, but now only one remains. Furthermore, Elder Qu is gravely injured..."

The implication was clear: Xu Xing owed her and the Sect a debt of gratitude for surviving and returning unharmed.

"Elder Yao is a disciple of the Supreme Elder and belongs to the Sect Leader's Lineage... Some of the other Elders have already begun grumbling in private, claiming that I, as Sect Master, am showing favoritism, attempting to consolidate power within my own faction at the expense of others... They are very dissatisfied with you, Elder Yao... Hence, my instructing the disciples to stop Elder Yao was to provide a clear account to the other Elders."

Hua Shu recited her well-prepared lines. She was directly telling Xu Xing he would be stationed at the Sect's headquarters instead of going to Dayue Mountain. She thought that if she were in Xu Xing's place, she would certainly feel resentful. But with the pretext she had laid out, if Xu Xing were a grateful person, he should comply with her arrangements.

"So, I plan to have you, Elder Yao, stationed at the Sect's headquarters, while the other Elders will accompany me in retreating to another of the Sect's secret locations... This will serve to appease the other Elders," Hua Shu continued.

First, she appealed to emotion, then to reason.

As long as Yao Dang had a shred of conscience, he would obey her orders.

"Sect Master, you are quite calculating," Xu Xing said, his eyes turning cold.

Leaving him to guard the dangerous Qiming Sect headquarters. If he only possessed Elixir Mark Realm cultivation, he would likely be eliminated by powerful experts from other sects coveting this place before long. This was essentially a deadly mission! The Qiming Sect's headquarters... which sect wouldn't covet it immensely?