Chapter 250: Chapter 239: Five Masters
Several days later, inside a newly constructed Palace deep within Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.
The Palace sat atop a mist-shrouded mountain peak. Constructed primarily from elegant white jade and bluestone, its structure was simple yet grand, with a pure, natural Dao Rhyme flowing between its upturned eaves and interlocking brackets.
The furnishings within the Palace were few, but each piece was exquisitely crafted.
A wisp of fragrant incense smoke curled upward from a censer, filling the entire space with a sense of tranquility and transcendence.
At this moment, within the Palace’s Main Hall, Qi Yun sat high in the main seat. He was upon a wide Cloud Bed, his aura calm, and his Deep Blue Daoist Robe lent him an air of majesty.
Below him sat five Foundation Establishment Masters, each with a profound aura.
First on the left was Chi Yang Master, with a resolute face and a scorching aura. Below him was Qing Li Master, whose expression was somewhat complicated. Further down was the middle-aged Daoist, Yang Cuan.
First on the right was the only female Master, Ming Yu Master. She was clad in a moon-white Daoist Robe, her features beautiful, her gentle eyes holding a clarity that seemed to see through the ways of the world.
Below her was Xuan Cheng Master, who had a slightly chubby frame and a smiling face, though his eyes would occasionally flash with a shrewd glint.
These five were all influential figures within the Holy Sect, people with real power who were not particularly close to the Black Mountain Lineage and could potentially be won over.
The five Foundation Establishment Masters sat there in the Palace.
All of them cast subtle glances toward the figure seated high above them.
’This was a man they had personally watched join the Sect, then ascend step by step to the Realm of Master.’
’To think it had only been a few decades.’
’And now, the power and authority he wielded already surpassed their own.’
’It was truly cause for a sigh.’
After the attendant youths served the Spirit Tea and withdrew, Qi Yun’s gaze swept over the five Masters present. A calm smile appeared on his face as he was the first to speak:
"Senior Uncles, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come here today.
I imagine you already have some idea why I’ve invited you."
He gently rubbed his fingers, his tone unhurried:
"The construction of the Northern Defense Array is the most pressing matter at hand, a matter concerning the very lifeline of the Northwest.
However, the project is immense and incredibly complex. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I fear my strength alone would be insufficient. I worry I might delay the schedule and fail the great trust placed in me by the Four Great Masters and the Sect."
He paused, observing their expressions. Seeing that they were all listening intently, he continued:
"Therefore, I have an audacious request.
I would like to ask you, Senior Uncles, to lend a hand and assist me in jointly supervising the construction of this Grand Array.
Each of you could be responsible for a particular area of affairs, such as overseeing the construction of a section of the Array Foundation, or coordinating the allocation of certain resources...
I will grant you the corresponding authority and responsibilities, allowing you to wield the secondary seals of my Four Extremes Derivation Order.
Whatever is needed for the Array Formation, you will also have discretionary power to requisition resources from the Four Sects."
As soon as he said this, the eyes of the several Masters below changed slightly.
They naturally understood the unspoken implications of Qi Yun’s words.
This so-called "assist in supervising" and "discretionary power to requisition"—there was far too much room for maneuver in those phrases.
He was practically handing them an opportunity to reap benefits on a silver platter!
Chi Yang Master frowned slightly, looking as if he wanted to speak but held back.
Qing Li Master’s eyes flickered, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Yang Cuan remained silent, but his breathing grew a fraction more rapid.
Ming Yu Master’s gaze shifted, lost in thought.
As for Xuan Cheng Master, the smile on his face grew even wider.
Qi Yun took in all their reactions and knew the time was ripe.
"Of course, since you Senior Uncles will be working hard, you naturally cannot be expected to do so for nothing.
During this process, for any resource profits gained from what you ’save’ or through ’reasonable’ allocation... we will split it seventy-thirty.
You, Senior Uncles, may take thirty percent."
The hall instantly fell silent, with only the sound of smoke curling up from the incense burner.
’A seventy-thirty split!’
’It didn’t sound like much.’
’But in reality, all they had to do was show up. Using the authority granted by Qi Yun, they could easily skim off massive amounts of resources that would normally take them immense effort to obtain.’
’This was practically a gift from the heavens!’
’As for the risks...’
’With Qi Yun at the forefront, holding the Four Extremes Derivation Order and the title of project head...’
’...as long as they didn’t push the boundaries of the Four Sects too far, the risks were completely manageable.’
’And the benefits were tangible, real, something they could see and touch.’
Xuan Cheng Master was the first to clap his hands and laugh.
"Nephew Qi, you are thoughtful and truly understand the greater good!
For the Sect, for the Northwest, this humble Daoist is duty-bound to help!"
Qing Li Master took a deep breath and also nodded slowly.
"Nephew Qi’s proposal truly solves a pressing need. Qing Li is willing to do his humble part."
Yang Cuan gently waved his folding fan. Though he said nothing, he nodded with a smile.
Ming Yu Master smiled faintly, her voice pleasant. "Ming Yu also finds this method sound."
Chi Yang Master looked at the others and said in a deep voice:
"Since it is for the sake of the Holy Sect, Chi Yang... has an undeniable duty."
Watching the five Masters below reach a consensus, Qi Yun revealed a sincere smile.
"Excellent!
With the full support of you Senior Uncles, how could we possibly fail to complete the Grand Array?"
He raised his teacup.
"Well then, Senior Uncles, do you understand what I was just saying?"
"We understand!" the five Masters replied in unison.
...
Inside the Palace, the fragrance of tea had not yet completely faded, but the five Masters had already taken their leave, ready to make their mark.
Only Qi Yun remained in the hall, along with Ding Tai and Ning Feng, whom he had transferred to his side to serve as his right and left-hand men.
Ding Tai, who had a more straightforward temperament, watched the five Masters depart and finally couldn’t help but ask in a puzzled tone:
"Master, this disciple is slow.
This is such a wonderful assignment, a chance to mobilize resources and reap benefits. Why did you have to share it with them?
If we just took our time, couldn’t we also..."
Before he could finish, Ning Feng, who was standing to the side, chuckled and interrupted him, his face showing a mix of understanding and shrewdness:
"Senior Brother Ding, you just don’t get it, do you?
If you try to eat the whole feast yourself, you’re bound to get sick.
What’s more, the ’feast’ our Master is eating right now belongs to the Four Sects!"
As he spoke, he glanced at Qi Yun. Seeing no displeasure, but rather a smile playing on his lips, he continued to explain:
"Do you really think the Master did this because he can’t be everywhere at once and can’t handle this massive project on his own?
Not at all.
There are three deep meanings behind the Master’s actions."
Ning Feng held up three fingers and began to speak eloquently:
"First, to use a powerful banner as a shield.
The Master currently holds the Four Extremes Derivation Order. His authority is immense, but ultimately, he’s operating alone, exposed.
If he tried to handle everything personally and a fierce conflict arose with the other three Sects, or if someone from within tried to sabotage him, the Master would easily find himself isolated and helpless.
By bringing these five Senior Uncles on board, it’s equivalent to raising the grand banner of our Wuji Holy Sect.
The upper echelons of the Four Sects will have to think twice!"
"Second, to silence the critics and demonstrate his governing ability.
The construction of the Northern Defense Array will take a long time. If there’s no visible progress in the early stages, and all people see is us skimming resources, some will inevitably grow green with envy. They might slander him before the Four Great Masters or even a True Monarch, questioning the Master’s competence and potentially even having him replaced.
Now, with the five Senior Uncles and the forces under them joining, many hands make light work. The initial phase of the project is bound to progress quickly and show results.
Once we have tangible progress to show for it, we’ll have more room—and more security—to maneuver in the shadows."
"Third, to share the benefits and allow a network to form naturally.
Five Masters might not seem like many, but behind each one of them are disciples, followers, subordinate factions, and an intricate web of personal connections.
When they make a move, it’s like a stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples that draw even more forces into the vortex for us to use.
The larger and denser this web becomes, the more stable the Master’s foundation will be, and the more resources he will be able to mobilize and control.
Trading thirty percent of the profits in exchange for a network of connections and executive power that covers the entire project—and can even influence parts of the Four Sects—
is a very, very good deal!"
Ning Feng’s analysis was so logical and coherent that Ding Tai came to a sudden realization, nodding his head repeatedly.
Qi Yun let out a soft laugh and gave Ning Feng an approving glance.
"You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, kid. You see things clearly."
His tone then shifted, though it remained calm:
"However, profit moves the hearts of men.
While it’s convenient to use people from our own Holy Sect, we must also take precautions.
We’ve given them a taste of the benefits and delegated authority, but we cannot let them run completely unchecked."
His gaze turned to Ding Tai and Ning Feng as he gave his command:
"Ding Tai, Ning Feng, I want the two of you to secretly organize a team of absolutely reliable personnel.
Everything the five Masters do, every resource allocation and personnel arrangement they handle—I want you to find a way to record it all in detail and secretly report a summary to me every ten days."
His fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the Cloud Bed, his eyes profound.
"I want to know how much they’re taking and how much they’re putting back. I want to know if they’re reaching too far...
...or if anyone is feigning compliance while secretly enriching themselves at the project’s expense, crossing the line. Do you understand?"
Ding Tai and Ning Feng’s expressions turned serious, and they immediately bowed.
"This disciple understands!"
"Rest assured, Master. This subordinate will handle it with the utmost discretion!"
Both of them understood clearly in their hearts.
Qi Yun was willing to share the profits, but he would never allow anyone to slip from his control, become insatiably greedy, and jeopardize his fundamental plan or the grand scheme of things.
A balance of tension and release, a slow and deliberate advance.
Only this could ensure that this great ship would continue to sail steadily forward.
...
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