Beginning the Seclusion

But he wanted everyone to have an equal opportunity.

Whether to cultivate or not, and to what level one cultivated, should be a decision in the hands of each individual.

Rather than having their right to cultivate predetermined from the moment they were born.

To this end, he would work hard to develop and expand the Lingxian Sect, ensuring it grew steadily and impartially in this direction.

He wanted to allow more people to see it and know it.

Then be influenced by it, regaining the qualification to cultivate that was otherwise dictated solely by spirit roots.

Therefore, he was already mentally prepared for the sect's exposure.

Once news of their sect was reported to the imperial court, the court would have no more than three reactions.

First, they might think it impossible for a sect to inexplicably appear in a remote backwater, assuming it to be fake or a prank, treating it as a joke and ignoring it.

Of course, this possibility was extremely low.

Second, they might take it seriously, viewing them as a heterodox path or a foreign power. Looking at them with hostile eyes, they would immediately notify the three great sects to jointly discuss countermeasures.

Given the current degree of integration between the imperial court and the three great sects, this situation was quite possible, or rather, highly probable.

Third, upon receiving the news, the imperial court might harbor doubts but also hold some different expectations, secretly sending someone to investigate. After confirming the facts, they would contact the Lingxian Sect behind the backs of the three great sects, secretly negotiating trade cooperation and providing support, thereby transforming the Pusi Kingdom from a tri-sect dominance into a situation where a rising new sect emerged alongside the three great sects.

Over the years, it was impossible for the imperial court not to have any grievances against the three great sects.

Thus, Lin Xiao felt this scenario was also highly likely.

He was betting that the third situation would occur.

However, among these three situations, the worst for the Lingxian Sect was merely the second one.

If the second situation really happened, at worst, everyone in the Lingxian Sect would move up the mountain to cultivate and never go out.

They would become homebody cultivators.

In any case, the mountain now had fields, land, mountains, and water; food was plentiful, and spiritual energy was abundant.

Once their sect produced a few more high-level cultivators, presumably the three great sects wouldn't want to arm-wrestle with them anymore.

After all, arm-wrestling might break bones and allow their rivals to take advantage. If they did nothing, it would merely change from three families sharing the pie to four; the territory of the Pusi Kingdom wasn't monopolized by any single sect anyway.

The only one likely to cause trouble might be the Shangyang Sect, which was located in the eastern part of the Pusi Kingdom, just like the Lingxian Sect.

But no matter how he considered it, Lin Xiao felt that even if his sect were exposed, it wouldn't be a big problem.

On the contrary, if they always acted timidly to avoid exposure, constantly worrying whether doing this or that would get them discovered, that would be the real trouble.

Thus, Lin Xiao wasn't too worried about the sect's exposure.

However, Prefect Tong's help had bought their sect more time.

This was also very good.

Perhaps by the time the imperial court or the three great sects got the news and prepared to make a move, his closed-door cultivation would already be over.

Moreover, the affairs of the world were constantly changing.

He didn't know what the future would hold or what would happen in the next second.

As long as he made appropriate preparations, he felt it would be fine.

Outside the window, the night deepened.

The people of Xiushui Village gradually fell asleep amidst the bright moonlight and the rising and falling chirping of cicadas.

Early the next morning.

Lin Xiao followed his father and brother up the mountain, treading on the morning dew.

Senior Liao, Mo Yuanjiao, Mo Que, Liu Chun, and Liu Yunan's family of three, who lived in the Guiyuan Mountain Residence, were already waiting early under the ten miles of peach blossom trees.

Seeing the three members of the Lin family arrive, they all came over to greet them.

Lin Xiao took out the positioning voice transmission talismans he had prepared the night before and handed them to Liu Yunan. He told him what Prefect Tong's letter had informed him about the previous night and instructed him to send a few more to Prefect Tong.

Not long after, the others also arrived one after another.

Jiang Youfu had stayed by his grandmother's side all night, guarding her. Only after confirming that she was indeed fine and in much better spirits—even able to get up and drink a large bowl of rice porridge this morning—did he come up the mountain.

Seeing him arrive, Lin Xiao took out the three-piece immortal food set and handed it to him.

He told him that these were obtained because he had comprehended the Immortal Food Chapter of the Origin Heart Sutra, and that they were prepared specifically for him.

Hearing this, Jiang Youfu accepted them very happily.

Today was the day Lin Xiao had decided to enter closed-door cultivation, which he had mentioned to everyone during a previous meeting.

Therefore, today, no one rushed to the cultivation room to begin training. Instead, they followed behind Lin Xiao to the closed-door cultivation site he had built.

That is, the place Lin Xiao named the Nature Terrace.

Lin Xiao first took out the low-tier spirit gathering array he had previously purchased from the mall. Then he opened the building synthesizer, selected the Nature Terrace, placed the low-tier spirit gathering array inside, and began a secondary synthesis.

Seeing this, the crowd behind him quietly watched him, not knowing exactly what he was doing, but they did not make a sound to disturb him.

It wasn't until he successfully completed the secondary synthesis of the Nature Terrace and placed it back in its original spot that he turned to face the crowd, looking at them one by one.

Then, with a smile on his face, he spoke:

"I'll be going into closed-door cultivation shortly. While I'm away, I hope everyone can work together, unite and help each other, cultivate diligently, and manage our sect well. If anything happens in our village, you can discuss it and help out. Well... alright! I won't say much more. I know you all understand, and I believe you will do even better than I've instructed."

Hearing this, everyone responded with smiles:

"Brother Xiao, you can rest assured."

"Yes, yes, Sect Master Senior Brother, go with peace of mind. We won't destroy the sect."

"Brother Xiao, while you are in seclusion, I will work hard to study new dishes. When you come back, I'll cook a whole table of delicacies just for you! Hehe."

"I've compiled suitable excerpts from our sect's mental techniques into teaching materials. The seeds of our sect will definitely be successfully spread."

Lin Dayou and Lin Yun looked at Lin Xiao standing before the crowd, remaining silent.

They were very gratified.

The little child who had once been so carefully protected had now grown into the master of a sect.

A thousand words turned into an overflowing pride in their hearts.

Hearing everyone's responses, Lin Xiao felt extremely warmed.

The sect's affairs had mostly been handled over the past few days.

If there was anything he had missed, it would just have to be left for the people in the sect to resolve.

He felt that the members of their sect were all very capable now.

There were knowledgeable seniors, steady and grounded elders, as well as hardworking, united, intelligent, and kind peers.

Even though Lin Xiao still had many lingering concerns and worries in his heart, looking at the people before him, he suddenly felt that with these fellow sect members and companions, he had nothing to worry about.

Thus, the many attachments in his heart ultimately merged into a single sentence:

"Alright, I'm going in. Take care, everyone, and wait for me to come out."

After saying that, he turned and stepped into the Nature Terrace.

Thus began his journey into secluded cultivation.

From this moment forth, he would temporarily lay down his mantle as the Sect Master of the Lingxian Sect and devote himself entirely to his seclusion!