Frost's Descent

After some explanation from his fellow sect members, Song Jusheng finally understood the general situation.

Upon learning that the Sect Master was gone and the Shangyang Sect had been occupied by a foreign Nascent Soul cultivator, he did not dare to return.

Therefore, he followed this group of fellow sect members back to the capital, to their stationed compound.

The residences arranged by the imperial court for the three major sects were actually quite excellent.

Not only did they cover a vast area, but they were also not too far from the bustling inner city of the capital. Yet, they were situated in a quiet and secluded location, offering the perfect balance between peaceful cultivation and the secular world.

Among those who escaped from the Shangyang Sect this time, there were eight Golden Core cultivators serving as sect elders, and twenty-one elite inner sect disciples who were mostly in the middle to late stages of Foundation Establishment, making a total of twenty-nine people.

Adding Song Jusheng and the disciples already stationed in the capital, there were thirty-five people in total.

Fortunately, the residence arranged by the court was large enough. The Golden Core elders each had their own room, while the elite disciples shared a room between two people, and there were still a few rooms to spare.

After everyone was allocated their rooms, the elders gathered in the main hall and began various discussions.

Elder Luo, who was leading the group, said,

Once we are settled, we need to send letters to the disciples and sect members who are out on missions and haven't returned, telling them to gather in the capital. We will rebuild our sect!

On the way, Song Jusheng had already heard them talk about rebuilding the sect.

He had no objections to this.

After all, the sect's mountain had been occupied by an outsider, and without the strength to take it back, rebuilding was their only option.

However, at this moment, he was pondering in his heart: since they were rebuilding the sect, then the position of Sect Master...

But these elders had spent hundreds of years together in the Shangyang Sect; who didn't know who?

So as soon as Elder Luo saw Song Jusheng's expression, he knew what he was plotting.

He immediately gave a cold snort and said,

Elder Song, don't even think about the position of Sect Master. The Sect Master's token is in my hands, and I am the only one who can contact the cultivation world. Therefore, I, Luo, will naturally take up the position of Sect Master without hesitation!

Although the elders of the Shangyang Sect were all Golden Core cultivators, among all the elders present, Elder Luo had the highest cultivation base.

Everyone was well aware of this fact.

Song Jusheng calmly swept his gaze over the expressions of the other elders around him. Seeing that they showed no particular reaction to Elder Luo's words, he instantly knew that they must have already discussed and agreed upon this beforehand.

Therefore, he did not say anything out of line at this critical juncture, but instead smiled and said,

Old Luo, you are overthinking this. We are currently in a time of crisis for the sect, how could I covet that? I am merely worried that if we rebuild our sect just like this, will that Nascent Soul Daoist come looking for trouble again?

Another elder to the side shook his head and said,

Probably not. Our mountain protecting grand array is not just for show. When that thief forced his way into the sect and killed the Sect Master, he suffered quite serious injuries. Now that he has taken over our sect's mountain and the position of Sect Master, he will likely rest and recuperate for a while.

Elder Luo continued,

Exactly. With his injuries, it will take him at least eight to ten years to fully recover. This time is more than enough for us to rebuild the sect.

Furthermore, in less than two years, it will be time to contact the cultivation world again. When that time comes, we just need to report this situation to them, and this thief will inevitably pay the price for his evil deeds!

By the end of his speech, Elder Luo was practically gnashing his teeth.

Seeing this, Song Jusheng quietly sent a telepathic message to an elder he was on good terms with, asking,

What is wrong with Old Luo?

That elder told him,

The disciple who was best at flattering him, called Jin something, was killed in a single strike by that Nascent Soul Daoist. No one else could flatter him as comfortably as that disciple did. He has been holding in his frustration this entire journey, so don't provoke him.

Hearing this, Song Jusheng felt disdainful in his heart.

But he did not continue the topic.

Instead, he turned to ask the group,

Since that thief was severely injured, why didn't you all join forces to defeat him?

Who would have known that as soon as he asked this, the elders present would all become displeased and start speaking up one after another,

Do you think killing a Nascent Soul cultivator is that simple?

He was injured, but we could only estimate the general extent of his injuries. What if he had some secret technique?

Exactly! What if we were careless and all ended up dead? Wouldn't the inheritance of our Shangyang Sect be completely severed?

Isn't that right? We are not clinging to life and afraid of death. If it weren't for the future development of our Shangyang Sect, I would have gone up and fought that bastard to the death long ago!

He has nothing to lose, but we have a great legacy to uphold. We couldn't just fight him recklessly without considering the consequences, could we?

Exactly. Old Song, you are really talking without feeling the pain. You live a comfortable life here in the capital, while we brothers endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, only to be questioned by you like this. It truly chills our hearts!

...

Song Jusheng, who seemed to have poked a hornet's nest, was completely silenced by their barrage of words.

It took quite a while before everyone finally finished their idle chatter and began discussing the procedures for rebuilding the sect.

These were all topics for the Golden Core elders.

They had nothing to do with those elite Foundation Establishment disciples.

At this time, they were all tidying up their living quarters, their minds filled with the promises the elders had made earlier: once the sect was rebuilt, they would all be granted the position of elder.

Time passed day by day.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Frost's Descent solar term.

On this day, Mo Yuanjiao, still wearing unlined clothing, was performing the Air-Treading Technique at home for his family members, who were already bundled up in padded jackets.

Watching him casually stroll through the air step by step above the rockery in the garden, everyone found it incredibly unbelievable and was filled with pride.

Sitting under the veranda, Grandmother Mo's aged voice trembled slightly as she called out to Mo Yuanjiao in the air,

Jiaojiao, do you want to come down and put on some clothes? It's cold outside...

Hearing this, Mo Yuanjiao's cheeks flushed red in the air. With a couple of swift steps, he walked straight down from the air to stand in front of Grandmother Mo.

Ah, Grandmother, don't call me Jiaojiao, it sounds like a girl's name!

Seeing him come over, Grandmother Mo reached out and pulled him closer, her eyes crinkling with a smile as she nodded and said,

Alright, alright, I won't call you Jiaojiao. Our Jiaojiao has grown up, we can't use his childhood nickname anymore.

Mother Mo, who was beside them, laughed and said,

Mother, just ignore him. No matter how old Yuanjiao gets, he is still your grandson. Aren't childhood nicknames meant for elders to use? Why can't we call him that? Besides, how does it sound like a girl? I think it sounds perfectly fine.

Mo Yuanjiao immediately protested,

Mother, I am an adult now, I can even fly!

Grandmother Mo reached out and gently patted Mother Mo's arm, then spoke kindly to Mo Yuanjiao,

What your mother says is incorrect, let's not listen to her. Our Yuanjiao is a cultivator now, so we indeed shouldn't use his childhood nickname anymore. When you come of age, we will have your maternal grandfather give you a courtesy name, that will be wonderful.

At this moment, Baojian hurried into the garden from outside. Seeing that Mo Yuanjiao was speaking with the old madam and the madam, he softly called out Young Master and then waited to the side.