The Taiji Sect appeared immensely powerful, seemingly insurmountable.
And indeed, this was the truth.
However, everyone knew that the reason the Taiji Sect had so many experts was due to its profound heritage. Having been passed down since ancient times for so many years, as the saying goes, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Even if the Taiji Sect's development had stagnated, it was still not something other major sects could compare to.
Yet.
Many people knew the Taiji Sect had an extremely fatal weakness: a severe generational gap had appeared in the present-day Taiji Sect.
Although the sect had quite a few Fated Prodigies, compared to other major sects, they were not particularly impressive. Whether in terms of the number of prodigies or the scale of their fortunes, they were left in the dust by the Nandou Sect. Looking across the entire Taiji Sect, among the younger generation, the only Fated Prodigy who could be considered presentable was Mu Dongsheng.
Speaking of Mu Dongsheng.
He still held a formidable reputation within Yanluo Country.
Not only was he the Heir Apparent Disciple of the Taiji Sect, but he was also once the leader of the Yanluo Eighteen Young Masters. His innate fortune was exceptionally gifted, and after fortuitously obtaining a Minor Heavenly Mandate nine years ago, he became even more remarkable. After nine years in seclusion, his current cultivation level was probably no lower, if not higher, than that of the Guan Jin and Guan Yu twin brothers of the Nandou Sect.
It was a pity.
The vast Taiji Sect only had one Mu Dongsheng.
Apart from Mu Dongsheng, there was no other Fated Prodigy who could compare to the Nandou Sect's Guan Jin and Guan Yu.
Lan Xingyu was also once ranked among the Eighteen Young Masters, but when the Heavenly Mandate descended, he did not obtain any significant fortune. His prospects were not too optimistic, and he had basically fallen out of the ranks of Yanluo Country's first-rate prodigies. Originally, a Li Juncai, relying on his awakened treasure body, could have achieved something in the future if properly nurtured. Unfortunately, during the Yunchuan Garden incident, he was severely injured by that fellow who claimed to be the Monarch. Even if he could recover in the future, he had already missed the optimal period for development.
As was well known.
For a sect to develop in the long term, what mattered was not the number of experts within the sect, but the number of prodigies.
Especially the prodigies of the Present-Ancient Era, each possessing powerful fortunes. Not only did they grow rapidly, but their future achievements were also limitless.
Most of the experts within a sect were stuck at the Wandering Immortal stage, their lives essentially set with no further hope. But those Fated Prodigies were different. Prodigies possessing Minor Heavenly Mandates or Minor Imperial Edicts were likely to become influential figures shaping the world's landscape in the future.
Yet, the Taiji Sect precisely suffered from this severe generational gap.
This was also the fundamental reason many favored the Nandou Sect, because the Nandou Sect had a full hundred-plus Fated Prodigies. Apart from the peerless Guan Jin and Guan Yu brothers, the fortunes and prospects of the other prodigies were all very promising, far beyond what the Taiji Sect could compare to.
The Taiji Sect and the Nandou Sect met at the foot of Panlong Mountain.
No conflict arose between the two sides. On the contrary, they greeted each other very politely with cupped fists.
After all, those who had come today from both sides were the big shots of their respective sects, well-traveled and experienced. Even if the two sides were to clash today, they wouldn't glare at each other with hostility now. As for those arrogant Fated Prodigies within the sects, with the Inner-Council Ancestral Patriarchs present, they dared not say much.
After exchanging greetings, neither side wasted words and proceeded directly up the mountain towards the imperial mausoleum.
The crowd gathered at the foot of the mountain to watch the spectacle did not follow the two major sects up the mountain.
Firstly, they lacked the qualification.
After all, Panlong Mountain housed the imperial mausoleum. How could just anyone be allowed to enter?
The reason the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects could ascend the mountain was because, at the founding of Yanluo Country, the founding ancestors of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects had also rendered meritorious service, making them founding heroes. Hence, the Yanluo Imperial Mausoleum contained the tombstones of the ancestors of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects.
Of course.
Even if entry were permitted, few would be willing to go in.
What would they do inside?
Every year, the temple fair procedure was that after the Yanluo Royal Family and the big shots of the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects finished paying their respects on the mountain, they would all descend. Then, the Yanluo Royal Family would hold a grand feast at the foot of Panlong Mountain. Only then would the temple fair officially begin.
In previous years, the liveliest time of the temple fair was always the feast. This year would likely be no exception.
As long as they waited at the foot of Panlong Mountain, they were sure not to miss the spectacle.
After the Nandou Sect and Taiji Sect ascended the mountain, many people below began discussing one matter: the Taiji Sect's stance.
Since receiving support from the Yanluo Immortal Manor, the Nandou Sect had already become part of the Immortal Dynasty and would naturally support it unconditionally.
As for the other families and sects, it was likely the same.
However, the Taiji Sect had intermarried with the Yanluo Royal Family since ancient times, and many members of the royal family were within the sect. It could be said they had always supported the Yanluo Royal Family. Yet, this time, the Taiji Sect's stance seemed very ambiguous. They neither severed ties with the Yanluo Royal Family nor openly curried favor with the Immortal Dynasty, which was truly intriguing.
It was said that within the Taiji Sect, there had been constant debate over this matter. The faction led by Vice Sect Master Cang Yun leaned towards the Immortal Dynasty, while the majority of elders believed they should stand together with the Yanluo Royal Family through thick and thin. The two sides had nearly come to blows over this, and even Sect Master Cang Kong couldn't suppress the dispute. In the end, it was only after the Inner-Council Ancestral Patriarchs intervened that the argument was quelled.
But it was only quelled. The Inner-Council elders did not specify whether they supported the Immortal Dynasty or stood with the Yanluo Royal Family.
Some said this matter was of grave importance, possibly even concerning the Taiji Sect's survival. The Taiji Sect's Inner-Council Ancestral Patriarchs dared not make a rash decision.
Upon careful thought, this was indeed the case.
After all, the Immortal Dynasty was the Immortal Dynasty. Opposing it in this world was undoubtedly like defying the heavens themselves, making survival impossible.
But if they abandoned the Yanluo Royal Family and stood up to support the Immortal Dynasty, even if they survived this calamity, the Taiji Sect would lose all honor and reputation thereafter.
On one side was the sect's honor.
On the other side was the sect's survival.
No one would dare make such a decision lightly.
Some said that losing honor was better than facing annihilation. For an individual, that might be true. However, for a major sect with tens of thousands of years of heritage, if it lost all honor, it would only exist in name.
Therefore.
Whichever path the Taiji Sect chose, the consequences would be endless. They could only decide based on the situation when the time came.
Not long after the big shots of the Taiji Sect and Nandou Sect arrived, the leaders of the Four Great Families and the other five major sects also arrived one after another.
And they too came out in full force. The leading figures of both the older and younger generations of the Four Great Families and five major sects were all present, with their Inner-Council Ancestral Patriarchs accompanying them.
Whether it was the older generation, the younger generation, or even the Inner-Council Ancestral Patriarchs, the Four Great Families and five major sects seemed unable to compare with the two major sects, Taiji and Nandou. However, they were absolutely not to be underestimated. Each family and sect had at least a dozen or more Wandering Immortals. With such a lineup, they were already in an invincible position, at least ensuring they wouldn't suffer complete annihilation.
The strength of Wandering Immortals might differ based on the number of tribulations they had undergone, but that didn't mean a five or six-tribulation Wandering Immortal could easily annihilate a one or two-tribulation Wandering Immortal. Not to mention five or six tribulations; even a nine-tribulation Wandering Immortal, whose strength rivaled that of a True Immortal, would find it no easy task to annihilate a one-tribulation Wandering Immortal.
After all, they were still Wandering Immortals. Even a one-tribulation Wandering Immortal was still a Wandering Immortal.
Once one's cultivation reached this level, unless they encountered some heaven-defying fortune or a ten-thousand-year-old demon, they wouldn't be in mortal danger. Even if outmatched, they could still protect themselves.
PS: From April 1st to April 7th, 2017, this book will be free for a limited time of 7 days on both the QQ Reading app and the Qidian Reading app. A small token of appreciation to repay the support of so many readers over the years. Those who like this book can download the app to read for free. Opportunity knocks but once!