Faced with such a situation, the Golden Tower Council would inevitably convene a small council meeting first rather than a full assembly. The Omniscient Sages or Virtuous Great Sages who were not in Jade Capital could participate remotely or simply be absent from the deliberations.
Qi Xuansu was not a member of the small council, so even though he was currently in Jade Capital, he still could not participate in the deliberations and could only await the outcome. If his presence were necessary, he would be notified in advance and asked to attend. Since he had received no such notification, it meant that his participation was not considered necessary for the time being.
He inferred that under the current circumstances, the Three Daoist Sects would certainly reach a consensus, at least on the surface.
The reason this would only be a superficial consensus rather than a comprehensive agreement lay in the fact that the interests of the Three Daoist Sects were not aligned. In some cases, their interests were even directly opposed.
Generally speaking, when differing opinions were openly expressed during council deliberations, they essentially represented disagreements over policy direction. However, outright confrontation was an entirely different matter.
When everyone still had to maintain a politically correct stance even though major interests were at stake, the usual approach was to declare firm support during the council deliberations. This was what it meant to reach a consensus on the surface.
The real issue lay in the subsequent implementation, where problems such as outward compliance with covert defiance or excessive enforcement would inevitably arise.
For example, if a newly appointed Daoist Mansion Master decided to investigate irregularities in the Daoist Mansion’s personnel appointments, the Chief Deputy and Second Deputy certainly would not join forces during the Daoist Mansion Council to openly oppose the Mansion Master’s decision. That was because such behavior would amount to a direct confrontation with the Golden Tower Council and would be tantamount to courting their own destruction.
Instead, they would firmly declare their support for the Mansion Master’s decision during the deliberations.
When it came time to implement the decision, they would first arrest a group of individuals who did not belong to their own faction, demonstrating that they had carried out the Daoist Mansion’s orders. Meanwhile, members of their own faction would go into hiding, cease all improper activities, and clean up any loose ends. If necessary, they could even sacrifice a few members to preserve the larger organization.
Of course, they could not simply endure attacks without retaliating. Everyone had weaknesses. Although they could not directly target the Mansion Master, they could go after his closest confidants. Once they uncovered any incriminating evidence, they could immediately seize the moral high ground and launch a coordinated offensive during the council meeting. If the Mansion Master chose to shield his confidants, they could escalate the matter to the Golden Tower Council, placing the Mansion Master in an increasingly disadvantageous position.
Their counterattack would inevitably involve a combination of tactics. Merely targeting the Mansion Master’s trusted personnel would not be enough. They would also need to exploit the situation to pursue broader objectives.
At council meetings at every level, they would publicly declare that they had acted in accordance with the Mansion Master’s instructions. They would rigorously investigate personnel irregularities, pursue every case to the very end, and spare no one regardless of rank. In reality, this would be a deliberate case of excessive enforcement, expanding the scope of the crackdown far beyond what was necessary. Their objective would be to undermine the Daoist Mansion’s finances by scaring away merchants and create the impression that the region’s development had suffered a severe setback following the Mansion Master’s arrival. By shaping public opinion in this manner, they could ultimately shift all the blame onto the new Mansion Master.
As the leader of the Daoist Mansion, the Mansion Master would inevitably be held accountable. Their reputation would consequently suffer a serious blow, leaving them constrained and obstructed at every turn.
Zhang Yuelu had encountered a similar predicament in Poluo.
The same principle applied to the Golden Tower Council’s deliberations. No one would openly raise objections during the meeting. There was no question that they would retaliate, nor any doubt that they would seek revenge. All the covert maneuvering and power struggles would take place only after the council meeting had concluded.
While waiting for the outcome of the council deliberations, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu were also discussing the matter.
“Tian Yuan, who do you think is the biggest suspect?” Zhang Yuelu asked.
Qi Xuansu answered without hesitation, “Naturally, the Buddhist Sect is the prime suspect. In terms of capability, only the Buddhist Sect could pull something like this off. The Holy Court’s reach is limited by distance, and its attention is primarily focused on resolving the disputes among the Kingdoms of Lune, Nederland, and Ibia. By contrast, the Buddhist Sect is right on our doorstep and has deeply infiltrated the Western Region. The Tiangang Hall has also reported that the Buddhist Sect has been making frequent suspicious moves lately. They clearly harbor ulterior motives, so the Buddhist Sect is the most likely culprit.”
Zhang Yuelu raised an objection. “I also believe the Buddhist Sect has the capability to do this, but the motive doesn’t quite make sense. With the Grand Master election approaching, what we want is stability, while the Buddhist Sect wants chaos. Yet if they assassinate an Omniscient Sage, the Daoist Order will inevitably set aside its differences temporarily and unite in retaliation. This external pressure would actually force us to reach a consensus. Wouldn’t that mean their scheme had backfired?”
Qi Xuansu raised two fingers. “If the Buddhist Sect had openly assassinated Sage Chen, or if the Daoist Order were still what it used to be, then yes, their plan would’ve backfired. But the Buddhist Sect didn’t carry out the assassination openly. No conclusion has been reached regarding this incident, and we’re merely speculating that the Buddhist Sect was involved. Of course, the lack of evidence doesn’t really matter since this isn’t a legal matter, but a serious political issue. As long as we decide who was responsible, that’s enough. There’s no need to prove anything.
“The key is that the Daoist Order is no longer what it once was. The conflicts among the Three Daoist Sects have intensified, and the two major factions are now deeply opposed to each other. Moreover, the Buddhist Sect carried out an extraordinarily precise ambush this time. The Death Sea is twice the size of Qizhou, yet the Buddhist Sect was somehow able to determine Sage Chen’s exact departure time and travel route, allowing them to launch a successful ambush in a single strike. That just tells us there’s a traitor on our side, and a very high-ranking one at that.
“But whose side does this traitor belong to? Could it be someone from the Taiping Sect? Under normal circumstances, we can identify the mastermind behind an incident by looking at who stands to gain the most. Now that Sage Chen has been killed, the Taiping Sect benefits the most. That’s because the Western Region is where my master established his achievements and built his reputation. If chaos erupts in the Western Region, it will inevitably damage my master’s electoral prospects. As his rival, Sage Qingwei would be the greatest beneficiary. Therefore, the Taiping Sect becomes the prime suspect.
“If the traitor really belongs to the Taiping Sect, that would mean they’ve begun disregarding the rules and betraying the interests of the Daoist Order. Throughout history, traitors have always been more despised than enemies. I wouldn’t be the only one thinking this way. The other Sages of the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect would think the same. As a result, what began as an external incident would turn into an internal affair of the Daoist Order. So do you think the Sages of the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect would place all the blame on the Buddhist Sect, or would they settle the score with the Taiping Sect instead?
“Even if the Taiping Sect had nothing to do with this and was completely innocent, it would be impossible for them to clear their name now. As the disputes among the Three Daoist Sects intensify, the dividing line between the two major factions grows increasingly distinct, while the common ground that once united the Daoist Order continues to shrink. How could the Taiping Sect, which is both the greatest beneficiary and a political adversary, possibly explain its way out of suspicion? As I said, this is a political issue. Insisting on evidence is naive. All that matters is deciding who was responsible. Some people would see this as a rare opportunity to put the blame on the Taiping Sect.
“That’s why I predict that the Daoist Order’s immediate priority won’t be to wage war against the Buddhist Sect to avenge Sage Chen. Instead, it will focus on identifying the traitor within its ranks. Ideally, they’ll uncover concrete evidence linking the Taiping Sect to this incident. As long as they can prove that the Taiping Sect was involved in Sage Chen’s death and betrayed the interests of the Daoist Order, it would deal a fatal blow to Sage Qingwei’s electoral prospects. The position of the seventh-generation Grand Master would then be effectively secured.
“Once the Grand Master election has been settled, we can turn our attention back to the Buddhist Sect. Whether it’s punishment, revenge, or even an all-out war, all of those can be planned and carried out in due course. But securing the position of Grand Master is the one thing that cannot be delayed. When the time comes to make a move, we must act without hesitation.
“The Taiping Sect must have recognized this as well. Whether to prove their innocence or simply to muddy the waters, they will undoubtedly advocate mobilizing troops and launching a military campaign to retaliate against the Buddhist Sect. As a result, we’ll witness a rather strange spectacle. The Quanzhen Sect won’t be in any hurry to seek revenge for Sage Chen, who is one of their own. Instead, they’ll emphasize stability, the bigger picture, and the need for restraint. Meanwhile, the Taiping Sect will be the one clamoring for immediate revenge, demanding war and insisting on an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Anyone who didn’t know better might even think Sage Chen belonged to the Taiping Sect. That’s how political interests work. Yet their underlying motivations are essentially identical. Everything revolves around the Grand Master election, and every action is calculated to serve that election.
“At this critical juncture, the struggle among the Three Daoist Sects has reached a point where they can no longer tolerate one another. The Daoist Order’s reputation is something intangible, while control over the position of Grand Master represents real, tangible power. This is what they mean by everyone eating from separate pots. The Daoist Order’s reputation belongs to everyone, so if it suffers humiliation, everyone shares the disgrace. But the position of Grand Master isn’t something everyone can share. Only one faction can claim it for itself.
“Therefore, although the Buddhist Sect has made a risky move this time, it was a calculated gamble. They wouldn’t have made it without carefully assessing the situation.”
After listening to his explanation, Zhang Yuelu remained silent for quite some time before slowly saying, “A single conversation with you is worth ten years of study.”
There was not the slightest trace of sarcasm in her words. She meant them with complete sincerity.
Zhang Yuelu continued, “Tian Yuan, I think I finally understand why Sage Donghua holds you in such high regard. Your understanding of the situation is remarkably thorough. You really saw through it all.”
Qi Xuansu waved his hand humbly. “We’re husband and wife. There’s no need for us to flatter each other.”
Zhang Yuelu smiled. “I’ve never been one for empty flattery. This time, I genuinely admire you from the bottom of my heart. In this particular regard, I’m afraid that all Three Prodigies are inferior to you.”
Qi Xuansu rose to his feet and began pacing slowly. “The Buddhist Sect’s intentions are truly sinister. What appears to be a covert conspiracy is actually an overt scheme. They aren’t afraid of the Daoist Order seeing through their plan, because even if our people recognize exactly what they’re doing, their own interests will still drive them to act in precisely the way the Buddhists anticipate. Ultimately, the real problem lies within the Daoist Order itself. That’s why I’ve repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening moral integrity within our organization. Given the Daoist Order’s immense strength, as long as we don’t create problems for ourselves, no one else can do anything to us.”
Zhang Yuelu sighed. “The bitter fruits of all these years have finally come back to haunt the Daoist Order. We’re now reaping what we’ve sown.”
Qi Xuansu stopped pacing. “What worries me most right now is certain individuals within the Quanzhen Sect.”
Zhang Yuelu asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Qi Xuansu glanced around before lowering his voice to a whisper. “Suppose the traitor actually comes from the Quanzhen Sect rather than the Taiping Sect, and suppose this incident causes Sage Qingwei to lose the election and forfeit his chance at becoming Grand Master, do you think the Taiping Sect would simply accept that outcome? When the time comes, they’ll cry injustice. The Great Xuan Imperial Court will seize the opportunity to fan the flames, while the Qin and Li families will coordinate their efforts to go against the Quanzhen Sect and the Zhengyi Sect. The entire realm would immediately descend into chaos. Even if my master successfully becomes the Grand Master, the Daoist Order would still be heading toward a schism.
“Back in the day, the Holy Xuan placed the greatest trust in the Taiping Sect, which is why Beichen Hall was also entrusted with the responsibility of defending Jade Capital. If the Taiping Sect were to launch a coup, the danger would arise from within, right under our noses. Although my master is stronger than the sixth-generation Grand Master, he ultimately falls short of the fifth-generation Grand Master. Moreover, having only just assumed the position, his foundations of power would still be unstable. He might not be able to control the situation or suppress the rebellion. Even if my master managed to suppress the coup, a civil war within the Daoist Order would be unavoidable.”
Zhang Yuelu’s expression changed upon hearing this. “We absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing. We must take action.”
Qi Xuansu resumed his pacing with his hands clasped behind his back. “That’s why I believe that if the Taiping Sect truly is innocent, we absolutely must not exploit this incident for political gain. Things are different now. The Taiping Sect’s senior leadership has long harbored thoughts of overturning the entire political order. The only reason they haven’t made a move is that they still lack a unified position within their own faction. If we give them a legitimate grievance to rally around, the consequences could become irreversible. Our most urgent priorities are to stabilize the situation in the Western Region, identify the traitor, and uncover the truth.”