Zhang Nianchuan inquired, and Lu Yuanshan revealed the second path.
"The second path is revenue generation."
"Although the sect's foundation is weak and manpower is limited, lacking the ability to generate revenue externally, fortunately, our Sect Establishment Order still holds some value."
"Since the Ancestor established the Cyan Mountain Sect with the Sect Establishment Order, the sect has been passed down for ninety years, and according to the sect law, there are still ten years of protection left."
"Although ten years is a short period, this Sect Establishment Order is valued at around thirty thousand Spirit Stones at market price."
"If you have no objections, I will sell our Sect's Establishment Order. In this way, the Spirit Stones we acquire will greatly alleviate the sect's predicament."
"How to choose between the two paths is up to you all."
As Lu Yuanshan finished speaking, there was another uproar in the hall, surprised by the decision to sell the Sect Establishment Order, not expecting this to be the revenue generation mentioned by the Sect Leader.
Lu Ping, who had been observing all along, also showed a different expression.
What is the Sect Establishment Order? It is by no means an ordinary item.
The Beidou Bureau oversees sects across the world, with one of its seven major branches, the Tian Shu Institute, stationed in Lingxi State, governing the major sects, and is very powerful.
At least once every two hundred years, the Tian Shu Institute releases a batch of Sect Establishment Orders, allowing cultivators from all sides to compete for the right to establish a sect in Lingxi State.
Once a sect is established through a Sect Establishment Order, according to the sect law, the new sect will receive a century-long protection period from the Tian Shu Institute.
During this hundred years, no force is allowed to attack or annex the new sect, encouraging the development and inheritance of new sects.
Of course, even without a Sect Establishment Order, a sect can be established, but it will not enjoy the benefits of the century-long protection period, making its development as precarious as walking on thin ice, quite difficult indeed.
When the Tian Shu Institute released a batch of Sect Establishment Orders, Lu Ping was fortunate enough to grab one, which sparked the idea of establishing a sect, founding the Cyan Mountain Sect.
Although the sect law explicitly states that new sects can rely on the Sect Establishment Order system for a century of protection, free from the worry of extinction within the hundred years, the Sect Establishment Order can also be transferred or sold.
A sect that legally obtains the transferred Sect Establishment Order from its predecessor will enjoy the remaining protection period of the order.
Each Sect Establishment Order, to some extent, determines its value based on the length of its remaining protection period.
"Sect Leader, the Sect's current situation is difficult, far from its former glory. We indeed need to work together to overcome this crisis."
A voice sounded out, the speaker being Zhao Ziliang, whom Lu Ping had a brief encounter with not long ago.
He couldn't help but ask, "But once the Sect Establishment Order is sold, how can we ensure the sect's safety in the future?"
"The Hengyue Sect has always been at odds with us, viewing us as mortal enemies. If we lose the Sect Establishment Order, and the Cyan Mountain Sect is no longer under the Tian Shu Institute's protection, what if the Hengyue Sect takes advantage of the situation to attack us?"
Zhao Ziliang did not want to sell the Sect Establishment Order, letting the Cyan Mountain Sect lose the Tian Shu Institute's protection.
Due to his months of traveling throughout the Chu Kingdom, he deeply realized the hardships and dangers of cultivation in the outside world.
Not to mention personal safety, just the biggest enemy the Cyan Mountain Sect faces, the Hengyue Sect, is enough to make the Cyan Mountain Sect fearful.
The Hengyue Sect is a local sect in Lushan County, not established through a Sect Establishment Order, and thus not protected by sect law.
In his lifetime, Lu Ping, due to several conflicts of interest, killed the Hengyue Sect's only Golden Core Ancestor, leading to enmity between them and the Cyan Mountain Sect.
The Hengyue Sect has always wanted to seek revenge on the Cyan Mountain Sect, but at the time, with Lu Ping overseeing and the protection of the Tian Shu Institute, they dared not act openly, resorting to underhanded means against the Cyan Mountain Sect.
This was originally a feud between two Golden Core Ancestors, but over the years, the frequent skirmishes and conflicts between the two sects have made the tension between them increasingly irreconcilable.
The Cyan Mountain Sect and the Hengyue Sect have since stood on opposing sides, becoming mortal enemies.
Now, though the Hengyue Sect has also fallen, they still have Foundation Establishment Cultivators to watch over them, making it effortless to deal with the Cyan Mountain Sect.
Hearing Zhao Ziliang mention the Hengyue Sect and learning that this sect still exists, Lu Ping couldn't help but feel worried as well.
The Sect Establishment Order holds great significance, being extremely important to the Cyan Mountain Sect.
The Cyan Mountain Sect went from prosperity to decline in just thirty years.
Now, the sect is struggling to survive, and has not been annexed thanks solely to the merit of this Sect Establishment Order.
Once the sect loses the Sect Establishment Order, it's like a lamb thrown into a forest with prowling tigers, facing the constant threat of being preyed upon.
Clearly, the Cyan Mountain Sect is the lamb.
Seeing disciples worried about the sect's safety, Lu Yuanshan pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I know you all have concerns, worried about the sect's safety, which is a good thing. It proves you care for the sect, so I will not force you to make a choice."
"The two paths are laid before you. Consider carefully how to weigh them."
Having said that, Lu Yuanshan said no more.
He concluded with two final words: "The path of cultivation is long and arduous, fraught with risk and opportunity, and who can say what the future holds."
"I give everyone one hour. Those who choose to withhold three years of salary, stand to the left. Those who choose to sell the Sect Establishment Order, stand to the right."
The timing began, and everyone looked at each other in confusion, unsure how to choose in that moment.
They thought that in such matters, since neither the elders nor the sect leader had expressed their stance, shouldn't it be the senior disciple with the highest cultivation and status who speaks first?
After exchanging glances for a long time, the disciples began to look towards the chief disciple of the Cyan Mountain Sect, Tang Zhixian, Lu Changfeng's senior disciple.
The young Qi Cultivator who had remained silent from beginning to end.
The crowd watched, only to see Tang Zhixian standing there with a furrowed brow, saying nothing, seemingly deep in thought about something important.
A younger female disciple looked again and again, unable to resist asking, "Senior Brother Tang, just now the Sect Leader mentioned two paths… What do you think?"
Her name was Song Minghui, two years older than Tang Zhixian, often referred to as Senior Sister Song in the sect, known for her amicable nature.
Senior Sister Song's inquiry reached Tang Zhixian, but he did not respond, his handsome brows furrowing a bit more, seemingly contemplating something significant.
Assuming that Tang Zhixian was pondering too intently to have heard, Senior Sister Song called out once more, "Senior Brother Tang?"
But again, there was no response; Tang Zhixian remained motionless, lost in his own thoughts.
Being ignored twice, Senior Sister Song blushed in embarrassment, pursed her lips secretly, and refrained from asking again.
Once more, the disciples exchanged glances, wondering what was going on. Could it be that Tang Zhixian couldn't decide either and simply didn't want to answer?
Seeing that the disciples were all looking at Tang Zhixian, waiting for this Senior Brother to take the lead, only for Tang Zhixian to remain silent twice, essentially ignoring them, the atmosphere indeed turned awkward, prompting Lu Changfeng to cough deliberately.
"Zhixian."
Following Song Minghui's intent, he spoke, "You choose first, set a good example."
He wanted to see how Tang Zhixian would choose, hoping he would be willing to help the sect through this difficult time.
With Lu Changfeng speaking up, Tang Zhixian finally reacted.
"I…" It seemed like he was struggling internally, suddenly raising his head, clenching his teeth, and said, "I want to leave the Cyan Mountain Sect!"
"Ah?" Quietly on the side, Senior Sister Song was instantly bewildered.
She couldn't react in time, "Senior Brother Tang, what did you say!"
Even the disciples stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, thinking they must have misheard.
Wasn't it a choice between two paths? Senior Brother Tang, why aren't you following the script?
But in the next moment, Tang Zhixian's voice rang out again.
"Master!"
Tang Zhixian looked at Lu Changfeng with a determined expression, his voice resonating throughout the hall.
"I want to leave the Cyan Mountain Sect!"