South Yue City, late night.

In the Situ family’s residence, a white-haired elder had arrived.

He sat at the table, his expression grave. The tea on the table had cooled, and he hadn’t had time to drink a mouthful.

Situ Fang’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she asked:

“Elder Wang, what did the clan say?”

The elder, named Situ Wang, wrinkled his brow, shook his head, and sighed:

“The clan cannot spare any manpower…”

Situ Fang furrowed her brow and said, “Our Situ family, after all, is a third-grade family. It’s impossible not to be able to spare even more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. Is the clan being too cautious?”

Situ Wang nodded, “That’s also a reason.”

He let out a breath and sighed, “Eighty Iron Corpses, tens of thousands of Walking Corpses, this… it’s too absurd…”

The entire second-grade state boundary might not be able to gather the strength to contend with it.

Situ Fang sighed softly.

She actually also didn’t quite believe it, or rather, dared not believe it.

But this news was scouted out by Mo Hua and sent by the Bai family siblings. Even if she dared not believe it, she knew that it was most likely not false.

Mo Hua’s actions were unexpected.

Although he was young, sometimes he was still a bit bold and reckless.

But when he did things, he often planned before acting, considering things thoroughly.

Since knowing Mo Hua, his words and actions had all been quite reliable; there should be no falsehood.

It was just that others might not believe it…

Situ Wang said, “I heard this news was scouted out by a young cultivator?”

Situ Fang nodded.

“How old is he?”

Situ Fang was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Thirteen…”

Situ Wang was somewhat speechless and said helplessly, “Thirteen years old… even if I believe it, the clan won’t believe it… thirteen years old…”

Situ Wang shook his head.

Cultivators had long lifespans.

Family cultivators had a richer family foundation and abundant resources.

Generally, cultivators under twenty years old all looked very young and were still considered children.

A thirteen-year-old child could scout out such a big matter. Situ Wang was also unsure in his heart.

Only because he and Situ Fang were from the same branch and he had watched her grow up since she was small, knowing her character, did he personally make this trip to see the situation.

Situ Fang had to say:

“Mo Hua, he is a first-grade Array Master.”

Situ Wang was startled, “Who?”

“You said this young cultivator.”

Situ Wang’s hand trembled, “Thirteen years old? First-grade Array Master?”

Situ Fang nodded.

Situ Wang lost his elder’s demeanor and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice:

“Is that real or fake?”

Situ Fang said helplessly, “Can I still deceive you? If you don’t believe me, you can go ask Elder Jin.”

Mo Hua was young, and his talent was too high, making him easily subject to jealousy.

Situ Fang just didn’t publicize it everywhere. This matter, in the Situ family, was only known by Situ Fang and the two elders who had seen Mo Hua.

Situ Wang was a bit distracted and muttered again:

“Thirteen years old, first-grade Array Master… How exactly did this young cultivator’s head grow…”

Situ Fang said:

“His words this time should carry some weight, right…”

Situ Wang wrinkled his brows, pondered for a moment, and nodded slightly:

“If that’s truly the case, then we cannot treat him as a general young cultivator. A first-grade Array Master, in a second-grade state boundary, is also a respected figure and wouldn’t treat this kind of matter as child’s play…”

Situ Fang’s beautiful eyes brightened slightly, “Then Elder…”

Situ Wang still shook his head, “I can only try my best to push for it, but whether the clan agrees is not up to me.”

“Because of the corpse disaster?” Situ Fang furrowed her brow and said.

“That’s right…” Situ Wang sighed, “This matter is too dangerous…”

“Such powerful Iron Corpses and so many Walking Corpses, controlled by people, form a corpse tide, which is extremely fearsome.”

“Zombies may be different from general cultivators…”

“When fighting cultivators, if injured, find a way to heal, and it’s generally not a big problem.”

“But when fighting zombies, once injured and bleeding, infected with corpse qi, the corpse poison attacks the heart and then spreads. The consequences are completely uncontrollable…”

In Situ Wang’s eyes, there was deep shock.

Situ Fang was also somewhat silent.

“Furthermore, there is the most important matter…”

Situ Wang looked at Situ Fang, originally not wanting to speak, but after thinking for a moment, he still said directly:

“This matter holds no benefit for our Situ family.”

Situ Fang paused upon hearing this.

Situ Wang said silently, “Our Situ family, for generations, has been dutiful. Our ancestors started from the Town Demon Division of the Dao Court. Our style is strict and upright, hating evil as an enemy…”

“But no matter how you say it, a family is a family after all, and must put family interests in the first position…”

“This matter has little interest.”

Situ Wang paused for a moment, then said:

“At least compared to the risks, this interest is not great…”

Truly exterminating the corpse mine and suppressing tens of thousands of zombies would actually be a huge merit.

But the price paid and the risks borne were several times greater.

The Corpse King commands the Iron Corpses and leads the corpse tide of Walking Corpses. It’s possible that the cultivators sent by the Situ family could be completely wiped out.

The Situ family could not afford this risk.

“Then the Dao Court…” Situ Fang furrowed her brow.

“The Dao Court is the same,” Situ Wang said, “Even if the Dao Court knew and believed, after weighing the pros and cons, they might not take much action.”

Situ Wang said deeply, “The Dao Court is even more complex than our Situ family. The distribution of power within it, the entanglements of interests, the reasons are all unclear…”

Seeing that Situ Fang didn’t quite understand, Situ Wang explained more clearly:

“According to righteousness, following the Dao laws, slaying corpses and eliminating demons is the right thing to do.”

“But in reality, this matter is fraught with difficulties.”

“Exterminating the corpse mine requires sending out Dao soldiers and spirit stones.”

“Who sends the Dao soldiers? Who provides the spirit stones?”

“Dao soldiers go on expedition, they need logistics. Dao soldier casualties need compensation. And all of these front and back, manpower and resource mobilization, cannot be done without spirit stones.”

“If casualties are heavy, we just have to bear a huge responsibility.”

“Once the matter is successful and there is merit, suddenly there will be many people coming to divide this merit. Even unrelated people will reach out, wanting to share a cup of the soup…”

“Risking huge risks, bearing huge responsibilities, paying huge prices to exterminate the corpse mine, and in the end, it’s very possible the merit will still be others’…”

“Who is willing to do this kind of thing?”

Situ Wang sighed, “Unless the Lu family truly committed a major taboo and openly walked the evil demonic path, and the Dao Court is furious and issues a decree to suppress them, otherwise, these upper and lower Court divisions, people just muddling along, will all avoid this hot potato…”

Situ Fang sighed disappointedly.

Situ Wang looked at Situ Fang, feeling a bit heartbroken.

Although Situ Fang’s talent was not considered top-notch, she was the most upright, ambitious, and responsible disciple in their branch.

Such a disciple was more worth cultivating than some disciples who were purely talented but had flaws in character.

Moreover, the two were from the same branch, and he was an elder, so Situ Wang didn’t want her to take risks.

“The water in South Yue City is too muddy. Even if we can wade through it, there’s no need to get completely dirty…”

Situ Wang pondered for a moment and said tactfully:

“Fang girl, according to my opinion, you should also take this opportunity to leave…”

His brows were furrowed very deeply:

“If the situation truly worsens and changes suddenly, this entire South Yue City will turn into a human purgatory. At that time, no one can guarantee your safety…”

“You should also cherish your own cultivation path a bit…”

Situ Fang was startled and said sincerely and gratefully, “Thank you, Uncle Wang!”

But she thought for a moment and still shook her head:

“I am the Diansi of South Yue City. Although my cultivation is not high, my duty is here. The effort that should be made should be made.”

Situ Wang furrowed his brow, “But the matter cannot be done…”

“If the matter cannot be done,” Situ Fang said, “then I will consider leaving.”

Situ Wang was silent for a moment and sighed, “That’s the only way, I guess.”

He then took out a jade slip and said helplessly:

“I’ll write another letter and send it back to the clan, asking them to consider the overall situation a bit, and at least send some more people. The Dao Soldier Division side also needs to move a bit…”

“But how much help there can be, we can only look at fate…”

Situ Fang was overjoyed and hurriedly cupped her hands, saying:

“Thank you, Uncle!”

Situ Wang saw Situ Fang like this, feeling both gratified and sighing. But thinking of the corpse mine matter, his gaze was full of worry, and his expression was not optimistic.

Eighty Iron Corpses, tens of thousands of Walking Corpses…

A slight mistake could brew a catastrophe that would char the state boundary…

Situ Wang shook his head and sighed, “Difficult…”

South Yue City, South Yue Sect, in a tearoom filled with lingering smoke.

The Sect Master of South Yue Sect was having a secret conversation with Elder Su.

The Sect Master of South Yue Sect was surnamed Zhao, in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, over two hundred eighty years old. He had held the position of Sect Master of South Yue Sect for one hundred ten years and had quite high prestige within the sect.

“Do you know about the Lan family’s matter?”

The two drank tea, and Sect Master Zhao went straight to the point.

Elder Su furrowed his brow, “Sect Master, what matter are you referring to?”

“The mine matter,” Sect Master Zhao said.

Elder Su pondered for a moment and said slowly:

“I’ve only heard some rumors…”

Sect Master Zhao drank a mouthful of tea and did not speak.

Elder Su could not see the expression on Sect Master Zhao’s face, so he cautiously said:

“The Lan family… is there really a problem?”

Sect Master Zhao glanced at him and said faintly:

“If the Lan family had no problems, could they occupy so many mines? Could they open Jin Hua Street? Could they earn so many spirit stones? Could they live in such extravagance?”

“Not engaging in production, yet having huge profits, eight or nine out of ten, there are problems.”

Elder Su’s expression was grave, “What problem could the Lan family have?”

Sect Master Zhao shook his head slightly, “Just some idle gossip, no real situation. I’m not good at saying.”

He looked at Elder Su and said again:

“I know you have some friendship with Lan Chengyun. I called you here to instruct you on a few matters.”

Elder Su said respectfully:

“Please, Sect Master, grant instruction!”

Sect Master Zhao nodded slightly, then lowered his voice and said:

“Our South Yue Sect, from top to bottom, has not bad relations with the Lan family. Our interests are intertwined, and we have also received quite a few spirit stones from the Lan family…”

Elder Su furrowed his brow and said:

“Does the Sect Master mean that since we have received the Lan family’s spirit stones, we should share their fortune and misfortune?”

Sect Master Zhao shook his head and said meaningfully:

“My meaning is, although we have received the Lan family’s spirit stones, we must never be stubborn and stand on the same boat as the Lan family…”

Elder Su was startled, “Wouldn’t that be a bit… unrighteous?”

Sect Master Zhao shook his head, “The sect emphasizes interests, not righteousness.”

“Then the Lan family’s spirit stones are not also interests?”

Sect Master Zhao explained:

“Spirit stones are interests, but only short-term interests. The survival of the sect is fundamental interest.”

“The abundance of spirit stones can indeed bring temporary prosperity.”

“But if because of spirit stones, right and wrong positions are messed up, affecting the life and death of the sect, then we must resolutely abandon small interests for big interests!”

Elder Su was startled, somewhat thoughtful.

Sect Master Zhao sighed, “Many cultivators don’t understand this principle.”

“That’s why in this South Yue City, sects and families rise and fall, while only our South Yue Sect has survived for several hundred years.”

“The Lan family is not as old as us either.”

Sect Master Zhao looked at Elder Su and instructed, “When you should talk about interests, talk about interests. When you should talk about principles, talk about principles.”

“Do not ruin principles because of interests, otherwise you will certainly invite a big disaster!”

Elder Su nodded solemnly, “Sect Master, I remember.”

Sect Master Zhao relaxed a breath and sighed happily, “I have already passed the prime of my life. This position of Sect Master will eventually have to be passed down. Your heart is not as complicated as others, but you are full of emotion and righteousness, and proficient in arrays. Temper yourself a bit, perhaps in the future, this position of Sect Master of South Yue Sect will be yours…”

Elder Su never expected to hear such words and couldn’t help but ask:

“Sect Master, are you… drawing a picture for me?”

Sect Master Zhao glared at him, “Do you think just anyone has the qualification for me to draw a picture for them? I am placing high hopes on you!”

Elder Su hurriedly lowered his head and said:

“Yes, yes!”

Afterwards, Sect Master Zhao instructed him a few more sentences.

Before leaving, Elder Su was still somewhat confused:

“Sect Master, regarding the Lan family’s matter, what exactly should our South Yue Sect do?”

Tearing face with the Lan family was really unwise.

Colluding with the Lan family was also not too stable.

Sect Master Zhao then specifically pointed out:

“If the Lan family is not exposed, we pretend to know nothing. We should still take the spirit stones that we should take. This is called talking about interests when we should talk about interests.”

“If the Lan family is exposed, we must clearly distinguish ourselves and cut them off, even not hesitating to pay the price to act to suppress them. This is called talking about principles when we should talk about principles…”

Elder Su suddenly enlightened.

As expected of the Sect Master, he was quite flexible in grasping the balance between interests and principles.

Everyone, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

(End of this chapter)