Mortal: I am the young sect master of the Thousand Illusions Sect

Chapter 32 A Darkened Forehead, a Broken Fate Thread

With tensions rising between the two sides and the atmosphere becoming so tense it was almost about to explode, the conflict at the birthday banquet was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Just then, a composed figure slowly stepped out; it was none other than Wang Tiansheng, the sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

He finally couldn't sit still any longer and personally stepped in to ease the situation.

Wang Tiansheng walked a few steps to Wang Tiangu's side, his gaze sweeping over the two opposing sides. He then cupped his hands in greeting towards Qi Danyan and Wanhua Old Demon, his tone softening slightly: "Fellow Daoist Qi, Fellow Daoist Wanhua, today's events were indeed due to my second brother's reckless and inappropriate actions."

"Today is the birthday banquet of my Ghost Spirit Sect's Senior Brother Shattered Soul. It's a joyous occasion, and it's not appropriate to cause any more trouble. How about we call it a day and do me a favor?"

Now that things have come to this point, and Wang Tiansheng has already offered a way out, continuing the stalemate in this situation would be a bad move.

The Old Demon of Myriad Transformations snorted coldly with an indignant expression. Although he did not say much, it was as if he had tacitly agreed to the result.

Qi Danyan still wore that faint smile on his face, but the cold glint in his eyes had not completely faded. He nodded slightly: "Since Sect Master Wang has spoken, my Thousand Illusions Sect will naturally not refuse to give him face."

"However, one of our juniors has lost an arm and is seriously injured. It is not advisable for her to stay any longer. We will take her back to treat her injuries first."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Ghost Spirit Sect members in the square, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve: "The birthday banquet is drawing to a close today, and my Thousand Illusions Sect will take our leave now."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiansheng's expression changed slightly. He had clearly not expected that even though Qi Danyan had offered a way out, he still insisted on leaving immediately, leaving no room for negotiation.

He remained silent for a moment, but ultimately couldn't say anything more.

The birthday celestial being, Soul Shattering Immortal, had already moved to the front of the stage. He bowed to Qi Danyan and the Myriad Transformations Old Demon once again, speaking politely: "Today's birthday banquet is a busy affair, and I hope you two fellow Daoists will forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality. I will not see you off further this time, and I hope you will understand."

Qi Danyan nodded slightly in response.

The next moment, he raised his hand and waved it, and a beam of spiritual light shot into the sky. A flying boat with a lifelike phoenix head carved on it suddenly appeared above the Wanhun Peak Square. It was the Phoenix Spirit Boat of the Qianhuan Sect! The boat was filled with spiritual light and had an extraordinary aura. It was steadily suspended in mid-air.

Qi Danyan took the lead and leaped onto the flying boat, followed closely by a group of Thousand Illusion Sect disciples who boarded the boat in an orderly manner.

Before leaving, Su Mixin subconsciously turned her head and her gaze accurately locked onto Wang Chan in the crowd.

At this moment, Wang Chan's face had lost its previous arrogance and pride, replaced by a gloomy expression, with his brows tightly furrowed and a faint, lingering darkness between his eyebrows.

Su Mixin gave a cold snort in her heart, a chilling glint flashing in her eyes.

"The future is long, and your Wang family probably won't even get to enjoy the same ending as in the original story."

"If Heaven intends for someone to die, it will first make them go mad."

"Perfect timing, Wang Chan, your face is dark, it's your bad luck to come, let's start with you."

……

Inside the cabin of the flying boat, Qi Danyan, Wanhua Laomo, and Su Mixin were still sitting around a table.

Su Mixin poured spiritual tea for the two of them before apologizing: "Senior Brother, Uncle Wanhua, I was rash just now. I spoke without thinking and dared to bring up Nascent Soul cultivators with sarcastic remarks."

Qi Danyan put down the spirit tea cup, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips. His gaze fell on Su Mixin, and his tone softened, losing its previous sharpness: "There's no need to mention this matter again. The Ghost Spirit Sect's actions are a matter of public opinion among the various sects, and we don't need to waste our breath."

Su Mixin was still worried, "Will this affect your discussions on such an important matter as foreign conquest?"

Qi Danyan shook his head and said, "You don't need to worry. We Nascent Soul cultivators already gathered last night to discuss this."

He paused, looking at the sharpness that had not completely faded in Su Mixin's eyes, and slowly said, "Junior brother, although you were impulsive today, you still have a pure heart. Protecting your fellow disciples and distinguishing right from wrong is a good thing."

"But the cultivation world outside is not like the sect. People's hearts are unpredictable, and there are many unpredictable events. You can't always act on a whim."

The Old Demon of Myriad Transformations, unusually, put aside his usual rough and boisterous manner, and slowly took a sip of tea.

Then he added, "You've got guts, kid. You dared to expose the trickery in front of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and even bring the Nascent Soul cultivator along to mock him. I admire your courage."

"But as much as I admire you, you must remember that elders won't always be there to protect you. Today, with me and your senior brother here, Wang Tiangu doesn't dare to be too presumptuous. But if you encounter a similar situation on your own in the future, and you continue to speak so recklessly, you'll likely suffer a great loss."

Upon hearing this, Su Mixin blushed slightly and lowered her head, saying, "This disciple understands. If it weren't for the two elders today, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"But Su Han... her severed arm was ultimately caused by me, and I can't rest easy about it."

"You don't need to worry about this too much."

Qi Danyan raised his hand to interrupt him, his tone resolute, "The sect will definitely do everything in its power to help Su Han with her injuries."

"Once we return, we will immediately perform a healing spell on her. Within half a month, we will be able to reattach her severed arm. Not only will it leave no hidden dangers, but it will also not delay her cultivation path. You can rest assured."

These words acted as a reassurance, causing Su Mixin's tense shoulders to relax slightly, and gratitude welled up in her eyes: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

The Old Demon of Myriad Transformations shook his head slightly. "I observed that blood demon; it was extremely malevolent. Just from one bite, there was still a lot of bloodthirsty resentment remaining on its severed arm."

"I obtained a Buddhist treasure in my early years, which should be very effective for this situation. After returning to my sect, I will personally take action."

Su Mixin quickly stood up and bowed, "Thank you, Senior Uncle Wanhua!"

Qi Danyan nodded, his tone becoming increasingly earnest, "A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. Consider this incident a lesson for you."

"The path to immortality is long and arduous. While cultivation level is important, knowing how to be cautious in speech and action and how to protect oneself is even more crucial."

"You are well-versed in classical texts, so you should know that throughout history, many talented cultivators have not been ruined by cultivation bottlenecks, but rather by their 'unrestrained speech' and 'reckless actions'."

"What Senior Brother says is true," Su Mixin replied softly, a feeling of being touched stirring within her.

Since he began his cultivation, he has made rapid progress. Relying on his familiarity with the original work, he naturally has a condescending attitude. Sometimes he is inevitably arrogant and forgets that the world of cultivation is full of variables and that not everything can develop according to a predetermined trajectory. He also forgets that he will not always have the protection of his elders.

I was indeed a bit too arrogant today, forgetting the vast chasm between the Foundation Establishment and Nascent Soul realms.

The Old Demon of Myriad Transformations sighed and said, "In all my years of life, I have seen too many young cultivators who were ambitious and sharp-tongued, but in the end, they all fell because of 'not being cautious enough'."

"In the cultivation world, the strong prey on the weak. The more you show your prowess, the more covetousness and assassination attempts you will attract."

"Master Uncle's teachings are correct. I will definitely restrain my temper in the future and think twice before I act," Su Mixin said sincerely.

Looking at his remorseful and corrective appearance, Qi Danyan felt a sense of relief: "We don't want you to become worldly and sophisticated, or lose your true self."

"I just hope you understand that caution is not cowardice, but a kind of wisdom to protect yourself and those around you."

"Thinking about the consequences before speaking and leaving room for maneuver before acting is not about backing down, but about going further and more steadily on this path."

The Old Demon of Myriad Transformations nodded and said, "That's right! When your cultivation level is high and your status is important, your every word and action will have far-reaching consequences, and you will not be able to tolerate the slightest recklessness. Consider today's incident as a tempering of your character. In the future, when you encounter problems, be more composed and less prone to verbal sparring, so that you can go far and achieve steady progress."

A warm feeling welled up in Su Mi's heart, and she bowed deeply to the two of them: "Thank you, Senior Brother, and thank you, Uncle Wanhua, for your guidance."

"I have learned a great deal today. From now on, I will keep your teachings in mind, be cautious in all things, and never act impulsively again."

Qi Danyan smiled slightly and picked up the spiritual tea: "Get up. To err is human, to forgive divine."

"Come, have a cup of spiritual tea to calm your mind. You also need to keep your mind steady and not let today's events affect your Dao heart."

The Demon King of Myriad Transformations also raised his teacup: "Yes! Drink this cup of tea, and let bygones be bygones. From now on, focus on cultivation and improving your own strength; that's the most important thing."

The three raised their cups again, the fragrance of the spiritual tea filling the cabin. The previous tension had long since dissipated, leaving only the elders' earnest expectations and earnest teachings for the younger generation.

Qi Danyan suddenly chuckled, as if something had occurred to him: "I've noticed that there seems to be some discord among the Nascent Soul elders within the Ghost Spirit Sect."

The old demon of myriad transformations paused abruptly in his left hand, which was holding a teacup. "What do you mean?"

Qi Danyan explained, "When Wang Tiangu and we were arguing, the host of the birthday banquet, True Man Shattered Soul, was sitting calmly in the back watching the show."

"When Wang Tiansheng finally showed up, things had already gotten quite tense between us. Then this Soul Shattering True Man appeared, exchanging polite pleasantries with us without offering any reassurance. He only showed that he still had some semblance of courtesy. Wasn't this just adding insult to injury for the Wang brothers?"

"Hehe, I think the Wang family is very powerful in the Ghost Spirit Sect, but there are probably undercurrents brewing in the shadows."

Upon hearing this, the Old Demon of Myriad Transformations laughed heartily.

Su Mixin smiled knowingly. Having read the original work thoroughly, he knew that the Wang family's ultimate fate was indeed a just end.

The Phoenix Spirit Boat glided smoothly through the clouds, moonlight streaming in through the portholes, illuminating Su Mixin's calm and resolute face. At this moment, he felt more composed and insightful, and his understanding of the path of cultivation had deepened.

……

Meanwhile, the Ghost Spirit Sect's birthday banquet ended, the guests departed, and the clamor on Ten Thousand Souls Peak gradually subsided. Only in Wang Tiansheng's cave dwelling was the atmosphere so oppressive that it was almost stagnant.

Wang Tiansheng sat upright in the main seat, his face ashen. His gaze swept over his second brother, Wang Tiangu, and his son, Wang Chan, who were standing below him. Although he did not deliberately release his aura, it made the two of them feel heavy-hearted.

"Second brother," Wang Tiansheng spoke first, his tone tinged with weariness and reproach, "you acted too impulsively today."

Wang Tiangu's face turned pale and then red: "Brother, a Nascent Soul cultivator should not be insulted lightly."

Wang Tiansheng took a deep breath and softened his tone: "That kid only dragged you into it when he was making sarcastic remarks. Today is Senior Brother Shattered Soul's birthday banquet, and fellow cultivators from all sides have gathered. If I hadn't intervened in time, would you really have broken ties with the Thousand Illusions Sect after what you did?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiangu's lips moved, but he ultimately couldn't utter a rebuttal.

Seeing his second brother remain silent, Wang Tiansheng's gaze shifted to Wang Chan, his tone instantly turning several times colder, filled with thunderous rage: "And you! You wretched creature!"

Wang Chan trembled with fright and quickly bowed, saying, "Father, your son..."

"Shut up!" Wang Tiansheng roared, interrupting him. "How have I taught you? Think twice before you act, and consider the overall situation of the sect!"

"The Thousand Illusions Sect and my Ghost Spirit Sect have always kept to themselves, with no conflict of interest or old grudges."

"The distribution of spoils after the war could have been something you could have won over, but you, for your own selfish desires and your laughable arrogance, have caused such a mess!"

He grew angrier and angrier, pointing his finger at Wang Chan's nose and cursing, "How could you be so unwise and petty? You've completely disgraced the Ghost Spirit Sect among the 'Six Sects of the Demonic Path'!"