Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 163: The Rogue Cultivator Summons

Black River Market buzzed with the usual pre-tournament fever. A young Qi Refining couple stepped out of a cramped shop, the man trailing behind the woman with open irritation.

“You knew the arena fights were starting soon. Prices are already up thirty percent, and you still had to buy that crap.”

The woman pouted, voice sweet but edged. “I finally get a day out, and it’s ‘don’t buy this, don’t buy that.’ Am I married to you or what? If I’d known you were this stingy, I’d have asked Brother Hua to take me instead.”

The man’s face twisted. “Brother Hua, Brother Hua—keep calling him so sweetly and go find him then!”

They stood on the street corner trading barbs, drawing a few amused glances.

Nearby, a crimson-robed cultivator cupped his hands and shouted to the passing crowd: “Everyone! Head to Old Street! Chu Qin’s old shop just reopened—pills, herbs, tea, lodging—all nine-tenths price! Foundation Establishment cultivator on-site for appraisals! Quality goods, fair deals, no cheating old or young!”

The promise of discounts pulled people like a tide. The bickering couple paused mid-sentence, exchanged a look, and drifted along with the flow.

Old Street had always been the shabby end of the market—until now. A brand-new building shaped like a giant bench straddled the narrow lane, its single long crossbar bridging the roofs above. Down below: two storefronts. One displayed herbs, pills, and sundries. The other had been turned into a high-counter pawn-shop setup. A stern crimson-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator casually appraised items while chatting with the female manager beside him. Lines already snaked out from both doors. The “bargain” claim clearly wasn’t empty hype.

“You take that line, I’ll take this one…”

They split up as the queues grew longer.

The man clutched a single copper coin in his palm. When his turn finally came, he overheard the woman behind the counter say to her companion: “Duoluoxin’s lease is up too. I’ve thought it over—pills, herbs, tea—we can’t compete with the big sects anyway. Might as well clear it all out. From now on we focus on lodging.”

He handed over the coin.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator—Qi Xiu—picked it up, weighed it once, and flicked it back.

“Low-grade first-tier Corpse-Suppressing Copper Coin. Suppresses recently turned yin corpses. Appraisal fee: one second-tier stone.”

The man’s face collapsed. He’d carried this thing like a treasure for years. Turns out it was next to worthless. Shoulders slumped, he paid and slunk outside to wait for his girlfriend, who was still happily browsing.

Qi Xiu glanced at Bai Muhan. “So what’s your actual plan?”

“Second floor’s already been knocked through—pure guest rooms from now on. Cultivators who want quiet won’t mind the out-of-the-way location. First floor can’t handle foot traffic anymore. One room for reception, maybe a few tables for simple food—guests only. The other becomes a consignment stall. Strictly Chu Qin goods, sealed off from the inn.”

Zhan Yuan had once dreamed big. After winning Duoluoxin’s ten-year lease he’d planned to expand—only for Black River Market to descend into chaos. Ten years later: break-even at best, and Zhan Yuan himself dead. Competing head-on with major sects meant enemies and razor-thin margins. Bai Muhan had finally accepted reality. Clear inventory during the tournament rush, then pivot to lodging.

Qi Xiu considered it, then nodded. Small sects survived by knowing when to stop dreaming.

Several days of appraisals brought in a tidy sum—until Wanbao Pavilion sent someone to “express concern.” Qi Xiu couldn’t afford to offend them. He shut down the appraisal service and devoted himself to escorting Minniang and Yue’er around the stalls.

The decennial tournament unfolded exactly as always. Nothing new. Qi Xiu led his people to the second-tier sect seating area. Same roaring crowd. Same familiar faces. Like stepping into the same bad dream every ten years.

Bai Sha Gang’s Sha Konghe—now Foundation Establishment—sauntered over with a grin. “Little Qi! Where’s your He Yu? Haven’t seen her.”

Qi Xiu recognized the jab instantly. Sha Konghe knew full well about He Yu’s defection and had come to twist the knife.

He stood, cupped his hands politely. “He Yu left the sect long ago. Rare of you to still remember her.”

Sha Konghe sneered. “You think you qualify to call me—”

He froze mid-sentence. Eyes widened. “Wait—you… you actually reached Foundation Establishment?”

Qi Xiu smiled and said nothing. Sha Konghe slunk away, deflated. Every decade he came to bully Chu Qin. Every decade he left humbled. Poor bastard.

The head of the Zhen Yang Liu family also stopped by to exchange greetings. Their young Liu Yi—who used to hover around Qi Xiu shamelessly—now kept his distance, suddenly too shy to bother a Foundation Establishment senior.

Day one: the Qi Refining rogue cultivator preliminaries. The crowd ate it up. Kong Wen, who claimed he’d never been north of Death Marsh before, watched everything with childlike fascination—yet his commentary was razor-sharp. He called winners and losers with uncanny accuracy.

Qi Xiu quietly placed a few bets on his suggestions. Small wins, but enough to pad the purse.

Day two: Chu Qin’s three entrants all crashed out in round one. Decent showings—nothing more. Against real late-stage elites from other factions, the gap was cruelly obvious.

After that, Chu Qin people could relax. They watched everyone else bleed while sipping tea.

Qi Xiu and Kong Wen were mid-analysis of a particularly clean sword exchange when the entire arena stirred. Whispers spread like fire through dry grass. Heads turned. People passed scraps of paper.

“What’s happening?”

No one knew.

Qi Xiu started to send Shen Chang to investigate—then Bai Muhan appeared, face bloodless, holding a large proclamation.

Shen Chang took it, read aloud in a shaking voice:

“Rogue Cultivator Summons…”

“Lu Shilu and the Lu family hereby formally withdraw from the Artifact & Talisman Alliance, effective immediately. We are no longer bound by the three-party peace accord…”

Qi Xiu’s stomach dropped. Lu Shilu—Golden Core of Artifact & Talisman Alliance. The second Tianyin Mountain war had cost his family the heaviest: main mountain burned, himself gravely wounded. Now breaking the accord so violently—did he mean to challenge the Wei family alone?

“Be it known to all sect disciples and rogue cultivators: by the time this notice reaches you, Tianyin Mountain has already fallen into my hands…”

Tianyin Mountain—lost? The Wei family had held it for years. Strategic choke point blocking Artifact & Talisman’s advance into Shandu territory. Small thunder-aspected vein below. Powerful thunder-based defensive array. Artifact & Talisman had thrown everything at it and failed. How could it fall without a whisper?

“The Wei family of Shandu massacred my mountain gate, slaughtered my kin. This grudge is irreconcilable…”

“Therefore I call upon every rogue cultivator of White Mountain: all territory within Wei family borders is yours to claim. Mountains, spiritual lands, mines, fields—take them by your own strength. The Lu family recognizes any who seize them. Claim a mountain—become its lord. Slaughter a sect—become its master…”

“After the Wei family falls, the Lu family will offer further rewards…”

Qi Xiu shot to his feet. “This is bad. Immortal Grove Hollow is in danger!”

The Wei family had stalemated Artifact & Talisman because the alliance was loose-knit—only core sects fought to the death. Add every rogue cultivator and minor sect in the periphery, and their numbers dwarfed Wei. If Lu Shilu actually rallied them, Wei territory would erupt in a thousand small fires. Immortal Grove Hollow—right on the edge—would be impossible to defend.

The news raced through the stands. Rogues were already slipping away—whether to join the summons or simply flee, no one could say.

Chaos swallowed the arena. The Golden Core overseer from Guanghui Pavilion turned purple with rage, halted the matches, and stormed toward the Artifact & Talisman boxes.

Wei family cultivators poured out of their section, racing from sect to sect. “The Ancestor orders you to return to your gates at once and prepare for mobilization!”

One reached Qi Xiu, barked the order, and moved on.

“What do we do?” Shen Chang asked, voice tight. Three years of fragile peace—gone. “Black River Market is under Guanghui Pavilion protection. Safest place right now. If we head back we either get ambushed by greedy rogues or dragged into the meat grinder as Wei cannon fodder.”

Qi Xiu paced, mind racing. No clear path.

Mu Xun from the Mu family appeared suddenly, pulled him aside.

“Situation’s still fluid. What’s your plan?”

Qi Xiu turned the question back. “I’m out of ideas. What about you?”

Mu Xun’s face darkened. “My family has too much to lose…”

More Wei-aligned minor sects crowded around. Voices overlapped. No consensus. Qi Xiu’s head throbbed. He finally herded everyone back to their own shop to think.

Before he could even sit, another Wei cultivator arrived.

“Sect Leader Qi…” The man cleared the room until only Qi Xiu remained, then spread a map of Shandu territory. “Your Chu Qin performed admirably on the southern defensive line last time. The Wei family has long intended to reward you properly. Immortal Grove Hollow sits here… here… here… and here.” He tapped several spots ringing the circular territory. “These adjacent lands—as reward for your prior service. Acceptable?”

Qi Xiu almost laughed out loud. They’d fought on the southern line, wiped out a minor Luo sect—rewards should have come years ago. Instead Wei had withheld everything, citing the Mo grandfather-grandson defection. Wei Chengqian even extorted eighty third-tier stones. Now they came crawling with “generosity.” Desperation was leaking through.

“Is Tianyin Mountain really lost?” Qi Xiu ignored the offer entirely.

The Wei man flushed. “Yes… we were lulled by the accord, dropped our guard. Lu Shilu bribed disloyal elements inside. Tianyin is gone—for now. But!” He straightened. “The other Golden Cores of Artifact & Talisman have been forbidden by Guanghui Pavilion from intervening. Lu Shilu alone against the Wei family? An egg smashing a rock. Tianyin will return to us soon enough. If Chu Qin returns to Shandu territory, the Wei family promises generous compensation later!”

Qi Xiu kept his face neutral. Inside: If we go back to Shandu, we’ll be trapped under your thumb.

He stonewalled every plea and threat until the man left in frustration.

Shen Chang burst in immediately after. “A Lu family cultivator is asking for you.”

Qi Xiu’s heart sank. If even tiny Chu Qin was on their radar, Lu Shilu’s preparations ran deep.

Outside, the Lu envoy spread another map—this one showing Artifact & Talisman territory’s northeast corner.

“Sect Leader Qi…” He pointed to a prominent peak. “The Lu family plans meticulously. The Wei family’s fall is only a matter of time. If you refuse to return to Shandu and join the fight, we guarantee full compensation for any losses. Your mortal subjects will remain unharmed. After the war—this entire region transfers to Chu Qin.” He tapped a much larger area than Wei had offered—closer to Black River too. “Far better than your little Immortal Grove Hollow. What do you say?”

The man spoke with calm confidence, made his offer, then waited—no pressure.

Qi Xiu murmured that he needed time to consider. The envoy bowed politely and left.

The moment he was gone, Yu Shang threw himself to the floor. “Sect Leader Uncle! Save my old man! Please!”

Yu Denou had stayed behind to guard Immortal Grove Hollow. If they didn’t return…

Qi Xiu had barely calmed Yu Shang when Bai Muhan and the others rushed in. Shen Chang’s voice cracked with panic.

“Bad news! Word’s spreading—rogues are already answering Lu’s call. They’re setting ambushes on every road from Black River back to Shandu. Waiting to cut down anyone heading home!”

Qi Xiu dropped heavily into the nearest chair.

“How the hell do we get out of this?”