Chapter 94 Duckweed Takes Root
Inside the courtyard, in Chu Xingchen's room.
The second all-hands meeting of the sect was officially held.
Chu Xingchen, serving as both sect leader and sole master, sat high at the head of the square table.
The senior disciple sat on the left, the second disciple on the right, and the third disciple sat opposite.
Chu Xingchen asked in disbelief, "Are you saying... the Clear Wind Sect was targeted by the Heavenly Derivation Sect?"
"Yes, as soon as the people from the Heavenly Derivation Sect arrived, they began finding fault with the Clear Wind Sect as if to settle scores," Li Xingtian said with a light shake of his head and a sigh.
"The Clear Wind Sect's leader even sent someone to ask where Master had gone and why you were nowhere to be seen at such a critical moment."
"They asked if the Heavenly Derivation Sect truly doesn't care about face, saying that it was fine to just forget about the owed spirit stones..."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xingchen quickly fell silent.
According to Li Xingtian, the Heavenly Derivation Sect's crackdown was extremely swift. In just three days, they dismantled the Clear Wind Sect, leaving only the mountain gate standing.
All elders involved in the evil cultivator plan were arrested on the spot, had their collarbones pierced, and their cultivation bases crippled. Even the Clear Wind Sect's Nascent Soul realm grand elder was taken to the Central Continent for investigation.
This naturally caused the procurement of materials to halt.
Without materials, and with the Clear Wind Sect, which had subcontracted the work, now overthrown, most of the workers had dispersed.
Only a small group of workers, led by Ning Kun, continued to build slowly with the limited supplies.
At this point, it could hardly be blamed on Li Xingtian.
It could barely be considered an unforeseen disaster.
But it was fine. He had never intended to complete the sect's construction anyway; they would go as far as they could, since it was, after all, a free ride.
However, out of curiosity, Chu Xingchen asked one more question:
"Who commanded this operation?"
Li Xingtian looked puzzled. "I heard it was just a Golden Core stage cultivator named Zheng Xiaofeng."
Li Xingtian also found this matter quite strange. The incident was so sudden that he had gone to gather information.
This event was hosted by the Heavenly Derivation Sect, with two Nascent Soul realm cultivators leading, bringing a group of junior Golden Core stage cultivators from the Central Continent for training.
But the one in command was an obscure little Golden Core.
There was also some unverified news that this Zheng Xiaofeng was originally an elder of the Clear Wind Sect, poached by the Heavenly Derivation Sect, given a gate-sweeping post, and had become a traitor.
In response, Li Xingtian could only give a disdainful laugh. A traitor wanting to command how the Heavenly Derivation Sect handled a case? And with a ridiculous post like gate-sweeper?
Even nonsense should have some basic logic, right?
He decided not to share such unverified news with his master.
Chu Xchen's expression showed realization.
So it was Little Zheng who went to find fault personally. No wonder he was so ruthless.
It seemed Xie Lingyu's initial approach was just a delaying tactic. She probably never intended to let the Clear Wind Sect off from the start.
This was not surprising.
Chu Xingchen rested his hand on the table, his gaze naturally falling on Chen Baiqing opposite him.
At this moment, Chen Baiqing was holding the unfinished sugar painting, looking at him with sincere eyes, her brows slightly furrowed, as if trying to think of a solution for him.
Chu Xingchen then looked at Li Xingtian and asked:
"Then the housing for our sect should be completed, right?"
"Yes, the five sect residences have all been arranged."
"Good! A road must be walked one step at a time. Our sect at least has a framework now!" Chu Xingchen stood up.
"This time, Master's gains were quite plentiful. Since the sect is habitable, we can officially move in!"
The sect would eventually be built, and it would be built well.
Li Yingling eagerly stood up and applauded along with him. As long as she didn't have to live in the dilapidated temple again, she was very content.
Moreover, the Spirit Gathering Array had already been set up at the sect. Only by being inside the sect could she cultivate better.
A smile could not be hidden on Li Xingtian's face either. He also stood up and applauded. Every move was toward a better place.
He had watched the sect improve step by step, and a unique feeling spread through his heart.
Chu Xingchen laughed loudly, "Disciples! It's time to move again!"
Chen Baiqing looked at her senior sister and second senior brother. They were not defeated by the sudden bad news.
They were still smiling joyfully, looking at their master, as if with him, they had a pillar of support.
Infected by the atmosphere, Chen Baiqing also raised her small hand holding the sugar painting, revealing a brilliant smile as she said:
"Time to move!"
Hearing Chen Baiqing's words, the smile on Chu Xingchen's face grew even wider.
These words, her senior sister had also said them before.
The Sect.
The construction of the main hall was not yet halfway complete.
But the basic infrastructure was considered finished. The bluestone slab roads were mostly laid, and there was a small bridge over the pond, connecting both sides.
Several elegant rooms were also fully furnished.
The completion was far beyond Chu Xingchen's imagination.
Although it couldn't compare to the Clear Wind Sect in size, nor did it look as luxurious as theirs.
But this place belonged to Chu Xingchen.
It was the only place in this world where he could freely set foot.
Chu Xingchen was finally no longer a rootless duckweed in this world.
Perhaps in the eyes of other sects, this place was still dilapidated, even looking quite shabby.
But to Chu Xingchen, this was already extremely good.
From the direction of the sect's main hall, the faint sound of tapping could occasionally be heard.
Without much thought, it was probably Ning Kun still working on the construction.
Chu Xingchen instructed his three beloved disciples:
"You go pick your desired rooms first and settle your things."
Li Yingling gently rubbed Chen Baiqing's little head and asked, "Do you still want to live with your senior sister?"
"White Green wants her own room," Chen Baiqing said, taking her senior sister's hand. "I can live with senior sister later on."
Li Xingtian did not speak, simply waiting to choose a room last.
Chu Xingchen paid no mind to how his disciples were choosing their rooms, instead walking directly toward the main hall.
The terrain of the main hall was intentionally raised, with a dozen or so steps.
Chu Xingchen walked toward the steps one by one, lifting his foot to ascend the final step.
He looked around.
The roof inside the main hall had already been completed first. Some of the crossbeams were made of the most ordinary wood, and the hall was basically empty, with only some materials piled up.
At this moment, six people were inside the hall, working on the doors and windows with basic materials.
After all, the hall would probably not be finished for a while, so they could at least seal the roof first, to avoid looking destitute from the wind and rain, and to prevent the good wood from being damaged.
Ning Kun and Ning Qianqian were both working overtime inside the hall at this moment.
"You've worked hard." Chu Xingchen stood in the center of the main hall and shouted to the two of them.
Ning Qianqian turned back in surprise. Seeing that it was Chu Xingchen, whom she hadn't seen for a while, she quickly waved and shouted:
"Great Immortal!"
Ning Kun also turned back. Upon seeing it was Chu Xingchen, he quickly climbed down from the scaffolding and ran to Chu Xingchen.
He glanced awkwardly at the crossbeams made of ordinary materials and said with some embarrassment:
"I heard from your senior disciple that there is currently a large material shortage, so it's temporarily impossible to finish. I was thinking, at the very least, I should build a roof first..."
Chu Xingchen smiled and patted Ning Kun on the shoulder, interrupting him:
"No need to explain. You've done very well."
Hearing this, Ning Kun immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Chu Xingchen looked up at the main hall and could indeed tell that many details had been given a lot of thought.
"I have a job I want to give you."
Ning Kun looked surprised.
"From now on, you are the chief engineer of our sect, in charge of the work on the True Martial Hall."
"If there aren't enough materials, you can rest. When there are materials, you can continue. I see the guest rooms over there are almost finished; you and Ning Qianqian can live there for now."
Chu Xchen had also thought it through. The main hall would have to be completed eventually.
Rather than finding someone else to build it later, it was better to keep a reliable and sincere person now.
He had also heard from Li Xingtian that with the fall of the Clear Wind Sect these past few days, only the small team led by Ning Kun remained.
They had only received meager wages from Li Xingtian these past few days.
Ning Kun and Ning Qianqian refused to take a single cent.
Remembering their entry for being loyal and righteous, Chu Xingchen decided it wouldn't hurt to keep them for now.
After all, supporting a person was not something he couldn't afford.
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