Desolate Devouring Art-Chapter 1351 - Spirit Sealing Institute

Chapter 1351 - Spirit Sealing Institute
Everything made sense now. Lingqiong Yu was dead, and the current Lingqiong Yu had come from the True Martial Continent like Liu Wuxie.
His soul had yet to fully merge with the body, so the Soul Fire became his weakness, which resulted in the earlier scene.
The situation spun beyond Lingqiong Yu's expectations. He had predicted that the Lingqiong Clan would intervene, but he hadn't foreseen such tangled feuds.
"Liu Wuxie, curse you!" Lingqiong Yu cursed. The fusion between his soul and body was nearly complete, but a fissure had appeared because of the Soul Fire.
Liu Wuxie only sneered. Anyone who tried to stop him from establishing the interstellar teleportation array back to the True Martial Continent would become his enemy.
"Sect Master Hua, I will be taking this brat away no matter what today," Lingqiong Gong said. He was determined to take Liu Wuxie with him, even at the cost of waging war, and not even Hua Feiyu could stop him.
After all, Liu Wuxie had repeatedly insulted the Lingqiong Clan. If they were to let him walk out freely, what face would the Lingqiong Clan have left in the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain?
"I'd like to see who dares to take him away." A voice echoed from outside the main hall as another group entered with heavy footsteps. They wore a strange uniform with the word "Spirit" embroidered on their clothes.
"It's the Spirit Sealing Institute!" Liu Wuxie immediately linked these people with the Spirit Sealing Institute.
The leader was a white-haired elder who looked at least five to six thousand years old, perhaps even older. The moment he appeared, he released a powerful aura that swept into the main hall, and even the Lingqiong Clan split aside for them.
There were twenty-four newcomers, each radiating an Earth Immortal Realm aura. The white-haired elder's presence was even stronger, a single step short of the Immortal Realm.
"Elder Han, why have you come?" Hua Feiyu stood and respectfully approached the elder. The other elders, including Zhuge Ming, also rose in respect.
"If I don't come, a certain someone might turn this place upside down," Elder Han said, slamming his cane on the ground and releasing a powerful shockwave. Though he named no one, everyone knew he meant the Lingqiong Clan.
"Please, have a seat!" Hua Feiyu said, and more chairs appeared around the hall for the newcomers, including the Lingqiong Clan.
"Thank you, Sect Master," Elder Han said, taking his seat. Those who came with him sat quietly behind him, and a few looked at Liu Wuxie with curiosity.
Faces across the Lingqiong Clan soured at the sight of Elder Han. Even the Heavenly Dragon Sect did not dare to offend the Spirit Sealing Institute.
"Elder Han, does your Spirit Sealing Institute want to meddle in this affair?" Lingqiong Gong asked, sitting directly opposite Elder Han.
"Lingqiong Gong, that's where you're wrong. Since its founding, the Spirit Sealing Institute has never meddled in the sect's affairs. I'm here today purely on behalf of my Han Clan's descendants," Elder Han replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Lingqiong Gong asked.
"The Han Clan has many descendants left on the True Martial Continent. As their ancestor, how can I watch them die?" Elder Han explained calmly, his overwhelming aura pressing down.
Those seated behind him all belonged to the Han Clan as well, and they glared at the Lingqiong Clan with anger.
"Does that mean that the Han Clan has agreed to build the interstellar teleportation array?" Lingqiong Gong asked. He knew nothing good followed the Han Clan's arrival.
"That's right," Elder Han said with a nod.
The hall fell into a stalemate. The Lingqiong Clan opposed the interstellar teleportation array, while the Han Clan agreed.
Though the Spirit Sealing Institute had vowed since its founding not to interfere in the sect's internal affairs, the Han Clan invoked their clansmen as the reason to be involved, which was perfectly reasonable.
Silence settled over the main hall as the Lingqiong Clan conferred among themselves.
"Sect Master Hua, though my Lingqiong Clan doesn't interfere in the Heavenly Dragon Sect's internal affairs, we retain the right to make suggestions.
"From my position, I object to the building of the interstellar teleportation array," Lingqiong Gong said, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he looked at Liu Wuxie.
"You're right. The Lingqiong Clan is ultimately part of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and you naturally have the right to make suggestions. Aren't we all discussing it now?" Hua Feiyu answered.
"Since it's a suggestion, it can be adopted or rejected at the same time. Am I right?" Elder Han asked.
Given the current situation, Hua Feiyu held an absolute advantage. The majority of elders sided with him; only a small portion leaned toward the Lingqiong Clan.
"Does Sect Master Hua wish to play the tyrant? Don't forget that the Heavenly Dragon Sect's ancestor is Lingqiong Tian," Lingqiong Ye said, emphasizing that their ancestor founded the sect, not Hua Feiyu, not the Han Clan.
The atmosphere tightened. As the main person involved, Liu Wuxie couldn't find a word to say. He could tell the sect's internal power struggle had reached a boiling point. The interstellar teleportation array was only a fuse that laid the conflicts bare. Even if he hadn't proposed it, it would have still erupted.
"Since when did a junior have the qualification to interrupt in a conversation between seniors?" Elder Han snorted, and an invisible ripple spread out.
Unable to withstand the pressure, Lingqiong Ye took a step back. No one had expected the mild Elder Han to reveal such a domineering side.
He had done many wrongs when he invoked his ancestor. The Heavenly Dragon Sect wasn't founded solely by Lingqiong Tian. There was also Ancestor Long Xiao and many forebears who bled to raise the sect to its current height.
"Elder Han, please calm down and listen to the Lingqiong Clan's thoughts," Hua Feiyu said, lifting a hand to dismiss the pressure and offering Lingqiong Ye a step down.
Since the Lingqiong Clan wished to advise, there was no harm in hearing them out. Whether anyone would accept their advice remained another matter. In seniority, even Hua Feiyu addressed Elder Han as 'senior,' let alone Lingqiong Ye.
All eyes turned to the Lingqiong Clan, waiting.
"Let's vote. Those who disagree with building the interstellar teleportation array, raise your hands. Building a teleportation array of this scale not only requires immense resources but is also time-consuming. It will weaken the sect's reserves and let rival sects surpass us," Lingqiong Gong said.
Silence followed as the hall pondered his words. He wasn't entirely wrong; establishing the array would drain the sect's strength.
Many elders had struggled to their current height and naturally did not wish to see the Heavenly Dragon Sect decline.
Everyone on Lingqiong Gong's side raised their hands to oppose the array. The three hundred-odd elders looked at one another, unsure how to choose.
"I also disagree with building the interstellar teleportation array. After so many years, how many on the True Martial Continent still remember the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain? Even if we build it, there will be no substantive benefit to our sect," said an Earth Immortal Realm elder, rising to support the Lingqiong Clan.
Elders like him cared more for their own interests and would not act without benefit. The True Martial Continent was only a lesser realm; even if they managed to build the array, it would not bring gains to the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
Since there were no benefits, why waste time, effort, and resources over a mere belief of bringing dead souls home? In the cultivation world, profit mattered most.
His words drew nods around the hall. Linking the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain brought immense benefits, but they could not see any in linking the True Martial Continent.
"I, too, agree with the Lingqiong Clan. Though it may sound heartless, it brings us no benefits. We can devote our resources to greater purposes instead," said another elder supporting the Lingqiong Clan.
Their disagreement did not target Liu Wuxie; they viewed the matter from the sect's standpoint. There was no absolute right or wrong here; they voiced their views.
"You all only see short-term profit. The True Martial Continent has given birth to Liu Wuxie, who secured first place in all four events at the Myriad Race Ceremony. Is that not a benefit?" snapped another elder, finding the earlier speakers too cold-blooded.
After all, Liu Wuxie had won administrative rights over four planets and two ancient teleportation arrays for the Heavenly Dragon Sect. Would they wipe away his effort?
"Is it not the duty of a fellow disciple to win honor for the sect? We're naturally grateful, and he will receive the reward he deserves. What is the problem?" Lingqiong Zhi stood out by refuting the elder who had spoken previously.
More elders stood to support the Lingqiong Clan. As minutes passed, over a hundred elders sided with them, while a small portion abstained, remaining neutral.
Judging from the situation, it did not favor Liu Wuxie; they still could not see what benefit the True Martial Continent would bring.
"Anyone else who opposes constructing the interstellar teleportation array?" Hua Feiyu asked. He had let them debate for a long time because each side made sense.
The hall fell silent; no one else spoke. In total, 135 elders raised their hands in disagreement.
"I support the construction!" said a middle-aged man from the Han Clan, followed by the remaining members of the Han Clan.
"I also support the construction," Zhuge Ming said, looking to the long-term benefit the True Martial Continent might bring. "It's not because I know Liu Wuxie personally, but because of the True Martial Continent's potential. If it can produce one Liu Wuxie, I'm certain it can produce more. At that time, the Heavenly Dragon Sect will ultimately benefit from it."
The True Martial Continent had already developed into a planet, and it would become an entire planet one day. By then, extending an invitation would be too late.
"I agree with what Zhuge Ming said. Since Lingqiong Yu can return to the Indigo Bamboo Astral Domain, the others can as well. If another sect gets to it first and sets up an interstellar teleportation array in advance, our sect would become a joke," said a Heaven Gaze Realm expert who rose to his feet.
If another sect were to construct a teleportation array instead of them, the Heavenly Dragon Sect would be greatly humiliated. If that day came, how would they face their ancestors?