Chapter 26: Honing skills in Jiang Hu

Meng Chao Ran felt proud after hearing Wu Yun Liang praise Chu Yang, but upon the words 'enough to compensate for all', he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Eldest Martial Brother, you seem high-spirited! Even at this hour you're still in the mood to joke around."

"Why you rather have me crying?" Even though Wu Yun Liang was being facetious, his countenance was very serious. He slowly said, "This Chu Yang, you need to cultivate him well. In our Beyond the Heavens Sect, the number of people like him are too few." (TLN: Like, zero.)

Meng Chao Ran nodded and said with a sigh, "There's no other way! Since we no longer hold the title 'National Sect' of the Great State of Zhao and suffered from a severe loss of power, no one in court supports us, government officials treat us with discrimination and other large sects harass us. Any talented disciple, they could be stolen away or killed during competitions. Beyond the Heavens Sect's destiny is very precarious... If we cannot protect the talents of the sect, then I am afraid that in our generation, Beyond the Heavens Sect will cease to exist."

Meng Chao Ran's words included some very serious reminders and warnings.

Upon Wu Yun Liang's face there was a pained smile. He and Kong Jing Feng looked at each other. After, his wrinkled face slowly relaxed, he smiled and said, "Perhaps, you're afraid we would sell off your disciple?"

With a humph, Meng Chao Ran said, "You can't be too careful! Beyond the Heavens Sect is not what it used to be."

Wu Yun Liang sighed and said, "I know! So you guys are still dissatisfied with the ranking competition amongst the disciples in the sect. Indeed, Beyond the Heavens Sect is currently on the decline. If we have a competition like this, distinguished disciples will be known to the enemies and they will be put in danger. However... it must be done."

Meng Chao Ran clasped his hands behind his back, "I think you only want to maintain the archaic traditions of Beyond the Heavens Sect. If you are determined not to change them, then we have nothing else to say."

Meng Chao Ran was usually a pacifist, but he had just said these harsh words. Wu Yun Liang, who had been in the sect with him for decades, had never heard words like these before. At this point, Wu Yun Liang suddenly realized, that this junior martial brother was very dissatisfied.

With a sigh Wu Yun Liang said severely, "If I really wanted to change things, I only need to say so. But the reason I kept this old rule, is because I wanted to cultivate pure metal from inside the fiery hell."

Wu Yun Liang cooled down, he slowly said, "There are currently 800 disciples in the eighth generation of Beyond the Heavens Sect. Whereas our seventh generation currently only has 70 left. Of the masters from the sixth generation, there barely remain ten people. As for the fifth generation, there is currently only one, the Ninth Martial Great Uncle..."

His face strained as he gritted his teeth, "If my plans succeed, then of the thousand people of Beyond the Heavens Sect, the ones who are capable of surviving will not exceed a hundred. These people will become the foundation for Beyond the Heavens Sect to rise to its glorious peak."

"The useless need not be kept! The mediocre are not needed at all!!!" Wu Yun Liang took two slow steps and in a dreadful low voice, "Even I, Wu Yun Liang, when sacrifice is needed, will sacrifice!"

"A sect declining is not because of external pressure. It is due to internal disputes and lack of unity. Of this, our Beyond the Heavens Sect is a perfect example." Wu Yun Liang said cryptically, "If a sect wants to rise, it has to go through blood and fire to be reborn!!!"

Meng Chao Ran sighed, "These outstanding disciples, if targeted by the enemies, then it is us who have pushed them into danger. But the same goes with countless things in life. Only in overcoming everything, can they become the pillars of the sect."

Wu Yun Liang said casually, "If we cannot overcome and all get killed, then Beyond the Heavens Sect will no longer exist. What I want is not to prolong that last breath, but to give our all in the final fight."

Kong Jing Feng nodded, "Eldest Martial Brother is right. Better to have one glorious moment, then a waning hundred years!"

Meng Chao Ran's pupils suddenly narrowed, "Eldest Martial Brother! The decline of the sect is greatly related to the Zhao Dynasty. But now you have plans to revive the sect. Perhaps... ?"

"Exactly!"

Wu Yun Liang said pensively, "These past ten years, whenever I wasn't at the sect, then I was at Iron Cloud Nation. The Zhao Dynasty has always bullied us. What need do we have to cling to them? Great state what? There are no guarantees that it will always prosper and never fall."

Meng Chao Ran was shocked. But upon seeing Kong Jing Feng's calm countenance, he immediately understood that Elder Martial Brother Kong already knew about this.

"Eldest Martial Brother, this is too dangerous!" Meng Chao Ran took a deep breath, his face still looked worried.

"Find fortune in danger!" Wu Yun Liang said blandly. "The first time a sect needs to rise up is difficult but not impossible. Only, after succeeding, if it declines again, rising the second time will be much more difficult. We need to prepare carefully if the sect were to perish."

Meng Chao Ran sighed and did not say anymore.

"Three days ago, I dispatched Ninth Junior Martial Brother along with Qian Qian, Xue Ye, and Mu Shang (TLN: previously mentioned as the top two disciples on that 'list') to secretly go to Iron Cloud Nation. First, to complete a task. Second, for them to have a chance to go into Jiang Hu and learn a bit."

After hearing this, Kong Jing Feng became terrified. "Eldest Martial Brother, how could you let Qian Qian go like that?!"

"I thought you would certainly try to stop it if you knew, that's why I didn't tell you." Wu Yun Liang replied casually. "It has been three days. Even if you want to bring her back, you can't."

Kong Jing Feng immediately raised his voice, "I have no issue with Ninth Junior Martial Brother bringing Xue Ye and Mu Shang, but why did you let Qian Qian go along? This trip is very dangerous. Moreover, all the major sects are like tigers on the prowl for us..."

"It's up to fate!!!" Wu Yun Liang said coldly. "A few days ago, when you and I were talking about the female disciples of the sect, I had already thought about this. Now, let Qian Qian go out there and hone her skills in Jiang Hu!"

"Honing skills in Jiang Hu... our Beyond the Heavens Sect has many such female disciples. Those with beauty like Qian Qian are not few, but why do you have to send Qian Qian?" Kong Jing Feng was livid. "She is your daughter!"

"She is my daughter, then the other female disciples are without parents? Are they not precious to them?" Wu Yun Liang said, burdened. "Should I pamper my daughter forever?"

Kong Jing Feng stomped his foot in indignation, his gaze became fiery as he stared as his elder martial brother. "She's not just your daughter, she's our niece! You can't let her take such risks."

"Because she is my daughter, that's why she has to take the responsibility instead of other female disciples." Wu Yun Liang said coldly. "My daughter is not a precious princess. If she keeps hiding and let her martial sisters face danger... then I would rather not have this daughter..."

"Beyond the Heavens Sect is amidst boiling water and burning fire and that fire is slowly growing. If we want to rise again, then we can't avoid paying a big price. No one can be an exception to this. Not you, nor I, not even my daughter!!!" After he finished speaking, Wu Yun Liang immediately turned around. His whole body stiffened. The two others could not see that his eyes were quivering.

Let's hope... Qian Qian can return safely.

I am a father, but I have heartlessly sent my daughter to carry out such dangerous duties. Is it possible that I am truly without feelings?

But I am not only a father, I am the master of a thousand disciples of Beyond the Heavens Sect.

When it is necessary, even if all must be sacrificed, it must be done. However, if only one person needs to be sacrificed, then... then let it be my daughter. Because I am the master of Beyond the Heavens Sect.

Wu Yun Liang clenched his teeth, his jaw trembled and then returned to normal. He still did not turn around. But said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Junior Martial Brother, you must teach Chu Yang well. That Fleeting Snow Cloud Movement Technique..." He paused and contemplated for a second. Then calmly said, "Let him cultivate well. If there are any secrets to it... he can keep them to himself. Or you both can hold on to them. But you must remember, no third party can know of them.

Meng Chao Ran pondered for a second then said, "Shouldn't we teach it to the entire sect? If we teach this technique, the power of Beyond the Heavens Sect could double. That would be my guess."