Sect Master’s Immortal Journey - Chapter 510: Secret Grandmaster

Seeing that Meng Zhang was determined not to agree immediately, Daoist Master Scarlet Flame didn’t have a better option either. He had already offered all the conditions he could. Offering such generous terms would undoubtedly spark much controversy within the Fire Cloud Sect. Even for him, a mid-Gold Core cultivator, it would require a significant price to quell the opposition within the sect.

Daoist Master Scarlet Flame wasn’t foolish; he understood the principle of “haste makes waste” and knew that the more generous the conditions he offered, the more suspicious Meng Zhang would become.

Unfortunately, many matters were beyond Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s control. The next course of action for the Fire Cloud Sect was a reflection of the will of True Monarch Profound Wind, and any deviation was absolutely unacceptable.

Frankly, if Meng Zhang had acted like a typical cultivator, displaying boundless greed, Daoist Master Scarlet Flame wouldn’t be so helpless. Other lords of sects would seize this opportunity and demand more benefits from the Fire Cloud Sect.

However, Meng Zhang just happened to appear indifferent and disinterested, not giving any definite answer. Despite wasting a lot of words, Daoist Master Scarlet Flame couldn’t persuade Meng Zhang to change his mind and had to give up.

He didn’t resort to tearing up relations with Meng Zhang either, not even showing a hint of displeasure. He assured Meng Zhang that his promises remained valid. As long as Meng Zhang maintained neutrality within the Fire Cloud Sect and thoroughly defeated the Flying Swan Sect, he would receive all the benefits promised.

Meng Zhang nodded obediently, maintaining a friendly attitude, but he still didn’t agree outright with Daoist Master Scarlet Flame. He knew that once he did, there would be no room for regret.

In the world of cultivation, there were plenty of ways to ensure the fulfillment of a promise. If he gave in, he would likely be forced to make a blood oath or something similar.

Daoist Master Scarlet Flame acted nonchalant, ignoring Meng Zhang’s insincere attempts to keep him. After discussing the matter at hand, he took his leave voluntarily.

As Meng Zhang saw him off and bid farewell, he couldn’t help but make a veiled threat. He simply compared the strength of the Fire Cloud Sect to that of the Flying Swan Sect and hinted that the Fire Cloud Sect had many hidden aces. With enough determination, they could surely wipe out the Flying Swan Sect. He warned that any force supporting the Flying Swan Sect would face retaliation from the Fire Cloud Sect.

The revelation of the Fire Cloud Sect’s strength made Meng Zhang’s heart tighten. Within the Fire Cloud Sect’s gate, there were Sect Master Daoist Master Firecloud and Elder Daoist Master Blueflame, both mid-Gold Core cultivators.

After speaking, Daoist Master Scarlet Flame didn’t linger and departed with his followers.

As Meng Zhang watched the flying ship gradually disappear into the distance, he felt a bit uncertain. To be honest, he wasn’t willing to ally with the Flying Swan Sect against the Fire Cloud Sect. Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s request for Taiyi Sect to remain neutral seemed to align with Meng Zhang’s intentions and Taiyi Sect’s interests.

Yet, Meng Zhang’s intuition stopped him from agreeing with Daoist Master Scarlet Flame. Could his intuition be accurate, or would it hinder significant matters?

With this inner conflict, Meng Zhang secluded himself in meditation after Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s departure, lost in deep contemplation for a long time.

About half a month later, Meng Zhang, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes with a radiant look and a face full of indescribable confidence. Just now, his stagnant Celestial Calculations Cultivation Base finally made a breakthrough. He now had the ability to use Grand Evolving Fortune and handle matters at the level of a Calculated Gold Core Daoist Master.

A long time ago, he had sensed that there was only a thin barrier separating him from this breakthrough in his Celestial Calculations. However, despite his diligent pondering and recitations of scriptures, he couldn’t break through this barrier.

The opportunity presented by Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s visit had given him the chance to break through. Celestial Calculations was indeed a mysterious and unfathomable art that couldn’t be measured by conventional means. Moreover, such breakthroughs relied on fortuitous circumstances.

Now, Meng Zhang could rightfully be called a Grandmaster of Celestial Calculations. After the breakthrough, he meditated for a while and then used Grand Evolving Fortune to deduce the purpose of Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s visit.

Exhausting all his previously accumulated calculation tallies, Meng Zhang finally obtained the desired result. The outcome of his calculations confirmed the accuracy of Meng Zhang’s intuition – agreeing to Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s conditions would invite significant disaster.

Meng Zhang tried to continue calculating the details, but they remained blurry. Celestial Calculations were not omnipotent, and a Diviner couldn’t know everything. Obtaining ambiguous results during a calculation was a normal occurrence.

Nevertheless, Meng Zhang was quite satisfied with being able to derive such a result. Among the various Celestial Calculations, Grand Evolving Fortune was an exceptionally advanced spell. The inability to see the details could have many reasons. Perhaps Daoist Master Scarlet Flame possessed a special treasure that interfered with his calculations, or another Diviner had meddled with the celestial forces.

The most likely reason, in Meng Zhang’s opinion, was that Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s actions involved a Primordial Spirit True Monarch, surpassing his Calculated abilities.

Feeling somewhat proud, Meng Zhang acknowledged that his intuition played a significant role in making the right decision at a critical moment.

However, he was also puzzled. Taiyi Sect’s policy was to remain neutral in the conflict between the Fire Cloud Sect and the Flying Swan Sect. Even if Daoist Master Scarlet Flame hadn’t visited him or proposed those conditions, Taiyi Sect would most likely have stayed neutral to avoid getting entangled in the war.

Could there be an irresistible force pressuring Taiyi Sect to join the Flying Swan Sect?

Meng Zhang pondered for a long time but couldn’t figure it out, only getting more confused.

He decided to set these matters aside temporarily and return to his normal life. After Daoist Master Scarlet Flame left Grand Lion Ridge, he didn’t contact Meng Zhang again proactively. Meng Zhang shared the details of Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s visit with the higher-ups in the sect.

Though some of them didn’t fully understand Meng Zhang’s decision, no one dared to openly question it due to Meng Zhang’s unparalleled prestige in Taiyi Sect. However, Elder Yang Xueyi raised a practical concern.

Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s current actions clearly aimed at undermining any potential support the Flying Swan Sect could receive. Would he go to Northern Desert Qi Family next to sway them? If Northern Desert Qi Family agreed to Daoist Master Scarlet Flame’s conditions and joined the Fire Cloud Sect’s side, how would Taiyi Sect respond?

Yang Xueyi’s question was realistic, but Meng Zhang found it difficult to answer. It was indeed possible for Daoist Master Scarlet Flame to try to win over Northern Desert Qi Family. As for what choice Northern Desert Qi Family would make, Meng Zhang couldn’t say. Considering the grievances between Northern Desert Qi Family and the Flying Swan Sect, they might not side with the latter.

Meng Zhang simply replied to Yang Xueyi, saying they would watch and wait for developments. After that, he ordered the Secret Hall to strengthen surveillance on Northern Desert Qi Family, ready to receive any updates.

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