The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 559: Chapter 507: The World’s Reaction, Zhao Baiyang’s Fear

Taoist Academy, the Holy Land longed for by all martial artists and cultivators in the world. Even many martial artists and cultivators from powerful backgrounds hold no small amount of longing for this place. That’s because a peerless expert resides here, and to earn his favour would be a fortune beyond measure.

Alas, it’s a pity that Pei Xuanjing, keeps a reclusive existence within the confines of the academy. Besides his occasional preaching, it is rare for ordinary disciples to catch even a glimpse of him, let alone outsiders.

However, news has started to spread over recent days. It first circulated within the academy and then spread outwards. In a short amount of time, it became known to everyone – almost every martial artist and cultivator in the world has heard of it.

“The head of the Taoist Academy, National Master Pei Xuanjing, wishes to establish more Taoist Academies. Consequently, these Academies would need more instructors to teach the disciples; hence, the Academy will recruit more instructors. If chosen, you can have the opportunity to be personally instructed by Grandmaster Pei for some time. Moreover, if one can assume the position of the head of a subsidiary academy, the benefits will be even more…”

Although the Taoist Academy in Tiandu has only been established for about five or six years, the instructors who initially joined the Academy have experienced significant improvements in their cultivation level in that short time. Even the weakest of them have each advanced by one grade, while the most talented instructors have leaped directly from the Third-grade Realm to the First-grade Realm. More importantly, several instructors who were originally stuck at breaking through to the Spirit Realm, overcame their difficulties and stepped into the Spirit Realm to transcend worldly mortals upon receiving guidance from Grandmaster Pei Xuanjing.

It’s safe to say that the position of Taoist Academy Instructor, which was already very coveted, has become even more fiercely sought after. However, those who currently hold these positions are reluctant to give up their slots, and newcomers without sufficient means or support struggle to replace existing instructors.

Everyone is waiting, waiting for the Taoist Academy in Tiandu to recruit more disciples, leading to more instructor positions. Indeed, there are many who are pushing for this development behind the scenes.

To everyone’s surprise, Grandmaster Pei Xuanjing took a surprisingly large step forward by releasing so many spots at once, leading numerous martial artists to go mad with enthusiasm.

“Master, the Taoist Academy in Tiandu is supervised by the National Master himself, so it is understandable that the positions of instructors at this Academy would be fiercely contested since they may have the opportunity to receive guidance from the National Master. But the odds of receiving such guidance in the branch academies are slim. Are they worth such desperate contention?” Yu Yiyao asked her Master Zhao Baiyang in confusion.

At that time, on the outskirts of the border, on the territory of the Unorthodox Alliance, Zhao Baiyang, the leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, had been in seclusion here since the ordination ceremony of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty. He had hardly appeared in the public in the past few years.

However, such a powerful figure never goes unnoticed. Even though he has been inactive for several years, countless eyes from all over the world are watching him, ever ready to guard against him.

After all, the Unorthodox Alliance is now an extremely powerful force in the world. Based on the foundation of the Mire Sect, Zhao Baiyang wooed branches of the White Lotus Sect, integrated the remnants of the powerful warriors of the Diamond Gate, and finally accepted the powerful assassins of the hell. The power of the Unorthodox Alliance at this point is not weak, and in everyone’s view, it was only inferior to the Taoist School, Buddhism School, and Demonic Cult and a few other major forces.

However, if one considers Zhao Baiyang’s secret alliances with the Tie Sect, Heavenly King’s Pavilion, and several other forces, the actual strength of the Unorthodox Alliance might be even stronger, at least surpassing the noble families’ alliance, and powerful enough to compete with the Demonic Cult for a position in the top three of the martial arts world.

Over the years, Zhao Baiyang had completely unified the Unorthodox Alliance. He was undeniably the master of the Unorthodox Alliance, with supreme authority that could determine the fate of thousands.

Upon hearing his disciple’s doubts at this moment, Zhao Baiyang smiled lightly: “Perhaps I have protected you too well, causing you to lack certain experiences. Which is why, you fail to understand some things and only see the surface.”

“Master, could you please enlighten me?” Yu Yiyao quipped, somewhat unconvinced.

Given her age, stepping into the second layer of the Spirit Realm places Yu Yiyao among the extraordinary talents within her peers in the world — Of course, this is assuming they conveniently omit Pei Xuanjing from the peer group.

Over the years as Zhao Baiyang secluded himself for cultivation, Yu Yiyao was usually the one managing the affairs of the Unorthodox Alliance. Being able to manage the entire Unorthodox Alliance in such an orderly manner, speaks volumes about her remarkable abilities.

Therefore, after hearing her Master’s comment, Yu Yiyao naturally felt somewhat aggrieved.

While her strength varied greatly from Pei Xuanjing’s, which was worlds apart, in matters such as these, she certainly wouldn’t be so inept as to not understand his tactics and strategies. Her Master seemed to underestimate her too much.

“Ah, perhaps I should have let you go through more trials and tribulations.” Zhao Baiiyang sighed ruefully, looking at his unconvinced disciple.

Although this disciple of his had a Mire Sect origin, she was always well-fed and well-clothed, living a life of wealth. Particularly after being chosen as the Saintess of the Mire Sect, she was adored by numerous people as the darling of heaven and hadn’t experienced any hardship or loneliness.

Even though he had never considered Pei Xuanjing his junior, but rather an equal and worthy rival, he couldn’t help but feel ashamed every time he compared the young man’s talents and tricks to the fact that he was of the same age as his disciple.

He ruefully remarked, “Pei Xuanjing’s move can be said to have attracted countless independent martial artists to join him. After all, there are countless martial artists and cultivators in the world, but not all of them are as wealthy as you lot, not needing to worry about their cultivation resources nor having to struggle for a livelihood. Most martial artists and cultivators spend their lives depending on others, wishing to throw themselves into a major force but unable to do so…”

Zhao Baiyang, who had struggled from the bottom to the peak of the martial arts world, had a clearer understanding of the minds of these martial artists and cultivators than anyone else.

If it were the ordinary cultivators, it would be fair, but those who have some talent or those who have risen because of certain opportunities—their identity might seem legendary and glamorous, but in reality, it was quite awkward.

After all, many try to join a school, but the number of disciples who can earn complete trust from their teachers to be taught their full set of skills, is extremely rare.

These martial artists have risen without any support from a major force. Once they’ve acquired a certain level of abilities, they will realize that they can’t stand alone in this world, which gives rise to their desire to seek protection from a major force.

But they would then recognize that outsiders like themselves hardly receive trust or resources in a major force, which would limit their cultivation progress. Yet if they go to a smaller force, they would feel demeaned. The smaller forces not only seldom provide resources for their cultivation but might also drag them down.

Therefore, some powerful martial artists and cultivators either choose to establish their own force or choose to continue being independents.

However, in the current Great World, it’s not exactly a favourable situation for independent cultivators or small forces. The difficulties they face are greater than ever before, and it’s harder for them to rise.

Pei Xuanjing’s current approach undoubtedly provides a new direction for them.