The cave fell silent for a moment. After a while, Junior Wen, unwilling to accept defeat, said, "When Junior Brother Zhao returns, he should be able to alleviate the situation for a while."

Chu Daoist smiled bitterly, "What Junior Brother Zhao took with him is the last ten thousand Spiritual Shells from our sect. Even if this trip goes smoothly and he returns with cultivation external objects, it would at most suffice for only about thirty disciples for a year and a half. What shall we do after that?"

Junior Wen, still stubborn, insisted, "Delay it for as long as we can. Who knows, perhaps by then, our master might have returned to the mountain gate?"

Chu Daoist shook his head and said, "If you’re unwilling, I have another plan."

Junior Wen, anxious, said, "Senior brother, given the situation, what are you holding back for? Speak quickly."

Chu Daoist said slowly, "Among our fellow disciples, Junior Brother Gao has the best aptitude. Those Spiritual Shells were originally reserved for his condensing external elixir, but this time we’ve wronged him. Fortunately, he hasn’t complained. However, we can’t delay him any longer. I was thinking of lending him the Dharma Treasure our master granted us, so he could go out to seek opportunities. If he can break through to the Nascent Soul Realm before we exhaust our lifespan, we’d no longer fear those people from the E Mountain Sect."

Junior Wen’s expression suddenly turned very unpleasant, and then he sneered, "You may recognize him as a fellow disciple, but I don’t. If anyone’s to go, it should be one of us three. Who is he to be compared with us? I will not lend the Dharma Treasure to him."

Gao Zhongyuan was not a disciple accepted by Shen Baishuang. He was born into a declining noble cultivation family and only became a disciple when he unintentionally acquired a meridian-opening cultivation technique passed down by Shen Baishuang sixty years ago. Therefore, Chu Daoist regarded him as a fellow disciple, but because he wasn’t inducted through formal means, Wen Daoist disliked him.

Chu Daoist already expected this outcome, so he didn’t try to persuade him further. Lowering his gaze to his feet, he said, "Then we will have no choice but to move the sect to avoid disaster."

Junior Wen’s voice was extremely cold, "If you abandon the cave mansion and the master returns, how will you explain it?"

Chu Daoist straightened his posture and solemnly said, "If the master returns, he will have his means to reclaim the mountain gate. But if the master does not return, the disciples will stray from the Daoist path, and our Daoist inheritance will have no successor. We will both be sinners!"

Junior Wen angrily retorted, "The mountain gate is the foundation of our sect. Even if all the disciples perish, we will not hand it over."

Knowing it was impossible to convince him immediately, Chu Daoist suddenly showed a tired expression, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, alright, Junior Brother, there’s no need to argue with me. Go back and think it over. Let’s discuss this another day."

Junior Wen stood up, took a few steps outside, then stopped abruptly. He turned back and said, "Senior Brother, if you do anything behind my back, I won’t agree."

After saying this, he left, his footsteps heavy.

Chu Daoist sighed deeply. Just then, he noticed a child peering timidly at the cave mansion’s entrance and said irritably, "What is it?"

The child said, "Master Patriarch, there’s a flying book from Elder Zhao."

Chu Daoist’s face lit up with joy and he said, "Quick, bring it to me."

Previously, he had sent Junior Zhao Ge out to purchase cultivation external objects, and by his estimates, it was about time for his return.

He hurriedly took the flying book, waved his hand, and the child exited the scene.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the flying book, but his face changed drastically, his hands began to tremble, and he stammered, "How could this happen? How could this happen? Who could have done such a vile deed?"

The message Zhao Ge sent was not good news. He mentioned that although he had successfully purchased a lot of elixirs and Xuan Seeds in an immortal city within the Chu Kingdom, he was ambushed on his return. Now heavily injured, he was recuperating in a secluded location and could not return for the time being.

Chu Daoist immediately suspected it was the doing of the E Mountain Sect. Just as he was thinking about how to bring Zhao Ge back, he heard someone calling him from outside the cave. Forcing himself to gather his spirits, he asked, "What’s the matter outside?"

A young disciple outside the door said, "Master, there are two female cultivators at the mountain gate seeking to meet the Sect Leader."

Chu Daoist was puzzled. Many cultivators had come to visit when Shen Baishuang was present, but after his departure, such occurrences were rare. He asked in a deep voice, "Can you tell their cultivation level and origin?"

The disciple replied, "Those two female cultivators are riding the Xuan Guang. Judging by their attire, they don’t seem to be from within our Divine House Mountain Realm."

Chu Daoist felt a stir in his heart. After contemplating for a moment he said, "Summon your senior brother to greet them and gauge their intentions."

Outside the mountain gate, the Wang Sisters stood side by side. Their stunning beauty and identical appearance attracted frequent glances from the Han Yuan guard disciples.

Wang Caiwei admired the surrounding mountainscape and said, "Sister, look, though Master Shen’s choice of cave mansion is somewhat remote, the abundant spiritual energy makes it deserving of being called a Blessed Land."

Wang Caiting pouted, "But compared to Zhao You Heavenly Pond, it’s still lacking."

Wang Caiwei laughed, "The Zhao You Heavenly Pond was originally a place of cultivation for Cave Heaven True Masters. Our master only received it after performing great feats alone by Breaking Array. Naturally, this cave mansion cannot compare. In East Victory Continent, such places can probably only be found by going to the mountain gates of the Five Major Sects. Don’t be greedy."

As they were speaking, the mountain gate’s great array slowly opened in the distance, and a handsome Daoist also rode a Xuan Guang out. His gaze lingered on the two women for a while before he stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble Daoist is Lin Xuanchao, unworthy of being the Senior Disciple of Han Yuan Sect. May I know which fellow Daoists have come here, and what business you have with our master?"

The Wang Sisters exchanged a smile, and Wang Caiting stepped forward, saluting courteously, and said, "So it is Senior Brother Lin. I’m Wang Caiting, and this is my elder sister Wang Caiwei. We’ve come today at the behest of your venerable Master Shen."

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, you’re welcome to vote for it or cast monthly votes on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)