370: Chapter 158: I’m Really Not Here to Argue_5 370: Chapter 158: I’m Really Not Here to Argue_5 Thousand Caves Door, then, had a thousand grottos and a thousand Cave Masters.
However, many of these grottos were significantly weaker than the peaks of Hundred Peaks Sect; otherwise, with such numbers alone, they would have already overpowered Hundred Peaks Sect tenfold.
Indeed, many within the Hundred Peaks Sect believed that the fundamental approach of Thousand Caves Door was deeply flawed.
True, both Hundred Peaks Sect and Thousand Caves Door were Mixed Clans, with sect members practicing various Zen, Taoist, Scholar, Sword cultivations…
Initiating a number of new peaks and grottos wasn’t wrong.
The problem was, Thousand Caves Door established too many.
A thousand grottos—how could a single Sect possibly manage them all well?
And with so many grottos, the focus was simply too scattered.
The resources of a sect were finite; spread across so many grottos, how much could each one receive?
For a Mixed Clan Immortal Sect, distributing across a hundred peaks was truly the optimal scenario.
Yet, the people of Thousand Caves Door believed that since they were a Mixed Clan, the more, the merrier.
“We have a thousand grottos, you only have a hundred peaks, our number is ten times yours.”
You have a hundred sects vying for success, but we have a thousand.
In my Thousand Caves Door, with a greater variety of legacies, and diverse Taoist philosophies and thoughts colliding, progress can be continually spurred.
Cao Zhen entered Thousand Caves Door and quickly joined Lin Xuesong and several other disciples to board the Immortal Cloud Carriage, which took them to a mountain peak.
Thousand Caves Door earned its name due to the over a thousand grottos it possessed, which were not located underground; otherwise, they would be called earth grottos.
The grottos of Thousand Caves Door were constructed on the mountains.
Moreover, Thousand Caves Door did not exclusively consist of grottos; there were other structures as well.
Cao Zhen and the others did not enter a grotto; instead, they were led into a grand hall built along the mountainside, with three large characters inscribed above—Guest Hall!
Cao Zhen glanced at these three characters, finding the penmanship rather good, certainly better than that of several Peak Masters from Wonderful Pen Peak and Ultimate Pen Peak.
Inside the hall, however, there were already a multitude of disciples from Thousand Caves Door seated, and at the main seat sat a middle-aged man with a handsome appearance and a kind expression.
Upon entering the hall, Lin Xuefeng took the initiative to introduce Cao Zhen and the other to the Senior, “This is Elder Huan Kong of our Thousand Caves Door.”
Cao Zhen and Lan Pili promptly bowed with hands folded and said, “Greetings, Elder Huan Kong.”
Since he was not introduced as an Elder of a particular grotto, it was clear that this man was an Elder of the entire Thousand Caves Door.
Cao Zhen internally marveled once more at the polite diplomacy of Thousand Caves Door; they’d sent an Elder to meet them.
Lin Xuefeng continued, introducing them to Elder Huan Kong, “These two are from Hundred Peaks Sect, Peak Master Lan from Lightning Peak and Cao Zhen from Four Treasures Peak, Peak Master Cao.”
“Greetings to you both, Dao Companions. Google seaʀᴄh N0velFire.ɴet
Please take your seats,” said Elder Huan Kong, gesturing with a bow before turning to the side and ordering, “Serve tea for our guests from Hundred Peaks Sect.”
Around them, disciples from Thousand Caves Door promptly served fragrant tea.
Lin Xuefeng had already positioned himself next to Elder Huan Kong and transmitted his voice in secret, “Elder, what is Hundred Peaks Sect’s intention in sending these two Peak Masters?
One from a Ninety-Something Peak, the other from the Hundredth Peak?”
Elder Huan Kong touched his beard lightly, glanced at Cao Zhen and his companion, then transmitted back, “To put it more precisely, a Peak Master from Ninety-Three Peak.
Hundred Peaks Sect has sent them…
it’s nothing but a trivial trick.”
Lin Xuefeng was momentarily confused and asked, “Elder, what do you mean?” Despite being an Elder of Thousand Caves Door, he originated from their Profound Sea Grotto, which is why he was able to stay beside Elder Huan Kong, who was tasked with welcoming the Debate Teams from various sects this time.
“I ask you,” Elder Huan Kong transmitted, “what was your first impression upon seeing these two Peak Masters?
Speak freely and boldly.”
“My first reaction was puzzlement, wondering why Hundred Peaks Sect would send such Peak Masters.
If they were to send someone, they should’ve sent stronger Peak Masters,” replied the disciple.
“That’s exactly it,” responded Elder Huan Kong.
“Did you also feel some disdain when you saw them?”
Lin Xuefeng hesitated slightly, “The disciple…
“Speak frankly,” Elder Huan Kong transmitted.
“It’s perfectly normal to feel disdain.
You’re a disciple ranked One Hundred Sixteen in the grottos, which, in Hundred Peaks Sect, would place you among the top ten Peak disciples.
How could these two Peak Masters, ranked Ninety-Three and One Hundred, compare to you?
Now think about it, you’re known for your steady character among all the disciples.
Even with the knowledge of their status, you felt contempt.
What about other disciples?
Would they also look down upon them?
By underestimating them, we fall right into Hundred Peaks Sect’s trap.
They want us to underestimate them to blind us.
The true debaters they have come to send aren’t these two Peak Masters, but rather the disciples behind them.
If I am not mistaken, many of these disciples are likely not from their peaks, but other peaks, and some even from lower ranked peaks.
However, these disciples from lower ranked peaks are undoubtedly the most outstanding disciples from their own peaks.
Hundred Peaks Sect intends to catch us off guard by making us complacent, but unfortunately, they’ve encountered me, and all their calculations will be in vain.”