Chapter 588 - 321: The Ambition of the Primordial Divine Hall

"Yes, Master."

Yuqin Saintess nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, a grim voice rang out, "If our people bring Ling Changqing back to the Sect, how will we accommodate him? Don’t tell me... we’re really going to give him the position of the next Elder Sect Leader?"

The hall instantly fell silent.

"Elder Lin, is there a problem with that?"

Yuqin Saintess frowned and asked.

This old fellow had always been aggressive and domineering, and with several Supreme Elders backing him, even the Elder Sect Leader sometimes had to yield to him.

Core Elder Lin Jinghong sneered, "I don’t deny Ling Changqing’s immense value, but he will always be an outsider to the Sect. The future and fate of millions of Disciples are at stake. How can the supreme authority be entrusted to him so easily?"

"Elder Lin, what are you suggesting?"

A voice in the hall asked.

"I was thinking, could we directly seize the Child of Destiny’s fundamental Life Chart and use it to perfect one of our own? Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?"

Lin Jinghong said gravely.

Although he understood Ling Changqing’s value, he was fundamentally unwilling to trust him. On what grounds could a newcomer, an outsider, become the Sect’s ultimate authority?

"Is that even possible?"

A voice sneered, "The Life Chart of a Child of Destiny is exceptionally special, blessed with immense favor from the heavens. Anyone who dares to harm him will inevitably suffer a backlash from the Celestial Dao. Are you trying to tear the Sect apart?"

"Not necessarily!"

Lin Jinghong explained, "If Ling Changqing had already matured and currently possessed the Cultivation of the Divinity Transformation Realm or even the Void Refining Realm, then we would indeed be helpless and could only choose to befriend him.

But if he currently only has the Cultivation of a Nascent Soul True Monarch or perhaps a Golden Core Master, we should be able to accomplish it using the Forbidden Secret Techniques treasured within the Sect!"

"The risk is too great. We cannot attempt it. If it triggers a backlash from the Celestial Secrets, no one could bear the consequences."

A stunningly beautiful woman in a Feather Cloak frowned and said.

The other great figures spoke one after another, some in favor and some against, while a portion of the Elders remained silent.

They were members of the Primordial Divine Hall’s decision-making council. Naturally, they could only act according to the Sect’s interests and couldn’t possibly consider the issue from the Child of Destiny’s perspective.

Their opposition to Lin Jinghong’s proposal was also born from the fear that if the situation spiraled out of control, the Sect would pay an unimaginable price. Therefore, it wasn’t worth taking such a great risk.

After a long silence, the Elder Sect Leader finally spoke slowly, "The collection of Scriptures and documents in the Sect’s Secret Vault is quite extensive. Such Secret Techniques do indeed exist as an option, but they come with far too many harsh restrictions and conditions.

If his Cultivation is only Below Golden Core, our chances of success would be relatively high. If he is already a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the difficulty becomes somewhat absurd.

Moreover, we don’t know what kind of hidden trump cards Ling Changqing might have. The slightest misstep could lead to failure right at the brink of success..."

He didn’t continue, but all the great figures present understood his meaning. If this plan failed, and Ling Changqing later had a chance to escape, it would mean the Sect had provoked an incredibly terrifying enemy—one who would hunt them to the death.

To invite a cataclysmic disaster upon the Sect and watch its 200,000-year legacy go up in smoke all for a moment of greed—that was a consequence no one could bear.

There was an unconfirmed rumor that some years ago on the Qinghao Continent, the ruins of the Hongmeng Divine Hall, an Ancient Dao Lineage, had unexpectedly opened. The opportunities within were taken by an unknown Cultivator, who was very likely Ling Changqing.

Therefore, it was truly hard to say what this Child of Destiny’s Cultivation Realm was now. If he was already at Divinity Transformation, or even a higher-level expert, then the Primordial Divine Hall would be fresh out of options.

Lin Jinghong’s face flushed with anger, but he couldn’t say anything more at this moment, so he conceded a step:

"Even if we can only choose to befriend Ling Changqing, we still can’t let him become the Elder Sect Leader. The position of a Core Elder is more than enough!"

Having an outsider act as the Sect’s ultimate authority was unprecedented in the history of the Primordial Divine Hall, which was why some of the more conservative and hard-line Elders found it difficult to accept.

In the eyes of Lin Jinghong and his faction, even if Ling Changqing’s status was indeed special and his value to the Sect irreplaceable, it was no reason to make an exception.

Yuqin Saintess smiled. "What Elder Lin says might have a point, but it’s hard to say whether he’d even be willing to come.

I believe the other major powers on the Qingyao Continent will not be stingy about offering him better terms to recruit him.

Even the powers on other continents have likely gotten the news by now and have already sent people to find him."

She didn’t believe Ling Changqing would be unaware of his own value. He would have an abundance of suitable options before him, and the Primordial Divine Hall’s offer was hardly attractive.

Lin Jinghong said coldly, "As long as we find Ling Changqing first, the development of events will be out of his hands. He can only belong to our Primordial Divine Hall."

Yuqin Saintess shot him a sidelong glance, too tired to say anything more.

Any power with a sufficiently long history will have a group of old-timers with rigid, stubborn, and conservative thinking within its ranks, and the Primordial Divine Hall was no exception.

The Saintess was already starting to wonder, ’After I ascend to the highest position in the future, should I conduct an internal purge and kick out every last one of these eyesores?’

"Enough. Yu Qin will take full responsibility for this important matter. You may mobilize all of the Sect’s resources!"

The Elder Sect Leader finally said, "As long as you can handle this matter and bring Ling Changqing back, this position will be yours to take. And he will be your Dao Companion!

As long as you can bear his child in the future, a Supreme Elder can personally take them as a disciple and groom them to be the future Elder Sect Leader!"

"Yes, this disciple will obey Master’s command!"

A hint of joy appeared on Yuqin Saintess’s face, and she immediately agreed.

However, the Female Cultivator Elders present exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat subtle and complex.

"Is this appropriate?"

The youthful, childlike voice was the first to question, "Is Senior Sister Yu Qin to take all the benefits for herself? Won’t this be detrimental to the Sect’s internal stability?"

The Elder Sect Leader asked, "Elder Tianhe, what are you suggesting?"

"Among my descendants, there are two girls with decent aptitude. Why don’t we let them serve Ling Changqing together in the future? I trust you won’t object, Yu Qin?"

Core Elder Su Tianhe said calmly.

’The opportunities associated with the Child of Destiny must not be monopolized by a single person or faction.’

This was Su Tianhe’s true thought; such a matter could only end with the spoils being shared by all.

"Hmm, in that case, my worthless grand-disciple doesn’t have a Dao Companion yet. How about... we save a spot for her too?"

Another Elder spoke up.

At once, the great figures present all chimed in. Even the most hard-line of them, Lin Jinghong, seemed tempted.

This old fellow may have always been arrogant, conceited, and stubborn, but he was no fool. If planting a few of his descendants by Ling Changqing’s side could better guarantee the interests of his own faction, then why wouldn’t he do it?

Yuqin Saintess’s expression darkened. ’So many shameless Fox Spirits trying to squeeze in, all desperately trying to seduce Ling Changqing... how am I supposed to live like that in the future?’

But under everyone’s watchful eyes, she couldn’t very well object. After all, this was a major affair concerning the Sect’s future grand ambitions.

In the end, the Elders’ proposals were unanimously approved, with even the Elder Sect Leader expressing his consent.

After the high-level elder meeting concluded, Yuqin Saintess left the hall with an ashen face, planning to return to her Cave Mansion Hall to summon her trusted followers and discuss their next move.

"Junior Sister, please wait."

An elegant and velvety voice called out.

Yuqin Saintess looked up and saw the stunningly beautiful woman blocking her path, surrounded by a dozen or so other female Elders who had also gathered around.

"Senior Sister Mengyan, what is the meaning of this...?"

Yuqin Saintess asked with a frown.

Elder Mengyan smiled faintly and replied via Divine Thought, "Since we are all destined to serve the same man in the future, that makes us sisters in the same camp. It would be best to discuss and settle certain matters now, don’t you think?"

"..."