Chapter 1184: Benevolence of a Gentleman
No matter how intricate the schemes, martial power was still the main foundation.
Not long after Great Sage Jiang departed from Thanglong Prefecture, Qi Xuansu also followed suit and left, leaving only Xu Jiaorong behind to hold the fort.
In fact, even before setting out, Qi Xuansu had already deployed all the manpower he could mobilize, including Lin Yuanmiao and the Three Prodigies.
Strictly speaking, it would not be accurate to call it a deployment, as there was no clear superior-subordinate relationship between these parties. It was more of a cooperation.
All Three Prodigies traveled to Poluo to help Qi Xuansu. Zhang Yuelu’s aid was due to their relationship. But the other two only helped because they expected a share of the credit.
They were not taking advantage of Qi Xuansu. Instead, this was a win-win arrangement. After all, Qi Xuansu could not claim absolute victory by relying solely on his own strength to face two Pseudo-Immortals. Thus, by bringing in Li Changge and Yao Pei, he could also mobilize the forces behind them. The two prodigies themselves were also formidable individuals, which was a great advantage.
At times, appropriately sharing credit could unite more people and reduce friction.
Last time in Fenglin, Li Changge and Yao Pei were unable to participate throughout due to several reasons, allowing Qi Xuansu to shine.
Out of personal consideration—and to secure a semi-immortal object—Qi Xuansu shared part of the credit with Zhang Yuelu. Thus, during the Golden Tower Council deliberations, both the Zhengyi Sect and the Quanzhen Sect stood on his side, with only the Taiping Sect voicing opposition. The Quanzhen Sect supporting one of their own was only natural, while the Zhengyi Sect’s support of Qi Xuansu was reciprocating goodwill.
Although Qi Xuansu belonged to the Quanzhen Sect, he did not hold particularly deep loyalty to any of the three sects. He was more like those from the Grand Master’s lineage, maintaining a relatively neutral stance. As his status rose higher, he increasingly felt that unity carried profound significance.
Although the Three Prodigies had all arrived, a group of dragons could not be without a leader. Qi Xuansu remained in Thanglong Prefecture to see Great Sage Jiang off, so Zhang Yuelu took the lead at Wu’an Prefecture. That was because both Lin Yuanmiao and Little Yin listened only to Zhang Yuelu and would not obey Yao Pei or Li Changge.
Moreover, by regulations, Zhang Yuelu held the highest rank, cultivation, and official position. Little Yin was merely a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master. While Lin Yuanmiao was a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master, on par with Zhang Yuelu in rank, he was merely a nominal Deputy Palace Master, while Zhang Yuelu was a Second Deputy Mansion Master.