Chapter 22: Immortal Crane Sect
"Haaa..." Old Lord Can Yang's voice hissed in the large court room. "It is still not time for the yearly meeting. Is there a problem that needs all of our attention?"
He Fang Yuan awkwardly shirked at Can Yang's glare and immediately began to defend himself. "It is not my fault that bad circumstances have prevented me from acquiring Hu Immortal blessed land. There is a hidden force that wanted to silence me. This hidden danger is problematic to all of Central Continent. I request that we inform all the other sects and form a coalition to deal with the perpetuators."
"Hauuugh," Lei Tan yawned, tapping his finger against the metal of his armrest. "And why would they listen to us? It's likely that the people who attacked you after your meeting with Fang Yuan were Gu immortals of Central Continent. Only you can be blamed for your incompetence."
"What? That's outrageous! The task given to me was to establish a good connection with Fang Yuan and Hu Immortal blessed land. Combating a force of two elite Gu immortals was not an assignment given to me by the sect. Why should I be punished for unimaginable accidents?" He Fang Yuan spoke passionately, but all he saw around him were uninterested eyes.
"Was Fang Yuan's ascension to immortal status an unimaginable accident?" The second supreme elder spoke up, quickly silencing He Fang Yuan. "Had you taken action earlier, Fang Yuan wouldn't have had a chance to rise to immortal status, we would have Hu Immortal blessed land, and Dang Hun mountain would be ours."
He Fang Yuan cowered under the second elder's glare, but he let out one last rebuttal. "Still, we cannot simply let Fang Yuan keep Hu Immortal blessed land all to himself. Something must be done about this upstart."
Old Lord Can Yang shook his head. "It is not that simple. Fang Yuan is no longer a mortal. With how much money he's earning from Dang Hun mountain he is no longer a weakling to be pushed around. I'm afraid he cannot be defeated by another rank 6."
"Indeed." The second elder nodded in agreement. "We simply do not have enough firepower to deal with Fang Yuan right now. All of our rank 7 members are dealing with things in Northern Plains."
"But what about the rank 6 members?" He Fang Yuan looked to the other rank 6 Gu immortals in the room. Namely Shu Zhi Ge, Fan Xi Liu, and Sang Xin. "Some of their tasks have low priority and can be temporarily ignored to deal with Fang Yuan."
Lei Tan smiled. "Fan Xi Liu is assisting me in the Reincarnation Battlefield. Is preserving Immortal Crane Sect's honor in the competition among sects not a priority?"
He Fang Yuan didn't back down. "Immortal Crane Sect's spot in the Reincarnation Battlefield falls every month. If you're faction is performing so poorly perhaps it would be best to redistribute resources to other projects."
The second supreme elder coughed into his sleeve and interrupted the stand off. "There are more pressing matters than Reincarnation Battlefield and Hu Immortal blessed land. The Refinement Path Convention is coming to an end. And Fang Yuan seems to be a guaranteed winner."
"Oh really?" Old Lord Can Yang asked. "Should we attempt to recruit him into our sect? Such strong refinement path talent is rare. And the final prize for the Refinement Path Convention is very useful."
"The first supreme elder has given it some thought and after a few rumors circulated about a deal between Myriad Dragon Dock and Fang Yuan he came to a decision." The second supreme elder lifted a large scroll filled with requests and rules. "He Fang Yuan, come here. This is your final chance to redeem yourself."
He Fang Yuan's eyes lit up when he saw the first condition on the list. "Second supreme elder, you can't seriously mean that?"
"Of course I do. Immortal Crane Sect does not hold grudges. If Fang Yuan wishes, all offenses will be pardoned and a new alliance can be established. This is how sects operate. Remember it He Fang Yuan. If you let your emotions get the best of you best believe I will find a replacement."
He Fang Yuan kneeled down and smacked his head against the cold marble floor. "Yes sir! I won't let you down."
"Alright, alright, get up off the ground. Your deadline expires once the Refinement Path Convention ends. Don't mess this up."
He Fang Yuan impatiently accepted the list and returned back to his seat.
"Is there anything besides the matter with Fang Yuan that requires our attention?"
When no one said anything the second supreme elder rose from his seat. "All of you are dismissed. I expect a full report on the situation in Reincarnation Battlefield and Fang Yuan. This is a crucial moment for our sect. Do not disappoint me."
Everyone left after that. Old Lord Can Yang and the second supreme elder left together. The rank 6 Gu immortals like Lei Tan, Shu Zhi Ge, Fan Xi Liu and Sang Xin each left separately. Only He Fang Yuan was left in the empty court room, solemnly reading the list of conditions given to him.
"On the condition that you, Fang Yuan, refine the rank 6 Star Gaze Immortal Gu, we, Immortal Crane Sect, vow to pay a total of 5,000 immortal essence stones and forgive all debts and transgressions previously made against our establishment..."
He Fang Yuan's voice trailed off while reading that last sentence. Could Immortal Crane Sect really forgive everything that had happened? Fang Yuan was just a mortal when he came to Central Continent. At that time the main contest between the ten sects was for Hu Immortal blessed land. Fang Yuan managed to steal it right under their noses and now he was to be accepted into their circle as if nothing had happened?
How much painstaking effort did he put into conspiring against Fang Yuan? How much money did he put towards lining the pockets of the supreme elders to get his way? He couldn't throw that all away. Not after what happened to Little Nine. Not after how close he came to death.
"I will pay Fang Yuan a separate visit. Hopefully we can work something out."