Chapter 203: The Three Great Giants of the Ask Dao Sect

The Cult Master had initially believed they were destined to live out their lives aimlessly in the Dao Sect, with no hope of ever recovering their former glory. However, with Vice Cult Master Liu, he unexpectedly found new hope.

It seemed the Dao Sect was not a monolith; there were internal power struggles and hidden conflicts. What were they, practitioners of the Demonic Dao, best at if not sowing discord?

"Quickly, tell me, how many factions are there within the Dao Sect?" The Cult Master's voice betrayed a hint of eagerness.

Master Liu erected a barrier and several formations to effectively prevent sound from escaping and to block any attempts at spiritual sense eavesdropping.

Witnessing Vice Cult Master Liu's meticulous preparation, the Cult Master felt a pang of shame. In his eagerness just moments before, he had completely forgotten to implement countermeasures to prevent information from leaking out.

The five venerated elders of the Immortal Cult looked on, a flicker of hesitation in their eyes. They weren't sure if they should stay and listen, as this seemed to be a top-secret meeting, far above their usual clearance level.

The Cult Master gestured for them to approach, explaining that these were the last remaining forces of the Immortal Cult, and thus had every right to be present.

Once everyone was seated, Master Liu lowered his voice and began, "As of now, there are three factions we can engage with. These three are the major powers of the Dao Sect. The numerous disciples of the Dao Sect are all under their control. Each of these three powers has several cultivators at the Fusion Stage overseeing them, including a number of powerful figures at the late Fusion Stage!"

The Cult Master nodded. It was no surprise that the Dao Sect's three major powers possessed late-stage Fusion Stage cultivators. "But are there any Transcendent Tribulation Stage powerhouses?" he inquired.

Master Liu shook his head. "None have been discovered yet. Those ancient beings rarely reveal their allegiances and are likely not among the three major powers."

Vice Cult Master Jin let out a sigh of relief. "No Transcendent Tribulation Stage cultivators is good. With our current methods, it shouldn't be difficult to maneuver among the three major powers. What is the nature of their relationship? Is there any room for us to operate?"

Master Liu agreed with Vice Cult Master Jin's assessment. The threat posed by Transcendent Tribulation Stage cultivators was immense; in the face of absolute power, any strategy would be rendered useless. He continued, "Don't be fooled by my daily street grilling. I've actually been paying close attention to the conversations of the Dao Sect disciples, sifting through the complex information to deduce the relationships between the three major powers."

Master Liu placed three bowls on the table, using them to represent the three major powers.

"The three major powers are the long-established Baixiang Tower, the Stir-Fry Stall Alliance which focuses on stir-fried dishes, and the Hotpot Grand Alliance, known for its diverse range of hotpot varieties."

"Baixiang Tower has been on the commercial street the longest. As far as I know, some disciples have been eating there since they first joined the sect, and even after cultivating to the Fusion Stage, they still enjoy dining at Baixiang Tower. Not only does Baixiang Tower offer excellent cuisine, but it also carries a sentimental value, making it the most prominent of the three major powers!"

Master Liu inverted the large bowl, signifying Baixiang Tower.

"The Stir-Fry Stall Alliance isn't a single establishment but a faction formed by the union of multiple shops specializing in stir-fried dishes. Their diverse flavors attract disciples from all corners of the Dao Sect, ranking them second among the three major powers!"

Master Liu inverted the medium bowl, signifying the Stir-Fry Stall Alliance.

"Finally, there's the Hotpot Grand Alliance. This is the largest hotpot establishment on the commercial street, with many other hotpot shops operating under its influence. It's like an invisible hand, freely manipulating the rise and fall of hotpot restaurants and their menus in the commercial district. However, compared to stir-fried dishes, hotpot offerings are somewhat limited in variety, and its business isn't as robust as the Stir-Fry Stall Alliance, placing it last among the three major powers."

Master Liu inverted the small bowl, signifying the Hotpot Grand Alliance.

"Baixiang Tower's cuisine is high-end, with some dishes offering effects comparable to top-tier elixirs, significantly aiding in cultivation growth. Disciples who frequent it are either wealthy or high-ranking. Therefore, Baixiang Tower holds a transcendent status and disdains competing with the other two major powers."

"In the competition between the Stir-Fry Stall Alliance and the Hotpot Grand Alliance, the latter, lacking sufficient foundation, has fallen behind."

"Although our barbecue shop has just started, its business is booming. In time, it will be no less significant than the three major powers; its potential is enormous. I believe we can form an alliance with the Hotpot Grand Alliance to counter the Stir-Fry Stall Alliance!"

Master Gao interjected, "Furthermore, from a geographical standpoint, the Hotpot Grand Alliance is very close to us, just half a street away. This aligns perfectly with the military strategy of forming vertical and horizontal alliances: attacking from afar and befriending those nearby!"

Master Gao, well-versed in military strategy, served as the barbecue shop's strategist.

"Above these three major powers, there's another transcendent entity: the cafeteria!"

"Whether considering its background, customer traffic, or spending levels, the cafeteria's status far surpasses that of the three major powers!"

"The good news is that Dao Sect disciples visit the cafeteria not for food, but for weapons. From a functional perspective, there's no overlap with our business, so we don't need to worry about future conflicts with the cafeteria."

After Master Liu and Master Gao's clear and concise analysis, the Cult Master and Vice Cult Master Jin had a broad understanding of the current situation.

Although their start was challenging, with proper execution, it was not impossible for them to become the fourth major power!

Master Gao then expressed some concern: "While theoretically, we can form an alliance with the Hotpot Grand Alliance, they are, after all, an established major power. They might not be willing to cooperate with a barbecue shop like ours, which is still quite new and lacks a deep foundation."

Master Gao planned to discuss this with the Hotpot Grand Alliance tomorrow, though he had already mentally prepared himself for a refusal.

Noticing Master Gao's apprehension, the Cult Master offered a faint smile. He then produced a piece of paper, representing the will of the Dao Sect's upper echelons, and laid it before everyone.

"Take a look at this."

Master Liu, Master Gao, and the five high-ranking members of the Immortal Cult saw the text on the paper, and their pupils immediately constricted.

One of the high-ranking Immortal Cult members gasped, "This... this is actually a farming operation license!"

The Cult Master's smile was filled with confidence. "Precisely," he said, "this is our qualification to form an alliance with the Hotpot Grand Alliance!"

"What do both barbecue shops and hotpot restaurants need most? Fresh ingredients, of course. If we get the chance, we could even raise some rare spirit beasts to supply Baixiang Tower, establishing a connection with them!"

Everyone gasped, taking in a sharp breath. Truly, he was the Cult Master; he had already planned ahead.

"And there are more surprises," the Cult Master announced. He then stepped aside, inviting the third black-robed figure to reveal their true appearance.

The third black-robed figure had remained silent throughout, listening quietly to their discussion. Now, he lowered his hood, revealing a kind yet weathered face.

"Greetings, my followers. For our first meeting, you may address me as the Immortal Exalt."

"The Immortal Exalt!!" Everyone was genuinely stunned. They had never imagined that the Immortal Exalt had actually been resurrected!

With the Cult Master's personal guarantee, no one doubted the Immortal Exalt's identity.

More importantly, they could feel an inexplicable, intangible connection to the Immortal Exalt, a connection that could not be faked.

"We humbly greet the Immortal Exalt!" Master Liu and Master Gao led the others in kneeling.

"Our respects to the Immortal Exalt!" The five high-ranking members of the Immortal Cult behind them also knelt and prostrated themselves.

"Rise," the Immortal Exalt said mildly. "I have reached an agreement with the Dao Sect: as long as I do not leave the sect grounds, I am free to move about within it!"

"After much consideration, I decided it would be best to come here to you all."

"I've been listening to your discussions for a while now, and I must say, I'm somewhat disappointed," the Immortal Exalt said, his gaze conveying a profound sense of 'hate iron for not becoming steel' – a disappointment that longed for them to achieve more.

"You, who are at the Fusion Stage, are you truly content to spend your entire lives running a barbecue shop and a farming operation within the Dao Sect? Are you willing to settle for this?"

"Please enlighten us, Immortal Exalt!" The Cult Master and the others felt a profound sense of shame. They remembered that they were once prominent, influential figures, yet now they were merely complacent about the prospect of becoming a fourth major power.

"Is this mere Dao Sect truly your only goal? If you're going to open businesses, you should open chain stores across the entire Central Continent!"

"If you're going to do something, do it on the grandest scale, and do it the best!"

(This is a reader's work, lighthearted, joyous, and appropriately uses memes. Watch as the protagonist, Lin Yu, enters the cultivation world and gradually becomes the most unconventional alchemist, full of outrageous schemes. The author's pace is incredibly fast, accelerating from zero to a hundred kilometers per hour in just three and a half seconds, leaving readers unable to stop laughing.)

(End of Chapter)