The Eve of the War

Ten years was a long time for Tang Xiaoyu. He harbored too much hatred and irreconcilable vengeance in his heart, so the waiting was agonizing.

Tang Xiaoyu especially admired the words of the real-life "To Live" uncle in the movie: "Look forward, look forward to everything."

But when facing it himself, he realized how difficult this was.

With Little Hei's unknown fate and his sister trapped deep in the wolf's den, he had too many worries in his heart but could only turn them into helplessness.

Whenever he meditated and cultivated, the faces of every villager and disciple would appear in Tang Xiaoyu's mind, especially those disciples and villagers who died unjustly. This filled him with deep self-blame.

If it wasn't for him, those villagers and disciples would not have died in injustice either.

With this mentality, how could he feel at ease to continue his cultivation?

The seemingly carefree person, you don't know he is lonely in the dark night. The person who frowns every day, you don't know he is amiable at home.

I can laugh out loud, but you don't know how much sadness and helplessness is hidden behind.

Recently, Tang Xiaoyu had been very busy, but he was not busy with cultivation. Instead, he was busy spreading faith. Only by keeping busy could he pacify the restlessness in his heart.

After another two months, Tang Xiaoyu’s plan bore fruit.

“Xiaoyu, how are the disciples doing with their development?” Zhang Huizhu asked caringly.

“Not bad. Those dozens of troublemakers I recruited last time have already converted a whole village. The others also made decent progress,” Tang Xiaoyu replied.

"I’m planning to hold an award ceremony to encourage them."

"I support this. There must be encouragement for there to be motivation!"

Tang Xiaoyu sorted out his thoughts, "Sister Huizhu, I think after they develop to a certain number, we can select some ordinary people to spread our teachings on our behalf. We just need to support them. This way, it won’t affect the disciples’ cultivation but will get the job done."

Zhang Huizhu nodded. "Your idea is great. I’ll provide money and people whenever you need them."

Tang Xiaoyu said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Huizhu. I may need some money at first, but I won’t need anything else afterward."

"Take as much from me as you need at any time."

"Ok."

A few days later, Tang Xiaoyu stood in front of over ten thousand disciples on Kindness Sect’s square.

“I’m very satisfied with everyone’s performance these past few months, but there is a saying: You need to feed the horse grass to make it run. ”

“So, the Sect Master, elders and I have decided to reward the 50 best performing disciples with pills and treasures. At the same time, we will also give out spirit stones based on the number of people each person recruits.”

“Recruit one person, get 10 low-grade spirit stones. Recruit 10 get 120. Recruit 100 get 1,500. And so on.”

The disciples cheered excitedly, especially those outer sect disciples who jumped for joy.

Although their cultivation might not match inner sect disciples, their mouths and brains were just as good.

In a short while, Kindness Sect kicked off a massive evangelism campaign more aggressive than modern day MLMs.

After a year, the surrounding villages and cities took pride in worshiping the Dao Ancestor. Tang Xiaoyu then called all the disciples back.

Five years later, the national religion of this country became the Dao Ancestor.

Ten years later, the Dao Ancestor’s voice was the only one left in places once controlled by demonic cultivators.

“Xiaoyu, you've advanced to the Soul Condensing Period? You are indeed the Dao Ancestor’s personal disciple,” Zhang Huizhu said enviously.

Tang Xiaoyu scratched his head. “Is this considered fast? I feel like I’m useless.”

He felt his progress was too slow. Let alone comparing with fortune’s darlings, just looking at Little Hei, Tang Xiaoyu was left in the dust hundreds of thousands of miles behind.

Zhang Huizhu jokingly scolded, “How is this not fast? You’re comparable to a monster. But compared to some top-tier experts, you still fall a bit short.”

Tang Xiaoyu felt a trace of smugness. “It’s fine as long as I’m faster than average people. Let’s not compare with top-tier experts. If we look further up, there are so many in the cultivation world stronger than me they can circle around it.”

“Do you know how big the cultivation world is? You want to circle around it?”

Tang Xiaoyu really wanted to say, do you know how many powerful beings perished in the Great Calamity when the dragon vein collapsed? Just randomly pick out a lesser demon and it can press me to the ground and grind me about. Have you heard the sayings that grandmasters are everywhere and Golden Immortals are no better than dogs?

Of course, Tang Xiaoyu only complained to himself in his heart and didn’t dare speak it aloud.

"Hehe, I was just exaggerating, not to be taken literally."

“Haha! It was just a metaphor, not to be taken literally.”

Zhang Huizhu said solemnly, "The all-out war against orthodox sects is about to start soon. We need to confirm the attack plans again. Are you going this time?”

Tang Xiaoyu thought about it and still decided not to go, but he made one request.

“I won’t go, but we must attack the Qingyun Sword Sect's locations. Consider that my personal grudge.”

Zhang Huizhu smiled. "Have you forgotten what we talked about before? Your vengeance is our vengeance. I would choose that even without you saying."

Tang Xiaoyu said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Huizhu."

"How will you repay me?"

Tang Xiaoyu replied, "Other than betrothing my body, anything is negotiable."

Zhang Huizhu said boringly, "Apart from your body, it seems you have nothing else to repay me with."

"Hehe~" An awkward smile to gloss over embarrassment.

The next day, Zhang Huizhu set off with her troops while Tang Xiaoyu was very excited at this moment.

He gathered all the disciples on the square to give final motivational speeches.

“From now on, no exiting allowed, only entering. No one is to leave the sect. Hand over all your sound transmission jades.”

Afterward, the outer sect elders began collecting disciples’ sound transmission jades.

“Everyone will be distributed healing, recovering, detoxifying... pills in the coming days.”

“Prepare as many weapons, poisons, drugs, hidden weapons, talismans and glyphs as you can.”

“Let me also remind everyone again not to blabber with the enemies and not to be arrogantly complacent. You must strike with full power.”

A disciple representative spoke, “Yes, Elder Tang. These have been ingrained deep into our bones. They were verified effective through actual combat. What you said is completely right.”

“Very good. You must have guessed what this is about so I won’t elaborate further,” Tang Xiaoyu said.

The disciple representative shouted, “We must prevail!”

“We must prevail! We must prevail!” the crowd echoed.

After that, the Dan Pavilion began distributing pills, the Equipment Pavilion and Talisman Pavilion also started handing out weapons, armor, artifacts, and talismans. These had been stockpiled over many years.

When all the disciples finished their preparations and awaited the Sect Master’s return to issue attack commands, Zhang Huizhu was discussing attack plans with other sect leaders.

Sitting at the main seat was the Holy Land's Sect Master. It's the same logic as the orthodox Holy Land.

After all, with so many sects, there was a need for a commanding power to manage and direct them, otherwise things would have already descended into chaos long ago.

"Kindness Sect, Benevolence and Harmony Sect, and Righteousness and Bravery Sect will attack Tianxuan Sect and Qingyun Sword Sect," the Holy Land Sect Master ordered.

"If everything goes smoothly, immediately turn to encircle and wipe out Sky Demon Sect together with the other three sects after defeating Qingyun Sword Sect."

"You should all understand Sky Demon Sect's capabilities clearly. Those attacking them must buy time for the other sects to arrive."

...

After discussing for another two hours, all plans were settled. Everyone knelt down in front of the Dao Ancestor’s statue.

The Holy Land Sect Master announced, “Oh, Dao Ancestor. This disciple... prays for the Dao Ancestor to bless the disciples to return victoriously.”

Everyone bowed down together with solemn expressions and devout movements.

“Damn it, 10,000 petty Saburos! You and that bunny brat just love to disturb my happy occasions!”

Two seconds later, the voice turned into majestic and unquestionable authority again, "Go! You have endured for too long. It's time to make them tremble in fear!"

"Yes, Dao Ancestor.”

"Alright, I’m busy!"

Everyone quickly kowtowed again, “Farewell, Dao Ancestor.”

Little Dezi was Zhang Youde’s former name. After the Dao Ancestor's appearance, everyone realized this was the Holy Land Sect Master's actual name.

Zhang Youde was not bothered by the nickname Little Dezi at all. Rather, he wore it proudly as a sign of the Dao Ancestor's favor and that he was someone close to the Dao Ancestor, the same as that bunny brat.

The Dao Ancestor's quirky mental leaps were nothing new to everyone by now.

“Assemble to depart in three days.”

“Yes!”