The Legend of Futian

“Old Ma is right. The master said that the inheritors of the seven great Divine Techniques could represent the will of Four Corner Village. Now that the village has gone through tremendous changes, the rules should be reset as well. I echo Old Ma’s proposal for summoning the villagers to hold a public discussion.”

Fang Gai, the head of the Fang family, also agreed with Old Ma.

“Agree,” Blind Tie nodded. Their opinion carried great weight since their successors—Little Ling, Fang Cun, and Tie Tou—were all inheritors of the Divine Techniques.

All three of them proposed to hold a public discussion. It was apparent that Four Corner Village was about to have a new set of rules in place.

“In that case, let’s hold a discussion,” Muyun Lan responded offhandedly.

“Let’s ask the master to be the moderator for this discussion and set it up outside of the school,” Old Ma added. The crowd nodded in agreement. The master was obviously the best choice.

“Let’s go to inform everyone in the village. Come on.”

Old Ma, Fang Gai, Blind Tie, and their successors walked in the direction of the private school. The villagers immediately followed behind them.

The outsiders, on the other hand, didn’t march with them. They watched the crowd from afar while hatching all types of plans in their heads.

Since Four Corner Village decided to end its seclusion and establish contact with the Outer Realms, they would certainly make some changes. The outsiders couldn’t predict what types of changes would occur.

A large number of villagers gathered outside of the private school. Almost everyone in the village was there. Facing the outer wall of the school, Old Ma bowed slightly and said, “Sorry to disturb you, master.”

Many people bowed to show their respect for the master. The villagers held the master in high esteem from the bottom of their hearts.

The crowd waited for the master in silence. Some villagers set up seven chairs for the seven families. Ye Futian watched them quietly and couldn’t help exclaiming to himself about how simple and unworldly the villagers were. They probably didn’t realize that this discussion would determine the future of Four Corner Village.

“Please.” Muyun Long didn’t hesitate. He sat down in the middle, Muyun Lan and Muyun Shu standing behind him. Old Ma darted them a glance and sat in the next chair with Little Ling. After that, Blind Tie sat down with Tie Tou and Fang Gai with Fang Cun.

“Duo Yu, you should sit as well.” Fang Gai pointed at the empty chair next to him. Duo Yu turned around to look for Ye Futian. After Ye Futian gave him a nod, he walked hesitantly to the chair and sat down. Even so, he didn’t seem to belong there.

Although Duo Yu could cultivate now, he didn’t have the right bearing or sufficient self-assurance yet. Unlike Muyun Shu and Fang Cun, he conducted himself with little confidence.

Even after sitting down, Duo Yu still looked nervous and anxious. His eyes darted uneasily to Ye Futian now and then. The other inheritors had family members around and had been taught by the master in the past. Duo Yu, on the other hand, had never met the master. Ye Futian was the only person who could boost his confidence.

“Don’t worry. You have started your cultivation journey. You are a grown man from now on,” Ye Futian transmitted his voice to Duo Yu. His words made Duo Yu feel more at ease. Duo Yu nodded solemnly and sat up.

More and more people arrived. All the villagers flocked together and stood quietly in the field outside of the school. Muyun Long waved his hand and spoke to the crowd, “Today is a great day for Four Corner Village. Thanks to our ancestors’ blessing, the seven great Divine Techniques have each found their inheritor. From now on, the youngsters in the village will all be able to cultivate. In the meantime, the master has allowed the villagers to establish contact with and travel back and forth to the Outer Realms. Our Four Corner Village will be forever changed. Therefore, we ask everyone to come here today and discuss the future of the village together.”

Muyun Long sat in the center and took the lead to speak as if he was still in charge of Four Corner Village. His domineering and condescending attitude didn’t change either.

The villagers whispered to each other quietly. Muyun Long waved his hand again and said, “Here is the first thing on the agenda. For many years, many cultivators from the outside have been here to look for cultivation opportunities. But Four Corner Village has always been protected by our ancestors. Now, the village has undergone a great transformation, and the injunction was lifted. It means that we may be facing dangers and risks in the future. For that reason, while preparing to step outside the bubble and visit the Outer Realms, we should also ensure the village’s security. Therefore, I propose to ally with some groups in the Outer Realms to strengthen the forces of Four Corner Village. What do you think?”

“I don’t agree,” Blind Tie rejected the proposal right away. He faced the crowd and said, “You want to build an alliance with the Nanhai family, right? Don’t forget how the Divine Techniques of the village were stolen, how I lost my eyes, and what happened to the original inheritor of the Eye of Samsara. I’m sure the Muyun family knows what kind of evil intention the people in the Outer Realms are harboring.

“Has the Nanhai family already mastered the Golden Roc Heaven Slayer Technique?” Blind Tie questioned Muyun Long. He was filled with distrust of people in the Outer Realms.

“I agree,” Old Ma chimed in. “Everyone knows that people in the Outer Realms have nasty motives. They want to steal the Divine Techniques from the village. Muyun Long, I’m sure you know that trusted aids are usually eliminated when they have outlived their usefulness. I’m on board with your suggestion as long as the Nanhai family opens itself to Four Corner Village as well. Unless they allow our villagers to freely enter all of their secret zones and study their core art of sorcery, it would not be an equal alliance.”

“Muyun, everyone is aware that Muyun Lan is currently cultivating in the Nanhai family. Shouldn’t you recuse yourself?” Fang Gai spoke up as well. Muyun Lan looked quite embarrassed. As he expected, Old Ma, Blind Tie, and Fang Gai teamed up against him.

“Feel free to ignore my suggestion if you believe that Four Corner Village doesn’t need an ally or if you think that the villagers can be safe and sound in the Outer Realms after you have offended all the top forces in the Shangqing Domain. Try not to forget that cultivators from the Outer Realms are now allowed to fight in the village since the decree is revoked. If you believe that I only proposed it for my personal interest, I hope you can figure out a way to solve the upcoming problems,” Muyun Long responded coldly.

The villagers whispered to each other. They all had different opinions in mind. The common folks were naturally concerned about their safety. It would be a terrible disaster for them if the outsiders started a war in the village.

“With the master here, who dares to stir up trouble in the village even without the decree?” Blind Tie said coldly. The villagers shifted their eyes in the direction of the school at once. Blind Tie was right. Who would have the nerve to cause trouble when the master was here?

The master was a Godlike figure in the village. Everyone believed that the master was omnipotent. There was nothing he couldn’t achieve.

“The master would be put under quite a lot of pressure if you have the entire Shangqing Domain as your enemy, wouldn’t he? You are protected by the master in the village. But what about the people who travel around the Outer Realms?” Muyun Long asked.

“Why would we offend the entire Shangqing Domain?” Ye Futian joined the conversation at this point. “To establish contact with the Outer Realms, Four Corner Village will act in unity as a single group, just like any other force in the Outer Realms. Do all the forces in the Upper Nine Heavens of the Shangqing Domain allow any random person to come and go freely? Which top force doesn’t have cultivation opportunities?

“Moreover, even if other forces are not satisfied with the arrangement, we can still hand out limited passes like before. They can cultivate in the village as long as they have the villagers’ consent. In that case, we would at least be friendly with each other. Why would they turn into enemies?” Ye Futian said. Many villagers were persuaded by him.

However, tragedies might befall someone simply because of the treasure he possessed and the jealousy it caused. Four Corner Village was a unique place, and they might affront other groups in the Outer Realms regardless.

“Mr. Ye is right. If we have to be dependent upon others to protect ourselves, we might as well be cut off from the world. Why should we establish contact with the Outer Realms at all? How could Four Corner Village remain its nature if outsiders keep swarming in like this?” Old Ma added, “One more thing. Muyun Lan was born and raised in the village, and he is now in cahoots with the Nanhai family. According to what Muyun Long just said, the Nanhai family would be our enemy rather than a friend as long as we don’t agree to form an alliance with them and let them enter the village freely. Since Muyun Lan is one of the seven inheritors of the Divine Techniques, I would like to ask what he thinks.”

“It’s fine if you disagree with my proposal. But why did you attack the entire Muyun family? Old Ma, how can you say you don’t have self-serving agenda?” Muyun Long gave a snort of disgust. “Then, you can expel the outsiders yourselves.”

Old Ma shot Muyun Long a look and continued to speak, “The seven great Divine Techniques each has an inheritor now. But I think we still need a Village Chief to lead us forward. This person can put forward motions regarding the village, and the seven inheritors will decide on the proposals together. What do you think?”

“I agree,” Blind Tie still supported him unconditionally.

“Me too,” Fang Gai said.

“What about you, Duo Yu?” Fang Gai asked.

“I agree, too.” Duo Yu nodded. He knew that Grandpa Ma was working together with Ye Futian. All he needed to do was to follow their lead.

The villagers nodded in accord as well. It was a good suggestion in their minds. In that case, the village wouldn’t be a group without a leader anymore.

“I think the master is the most suitable person to be the Village Chief. Master, what do you think?” Old Ma turned around to face the outer wall of the school.

“I won’t take the position,” the master replied.

The villagers were a little disappointed. The master still didn’t like to get involved in things outside of the school. He would have been a perfect choice for the position of Village Chief.

“We have to look for someone else since the master isn’t willing to take up the post,” Old Ma said. “I will recommend another person who has done many things for Four Corner Village without any ulterior motive. He would be a fitting Village Chief.”

A strange look came over many people’s faces. Some of them already knew who Old Ma was referring to. They all looked in Ye Futian’s direction.

Old Ma also turned his head and said to Ye Futian with a smile, “Mr. Ye is an extraordinary cultivator with remarkable talents and great fortune. Four Corner Village started to change right after his arrival. Besides, he is currently leading the youngsters in the village to cultivate. I believe that Mr. Ye is a fine candidate for the job.”

Even Ye Futian was taken by surprise. Old Ma wanted to select him without consulting with him first.

Most villagers were also astounded by Old Ma’s recommendation.