The Return of the Greatest Sect Leader
Chapter 22 ~ Difficult Decision

Tao Zhen took a deep breath, ready to argue with Li Yao. Although Li Yao was only a child, Tao Zhen considered all of his words. It was because in Tao Zhen's mind, the child was the mysterious elder disciple who had saved him.

"Is there a reason?" Tao Zhen tried to test Li Yao.

"Chairmen must have known that sword techniques with many such variations, are incompatible with the essence of martial arts of the Heavenly Road Sect," Li Yao explained.

"More Basic Techniques Travel to the Mountain, if practicing using that technique then the foundation of the disciples will be weak. The disciples could indeed become strong very briefly, but it was not good for their development" Li Yao continued.

Tao Chief Zhen nodded, agreeing with the opinion given by Li Yao. Actually Tao Zhen himself was also aware of it. Even so, Tao Zhen still let the disciples practice using both techniques because he had no choice.

"Before I give a response, I want to explain the condition of our sect to you first," Tao Zhen said slowly but clearly.

Li Yao put on his ears kindly to listen to Tao Zhen's explanation.

"Our sect used to be at the top, do you believe it?" Tao Zhen opened his explanation with a question.

"Murid believes," said Li Yao alacriously, he knows more about it than anyone else in the world.

Li Yao's swift answer made Tao Zhen happy.

"We used to have a sword that became a symbol of the honor of the sect, but unfortunately the sword disappeared after the founder brought all his strongest disciples to fight the demon tribe. They all died without being able to pass down the sword to our generation." Tao Zhen said it with a very sad look on his face.

"After the war with the demon tribe ended, the Heavenly Alliance said that the founder of our sect was in cahoots with the demon tribe. I don't believe in that. They even threatened us to rename the Heavenly Road Sect. We were very weak and had no choice, so we accepted it. It was a humiliation that was deeply imprinted in our hearts." Tao Zhen took a breath, there was a short pause before he returned to speaking.

"The day after, the library that housed the entire martial arts sect was burned, our palaces were destroyed, the condition of the sect back then was really bad. Heavenly Alliance, they want to make sure that the Heavenly Road Sect cannot get back up," Tao Zhen continued with mixed feelings. Angry, sad, and helpless.

And Li Yao as well. Although Li Yao currently seemed completely unperturbed, he was actually biting his own tongue to contain his anger.

Heavenly Alliance, how low would they be? If Li Yao still had the strength he used to have, he would have already come to the Heavenly Alliance and destroyed it.

"Indeed the Basic Technique of Starting a Journey is the core of the entire martial art of the Heavenly Road Sect. But if the entire martial arts of the Heavenly Road Sect were to vanish, what use would those cores be. Children can indeed have a strong foundation, but after that all types of martial arts will not match their bodies. They will be stagnant and have no ability to fight and protect themselves" explained Tao Zhen then sighed.

"I'm sorry to think you're idiots" Li Yao muttered softly.

"We really have no hope!" continued Tao Zhen.

"Let the students focus on learning the Basic Technique of Starting a Journey," Li Yao said suddenly.

"Why? Do you have a solution to this problem? The sword you showed me back then, are you going to teach it?" tao Zhen asked expectantly.

"I won't teach it. That sword was not something that could be learned from others. But I can show it to the students, it's up to how they interpret it" Li Yao replied.

Tao Zhen's eyelids shook. The words that Li Yao had just spoken, the former Tao Zhen had also heard such words.

"Let the students practice with the basic techniques, until the technique fuses with their body. Students don't need to learn complicated swordsmanship, they simply learn how to swing a sword properly" Li Yao continued.

"It's a tough decision. I should have discussed this decision with the elders." Tao Zhen sighed then continued his words.

"I agree with you, let me discuss it to the elders."

Li Yao's smile rose.

"But, can students become stronger just by learning basic techniques?" ask Tao Zhen.

"Does the Chief not believe in the martial arts of the Heavenly Road Sect?" Li Yao asked back.

Tao Zhen's body froze, his face filled with various emotional turmoil. Does he not believe in the martial arts of the Heavenly Road Sect? That question echoed in Tao Zhen's mind.

Tao Zhen was silent, for a moment he could see an old man inside Li Yao.

***

After Li Yao walked out of his room, Tao Zhen was still speechless thinking about the conversation he had with Li Yao. Talking to Li Yao was not like talking to a small child, more like talking to an ascetic.

Tao Zhen looked out through the window, the memories of the past when with the mysterious elder who had saved him were immediately replayed.

"Chairman, thank you for saving me! I will definitely try to repay your kindness!" exclaimed young Tao Zhen, he was 22 years old.

Right before Tao Zhen, a mysterious old man was sitting cross-legged on a huge rock. The old man wore a caping hat and a mask to cover his appearance.

"Are you from the Heavenly Road Sect?" asked the elder in a hoarse voice, his eyes glanced at the white uniform worn by Tao Zhen.

"Certainly, Elder! But now the Heavenly Road Sect has changed its name to the Mountain Road Sect," Tao Zhen said.

"I am also from the Heavenly Road Sect," the mysterious elder said.

"really?" Tao Zhen was stunned.

Suddenly the mysterious elder brandished a soft sword in front of Tao Zhen. At first Tao Zhen was confused, but he immediately saw a gigantic sword that was very intimidating as if it could kill him at any time.

When the sword shadow disappeared, the mysterious elder spoke again.

"It was a sword belonging to the Heavenly Road Sect. That's all I can show you. Now it's up to you, how do you understand it. If you succeed, you can become hope for the Heavenly Road Sect."

Back in the present, Tao Zhen shook his head as he suddenly felt stupid. It took him a very long time to understand the meaning of the mysterious elder's words.

Had Tao Zhen believed in the martial arts of the Heavenly Road Sect, perhaps the Mountainous Road Sect would not have fallen this low. Tao Zhen really felt that he was very unsuitable to be the sect head.