However, conspiring with outsiders to plot against the Qingling Primordial Lord is treacherous, colluding with outsiders, betraying the Taoist School, which is a grave crime.

Of course, such issues can be significant or trivial; if one has backing, it's simply dismissed and no one will investigate deeply. But if there is no protection, once exposed, it will attract attacks from all sides, and no one will intervene.

In the end, it's because he is an Independent Practitioner, having no foundation within the Taoist School, at least lacking the reliance of a Taoist Monarch relative to his position.

Even though he is now negotiating to obtain a Divine Position in the Nether Yin Department, planning to become one of the Ten Halls of Yama, the Wood Virtue Star Lord still isn't willing to abandon his identity in the Taoist School, nor does he want to join the Witch Deity Teaching, even if he is just an Independent Practitioner within the Taoist School.

In the Taoist School, he is indeed an Independent Practitioner, but even joining the Witch Deity Teaching may not be beneficial since it's known that unless one directly holds the Ancestral Witch Venerable Position, any later joiner cannot become the core.

The key is that within the Taoist School, although not the core, one is not too constrained; he can also wait to become recognized as a Taoist Monarch, establish his own branch, and become a prominent leader.

However, if he joins the Witch Deity Teaching, even if he becomes a Taoist Monarch and masters the Authority of life and death in the Nether Yin Department, without the Ancestral Witch Venerable Position, he is still considered an outsider and cannot control the core authority of the Witch Deity Teaching.

This is determined by their differing systems, and it is precisely because of this, even though the Witch Deity Teaching is so powerful, their system is inherently exclusive, and few powerhouses join them.

The Taoist School's loose environment where the competent rise and the mediocre fall allows anyone strong enough to contribute to ascend.

Thus, unless there is truly no other choice, the Wood Virtue Star Lord does not genuinely wish to defect from the Taoist School to join the Witch Deity Teaching.

Of course, even though he doesn't wish to defect from the Taoist School and cannot kill the Qingling Primordial Lord, this doesn't mean he will hesitate in facing the Qingling Primordial Lord's attack.

Today's incident is fundamentally initiated by the Qingling Primordial Lord against him, and any counterattack he makes is justifiable; even if questioned by a Taoist Monarch in the future, taking it to the Longevity Taoist Monarch will not disadvantage him.

As long as the Qingling Primordial Lord's life is spared, no one in the Taoist School can accuse him, and rather, they might support him and stand by his side.

It is one thing to become a True Immortal, but to become a Taoist Monarch, one needs to hold one-tenth of a Great Path's share. Nowadays, there are three thousand Great Paths along with countless derived paths, seemingly not problematic.

In reality, after becoming True Immortals, many cultivators still walk one of the three thousand Great Paths. Although derived paths may not be weaker than the three thousand, they are not easy to cultivate.

Walking the Great Path is immensely difficult, and derived paths are based on the three thousand Great Paths. Some derived paths might be weaker but others may surpass them.

No matter the strength or weakness of these derived paths, it requires exceptional insight to carve a unique path from the original three thousand, creating new roads. Not everyone is qualified.

Apart from those pioneers, other True Immortals are seeking the shares of the three thousand Great Path's origins. While seemingly unbounded, the actual number of Taoist Monarchs is limited, with opportunities diminishing as shares are claimed.

Regarding the Great Path of Wood, the Qingling Primordial Lord, Wood Virtue Star Lord, and Ju Mang Ancestor hold the greatest shares, but this doesn't mean no other True Immortals walk the Great Path of Wood; those do not have significant shares or influence to contend with them.

In the Divine Land World, competition for shares of the Daoist Rules has never ceased, and everyone wishes for more power and higher status.

Simply put, within the Taoist School, practitioners of the same Path are not limited to Wood Virtue Star Lord and Qingling Primordial Lord. Though there might be struggles, decorum is maintained without escalating conflicts openly.

The Qingling Primordial Lord attacking the Wood Virtue Star Lord, had he succeeded, would've been the end of it. Victory is beyond reproach, and if he became a Taoist Monarch, dissatisfaction would only suppress the matter.

Yet, this would spark others in the Taoist School to think if he can do it, so can I, causing unease and vigilance, with weaker ones banding together.

The Qingling Primordial Lord failed, at least for now, without showing dominance, giving the Wood Virtue Star Lord a chance to counter and possibly turn the tide.

Thus, the Wood Virtue Star Lord's retaliation is legitimate; if even this is unsupported, it's true chaos.

The Taoist School, unlike the Demonic Gate, has rules. These ensure its loose yet united nature, a place many aspire to be.

If the strong can attack others at will without punishment, what then is the difference between the Taoist School and the Demonic Gate?

This time, the Wood Virtue Star Lord was strong enough to thwart the Qingling Primordial Lord's plan; others, lacking such strength, could simply end up dead?

No one wishes for their arduous cultivation to become another's stepping stone, to serve as resources for others to climb.

So once this issue concludes, once the Wood Virtue Star Lord steps forward, support will surely arise; otherwise, the Taoist School's rules are in disarray.

This reflects the Wood Virtue Star Lord's reserved thinking, as all can still change.

However, directly killing the Qingling Primordial Lord would be hard to justify.

Should he act alone to suppress, even appearing as bait, other Dao Lords wouldn't object.

After all, singularly suppressing the Qingling Primordial Lord and taking his Wood Dao Authority would be like holding a ticket to ascend as a Dao Lord. Even dissatisfied Dao Lords wouldn't antagonize a newly Ascended Dao Lord for a fallen Qingling Primordial Lord.

Yet, now Ju Mang Ancestor appears, with the presence of the Witch Deity Teaching; killing the Qingling Primordial Lord complicates justifications, easily leading to accusations of colluding with outsiders against fellow Taoists.

Taoist School's True Immortals worry being stripped of authority and sympathize with the Wood Virtue Star Lord. But if he and Ju Mang collude, it becomes a betrayal, something they'd hate to see.

This requires balance; despite his rage at the Qingling Primordial Lord's ambush, he must consider his path forward, necessitating compromise.

As an Independent Practitioner reaching this point, he's seen it all. Rage-fueled killings may be satisfying, but the severe consequences are unwelcome.

As an Independent Practitioner, he's pragmatic, seeking maximum benefit and gain.

Of course, these are the Wood Virtue Star Lord's thoughts, known to none.

Yet, in the current situation, he's allied with Ju Mang Ancestor against the Qingling Primordial Lord. This news, reaching the Myriad Laws Realm, shocks other Five Old Lords.

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