Chapter 1334: Return

Chapter 1334: Chapter 1334: Return

As the commander appointed by His Majesty the Spirit Emperor to handle the matters concerning White Deer Institute, Wangchaizong deeply understood the significance of this affair. After pondering for a moment, he said: "Besieging the main hall of White Deer Institute requires time. I will return to order the Sixteen Guard Armies nearest to White Deer Institute to set out first. They will prepare formations around the perimeter to prevent any members of White Deer Institute from escaping, then use the Teleportation Array to quickly deploy the elite forces of the Six Guards Army. At that time, when we face the experts within White Deer Institute, I hope fellow cultivators can lend a hand to minimize my soldiers’ casualties."

"Of course!"

"Don’t worry, Brother Chaozong. We certainly won’t shy away from responsibility." The sect leaders immediately replied in agreement upon hearing this, agreeing to assist Lin Ruxue against the experts within White Deer Institute.

"Good! Then Mo Zhang and I will return to camp to convey the military orders. I entrust the affairs within the Immortal Palace to you all." After leaving this remark, Wangchaizong bid farewell to everyone and hurriedly left with Zhao Mozhang.

"What affairs within the Immortal Palace did he refer to?" Pei Yan turned his head to ask while watching their retreating backs. The elders and disciples within the White Deer Institute’s Immortal Palace Villa are already under surveillance, practically trapped with no chance of escape. Thus, it was evident what he referred to.

"Just as you guessed, he means the disciples of White Deer Institute within the Forbidden Guard Office." Murong Longxiang bluntly pointed out Pei Yan’s thoughts.

"Oh!" Pei Yan nodded, but hesitated for a moment before asking: "Esteemed elders, I am merely curious! Will all the disciples within White Deer Institute be completely eradicated? I believe many are just here to learn and might not be aware of the top echelons’ actions. Of course, this is an internal matter of your Immortal Palace, and I do not intend to interfere, just purely curious."

"We are aware that these lower-level disciples haven’t had the opportunity to be involved in rebellious activities. If White Deer Institute engaged in such activities and even the lower-level disciples knew, while we remained unaware, our Immortal Palace would indeed appear incompetent?" Tian Feiming jested as he spoke, then shifted his tone and lamented: "But there’s no other way; in such matters, we prefer to err on the side of caution by executing rather than sparing them. Though harsh, it is their unfortunate fate to have chosen the wrong sect."

Seeing Pei Yan nod thoughtfully, Heaven-Questioning Talisman smiled and comforted him: "Executing them doesn’t literally mean killing them. Doing so would be too inhumane. Those who have mastered the sect’s Secret Technique and most direct disciples, whether aware or unaware, usually get captured, interrogated, and executed. The lower-level disciples, if they do not resist capture and survive the checks with no issues, will mostly be released, but with their cultivation abolished, severing all ties to the immortal path, leaving them commoners for the rest of their lives."

"Whether they can survive after losing their cultivation depends on their prior connections. Many cultivators become arrogant once they gain some strength. When their rank is intact, no one dares trouble them. Once the sect is destroyed and their cultivation broken, enemies will undoubtedly appear seeking revenge—such is the harsh reality of the Cultivation Realm," added his disciple, Heaven-Questioning West.

After hearing the response, Pei Yan remained silent, realizing that this might be the best possible outcome. For enemies, they might choose forgiveness out of interest or sympathy, but for spies lurking internally, there is zero tolerance; this is consistent across all such organizations.

After Wangchaizong left, Mao Xiang also hurried away to mobilize the Embroidered Robe Envoy to cooperate in the forthcoming siege and search. Pei Yan, having nothing else to do, simply followed the rest on their way to the Forbidden Guard Office.

Meanwhile, the various sect leaders temporarily excused themselves, likely to reassure their sect members and make necessary arrangements, as the affairs of the Immortal Palace didn’t require their involvement. The remaining villa elders could easily handle the White Deer Institute disciples at the Forbidden Guard Office.

The path from within to the Forbidden Guard Office was neither too far nor too close. The group made no haste, walking leisurely along the straight road of the Immortal Palace. As they proceeded, Liu Xuanji took out two items from his sleeve and pressed them against Pei Yan’s chest.

"What is this?" Pei Yan asked, knowing well the answer as he stared at the two books pressed against his chest.

"These are what you requested—one contains the Liu Clan’s Sword Manual, the other details the Cultivation Technique to complement it, including the method of damage stacking you sought." Liu Xuanji spoke calmly with a nonchalant tone, but upon hearing this, Wan Qianli and others couldn’t help casting envious glances at the sword manuals held by Pei Yan.

"Well, I must say! I only wanted the damage stacking method, not coveting Elder Liu’s other family teachings," Pei Yan replied with restrained excitement as he spoke courteous words, while quietly slipping the two books into his pouch.

"My way of doing things is never to owe favors. That technique was requested by you from His Majesty the Spirit Emperor and has nothing to do with me. This time, you resolved the crisis at Hongjun Sword Furnace and uncovered the hidden dangers within the sect. This favor is repaid with that sword manual! But Pei Yan, remember, your Pei Family may practice this sword manual, even your investigation committee’s martial genius may, but don’t let anyone else, especially anyone from the Daoist Plane, learn its contents. If I find out, don’t blame me, Liu Xuanji, for turning hostile, I will kill anyone who knows!"

Pei Yan fully understood Liu Xuanji’s warning. This manual is the Liu Family’s treasured legacy given to Pei Yan out of gratitude and to win favor, alongside being in separate planes preventing future conflicts. Should this spread to the Daoist Plane, especially into the hands of Hongjun Sword Furnace’s rivals, the nature of this changes significantly.

"I understand, senior! I vow to cherish and never spread it!"

"Hmph! Are you truly clueless, or just pretending? The item! The elder’s item! You surely don’t intend to keep it for yourself!" Liu Xuanji watched Pei Yan nodding repeatedly, swearing vows, and waited a moment. Seeing no further response, he flared up in anger.

"Ah?" At first confused, Pei Yan then realized what Liu Xuanji referred to. Slapping his forehead in sudden realization, he said: "Look at my head, yes! Yes! Yes! This matter is resolved, this item should have been returned to its rightful owner long ago."

Speaking as Pei Yan retrieved the miniature wooden sword previously pledged to him by Liu Xuanji from his storage ring and respectfully handed it over to Liu Xuanji.

With a thought, Liu Xuanji made the wooden sword levitate and transform into radiant light, merging within his body. The feeling of the family generations-passed Divine Artifact connecting with his bloodline eased his mind somewhat as he sighed in relief, patting his chest in self-mockery: "Your heart wasn’t entirely black; it’s not me justifying my earlier failure. If in our earlier duel in the courtyard, I wielded this Divine Artifact against you, you certainly wouldn’t withstand thirty moves before being repelled."

"I have no doubt about that!"