Chapter 320: Handling

"No error was made." As Yaoguang spoke, he took out a crystal. "But the reason I killed Xuan Shuang was that he coveted the inheritance I obtained, and ordered Wang Daoshu of the Wang family to kill me. I have recorded footage here that proves I acted in self-defense."

"Such a thing actually happened?!" Wan Qianshan cried out in shock. "Then Xuan Shuang deserved his death!"

Yaoguang quietly nodded.

Since Wan Qianshan had personally come to mention the matter of Xuan Shuang. It was clear that the Heavenly Dao Sect’s higher-ups wanted to show goodwill.

Yaoguang did not reject it, but he could not allow this matter to be muddied.

After all, he really had righteously acted in self-defense.

"As a true disciple of the sect, Xuan Shuang did not think to serve as a model for the sect or set a good example for his junior brothers and sisters. Instead, he was blinded by greed and coveted the fortune of an inner sect disciple. Even ten thousand deaths would not absolve him of his crimes." Wan Qianshan directly finalized the matter.

"Thank you for clearing my name," Yaoguang said.

The Law Enforcement Hall's elder did not mention how Hou Feng would be severely punished again, and Yaoguang was not so tactless either.

Wan Qianshan could not possibly offend a Void-Piercing Realm expert who had served the sect for centuries for the sake of a young sect master whose influence was still unknown.

Yaoguang also did not think that he could decide the life or death of a Void-Piercing Realm elder with a single word simply because he had just gained the status of young sect master.

Void-Piercing Realm experts were already part of the higher-ups of the sect. Even if the sect master or a supreme elder wanted to deal with a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, they would need enough evidence to convince the masses. Otherwise, everyone would feel threatened, and the Heavenly Dao Sect would collapse without even being attacked.

Yaoguang then turned his gaze toward the Chi family’s ancestor, Chi Yu, who was dressed like an elegant noblewoman.

This elder also smiled and said, "Young Sect Master, I came here today to congratulate you on advancing to the Void-Piercing Realm, but that wasn't my only goal... Xuan Shuang tried to kill you. Not only did he deserve death, but the Xuan family behind him can hardly escape blame. They should receive stern punishment. I had the Xuan family members captured, and they await your judgment."

"They have already been captured?" The moment Yaoguang heard this, he understood the reasons behind it.

Clearly, the moment Xuan Shuang died, the Xuan family's resources had been swallowed by others, and the Chi family had definitely taken the largest share.

Only now that Xuan Shuang’s matter involved Yaoguang, Chi Yu, despite being the Void-Piercing Realm ancestor of the Chi family, did not dare show the slightest negligence. She had come to him at once, intending to surrender everything that had belonged to the Xuan family. She did not want Yaoguang to accuse them of having overstepped their authority.

The people of the Heavenly Dao Sect knew how to be realistic. As soon as his status changed, so did the attitude others displayed.

However, he had no intention of making the Chi family spit out the food already in their mouths.

The Chi family had come over immediately to state their position. They were wary of his status as the new young sect master, but they had also shown goodwill.

Although he had become the young sect master, he was by himself in the Heavenly Dao Sect. As for the Chi family, who had taken the initiative to approach first, he did not mind observing them for a while.

If they proved useful, he could use them until the people of the Nine Cauldrons Sect arrived.

"The Chi family can handle it as you see fit. I trust that your Chi family will give me a fair and impartial result in this matter," Yaoguang said.

When Chi Yu heard this, a faint smile appeared in her eyes, and she hurriedly offered a fist-and-palm salute. "Thank you for your trust, Young Sect Master. The Chi family will certainly handle this matter properly and will not disappoint you."

"Alright," Yaoguang replied.

After a brief exchange, the two Void-Piercing Realm cultivators did not continue disturbing him.

After all, in the eyes of elders like them, Yaoguang had just reached the Void-Piercing Realm and still needed time to consolidate his realm. Continuing to entangle him at this time would be inappropriate.

Chi Yu and Wan Qianshan left, and Ling Xi and Zhang Qin also took their leave.

Yaoguang directly descended onto the main peak. He unfurled the partial volume of the Great Dao Golden Book in his hand and soon found what he was looking for.

It was the control node of this newly activated level 12 array.

Even a Void-Refining Realm expert would need quite some time to break through a level 12 array.

Golden light flickered, and the array was activated. Very quickly, the mountain peaks within a range of over five hundred kilometers were shrouded in a layer of clouds and mist, blocking everyone’s sight and disappearing amid the encircling mountains of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

***

Elsewhere, Zong Wenxian withdrew his gaze from Nine Cauldrons Peak.

He then turned to the other four people. Yuan Miaoyi, the lineage leader of the immortal lineage; Xiang Zhenlong, the lineage leader of the heavenly lineage; Zhou Xingdou, the lineage leader of the battle lineage. And Yue Kuhai, the lineage leader of the Dao lineage, who rarely involved himself in the sect’s daily operation.

If the Heavenly Dao Sect were to be compared to a nation, then the rules borne by the Great Dao Golden Book were equivalent to its constitution. Zong Wenxian and the four lineage leaders were equivalent to the president and his cabinet. They formulated regulations to ensure the smooth operation of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

The remaining supreme elders were akin to members of the parliament.

As for the deputy sect masters, they were not equivalent to the sect master’s assistants. In reality, there was no strict hierarchical relationship between them and the sect master.

Every deputy sect master was usually assigned to guard a domain. And unlike young sect masters, there could be at most four deputy sect masters, each guarding one direction.

When there were not enough of them, the responsibility of guarding those directions would be temporarily handled by the sect master.

Once a deputy sect master broke through to the Void-Shattering Realm, if their performance had been ordinary, they would be promoted to supreme elder.

If they performed outstandingly and brought considerable benefits to the sect, they had a chance to take over as sect master, while the sect master would automatically step down and become a supreme elder.

"A void-type special physique, and so young as well. The Void-Refining Realm is within reach," Zong Wenxian spoke in a tone of praise.

"If Yaoguang’s talent is truly exceptional and he can reach the Void-Refining Realm within a thousand years, our sect will gain another deputy sect master. That would be a good thing. Sect Master, the burden on your shoulders would also be lighter. You are responsible for both the southern domain’s development and the sect headquarters. That can't be easy to manage," Yue Kuhai responded with a chuckle.

"His talent is indeed astonishing. I only fear that this young sect master doesn't think the same way we do." Xiang Zhenlong, the heavenly lineage leader, frowned as he spoke.

"What is that Dao Lord of the Penglai Immortal Sect thinking? Why would she suddenly come to our sect and pull something like this when we have not provoked her? Send someone to investigate and understand her true intentions," Zhou Xingdou, the battle lineage leader, spoke with some apprehension.

"I have already sent people to investigate." Yuan Miaoyi hurriedly stated his position.

"Enough. In any case, our next steps are already decided. First, we need to determine whether he will cooperate with us. If he will, the sect gaining another future Void-Refining Realm cultivator, or perhaps even a Void-Shattering Realm cultivator, will be a good thing. If he won't..." A light flickered in Zong Wenxian’s eyes, but he did not continue.

Because he still had to figure out the Penglai Dao Lord’s intentions.

If they found out that the Dao Lord valued Yaoguang greatly, even if they knew he was one of her people, the Heavenly Dao Sect could only keep him safe for now.

"In short, let's observe him for a period."

"That is how it should be."

"Our sect can afford to support one young sect master."

"I only worry that the deputy sect masters will have thoughts about this."

The lineage leaders spoke one after another.

"I will speak with the deputy sect masters. Whatever disputes or conflicts we have among ourselves are internal matters of the Heavenly Dao Sect. But this young sect master might, if mishandled, draw the Penglai Immortal Sect into the game. Although the likelihood is low, we still have to guard against it. I believe the deputy sect masters will also be able to distinguish what is urgent and important," Zong Wenxian said.

The lineage leaders nodded and quickly settled on their stance toward Yaoguang.

They would neither target him nor make heavy use of him. They would simply observe him for a few decades or a century.

After all, to Void-Piercing Realm cultivators with lifespans of over ten thousand years, there was plenty of time to discern a person’s true character.

"Oh, right. Elder Hou Feng of the immortal lineage will probably need to be dealt with. Leaving aside the fact that he privately recorded that young sect master’s mental imprint, issuing an arrest order for him before the Law Enforcement Hall confirmed the matter was also clearly biased. If that young sect master causes a fuss over this, we will all lose face," Zhou Xingdou suddenly said.

"Elder Hou Feng." Yuan Miaoyi’s expression changed. "Was he not merely handling official business?"

Her gaze toward Zhou Xingdou became somewhat inquisitive.

However, Zhou Xingdou showed no mercy. "Those actions have already gone beyond the scope of handling official business. In particular, recording a disciple’s mental imprint to help someone else with their private affairs can already be called betraying the sect to outsiders. After all, before he recorded that young sect master’s mental imprint, Yaoguang had not yet been suspected of being the murderer of True Disciple Xuan Shuang."

Although the immortal lineage, heavenly lineage, battle lineage, and Dao lineage were equivalent to a nation’s cabinet, the power struggles within them were no weaker.

After all, there were only so many resources. If the immortal lineage had one fewer Void-Piercing Realm elder, the Void-Piercing Realm cultivators of the heavenly lineage and battle lineage could obtain a larger share.

Therefore, the heavenly lineage leader also kicked him while he was down and nodded. "His relationship with Heavenly Venerable Jiang is not merely close. Even Elder Tu Shan of the Dao lineage was dragged into it and used by him, using the Myriad Immortals Luopan to find Young Sect Master Yaoguang’s whereabouts. This is using public tools for private ends."

The Dao lineage leader frowned but said nothing.

As for Zong Wenxian, after weighing the matter for a while, he said, "Hou Feng is currently in the Deep-Blue Sea, correct?"

"Yes," Yuan Miaoyi braced himself and replied.

"Then have him stay there for now. Let this young sect master handle this matter." Zong Wenxian’s words carried deeper meaning. "We can use the situation to study his methods and foundation. And since the incident happened in the Deep-Blue Sea, we can also take the opportunity to see whether the Penglai Immortal Sect will show any other reaction."

The moment he said this, the lineage leaders understood.

Yaoguang was a newly advanced Void-Piercing Realm cultivator. In theory, he should not be able to contend with a veteran Void-Piercing Realm cultivator like Hou Feng.

Now that the sect master had handed this matter to him, it looked extremely magnanimous, as if he intended to uphold justice for him. But in reality, if Yaoguang had the capability, they could use this chance to see what kind of hidden trump cards he possessed.

If he lacked the capability, they could also see whether Penglai Immortal Sect would lend him a hand, thereby judging Penglai Immortal Sect’s true attitude toward him.

Although this was equivalent to treating Hou Feng as an abandoned piece, he could not blame anyone else for getting caught.

At once, Yuan Miaoyi nodded. "Then we will do as you say, Sect Master."

***

On an island in the Deep-Blue Sea, Tong Ming, Hou Feng, Mo Shan, Heavenly Venerable Jiang, and the others were waiting.

Also present at the scene were Xi Liu and two Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals of the Xi family.

The reason they had notified the Xi family was that they still wanted them to stop Lu Li at the right moment, to prevent him from taking action and blowing the matter up, causing the Heavenly Dao Sect and Taiyi Immortal Sect to start a conflict against the Penglai Immortal Sect.

"By now, the two battle immortals you invited should have already made their move, right?" Hou Feng glanced at Heavenly Venerable Jiang, his expression somewhat anxious.

"Calculating the time, they should have almost captured him by now." Heavenly Venerable Jiang smiled. "This time, the two battle immortals dispatched by the Cangwu lineage can be considered outstanding even among Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals. Even against a true Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, they can fight for some time. Nothing can go wrong."

Hou Feng nodded, then transmitted by psychic thought. "True Disciple Jiang, do not forget what you promised me when the time comes."

"Rest assured, Elder Hou. I will definitely not disappoint you." Heavenly Venerable Jiang promised confidently.

The communication jade talisman on him trembled slightly. "There is news! That Yaoguang must have already been captured by the experts of the Cangwu lineage!"

With delight, his psychic thought quickly entered it. But...

"Not there?" The joy in Heavenly Venerable Jiang’s eyes stiffened slightly. "They searched several rounds, and even Lu Li returned, but they still did not find him. Yaoguang is not in the Biyou Immortal Market!"

"Not there?! How is that possible?! The entire Biyou Immortal Market was under our surveillance. How could he have escaped?" Hou Feng found it difficult to believe.

"Could he have hidden himself? Were those battle immortals too weak to notice?" Tong Ming frowned even more deeply.

Just as they were puzzled, the communication jade talismans on both of them began to tremble.