The Taishan Sect!

Beside a Daoist temple hall, Peng Fei looked at Fang Chuanyu with a troubled expression, recounting what he had recently seen and heard.

"What? How is that possible?"

"How is she worthy of being taken in by my Uncle Master on behalf of his master?"

Fang Chuanyu was completely stunned.

This...

Even if she had been accepted as his Uncle Master’s disciple, he could have still relied on his grandfather’s status to mess with this so-called "Aunt Master."

At worst, the punishment would just be a bit more severe.

But, damn it all, Miao Miaomiao had become his Grand-Aunt Master!

His own grandfather’s junior sister!

If he so much as touched her, wouldn’t that be considered betraying his master and ancestors?!

Never mind Master Qingyang not letting him off the hook; even his own grandfather would probably skin him alive.

"What kind of love potion did she give our Grand-Uncle Master?" Fang Chuanyu said hatefully.

"I suspect it has something to do with the young man next to our Uncle Master. Our Uncle Master is extremely polite and respectful toward him."

"Who is he?"

"I don’t know. I’ve told you everything. You know what’s what now. I still have to go prepare for tomorrow’s initiation ceremony. I’ll be off."

After speaking with deep meaning, Peng Fei cupped his fists and quickly departed.

He had come to inform Fang Chuanyu not just to curry favor with him, but also to warn him not to do anything stupid and get him involved.

After all, using manipulative tactics to coerce a female disciple was hardly a glorious matter.

Fang Chuanyu watched his departing figure with a cold gaze, not saying a word. After a long moment, he finally turned and left.

「The next day.」

The Taishan Sect’s Purple Cloud Hall!

A ray of sunlight streamed directly into the great hall, suffusing it with a hazy, radiant light.

The entire hall was filled with members of the Taishan Sect, including Daoists and Outer Disciples.

Mu Hua Zi sat in the seat of honor below the main platform, with Zhao Rui seated by his side.

Across from them sat a long-bearded old Daoist. His features were elegant and gaunt, and his figure was rather frail, but his gaze was solemn, and he naturally possessed an imposing aura without being angry.

This was none other than the Sect Leader of the Taishan Sect, Master Qingxu.

However, he had been busy trying to achieve a breakthrough recently and had always ignored worldly affairs. He would not normally make an appearance unless it was for a major sect matter.

This time, it was the sneak attack by the two demons, a matter of such gravity, that had brought him out of his cave abode.

The matter of accepting a disciple on behalf of a master, while important, would not have been enough to make him emerge from his seclusion.

In the center of the hall, beneath the statue of the Purple Cloud Deity, Master Qingyang, dressed in a ceremonial Daoist robe, meticulously followed the ancient rites, carrying out the procedures for accepting a disciple on a master’s behalf.

The entire hall was filled with a solemn atmosphere, grave and earnest.

All aspects of the etiquette, procession, and ceremonial items were thoroughly prepared.

For Peng Fei, as a third-generation disciple, to be entrusted with such an important task, it showed he had real skills. He wasn’t appreciated by Master Qingyang just for being a sycophant.

Miao Miaomiao knelt beneath the statue, and after kowtowing to the past patriarchs of the Taishan Sect as required by the rites, Master Qingxu declared the ceremony complete.

With that, the master-acceptance part of the ceremony was concluded.

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

As the ceremony concluded, Zhao Rui also stood up to congratulate Mu Hua Zi and the others on gaining such a fine disciple.

With this new connection, on top of the debt of gratitude for saving the three main pillars of Taishan, the Taishan Sect was now firmly tied to Zhao Rui’s war chariot.

"This way, Fellow Daoist!"

Now that the ceremony was over, it was natural for the bigwigs to find a place to have some tea.

’Who on earth is he?’

Among the Taishan Sect disciples, Fang Chuanyu watched Zhao Rui sitting in the seat of honor, addressed as "Fellow Daoist" again and again by his own great-grand-uncle master, Mu Hua Zi. It was clear he was being treated as a peer.

Fang Chuanyu’s expression was extremely ugly.

’This person’s status is even more absurd than Peng Fei imagined. He looks to be about my age, yet he’s already on the same level as my great-grand-uncle master?’

’Which reclusive senior expert could he possibly be?’

Fang Chuanyu racked his brain but couldn’t make sense of it.

During his time at Gui Xu, he had also traveled the world outside the sect but had never heard of such a figure.

Seeing the elders leave one after another, Fang Chuanyu stood there in a daze for a moment. His chest felt tight with frustration. He was just awkwardly about to exit the hall to find a place to vent his emotions.

Just then, a Daoist walked over quickly and said, "Senior Brother, Grand-Master is looking for you."

"Grand-Master?"

"Mhm!"

Fang Chuanyu froze, acknowledging with a hint of confusion.

"Understood."

With that, he quickly followed the Daoist child.

About ten minutes later, in a pavilion at the foot of Gathering Peak, Fang Chuanyu saw his grandfather and the various high-ranking members of the sect.

And, of course, that unfathomable young man.

"Greetings, Great-Grand-Uncle Master. Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Grand-Uncle Masters... Greetings, Grand... Grand-Aunt Master."

After forcing the words out at Miao Miaomiao, Fang Chuanyu felt completely numb.

"Kneel!"

Sect Leader Master Qingxu roared, his eyes glaring with anger.

Fang Chuanyu froze and looked at his grandfather in confusion, only to see Master Qingshan flick a finger, striking him in the knee and forcing him to kneel involuntarily.

"You wretched creature, do you know your crime?"

"This disciple does not!"

Fang Chuanyu was a bit stunned, unable to immediately recall what heinous crime he could have committed to warrant a personal trial by the Sect Leader.

"You abused your power for personal gain, suppressed fellow disciples, and damaged the foundation of our Taishan Sect! Do you know your crime?"

"This disciple has been wronged! I have not!"

"You beast! Still talking back."

"How many evil deeds have you committed in this sect, relying on my status? Confess everything at once! Or must I bring out the Rock Sword and take your head?"

Master Qingshan walked right over and rained a flurry of blows on him, though of course, he didn’t use any real force.

But his attitude made the situation perfectly clear.

Fang Chuanyu wasn’t an idiot. His heart sank in an instant; he knew he was done for.

The matter of him bullying others with his borrowed authority could no longer be covered up. And no one was going to cover for him anymore.

He immediately prostrated himself on the ground and confessed his crimes with a look of terror.

"Since you have confessed, your punishment is to reflect on your wrongdoings on the back mountain for three years. You are not to take a single step off the mountain..."