23: Political turmoil within Liuyun Sect

Just as Yang Kai began his special training under Elder Teng's meticulous arrangements, a huge political storm was brewing within the Flowing Cloud Sect.

The Ji Shi Pavilion, which was usually bustling with people every day, was inexplicably deserted today, and even the Disciples handling affairs inside the Hall were nowhere to be seen.

On the top floor of the Ji Shi Pavilion, in a magnificent main hall, a middle-aged Daoist was pacing back and forth. At this moment, a Disciple hurried in. Xu Baihua's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he quickly beckoned him over, asking impatiently, "How is it?"

"Reporting, Elder, Piaomiao Peak did not let this Disciple in, and it was the same with several other familiar Elders. This Disciple walked around the Sect, and everyone avoided me like the plague..." The Disciple said timidly, and Xu Baihua's hanging heart completely sank.

"Hahaha, good, good! They use people when they need them and discard them when they don't! In the past, for their own Disciples, each of them wished they could wear out the threshold of my Ji Shi Pavilion. Now that I'm in crisis, they cast me aside like a worn-out shoe, and even those bastards from Piaomiao Peak treat me as a pawn! Clearly, clearly it's their Wang family that's causing trouble, so why am I the only one being dealt with?!" Xu Baihua, devoid of his usual magnate demeanor, raged in frustration within the grand hall.

"The Punishment Hall is handling a case. Hall of Relief Master Xu Baihua, please come with us!" Just then, outside the Hall, the situation changed dramatically. A somber main hall slowly descended, obscuring half the sky, and a young man's voice penetrated through layers of Formations into the Hall.

"A mere Punishment Hall Disciple is not worthy of judging me, Xu! Where are the Punishment Hall Elders? Where is Qing Xuanzi? Don't hide behind the scenes stirring up trouble; come out here!" Xu Baihua's eyes were bloodshot, bordering on madness. The Disciple beside him, seeing the unfavorable situation, quietly slipped away, leaving no one in the vast Ji Shi Pavilion to stand up for him.

"How audacious! The Flowing Cloud Sect's rules state that when the Punishment Hall handles a case, everyone must cooperate, even the Elders of the Hall of Elders are no exception. Xu Baihua, are you rebelling?" A young man in black enforcement attire walked out of the sky-obscuring Punishment Hall, standing at the entrance overlooking the Ji Shi Pavilion. As soon as he spoke, the entire Punishment Hall immediately unleashed immense pressure, pressing down heavily on the Ji Shi Pavilion.

"I am Qin Zhengyang, Chief Enforcement Disciple of the Punishment Hall, acting on the orders of the Sect Master and the Punishment Hall Elders, to investigate the case of the murder of our Sect's Disciple, Bai Zhi. Xu Baihua, are you still going to resist stubbornly?" Qin Zhengyang's token flashed, and the entire Punishment Hall echoed with metallic sounds as countless dark crimson chains slowly extended.

Xu Baihua remained silent, letting out a bitter laugh. With a wave of his hand, he deactivated the numerous defensive Formations within the Ji Shi Pavilion. At the same time, he took out a jade token, caressed it reluctantly a few times, then gently placed it on the table, and stepped out of the Ji Shi Pavilion.

"Hall of Relief Master Xu Baihua, cooperating with the Punishment Hall's investigation."

Qin Zhengyang was expressionless, stepping aside to make way for Xu Baihua. After Xu Baihua walked into the Punishment Hall, the Hall's doors suddenly closed. A magnate of the Flowing Cloud Sect had thus fallen. Although no one was present, those with foresight had already witnessed this scene through various means, causing a slight shock and silent contemplation among various influential figures.

"We're a step late; Elder Xu has already been taken away. All Elders and Disciples of the Ji Shi Pavilion, heed my command!" As the Punishment Hall disappeared into the clouds, Zhan Yu's figure appeared before the Ji Shi Pavilion and he transmitted his voice.

The Elders and Disciples, who had originally kept to themselves, now filed out one by one. The Disciples knelt on one knee, and the Elders also bowed slightly in respect.

"The Sect Master has decreed that the Ji Shi Pavilion cannot be without a master for a day. Rong Da, the Deputy Hall of Relief Master, will temporarily assume the position of Hall of Relief Master and manage all affairs of the Ji Shi Pavilion. Hall Master Rong, the Sect Master hopes that you can restore the daily operations of the Ji Shi Pavilion as soon as possible. Don't disappoint the Sect Master." Zhan Yu stared at the foremost Elder among them and said.

"Rong Da is humbled and will dedicate himself to the Sect, not letting down the Sect Master's painstaking efforts." Rong Da bowed even lower, a hint of wild joy flashing in his eyes, his tone respectful and earnest.

Zhan Yu nodded slightly, then left; he had more important matters to attend to.

Flowing Cloud Sect, Piaomiao Peak.

"Father, something terrible has happened! Hall of Relief Master Xu Baihua has been taken away by the Punishment Hall, and the Sect Master has appointed Rong Da as the acting Hall Master. Just now, Zhan Yu came to deliver a message, saying that regarding Bai Zhi's matter, our Wang family must give him an explanation. What should we do?" In an ancient main hall, an old man was contemplating, staring at a huge sand table. A middle-aged man anxiously pushed open the hall door and said worriedly.

"Presumptuous! No manners at all!" The old man frowned and sternly rebuked. The middle-aged man's face immediately turned pale, and he knelt down, not daring to speak.

"Xu Baihua's downfall was expected. Rong Da is a fence-sitter, not worth worrying about. As for giving Qing Xuanzi an explanation, I have already prepared it. If Qing Xuanzi wants to fight, then our Wang family will accept the challenge." The old man spoke calmly, still staring intently at the sand table.

Inside this vast sand table, on the expansive land, there were nine mountain peaks. Below the peaks were three pavilions, and two grand halls floated in the air, clearly a miniature representation of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

The central peak among the nine mountains was mostly dark, interspersed with faint white light spots. Beside it stood a pure white peak, facing it from a distance.

As soon as the old man finished speaking, a white pavilion on the sand table collapsed with a crash. The next moment, a brand new pavilion, black and white intertwined, reformed. Upon closer inspection, this pavilion was exactly the appearance of the Ji Shi Pavilion.

The Punishment Hall in the air was also completely dark. In contrast, the Hall of Elders, which could be seen through its doors and windows, had thirty prayer mats inside. At this time, eighteen of these mats were divided into black and white, while the remaining mats were all jade-colored.

And now, as the color of the Ji Shi Pavilion changed, one white prayer mat in the Hall of Elders turned jade-colored and separated from the eighteen prayer mats, joining the remaining ones.

The old man's gaze turned to Lingtuo Peak, the most remote of the nine peaks. This peak was also largely stained white and was the third of the nine peaks to be tinged with both black and white.

"How are things going with Lingtuo Peak?" the old man asked faintly.

"Reporting, Father! The resources on Lingtuo Peak, several True Disciples, and other Disciples with some Aptitude have basically all been transferred to our Piaomiao Peak. Now, the remaining Disciples on Lingtuo Peak are all thinking of finding other prospects; Lingtuo Peak is finished." The middle-aged man said with a hint of schadenfreude when he mentioned this matter.

"Very good. Send a message to Luo Hongshen of Lingtuo Peak, telling him to voluntarily ask Qing Xuanzi to resign as Lingtuo Peak Master and come to our Piaomiao Peak to be an Elder." The old man instructed. Subsequently, Lingtuo Peak on the sand table also collapsed with a crash, but it did not re-erect itself like the Ji Shi Pavilion.

"Father, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Although Lingtuo Peak has been emptied by our Wang family, the resources a main peak can receive each year are still considerable. To give it up like this would be too regrettable." The middle-aged man suddenly looked up, asking with some disbelief.

"Don't always focus on those petty gains. As the current head of our Wang family, you must have a long-term perspective. You need to think more, think more deeply." The old man's gaze moved away from the sand table for the first time, and he said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man also began to ponder. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he asked with some surprise, "Father, is it perhaps aimed at Zhan Yu?"