An hour later, at the Qingyun Hall.
The atmosphere in this central deliberation hall of the Qingyun Holy Land was so heavy it felt as if it could wring out water.
Inside the hall, all thirteen core Elders of the Qingyun Holy Land were present, lined up on both sides.
Each one was at the Body Integration Stage, and among them were three Grand Elders of the Mahayana Stage, sitting at the front with their eyes closed, resting.
Chu Tianchen sat upright in the main seat, his expression calm, but those familiar with him could see the hidden waves beneath that tranquility.
"Everyone is already aware of the situation."
Chu Tianchen went straight to the point, his voice echoing in the hall.
"Regarding this 'Yaochi Immortal Palace,' what are your thoughts?"
After a brief silence, an old man with white hair and beard and a primitive Face slowly spoke.
He was the Grand Elder of the Qingyun Holy Land, a Middle Stage Fusion cultivator, highly respected within the Holy Land.
"Holy Lord, this matter is suspicious."
"Our Qingyun Holy Land has been established for twenty thousand years, and we know every power in the Southern Region like the back of our hand."
"We have never heard of this 'Yaochi Immortal Palace' before, yet it suddenly appeared and displayed such astonishing strength..."
"Either it is an ancient lineage that has been secluded for tens of thousands of years re-entering the world."
"Or... it is a powerful dragon crossing the river from another region."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall varied.
A secluded lineage? A powerful dragon crossing the river?
Regardless of which it was, it was not good news for the Qingyun Holy Land.
"Was that girl Luoli truly healed?"
Another Elder couldn't help but ask. He was the Law Enforcement Elder of the Holy Land, an Early Stage Fusion cultivator.
"I personally inspected that Dao wound; her Origin was damaged, and it was incurable by medicine! How could she have recovered? And even be better than before?"
"The intelligence is correct."
Chu Tianchen looked at Lu Mingyuan.
"Elder Lu, tell us the specific details."
Lu Mingyuan stood up and recounted everything that happened in Qingyang City, as well as Gu Luoli's state when she appeared, in great detail.
When they heard about "killing a Late Stage Nascent Soul with a flick of a finger" and a "Mahayana Demon King calling himself an Elder."
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath filled the hall.
"Killing a Nascent Soul with a flick of a finger... subduing a Mahayana Stage Demon King..."
A Grand Elder at the Early Stage of the Mahayana Stage slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flickering within them.
"That Fushan Ape King has the strength of the Late Stage Mahayana. Even if the three of us joined forces, it would be extremely difficult to subdue him."
"That Yaochi Immortal Palace... what exactly is its background?"
This question caused everyone's heart to sink.
The Mahayana Stage was already the peak combat power in the Southern Region.
But hearing the Grand Elder's words... within that Yaochi Immortal Palace, there were likely experts above the Mahayana Stage!
"Everyone,"
Chu Tianchen looked around at the crowd and said in a deep voice.
"Now is not the time to dwell on the opponent's strength. The priority is how our Qingyun Holy Land should respond."
"Gu Luoli was once our sect's Saintess. Now she has joined the Yaochi Immortal Palace, her Dao wound is healed, and her Double Pupils have been restored... Is this a blessing or a curse for us?"
The hall fell into silence again.
Blessing? Curse?
If an ordinary Disciple joined another sect, it would naturally be a curse and a disgrace, requiring the sect to be purged to serve as a warning to others.
But Gu Luoli's situation was special.
She had left voluntarily back then, and the Holy Land did not stop her. In a sense, it was a mutual parting.
Furthermore, standing behind her now was a Yaochi Immortal Palace suspected of having a Tribulation Crossing powerhouse!
Although their Qingyun Holy Land also had a Tribulation Crossing Stage Old Ancestor presiding over it, his Lifespan was nearly exhausted.
Unless faced with a life-or-death crisis, he could not be easily awakened.
"Holy Lord,"
A middle-aged Elder spoke up after some deliberation. He was the External Affairs Elder, responsible for external negotiations.
"In my opinion, it is not advisable to be forceful in this matter."
"Although Gu Luoli was once our Saintess, she did not violate any sect rules when she left."
"Now that she has found an Opportunity and her injuries are healed, strictly speaking, she has no grudge against our Holy Land."
"On the contrary, if we can take this Opportunity to establish a good relationship with the Yaochi Immortal Palace..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.
Turn an enemy into a friend, or at least, do not become enemies.
"Absurd!"
The Law Enforcement Elder snorted coldly.
"Most of Gu Luoli's skills were learned here at our Qingyun Holy Land!"
"Even if she left, joining someone else's sect now—is that not slapping the Face of our Qingyun Holy Land?"
"If everyone followed her example, where would the dignity of the Holy Land be?"
"Then will you go to Qingyang City and capture her back?"
The External Affairs Elder retorted sharply.
"Or rather, do you want to go and test the depth of that Vice Palace Master, or perhaps, try your luck against that Fushan Ape King?"
The Law Enforcement Elder's Face stiffened, and he was speechless.
Go capture someone? He hadn't lived long enough.
The atmosphere in the hall became subtle.
The radical faction felt they had lost Face and should make a gesture.
The conservative faction believed they should not easily make enemies and should even take the initiative to befriend them.
Meanwhile, the three Grand Elders remained silent with their eyes closed, as if they were detached from the situation.
"Enough."
Chu Tianchen raised his hand, stopping the argument.
He looked at the three Grand Elders and said respectfully:
"Three Junior Martial Uncles, what are your thoughts?"
The three Grand Elders exchanged glances. Finally, the one in the center, who had the highest cultivation at the Late Stage Mahayana, slowly spoke:
"Tianchen, you are the Holy Lord. This matter is for you to decide."
"We have only one thing to say: the Holy Land comes first, personal honor and disgrace come second."
"If that Yaochi Immortal Palace is truly as unfathomable as the intelligence suggests... our Qingyun Holy Land must be cautious."
These words were very blunt and cruel.
Must be cautious.
The great Qingyun Holy Land, one of the overlords of the Southern Region with a Legacy of thirty thousand years, actually had a day where it "must be cautious."
But that was reality.
In the Face of absolute strength, any pride or Face was not worth mentioning.
Chu Tianchen was silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly.
"I understand."
He looked at everyone, his voice returning to its usual steady and majestic tone:
"Pass down the order: from this day forward, Disciples of the Holy Land are forbidden from discussing the matter of Gu Luoli. Violators will be severely punished."
"Additionally, prepare a generous gift and send it to the Liu Family in Qingyang City in the name of the Holy Land."
"Congratulate the Yaochi Immortal Palace on opening its doors to Disciples, and... congratulate young friend Gu Luoli on her recovery, wishing her a promising path ahead."
He said the last sentence with some difficulty.
Young friend.
She was once his Disciple, but now, he had to address her as "young friend."
The world is fickle; nothing is more so than this.
"Holy Lord, this..."
The Law Enforcement Elder wanted to say something more.
"This is an order."
Chu Tianchen glanced at him, his gaze calm yet carrying an unquestionable will.
The Law Enforcement Elder lowered his head and spoke no more.
He knew the Sect Master had made his choice.
"Dismissed."
Chu Tianchen waved his hand, his figure appearing somewhat weary.
Everyone bowed and withdrew, and soon only Chu Tianchen remained in the hall.
He sat alone in the main seat, looking at the empty hall, and suddenly felt a bit cold.
"Luoli..."
His thoughts gradually drifted away, as if returning to seventeen years ago.
At that time, she was like a rising new star, entering his world with ignorance and longing.
When she officially became his Disciple, her eyes were full of expectation for the future:
"Wow, Master, you're so amazing! So many people have to bow to you. I want to be as amazing as you in the future."
This naive sentence was like a spring breeze, warming his heart.
Facing his little Disciple's admiration, he had responded with a smile:
"Is that so? Then when that day truly comes, Master will let you be the Holy Lord of this Qingyun Holy Land."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, it caused his little Disciple to worry.
She blinked her clever big eyes and asked in confusion:
"Holy Lord? But... if Luoli becomes the Holy Lord, then what about you, Master?"
Looking at his little Disciple's serious expression, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Haha, when that time truly comes, I'm afraid I'll already be a Grand Elder, starting to enjoy a life of leisure!"
In the blink of an eye, seventeen years had passed.
The former little Disciple had now grown into an adult, but her persistence toward cultivation had never changed.
He once thought he could nurture her into the future pillar of the Qingyun Holy Land.
Unfortunately... "It is Master... who failed you."
A sigh echoed faintly in the hall, soon dissipating in the wind.
Outside the window, the mist of the Qingyun Holy Land still swirled, and cranes cried out, a scene of immortal elegance.
But Chu Tianchen knew that some things had already changed.
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