At the summit of Huashan stood Tianhai Pavilion. Sect Leader Feng Taichong's expression was solemn and grave as he gazed toward Sword Knowing Peak, hundreds of miles away.His usually sharp eyes now occasionally flickered with a hint of helplessness and hesitation. Near his throne, the Nine Palace Elders of Huayan Sect also wore stern expressions, silent and motionless.The entire Tianhai Pavilion was shrouded in an oppressive atmosphere. "Sect Brother Leader, what do you think—will Linghu successfully form his Nascent Soul this time?"Wu Daozi, Elder of the Sixth Heaven Peak, finally broke the silence. Feng Taichong let out a long sigh but said nothing.Yet everyone understood his thoughts:they held little hope for Linghu, the sect's first-generation senior brother, to succeed on his ninth attempt at Nascent Soul formation. Qiao Chong, Elder of the Ninth Departure Peak, his shrewd gaze glinting faintly, spoke:"If Linghu fails once more, it is time for him to step aside.The first-generation senior brother of our Huayan Sect cannot forever be occupied by one who has not reached the Nascent Soul Realm!Our sect is already mocked by fellow cultivators over this matter.Disciples of all generations hold deep resentment. Sect Brother Leader, what say you?" "Brother Qiao, if Linghu falls from his position, who do you believe should take his place?"Mo Jianli, Elder of the Third Thunder Peak, said calmly."He Taixu? Or Yin Jiuzhong?" "What is the meaning of this, Brother Mo?" Qiao Chong said coldly."Who becomes senior brother shall be decided by cultivation and strength alone!It is not for me to arbitrarily name someone.Do you think I urge Linghu to step down only to place my own disciple in his seat?" Mo Jianli sneered."No need for pretense, Brother Qiao.Both He Taixu and Yin Jiuzhong are from your Departure Yin Peak.Boosted by your Soul-Severing Pills, their cultivation is the highest—both have just advanced to Mid Nascent Soul.Once Linghu steps down, who else but your disciples could claim the position of first-generation senior brother?Truly a shrewd plan… and a costly one!" "I obtained those two Soul-Severing Pills through countless hardships and enormous price, trading for them from the Alchemy King Shi Wule!"Qiao Chong retorted."He Taixu and Yin Jiuzhong are outstanding disciples of mine.What is wrong with using treasures to raise their cultivation?I am not as stingy as some, hoarding every good item for myself…" "Enough!"Feng Taichong frowned and shouted in anger."They are all disciples of this sect! What is there to argue about?As sect elders, have you not lost all dignity?" No wonder Feng Taichong was enraged.The Nine Palace Elders had long maintained a superficial harmony while harboring internal strife.They constantly schemed against one another, striving to suppress their peers, hoping both themselves and their disciples would stand above others. Competition could inspire progress, yet excessive rivalry destroyed unity.A once-united sect turning into clashing factions was no trivial matter. Huayan Sect had stood for over five thousand years.It was said that no fewer than ten of its predecessors had successfully transcended the Heavenly Tribulation and ascended to the Immortal Realm. As for Sect Leader Feng Taichong himself, his cultivation had reached the Late Union Realm.The core Nine Palace Elders each possessed Mid Union Realm cultivation, merely a step away from the Late Union Realm. The title "Nine Palace Elders" originated from the sect's grand formation.Centered on Huashan, eight surrounding extraordinary peaks were arranged according to the Nine Palaces diagram, forming the Nine Palace Immortal-Mystery Mountain-Protecting Great Formation.While the central Huashan was guarded personally by Feng Taichong, the other eight peaks were each governed by one elder. The Nine Palaces followed the classic diagram: Top: Nine Bottom: One Left: Three Right: Seven Shoulders: Two and Four Feet: Six and Eight Center: Five Correspondingly: Water 坎 – First Peak Earth 坤 – Second Peak Thunder 震 – Third Peak Wind 巽 – Fourth Peak Center 中 – Fifth Peak (Huashan Main Peak) Heaven 乾 – Sixth Peak Metal 兑 – Seventh Peak Mountain 艮 – Eighth Peak Fire 离 – Ninth Peak Thus the name: the Nine Palace Elders. Beyond these core elders, Huayan Sect also had many inner hall disciples who had surpassed the Nascent Soul Realm and risen from the first generation.These were the sect's true elites, under the jurisdiction of the Council of Elders.Every inner hall disciple was at the Soul-Separation Realm! Those who reached Soul-Separation would renounce their first-generation disciple status, advance to inner hall disciples, and gain access to higher-tier techniques and missions, along with vastly improved treatment and rewards. Naturally, once an inner hall disciple reached the Division Realm, they could leave the inner hall and attain the title of Unassigned Peak Elder. "Unassigned Peak Elder" meant they were no longer disciples, but had not yet earned the right to possess their own peak or accept personal disciples. Above Unassigned Peak Elders stood the Assigned Peak Elders, who had reached the Union Realm.As the name implied, they were granted their own peak, allowed to establish a lineage and teach disciples. Such was the strict hierarchy of the cultivation world—status and respect were earned solely by strength. Feng Taichong swept his sharp gaze over the eight Nine Palace Elders and spoke coldly:"I do not oppose fostering competition among disciples, but I will never tolerate internecine conflict.Whatever your private thoughts, brothers, know your limits.Do not disappoint me… or the sect." Faced with the sect leader's wrath, the elders fell silent, listening respectfully. Feng Taichong continued:"You all know Linghu's situation is special.Nevertheless, this is his ninth attempt.The sect has granted him nine chances.If he succeeds this time, all is well—he remains first-generation senior brother.But if he fails again…" He paused slightly, then sighed:"I have decided:I will strip him of his position as first-generation senior brother.He shall hold the status corresponding to whatever realm his cultivation falls to." Qiao Chong's shrewd eyes suddenly lit up."Sect Brother Leader, you are wise!" Feng Taichong went on:"However, Linghu's circumstances are indeed unique.If he is deposed, I decree that Sword Knowing Peak shall become his exclusive cultivation ground.Without official permission, no one may set foot on Sword Knowing Peak.Violators shall be punished by sect law." Qiao Chong's mouth fell open, his face twitching with dissatisfaction."Sect Brother Leader! This cannot be!Stripped of his title yet granted his own peak—this is effectively making him an Assigned Peak Elder!If the outside world learns of this, we shall be mocked even more!We already suffer ridicule for a 'first-generation genius senior brother' who failed to form a Nascent Soul time and again.If we now have an Assigned Peak Elder at the Foundation Establishment Realm… I dare not imagine how they will slander our sect!" Feng Taichong glanced coldly at Qiao Chong."Brother Qiao, you overthink.Sword Knowing Peak has long been Linghu's cultivation abode.Are you suggesting we evict him and force him to live among second-generation or lower disciples?" "That is not what I meant! I merely worry about what others will think—" "Sword Knowing Peak shall be declared a forbidden land.No disciple may enter without permission.How would the outside world learn the truth?Unless one of you here intends to leak it." Feng Taichong's voice turned icy. "We dare not! We obey your decree, Sect Brother Leader!"The eight elders hastily rose and bowed. Feng Taichong said no more.He stood, walked out of Tianhai Pavilion, and silently stared toward Sword Knowing Peak.The eight elders stood solemnly behind him, also gazing into the distance. Though Qiao Chong remained dissatisfied, he did not dare to speak further.Inside, he sneered repeatedly:So this is Linghu, the once-promised genius.How can you fail to form a Nascent Soul time and again?Are you truly a genius… or merely a waste? They stood silently in Tianhai Pavilion for roughly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.At last, Feng Taichong's expression shifted slightly.The eight elders behind him also seemed to sense something, their eyes turning sharply toward Sword Knowing Peak. In the distant sky above Sword Knowing Peak, a visible phenomenon slowly unfolded. Dark clouds gathered.Snakes of lightning darted amid rumbling thunder.For hundreds of miles around, spiritual energy churned wildly, chaotic and turbid.The dark clouds were torn apart by some invisible force, bursting into countless colorful radiances that whirled within a vortex, flickering brilliantly. The spiritual vortex spun faster and faster, drawing in more energy, condensing even more splendor.A massive black cloud formed once more above the already radiant vortex.Thick lightning bolts, as big as arms, lashed down from the pitch-black clouds, crackling into the colorful vortex, as if trying to shatter the dazzling radiance. Yet the vortex was extraordinarily resilient.Though cracks spread across the condensed radiance with every strike, it continued to spin and condense.Whenever lightning paused, the countless radiances immediately mended the cracks.Over and over. The wind, rain, and thunder in the dark clouds grew fiercer.Lightning struck more rapidly.But the colorful radiance within the spiritual vortex only grew denser, brighter, and more magnificent.
