"Xu Mu!
What nonsense are you spouting!
As far as I know, both the South Dipper Sect and the Xiao Family have already reported this matter to their respective Inner Council Ancestors."
"Whether it's the South Dipper Sect or the Xiao Family, their Inner Council Ancestors have already emerged from seclusion for this year's Temple Fair, so it's not surprising they know. But have you seen any of their Inner Council Ancestors make a move?"
Indeed.
This year's Temple Fair was extraordinary. Not only the Xiao Family and the South Dipper Sect, but the ancestral patriarchs of all the other great families and major sects had also emerged from seclusion early, including those of their own Taiji Sect. They had likely already heard about the incident.
However, just as Xu Mu said, the Inner Council Ancestors of the South Dipper Sect and the Xiao Family had not taken action over this matter, nor had they launched a full-scale search for the man impersonating the Monarch.
"They are probably all waiting, waiting to see what the Yanluo Immortal Court does. If the Yanluo Immortal Court makes a move, they will surely follow immediately. Conversely, if the Yanluo Immortal Court remains silent, they absolutely dare not act rashly."
Sect Master Cang Kong of the Taiji Sect nodded; he thought the same. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "I heard that the man claiming to be the Monarch said before leaving that he would also appear at the Yanluo Imperial Mausoleum during the Temple Fair?"
"Exactly."
Xu Mu recalled what Gu Qingfeng had said the previous night. "He told Blackheart Lord Zhou Taihe to go to the Yanluo Imperial Mausoleum during the Temple Fair to receive his death."
"This…" Hearing this, Sect Master Cang Kong sank into deep thought once more.
Just then, a flash of white light suddenly appeared in the grand hall. As the radiance faded, an old man materialized.
Seeing this old man, everyone was startled.
They all recognized him—he was the former Sect Master of the Taiji Sect, now an Ancestral Patriarch of the Inner Council.
"Old…
Old Sect Master?"
Perhaps no one had expected the Old Sect Master to appear in the hall. Recovering their wits, Cang Kong, Xu Mu, and the others dared not be negligent and hurriedly paid their respects. When Cang Yun saw the Old Sect Master, his expression grew even more agitated, for the Old Sect Master had once been his master.
"Master…
Your venerable self…
Why has your venerable self come here?"
"This teacher wished to see what all the endless arguing was about."
Hearing this, Cang Yun spoke again, "Master, Jun Cai he…" He had barely begun when his words were cut off by the Old Sect Master. "This teacher already knows about Jun Cai's matter. The various Ancestral Patriarchs of the Inner Council are also aware. This matter ultimately arose from Jun Cai's willful actions and cannot be blamed on others. The fault lies only with you for spoiling him into such arrogance!"
"What!
Master…" Cang Yun started to speak but was interrupted again, this time by an angry shout.
"What more is there to say?
If you hadn't spoiled Jun Cai to such an extent, would he have grown so conceited, looking down on everyone?
If you had earnestly taught him the principles of being a Human, how could he have been beaten half to death today?"
Cang Yun was unconvinced in his heart, but facing his master's admonishment, he dared not argue.
"Cang Yun, ah, Cang Yun. Back then, it was precisely because this teacher doted on you too much that you committed a grave mistake. For this, this teacher's heart has always been filled with boundless regret, and I repeatedly warned you to teach Jun Cai diligently, not to let him act recklessly. How could you…" As he spoke, the Old Sect Master sighed heavily, looking at Cang Yun with a heart full of remorse and self-reproach.
He felt it was all his fault for doting on Cang Yun back then, making him ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, arrogant and domineering. Otherwise, Cang Yun would never have offended the Monarch, nor been beaten half to death by him, ruining his entire life.
Every time he recalled this, the Old Sect Master was filled with regret.
"Old Sect Master."
Cang Kong inquired, "May I ask what you and the various Ancestral Patriarchs of the Inner Council intend to…"
"Regarding the situation of the man claiming to be the Monarch, this old man currently knows nothing. We will wait until we have investigated further before making a decision. Cang Kong, as the sect master, remember that no matter what you encounter, you must think thrice before acting. Absolutely do not act on impulse, and do not stubbornly insist on having your own way."
The Old Sect Master was quite satisfied with Cang Kong.
Back then, he had deliberated carefully before passing the position of sect master to Cang Kong.
To be honest, Cang Kong was not the most outstanding candidate for the sect master position. Be it cultivation, strength, destiny, or anything else, he was only ordinary, with nothing particularly exceptional about him, let alone being a heaven-sent prodigy. The main reason the Old Sect Master had passed the position to him was his character, especially his cautiousness in handling matters, which was of utmost importance.
He understood clearly.
The world contained far too many mysterious, bizarre, and terrifying existences, some far beyond his imagination. Once one provoked a being they shouldn't have, the consequences would be unimaginable. The Taiji Sect, with its tens of thousands of years of heritage, could vanish overnight.
He himself was a prime example.
Back then, when Cang Yun was beaten half to death by Lord Chixiao, he had been just as furious and exasperated as Cang Yun was today. He had even issued orders, preparing to mobilize all the Taiji Sect's experts at any cost to tear Gu Tianlang, who was not yet the Monarch at the time, into pieces.
Fortunately, back then, a reclusive Ancestral Patriarch had stopped him.
The facts proved that if he had truly mobilized all the Taiji Sect's experts to besiege Lord Chixiao back then, the Taiji Sect of today might not exist. For not long after the incident, Lord Chixiao had begun sweeping through the Four Great Families and Six Great Sects of the Yanluo Kingdom, even killing experts of the Immortal Court.
A single thought had nearly led the Taiji Sect to catastrophic destruction.
Even now, recalling it, the Old Sect Master still felt a lingering fear in his heart. This was also the fundamental reason he had chosen to abandon the more outstanding candidates and selected Cang Kong to succeed as sect master. This was not only his own intention but also the will of the various Ancestral Patriarchs in the Inner Council. They all believed that a cautious ordinary person was more suitable to serve as sect master than a prodigy with great destiny.
"Let this matter end here for now. The various Ancestral Patriarchs of the Inner Council will find a way to ascertain the identity of the man claiming to be the Monarch."
After speaking, the Old Sect Master said to Cang Yun, "Cang Yun, do not be overly sorrowful, nor harbor resentment. This teacher has examined Jun Cai's injuries. Although they are somewhat severe, as long as he is carefully nursed back to health, recovering fully is not difficult. In a few days, this teacher will take him back and personally treat him. Set your mind at ease."
Hearing this, Cang Yun immediately grew excited. "Master, is there still hope for Jun Cai's Treasure Body?"
"There should still be hope for Jun Cai's White Flame Treasure Body."
As these words fell, not only did Cang Yun become extremely agitated, but Cang Kong and Xu Mu did as well. Although Li Juncai was not their disciple, he was still a member of the Taiji Sect, and they naturally also hoped his White Flame Treasure Body could be restored.
"Old Sect Master, I previously examined Jun Cai's injuries as well. The foundation of his White Flame Treasure Body has been destroyed and shattered. Can it truly be restored?"
"The foundation of Jun Cai's Treasure Body has indeed been destroyed and shattered, but it is shattered yet not dispersed. There should still be hope."
Shattered yet not dispersed?
Cang Kong and the others were puzzled.
"This is also what this old man came here to say. The reason the foundation of Jun Cai's Treasure Body is shattered yet not dispersed is likely because the man claiming to be the Monarch showed mercy. And if that is truly the case, then his existence is absolutely far beyond this old man's imagination. Therefore, all of you, remember this, especially you, Cang Yun. Do not, under any circumstances, go seeking that man to settle this matter."