"The Great Sun Bright Immortal Dao has always taken safeguarding the safety of all living beings under heaven as its duty. Executing the criminal disciple You Di to rid the people of a scourge is even more the obligation of us Immortal Dao practitioners. Regardless of whether the Immortal Dao's decree arrives or not, we, as Heavenly Domain Immortal Officials, have the responsibility to protect the countless masses of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain."
Lord Saint Yang continued speaking with his usual righteous and solemn air, repeating his old rhetoric of duty and obligation: "Moreover, Yu Chan and Chao Yang are returning. I believe that when they return, they will naturally bring the decree from the Nine Heavens."
Upon hearing that both Yu Chan and Chao Yang were returning, the surrounding Heavenly Domain Elders felt extremely pleased.
Because they all knew that Yu Chan and Chao Yang were the two most accomplished among Lord Saint Yang's many disciples and grand-disciples.
Yu Chan was an Immortal Dao Throne holder.
And Chao Yang was an Immortal Dao Star Lord.
Both were individuals blessed by the Immortal Dao's Mandate, and both held important positions in the Nine Heavens.
If Immortal King Yu Chan and Immortal Lord Chao Yang returned, then they would have confidence. If the two also brought a decree from the Nine Heavens, then they would have nothing to worry about.
"Since Immortal King Yu Chan and Immortal Lord Chao Yang will both return soon, Grand Elder, should we return to our residence quickly to prepare and welcome them?"
"No hurry."
Mentioning Yu Chan and Chao Yang, Lord Saint Yang also swept away his earlier gloom, a proud light appearing on his face as he stroked the beard on his chin and said, "There is still one place in the Primordial World that this old man has not searched."
The crowd was puzzled and asked, "May we ask what place the Grand Elder refers to?"
Lord Saint Yang gazed toward the northwest direction of the Primordial World and said gravely, "The Yunxia Sect!"
Upon hearing that Lord Saint Yang wanted to search the Yunxia Sect, the expressions of the Heavenly Domain Elders, who had just been happy about the return of Immortal King Yu Chan and Immortal Lord Chao Yang, immediately turned panicked.
Everyone in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain knew that when the Yunxia Sect was founded, Empress Saintess Su Hua personally came to offer congratulations. Furthermore, the sect's stele was inscribed by the Empress Saintess herself. Even Empress Great Nature Yun Nishang personally came, gifting a Great Nature Seven-Colored Tree of Life.
Although the Yunxia Sect had only been established for less than ten thousand years, due to the special attention from Empress Saintess and Empress Great Nature, it was not only very famous in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain but also had great renown throughout the Myriad Worlds. Under normal circumstances, all the great immortal realms and immortal dynasties, even their own Immortal Court residence, would scramble to curry favor with them. And now, Lord Saint Yang actually wanted to search the Yunxia Sect.
Wasn't this clearly going against Empress Saintess and Empress Great Nature?
Who was Empress Saintess?
What kind of figure was Empress Great Nature?
Even the Three Thousand Great Daos had to give them some face.
The entire Myriad Worlds knew that the Yunxia Sect enjoyed the protection of these two Empresses. If they searched the Yunxia Sect, offending the sect itself was secondary; if they offended the two Empresses, who in the Myriad Worlds could bear the consequences?
This was simply more terrifying than defying heavenly might in the Present Era!
"In his youth, You Di cultivated at the Yunxia Sect. Moreover, as far as this old man knows, there are also many people in the Yunxia Sect with close ties to You Di from the Chixiao lineage. If that criminal disciple You Di has returned, it's possible he has visited the Yunxia Sect."
Lord Saint Yang continued gravely, "Although the Yunxia Sect is deeply protected by Empress Saintess and Empress Great Nature, we cannot ignore the Yunxia Sect because of that."
"But..." A Heavenly Domain Elder had just opened his mouth, his words not yet finished before Lord Saint Yang sharply interrupted, shouting, "No buts! For the dignity of our Great Sun Bright Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, for the sake of this Great Desolate Heaven and Earth, and even more for the safety of these countless masses, even if it means offending Empress Saintess and Empress Great Nature, this old man will not hesitate!"
"This old man repeats: with a heart full of vast righteous energy, one fears neither heaven nor earth! If you are cowardly and afraid of death, stay here! This old man will go alone to search the Yunxia Sect!"
Lord Saint Yang was indeed Lord Saint Yang.
He could shoulder the great honor of being the pillar of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, and he could shoulder the great authority of being the ruler of the Heavenly Domain. For the Great Dao and all living beings, he was willing to devote himself entirely until his last breath, earning deep admiration. And his words won a full round of applause. The immortals gathered here all clapped, cheered, and shouted encouragement. Many young people even excitedly stepped forward, requesting to follow Lord Saint Yang to search the Yunxia Sect.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Lord Saint Yang boarded the Great Sun Dragon Carriage. Although the surrounding Heavenly Domain Elders and Immortal Officials did not want to search the Yunxia Sect, the current situation left them no choice. Setting aside the fact that not going would offend Lord Saint Yang, even if they didn't offend him, Lord Saint Yang's speech had already put them, these Heavenly Domain Immortal Officials, on the spot. If they didn't go, they would be labeled as cowardly and afraid of death, unworthy of being Heavenly Domain Immortal Officials. Therefore, they could only brace themselves and follow Lord Saint Yang to the Yunxia Sect.
Within the Shangqing Sect.
Yun Wan watched the vast procession following the Great Sun Dragon Carriage toward the Yunxia Sect and said, "I've long heard that this Lord Saint Yang is full of vast righteous energy, hates evil as if it were a personal enemy, is impartial and selfless, and unafraid of powerful authority. Seeing him today, he truly lives up to his reputation. It's just a pity he doesn't know how complex and terrifying the background of this matter is. I wonder if his blind search will bring great disaster."
"Hah!"
Lotus Granny, leaning on her cane, also watched the vast departing procession and laughed, "Wan'er, I never thought even you would be deceived by this hypocritical Lord Saint Yang."
"Granny, what do you mean?"
"It's true that Lord Saint Yang hates evil as if it were a personal enemy, possesses vast righteous energy, is even honest and incorruptible, and unafraid of powerful authority. However, to say he is impartial and selfless... that is far too false."
Lotus Granny smiled faintly, "In my long life, I've seen many, many people. I've also seen quite a few who are full of talk about benevolence, righteousness, and morality but are utterly hypocritical. But as for someone like Lord Saint Yang, who has turned hypocrisy into his truth, even I have to admire him."
Yun Wan didn't quite understand. "Turned hypocrisy into his truth?"
"Lord Saint Yang has always had great ambition, but he hides it deeply and disguises it well. Moreover, this man is extremely greedy for fame, even to the point of obsession. Do you think the so-called just deeds he does are truly for the sake of so-called justice? No! He just wants to use these things to elevate his own prestige."
Lotus Granny sat in the pavilion, sipping tea, and continued, "Among those who have come to the Lingluo Heavenly Domain from all directions, many, many wish to use this matter to enhance their own prestige and make their names known throughout Heaven and Earth. Those Great Dao prodigies are like this, those blessed by the Great Dao's Mandate are like this, and Lord Saint Yang is no exception."
"It's just that Lord Saint Yang is relatively clever. The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao hasn't issued a decree, so other Great Dao prodigies only dare to shout slogans. But Lord Saint Yang doesn't just shout slogans; he uses practical actions to boost his prestige. First, he announced to the Heavenly Domain, then imposed a full lockdown, and now he's making a grand show of coming to the Primordial World to search for You Di's whereabouts."