The crowd began to continue the previous topic.

A sturdy Taoist with a full face of graying whiskers angrily said, "Tell me, why should we be at the mercy of others?!"

"There's no helping it. Compared to the twelve Nascent Soul Upper Sects, our current strength is still far from enough. I'm afraid we can only swallow this grievance."

"..."

Chen Sansi listened for a while and understood the context of the argument.

After the Supreme Elder of the Qingxu Sect stepped into the mid-stage Nascent Soul, he planned to apply to the Holy Sect for a fourth-rank spiritual vein as a new sect location.

There are only a few fourth-rank spiritual veins without owners in Sky Water Continent.

Moreover, although these spiritual veins are nominally ownerless, nearby sects have long occupied them privately in reality.

Now asking the sects to move is undoubtedly cutting their flesh, and they naturally feel unwilling, so they demand that the Qingxu Sect go to the border to engage the Demon Path on the grounds of insufficient contribution to the Heavenly Water Righteous Path.

In the end, it's a struggle for resources.

And the conversation revealed that the Heavenly Sword Sect of the Three Heavens Sect and the Qingxu Sect have significant grievances.

This matter is being manipulated behind the scenes by the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Senior Uncles, Senior Brothers, and Senior Sisters."

Supreme Elder Zhang Huaiqing stood up and spoke gently, "In my humble opinion, let's not continue arguing about this matter. We just need to guard the border for a while, which is also contributing to the common good.

In due course, I will personally oversee and ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control.

If it's truly impractical, we can forgo that fourth-rank spiritual vein."

"What did nephew say?"

Upon hearing this, True Master Xuancheng stood up abruptly: "The spiritual vein is crucial to our sect's millennia-long plan, how can we just give it up?"

"Exactly!"

The brawny Taoist followed up, "I say, junior brother, are you crazy?"

A thin elder, who looked like a withered tree, snorted coldly and accused, "Zhang Huaiqing, since you assumed the position of Supreme Elder, our sect has retreated continuously, losing numerous mines and workshops.

Your cultivation has finally shown progress, this is precisely when you should retrieve those losses and seek a high-level spiritual vein to bring fortune to our disciples, not retreat further?

Or is it..."

He paused, emphasizing his tone, "You, Zhang Huaiqing, occupy the Cave Heaven Blessed Land and enjoy all resources for yourself, disregarding others?!"

"Senior Brother."

Zhang Huaiqing looked directly at him and answered solemnly, "I have absolutely no such intention!"

"Indeed."

Though True Master Xuancheng was displeased, he still supported, "I believe Nephew Huaiqing is not a selfish person.

And over the years, though Huaiqing has used more resources, who among you can achieve his feat of stepping into the mid-stage Nascent Soul in one go?"

"This and that are different issues."

The brawny Taoist waved his hand, "Junior Brother Huaiqing's exceptional talent is undeniable, but he truly is an incompetent Supreme Elder!"

"Exactly."

True Master Baoyuan, emaciated to skin and bones, pressed on aggressively, "If you ask this poor Taoist, Junior Brother Huaiqing should just stop being the Supreme Elder and focus on cultivation. Wouldn't that be better?"

On the mountain top, the conversation took a sudden turn.

From the initial debate on how to handle the exclusion from the Nascent Soul sects, it abruptly shifted to criticizing Supreme Elder Zhang Huaiqing, even suggesting his removal.

Long before Xue Xianrong was alive, Chen Sansi had heard that the Qingxu Sect's senior elders had many grievances against Zhang Huaiqing, but he didn't expect it to have reached this stage.

The eight elders present could roughly be divided into two factions.

Led by True Master Baoyuan, three elders held significant objections, opposed to Zhang Huaiqing remaining as Supreme Elder.

The rest, led by Sect Leader True Master Xuancheng, wished to maintain the status quo.

"Senior Brother Baoyuan."

Master Yu Ling spoke up, "Junior Brother Huaiqing has committed no errors over the years. The loss of mines and workshops is the responsibility of all of us, so how can it be pinned on Junior Brother alone?"

"Yu Ling, you of course defend him!"

The brawny True Master Jiuhuan said mercilessly, "The sect has only three Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, and one was given to you!"

"Junior Brother Huaiqing."

The hoarse voice of True Master Baoyuan continued, "You have good talent, and we have no issue with you using more resources, but you shouldn't allocate them recklessly!

One of the three Cave Heaven Blessed Lands was given to Junior Sister Yu Ling, and after all these years, there's been no progress.

And another one was given to that mute outsider!"

Next to Chen Sansi sat an elder in disarrayed attire and sallow complexion.

As far as he knew, this person was Elder Xu Taisu from Wuliang Peak, not originally from the Qingxu Sect but an outsider and Loose Cultivator, joining after the previous Supreme Elder passed away.

Moreover, upon entry, he received the highest treatment, second only to Zhang Huaiqing in monthly immortal stipend.

Yet over many years, he showed no progress, did not take in disciples, and contributed nothing to the sect's development.

"Mute, I'm talking to you!"

True Master Jiuhuan barged forward, grabbed the old man's collar, and roared, "You've avoided going to the frontier to slay demons several times. Why does the Qingxu Sect have to support an old tortoise like you!"

Xu Taisu remained still, allowing the other's spittle to spray all over his face, neither retorting nor getting angered by the insults.

"Senior Brother Jiuhuan."

Zhang Huaiqing spoke calmly, "Senior Xu was an old acquaintance of our Master. Inviting him to join as an Elder was also our Master's last wish."

"The Master was muddled too!"

True Master Jiuhuan, with his hot temper, said, "There's also that Gui Mountain Lord who our Master insisted on taking in!

These two alone have wasted countless resources!

Those who don't know might think our Qingxu Sect is a large clan with great property!"

"Junior Brother Huaiqing!"

Flowing Cloud Peak's Xue Jingfeng, with a grim expression, spoke, "Fine, even if Mu Chutai and Xu Taisu were our Master's will and we as disciples cannot defy Master's will, what about Yu Ling?

Joining Baihua Valley isn't by Master's decree, so why do you keep favoring them?

Moreover—"

His tone soared sharply, like a resonant bell, "Junior Sister Yu Ling committed a grave crime. According to the sect's rules, she should be confined for fifty years at the Penitence Cliff, with her immortal stipend suspended. Why does she still retain the Lotus Blessed Land?!"

"Xue Jingfeng."

Master Yu Ling cast an indifferent gaze, "Even if you desire the Lotus Blessed Land, you shouldn't resort to slander, right?"

"Indeed."

Zhang Huaiqing said, "What crime has Senior Sister Yu Ling committed?"

"What crime indeed?"

Xue Jingfeng sneered, "Letting a direct disciple cultivate demon techniques and slaughter fellow disciples, and you still dare claim you've done no wrong?!"

"Oh?"

True Master Xuancheng was noticeably startled, "What do you mean, Nephew Jingfeng?"

"Uncles, fellow senior brothers!"

Xue Jingfeng righteously exposed, "Baihua Valley disciple Jiang Xiyue cultivated demon techniques and slaughtered innocent lives. My son Xue Xianrong died at her hands!"

"Senior Brother Xue."

A mustached elder got alarmed, "You can't say that recklessly!"

"Indeed."

True Master Xuancheng said, "That day it was clearly Dugu Ao from the Demon Slaying Sect who ambushed them, which led to Xianrong's tragic death. This was also seen firsthand by Guiyuan Sect's Daoist Feng Zhi. How could it be Jiang Xiyue who killed him?"

"Sect Leader, I'm speaking the absolute truth!

Before Xianrong died that day, he sent me a message saying he saw Jiang Xiyue's demonic transformation and asked me to stop her from indiscriminate slaughter!"

Xue Jingfeng's eyes were bloodshot, shouting hoarsely, "When I arrived, I encountered Dugu Ao killing Xianrong.

He had no grievance with Xianrong, so why such a deadly act?

There was only one reason, he was silencing! He didn't want Xianrong to reveal the truth he witnessed!

Moreover, if Jiang Xiyue hadn't practiced demon techniques, how could she and Lu Shengzhi have fought against the Blood Bamboo master of the Seven Kill Sect and exchanged for the Creation Jade Dew?

Both of them were merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm at the time!"

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