Chapter 463: Internal Affairs Resolved
"Are you planning a rebellion?"
A booming voice suddenly echoed from outside, and Dai Yao immediately recognized it as Niu Gao, head of the Construction Division of the Qinglian Sect and former leader of the Yu Clan.
"He Qian, Zhan Wushuang, Xiao Ding. You dare gather people and storm the Sect Leader's hall while the sect is weakened and our elite forces are deployed? Are you not afraid that Sect Leader Ning and Elder Dugu will return and hold you accountable? Leave now, and perhaps we can still talk this through; otherwise, this won't end well for you."
Niu Gao's words were a clear warning.
"All of you—He Clan, Zhan Sect, Yu Ding Sect—you begged us to take you in when you had nowhere else to go. We gave you shelter, and now I see all we took in were traitors," came Bai He's voice, also from outside. "Since joining the Qinglian Sect, you not only disregard its rules but also form factions and undermine its spirit. When the Sect Leader returns, you'll regret this foolishness."
Dai Yao was a bit surprised to see Bai He standing so staunchly with the sect, but Kongque quickly explained that, with Heaven Dou on the verge of defeat following the Wuhun Empire's crushing victory at Jialing Pass, the wise saw the Qinglian Sect as a safe haven, and Bai He's loyalty to the sect had only deepened.
This favorable standing had brought various groups to join the sect, including formidable figures such as the three outside, all of whom were Soul Douluo-level experts who had once ruled their territories. Despite joining the Qinglian Sect, they still held ambitions of reclaiming their former influence. Niu Ben had been trying to foster alliances, so he had turned a blind eye to their transgressions.
"Ha! Bai He, Niu Gao, it's easy for you two to talk about rules from your comfortable positions. You used to serve the Haotian Sect, where you never lacked for anything. But you don't understand what we small clans endure. All we want is fairness!" came another voice.
"Enough talking, old Qian!" said a third voice. "Let's just talk to that blonde girl directly. If she agrees, they won't have a say!"
At these words, everyone's expressions changed. The women turned to Dai Yao, awaiting his command, and he said calmly, "Dujuan, open the doors."
As the hall doors creaked open, tension filled the air, and all eyes turned toward the seat of the Sect Leader.
Bai He, Niu Gao, and Lou Gao exchanged looks of frustration and disappointment as they glanced toward the dais. With them guarding the entrance, He Qian and his cohorts dared not go further. Meanwhile, they had already sent word to Poison Douluo and Yang Wudi, who were hastening back to restore order in just a few hours.
But at the sight on the dais, their eyes widened in shock.
There, seated on the Sect Leader's throne, was a golden-haired man surrounded by several strikingly beautiful women. When Bai He saw Bai Chenxiang among them, he felt a surge of joy and relief as years of worry melted away.
"Turns out that brat is back, so there's no point in us standing guard," muttered Lou Gao softly. "Forget it. I'll return to my work." And with that, he turned his rotund frame and strolled out of the hall.
"Haha, if we knew it would be this easy, we'd have come in sooner," laughed He Qian, momentarily stunned before a smile spread across his face.
He and his companions led a crowd of hundreds into the hall, quickly filling the vast space. Most of them barely glanced at the golden-haired man on the dais, their attention instead drawn to the striking women behind him. A woman in black leather, her figure bold and alluring, exuded an aura as cool as moonlight; another, in a jade-green dress, was as graceful and serene as a lotus. Next to them stood a green-qipao-clad woman whose every smile could captivate the soul, and finally, a red-haired woman dressed in combat gear radiated strength and elegance.
In addition to these four, there were Bai Chenxiang, Kongque, Dujuan, and Luzi—all beautiful in their own right, though they were somewhat overshadowed by the other four.
The newcomers couldn't hide their interest in the women, with many young disciples casting glances of admiration and awe. Qinglian Sect's veteran disciples chuckled quietly, aware that these newcomers had no idea about Dugu Yan's strictness as a former acting Sect Leader. Such gawking would not go unpunished.
However, this level of interest was relatively innocent. If it had been more openly lewd, there would have been consequences, possibly in the form of missing eyes.
Feng Wutong's sharp gaze swept across the hall, and she stepped forward, her spirit power surging as she commanded, "Everyone except the three elders—leave, now!"
Her voice cut through the room, carrying an imposing authority that left no room for challenge. Though her Zhuque Spirit was not fully activated, the pressure emanating from her soul was so intense that many found it hard to breathe.
Niu Gao and Bai He exchanged astonished looks. Feng Wutong's spirit power had grown so intense that even their own soul power felt restricted. Her progress over these past three years was incredible. It made them wonder just how much Dai Yao himself had advanced.
He Qian, Zhan Wushuang, and Xiao Ding stood frozen in shock, recognizing the profound strength of this young woman. In her early twenties, she exerted a pressure that rivaled even Poison Douluo—something they found hard to believe.
Fighting to contain his unease, He Qian forced a polite tone as he asked, "Excuse me, miss, but might I ask your name?"
Feng Wutong did not reply. Her fierce gaze swept over the three Soul Douluo elders. He Qian, who looked more like a prosperous elder than a soul master, had an air of wealth and status. Zhan Wushuang, heavily muscled with a white beard bristling, looked like a warrior ready for battle. Xiao Ding, a wiry and unassuming figure, was the most inconspicuous of the three.
With a cold snort, Feng Wutong's spirit power surged as rings appeared at her feet—three purple and four black. Her fiery red hair flared, and a white flame ignited in her palm. As the flame blazed, the hall's temperature spiked, and the newcomers felt their faces start to sting from the heat.
"I will say this only once more. All of you, except for the three elders, leave immediately!" she commanded, her voice icy.
As they stared at the sight of her three purple and four black spirit rings, everyone was struck dumb. To have her first ring as a thousand-year spirit ring and her fourth as ten-thousand-year? Was this some kind of dream?
The hall fell silent as the disciples processed what they were seeing. He Qian, a Soul Douluo himself, sensed the full weight of Feng Wutong's power. She had only seven rings, but he could feel that she was close to Spirit Douluo level, needing just one final ring.
Swallowing hard, he shot his disciples a look and gestured for them to leave the hall. A mix of anxiety and awe permeated the silent procession as they filed out, and the hall doors closed quietly behind them.
Once the hall had emptied, Feng Wutong retracted her spirit rings, returned to stand behind Dai Yao, and composed herself as if the fiery queenly figure of moments before had been nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Dai Yao's gaze shifted to He Qian, Zhan Wushuang, and Xiao Ding, who now stood nervously before him. He let the silence linger, his expression unreadable, as they absorbed the gravity of the situation.
Finally, he spoke, his tone cold and steady, "Is this how you honor the trust I extended by allowing you to join my sect?"
Feng Wutong's display of strength made the three Soul Douluo elders flinch. Her power far surpassed theirs, and her youth signified an inevitable rise to becoming a top-ranking Titled Douluo. Yet, despite her remarkable prowess, she showed complete deference to the man before her. Who could he be? Sitting on the Sect Leader's throne, with Kongque—whom they knew as the acting Sect Leader—standing beside him as docile as a handmaiden, they started piecing the puzzle together. Observing Niu Gao and Bai He's knowing expressions, a name flashed in their minds.
The true Sect Leader of the Qinglian Sect—Dai Yao.
That man of legendary renown across the continent.
If this really was Dai Yao, the identity of the red-haired woman also became clear. She was Feng Wutong, personal disciple of two Titled Douluo and one of the powerful women often seen by Dai Yao's side. Not hearing of her for three years, only to encounter her now at an astonishingly high Spirit Level, they could only wonder what kind of strength Dai Yao himself had achieved.
He Qian felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. Forcing a smile, he clasped his hands in a slight bow and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must be the one known far and wide—Dai Yao?"
Dai Yao's expression was unreadable as he replied, "And if I am? Or if I'm not? Didn't you come here today with something you wanted to discuss with Kongque? She's right here; you're free to speak. I'd like to hear it myself."
He Qian felt another wave of nervous sweat. Today's plan had been to seize power in the sect. If Kongque had been the only authority, they would have had the leverage to pressure her into giving in. But with Dai Yao here—the very man the entire Xingluo Empire found formidable—He Qian's courage dwindled.
While He Qian hesitated, Zhan Wushuang, oblivious to the gravity of their situation, let out a loud laugh, his coarse voice echoing through the hall.
"Sect Leader, we came here with a proposal," he began, ignoring He Qian and Xiao Ding's attempts to silence him.
"What is it?" Dai Yao asked.
"We're here to request fair treatment. All sect resources, whether support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or weapons from the Equipment Division, are first given to the Four Divisions. We, the soul masters who joined the Qinglian Sect later, are always left behind," Zhan Wushuang said. "We're part of the Qinglian Sect too; why can't we get the same treatment?"
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow but remained expressionless. Turning slightly, he asked, "Kongque, what's your response?"
Kongque's anger flashed as she said coldly, "This is nonsense! The sect has always treated all members equally. Do you not know why resources weren't allocated to you? Acting Sect Leader Niu Ben repeatedly asked you to disband your cliques and join the Four Divisions, but you refused, instead conspiring in secret to undermine the sect's rules."
"Given that, how could we trust you with our resources?"
Dai Yao's gaze turned calculating as he began to understand. This group was unwilling to relinquish their authority, hoping to parasitize the Qinglian Sect's strength for their own purposes. Seizing the opportunity in a time of sect-wide turmoil, they now sought to capitalize on the chaos.
"Looks like Niu Ben is indeed suited for preservation, ensuring the Yu Clan's continuity. However, he lacks the decisiveness to handle threats that arise from the current continent-wide conflict," Dai Yao thought. He glanced at the three elders before him, his face showing no emotion as he said, "Do you have anything to add to what Kongque just said?"
He Qian and Xiao Ding blanched, saying nothing. Only Zhan Wushuang remained defiant, scoffing, "Of course, I have something to say, Sect Leader. The sect's policies are far too rigid! We are soul masters from respected clans and sects that have now joined the Qinglian Sect. While we recognize the Qinglian Sect, we also recognize the people of our clans. Forcing us to disband and join the Four Divisions has caused much resentment."
"I suggest we retain the identity of our clans within the sect. We are loyal members of the Qinglian Sect, and if the sect faces danger, we'll defend it with our lives."
As Zhan Wushuang finished, a tense silence filled the hall.
Dugu Yan's emerald eyes flashed with fury. If Dai Yao were not in charge here, she would have cut down Zhan Wushuang on the spot. This proposal to create personal territories within the Qinglian Sect went directly against her core beliefs.
A flicker of anger rose in Dai Yao's chest as he fixed He Qian and Xiao Ding with an icy stare. "Do you two agree with Zhan Wushuang's suggestion?"
"No, no," He Qian and Xiao Ding stammered, shaking their heads vehemently. Both knew Dai Yao's reputation, and they sensed that his patience was wearing thin. Unlike Zhan Wushuang, they had no intention of courting disaster.
"Pah!" Zhan Wushuang sneered at their cowardice. "Old He, Xiao, don't be so spineless! Even if this kid wanted to kill us, does he have the power? Poison Douluo and Yang Wudi aren't here. No one here can hold us back. We're Soul Douluo—people respect us wherever we go. Yet here, we're constantly scrutinized and restrained."
"Who do they think they are?"
With a sneer, Zhan Wushuang turned, intending to leave. Seeing his defiance, Niu Gao and Bai He stood, spirit power surging, prepared to stop him. Meanwhile, He Qian and Xiao Ding glanced around, clearly unsure of what to do next. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong stood calmly off to the side, ready to intervene.
Dai Yao sighed and slowly rose from his seat, muttering, "Looks like I have to deal with this the moment I return."
In the next moment, a crushing aura filled the hall, as an overwhelming pressure fell upon everyone present.
In shocked silence, all eyes were on Dai Yao as he approached. Step by step, his robes fluttered as ring after ring of spirit power manifested at his feet. With each step, a new spirit ring appeared, each one like a hammer to the heart.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red, red, red.
Three blood-red one-hundred-thousand-year rings, so vivid they seemed to drain the color from the world around them.
The immense power radiating from Dai Yao pinned Zhan Wushuang in place. Despite his rank as a Soul Douluo, he found himself utterly paralyzed. His eyes widened as he stared at Dai Yao in disbelief, his mouth struggling to form words, whispering, "Impossible… impossible…"
He only managed to find his voice again when Dai Yao's hand clamped around his throat. He reached up, desperate to pry Dai Yao's grip loose, but his hands found Dai Yao's arm as unyielding as iron. For all his strength, he was as feeble as a child. He wanted to beg for mercy, but Dai Yao's grip made it impossible to speak.
With Zhan Wushuang in tow, Dai Yao strode toward the hall doors. Dujuan quickly moved to open them for him.
Outside the hall, members of Zhan Wushuang's clan froze, stunned to see their leader so easily subdued. When they spotted the spirit rings orbiting Dai Yao, whatever defiant words they had died in their throats.
Holding Zhan Wushuang high, Dai Yao spoke to the assembled onlookers, his voice carrying a chilling authority, "As of today, the Zhan Clan is expelled from the Qinglian Sect. You all have three days to leave. Fail to do so, and you will face the same fate as him."
With a surge of spirit power, Dai Yao rendered Zhan Wushuang powerless, stripping away his spirit abilities and leaving him broken. His fierce gaze swept over the remaining clans, who shrank back, unable to meet his eyes.
"To the He Clan and Yu Ding Sect, starting now, you will comply with sect orders and integrate into the Four Divisions. Anyone unwilling to follow orders has three days to leave. Anyone who remains but resists our rules will be dealt with like this."
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