"The Demon Palace has come with gifts to congratulate Song Zūnzhě!"
"May Song Zūnzhě rise straight into the heavens and share longevity with Heaven and Earth!"
Baili Shang's voice echoed across the land, reaching every single ear in the audience.
Seeing Baili Shang's grand display, Song Wanníng's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Baili Zūnzhě, you're far too polite. Please, come sit at the main table."
She returned his courtesy, her voice smooth and calm, but the two exchanged a subtle glance that spoke volumes.
Liu Xingzhi caught the look between them and instantly understood. The two clearly shared a close bond. He gave Baili Shang a polite nod in greeting.
Baili Shang responded in kind, then turned his attention fully to Song Wanníng.
The two spoke quietly, discussing the Demon Clan's affairs over the past year. Since Song Wanníng's departure, the Demon Clan had been tirelessly hunting down monsters. Eventually, they uncovered multiple monster lairs within their own territory.
That discovery shocked the Demon King himself. Who would've thought so many hidden dangers had been festering right under their noses?
What made it worse was how fast those monsters could breed. A single nest could spawn dozens of offspring, their numbers terrifyingly high. Even now, the Demon Clan couldn't claim with absolute certainty that they'd wiped them all out.
As Baili Shang finished his report, Song Wanníng's expression grew a little more serious. Still, she'd done all she could. It wasn't realistic for her to pour all her energy into exterminating monsters forever.
Right now, she had to focus on repairing the world itself and overseeing Gong Ye's matters.
They chatted for a bit longer before the promotion ceremony officially began.
Luo Hantian, who presided over the event, warmly thanked everyone for coming. Following the formalities, he announced the peaks chosen by Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi and declared them the new Grand Elders of the Guhan Sect.
From that moment on, they'd take part in the sect's major decisions, becoming its true power holders.
It was the reward they deserved for all they'd done.
As his words fell, thunderous applause filled the hall. Smiles spread across every face, at least on the surface.
No matter what anyone truly thought, everyone put on a show of joy.
Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi kept composed throughout, reacting just enough when appropriate, and soon the ceremony was done.
Next came the banquet. Tables overflowed with fine dishes and rare wine, the atmosphere bright and lively.
Song Wanníng and Liu Xingzhi shared a table with several senior Unity-stage cultivators, chatting happily as laughter filled the air.
But just as the celebration reached its peak, trouble stirred. Someone had gotten drunk and started shouting, bringing up the death of Song Jue.
Song Jue's sudden fall had shocked many. Yet when they learned the Guhan Sect had slaughtered countless monsters afterward, most people figured there had to be more to the story.
Still, someone dared to question it aloud.
No, they didn't just question it. They tried to expose it.
"Song Jue was the one secretly breeding monsters, wasn't he? How'd he suddenly become a hero who died fighting them?"
The speaker was an old man wearing a long white-washed robe. His hair was graying, and though he looked no older than three hundred, his cultivation had long stagnated at the Out-of-Body stage.
Someone recognized him immediately.
"That's Li Yuan, the loose cultivator!"
"Li Yuan, what the hell are you shouting about?"
"Yeah, this is the Guhan Sect's big day. You trying to get yourself killed?"
People tugged at his sleeves, trying to quiet him down. But Li Yuan didn't care. He raised his voice even louder, pointing straight at Song Wanníng's table.
Song Wanníng's face darkened. She was about to speak when several others suddenly stood up.
"Yeah, the Guhan Sect owes everyone an explanation! We've all heard what Song Jue did!"
"Was your sect involved too?"
Their tone was too coordinated to be spontaneous. It was clear they'd planned this in advance, working together to corner the Guhan Sect.
The once-lively hall fell into dead silence. The cheerful atmosphere shattered in an instant, and everyone turned to watch the show.
Luo Hantian's heart sank. He rose to his feet immediately.
"Everyone, where did you even hear such nonsense? Isn't this the wrong place to be spreading rumors?
Do you have any idea how much the Guhan Sect sacrificed to eliminate those monsters, how much Song Zūnzhě and Liu Zūnzhě gave up?"
A cold, killing aura seeped from him as his gaze swept over the troublemakers.
Most were people from sects that had long been at odds with the Guhan Sect, though two appeared to be loose cultivators.
Before any of them could reply, a new voice rang out from above.
"Sect Master Luo, news about Song Jue has already spread far and wide. The Guhan Sect had better give everyone an explanation."
A group of people descended from the sky. They wore the emblem of the Wushang Sect from the Eastern Region.
The Wushang Sect rarely showed themselves in public. They were known for studying constellations and divination, not for meddling in political affairs.
"The Wushang Sect? What're they doing here?"
"Could it be they calculated something?"
"Wait, don't tell me Song Jue really was the one raising monsters…"
The crowd's mood shifted. Even the sect masters close to the Guhan Sect exchanged uneasy glances.
Luo Hantian's pulse quickened. Why were the Wushang Sect people sticking their noses into this?
At the main table, Song Wanníng's eyes turned icy cold. Someone was clearly trying to bring the Guhan Sect down. This wasn't a coincidence. It was premeditated. But how had such a tightly kept secret been exposed?
Her mind immediately went to Li Qingya.
"Heh."
A soft, mocking laugh slipped from Song Wanníng's lips. If she'd only had suspicions before, now she was absolutely certain—Li Qingya was the leak.
As Song Jue's first disciple, she'd probably been helping him raise those monsters in secret. Now that she couldn't return to the sect, she wanted to destroy it instead.
What a vicious woman.
Luo Hantian clearly had the same thought. His expression darkened.
"Heh, fellow Daoyou from Wushang Sect, you're welcome to join us in celebration. But if your sect intends to throw dirt at the Guhan Sect, don't blame me for losing my temper!
Today's a joyous occasion for our sect. You're really here just to stir up trouble?
That's too much!"
His eyes narrowed, cold light flashing from within as his aura grew sharp and heavy.
"I don't know where you heard these rumors, but if you sit down now and offer congratulations, I'll overlook your offense."
His meaning was clear—the Guhan Sect would never admit to anything.
Song Jue had to remain a hero.
"Heh heh heh…"
The Wushang Sect Master laughed mockingly. His lips curled in disdain as he said, "Then does your sect dare to show everyone the image of Song Jue's final moments? Let's see who really killed him."
Every powerful cultivator left behind a Soul Lamp that recorded the last moments of their life. Viewing it was a common way to confirm the truth of one's death—and sometimes, to expose a murderer.