Above the Azure Cloud Sect, the atmosphere was as heavy as the dead silence before a storm. True Lord Lieyang’s Nascent Soul pressure was like physical flames, searing the protective formation light barrier of the Azure Cloud Sect and making a sizzling sound. Several Golden Core Elders from the Chiyang Sect hovered behind him, brimming with Killing Intent.

Sect Master Yun Qingyang’s expression was cold and stern, refusing to yield an inch. Behind him, the various Elders of the Azure Cloud Sect also released their Auras one after another, confronting the opposition. Core Disciples such as Liang Ling and Lin Wan looked up nervously from below, their palms drenched in sweat.

However, beneath this appearance of presenting a united front to the outside world, undercurrents were surging within the Azure Cloud Sect.

"Sect Master!" An old and majestic voice rang out. The speaker was the Sect’s Grand Elder, Immortal Master Xuangu. His hair and beard were completely white, his expression was stiff, and his cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of Golden Core Stage. He was extremely senior and held high prestige within the Sect. "Is it too reckless to go to full-scale war with the Chiyang Sect, potentially even causing turmoil in the West Province, for the sake of a single Foundation Establishment Disciple? Is it worth it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, several of the more conservative Elders also nodded slightly, their faces showing concern.

Grand Elder Xuangu continued, "This boy Fang Hao certainly has startling talent, but his ability to cause trouble is equally significant. First, he showed too much brilliance in the Five Sect Martial Competition, attracting the covetous eyes of various Sects; now he has caused such a catastrophic disaster, leading to the fall of two Golden Core Elders and bringing a Nascent Soul here to demand accountability! If we continue to protect him at all costs, our Azure Cloud Sect’s thousand-year foundation may be destroyed!"

"The Grand Elder’s words are incorrect!" an Elder from the Punishment Hall who supported Fang Hao countered. "Fang Hao is a Genius of our Sect, and he displayed our Sect’s prestige at the Five Sect Martial Competition! Regarding the ruins incident, it was clearly the Chiyang Sect Elders who bullied the weak and committed murder to seize treasure first. Fang Hao only fought back to protect himself; what wrong did he do? If we hand over a Disciple because of this, where will the Sect’s dignity be? Who will dare to serve the Sect in the future?"

"Humph, a Genius? If it’s a fallen Genius, then they are nothing!" Grand Elder Xuangu said coldly. "The survival of the Sect is of paramount importance! Sacrificing one Disciple to preserve the entire Sect is the bigger picture! Moreover, True Lord Lieyang is only demanding that Fang Hao be handed over for investigation, not directly convicting him!"

"Investigation? Under a Soul Search, what secrets would remain? How is that any different from destroying him?" another Elder from the Alchemy Hall who supported Fang Hao said angrily.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate, and the Sect’s high-level leadership was faintly divided into two factions. One faction, led by Grand Elder Xuangu, advocated for compromise, handing over Fang Hao (or at least letting him undergo investigation) to settle the matter and preserve the Sect. The other faction resolutely insisted on protecting Fang Hao, believing this matter concerned the Sect’s dignity and future, and that they must never yield.

Sect Master Yun Qingyang’s brows were tightly knit, a conflict raging in his heart. He admired Fang Hao and valued his potential, and even more so, he did not want to discourage the hearts of the Disciples. But Grand Elder Xuangu’s words were not without merit; once a war broke out, the Azure Cloud Sect could indeed suffer heavy losses or even never recover. This decision was as heavy as a thousand pounds!

Just as the stalemate persisted and internal divisions intensified, a peaceful yet supremely majestic voice seemed to come from above the Nine Heavens, echoing in the depths of the mind of every high-level member of the Azure Cloud Sect:

"Enough."

Just two words, yet they caused all the arguing to cease instantly. Everyone’s expressions turned solemn as they showed looks of respect.

"We respectfully welcome the Grand Elder!" Yun Qingyang, Xuangu, and the others bowed in unison.

A blurry green light shadow appeared silently above the hall. His specific features could not be seen, but the Aura he radiated was as deep as the ocean, far surpassing the Early Nascent Soul Stage Sect Master! This was the pillar of the Azure Cloud Sect, the Grand Elder who had been in secluded meditation for years—True Monarch Qingxuan! A great Cultivator of the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

"I already know the reasons for this matter," True Monarch Qingxuan’s voice was as calm as still water. "Fellow Daoist Lieyang, please remain calm."

In the sky, True Lord Lieyang felt True Monarch Qingxuan’s Aura, and his expression changed slightly as his Aura retracted a bit. He said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Qingxuan, what do you intend to do about this?"

True Monarch Qingxuan did not answer True Lord Lieyang directly. Instead, he transmitted a Divine Thought into the hearts of the arguing crowd below, as well as into the heart of Fang Hao, who was currently in his Immortal Cave healing from his injuries but had been startled by the earth-shaking commotion outside.

...

Inside the Immortal Cave, Fang Hao forcibly suppressed his injuries. His Divine Sense perceived the suffocating Nascent Soul pressure outside and the faint arguments within the Sect, and he understood the situation in his heart. He gave a bitter smile, walked to the scripture shelf in the inner room of the Immortal Cave, and pulled out a Jade Slip titled "Cangxuan Gazetteer." This was something he had previously exchanged for from the Scripture Pavilion to broaden his horizons.

As his Divine Sense sank into the Jade Slip, a vast and magnificent landscape unfolded in his mind:

The land he was on was called the Cangxuan Continent, stretching vast and wide for hundreds of millions of miles. In the west of the continent, there was a massive Empire—the Mingling Empire, which ruled over all directions. The Empire was divided into Nine Provinces, each province having several prefectures, each prefecture governing several counties, and under each county were many cities. The West Province, where Sects like the Azure Cloud Sect and Chiyang Sect were located, was just one of the nine provinces of the Mingling Empire! Under the West Province, there were four prefectures, sixteen counties, and over two hundred cities! And the entire Mingling Empire had a total of thirty-six prefectures, two hundred and eight counties, and over three thousand four hundred cities!

Such a massive Empire actually... only occupied a corner of the western part of the Cangxuan Continent! To the east of the continent was the vast Eastern Domain, to the south was the endless Great Desolation, to the north was the Extreme Ice Snowfield, and in the center was the legendary Central Divine Domain! Sects were numerous, imperial dynasties rose together, and experts were as common as clouds. Nascent Soul was not the Peak; above it were Soul Transformation, Void Refining, Body Integration... and even Undergoing Tribulation and Ascension!

Compared to this vast world, the West Province was merely a tiny, remote corner, and the Azure Cloud Sect was as small as a speck of dust. His current cultivation and these grievances seemed so laughable and insignificant against the backdrop of the Cangxuan Continent!

An indescribable sense of insignificance and... an unprecedented sense of vastness simultaneously surged into Fang Hao’s heart.

Just then, Grand Elder True Monarch Qingxuan’s Divine Thought entered his mind: "Fang Hao, I already know of your matter. You have extraordinary talent and carry great Opportunity, but you also carry great Karma. Staying in the Sect is not a fortunate thing for you or the Sect. The Sect lacks the power to protect you fully; staying by force will only bring about a catastrophe. The West Province is no longer a place for you to stay for long."

Fang Hao fell silent. He understood the Grand Elder’s meaning. The internal divisions within the Sect and the external pressure both pointed to a helpless reality—the small temple of the Azure Cloud Sect could no longer accommodate a potential great Buddha like him. Staying by force would only drag down the Sect.

"This Disciple... understands," Fang Hao responded in his heart, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness, but more of it was relief and determination. His ambition was always the Peak of the immortal path; how could he remain trapped in one corner? The stage of the West Province was indeed too small for him.

"Very good," True Monarch Qingxuan’s Divine Thought carried a hint of approval. "I will send you away from the West Province to a wider world. Where can accommodate you and where can help you grow will depend on your own destiny. If you can reach the summit in the future, just do not forget the Sect’s bond of incense and fire."

"This Disciple will never forget the Sect’s kindness in nurturing me!" Fang Hao promised solemnly.

A moment later, above the Azure Cloud Sect, True Monarch Qingxuan’s figure solidified a bit as he said indifferently to True Lord Lieyang, "Fellow Daoist Lieyang, I have investigated this matter clearly. The death of your Sect’s Elders may be connected to Fang Hao, but it was not his original intention, and it was your Sect’s Elders who attempted to seize treasure first. However, since this boy has caused such trouble, he is no longer fit to be a Disciple of my Azure Cloud Sect."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Sect Master, Liang Ling, and the others changed, while Grand Elder Xuangu and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

True Monarch Qingxuan continued, "As of today, Fang Hao has been personally expelled from the Sect by me, never to return! At this moment, he has been sent out of the West Province by me, and his whereabouts are unknown. If Fellow Daoist Lieyang wishes to find him, please do as you please, but he no longer has any connection with the Azure Cloud Sect! This matter ends here! If Fellow Daoist insists on war, my Azure Cloud Sect... will accompany you to the end!"

As his voice fell, a majestic Late Nascent Soul Stage pressure swept out. Though peaceful, it carried an unquestionable will, instantly overwhelming True Lord Lieyang’s Aura!

True Lord Lieyang’s expression shifted repeatedly. Fang Hao had been expelled from the Sect and sent out of the West Province? Although this result didn’t reach the most ideal state, at least the Azure Cloud Sect had made a concession, provided an explanation, and preserved the Chiyang Sect’s face. Was it really worth fighting to the death with the Azure Cloud Sect, which was guarded by a Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, for the sake of a junior who might have already gone far away? The price was too high, and the gains would not make up for the losses.

He stared intently at True Monarch Qingxuan for a long while before finally cold-snorting, "Fine! Fellow Daoist Qingxuan, my Chiyang Sect will remember this! If we discover that your Azure Cloud Sect is shielding him in the future, do not blame this seat for being heartless!"

With that, True Lord Lieyang flicked his sleeves and led the Chiyang Sect members away, turning into several streaks of light and departing indignantly.

The crisis seemed to be temporarily resolved.

Within the Azure Cloud Sect, everyone’s mood was complex. Sect Master sighed inwardly, knowing this was the best possible outcome for now. Liang Ling, Lin Wan, and the others looked toward the direction of Fang Hao’s Immortal Cave, their eyes full of reluctance and worry.

At this moment, Fang Hao had already left the Azure Cloud Sect and the West Province through the teleportation array quietly set up by the Grand Elder. He stood on a completely unfamiliar wasteland, looking back toward the West Province and bowing deeply.

The road ahead was vast and uncertain, but the sea was wide and the sky was high.