The two quarreling old men completely ignored everyone else, their argument escalating into a shouting match that was quickly devolving into a public squabble.

Of the three white-haired elders to the right, the one closest to Dang Jun’an—an old man with a youthful face despite his crane-white hair—opened his eyes with a hint of impatience and glanced at him.

A chill ran down the neck of Dang Jun’an, who had been watching the spectacle with great interest. He instantly snapped out of it and turned his head.

He paused for a moment upon seeing the elder’s expression.

"Ahem... ahem ahem...

Alright, Junior Brother Yang, Junior Brother Fanx. We still have many important matters to discuss today.

As for the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, let’s proceed as agreed."

The two quarreling elders stopped short. For a fleeting moment, an unprecedented understanding flashed in their aged eyes. They turned their heads in unison and spoke almost as one:

"What? Does the Sect Leader feel the Dharma Transmission Hall hasn’t profited enough over the years? Are you planning to take a cut...?"

They trailed off before finishing their sentence.

The reason was simple: when they turned to look at Dang Jun’an, they realized the man hadn’t even been speaking to them.

He’d been looking at Yuee Mengsheng to his right the whole time and, even now, hadn’t turned back to face them.

Yuee Mengsheng’s brow twitched at the sight. He shifted his gaze from Dang Jun’an to the two elders and said coolly,

"I believe since this matter is already settled, there shouldn’t be anything left to discuss.

Or did the two of you have other opinions you neglected to voice before?"

Fanx Qingyong and Yang Longying both broke into smiles—one looking as simple and honest as an old farmer, the other as warm and affable as a rich country squire.

"Senior Brother Yuee is right. We were the ones getting carried away."

After receiving their response, Dang Jun’an seemed to react a beat too late, finally turning his head away from Yuee Mengsheng.

Looking down at the juniors, he announced, "Since there are no further objections, the matter of the Cyan Wood Secret Realm is hereby settled!

The Resources Department will take the lead, with the Miscellaneous Affairs Department providing support, as before. You may go and begin preparations!"

Upon hearing this, the juniors below bowed in unison. "As the Sect Leader commands!"

However, Yang Sinan, the day-to-day supervisor of the Resources Department who should have been pleased, hesitated. He glanced at his ancestor, Yang Longying, before finally speaking up.

"Sect Leader, the other affairs of the Secret Realm are manageable. However, I am unsure how to proceed regarding the promise that was made to the Flower Demon Elf.

Their kind values promises above all else. I fear that if we act forcefully, the consequences will be..."

At his words, all seven figures in the high seats turned to look at Yuee Mengsheng. Sect Leader Dang Jun’an also glanced at him before speaking.

"We will decide this matter ourselves. Put the issue of the Flower Demon Elf on hold for now. Go and begin arranging everything else.

Though the ball of mutated Karma has fled, the Secret Realm should now be cleansed. With the Earth Spirit sealed in slumber, the realm requires significant manpower to actively manage and restore order.

This is by no means a simple or pleasant assignment. Remember to apply yourselves diligently.

We already have Fire Separation and Wu Earth. If we can now handle Cyan Wood and cleanse Geng Metal, then, if all else fails, we can ask a sect uncle to track down Turtle Water, even if it’s thousands of miles away.

The Five Elements Secret Realm represents an opportunity our Sect has awaited for millennia. You must not fail."

The juniors below responded in unison once more, "As the Sect Leader commands!"

"Very well. You are dismissed," Dang Jun’an said.

With that, many of those who had participated in the council meeting departed from the great hall.

After the others had withdrawn, Dang Jun’an surveyed the handful of people remaining in the hall. He glanced from side to side before speaking: 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I’m sure you all know that I didn’t gather you here today just to discuss the Secret Realm."

As Dang Jun’an spoke, all eyes turned once more to the silent Yuee Mengsheng.

Dang Jun’an paused, then continued, "Aside from the Secret Realm, there are two primary items on our agenda.

The first concerns the individual with the Outer Body Incarnation, who was revealed because of the Secret Realm. According to reports from the disciples, this person’s Outer Body Incarnation possesses a Celestial Realm Cultivation.

In the Hongmeng Realm today, Incarnation Techniques are quite uncommon. The ability to create an incarnation on the spot that retains the same level of cultivation is rarer still.

To plant a Dao Mark in a favored junior, allowing for the remote creation of an incarnation with eighty or ninety percent of one’s original cultivation... only a handful of individuals are capable of such a feat.

This person’s Dao Mark Incarnation is at the Peak of the Celestial Realm. I don’t need to spell out what that implies, do I?

The disciples suspect we’re dealing with a monster who’s been around for ten thousand years!"

When Dang Jun’an finished, he looked at the silent assembly. With a casual wave of his hand, a massive Light Screen materialized in the center of the hall.

The Light Screen displayed a detailed file on Zhang Deming, containing not only his official records but even internal information from various departments.

After displaying the Light Screen, Dang Jun’an continued, "As for the disciple implicated in this, he was brought into the sect by Senior Brother Yuee. So, I’ll let you explain, Senior Brother Yuee."

A rare, complex expression flickered across Yuee Mengsheng’s face. He gazed at the detailed file in the hall and began to speak.

"Back then, I had a sudden premonition. After a long period of quiet cultivation, I felt compelled to act, so I accompanied the Sect’s recruitment team on a trip to Huazhou.

In a remote mountain village, I met two eight-year-old children. Their Spirit Wisdom was so bright it almost blinded me.

I immediately performed a detailed examination on them. Unsurprisingly, one possessed an Immortal Spirit Root, the likes of which are seen only once in ten thousand years.

Although she was only just at the level of an Immortal Spirit Root, her Spirit Wisdom had already awakened on its own at only eight years old. She clearly had the potential for Spirit Nurturing.

So, I concealed her talent. As you all know, the child lived up to expectations and has done well.

As for the other one..."

Yuee Mengsheng paused and switched the file to Zhang Deming’s profile. A full holographic Mirror Image of Zhang Deming appeared before them.

He said, "This is the boy. At the time, I ran numerous tests. All of them indicated he had only twenty-one Spirit Root points, and nothing more.

I was puzzled at the time, certain I must have missed something. So, I used the other child’s fussing as a pretext to bring him back with us.

That’s also why I’ve indulged that girl, Ling’er, all these years whenever she caused a ruckus in the assessment department.

In some cases, I even fanned the flames myself just to see what would happen.

As long as things didn’t go too far, I would turn a blind eye.

For ten years, nothing came of it.

If his Spirit Wisdom hadn’t awakened on its own, then how could a boy of eight with only twenty-one Spirit Root points possess such remarkable Spirit Wisdom?

At the time, I just couldn’t make sense of it!

But a few days ago, while tidying my Cave Mansion, I came across some of Ling’er’s belongings and slowly began to realize something was amiss.

Combined with the events of these past few days, I finally understood the reason for his unusual Spirit Wisdom.

I had overlooked one possibility. An eight-year-old’s intelligence isn’t necessarily precociousness. It could also be Innate Wisdom."

As Yuee Mengsheng finished speaking, the color drained from everyone’s faces.

The two white-haired elders seated beside him opened their eyes for the first time. One of them, Gan Zili, frowned and cut in,

"Innate Wisdom? You mean a Six Paths Reincarnation with full consciousness intact? What level of power was required to perform such a skill?"

...