After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 106

The news of Situ Kuang’s severe injuries and his Golden Core being on the verge of shattering was like pouring a ladle of cold water onto an already boiling oil pot, sending the shockwave among the high echelons of the Xuanyun Sect to its absolute peak.

The atmosphere in the Lingxiao Hall became extremely bizarre. The voices that had just been righteously indignant, demanding the severe punishment of Situ Kuang, instantly subsided, replaced by a complex silence. Everyone exchanged uneasy, surprised glances.

Situ Kuang was back, but in a state that was nearly crippling. What did this imply? Was it a calculated act of deception? Was it internal strife or an assassination attempt within the Shadow Demon forces? Or… did he truly suffer an unimaginable backlash after his failed sneak attack?

The faces of Elder Lieyang Zhenren and the other elders of the Battle Frenzy Peak were exceedingly grim, as if they had just lost a parent. Situ Kuang was the pillar of Battle Frenzy Peak, their backing. Now, this backing had not only become a sect criminal but also an unconscious cripple, instantly stripping them of their greatest reliance and confidence. Their previous arrogance vanished, leaving only panic and unease.

Sovereign Xuan Chengzi sat at the main seat, his face calm as still water, revealing no sign of emotion. His fingertip gently tapped the armrest of his chair, making a rhythmic tap-tap sound, each beat seemingly landing on the hearts of the Battle Frenzy Peak members.

After a long silence, Xuan Chengzi finally spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying an unyielding resolution: “Situ Kuang’s collusion with the Shadow Demons is confirmed by solid evidence. Regardless of his current state, he remains a rebel of my Xuanyun Sect, a crime that is unforgivable!”

The verdict was cast! This declaration completely extinguished any shred of hope for the Battle Frenzy Peak faction.

“However,” Xuan Chengzi’s tone shifted, his gaze sweeping over Lieyang Zhenren and the others, “Considering his years of service to the sect, and his current critical condition and mortal danger, the punishment of soul extraction and refinement is temporarily suspended. His Peak Lord position is 废 (revoked), his cultivation is stripped (should he ever awaken), and he shall be cast into the Nether Cold Cave for eternal imprisonment!”

The Nether Cold Cave! That was where the Xuanyun Sect imprisoned its most vicious traitors—a place of perpetual frigidity and spiritual energy depletion, where entry meant a life worse than death! This sentence was undeniably severe!

“As for the Battle Frenzy Peak…” Xuan Chengzi’s gaze turned sharp, “The Peak Lord was immoral and colluded with external enemies. How can the rest of the peak be innocent? Lieyang, as the Deputy Peak Lord, your inadequate supervision makes you inescapably responsible! Effective immediately, you are removed from the position of Deputy Peak Lord and ordered to seclude yourself in meditation for a hundred years! All affairs of the Battle Frenzy Peak shall be temporarily managed by the Disciplinary Hall!”

“Sovereign! I…” Lieyang Zhenren’s face drastically changed; he wanted to argue.

“Hmm?” Xuan Chengzi merely glanced at him indifferently. An invisible pressure instantly enveloped Lieyang Zhenren, choking all words in his throat. His face turned pale as he lowered his head. He knew this was already a mercifully light sentence from the Sovereign, given their past relationship. To argue further would likely lead to a worse outcome.

“Within Battle Frenzy Peak, the Disciplinary Hall must thoroughly investigate all who colluded with Situ Kuang and participated in this conspiracy. Once verified, they shall be severely punished according to the sect rules, without exception! The remaining disciples must be re-examined, and any found with dissenting intentions shall be purged!” Xuan Chengzi’s voice was cold as he issued the order for the cleansing.

This was clearly an opportunity to thoroughly rectify the Battle Frenzy Peak—a rotten tree within the sect! The other Peak Lords and Elders in the main hall bowed in acknowledgement; no one dared to raise an objection. The Sovereign, having endured for years, was finally making a move to eliminate the internal tumor within the sect, seizing the opportunity of Situ Kuang’s self-destruction!

“Junior Martial Brother Mu Yun,” Xuan Chengzi looked at Reclusive Cultivator Mu Yun, his tone softening considerably, “Your actions and those of the Cloud Pill Peak disciples in turning the tide and exposing the traitor are a great merit. Saintess Qin of the Jade Water Pavilion was gravely injured saving our sect’s disciples; our sect shall remember this favor. The follow-up negotiations with the Jade Water Pavilion, as well as the compensation and reward matters, are entirely your responsibility. Ensure the Jade Water Pavilion is satisfied and that our sect’s disciples are convinced.”

“I respectfully obey the Sovereign’s decree,” Reclusive Cultivator Mu Yun bowed in response. He understood that this was the Sovereign’s trust in him and the Cloud Pill Peak, and also the handing over of a considerable amount of authority.

“Ye Li,” Xuan Chengzi’s gaze finally landed on Ye Li, who had been silently standing by, his eyes filled with undisguised appreciation and scrutiny, “Your performance this time can be described as astonishingly brilliant, elevating the prestige of my Xuanyun Sect in the Northern Region! You were calm in the face of danger, valued relationships deeply, and even more commendably, you managed to wound a Yuan Core realm Shadow Demon. You are truly a pillar of our sect’s future!”

“The Sovereign overpraises me. I am deeply humbled. It is all due to my master’s guidance and the collective effort of my fellow disciples; I merely did my duty,” Ye Li stepped forward, bowing respectfully and calmly in response, her tone measured.

Xuan Chengzi nodded in satisfaction. This girl had extraordinary talent and a surprisingly steady temperament, neither arrogant nor impatient—truly rare. He pondered for a moment, then said: “Your merits will be heavily rewarded by the sect. However, I have heard that you seemed to have had other gains at the Ice Soul Mystic Palace ruins?”

It finally comes. Ye Li realized that the sect could not possibly remain ignorant of the opportunities she had obtained. She had prepared for this.

“Reporting to the Sovereign, I did indeed have some small gains,” Ye Li admitted frankly, then took out a few items from her Storage Ring. These were not the most crucial items—the fragment of the Reincarnation Mirror and the bone slip of the Ice Emperor’s Heaven Sealing Art—but equally valuable treasures that were not indispensable to her current situation:

A Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul Snow Lotus, sealed in profound ice, a key ingredient for refining ancient spirit elixirs that boost cultivation and heal Dao injuries;

Three fist-sized pieces of Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow, containing pure, extreme cold energy, a supreme material for refining Ice elemental magic weapons or constructing high-level Spirit Gathering Arrays;

And a jade slip (which she had already backed up) obtained from a side palace, recording several lost ancient Ice elemental Divine Abilities.

“I was fortunate to find these items in a side palace of the ruins. I deeply understand the difficulty of the sect’s cultivation efforts, and these treasures are of greater use for the sect’s development. I am willing to offer these three items to the sect to repay the sect’s nurturing grace!” Ye Li’s voice was clear, and her attitude sincere.

Seeing the three treasures Ye Li presented, especially the Ten Thousand Year Ice Soul Snow Lotus and the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow, even the knowledgeable Xuan Chengzi and the Peak Lords and Elders showed a flash of heat in their eyes! These things were treasures for individuals, but for the sect, they were strategic resources that could enhance overall strength!

Ye Li’s move was extremely shrewd. It not only demonstrated her loyalty to the sect, silencing those who might have become jealous, but also used these “sugar-coated bullets” to exchange for tangible benefits and greater room for growth.

Xuan Chengzi’s face broke into a genuine smile: “Good! Good! Truly a fine disciple of my Xuanyun Sect! Deeply righteous and mindful of the greater good! I shall accept your kind gesture on behalf of the sect!”

After a brief contemplation, he announced Ye Li’s rewards:

1. 1. Access to the fifth floor of the Scripture Library is granted. This floor holds the sect’s most profound cultivation methods and Divine Ability classics, available for Ye Li’s unrestricted reference (for a period of three years);

1. 1. A reward of one hundred thousand high-grade Spirit Stones and five hundred thousand Contribution Points, with priority to exchange for any needed resources from the sect’s treasury;

1. 1. Ye Li is promoted to Core True Disciple of the sect, with status and privileges equivalent to the Chief True Disciples of the various peaks;

1. 1. Ye Li is specially permitted to choose a superior spiritual meridian node location within Cloud Pill Peak to establish an independent cave dwelling, with the sect funding the construction of a top-tier defensive array.

Each of these rewards was incredibly generous! Especially the access to the fifth floor of the Scripture Library and the status of Core True Disciple, which meant Ye Li had truly entered the innermost circle of the Xuanyun Sect, gaining unprecedented freedom and resource allocation!

“Disciple expresses profound gratitude for the Sovereign’s generous rewards!” Ye Li bowed deeply. This was exactly the result she wanted. Greater authority meant she could access more sect secrets, making it easier to investigate the disappearance of her parents and the Shadow Demon matter; more resources meant faster growth for her and the Gloom Pavilion.

The council meeting in the main hall lasted a full day, ultimately finalizing the punitive measures for Situ Kuang and the Battle Frenzy Peak, as well as the detailed reward schemes for those who contributed to the incident.

As Ye Li followed Reclusive Cultivator Mu Yun out of the Lingxiao Hall, the setting sun’s afterglow illuminated her. She slightly squinted her eyes, sensing the lingering weakness in her body, which hadn’t fully recovered, and the warm touch of the jade token in her hand, which symbolized her Core True Disciple status.

The storm had temporarily subsided, but the undercurrents remained strong. With Situ Kuang’s downfall and the cleansing of the Battle Frenzy Peak’s influence, the internal power structure of the sect faced a reshuffle. And this, for the quietly developing “Gloom Pavilion,” was undoubtedly a golden opportunity.

Upon returning to Cloud Pill Peak, Ye Li immediately summoned Lin Feng. Lin Feng, through his recent experiences and the resources provided by Ye Li, had now broken through to the late stage of the Meridian Condensation Realm, his demeanor more composed and capable.

“Battle Frenzy Peak is about to undergo a significant upheaval,” Ye Li instructed directly. “Inevitably, a large number of disciples will be unsettled, or even implicated and ostracized. Covertly approach those disciples who have decent aptitude, good temperament, and are dissatisfied with Situ Kuang’s actions. After careful assessment, you may selectively recruit them into the Gloom Pavilion. Remember, it’s better to have too few than too many. The primary assessment must be on their temperament and loyalty.”

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng’s eyes; he immediately grasped Ye Li’s intention. This was the perfect time to expand and absorb fresh blood! “Subordinate understands! I will proceed with caution and ensure I cause no trouble for the Pavilion Lord!”

“Furthermore,” Ye Li produced a Storage Pouch, “This contains some Spirit Stones and resources for the Gloom Pavilion’s future development and the recruitment of new members. Focus on quickly raising the strength of the core members. I have a premonition that a greater storm is yet to come.”

“Yes!” Lin Feng took the Storage Pouch. Feeling its weight, he was both excited and deeply admired Ye Li’s foresight.

Watching Lin Feng depart after receiving his orders, Ye Li walked to the window, gazing at the distant, cloud-shrouded mountains. Cleansing and absorption, public reward and secret pawn—she was, step by step, weaving her own network and accumulating the power for revenge and protection within this massive sect.

Her gaze finally turned towards the Guest Peak, where the envoys of the Jade Water Pavilion resided. Qin Yixuan’s injury remained the heaviest concern in her heart. How would this emotion, which had blossomed amidst life and death, quietly grow in this tumultuous situation?