"The Ancient Demon Sovereign—the one sealed in the Five Elements Land—has personally acted! No wonder Taihuangtian hesitated. No wonder Taiyi Sect hasn't stormed our gates yet."
Another Longevity-realm titan clicked his tongue, thinking through the implications. "That Demon Sovereign clearly has a plan. First he taught Meng Shaobai the Parasite Demon Womb. Now he's using Fang Han as a chess piece. This is all part of a larger scheme."
Aside from Feng Baiyu, three Longevity-realm giants sat in this meeting: Elder Tianxing, Jiang Rourou, and the man who had just spoken.
That man wore a gray long robe and idly rolled a black jade ruyi scepter between his fingers. His expression was cold, and when Fang Han's name came up, displeasure flickered in his eyes.
"This Fang Han invites far too much trouble," he said bluntly. "He has offended so many people. And who knows what sort of secrets the Ancient Demon Sovereign planted on him? I suggest we remove him from the sect. If disaster erupts later, Yuhuamen won't be able to bear the consequences."
Elder Tianxing's gaze sharpened.
"Ruyi Zi, how can you speak this way? Fang Han's cultivation foundation is unprecedented. When he forged his Natal Talisman, heaven and earth responded with the Conch-Blowing and Drum-Striking visions—omens not seen in ten thousand years! His roots are deeper than Hua Tiandu's. You'd throw away such a disciple? Has your mind gone soft?"
The man—Ruyi Zi—was an elder firmly aligned with Hua Tiandu. Long ago, he had forged Hua Tiandu's prized Yang-charged treasure, the Heaven Rooster Pure Yang Cord, and gifted it to him. Naturally, the moment Fang Han emerged as a threat to Hua Tiandu's future fight for the sect master seat, Ruyi Zi's vigilance skyrocketed.
If driving Fang Han out also happened to appease Taiyi Sect—perfect.
Ruyi Zi's tone turned colder.
"Tianxing, think clearly. Hua Tiandu is currently cultivating in Taiyi Sect, relying on their Celestial Artifact to break into the Longevity Realm. After what happened, do you think Taiyi Sect will treat him kindly if we keep Fang Han?"
He tapped the ruyi scepter on the table.
"Which is more important—a junior at the sixth layer of Divine Ability, or a future Longevity-realm giant? Hua Tiandu's foundation is terrifyingly solid. His Panwu Titan Divine Ability is nearing its limit. Once he breaks through, he may directly comprehend the Undying Body, surpassing all of us. No comparison."
He snorted.
"And yes, Fang Han's foundation is strong—but reaching the Longevity Realm requires luck, destiny, chance, miracles. Who can say if he'll ever touch it? Keeping him now only harms Hua Tiandu. Why polish a new bronze bell when the old one—already half forged into gold—is about to be completed?"
Transmission Elder frowned deeply.
"I don't support expelling Fang Han. Taiyi Sect hasn't pressured us yet. And we have no justification. Everyone at the Sword Sect arena saw it—Taiyi Sect broke the rules, ganged up on him, and forced his hand. If we expel Fang Han after that? The entire Daoist world will laugh at Yuhuamen's cowardice. Even the demonic sects will mock us."
He sighed.
"But… killing two Golden Core disciples from Taiyi Sect—this will not end easily. Not now, but later, they'll move."
Jiang Rourou tapped the table lightly.
"I'm against expelling him for two reasons. First, no justification. Second—if we drive him out, the demonic sects will snatch him up in an instant. Even the Three Great Sword Sects might claim him. And don't forget—he owns the Yellow Springs Diagram. Who in this world wouldn't covet the Yellow Springs Treasury?"
Ruyi Zi's eyes flashed.
"Then let him leave the Yellow Springs Diagram behind. Leave all Dao Artifacts here. After that, we expel him. Yuhuamen has sheltered him for years—asking for something in return is natural. He caused the disaster; why should we shoulder all the consequences? And what if the Demon Sovereign implanted something dangerous in him?"
Elder Yaowang, the Medicine King, immediately stood up.
"No. Absolutely not. Fang Han is priceless to the sect. His Green Emperor Wood Sovereign ability lets herbs mature into spirits, and he can mass-produce infant pills—millions at a time! With that resource alone, in ten years we could raise thousands, even tens of thousands, of Divine Ability disciples. In three hundred years, Yuhuamen could rival Taiyi Sect's scale!"
He jabbed a finger at Ruyi Zi.
"You say this because you don't manage the sect's daily needs. You don't understand the cost of resources."
Jiang Rourou added softly, "He also owns a mysterious treasure that draws immortal qi from the Celestial Realm—far more efficiently than even Longevity experts. I don't know what it is, but it rivals a divine weapon."
Ruyi Zi replied coldly,
"Then we take the treasure too. And then expel him. For Hua Tiandu's future, sacrificing one troublemaking junior is nothing."
Tianxing snarled.
"You'd sell our disciple for political favor? Disgusting."
"Call it what you like," Ruyi Zi said. "But if Hua Tiandu becomes another Linglong Immortal Venerable and leaves the sect? Or worse—creates his own? He carries Panwu Immortal Venerable's legacy and Taiyi Sect's backing. One day, he could easily establish an eleventh great sect of the Dao."
Wind swept quietly through the chamber.
Feng Baiyu finally spoke, voice calm but authoritative.
"Ruyi Zi, you forget something. If we expel Fang Han, Fang Qingxue will leave as well."
Ruyi Zi stiffened.
Feng Baiyu continued,
"She is the reincarnation of the Thunder Mother—key to an ancient cosmic mystery. Whether our future Supreme Elders can withstand the ancient Celestial Lightning—whether we can one day tear open the boundary to the Immortal Realm—depends on her. Losing her would be a disaster greater than losing both Hua Tiandu and Fang Han combined."
Silence.
"And," Feng Baiyu added, "if Taiyi Sect refuses to lend their Celestial Artifact to Hua Tiandu, I can ask our Supreme Elders to compensate him. As for Fang Han—his actions brought enormous benefits. He secured the Five Elements Land talisman, gained the support of the Three Great Sword Sects by spending three million infant pills, and even the Starmoon Gate's sect master and his wife sent me this."
He flicked a glowing star-patterned talisman toward Ruyi Zi.
"They say that if necessary, they will adopt Fang Han as a righteous son. If Yuhuamen cannot protect him, they will."
Ruyi Zi scanned it—shock flashed across his face.
But he forced a sneer.
"So he already flirts with another sect. A disciple who forms alliances behind our back—how can he be loyal? Don't forget, Starmoon Gate competes with us for mortal-world geniuses."
Elder Tianxing cut him off sharply.
"You're blind. Fang Han is already influencing the Starmoon Gate's next sect master. He's helping Xingyun Baobao refine one of Zhao Xuanyi's Golden Cores. In a few centuries, when that boy becomes sect master, Yuhuamen will have powerful allies."
Ruyi Zi looked around slowly.
"So all of you intend to protect Fang Han… even if it means challenging Taiyi Sect?"
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"Then what about Hua Tiandu? What if he grows resentful? What if he thinks we're favoring Fang Han over him?"
Feng Baiyu said nothing.
Ruyi Zi leaned forward.
"I have a proposal. Consider it carefully."
Everyone turned to him.
"Speak," Feng Baiyu said.
Ruyi Zi smiled—a thin, shadowed smile.
"We name a price. We go to Taiyi Sect with terms. They suffered a loss and can't act openly. But they will be furious. If they are willing to pay enough compensation, we expel Fang Han in exchange. Let Hua Tiandu negotiate the terms himself. This way, he knows we do not favor Fang Han over him."
Elder Tianxing nearly exploded.
"You're proposing we sell a disciple for profit?"
"I'm safeguarding the sect," Ruyi Zi replied coldly. "Do you want another Linglong Immortal Venerable leaving Yuhuamen? Hua Tiandu is on the verge of the Longevity Realm. If he ascends, with Panwu's treasures and Taiyi's support… he could build a rival sect overnight."
Feng Baiyu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And if Fang Qingxue leaves?"
Ruyi Zi choked on his own breath.
Feng Baiyu slowly stood.
"My decision is final. We will not expel Fang Han. I can protect him. And we must. His contributions outweigh any risk."
He glanced around the chamber.
"As for Hua Tiandu—if Taiyi Sect withholds their Celestial Artifact, I will personally speak with the Supreme Elders. We will support Hua Tiandu ourselves."
His voice dropped—calm, unquestionable.
"This meeting is concluded."