You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

With the matter almost settled, Chen Yang glanced at the sky; the sun was already setting.

He waved his hand.

"That's all for today. Everyone, go about your business. New disciples' induction, resource allocation, daily cultivation, plus the search for immortal traces... there's a lot to do. Thank you all for your hard work."

"Serving the sect, I dare not complain of hardship!"

The group bowed again before dispersing in twos and threes to attend to their own business.

Chen Yang did not immediately return to his pavilion, but instead strolled towards the back mountain. The back mountain was a quiet place where the disciples practiced and sparred daily.

Before they even got close, they heard a clanging sound of metal striking metal and shouts. Turning past a bamboo grove, they saw Wang Xuan and Qingqing fighting on a flat clearing.

Wang Xuan wielded a long sword, his moves were bold and powerful, and he displayed great momentum. He executed the basic sword techniques of the Qingwei School with remarkable skill, clearly showing that he had not slacked off during this period.

Qingqing, on the other hand, was much more agile. She held a pair of short daggers and moved like a butterfly flitting among flowers, weaving through Wang Xuan's sword light. She often dodged attacks at the last second and could even launch a counterattack from time to time, forcing Wang Xuan to be flustered.

Chen Yang stood not far away, watching quietly. With his discerning eyes, the strengths and weaknesses of the two men's moves, as well as the trajectory of their spiritual energy, were clearly visible.

He could see that Wang Xuan had a solid foundation and superior strength, but his adaptability and skillful execution in combat were still somewhat immature. Qingqing, on the other hand, was more talented, agile, and had excellent combat intuition.

She could often predict Wang Xuan's next move, appearing completely at ease. Wang Xuan, on the other hand, was mostly led by her rhythm, feeling frustrated because he had a lot of strength but couldn't use it.

"Oh, what a pity..."

Chen Yang sighed inwardly. Qingqing was a girl with exceptional talent and temperament. If she could dedicate herself to the Qingwei Sect, her future achievements would be limitless.

It's a pity she's already become Uncle Li's apprentice; I can't very well poach her. Besides, judging from the way she and Wang Xuan act like "bickering lovers," who knows what the future holds?

The two fought for more than ten rounds. Wang Xuan was caught off guard and Qingqing made a feint, the side of her short dagger lightly hitting his wrist, causing his long sword to fall to the ground with a clang.

"Haha, I won again! Senior Brother Wang Xuan, you're too kind!"

Qingqing withdrew her attack and stepped back, a smug smile on her pretty face, and clapped her hands.

Wang Xuan blushed, bent down to pick up the longsword, and said defiantly.

"You...you're cheating! You're just relying on your speed! If you're so capable, don't hide, face me head-on!"

"Tch, fighting is all about playing to your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses. Just because you're stronger doesn't mean I have to go head-to-head with you! I'm not that stupid!"

Qingqing stuck out her tongue and made a face.

The two were arguing when they looked up and noticed Chen Yang standing by the bamboo grove.

"Master!"

Wang Xuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately forgot his previous defeat. He ran over quickly, his face full of surprise.

"When did you get back? Why didn't you say anything!"

Chen Yang smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"You just got back a short while ago. What, you're not welcoming your master back?"

"How could that be! Your disciple is eagerly awaiting Master's return to give you guidance every day!"

Wang Xuan quickly replied.

Qingqing also came over and first gave a proper bow.

"Senior Chen Yang."

Then he glanced at Wang Xuan and bluntly criticized him.

"Senior Chen Yang, your disciple is indeed diligent in practicing, but sometimes he is too straightforward and doesn't think things through. He always suffers when sparring with me."

"you!"

Wang Xuan felt embarrassed by her words, but he couldn't lash out in front of his master, so he could only glare at her.

"What? You're not convinced? Then come at me again! This time I'll give you three moves!"

Qingqing raised her chin defiantly.

Seeing that the two were about to start fighting again, Chen Yang shook his head helplessly and reached out to stop them.

"Alright, alright, you two, you always argue and fight as soon as you meet. Aren't you tired of this?"

He took out two storage bags of different styles that he had prepared beforehand from his storage bag and handed them to Wang Xuan and Qingqing respectively.

The two were immediately drawn to it, and curiously took the storage bag, asking in unison.

"Master, what is this?"

Chen Yang said.

"This is what I obtained from a celestial site during my recent trip. Inside are some elixirs and medicines suitable for your current stage, parts of protective armor, and several jade slips containing excellent cultivation techniques. Take them and make good use of them."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan and Qingqing were overjoyed. Wang Xuan excitedly gripped the storage bag tightly.

"Thank you Master!"

Qingqing also expressed her gratitude sincerely.

"Thank you so much for your kind offer, senior!"

Chen Yang looked at the two of them and said earnestly.

"You must understand that I am giving you these resources in the hope that you can grow up faster. In the future, you will likely be the leading figures of the Qingwei Sect disciples and role models for many junior brothers and sisters."

If you are not strong enough to command respect or are surpassed by newcomers, don't blame me for not giving you the best resources today. The opportunity has been given; whether you seize it is up to you.

Wang Xuan's expression turned serious, and he nodded vigorously.

"Master, rest assured! Your disciple will definitely cultivate diligently and will never let you down! I will strive to become the most outstanding disciple of the Qingwei Sect!"

Qingqing also dropped her joking tone and said seriously.

"I will keep your teachings in mind. I will work hard in my cultivation, and I will also... I will urge Wang Xuan to be more diligent."

As she spoke, she glanced at Wang Xuan, and a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

"However, it will probably be a bit difficult for him to surpass me."

"Hmph! Let's see!"

Wang Xuan snorted, but his fighting spirit burned even brighter.

Chen Yang could only shake his head and smile wryly as he looked at the two clowns. Just as he was about to give them a few more words of advice, he heard hurried footsteps behind him.

Looking back, it was Master Huang who had returned, his face showing a hint of urgency.

"Head!"

Master Huang quickly walked closer.

"Master Huang, what brings you in such a hurry?" Chen Yang asked.

Master Huang glanced at Wang Xuan and Qingqing beside him, and hesitated.

Chen Yang waved his hand.

"It's alright, go ahead and speak. Wang Xuan is my apprentice, and Qingqing is also half an apprentice of mine. We're all family."

Master Huang then lowered his voice and said.

"Sect Leader, several groups of people have come down the mountain, specifically requesting to see you. They are elders from several nearby sects, as well as the heads of two small families, all coming together. Judging from their demeanor, they don't seem to have good intentions."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang raised an eyebrow, but instead of being nervous, he smiled.

"Oh? Someone couldn't hold back and came to us personally so quickly? I originally thought that after the press conference, even if someone was dissatisfied, they would at least have to endure it for six months to a year before taking any action. I didn't expect it to be like this so soon?"

Master Huang smiled wryly.

"Yes, we've been too popular lately, recruiting too many disciples, which has indeed affected the interests of many people. They're starting to feel the pain and can't sit still anymore."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but speak out angrily.

"These people are so unreasonable! The disciples are willing to come to our Qingwei Sect because our sect is attractive, we didn't force them to come! They can't keep their disciples, so they blame us? This is outrageous!"

Qingqing also pouted.

"Exactly, this is outrageous! Like Jiang Taigong fishing, only those who are willing will take the bait. Their disciples can go wherever they want; did they sign some kind of indenture with them? This is far too much interference!"

Chen Yang remained noncommittal about the two young men's reactions, then looked at Master Huang and asked.

Where are they now?

Master Huang replied.

"He has been temporarily invited by True Monarch Xuanshui to the main conference room of the sect's office at the foot of the mountain. True Monarch Xuanshui is there with him, dealing with them. However, judging from their tone, they probably won't let it go until they see you, Sect Leader."

Chen Yang pondered for a moment, then said calmly.

"Since you're here, let's go see them. It's a good opportunity to settle some old scores. Master Huang, lead the way."

Master Huang quickly agreed.

"Yes, Sect Leader, please follow me."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan and Qingqing's eyes immediately lit up, eager to try it out.

"Master, let's go too!"

Chen Yang glared at them.

"Nonsense! Your main task right now is cultivation! Why are you getting involved in this kind of bickering and arguing? Just stay in the back mountain and cultivate, and make the most of the resources I gave you as soon as possible!"

Seeing Chen Yang's stern tone, the two, though unwilling, knew the gravity of the situation and could only respond dejectedly.

"Yes……"

Chen Yang said no more, turned around and followed Master Huang down the mountain path. Wang Xuan and Qingqing watched their master's departing figure, exchanged a glance, and saw worry and resentment in each other's eyes, but in the end they could only suppress their emotions, turn around and return to the open space to continue their cultivation.

At the foot of Qingwei Sect Mountain, the newly built sect office is a five-story antique-style building that serves as both an office and a reception area. The atmosphere in the largest meeting room on the top floor is somewhat tense at this moment.

Xuan Shui Zhenjun sat below the main seat, his face calm, but a hint of impatience lingered in the depths of his eyes.

Opposite him, around an oval conference table, sat seven or eight people, men and women, mostly between forty and fifty and sixty or seventy years old, dressed in various styles, some with an air of otherworldly elegance, others in fine clothes.

They were elders from three medium-sized sects nearby, namely "Qingxia Temple", "Iron Sword Sect" and "Flowing Cloud Sect", as well as the patriarchs and their followers from the two local cultivation families, "Zhao Family" and "Qian Family".

At that moment, an old Taoist priest with a goatee from Qingxia Temple was stroking his beard and said in a dissatisfied tone.

"Elder Xuanshui, it's not that we're being unreasonable. We acknowledge the Qingwei Sect's current power and the widespread fame of Sect Leader Chen Yang. However, shouldn't you have a set procedure for recruiting disciples?"

"We can't just sweep up all the promising talents in the area, can we? This year, almost all the eligible and somewhat talented teenagers from the villages and towns within a hundred li of Qingxia Temple have come to your Qingwei Sect! How are we supposed to pass on our lineage like this?"

A burly, middle-aged man from the Iron Sword Sect chimed in with a booming voice.

"Exactly! Our Iron Sword Sect focuses on body training, and has high requirements for the physical strength of its disciples. We finally discovered a few promising talents, but before we could even visit them, we heard that they had already joined your Qingwei Sect! Isn't that a bit too disregard for the order of arrival?"

The patriarch of the Zhao family, a plump middle-aged man, also spoke slowly.

"Elder Xuanshui, we've been neighbors for hundreds of miles around. In the past, when each family took on disciples, there was some competition, but there was always a tacit understanding that we wouldn't go too far."

But isn't the Qingwei Sect's current approach... a bit against the rules? It's good that Sect Leader Chen Yang is young, ambitious, and eager to make progress, but he should also consider the difficulties faced by us old folks.”

Others echoed this sentiment, each offering their own criticisms, all accusing the Qingwei faction of "ugly behavior," "disrupting the balance," and "breaking the rules."

Xuan Shui Zhenjun listened patiently until they had finished speaking, then slowly opened his mouth, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

"Everyone, please hear me out. First of all, the Qingwei Sect's decision to open its gates and accept disciples is a move made by our sect leader to adapt to the era of spiritual energy revival and to strengthen the cultivation world of China. It is aboveboard and there is nothing shady about it."

His gaze swept over the crowd.

"Secondly, all the disciples who come to become our disciples do so voluntarily. Our sect has never forced anyone, nor has it ever 'snatched' anyone from your mountain gates or family territories."

They have traveled a long way, drawn by our reputation. As the host, should our Qingwei Sect turn away those who sincerely seek the Dao? That would be unreasonable and illogical.

He paused and continued.

"As for the 'good seedlings' you all mentioned, they have all come to my Qingwei Sect... This may indicate that my sect's missionary philosophy, resource investment, or even the prestige of the sect leader are more attractive to young people."

The path of spiritual practice is inherently about destiny and choice. The disciples voted with their feet, choosing the path they believed was more suitable for them; how can we interfere?

Xuan Shui Zhenjun's words were reasonable, but they clearly failed to satisfy everyone present.

The old Taoist priest from Qingxia Temple snorted.

"Elder Xuanshui, you make that sound so easy! 'Voting with your feet'? If everyone did it like you, how would we small sects survive? Are we all supposed to close down and merge into your Qingwei Sect?"

The man from the Iron Sword Sect also slammed his hand on the table.

"That's right! Rules are rules! We've always gotten along well, so why should the Qingwei Sect break them the moment they arrive? This matter demands an explanation! Otherwise..."

"What else?"

A clear and calm voice suddenly came from the conference room door.

The crowd, who were fiercely "denouncing" each other in the meeting room, suddenly stopped and all looked towards the door.

The conference room door was gently pushed open by Master Huang, and Chen Yang walked in calmly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

He walked with composure, and although he did not deliberately exude an aura, an invisible pressure emanated from him, making the crowd, who had just been excited, feel breathless.

Chen Yang! He really came!

Most of the people present had only heard of Chen Yang's name in the news or rumors, and a few had seen him from afar on other occasions. Now, seeing the real Chen Yang in person, feeling his youthful yet unfathomable aura, and seeing the clearly displeased expression on Huang Zhenren's face behind him, they were all deeply moved.

The initial aggressive momentum deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon. Eyes darted away, and everyone sat up straight, their previous indignation vanishing without a trace, leaving only an awkward and tense silence in the conference room. (End of Chapter)