Qing Muling appeared slightly startled before he spoke, “This matter is for the Master and the Elders to decide, juniors like myself need not express an opinion.”

Such a significant issue concerning the future of the sect, even Senior Sister Xuebing Xuan, with her current status, probably wouldn’t have a say. Naturally, Qing Muling didn’t want to get involved rashly; listening to the Sect Master was never wrong.

Luoyun Shui, no matter how important, was ultimately an outsider. Why would Qing Muling upset his own Master over someone he had never met?

Mu Yinghua’s expression softened upon hearing this, casting an approving glance at the young man. After all, he was a disciple she had personally raised; how could he possibly turn his back on his own people?

Xinyu Emperor pondered for a moment before asking, “If she cannot stay, which of her lineage’s Supreme Elders are still around? List them all out for review.”

Mu Yinghua then reported more than a dozen names, all of whom were at the Golden Immortal and Taiyi Golden Immortal levels, currently in deep slumber within the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm.

As for their close kin and disciples within the sect, most were purged after the new Sect Master took office, and those not purged had been exiled. By now, none of them were alive.

Of course, Mu Yinghua hadn’t received the mantle of power directly from Luoyun Shui. After Luoyun Shui’s retirement, the first Sect Master was her own Master, who only held the position for a few hundred years before dying attempting to break through to the Quasi Holy realm, forced to reincarnate and start over, and then it was her turn.

Xinyu Emperor nodded lightly, “It’s not easy for the sect to cultivate a Golden Immortal-level powerhouse, let alone those at the Taiyi and Great Golden Immortal levels. To give up on them like this is indeed a waste. However, since all the Elders think this way, I will not insist on my own views.”

“Let them continue to slumber in the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm! Additionally, it’s best to thoroughly review the sect’s secret archives. Any Supreme Elders forced into retirement for committing serious offenses should not be given the chance to return. How about that?”

“The Emperor’s words are wise, I have no objections,” Qing Muling said.

Mu Yinghua breathed a sigh of relief; she had been genuinely worried that this third-generation disciple of the founding ancestor would insist on protecting that person. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

Yu Lingzhou, Yueyi Heavenly Lord, and the other ladies all voiced their agreement, and the matter was settled.

After pondering for a moment, Qing Muling suddenly asked, “Master, although Luoyun Shui is gravely injured and in slumber, she should still be able to take action, right?”

Mu Yinghua looked at him in surprise, “Of course, she can. I estimate she still has nearly a hundred years of lifespan left. What are you planning?”

If the sect faced an existential crisis, most of the Supreme Elders in deep slumber could act, burning their last life essence to take down a number of enemies with them, making their final contribution to the sect.

In other Supreme Dao Lineages’ powers, the situation was similar; these living-dead Supreme Elders were one of the last trump cards of their respective powers.

Qing Muling said, “If all the Supreme Elders recover smoothly, but we ignore those from her lineage, wouldn’t she harbor resentment? Might she wake up and cause trouble?”

Mu Yinghua’s expression changed slightly, and the other Elders also frowned lightly, clearly understanding that this possibility indeed existed.

The slumbering Supreme Elders could still communicate with the outside world through a split consciousness. Therefore, the recent movements within the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm couldn’t be hidden from Luoyun Shui. If she eventually realized that the sect’s higher-ups were discriminating against her lineage, how could she remain silent and endure?

A Great Golden Immortal who has been completely abandoned and sees no hope might inevitably do something crazy and reckless.

“Emperor, it seems only you can decide on this matter,” Yueyi Heavenly Lord said softly. To easily suppress a Great Golden Immortal, only the status of a Quasi Holy Emperor would suffice; the other Supreme Elders were not enough.

“Sun Moon Splendor”

Xinyu Emperor pondered, “There is indeed a potential risk in this matter. I will take action myself and seal them one by one to eliminate future troubles. How about that?”

“Just sealing them?”

Qing Muling was not satisfied with this arrangement. Seals could still be undone, and as long as they were alive, accidents could happen in the future.

Mu Yinghua was more accepting of this outcome and asked, “Muling, do you have a better solution?”

Qing Muling hesitated before deciding to speak his mind, “My cultivation is still low, far from being able to protect myself. Therefore, I would like to ask the Emperor to take action and refine all these Supreme Elders who have committed serious offenses into guardian puppets for me. What do you think?”

Xinyu Emperor: “…”

Mu Yinghua: “…”

The Supreme Elders present all changed their expressions, looking at Qing Muling with disbelief, seemingly never expecting such a harmless-looking beautiful young man to utter such decisive and ruthless words.

After a long while, Yu Lingzhou sighed softly and said, “Junior Brother, this is difficult. Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace is not like the Ghost Puppet Sect; we do not have divine abilities or secret methods to refine high-level guardian puppets. Besides, your cultivation is too low to control even a Golden Immortal-level guardian puppet, let alone a Great Golden Immortal. So, let’s think about this in the long term.”

Mu Yinghua forced a smile, “That’s right, you don’t lack protectors by your side. Even the Emperor has a projected avatar to look after you, so why do you need these guardian puppets?”

To erase the spiritual intelligence of a Great Golden Immortal and refine them into a guardian puppet? Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace had never set such a precedent since its founding.

Even if Luoyun Shui was despicable and the Elders disliked her, a Great Golden Immortal’s lofty status and dignity, brought about by their supreme power, were not so easily erased. Even if they lost their power and had no chance of returning, they should not be treated this way.

Take a secular dynasty as an example: if a commoner committed a serious crime, there were various ways to die without any dignity. But if a royal prince committed a serious offense, even if it was treason and he had to be executed, he would still have a relatively dignified way to die, which is an inherent privilege that comes with status.

Even if they refused to die with dignity, someone would help them do so.

This differential treatment, even in the era Qing Muling lived in before, had not fundamentally changed. In any world, absolute equality does not exist.

“Since that’s the case, then let’s follow Master’s advice,” Qing Muling said, realizing there were these considerations. Seeing that the Elders all disagreed, he could only express his willingness to give up.

“Alright, Junior Brother, you go rest for a while. We’ll continue to treat the Elders later,” Xinyu Emperor said kindly.

Qing Muling agreed, and immediately a gentle light enveloped him, sending him out of the Emperor’s abode.

Returning to the back mountain garden of Imperial Dao Peak, he found that his Senior Sisters were nowhere to be seen. He asked the head maid, Muxin’er, and learned that they had gone hunting Magic Clan members in a nearby star domain and would not be back for a few days.

Not sure what to do next, Muxin’er looked at him with sparkling eyes, her face blushing slightly, and mustered the courage to say, “If Brother doesn’t mind, how about I serve you by massaging your legs? Or if you want any other Sister to serve you, I’ll call them over. I believe they would be very happy.”

“This…”

Qing Muling hesitated and did not immediately answer. It was strange how the Senior Sisters, when being intimate with him, never avoided their presence. Sometimes they would even help massage his back, leading them all astray.

As a colorful glow flashed by, Yu Lingzhou’s figure appeared, rushing over like a gust of wind, her voice tinged with laughter as she took hold of him, “Since they’re not here, why doesn’t Junior Brother come sit in my Dao Court? Don’t you quite like Sister’s cooking? I can make noodles for you!”

Seizing the rare opportunity to be alone with Junior Brother, Yu Lingzhou thought to herself.

Qing Muling hesitated for a moment, then looking at Lolita Elder’s charming and vivid face, her bold and fiery figure, he finally nodded, “Alright.”

Yu Lingzhou then beamed with joy, taking him by the hand and flying towards her Dao Court, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Moments later, Yueyi Heavenly Lord appeared, saw the empty courtyard, and asked Muxin’er what had happened. The smile on her face instantly froze.

Indeed, the early bird gets the worm; those who are slow can only blame themselves.

A short while later.

In a cave dwelling surrounded by exquisite beauty and mist, twelve uniquely shaped white jade cauldrons were lined up. A pale golden flame burned vigorously beneath them, and the white broth inside was already boiling, occasionally emitting large swathes of magnificent radiance. The rich fragrance spread far and wide.

Thunder Feather Star Peng, Gold Belt Jin Diao, Floating Mountain Yao Niu, Dragon Tail Jiao Shark… all were high-level demonic beasts with Elemental Immortal strength in life, now stewed with many rare sacred and divine herbs, complemented by top-quality spiritual spring water and supreme treasure-level jade cauldrons, their effects comparable to supreme medicines.

Yu Lingzhou had profound and unique skills in the realms of gourmet cooking and artifact refinement, which Qing Muling had already experienced during the grand assembly of immortals. Therefore, he was quite looking forward to her craftsmanship.

From a man’s perspective, it’s hard to refuse a woman who can satisfy his culinary desires, especially when the woman excels in all aspects.

Yu Lingzhou had changed into a thin and translucent dress, fluttering around the jade cauldrons like a butterfly, skillfully controlling the heat and checking the state of the ingredients, occasionally adding some exotic treasures to the broth, making the radiance even more dazzling and magnificent.

Qing Muling sat quietly at a table not far away, with an array of pre-meal spiritual fruit desserts and fine wines from the Yu family’s secret cellar before him, for him to taste at will.

Dozens of beautiful Yu family women in wide-sleeved robes attended to him carefully.

Before long, as the cooking reached perfection, Yu Lingzhou directed the women to serve the delicacies from the jade cauldrons in front of Qing Muling.

“Sister, come and eat with me,” Qing Muling called out, and Yu Lingzhou agreed, giving the women a look. They bowed slightly and then retreated together.

Knowing that the Lolita Elder had private words to share with him, Qing Muling did not stop them, silently enjoying the exotic delicacies in the green jade bowl.

“…The biggest mistake of my life was casting a favorable vote when she first took office,” Yu Lingzhou said with a rare seriousness on her innocent and tender face, downing the nectar in the wine jar with a low voice.

She was naturally referring to Luoyun Shui.

Back when the previous Sect Master retired, the competing candidates were uncompromising, each backed by powerful factions. But the one with the most competitive advantage was Luoyun Shui, given her strongest cultivation.

The final step was a collective discussion and vote by the then-members of the Supreme Elder Council to determine the new Supreme Sect Master. Although Luoyun Shui eventually won, there were dissenting voices, and in the end, she only had two more votes than the second-ranked candidate.

Qing Muling calmly said, “You weren’t the only one who voted in favor, and no one expected the outcome to be like this at the time, so it’s not your fault. If we have to pursue responsibility, her Master, the previous Sect Master, should bear the primary responsibility, right?”

No disciple of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace with a sound mind would wish for the decline of the sect. In the cultivation world of The Great Void, where strength is revered, it’s a tradition that has been passed down for millions of years for the most powerful to be the highest decision-maker.

Thus, Luoyun Shui’s rise to power was not accidental. When she was a core disciple, she had also made many contributions to the sect, with outstanding achievements in all aspects, which is why she gained the appreciation of many high-level Elders. It’s just that no one expected her to perform so poorly after taking office.

Yu Lingzhou nodded, her face blooming with a bright smile again, gracefully picking up the wine jug and personally pouring wine for Qing Muling.

“Earlier, the reason the Emperor still had the intention to plead for her, apart from traditional customs, was that Luoyun Shui’s lineage is from her branch,” Yu Lingzhou explained softly.

“I see,” Qing Muling understood. When Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s founding ancestor left behind nine third-generation disciples to oversee the sect, it eventually evolved into the sect’s nine most powerful factions. However, the succession of the Supreme Sect Master has been mostly held by the Xinyu Emperor’s lineage.

For millions of years, occasionally, outstanding individuals from other factions would seize the position of Sect Master, but usually, after one or two generations, it would be reclaimed by an exceptional descendant of the Xinyu Emperor’s lineage.

Mu Yinghua’s lineage traced back to Xinyu Emperor’s third sister, Fengge Emperor. Including Yu Lingzhou, Yueyi Heavenly Lord, Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord, and other Supreme Elders, they were all her disciples and grand-disciples.

After Luoyun Shui was deposed, it was Mu Yinghua’s Master, Miaoching Immortal, who took over. Unfortunately, she didn’t last many years before failing to break through to the Quasi Holy realm, forced into reincarnation. Now, Mu Yinghua was still troubled by the search for her Master’s reincarnated body.

Now, due to Luoyun Shui’s misdeeds, the entire faction suffered a catastrophic blow. Although Xinyu Emperor understood the causes and consequences and agreed with the sect’s high-level decision, there was still a bit of kinship sentiment, which is why there was some hesitation earlier.

“…So, your idea of refining Luoyun Shui into a guardian puppet indeed exceeded the Emperor’s tolerance and was difficult for us Elders to accept,” Yu Lingzhou concluded.

“I understand,” Qing Muling nodded and said no more. After all, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace had no such precedent. Once this path was taken, what would the other high-level Elders think?

Even if a Great Golden Immortal and former Supreme Sect Master ended up like this, would the same fate one day befall them? After all, most of the Supreme Elders in the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm had lower cultivation and status than Luoyun Shui!

At this moment, deep within the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm.

“…Ancestor, have you come?”

A green-dressed girl, looking no more than sixteen or seventeen, with a timid and pitiable appearance, appeared and knelt before the calm Xinyu Emperor.

The green-dressed girl was Luoyun Shui’s split consciousness projection, while her main body was still sleeping in the aqua crystal lotus behind her, nourished by the vitality essence in this hall.

Xinyu Emperor gazed at her for a few moments and sighed softly, “Luoyun Shui, do you know your crimes?”