89: Returning with a full load, the sect leader's tragedy.

The starship tore through the barrier of the Qingzhou plane, and the familiar Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi enveloped them like warm spring water.

Lin Yang stood tall at the bow of the ship, his grey-gold Sect Master robes fluttering in the high-speed flight, his majestic Mid-stage Gang Qi Realm aura held in check, yet he possessed the poised demeanor of a Grandmaster.

Looking down at the mountains and cities flashing by below, he could not help but feel a twinge of emotion.

Although the time spent on this Trial of the Heavens was not long, the bizarre experiences and immense gains far exceeded his expectations.

Not only had he achieved a Breakthrough to the Mid-stage Gang Qi Realm, with his Chaos Gang Qi now possessing both water and fire attributes, doubling its power; he had also subdued the Chu Sisters of the Xuantian Sword Sect and unexpectedly gained the devotion of Mu Yao from the Misty Immortal Palace, boosting his team's strength to unprecedented levels.

But his greatest gain was undoubtedly completing the star map, unlocking the cross-border teleportation ability of the chaos star core, and learning of the supreme Legacy goal of the "Chaos Star Lord."

It could be said that he was returning truly fully loaded.

He had even begun to sketch out a blueprint in his mind: how to present his gains to the Sect Master, how to use the resources from the star map to nourish the Sect, to turn the Star Moon Sect into the hegemon of Qingzhou and even the entire continent, and in the future, perhaps even bring prosperity to the Lin family.

The familiar outline of the Star Moon Sect's mountain gate was already in sight, with rolling mountain ranges appearing and disappearing within the clouds.

However, the closer he got, the more Lin Yang's incredibly sharp spiritual sense—strengthened by the chaos star core—felt as if it had been pricked by an invisible ice needle, and the ease and anticipation in his heart were quickly replaced by a shadow of gloom.

Something was wrong.

It was too quiet.

Outside the mountain gate, where there were usually Disciples patrolling and standing guard, there was now not a single Soul.

The Sect-protecting array that enveloped the entire Sect was still active, but its light was dim and flickering, flowing unevenly, giving it a precarious, weak feeling.

What made Lin Yang's heart sink even further was that, upon using the chaos star core to perceive the situation, he discovered that the Luck above the Sect, which should have been surging and condensing, was now abnormally chaotic and dim, even mixed with a faint, nauseating scent of blood and... a rich, thick Death Qi!

"Something is wrong!" Su Qingyue, standing beside Lin Yang, spoke almost at the same time. Her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and her beautiful eyes were filled with shock and worry. "The state of the Sect... how could it be so decayed and chaotic? It's as if it has just gone through a great battle!"

Bai Wanqing, Chu Yunxi, and Chu Yuning also came to the bow. They too sensed the abnormality, and the joy on their faces faded, replaced by solemnity and unease.

The newly joined Mu Yao curiously and nervously looked at this new environment they were about to reach, but she could also clearly feel the atmosphere around them suddenly become oppressive.

Lin Yang's eyes turned completely cold. The faint sense of unease from before now grew wildly like weeds, almost seizing his heart.

Without a moment's hesitation, he unleashed the full power of the starship's core!

Hum! The starship emitted a low roar, its speed suddenly skyrocketing to the limit, like a grey-gold lightning bolt tearing through the sky, rushing towards the Star Moon Sect's mountain gate in a reckless and desperate manner!

The wind pressure brought by the massive hull flattened the trees below.

"Stop, whoever you are! Activate the Sect-protecting array!"

At the mountain gate, a few patrolling Disciples finally stumbled out, but they all looked panicked, their clothes stained with blood, their weapons trembling in their hands as if facing a great enemy.

When they barely managed to see that the giant ship approaching with terrifying pressure was not an enemy, but the legendary flagship of the Young Lord, they were stunned at first, and then their faces erupted with unbelievable, immense joy and... cries of relief!

"It's the Young Lord! It's the Young Lord! The Young Lord has returned!!!"

The few Disciples' voices were hoarse, with clear sobs, as if they had finally seen the only ray of light in the endless darkness; some even collapsed to the ground due to excessive excitement.

The starship did not slow down at all, directly ignoring the crumbling Sect-protecting array, and then hovered over the main peak plaza.

With a flash, Lin Yang descended with the five women, landing on the cold bluestone slabs of the plaza.

The scene before him made Lin Yang's heart instantly sink into a ten-thousand-foot icy abyss!

On the wide plaza, a large number of Disciples were gathered, but everyone was injured, their faces filled with sorrow, anger, and unconcealable fear.

Many familiar halls and pavilions were clearly damaged, with marks of sword slashes and energy blasts on the walls; broken walls and ruins could be seen everywhere, clearly indicating a extremely brutal battle had taken place.

The air was filled with a thick smell of blood and medicinal herbs, and the oppressive, desperate atmosphere was almost suffocating.

"What happened?! Where is the Sect Master?!"

Lin Yang spotted an Inner Sect Disciple he knew well, grabbed his arm, and spoke in a voice as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice, containing a monstrous rage about to erupt.

The Disciple, grabbed by Lin Yang and feeling that terrifying aura far exceeding what he had known before, trembled at first. Upon seeing it was Lin Yang, his tears gushed out like a broken dam, and he fell to his knees with a thud, sobbing uncontrollably: "Young Lord! You... you've finally returned! The Sect Master... the Sect Master he..."

"What happened to the Sect Master?! Speak!"

Lin Yang's heart tightened violently, and a sense of extreme foreboding enveloped him.

"The Sect Master... was assassinated and severely injured! His life is in danger! It's the Grand Elder! It's that heartless traitor, the Grand Elder, who did it!"

The Disciple was crying and incoherent, but he shouted with all his might: "He colluded with external enemies and launched a sneak attack on the Sect Master when he was unprepared! Now the Sect is in chaos; the Elders and Disciples who support the Sect Master are holding the main hall, while the Grand Elder's faction has controlled the Scripture Pavilion, the Alchemy workshop, and the treasury. They are still in a standoff outside, saying they want... they want to purge the Sect!"

Boom! These words were like thunder from the Nine Heavens, exploding in Lin Yang's mind!

The Sect Master is severely injured and dying? The Grand Elder has betrayed the Sect? Colluded with external enemies?

How long had he been gone? At most, it was only ten days! How could the Sect have undergone such a cataclysmic change?

An indescribable, violent emotion mixed with rage, grief, and murderous intent instantly swept through Lin Yang's entire body!

The terrifying aura of the Mid-stage Gang Qi Realm could no longer be suppressed and erupted violently!

The dark gold Chaos Gang Qi rose like tangible flames, causing the surrounding space to distort. The mountain-heavy pressure enveloped the entire plaza, making all the Disciples unable to breathe, forcing them to involuntarily kneel to the ground!

"Traitors deserve to die!"

Lin Yang squeezed these four words through his teeth, each one containing bone-deep hatred, and the cold murderous intent almost froze the air.

He instantly understood everything! It must have been that after he left, the Sect Master insisted on making him the Young Lord despite opposition, and then displayed the starship and his peerless potential, making the Grand Elder fear that he had completely lost power. Driven to desperation, he had not hesitated to collude with the Misty Immortal Palace and the Xuantian Sword Sect to launch this despicable rebellion!

"Take me to see the Sect Master!"

Lin Yang forcefully suppressed the urge to immediately find the Grand Elder and tear him to pieces, squeezing out these words through his teeth, his voice hoarse and cold.

Led by the Disciple, Lin Yang and his group rushed towards the main hall like cold arrows.

Wherever they passed, the Disciples they encountered were filled with both sorrow and joy, clearing the way. As they looked at Lin Yang's cold and powerful back, the flames of hope were reignited in their desperate eyes.

Outside the main hall, the atmosphere was even more tense, filled with a killing aura.

Led by several powerful Elders who supported the Sect Master, a large group of loyal Disciples had formed a battle formation, tightly guarding the entrance to the hall, in a tense standoff with another group of traitors led by the Grand Elder's confidant Elders. Both sides had their weapons drawn, Protective Aura flickering, and a great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Seeing Lin Yang return, the Elders and Disciples guarding the hall were instantly morale-boosted, erupting in cheers: "The Young Lord has returned! The Young Lord has returned!"

The traitor side looked panicked, their eyes shifting, and they subconsciously took a few steps back, their formation showing signs of disturbance.

Lin Yang couldn't be bothered to even glance at these traitors; his gaze seemed to penetrate the hall doors, landing directly inside.

Ignoring the tense standoff that was as tight as a drawn bowstring, he took a step forward, his figure blurred, and he crossed the defensive lines of both sides, directly pushing open the heavy doors of the main hall and stepping inside.

Inside the hall, the light was dim, and the smell of medicine was so thick it could not be dispelled.

Several Elders were gathered around the central couch, sweat on their foreheads, sparing no effort to consume their own life essence to desperately channel it into the person on the couch, trying to keep their last breath alive.

On the couch, the Star Moon Sect Master was bloodless, his breath as weak as a candle in the wind. On his chest, a pitch-black palm print, deep enough to see the bone, was shocking to behold; it contained an insidious and strange energy that, like a living creature, was constantly eroding and devouring his already weak vitality.

Hearing the movement, the Sect Master struggled, opening his eyes extremely slowly. Those eyes, once wise and full of majesty, were now murky and dim.

When he saw that the person who arrived was Lin Yang, a final brilliance suddenly erupted in his eyes, his cracked lips quivering, and he struggled to sit up.

"Sect... Master!"

Lin Yang stepped forward quickly, grabbing the Sect Master's cold and withered hand. He hesitated not at all, carefully channeling his pure and majestic Chaos Gang Qi, attempting to disperse the insidious palm power.

However, the moment his Qi entered the Sect Master's body, he discovered that the palm power was incredibly vicious, having completely invaded the heart meridian Origin and become tightly intertwined with the Sect Master's life fire. If he were to forcefully disperse it, the result would only be... accelerated death!

"It's... useless..."

The Sect Master shook his head extremely slightly, his voice as weak as a whisper, intermittent, "Lin Yang... you... it's good you're back... I... knew... you would definitely... return safely..."

He grabbed Lin Yang's hand tightly, using the last strength of his life. A sharp light, like the final glow of a dying light, flared in his eyes, and he hissed: "Listen... the Grand Elder... has betrayed the Sect... colluded with the Misty Immortal Palace... and the Xuantian Sword Sect... to plot against me... wanting to seize the starship... and control the Sect..."

"I... in the name of the thirty-sixth generation Sect Master of the Star Moon Sect... formally pass the position to you... from this moment on... you, Lin Yang... are the Star Moon Sect's... new Sect Master!"

"Purge the Sect... protect... the Sect..."

Before the last word "Sect" could be spoken, the hand grabbing Lin Yang's arm suddenly stiffened, then fell powerlessly. The last gleam in his eyes, like a burnt-out candle, completely dissipated, and his breath ceased!

This generation's Sect Master, who had single-mindedly supported Lin Yang, hoping he could lead the Star Moon Sect to unprecedented glory, had passed away!

"Sect Master!!!"

All the Elders and Disciples in the hall immediately fell to their knees, weeping bitterly, and the grief filled the entire hall.

Lin Yang stood in place, still maintaining the bowing posture, holding the Sect Master's hand that still had residual warmth but was now devoid of life, his body trembling slightly from extreme rage and grief.

Endless murderous intent, like tangible ten-thousand-year black ice, gathered crazily around him. The temperature in the hall plummeted, and a layer of frost even formed on the ground!

He gently and extremely slowly placed the Sect Master's hand back on the couch, straightened his clothes, and then slowly and straightly stood up.

When he turned around, in those deep eyes, there was no longer any sign of tears or sorrow, only a monstrous rage capable of burning the Nine Heavens and a biting frost that could freeze the Soul!

"Convey my Sect Master's order!"

His voice, like a death sentence from the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, was cold and calm, yet contained an irresistible majesty that resounded throughout the hall and clearly reached the ears of everyone outside:

"Seal the Sect! Allow entry but no exit! All Disciples, return to your positions immediately!"

"The Inner Sect Grand Elder and his cronies—are considered traitors to the Sect, their crimes unpardonable!"

"Kill—without—mercy!"