79: Interrogation in the Discipline Hall and Leveraging the "East Wind"

The Discipline Hall, located halfway up the main peak of the Qingxuan Sect, was a solemn and dignified building with black tiles and white walls, exuding an air of unquestionable authority. Ordinary Disciples passing by would unconsciously lighten their steps, their hearts filled with awe.

Wen Youyi followed the expressionless Discipline Hall Deacon through corridors and courtyards, attracting the attention of Disciples along the way, who whispered among themselves.

"Look, that's Wen Youyi!"

"He's the one who broke into Black Wind Mountain alone? He looks quite refined, not like someone who can fight."

"Appearances can be deceiving. I heard the Discipline Hall Elder summoned him personally..."

Wen Youyi turned a deaf ear, his face still wearing that helpless expression of 'I'm just a programmer who wants to lie flat, but my strength won't allow it,' while his mind quickly calculated various possibilities.

If it's a blessing, it's not a disaster; if it's a disaster... I have to turn it into a blessing!

Stepping into the main hall of the Discipline Hall, the light was somewhat dim, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and an invisible pressure. Seated in the primary position above was a lean old man in a black Daoist robe, his gaze like lightning, possessing a natural majesty without needing to be angry. He was the Head of the Discipline Hall, Elder Xuan Shi. Several inner Sect Elders with deep auras sat on either side, and Elder Jin Yan of the Five Elements Courtyard was among them, his gaze toward Wen Youyi carrying undisguised scrutiny and coldness.

"Disciple Wen Youyi pays respects to Elder Xuan Shi and all the Elders." Wen Youyi bowed, keeping his posture very low.

"Mm." Elder Xuan Shi gave a faint response, his voice not loud but echoing clearly in the hall. "Wen Youyi, do you know why you were summoned here today?"

Wen Youyi looked up, his expression perfectly carrying a hint of confusion. "This Disciple is dull; please enlighten me, Elder. Is there something improper about my mission this time?"

"The mission was completed very well, with a Grade A rating, beyond reproach," Elder Xuan Shi said in a steady tone. "Saving dozens of Mortals is an act of boundless Karma, bringing fame to our Qingxuan Sect. The Sect will naturally provide rewards."

Elder Jin Yan snorted coldly from the side. "There will naturally be rewards! But certain matters must also be clarified! Wen Youyi, with your Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation, you manifested that unprecedented Domain and held off dozens of evil cultivators alone. Where did this technique come from? Have you obtained some... secret Legacy, or have you strayed into some Evil Path?"

The cards were on the table! Directly questioning the origin of his Cultivation Technique was the most common way to launch an attack.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became heavy.

Wen Youyi was prepared in his heart, but his face showed a bit of 'grievance' and 'realization.' "So that is what the Elders are asking about. This Disciple does not dare to hide anything; this method is not some secret Legacy, nor is it an Evil Path. It is something this Disciple... came up with by thinking wildly and combining some miscellaneous knowledge during my spare time."

"Came up with it yourself?" An Elder from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion with a kind face couldn't help but speak up, surprise in his tone. "Junior Martial Nephew Wen, the method of a Domain involves the prototype of laws. It cannot be obtained without an extremely deep perception of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. How could you have figured it out yourself?"

"To answer the Elder," Wen Youyi said respectfully, beginning to talk nonsense with a straight face, "this Disciple's Aptitude is mediocre and my cultivation is slow, so I enjoy reading miscellaneous books and thinking wildly. I observed the movement of the stars, which is orderly and grand, and I observed the generation and overcoming of the Five Elements, which is cyclical and balanced. I wondered if I could combine the 'stasis' of the stars with the 'change' of the Five Elements to create a small circle around myself, mimicking these laws."

He paused and gave an embarrassed smile. "Actually, it's just a clumsy method. I use Star Power as the 'pot base' and Five Elements Spiritual Qi as the 'seasoning,' stirring them together according to the order of generation and overcoming... oh no, I mean, letting them flow. I didn't expect that by sheer luck, the 'circle' I created would indeed make people inside feel uncomfortable, their movements slow down, and their Spells become difficult to use. This Disciple gave it a name, called the 'Star Evolution Five Elements Domain'."

His words left the Elders looking at each other in bewilderment.

Comparing the profound construction of a Domain to 'preparing a pot base,' 'adding seasoning,' and 'stirring'? This explanation was too... down-to-earth! But on careful thought, it seemed to vaguely align with some ultimate truth? Stars as the foundation to stabilize space; Five Elements as the function to evolve generation and overcoming. This line of thought was eccentric yet carried a flavor of the Great Dao being simple.

"Absurd!" Elder Jin Yan slapped the armrest of his chair. "A Domain is no child's play! How could you create it just by 'stirring'? Someone must have taught you in secret! Speak, which Senior of the Sect has privately taken you as a Disciple?"

Wen Youyi understood clearly that Jin Yan wanted to dig out any potential backer behind him or confirm the charge of him having an 'unknown origin.' His face showed even more grievance. "Elder Jin Yan, please be discerning. Since joining the Sect, this Disciple has stayed in the Ding Zi Courtyard, and those I've contacted most are my few companions and Senior Sister Mu of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. If a Senior truly favored me, why would I still be struggling in the Outer Sect? This 'Star Evolution Five Elements Domain' seems powerful, but in reality, it consumes a huge amount of energy. I have to rest for half a day after using it once. It is truly a helpless measure for self-preservation, not some profound Legacy."

His words were half-true and half-false. The high consumption was true, and the helpless measure was also true, but he completely denied that there was anyone behind him.

Elder Xuan Shi looked deeply at Wen Youyi, as if trying to find a flaw in his face. But Wen Youyi's expression was sincere, his eyes clear (faked), and combined with the acting skills he had honed as a 'workplace overachiever' in his past life, no one could see any issues.

"Enough," Elder Xuan Shi spoke slowly. "Since you say the origin of the technique is self-created, the Sect will not press further. But you must remember that the path of cultivation requires staying grounded. Do not crave shortcuts and stray from the right path."

"This Disciple will keep the Elder's teachings in mind!" Wen Youyi bowed.

"There is another matter for summoning you today." Elder Xuan Shi changed the subject. "The 'Mutual Aid Society' you founded has gained considerable momentum recently. This mission further demonstrated your leadership and organizational abilities. The Sect is currently in need of talent, and we have always been generous in nurturing Disciples with potential and ability."

Wen Youyi's heart stirred; here came the main point!

"After discussion among the Elders, it has been decided to assign the Outer Sect's 'Lijian Valley' to your Mutual Aid Society for management," Elder Xuan Shi said calmly. "Lijian Valley contains remnants of low-grade mineral veins and the Spiritual Qi is acceptable, but the environment is complex with occasional low-level Yao Beasts. For years, the output has been meager, and it is nearly derelict. The Sect hopes you can make good use of this place. If there is any output, thirty percent will be handed over to the Sect, and seventy percent will remain for the Mutual Aid Society's own use. Can you do this?"

Wen Youyi's heart module skipped a beat!

Lijian Valley! He had heard of this place; it was quite large, but because of poor management and harassment from Yao Beasts, it had almost become a white elephant. The Sect was throwing a tough bone that no one could chew to him. It was both a test and a... transition?

If successful, the Mutual Aid Society would gain a valuable base and greatly enrich its resources; if it failed, it was just wasting a piece of derelict land, which was no loss to the Sect.

How was this a tough bone? This was clearly the 'East Wind' under the guise of a test!

He suppressed the wild joy in his heart, showing a moderate amount of difficulty and determination on his face. "Reporting to the Elder, this Disciple has heard a bit about the situation in Lijian Valley. The environment is indeed harsh, but since the Sect trusts me, I will certainly do my utmost. I cannot promise to restore Lijian Valley to its former glory, but I will not let it continue to lie fallow! I will strive... strive to produce resources for the Sect as soon as possible!"

He didn't make overconfident promises, but his attitude was sincere enough.

An imperceptible flash of satisfaction crossed Elder Xuan Shi's eyes, and he waved his hand. "Very well. A Deacon will handle the specific details with you. You may go."

"This Disciple takes his leave!"

Wen Youyi bowed again and slowly withdrew from the Discipline Hall.

Watching his departing back, Elder Jin Yan couldn't help but say, "Senior Brother Xuan Shi, is it too reckless to hand Lijian Valley over to this boy? The origin of his Domain technique is unknown..."

Elder Xuan Shi looked out of the hall and said leisurely, "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. This boy indeed has secrets, but observing his actions, he values loyalty and has a bottom line; he is not an evil person. If the Mutual Aid Society model succeeds, it might inject vitality into the stagnant Outer Sect. Give him a piece of land and see what he can cook up. Whether he is a Dragon or a worm will naturally be revealed. If there really is a problem..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but a cold light flashed in his eyes, leaving everything unsaid... Wen Youyi walked out of the Discipline Hall, the sunlight falling on him, feeling warm. He breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling that the air had become much fresher.

"Youyi, how was it? Are you okay?" Zhao Iron Pillar and the others waiting outside immediately surrounded him, their faces full of concern.

A heartfelt smile finally appeared on Wen Youyi's face, and he slapped Zhao Iron Pillar's shoulder hard. "I'm fine! Not only am I fine, but the Elders also gave us a big gift!"

"A big gift?"

"That's right!" Excitement sparkled in Wen Youyi's eyes. "Let's go back and talk! Our 'Cooperative' has its own base!"

"Lijian Valley, that's a treasure trove! Although it's currently overgrown with weeds and home to some 'small animals,' with a little 'renovation,' it will be our perfect 'tech R&D base' and 'logistics headquarters'!"

He could already see that in that seemingly desolate valley, a brand-new 'local area network' would be the first to be built, more 'black technology' would be born there, and a team that truly understood the meaning of 'resistance' would grow there.

The 'East Wind' from the Sect had already been borrowed.

It was time to start farming... oh no, to start 'undermining the foundation'!

(End of Chapter)