72: What else can be done?

"Mm."

Ye Tianxiong nodded, his eyes tinged with faint bloodshot, but he showed no expression. He ascended the altar, began the ceremony, following the established procedures, and then addressed everyone with customary remarks.

Everyone should strive together for the Sect's interests, maintain the Sect's unity and stability, and as long as they work hard, they will obtain the Sect's...

Then, it was time for the awards ceremony. Chu Yunshang was only third on the Earth Ranking, so she was the next to step forward to receive her awards: three sets of secret Divine Ability from the Sect's Scripture Pavilion of her choice, a weapon custom-made by a Heavenly God Rank Artifact Refiner of the Sect, promotion to Core Disciple, double monthly Sect allowance, a spot in the Holy Sky Pool, and upon Breakthrough to Divine-Grade, she would receive a saint vein flower fruit...

This long list of rewards, for ordinary Sect Disciples, was akin to reaching the heavens in a single step, but for Chu Yunshang, it was merely a formality. The main purpose was actually to encourage Disciples of ordinary backgrounds below.

Within the Saint Heaven Sect's territory, the population exceeds ten billion, yet the direct descendants of the founding Family, even with generous estimates, number less than five hundred. The probability of being born into a founding Family is less than one in ten million.

Such a status is unattainable for ordinary people.

The entire process was uneventful. Chu Yunshang, being guileless, wore a happy smile throughout, enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention from the multitude at the foot of the mountain.

After Chu Yunshang's awards were completed, Duanmu Lei's voice boomed, echoing through the heavens and earth: "Little Holy Son Chu Tian, having reached first on the Earth Ranking, first on the Forging Bone Rankings, and first on the Refining Spirit Ranking, has successively broken various records in Eternal Heaven Hall's history, shaking the continent with his fame. This is a sign of Heaven's favor upon our Saint Heaven Sect..."

"Please, Little Holy Son Chu Tian, accept your awards."

Many high-ranking Sect officials and Grand Elders focused their gaze on Chu Tian, scrutinizing this young man who had repeatedly created miracles, shaken the entire Sect, and even overturned the Sect's power structure.

Ye Tianxiong's eyes became slightly more bloodshot, and his breathing grew heavy as he looked at Chu Tian. In the million years since the Saint Heaven Sect was founded, he was the first Sect Master who had to make a public self-criticism for his mistakes, and he was also an Emperor-level expert.

And all of this was because of this young man, who, in a sense, hadn't even fully matured yet.

"Saint Chu Tian, greets Hall Master Duanmu, and Sect Master."

Chu Tian stepped forward, his expression calm, and cupped his fists in salute, his manners impeccable.

However, as soon as Chu Tian's words fell, Ye Tianxiong's breathing noticeably grew heavy, his face darkened, his fists clenched, and a faint Evil Qi swirled around him.

Below the altar, many Grand Elders and high-ranking Sect officials were slightly stunned upon hearing Chu Tian's words. Chu Tian's words were practically a public slap to Ye Tianxiong's face.

It must be known that the Saint Heaven Sect has been established for a million years, and outside its gates, there is a strict Rank system. In public settings, the Sect Master is the supreme leader, enjoying all the highest-grade treatments and courtesies within the Sect.

Such public protocol and Rank are mandatory lessons for children of prominent Families from a young age; even minor second- and third-rate Families adhere to this. For top-tier Families, and especially the founding Families, this is even more so, as they are the highest rulers within the system and naturally must uphold these regulations.

Yet, Chu Tian first saluted Vice Hall Master Duanmu Lei, and only then saluted Ye Tianxiong, the Sect Master. This was a public trampling and provocation of Sect Master Ye Tianxiong's authority in such a formal and solemn setting.

Even though Chu Tian was young, it was impossible for him not to have learned these things, so it was clearly intentional.

Furthermore, Chu Tian's greeting deliberately omitted the word 'Vice' before Vice Hall Master Duanmu Lei's title.

In this setting, combined with Chu Tian's identity as Little Holy Son and Young Lord of the Chu Family, it carried even deeper meaning, inevitably leading to much speculation.

This was more like a public declaration.

Although not explicitly stated, it seemed to deliberately use this occasion to convey an attitude to everyone: the Chu Family would fully support Duanmu Lei in becoming the Internal Affairs Hall Master.

And the Internal Affairs Hall, as everyone knows, for a million years, its Hall Master has always been surnamed Ye!

Many Grand Elders and high-ranking Sect officials had heavy expressions and felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. Originally, they had intended for Ye Tianxiong to personally bestow awards upon Chu Tian and Chu Yunshang as intermediaries, hoping to ease the relationship between the two Families. After all, if the two major founding Families continued to clash, the repercussions would harm many people and would not align with the overall goal of Sect unity and stability.

Everyone preferred the previous peaceful and stable situation.

Therefore, they wanted to alleviate the various conflicts that had erupted between the two Families recently.

They never expected that as soon as Chu Tian came on stage, the atmosphere would be so charged. This was hardly a sign of willingness to reconcile.

Many Grand Elders and high-ranking Sect officials looked towards Chu Tian King, as he had always strived to maintain stability within the upper echelons of the Sect and his relationship with the Ye Family. Furthermore, he was sworn brothers with Ye Tianxiong.

Seeing the gazes from the Grand Elders and high-ranking officials, Chu Tian King's eyes held a bitter smile and various complex emotions.

When he learned that his most obedient daughter, Chu Yunshang, had actually defied his wishes and gone with his son, Chu Tian, to participate in the Eternal Heaven Hall test, he realized that not only his son but also his eldest daughter harbored significant dissatisfaction towards him.

So he made a decisive decision: he cooperated with the Duanmu Family and various supporting high-ranking Sect officials to decisively depose Ye Tianhong, Hall Master and force Ye Tianxiong to make a public self-criticism, allowing his son and daughter to vent their frustrations and ease the relationship between the two Families.

But now, judging by Chu Tian's attitude towards Ye Tianxiong,

This was clearly an indirect declaration to him, telling him that the Chu Family could not return to its previous relationship with the Ye Family, and that Chu Tian disliked, disapproved of, and would not accept his compromising strategies towards the Ye Family.

Moreover, even his most obedient daughter, Chu Yunshang, had sided with Chu Tian, standing against him, her father.

He had originally wanted to persuade Chu Tian that there was no need to be so hostile with the Ye Family, that Ye Feng was also good, and had a good relationship with Cloud Garment, so there was no need to annul the engagement.

But now it seemed that, unknowingly, Chu Yunshang had completely sided with Chu Tian.

A deep sense of defeat suddenly welled up in Chu Tian King's heart.

With Chu Tian's public defiance, it had actually caused a significant impact within the Family. Although the Family was still acting according to his directives and maintaining a low profile, he could clearly feel that Chu Tianyun and a large number of high-ranking Chu Family members had developed strong resistance towards him.

During Elder Council meetings, these individuals staunchly supported Chu Tian and wanted to fight the Ye Family to the end. While his own stance was also firm, forcing Ye Tianxiong to concede various benefits and make numerous guarantees, it still seemed far from satisfying his son's and the Family's demands.

Chu Tian King sighed deeply. Facing the gazes of the many high-ranking Sect officials and Grand Elders, how could he not understand their meaning? They wanted him to step forward, ease the situation, and defuse the tense standoff between his son, Chu Tian, and Ye Tianxiong.

But what more could he do?

His children had already made their stance clear, refusing to listen to him, and the attitude of most high-ranking Family members was also evident; although they hadn't explicitly taken sides, they supported Chu Tian's actions.

"Everyone, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving first." Chu Tian King turned and flew directly away from Jitian Peak, instantly disappearing from everyone's sight.