32: A letter arrives from Tianmen, and Lin Mu establishes his authority

The breeze stirred the willow branches and the skirt of the beautiful woman beneath the tree.

Xu Liying smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead, revealing a faint smile; her goose-yellow coat shone even brighter and more captivating under the scorching sun.

She moved her delicate body, taking one step after another towards Lin Mu. More than a month apart had made her a little reserved.

"Big Brother Lin, you've finally come out of seclusion," Xu Liying said softly.

"Hm, how did you know I was coming out today?" Lin Mu asked.

Xu Liying's expression was unnatural as she replied, "I was just strolling by and happened to come across you."

Lin Mu didn't notice the change in Xu Liying's expression and asked, seemingly out of concern, "Are you getting used to living here?"

"It's alright, but there's no one to talk to, so it's a bit boring. But now that Big Brother Lin is out, someone can keep me company."

Watching Xu Liying's smile-filled, chattering self, Lin Mu didn't interrupt her, simply walking beside her.

As the two passed by Lao Mo, he was still meditating with his eyes closed.

It was unclear if he was truly in a meditative state or deliberately staying out of their two-person world.

"Big Brother Lin, Qingyang Sect is so big, yet there isn't even a single peach blossom tree."

"Big Brother Lin, when will you take me to see snow? It never snows in our Luocheng Mountain."

"Big Brother Lin, do you think I look better in yellow clothes or green clothes?"

..."Big Brother Lin, why don't you ever speak? It's always just me talking."

Lin Mu: ..."I want to speak, but you don't give me a chance to interject, do you?" Lin Mu thought, somewhat helplessly.

Xu Liying, who had been chattering incessantly along the way, suddenly stopped, clutching the edge of her skirt with both hands, and said, looking down slightly, "Big Brother Lin, am I talking too much and bothering you?"

Xu Liying was like a child who had done something wrong, waiting for criticism.

Lin Mu looked at Xu Liying, who was standing there in a daze, and a long-absent gentle expression appeared in his eyes: "My little silly girl, how could I dislike you? Big Brother Lin likes listening to you talk."

To ease Xu Liying's embarrassment, he gently ruffled her hair.

Xu Liying didn't dodge; instead, she seemed to enjoy the feeling.

Just then, an untimely voice sounded: "Congratulations, Master, on coming out of seclusion. This old man happens to have an important matter to report."

Lin Mu withdrew his hand and turned to look at the speaker.

Yun Feiyang held a sealed envelope in his hand and presented it to Lin Mu with both hands.

"This is an encrypted letter from Heaven Sect Academy; it just arrived this morning."

Lin Mu took the bag, opened it, and pulled out a piece of parchment, on which only four large characters, "Heaven Sect Academy," were written.

"Heaven Sect Academy compromised so easily; it seems they have other motives," Lin Mu thought, his brows tightly furrowed.

Seeing Lin Mu fall silent after reading the letter, Xu Liying tentatively asked, "Big Brother Lin, have you encountered something difficult?"

Lin Mu casually put away the letter and said indifferently, "It's nothing, just a small matter."

Seeing that Lin Mu didn't want to elaborate, Xu Liying didn't press further but changed the subject: "Big Brother Lin, what are your plans now that you're out of seclusion?"

"Plans? It's time to make some plans. Finding the heavenly dao stone requires a lot of manpower," Lin Mu mused silently.

Having witnessed the initial power of the heavenly dao stone, his belief in collecting all the heavenly dao stones became even stronger.

"I just came out of seclusion and still have some matters to attend to. You go back first; I'll come find you after I'm done," Lin Mu said to Xu Liying.

Hearing Lin Mu's unnegotiable tone, Xu Liying said somewhat reluctantly, "Oh, I understand, but remember to come find me."

After speaking, she turned and left dejectedly.

Inside the magnificent main hall, all the elders and peak masters of Qingyang Sect were present. Lin Mu sat on the main seat of the high platform in the hall, with Yun Feiyang and the Grand Elder standing on either side of him.

Seeing the noisy discussions below, Yun Feiyang cleared his throat and said, "Quiet down, Young Master Lin has important matters to announce. Everyone listen carefully and remember them well."

Hearing the Sect Master's words, everyone below fell silent.

In the quiet hall, Lin Mu's voice suddenly rang out: "All of you are high-ranking figures of Qingyang Sect. What I say today, I hope you not only keep in mind but also convey to all disciples within the sect after you return."

"First, Qingyang Sect will be renamed Heavenly Dao Sect starting today. We will announce this to the world on a chosen day. From now on, we will open our gates wide and recruit heroes from all over the world."

"Second, the Elder Council will draw up a list of major forces in Yanshan Kingdom, and within one year, we will annex all the forces on that list."

As soon as these words were spoken, the quiet hall became noisy once again.

"This is absolutely impossible! Yanshan Kingdom has numerous forces, deeply entrenched, and many possess Venerable Realm powerhouses."

"That's right, many forces are also connected to the Imperial Family."

"Our Qingyang Sect is a righteous sect. To annex other forces without cause now, how is this any different from a demonic sect?"

Originally, many founding elders disagreed with Lin Mu's decision to rename the sect to Heavenly Dao Sect, but they didn't stand up to oppose it.

However, Lin Mu's command for Qingyang Sect to annex other forces would put Qingyang Sect in opposition to all forces, and even the Imperial Family would intervene.

Although Qingyang Sect was the largest sect in Yanshan Kingdom, there was still a gap in its foundation compared to the Imperial Family, not to mention becoming an enemy of all forces in the country.

That would truly be courting death.

The strongest voice of opposition came from Li Xiaoting, one of the seven peak masters, the Sixth Peak Master. He was originally from the Yanshan Kingdom Imperial Family. Having grown weary of the political struggles in the imperial court, he had retired to Qingyang Sect.

Because of his outstanding strength and his humble and kind nature, he had excellent relationships within the sect and was beloved by the disciples of the Sixth Peak, having held the position of Sixth Peak Master for a hundred years.

"Our Qingyang Sect has existed for over a thousand years and has always coexisted peacefully with other sects in the world. If we suddenly launch attacks, not only will our disciples suffer casualties, but even ordinary people will be implicated."

"How many families will be ruined, how many wives and children separated then?"

"Not to mention that Yanshan Kingdom is surrounded by wolves. If the country is unstable and foreign enemies invade, how will we respond then?"

As Li Xiaoting spoke, he glared at Lin Mu, his face showing no fear.

The others, hearing Li Xiaoting's coherent analysis, all nodded in agreement.

Yun Feiyang actually also disagreed with Lin Mu's decision, but he dared not say so directly. Therefore, when others spoke out against it, he did not stop them.

At this moment, seeing Lin Mu's gloomy face, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Lin Mu tapped the wooden chair lightly with his finger a few times, then said to Yun Feiyang, "This matter can be done by Qingyang Sect, or it can be done by other sects. You decide for yourself whether to be the ruler of Heavenly Dao Sect or to be annexed?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Feiyang's eyes flickered continuously. After only a few seconds, he made his decision.

He looked at Li Xiaoting with cold eyes, then suddenly drew his sword and struck at Li Xiaoting.

The sword qi did not directly strike Li Xiaoting's body but tore open a rift beside him. As soon as the rift appeared, it rapidly expanded to the length of a person, directly sucking Li Xiaoting in.

Everyone was surprised that the Sect Master would suddenly act, and they all took a step back in unison. Only after Li Xiaoting was sucked into the rift did they collectively gasp in cold air.

Although they didn't know where Li Xiaoting was sucked to, they were certain that from then on, this person would no longer exist in the world.

"Anyone who speaks further will be charged as a traitor, and their fate will be the same as his," Yun Feiyang said, his gaze sweeping over everyone.