535: Chapter 535 Taking advantage of someone's misfortune, then rushing to pledge loyalty after learning of their growing power.

After several days of deliberation, Xu Ruyu, Xiao Nianyin, the Grand Elder, and others finally made a decision—to return to the old site of the Hehuan Sect.

Ever since it was raided by the Meiying Sect last time and the Hehuan Sect was forced to relocate, the ancestral grounds of the Hehuan Sect had remained vacant.

Later, Xu Ruyu took everyone to Tianyin Mountain to seek refuge with the Taihu Clan, and the ancestral grounds were completely abandoned.

Now, with Xiao Nianyin's Breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm, the Hehuan Sect had leaped into becoming a top-tier power in the Cultivation World, no longer needing to worry about anyone else's opinion.

Reclaiming the ancestral grounds and rebuilding the mountain gate was exactly the right time.

Moreover, after the incidents with the Taihu Clan and the Tianyan Sect, everyone understood one principle—in the Cultivation World, any behavior that relies on others is naive and laughable.

The Taihu Clan could turn hostile at a moment's notice, and the Tianyan Sect could threaten them at any time. Without their own territory and their own Foundation, they would forever be rootless duckweeds, subject to bullying by others.

Only by being strong and possessing their own territory could they truly establish themselves.

"The Sect Master is right." The Grand Elder stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "The Hehuan Sect's ancestral grounds are the Foundation our predecessors managed for hundreds of years; they cannot be occupied by outsiders.

This time, no matter who is occupying them, we must take them back."

Hua Xunhuan also nodded: "That's right! Although our Hehuan Sect has gone through a major disaster, now that Junior Sister Nianyin has achieved a Breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm, and we have up-and-coming talents like Leng Ningshuang, Zhao Yan, and Ning Caihe, plus the Spiritual Artifacts of the Sect Master, which Sect in the Cultivation World would dare to underestimate us?"

Granny Liu leaned on her cane and slowly spoke: "However, this old one has heard that the ancestral grounds have already been occupied by some small Sects.

If we go back, a fight will be inevitable.

The Hehuan Sect now only has about three hundred Disciples left, and we cannot afford any more accidents. Sect Master, we must act with caution."

Xu Ruyu waved his hand and smiled: "Don't worry, Granny Liu. They are just a few small Sects; we can just drive them away. They won't be able to stir up any trouble.

With Xiao Nianyin here, who would dare to refuse?"

Xiao Nianyin glanced at him without saying anything, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, carrying a faint trace of a smile.

Leng Ningshuang stood to the side, and upon hearing Xu Ruyu's words, she felt more at ease.

That's right, with Xiao Nianyin here, with Xu Ruyu here, what was there to be afraid of?

The members of the Hehuan Sect packed their bags and marched in a grand procession toward the ancestral grounds of the Hehuan Sect.

They did not travel fast because many Disciples were still injured and needed to recuperate.

Xu Ruyu was not in a hurry either; after all, the ancestral grounds were there and couldn't run away.

Along the way, they crossed mountains and rivers, walking and stopping, living quite freely.

One day, they stopped to rest in a small town.

Xu Ruyu was drinking tea in the inn when a Disciple hurried in with a strange expression on his face.

"Sect Master, there is news."

Xu Ruyu put down his teacup: "What news?"

The Disciple swallowed and said cautiously: "Our ancestral grounds have indeed been occupied by a few small Sects. However... however, someone is already helping us drive them away."

Xu Ruyu raised an eyebrow: "Who?"

The Disciple said: "It is... it is those few Elders who betrayed the Hehuan Sect in the past.

Yun Hezi, Qingfengzi, Mingyuezi... they brought the Disciples under their command and arrived at the ancestral grounds before us, and are currently in a standoff with those small Sects.

They even threatened that the Hehuan Sect is coming back, telling those small Sects to get out quickly, or they won't be polite."

Xu Ruyu was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

In that smile, there was mockery, disdain, and a kind of indescribable... coldness.

"Oh? They are quite proactive." Xu Ruyu picked up his teacup and took another sip, "We haven't even arrived yet, and they are already worrying for us."

The Grand Elder's expression also changed.

He certainly remembered those people.

Yun Hezi, Hehuan Sect Law Enforcement Elder, Early Stage of Tribulation Transcendence; Qingfengzi, Hehuan Sect Teaching Elder, Early Stage of Tribulation Transcendence; Mingyuezi, Hehuan Sect External Affairs Elder, Early Stage of Tribulation Transcendence.

These three people were considered high-ranking and powerful in the Hehuan Sect.

When Xu Ruyu first succeeded as Sect Master, they looked down on this "Qi Refinement Stage waste" and were afraid of being implicated by the Taihu Clan, so they took their Disciples and defected from the Hehuan Sect.

Before leaving, they even sold the news of the Hehuan Sect's internal emptiness to the Meiying Sect in exchange for a large amount of Spirit Stones.

It could be said that the subsequent disaster of the Hehuan Sect had a part of their contribution.

"Sect Master, do these people still have the face to return?" Hua Xunhuan's face turned red with anger, "When they betrayed the Hehuan Sect, why didn't they think about being part of the Hehuan Sect? Now that Xiao Nianyin has achieved a Breakthrough to the True Immortal Realm, they want to come back? Dream on!"

Zhao Yan also clenched his fists and said in a muffled voice: "Sect Master, we cannot let them return! These people betrayed us in the past and almost caused our Sect to be destroyed!

Now that they see we are strong, they want to come back and take advantage? No way!"

Ning Caihe did not speak, but his sword had already been drawn three inches from its sheath, with cold killing intent flowing on the blade.

Qingyan stood among the crowd with a pale face, but she did not speak.

She just looked at Xu Ruyu, waiting for him to speak.

Xu Ruyu put down his teacup, stood up, walked to the window, looked at the sky outside, and was silent for a moment. Then, he smiled.

"If someone is willing to clear the obstacles for us, then let them do it." His voice was very soft, but every word was like a knife, "However, thinking that they can make me let go of past grudges by showing loyalty at this time—they are dreaming."

He turned around, looked at the crowd, and said indifferently: "Let's go and see how they perform."

The members of the Hehuan Sect continued on their way.

This time, their speed was much faster. A few days later, they finally arrived at the ancestral grounds of the Hehuan Sect.

The Hehuan Sect's ancestral grounds were located on a Spiritual Vein, with continuous mountains and abundant Spiritual Qi.

In front of the mountain gate stood a huge stone tablet with the three big characters "Hehuan Sect" carved on it, the brushstrokes sharp and the Aura magnificent.

Only at this moment, the stone tablet was covered with dust and moss, and the mountain gate was dilapidated, clearly having not been maintained for a long time.

In front of the mountain gate, two groups of people were in a standoff.

On one side were the Disciples led by Yun Hezi, Qingfengzi, and Mingyuezi, about a hundred people.

They were wearing the old Daoist robes of the Hehuan Sect, holding Magical Artifacts, looking aggressive.

On the other side were the Disciples of several small Sects, about two or three hundred people. Although there were many of them, their Cultivation levels were uneven, and they were clearly not opponents.

These small Sects had taken advantage of the Hehuan Sect's decline to secretly occupy the Spiritual Vein and buildings here, thinking they had picked up a big bargain.