Return to the sect and face trouble

After thoroughly familiarizing himself with that power, he set off on his return journey, heading back to Tianxuan Sect.

Along the way, a gentle breeze seemed to caress him.

Ever since Elder Feng took charge of Sect affairs, Tianxuan Sect seemed like a bright pearl dusted clean, gradually revealing its auspicious glow.

“I wonder if those old fellows on Wanchao Peak are behaving themselves, hopefully they won’t stir up trouble again.”

Shen Fan pondered silently, then resolutely headed towards Qiu Tian Peak.

Qiu Tian Peak, the former residence of Sect Master Xue Qiutian, was like a dazzling pearl within the Sect, its resources abundant, surpassing all others in the Sect.

Upon it, a Level 5 Spirit Gathering Array shimmered, as if a mysterious and mighty power gathered the world’s spiritual energy here.

The spiritual energy was thick like liquid, visible to the naked eye; taking a breath here was like absorbing the essence of the world, equivalent to several days or even months of arduous Cultivation outside.

As Shen Fan walked to the entrance of the main hall, he suddenly heard intense arguments from within, shaking one's heart.

“I absolutely disagree with clashing head-on with Lingjian Sect! What’s the harm in giving up a spiritual mine? Is it possible that without it, our Tianxuan Sect cannot stand?”

From afar, Elder Wan’s loud, somewhat forceful voice came.

“If we go directly for a hard line, what’s the difference from going to war with Lingjian Sect? When the time comes, both sides will be injured, how can that be a blessing for our Sect?”

Elder Feng’s face was ashen, like ink, as he sat in the Sect Master’s seat, his brows tightly furrowed, listening to the conflicting suggestions from the people below.

The other Elders, seeing this, chimed in one after another:

“Elder Wan is absolutely right! Our common enemy now is the Mystic Yin Enchantress Sect from Jiang Country! If we fight amongst ourselves now, wouldn’t that be digging our own graves? Let’s give this spiritual mine to Lingjian Sect, let them help us resist some of the Mystic Yin Enchantress Sect’s attacks, and we can take the opportunity to rest and recover our Origin Qi!”

“Exactly! Ever since the Sect Master passed away, our Tianxuan Sect has been like a crumbling mansion, plummeting, with many Disciples defecting, and some places can’t even pay their offerings anymore, how can we live like this?!”

“Elder Feng, as the Sect Master now, you must find a way to solve these problems!”

Hearing these words, Elder Feng was enraged, unable to hold back any longer, and slammed his hand on the table.

“Where did all the money from selling those substitute death skulls dug from the bone mine go? Did they all grow wings and fly away?”

Wanchao Peak sneered, a hint of mockery playing on his lips:

“I say, Sect Master Feng, where in the Sect doesn’t need money?

The Disciples’ offerings, resources needed for Cultivation, daily purchases for the Sect, one by one, which one isn’t a huge expense?

The daily profit from those substitute death skulls is simply a drop in the bucket, unable to cover these expenditures!”

Elder Feng retorted, “Since you can’t maintain daily expenses, then why do you advocate giving up the few remaining spiritual mines? Isn’t that cutting off our own retreat?”

Wanchao Peak spread his hands, shaking his head helplessly, “What else? Do you want us to risk the lives of our Disciples? We can’t even afford to pay the Disciples’ monthly stipends, who would be willing to fight for us?”

Hearing this, Elder Feng felt a splitting headache, and raised his hand to rub his temples.

He knew very well the profits from the substitute death skulls, which were enough to cover daily expenses and the Disciples’ monthly stipends.

He could conclude that a portion of these profits must have been embezzled by these old fellows.

But at present, many Sect affairs still required them to operate, and for a time, he was utterly helpless against them, feeling a surge of frustration in his heart.

...

...

At this moment, Shen Fan, standing outside the main hall, heard the argument inside clearly, and already understood the reason for the matter.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Fan quietly left Qiu Tian Peak, and then summoned all the inner and Personal Disciples from the seven inner peaks.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall, the argument yielded no results, and everyone felt agitated.

Suddenly, a noisy quarrel and dense footsteps were heard from outside the hall, causing everyone to frown, silently wondering.

Elder Feng’s face darkened, and he sternly shouted, “Why is it so noisy outside? Go check immediately!”

Before long, a hall guard Disciple hurried to report: “Reporting to the Sect Master, it’s Senior Brother Shen Fan who brought all the Disciples from the seven inner peaks!”

“Shen Fan is back?”

Hearing this news, Elder Feng shot up from his chair.

During the time Shen Fan was away, he felt as if he was sitting on pins and needles every day, with each day feeling like a year.

Now, if he were told to kill a Golden Core expert, he wouldn’t hesitate, picking up his blade and going.

But to let him govern this complex Tianxuan Sect, he truly felt powerless.

Just now, he was almost forced by Elder Wan and the others to abdicate the Sect Master position.

“Let’s go! Let’s go out and see what’s going on!”

Elder Feng made a decisive decision and led the way out.

Wanchao Peak and the others exchanged glances, their faces instantly turning grim, secretly thinking that something was amiss.

Just now, several Elders had united to try and force Elder Feng to step down and yield his position, and they were on the verge of success, but unexpectedly, Shen Fan, this “Cheng Yaojin,” appeared halfway through, ruining their good deed.

Everyone arrived outside the hall, only to see a dense crowd of Disciples from the seven inner peaks, a vast expanse of black.

Wanchao Peak looked around and found that his own peak’s Disciples were also clearly present, and his heart immediately burned with anger, as he sternly shouted:

“What are you doing here? Who told you to come?”

“Reporting to Revered Master, it…it was Shen Fan who told us to come!”

Wanchao Peak’s Personal Disciple nervously stepped forward and said.

Wanchao Peak pointed his sword at Shen Fan, his gaze like a torch, and sternly questioned, “Shen Fan, why did you bring these Disciples here? Are you trying to rebel?”

Elder Feng also cast a questioning look, but he did not speak, instead silently watching Shen Fan, his eyes full of trust.

He understood Shen Fan’s character and knew that there must be a reason for him to do this.

Shen Fan looked composed, walked straight over, and paced on the steps.

Facing the Elders, he calmly said, “I heard that our Tianxuan Sect is currently facing many difficulties, and even the Elders cannot solve them, is that right?”

“You, a mere Disciple, what do you know? Quickly tell everyone to disperse! Don’t cause trouble here!”

Wanchao Peak snorted coldly, saying with disdain.

“Elder Wan, don’t be so anxious, please listen to me slowly!”

Shen Fan smiled slightly and advised, “Just now, I heard from outside the hall that our Tianxuan Sect cannot even afford to pay the monthly stipends of ordinary Disciples, is that true? And regarding Lingjian Sect’s coercion, the Elders also plan to give up a spiritual mine to settle the matter, right?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

Wanchao Peak’s face was grim, his gaze fiercely fixed on Shen Fan.

“What I mean is, we discovered the bone mine, and we know best what its scale is. We also know full well whether the profits from the substitute death skulls produced there can cover daily expenses, but Elder Wan said that those profits cannot even cover daily expenditures, and even lost a lot of money. This makes me have to suspect that the Elders have embezzled this money!”

“Hiss!”

As soon as these words came out, the entire audience was in an uproar.

A mere Disciple dared to openly accuse an Elder of corruption; this was simply insubordination, an act against the natural order.

Everyone whispered to each other, discussing animatedly, their gazes towards Shen Fan filled with shock and doubt.

Has this Shen Fan lived long enough?

How dare he be so bold!