217: Chapter 217 They...refused

Half a month passed in a flash. As soon as Ling Hao returned, he convened a Sect meeting.

Moonshadow Sect, Sect Main Hall.

On the main seat, Ling Hao's expression was calm.

Below, the core high-level members of the Moonshadow Sect were gathered. Huang Yutong stood in the front row, reporting on post-war matters:

"Sect Master, regarding the Cangwu Southeast, apart from the three directions of southeast, east, and south, all other explored spatial rifts have been suppressed and sealed, and the main force of the True Demon Army that crossed the border has also been swept away and annihilated."

"Most of the surrounding large and small cultivation nations and Sects have already submitted, and in accordance with the arrangements, their Disciples have headed towards the Southeast Main Rift."

Ling Hao's gaze swept across the people in the hall. In addition to Personal Disciples like Chi Wanhe, and familiar faces like Huang Yutong and Hua Youyou, several Elders with profound auras and relatively unfamiliar faces stood solemnly on the right.

They were the powerful Loose Cultivators recently absorbed, and Ling Hao had already reviewed the list beforehand.

His gaze paused slightly on the three female cultivators at the head of the right side, revealing a trace of a gentle smile.

Name: Ximen Huaping. Age: 4452. Spiritual Root: Water/Fire (Earth Grade). Physique: Sun-Moon Physique (Unawakened). Realm: Body Integration 2nd Layer. Loyalty: 90.

Name: Shangguan Ping. Age: 4856. Spiritual Root: Metal/Fire (Earth Grade). Realm: Body Integration 1st Layer. Loyalty: 88.

Name: Hua Qingdai. Age: 4732. Spiritual Root: Wood (Earth Grade). Realm: Body Integration 1st Layer. Loyalty: 85.

Ximen Huaping wore a moon-white wide-sleeved fairy dress. Her figure was tall and curvaceous, and her face was graceful and dignified. Between her brows, there was a calmness born of having experienced the vicissitudes of life. Although there were fine lines of age at the corners of her eyes, they could not hide her past elegance.

Shangguan Ping stood slightly behind Ximen Huaping, dressed in robes, her temperament sharp. Hua Qingdai wore a verdant green Bilo gauze dress, with a few lifelike spirit leaves adorning her hair bun, and her body was surrounded by the aura of Spirit Pills.

These three, along with the several other Elders with equally impressive auras behind them, were the representatives of the top Loose Cultivators who had recently joined the Moonshadow Sect out of admiration.

Most of them had experienced severe loss of Lunar True Essence, their beauty fading, their path of the Dao covered in dust, and they were already on the verge of passing away.

The Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and the clear Dao Rhyme provided by the Moonshadow Sect were no different from a lifeline in a desperate situation for them, and some of them had even used this to elevate their Realm to a higher level.

"Everyone, you have worked hard."

Ling Hao's voice rang out in the main hall.

Ximen Huaping and the others hurriedly bowed: "Sect Master, you are too kind! Being able to join the Moonshadow Sect, receive the Sect Master's protection, and be nourished by the Creation Spring is a tremendous Opportunity for us! This is our duty; we dare not claim to have suffered!"

The other newly joined Elders echoed in unison.

Huang Yutong and the others also reported on specific situations such as Sect affairs, resource allocation, and Disciple recuperation. Ling Hao listened to each one and gave brief instructions.

After everyone finished their reports, Ling Hao turned his gaze to Chi Wanhe, Huang Yutong, Ximen Huaping, and the others: "You may all go and rest first."

"Yes, Sect Master!" Everyone bowed and withdrew.

In the large hall, in the blink of an eye, only Ling Hao, Yu Lingshuang, and Chi Shuying, who was standing to the side, remained.

The floor, paved with warm jade, was as reflective as a mirror, reflecting the figures of the three.

Yu Lingshuang went directly to Ling Hao's side. She took out a Jade Slip, "Sect Master, the situation in Cangwu Province has initially stabilized, but there are new developments. There is definite news from the Wanxian Dynasty that their Supreme Old Ancestor... Di Fuling, has returned a few days ago, and her cultivation is that of a 2nd Tribulation Loose Immortal."

Her cold eyes carried a hint of gravity, "With Old Ancestor Di's return, the momentum of the Wanxian Dynasty has surged, and the internal structure of the Cangwu Yuji Platform will surely be rewritten. Her style of doing things has always been strong and overbearing; she may take the Opportunity to consolidate power, and she might even take action against our Sect's influence in the southeast."

"Di Fuling?" Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, "No matter. Soldiers come to block, water comes to cover. We just need to do our own things, improve our strength, and consolidate our Foundation. The sky of Cangwu Province cannot change."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lingshuang felt a bit more at ease. As long as the Sect Master was there, the Moonshadow Sect had a pillar that could hold up the sky.

"By the way, Sect Master, I heard that you also brought back... the Merfolk Race on this trip?"

"Yes." Ling Hao nodded, "They wanted a quiet habitat, so I simply brought them back."

Yu Lingshuang nodded slightly, then as if remembering something, she added: "Deep in Fuso Province, it is rumored that there is also a Giant Race, whose Clan Chief is known as Kuafu, whose Physique can support mountains."

"Giant Race?" Ling Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, the curiosity in his eyes growing stronger, "Interesting... The vastness of the world and the strangeness of its living beings are indeed far beyond imagination."

As the Moonshadow Sect's territory expands, surely more strange races and wonders will be encountered in the future.

"Where do you plan to settle the Merfolk Race?"

Ling Hao withdrew his thoughts and looked at Yu Lingshuang, his tone relaxed: "Wangyue Lake."

"Wangyue Lake?"

A trace of surprise flashed across Yu Lingshuang's cold eyes, which then turned into helplessness. She had previously proposed settling her Revered Master and fellow Disciples (Hundred Flowers Sect) in the area near Wangyue Mountain.

But now the Sect Master wanted to settle the Merfolk Race at "Wangyue Lake"? She clearly remembered that place...

"Sect Master, if I recall correctly, there are no large lakes in the Wangyue Mountain area?"

Ling Hao, upon hearing this, calmly turned his gaze towards the huge carved window lattice on one side of the main hall, as if he had suddenly been attracted by the sea of clouds outside the window, and only gave a light cough: "Ahem... Now... there is."

Yu Lingshuang: "..."

Looking at her Sect Master's feigned natural profile, Yu Lingshuang felt a wordless emotion clogging her chest. She instantly understood why there had been a commotion in the direction of Wangyue Mountain a while ago.

At that time, she had sensed that familiar aura and hadn't paid it any mind.

Thinking about it now, the Sect Master must have used a Divine Ability to force a lake into existence near Wangyue Mountain, then settled the Merfolk Race at "Wangyue Lake," and then settled the Hundred Flowers Sect at the adjacent "Wangyue Mountain"...

Sect Master, you are... gathering everything you are interested in into your own backyard, right? The Merfolk Race, the future Hundred Flowers Sect (if settled at Wangyue Mountain)...

She could almost imagine the "lively" scene in that area in the future.

Yu Lingshuang shook her head helplessly, suppressed the awkwardness in her heart, and brought up the main business: "Sect Master, my Revered Master, as well as Senior Sister Linglong, Junior Sister Ling Ling, and the two Elders Hong Shao and Zi Su, arrived at the Six Ridges Giant City a few days ago. You were still in the southeast and had not yet returned at that time."

"Oh? They've arrived?" Ling Hao was a bit surprised, "You didn't arrange for them to go directly to Wangyue Mountain?"

Yu Lingshuang's expression was complex: "They... are unwilling."

Ling Hao stroked his chin thoughtfully. Unwilling to move directly into the place arranged for them?

It seems the high-level members of the Hundred Flowers Sect do not accept the Moonshadow Sect, or rather, do not accept him as the Sect Master?

He smiled: "That's fine. You make arrangements; if possible, let us meet officially in the Sect tomorrow."

"Very well." Yu Lingshuang agreed.

Ling Hao turned to Chi Shuying, who had been standing quietly to the side, her figure mature and charming, "Shuying, how is the construction progress of the Wind Spirit Sect?"

Chi Shuying smiled charmingly, "If the Sect Master wants to know, why not come and inspect—take a look?"

Ling Hao chuckled, "I think you are asking for a spanking, talking to me like that..."

Chi Shuying's eyes swirled with charm, overflowing with allure, "Isn't that so? It's been so long..."

Ling Hao took Chi Shuying and turned into a stream of light, leaving.

Only Yu Lingshuang remained in the hall.

She watched the direction in which the two had disappeared, and deep within her cold eyes, a look of worry flashed by.

She had already met with her Revered Master, Senior Sister, and the others privately, but the conversation had not gone very well.

Tomorrow's official meeting, given her Revered Master's temperament, and the two Elders Hong Shao and Zi Su... I fear it will not be peaceful.

As for Senior Sister Yu Linglong, Yu Lingshuang was actually a bit confused.