On the second day after returning from the secret realm, Sect Leader Lin Tiancheng summoned the nine elders for a meeting.
Yesterday, Lin Tiancheng received the answer from the Supreme Elder: without conclusive evidence, he would not interfere, but if there was conclusive evidence that Qin Xiao had killed fellow disciples, if the Sect Leader was unwilling to act, he would personally take action to eliminate the cancer for the sect.
Lin Tiancheng summoned the elders today precisely to lay things out openly. He knew the Great Elder would not let this matter rest, but at least on the surface, he wanted the Great Elder to give a guarantee.
In the sect conference hall at this moment, including Lin Tiancheng, there were eleven people in total. Qin Xiao, as the person involved, was naturally also called here.
"Since everyone is here, I won't waste words. The reason I summoned you today is to discuss the changes in the secret realm and the sect's future development."
Lin Tiancheng naturally wouldn't directly bring up Qin Xiao's matter, but first discuss the sect's development, bringing it up incidentally.
"Sect Leader, why is Qin Xiao present for such important matters?"
The Second Elder Yao Yongzhi spoke first.
Yesterday, the Great Elder had already sought him out, hoping he would stand on his side. Both sentimentally and rationally, he couldn't refuse, but the Great Elder found it inconvenient to directly target Qin Xiao, so today he would be the one to cause trouble.
"Elders, presumably you have all heard from your own disciples. Qin Xiao is one of only two people in our sect who has reached the second layer of the secret realm. Regarding those Beast-Control Sect remnants, no one understands them better than him. Naturally, he should be present."
Lin Tiancheng had long anticipated they would cause trouble and had already prepared his argument, and it was a relatively legitimate reason, so they couldn't say anything about it.
"Since that's the case, then what does the Sect Leader think? Speak, and we will listen attentively."
Seeing Lin Tiancheng say this, Yao Yongzhi couldn't refute for the moment and did not continue.
"This matter is not urgent. Let's first hear Qin Xiao talk about what happened in the second layer of the secret realm, then make plans accordingly."
Lin Tiancheng didn't directly bring up the matter, but first had Qin Xiao explain to the elders what exactly happened in the second layer.
"Since the Sect Leader wants me to speak, then I will report what happened in the second layer to the elders."
Then Qin Xiao roughly explained the course of events, largely the same as what he had told Lin Tiancheng.
As for those Beast-Control Sect remnants, he didn't know; after all, this was something from many years ago. He only recounted the course of events.
"Sect Leader, when the Beast-Control Sect was destroyed back then, we were not yet born. Perhaps the Great Elder understands this better than we do, after all, he has been in the sect for over three hundred years. Why not invite the Great Elder to tell us what exactly happened back then?"
The Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai suggested.
Among the eleven people present, only the Great Elder Yao Tiansheng, Second Elder Yao Yongzhi, and Third Elder Kang Zhengye had been in the sect for three hundred years or more.
Although the Fourth Elder Du Jiancong was also over three hundred years old, he joined the sect later and did not participate in the sect-destroying battle back then.
"What is there to talk about? Back then, we were merely disciples, just following the sect's actions. Moreover, the Beast-Control Sect was completely annihilated at that time. How could there possibly be remnants?"
The Great Elder said disdainfully. He didn't quite believe what Qin Xiao said.
"The Great Elder is right. Regarding the events of that time, we truly don't understand. We were just disciples and didn't know how the higher-ups decided. We heard it was about destroying an evil sect. The sect dispatched many people at that time, and we just followed along."
The Third Elder also added.
More than three hundred years ago, although they were considered geniuses of the sect, they were still quite young. Only the Great Elder had reached the early Golden Core stage at that time. He and the Second Elder were only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, so naturally they couldn't know the sect's decisions and the specific circumstances.
"Since that's the case, then let's not discuss past events. As for what Qin Xiao said about the events in the second layer, I communicated with the other three parties yesterday, and the situation is indeed as described. These Beast-Control Sect remnants used some unknown method to survive in the secret realm for three hundred years. If they emerge one day, they will surely seek revenge against us."
"Moreover, the Abyss Secret Realm is now essentially useless. The remaining Spirit Medicine Valley and Sword Tomb open once every ten years, and we still need to compete for spots. Now that we've lost the Abyss Secret Realm, our focus should be on competing for spots in the other two places."
Lin Tiancheng communicated with other forces yesterday, and everyone unanimously gave up on the Abyss Secret Realm. After all, geniuses who can reach the Soul Formation stage before fifty are extremely rare. Of course, this only refers to Qingzhou. Outside Qingzhou, there are some, but for such secret realm resources, they would rather give up than let outsiders get involved.
If they really invited outside help, it would be easier to invite a god than to send one away. They might even be excluded from Qingzhou's forces.
"Then what does the Sect Leader mean?"
Yao Tiansheng seemed to smell a conspiracy.
"My meaning is simple. The other two secret realms are also opening this year. The three secret realms overlap once every thirty years. The Spirit Medicine Valley opens in three months, and the Sword Tomb in half a year. Both these secret realms require obtaining spots through competitions. So I plan to cultivate three disciples with the best talent as our Tianyuan Sect's combat disciples to compete for spots for the sect."
Lin Tiancheng directly stated his plan.
"Then according to the Sect Leader's meaning, who are these three?"
Yao Tiansheng clearly already guessed Lin Tiancheng's intention.
"Currently among the younger generation of the sect, only two have Heavenly Spirit Root talent: my daughter Lin Shimeng and Yun Man from Seven Stars Peak. Moreover, they have both reached the Nascent Soul stage. You should have no objections to these two being selected, right?"
Lin Tiancheng first announced two candidates, but didn't mention the third person.
"I have no objection to these two. What about the third person?"
Although Yao Tiansheng also wanted to kill Yun Man, he knew he couldn't. Without evidence, if he killed such a talented disciple, forget how the sect would punish him, his foster father would personally take action to suppress him.
So Yao Tiansheng's target was clear from the start: kill Qin Xiao. Qin Xiao's life or death isn't a great loss to the sect. Even if punished, it wouldn't be severe, and all the events were because of Qin Xiao anyway.
As for Yun Man, he would continue searching for evidence. With evidence, even if he killed Yun Man, the sect could only swallow this grievance silently.
"As for the third person, naturally we should all recommend candidates together. If too many people are recommended, then we'll use a martial competition to determine the strongest one."
Lin Tiancheng naturally wouldn't directly designate someone either, but have everyone choose together.
"Then I recommend the Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue from my Immortal Sword Peak. Although not a Heavenly Spirit Root, she has a Top Earthly Spirit Root. Although her strength hasn't caught up yet, with such talent, if the sect focuses on cultivating her, presumably she can catch up soon."
Yao Tiansheng directly recommended his Personal Disciple Liu Xueyue, the disciple with the best talent currently at his Immortal Sword Peak.
"The Great Elder's recommendation is naturally good. I also know Liu Xueyue; her talent is indeed good and can be one of the candidates. Since the Great Elder recommended one, I'll also recommend one: Qin Xiao. Being able to escape from the second layer shows wisdom comparable to the Nascent Soul stage. Among the five who escaped, four were at the Nascent Soul stage, indicating Qin Xiao also has strength not inferior to the Nascent Soul stage."
Lin Tiancheng also took the opportunity to recommend Qin Xiao.
"I disagree. What qualifications does Qin Xiao have? A cripple who can't cultivate. Sect Leader, I firmly disagree."
The Great Elder guessed Lin Tiancheng would choose Qin Xiao and immediately stood up to oppose.
"Great Elder, don't get agitated. I said it's just a recommendation. Of course, if the Great Elder insists on opposing, then we can vote together. Everyone happens to be present."
Lin Tiancheng knew the Great Elder would definitely not agree, but he was also prepared.
"The Sect Leader insists on voting? Then I'll vote with you."
Yao Tiansheng had already communicated with various elders beforehand and was confident these elders would stand on his side. Even if you, Sect Leader, have two votes, you can't win against me.