In the main hall of the Wushang Sect, more people began to enter.
"Niece Bingxin, oh my, we haven't seen each other for a while, and you've already advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage. Truly a formidable junior, while I am but a fading old woman!"
Yuan Bingxin, clad in a light blue fairy dress, sat in her designated seat with a cool demeanor. Upon hearing this, she immediately rose and replied with a smile.
"Aunt Hui, you flatter Bingxin. Bingxin has only achieved minor success; how can I compare to Aunt Hui, who is in the prime of her life?"
This statement was both humble and elevated Hui Ling Sanren.
Hui Ling Sanren found it quite pleasing.
"You are still as eloquent as ever."
Yuan Bingxin gave a faint, clean smile and then took a seat beside Hui Ling Sanren.
Although her temperament was aloof, she was not cold in her interactions. On the contrary, she was always considerate in saying and doing what was appropriate.
Yuan Bingxin's mother and Hui Ling Sanren were sisters, so there were some matters that Yuan Bingxin found inconvenient to ask others. She could, however, inquire with Hui Ling Sanren.
"Aunt Hui, what exactly has happened? The Sect Master hasn't issued a sect order for ten years, so why has he not only summoned all the elders to the hall for deliberation but also notified us juniors?"
Ever since her defeat in the competition at the Divine Revelation Academy, Yuan Bingxin had been eager to have another match with Bai Shengyi.
Unfortunately, she never found the opportunity later.
However, due to that defeat, her previously restless heart had calmed, and she had diligently entered seclusion within the sect to prepare for this year's Divine Revelation Grand Assembly.
As soon as she emerged from seclusion and was about to participate in the martial arts competition, she learned that the Divine Revelation Grand Assembly's matches were postponed. Then, she received the Sect Master's order.
"The back mountain of the sect has collapsed," Hui Ling Sanren whispered, covering her mouth.
Yuan Bingxin looked up in astonishment. "How could that be?"
The back mountain of the Wushang Sect was no ordinary, unattended forest or valley; it was the sect's "back garden"!
Although this "back garden" was also a forbidden area of the sect, where ordinary people were absolutely not allowed to enter, this did not prevent Yuan Bingxin from understanding its special nature.
As far as she knew, the back mountain contained eighteen ninth-tier killing formations and forty-nine Nascent Soul realm restrictions.
This did not even include any hidden elements.
As Yuan Bingxin was about to ask for more details, she saw two more people walk in.
"Red Valley Daojun and Bamboo Valley Daojun have also arrived!"
Yuan Bingxin was shocked. She knew that Red Valley Daojun, as the most powerful among the Three Daojuns of Wushang, had remained out of worldly affairs for many years.
What on earth had happened?
So many prominent figures of the sect had emerged!
By the time everyone had gathered, Yuan Bingxin had moved from sitting to standing by the doorway.
There were simply too many people, and they, as juniors, dared not act presumptuously in front of the elder generation.
Li Tingyun asked sternly, "Has it been investigated? Was the collapse of the back mountain caused by human intervention?"
Even though other sects had encountered various unexpected events within this short week, Li Tingyun still suspected that the collapse of the back mountain was man-made.
The Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall replied helplessly, "Sect Master, we have searched every part of the back mountain and found no anomalies. There is more than a ninety percent chance it was not man-made."
In fact, the entire Divine Revelation World had been in turmoil during this period.
The Wushang Sect's back mountain had merely collapsed, while the Xuantian Sect's main peak had fallen!
The thousand-year-old Bodhi tree of the Buddhist Sect suddenly bloomed, the Star Chessboard of Mount Junyu developed several cracks, and the statue of the Divine Maiden of the Profound Maiden Sect turned into ruins…
Besides the anomalies within each sect, various secret realms and dangerous places also experienced frequent accidents.
The Dragon's Tooth Heavenly Sea in the north saw its seawater flow backward, flooding three adjacent large cities. Fortunately, it was mostly populated by cultivators, so there were not many casualties.
In Fengtian Valley, the gathering place of demon cultivators in the south, many spirit beasts rioted. Had Demon King Lin Qingyu not returned in time, a beast tide would have almost broken out.
However, these were still not the most serious issues.
Li Tingyun said gravely, "I have summoned everyone here today to announce two extremely important matters."
"The first is that Red Lotus Daojun, Liu Tianyun, concealed his demonic cultivation identity, committed heinous crimes, and is utterly detestable. From this day forward, he is expelled from the Wushang Sect, and the Wushang Sect will no longer have Red Lotus Daojun!"
As soon as Li Tingyun spoke, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Red Lotus Daojun had always been popular within the Wushang Sect. With the crimson lotus on his brow and his refined demeanor, he had captivated the eyes of countless female cultivators.
Who would have thought he was a demonic cultivator!
Li Tingyun chose this volatile time to reveal Red Lotus Daojun's identity to distance the Wushang Sect.
Now, with the major sects preoccupied with their internal hidden dangers, they had no time to pay attention to other matters, and thus would not hold the Wushang Sect accountable for Red Lotus Daojun.
However, as the Wushang Sect was currently a first-rate sect, Li Tingyun had to express his stance to the outside world.
"Furthermore, there is another matter."
Li Tingyun spoke with a somber tone, and everyone fell silent.
"From this day forward, the sect is closed to the outside world. All inner disciples and elders are not permitted to go out without reason."
No one had expected Li Tingyun to make such a decision!
"Sect Master, please reconsider! The Divine Revelation Grand Assembly has not yet concluded. Closing the sect to the outside world might do more harm than good."
"Sect Master! The outside is currently an unstable period. As the foremost sect, shouldn't the Wushang Sect unite with other sects to do something?"
The Wushang Sect was not monolithic. At least, not everyone agreed with Li Tingyun's decision.
But Li Tingyun still stated forcefully, "This is an order! Disperse!"
The two individuals who had spoken earlier wanted to say more, but they saw Dongfang Honggu step forward.
"Respectfully obeying the Sect Master's order!"
Since Red Valley Daojun had spoken thus, everyone else had no choice but to comply and then disperse.
After everyone had left, Li Tingyun's face turned grim as he summoned his subordinate.
"Are the news from the Hundred Flowers Sect true? Is it indeed true that the sect disciples are unable to advance their cultivation?"
"Yes, Sect Master. Not only the Hundred Flowers Sect, but the Xile Sect even experimented by feeding a Golden Core late-stage cultivator a pill to boost their cultivation, preparing them for advancement. Not only did the heavenly tribulation fail to appear, but that cultivator also directly descended into demonic cultivation."
What the subordinate described was the greatest hidden danger in the Divine Revelation World today!
If cultivators could not advance, it would be as if their cultivation was in vain!
It was feared that the entire Divine Revelation World would descend into chaos!
And regarding the heavenly tribulation, Li Tingyun had never heard of a Golden Core advancing to Nascent Soul without heavenly tribulation. Even demonic cultivators would experience heavenly tribulation.
Li Tingyun's face darkened. "Issue a decree for all elders to restrain inner disciples. For the time being, they are to focus on solidifying their mental state and not be overly eager for advancement. Also, transmit this news to…"
…
On the peak of Mount Junyu, Mountain Master Hu Yu had been meditating for three days and three nights.
However, the cracks on the Star Chessboard had not only failed to recover but were also showing a tendency to expand.
She couldn't help but connect the celestial anomalies of a week ago with the images foretold by the chessboard.
"Is the chessboard pointing to Qin Si of the Divine Revelation Academy? Or to Red Lotus Dao... Demonic Lord?"
Mountain Master Hu Yu's usually gentle expression was now extremely solemn.
She stroked the Star Chessboard, her gaze deepening.
The Star Chessboard was her life-bound magic artifact. Its inexplicable cracking had severely impacted her cultivation. If it could not be repaired, she feared her cultivation might even regress.
But now, she had doubts about the Star Chessboard's previous prophecy.
Should she… calculate again?
"Mountain Master, Mountain Master Hua Ling has arrived."
Just as Hu Yu was hesitating, someone announced her arrival.