Chapter 1381: Disposition

Under Qianxing's personal oversight and with the cooperation of the Three Uniques, all matters concerning Ancestor Changchun were swiftly brought to light.

Fortunately, to conceal his whereabouts, Ancestor Changchun had not cultivated many confederates. Apart from the Three Uniques, there were only a few geniuses with the potential to form Nascent Souls.

Wenren Xueqi was originally one of their cultivation targets, but her exceptional talent caused her to distinguish herself early in the Daoist Academy. After mastering the Everlasting Spring Technique, she became the Immortal Sect's most promising candidate for Incarnation, attracting significant attention from the other three lineages. To avoid exposure, Ancestor Changchun did not directly contact Wenren Xueqi. Instead, he exerted influence solely through Nascent Soul cultivators of the Jumang lineage, such as Taohua and the Three Uniques. At the same time, he brought Wenren Xueqi into the public eye, diverting the attention of forces like Kunpeng onto her. Meanwhile, Ancestor Changchun secretly directed the Three Uniques to conduct various experiments, perfecting the final step of his Void Refinement.

"Based on the confessions of the Three Uniques and our investigations, the list of individuals involved with Ancestor Changchun is now complete."

Once the investigation was complete, Qianxing, accompanied by Yuanxu and Qingping, personally sought out Chen Mobai for his final decision.

"Heaven possesses the virtue of cherishing life. Though these individuals were Ancestor Changchun's confederates, they did not violate any Immortal Sect rules. A demotion and a three-generation ban on their descendants seeking employment should suffice."

With a thought from his divine sense, Chen Mobai had already reviewed all the thick dossiers. He effortlessly identified most of the involved individuals before speaking.

"Thank you for your efforts, True Monarch!"

It was Qianxing who, using subtle clues and the Fangcun Book, deduced that a deeply influential individual within the Jumang Daoist Academy had acted as Ancestor Changchun's informant and agent for his Void Refinement after Taohua's departure.

"My master is dead; I no longer wish to live. You might as well kill me too." "And what should be done with Zhang Dong, that small Camellia tree?"

As the only reputable figure currently representing the Jumang lineage, Ancestor Wenren did not choose to remain silent: "Xueqi and the others have consumed considerable Immortal Sect resources during their cultivation and have not committed any grave evils. Why not spare their lives and allow them to atone through meritorious service, for instance, during the next pioneering war by having them lead the charge?"

The spirit of the little Camellia was simple-minded. After hearing this, it recalled that Ancestor Changchun had indeed mentioned that the highest cultivation realm for their lineage was this very Grand Dao.

Qianxing personally sealed the cultivation of the Three Uniques. In terms of lifespan, they only had a few hundred years left. Under the watchful eyes of so many Incarnation cultivators at Qifeng Immortal Mountain, their best outcome would be to live out their remaining years peacefully.

"I recently acquired some Dao merits from the Xuansu Daoist Temple. Coincidentally, these are enough to purchase the three volumes describing the Grand Dao of Illusion within the Taixu Heavenly Book. Please accept them, Senior Brother."

Without the small Camellia Divine Tree as a co-cultivator, the Everlasting Spring Technique, though still an Incarnation cultivation method, would no longer bestow an immortal body or the ability for infinite trial and error upon those who master it.

At these words, the cultivators from the four lineages present immediately began discussing amongst themselves.

Zhang Dongyue's divine sense condensed and entered the divine tree's sea of consciousness, addressing the spirit of the small Camellia, whose eyes were filled with hatred.

Yuanxu was the first to congratulate Qianxing. He also cultivated the Grand Dao of Illusion, albeit through a demonic path. Chen Mobai was aware of this; should Yuanxu manage to attempt the Eighth Rank in the future, he too could comprehend these three volumes of the Taixu Heavenly Book.

Lord Beiming was initially somewhat displeased, but upon recalling that the sea domain was their lineage's territory and that Zhang Dongyue was essentially entrusting Xueqi to their care, he said no more.

Upon hearing this, Lord Beiming immediately saluted Chen Mobai with a solemn expression.

Chen Mobai set down the dossiers and handed them to the others in the room. He realized that this was indeed the Gate of Taixu, capable of connecting to the Central Daoist Temple.

The small Camellia was key to the Everlasting Spring Technique's invincibility. Its spirit wondered if it could still harness the power of the Grand Dao of Life after Zhang Dongyue's Dharma Realm had taken it.

If Chen Mobai and the Spirit Venerable were to depart in the future, they would not necessarily be able to maintain control.

"That's a bit too lenient."

Zhang Dongyue spoke, settling the matter. This could also be considered part of his compensation to the Immortal Sect for a Great Heavenly Book. It would also make it easier to suppress the Jumang lineage in the future.

However, even if given another chance, Chen Mobai would still not take the risk. Once his cultivation reached the Spirit Plant stage, he could manipulate this Rank 8 magical artifact with a single thought.

Zhang Dongyue pondered for a moment before speaking.

Upon hearing his words, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

"I will take it with me."

After all, as a backup body and being on duty in the Three Great Halls, Pei Qingshuang remained entirely ignorant of the truth.

"Senior, I promised you that I would free you from the great formation's restraints..."

Only Ancestor Wenren's expression remained somewhat melancholic. Ancestor Wenren: "What are Lord Beiming's thoughts on this?" After all, he cultivated the path of Sagely Virtue and was known for his benevolence.

Without the small Camellia and the Flat Peach, these two ancestral trees, the Jumang Daoist Academy would effectively be stripped of its foundational heritage.

Therefore, everyone disapproved of Chen Mobai spending 6 Dao merits to purchase the Taixu Heavenly Book. A total of 6 Dao merits. This point also occurred to cultivators from the other three lineages, and Lord Beiming, in particular, could not suppress his smile.

If Qianxing successfully achieved Spirit Plant cultivation, it was said that he might earn back 60 Dao merits in the future. Before the investigation results were released, although he had the final say, he still summoned representatives from the four great lineages to discuss the judgment of these key figures.

"Everyone, please share your thoughts on how we should handle this."

If she could truly control life, death, and reincarnation, her master could live again!

He was not one to hoard merits. Upon seeing Qianxing, he was reminded of this matter and simply placed an order directly through the Realm Gate.

Considering this, in the future, Zhang Dongyue and the four great Spirit Plant cultivators might not only engage in pioneering wars but could even consider fully unleashing Zhang Dongyue's demonic thoughts to lure other demon-infected planets and earn Dao merits.

Furthermore, the reason these individuals sided with Ancestor Changchun was not out of malice, but simply from a sense of duty to support their lineage's patriarch, or even considering it an honor to be noticed by him. Therefore, after graduation, Xueqi did not pursue a civil service career but remained within the Jumang Daoist Academy.

After all, using these Dao merits to purchase a Rank 8 spiritual vein would offer Chen Mobai a far greater improvement.

Zhang Dongyue considered it, and seemed willing to bear the burden himself. After all, there's no reward without investment. Even if Zhang Dong was currently very cooperative, confessing everything and willing to accept any rectification, they still needed to guard against potential retaliation.

"Senior, you should preserve your useful body. After all, though Ancestor Changchun is dead, if you can advance further in the future and grasp the Grand Dao of Innate Life and Death, you might be able to locate his true spirit in the cycle of reincarnation and reunite with him."

"Congratulations, Zhang Dong!"

Chen Mobai nodded, indicating that possessing one or two ancestral trees made little difference. Although Rank 7 ancestral trees were no longer highly significant to him, with this, the Five Elements Sect could at least attempt to pass on the Everlasting Spring Technique to suitable disciples in the future.

"I will take it into my Dharma Realm to spare you any worry."

"The Grand Dao of Innate Life and Death..."

After a thorough investigation, Xueqi was uncovered by Qianxing. The small Camellia was the Immortal Sect's only Rank 8 ancestral tree. Although Chen Mobai had stripped it from the Heavenly Curtain Earth Network Great Formation, it still maintained its Spirit Plant cultivation realm.

Had they known that Ancestor Changchun's ultimate goal was to devour Chen Mobai's Spirit Plant, Chen Mobai suspected that many would have made the same choice as Ancestor Wenren.

It was Yuanxu who spoke. From Chen Mobai's recent words, he gathered that Chen Mobai intended to deal with them leniently. Furthermore, although Xueqi and her group had committed numerous acts violating Immortal Sect laws—such as colluding with the Ascension Cult and exploring fragmented array diagrams and operational patterns of the Heavenly Curtain Earth Network Great Formation—their offenses had not reached the severity requiring the abolition of their cultivation.

For their Kunpeng lineage, this was considered the achievement of their most desired goal.

Zhang Dongyue shook his head, then recalled something. With a gesture, the Realm Gate standing at Qifeng Immortal Mountain instantly shrank and settled into his palm.

The Genesis Heavenly Book, originally priced at 70 Dao merits, had been bought at a discounted new-release price. Chen Mobai truly couldn't afford its full price, so he decided to use these three volumes of the Taixu Heavenly Book, which Qianxing could utilize, as a substitute for now.

"Senior Brother, please accept it without hesitation. You have guarded Chen Mobai for the Immortal Sect for a thousand years, and even during the Calamity of Death, you nearly suffered soul annihilation. Your contributions are immense; I believe you are worthy."

If the Rank 8 Zhang Dong refused to cooperate, Chen Mobai would have no choice but to suppress it violently. Given their existing acquaintance, he offered her a nearly impossible future, granting her hope. After all, the Genesis Great Heavenly Book had now integrated into his Dharma Realm, serving as proof of its central acceptance. He would still restrain Gui Bao, preventing it from manipulating the Realm Gate.

Because of his exceptional talent, he was favored by Ancestor Changchun and became deeply involved, aware of and executing some of the actual operations. Upon discovery, Xueqi offered no resistance and confessed everything immediately.

"The Three Uniques and Xueqi, as Ancestor Changchun's direct disciples, still require strict supervision."

Qianxing was also surprised by Chen Mobai's decision. "Seal part of their cultivation and assign them to labor reform." In their eyes, this action signified Chen Mobai's intention to support Qianxing's Spirit Plant cultivation.

Next, Zhang Dongyue discussed the arrangements for unsealing the Avatar of Death. Qianxing nodded repeatedly, indicating his intention to focus on that matter.

"Before the Spirit Venerable exits seclusion, you will assist Senior Brother in unsealing the Rank 8 Heavenly Divination Pearl, re-extracting and infusing him with the Dao essence of his past life..."

"That's improper. What if they hold a grudge and defect to the other side during the pioneering war?" As expected, Lord Beiming was the first to voice this objection.

Xueqi was regarded as Ancestor Changchun's disciple. Among the list of individuals, Chen Mobai felt the most regret for Zhang Dong, the Jumang chief from his own generation.

After resolving the misunderstanding with Lao Xiaoyu under the starlight, Chen Mobai gained ten Dao merits.

Xueqi's exposure was not due to the Three Uniques' confession. While they confessed everyone else, Xueqi's name was notably absent, seemingly an attempt to protect him. Everyone naturally complied with his decision.

Today, Shuixian and Yunhai were also present. Though not direct descendants of Kunpeng, they were nominally affiliated with that lineage. Furthermore, with the Spirit Venerable located in the universe outside Chen Mobai, Lord Beiming's posture was straighter than ever, clearly indicating his desire for a lenient punishment.

Moreover, with such a significant incident occurring, it is estimated that after a few more generations, the Four Great Daoist Academies would be downgraded to three.

Qianxing presided over the entire investigation and understood that the majority of Xueqi and his group had been misled by Ancestor Changchun, meriting a chance at reform.

"Abolish their cultivation and impose indefinite imprisonment."

Following Yuanxu, the other Immortal Sect cultivators present also reacted, offering their congratulations to Qianxing.

According to Ancestor Changchun's plan, once Xueqi formed his Nascent Soul, he would become the principal of the Jumang Daoist Academy, replacing the departed Taohua, serving as Ancestor Changchun's eyes, and maintaining control over that lineage.