Chapter 1410: Disposal

Pure Nine Lotus Lanterns

Under the personal supervision of Qianxing, and with the cooperation of the Three Wonders, all matters concerning Ancestor Changchun were quickly investigated and clarified.

Fortunately, Ancestor Changchun had not cultivated too many followers in order to conceal his tracks. Apart from the Three Wonders, his only other recruits were some geniuses with the potential to form a Nascent Soul.

Originally, Wenren Xuewei was also a target for cultivation. However, her talent was too outstanding, causing her to stand out early in the Dao Academy. After mastering the Evergreen Technique, she became the most brilliant Cultivation Divinity prospect in the Immortal Sect, drawing significant attention from the other three factions. To avoid exposure, Ancestor Changchun did not directly contact Wenren Xuewei. Instead, he exerted influence solely through Nascent Soul cultivators of the Jumang lineage, such as the Peach Blossom Three Wonders. At the same time, he put Wenren Xuewei in the spotlight, drawing the attention of forces like Kunpeng onto her, while Ancestor Changchun secretly manipulated the Three Wonders to conduct various experiments, perfecting the final step of his Void Refinement.

"Based on the Three Wonders' confession and our investigation, the list of individuals involved with Ancestor Changchun is all here." After the investigation was complete, Qianxing personally brought Yuan Xu and Qingping to Chen Mobai for his decision.

"Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life. Although these individuals were followers of Changchun, they did not commit any acts violating the Immortal Sect's rules. They can be dismissed from their positions and demoted, and their descendants will not be employed for three generations." With a flicker of his spiritual consciousness, Chen Mobai had already read through the thick dossiers, effortlessly selecting most of the names on the list, and then spoke.

"Understood. What about the remaining individuals?" Qianxing was not surprised by Chen Mobai's decision. After all, he cultivated the virtue of holiness and was known for his benevolence. Moreover, the reason these people sided with Ancestor Changchun was not out of malice, but simply because they felt they should support their own lineage's patriarch, and even considered it an honor to be noticed by him. If they had known that Ancestor Changchun's ultimate goal was to absorb the Earth Essence Star to achieve Void Refinement, Chen Mobai believed many would have made the same choice as Wenren Xuewei.

Among the list of personnel, the one Chen Mobai regretted most was Zongzi, the chief disciple of Jumang, who was from his own generation. Due to his outstanding talent, he was favored by Ancestor Changchun and was deeply involved, being aware of and carrying out some of the actual operations. Zongzi's exposure was not due to the Three Wonders' confession. The latter had revealed everyone else but deliberately omitted Zongzi's name, seemingly to protect him. It was Qianxing who, based on subtle clues and the help of the Fangcun Scroll, deduced that there must be an influential person within the Jumang Dao Academy who served as Ancestor Changchun's informant and proxy after Taohua's departure. After all, Pei Qingshuang, being a backup body and serving in the Three Great Halls, was completely unaware of the truth. After a thorough investigation, Zongzi was uncovered by Qianxing.

Upon being discovered, Zongzi did not resist and confessed everything on the spot. It turned out that after he enrolled in Jumang, he unintentionally visited Peach Blossom Island during a late-night boat trip and met Ancestor Changchun. Under the latter's guidance, he was able to excel in the Dao Academy and become the chief disciple. Zongzi was considered a disciple of Ancestor Changchun. That's why, after graduation, Zongzi did not pursue a civil service career but remained in the Jumang Dao Academy. According to Ancestor Changchun's plan, once Zongzi formed a Nascent Soul, he would become the head of the Jumang Dao Academy, replacing the departed Taohua, and continue to oversee and control the lineage as Ancestor Changchun's eyes.

"Everyone, please share your thoughts on how to handle this." Chen Mobai put down the dossier in his hand and passed it to the others in the room. Although he could make a unilateral decision after the investigation results were out, he still summoned the representatives from the four major factions for the sentencing of these key figures.

As the only prominent and innocent figure of the Jumang lineage at the moment, Wenren Xuewei did not choose to remain silent and protect herself: "Zongzi and the others have consumed considerable Immortal Sect resources in their cultivation, and they haven't committed any grave evils. It might be better to spare their lives and let them atone for their sins by rendering meritorious service, for example, by leading the charge in the next expansion war."

"Unacceptable. What if they harbor resentment and defect to the enemy during the expansion war?" Grandmaster Beiming, as expected, was the first to disagree. Today, Narcissus and Yunhai were also present. Although not direct descendants of Kunpeng, they were nominally affiliated with this lineage. Moreover, with the Spirit Venerable now in the cosmos beyond the Earth Essence Star, Grandmaster Beiming stood taller than ever, clearly indicating his intention for severe punishment.

Wenren Xuewei asked, "Grandmaster Beiming, what do you suggest then?"

"Abolish their cultivation and impose life imprisonment." Upon hearing this, the cultivators from the four factions present immediately began to discuss amongst themselves. In the Immortal Sect's laws, this was considered a relatively severe punishment. For some, it was a fate worse than death itself, preferring to die rather than have their cultivation abolished.

"That's a bit too harsh." It was Yuan Xu who spoke. From Chen Mobai's earlier words, he sensed that the True Monarch intended to be lenient. Furthermore, while Zongzi and his group had indeed committed several acts violating Immortal Sect laws, such as colluding with the Ascension Cult and exploring the complete formation diagrams and operational rules of the Sky Veil Earth Network Grand Array, their offenses had not reached the severity requiring the abolition of their cultivation.

"Seal part of their cultivation and send them to labor reform." Qianxing, who had overseen the entire investigation process, understood that the vast majority of Zongzi's group had been misled by Ancestor Changchun and could be given a chance to reform. "However, the Three Wonders and Zongzi, as Ancestor Changchun's direct disciples, still need to be strictly supervised." Qianxing added this last remark.

The Three Wonders and Taohua were previously Ancestor Changchun's right-hand figures; after Taohua's departure, Zongzi took her place. Regardless, the bond between master and disciple still needed to be considered. Even if Zongzi was now highly cooperative, confessing everything and willing to accept any rectification, vigilance against potential retaliation was still necessary.

"Let the Three Wonders sweep the floors on the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, and send Zongzi to confinement in the Sea Region." Chen Mobai pondered for a moment before speaking. Everyone naturally complied with his decision. Grandmaster Beiming was initially somewhat dissatisfied, but upon realizing that the Sea Region was their faction's territory and Chen Mobai was entrusting Zongzi to their custody, he said no more.

Qianxing personally acted to seal the cultivation of the Three Wonders. Given their remaining lifespan, they only had over a hundred years left. Under the watchful eyes of so many Cultivation Divinities on the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain, their best outcome would be to die of old age.

"What about the Great Chun spiritual plant?" Yuan Xu raised a crucial question. The Great Chun was the Immortal Sect's only Tier-6 spiritual plant. Although Chen Mobai had already separated it from the Sky Veil Earth Network Grand Array, it still retained its Void Refinement realm. If Chen Mobai and the Spirit Venerable were to leave in the future, they might not be able to suppress it.

"I will take it into my Dharma Realm to spare you worries." Chen Mobai thought for a moment and felt he would have to endure the burden himself. Upon hearing his words, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Only Wenren Xuewei looked rather sorrowful. The Great Chun was the key to the invincibility of the Evergreen Technique. She wondered if she would still be able to borrow the power of the Great Dao of Life after Chen Mobai took it into his Dharma Realm. The cultivators from the other three factions had also considered this point, and Grandmaster Beiming couldn't suppress the smile playing on his lips. Without the Great Chun Divine Tree as a companion, the Evergreen Technique, although still a Cultivation Divinity art, would no longer grant its practitioners the ability of immortality and infinite trial-and-error. This would make it easier to suppress the Jumang lineage in the future.

"And what about the Immortal Peach spiritual plant, where Ancestor Changchun's primordial spirit was once lodged? Although it's only Tier-5, might it still harbor hidden dangers?" Grandmaster Beiming interjected with an additional point.

"I will take that one too." Chen Mobai nodded, indicating that there was no difference between one or two. Although a Tier-5 spiritual plant was no longer highly valued by him, having it would at least allow the Five Elements Sect to potentially pass down the Evergreen Technique to suitable disciples in the future.

"Thank you for your troubles, True Monarch!" Upon hearing this, Grandmaster Beiming immediately saluted Chen Mobai with a solemn expression. Without the Great Chun and Immortal Peach spiritual plants, the Jumang Dao Academy would effectively be devoid of its profound foundations. Coupled with such a major incident, it was estimated that after a few more generations, the Four Great Dao Academies would be downgraded to just Three. For their Kunpeng lineage, this amounted to achieving their most desired objective. The only regrettable part was not being able to seize the opportunity to overthrow Wenren Xuewei.

"I haven't toiled much; Senior Brother Qianxing has done the most work on this matter." Chen Mobai shook his head, then remembered something. With a wave of his hand, the World Gate standing on the Five Peaks Immortal Mountain instantly shrunk and landed in his palm. Having reached the Void Refinement realm, he could now control this Tier-6 magical artifact with a mere thought. He realized that this was indeed the Gate of Grand Void, capable of connecting to the Central Dao Field. If Gui Bao had swallowed it back then, it would likely have caused a stir in the Central Dao Field long ago. He wondered what the Grand Void Dao Ancestor's intentions were regarding this. Perhaps Chen Mobai would have died prematurely because of it, or perhaps he would have ascended directly, being taken to the Central Dao Field. However, given another chance, Chen Mobai still wouldn't take the risk. He would still restrain Gui Bao from touching the World Gate.

"At the Hanging Pot Dao Field, I obtained some Dao Merits, enough to purchase the three volumes of the Grand Void Heavenly Book that record the Great Dao of Illusion. Senior Brother, please accept them." After resolving the misunderstanding with Lao Xiaoyu on Star Gaze Peak, Chen Mobai had acquired ten Dao Merits. He was never one to hoard his merits without spending them. Seeing Qianxing reminded him of this, so he simply used the World Gate to place an order. The total cost was six Dao Merits. This was also considered part of his compensation to the Immortal Sect for the Seven Great Heavenly Books. After all, the Seven Great Heavenly Books of Genesis had already integrated into his Dharma Realm, serving as proof of his central investiture. These Genesis Heavenly Books were originally bought at a new book package price, but their full price was seventy Dao Merits, which Chen Mobai truly couldn't afford. Therefore, he decided to substitute them with these three volumes of the Grand Void Heavenly Book, which Qianxing could make use of. With these, coupled with Qianxing's years of understanding of the Great Dao of Illusion, the Immortal Sect would now possess a complete Tier-7 cultivation method for this Dao.

"Chunyang, isn't this too valuable? So many Dao Merits, if kept in the account, could perhaps be put to greater use by future generations of disciples." Qianxing was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this, yet he felt undeserving of using six Dao Merits by himself. After all, these Dao Merits, if used to purchase Tier-6 spiritual veins, would bring about a much greater improvement to the Earth Essence Star.

"Senior Brother, please accept them without worry. You have guarded the Earth Essence Star for the Immortal Sect for over a thousand years, even nearly suffering the annihilation of your primordial spirit during the Calamity of the Death God. Your contributions are immense; I believe you are worthy." Chen Mobai spoke, settling the matter.

"Congratulations, Master!" Yuan Xu was the first to congratulate Qianxing. He also cultivated the Great Dao of Illusion, though he followed the Demonic Path. Chen Mobai knew this, and if Yuan Xu could also attempt Tier-6 in the future, he too could study these three volumes of the Grand Void Heavenly Book. Yuan Xu felt this was also Chen Mobai's reward for his previous services, and he was very pleased.

"Congratulations, Ancestor!" After Yuan Xu, the remaining Immortal Sect cultivators present also reacted, congratulating Qianxing. In their view, this action indicated Chen Mobai's intention to support Qianxing in achieving Void Refinement. After all, the Immortal Sect's Twin Saints were equally renowned back then, and Qianxing's talent was no less than Baiguang's. With Baiguang already in the Void Refinement realm, if Qianxing could also obtain the corresponding Dao cultivation method, his chances of success would undoubtedly be high. Thinking this way, with four Void Refinement cultivators on the Earth Essence Star in the future, they could not only consider expansion wars but even contemplate fully unleashing the demonic thoughts of the Earth Essence Star to lure other demon-infected planets and earn Dao Merits. Therefore, everyone approved of Chen Mobai spending six Dao Merits to purchase the Grand Void Heavenly Book. After all, investment yields returns. If Qianxing successfully achieved Void Refinement, he might even earn back sixty Dao Merits in the future.

"After the Spirit Venerable emerges from seclusion, I will assist Senior Brother in unsealing the Tier-6 Heavenly Calculation Pearl, extracting your past life's Dao韵 from it and re-infusing it into you..." Next, Chen Mobai spoke of the arrangements to unseal the Death God Avatar, and Qianxing nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would focus on this matter hereafter.

After concluding these discussions, Chen Mobai teleported directly to the Jumang Dao Academy with Wenren Xuewei.

"Senior, I promised you that I would release you from the constraints of the grand formation..." Chen Mobai concentrated his spiritual consciousness and entered the consciousness sea space of the divine tree, speaking to the Great Chun Spirit, whose gaze held hatred towards him.

"My master is dead, and I no longer wish to live. You might as well kill me too." As soon as the Great Chun Spirit uttered these words, Chen Mobai knew she was still her naive self.

"Senior, it would be better to preserve your useful form. After all, though Ancestor Changchun is dead, if you can advance further in the future and master the Innate Great Dao of Life and Death, you might be able to find his true spirit, which has fallen into reincarnation, and reunite with him." If a Tier-6 spiritual plant refused to cooperate, Chen Mobai would only be able to forcefully suppress it. Given their past acquaintance, he offered her a nearly impossible future, giving her hope.

"The Innate Great Dao of Life and Death..." The Great Chun Spirit was simple-minded. After hearing this, she recalled that Ancestor Changchun had indeed said that the highest realm of cultivation for their lineage was this very Great Dao. If she could truly control life, death, and reincarnation, her master could live again!