Ye Fan's actions were akin to a political statement. After bringing Sect Master Ling out, not only the smaller sects but also the six major sects, including the Tianxuan Sect and the Huangji Sect, felt a sense of unease. They knew well how ambitious Sect Master Ling had once been, and many sects had survived only by relying on their mountain gate's restrictions.

Now that Sect Master Ling was free from restrictions and appeared before everyone, all seven sects' masters were present at once.

"That's the Sect Master of the Earth Origin Sect, whose cultivation is above the Transcendance Tribulation Stage. Is she really under the command of the Alliance Hierarch?"

"Haven't you heard? Sect Master Ling lost to the Alliance Hierarch. She's the defeated, probably just his female slave now!"

"Judging by her demeanor, it seems she dares not act recklessly. So, this generation's Sect Master Ling is actually a woman!"

The voices of discussion were many, and although they spoke in low tones, thinking they could communicate using secretive methods without being overheard, these words fell clearly on the ears of those with high cultivation, including Sect Master Ling herself. Hearing this, she felt a sense of anger in her heart. How could she, a grandmaster-level figure, be so belittled and regarded as a female slave? How could she resign herself to this?

Ye Fan came forth and said, "This is the second gathering of the seven major sects' masters. I have already sent people to explore the underground structure beneath the Death Sea and discovered an entrance to a subterranean cave. Everyone, please."

The members of the seven major sects remained silent, following behind Ye Fan towards the direction of the entrance to the Death Sea's cavern. The master of a small sect stepped forward, saying, "Alliance Hierarch Ye, with your high cultivation levels and that of the sect masters, entering the cave poses no danger to you. We are merely members of small sects. May we wait by the shore?"

"If you're afraid of death, just say so. Why make so many excuses? If you don't want to go down, my Huangji Sect will eliminate those of you who harbor ill intentions for Young Master Ye. Don't believe me? Try it!" Huang Ze seemed just like a staunch believer of Ye Fan at this moment, speaking up for him.

People of the Huangji Sect have always been domineering and unreasonable. Many smaller sects had been oppressed for a long time. Threatened by Huang Ze now, they dared not express their desire to stay by the shore.

They began to regret attending the meeting, thinking they might have been safer staying within their mountain gates.

As they were contemplating this, Sang Yuan suddenly appeared before Ye Fan, bowing respectfully, and said, "Young Master, I have dispatched people to subjugate one hundred sixty-three notable sects in the secret realm who refused to attend today's meeting. Some resisting sect leaders have all been captured. Please, Young Master, decide their fate!"

"Ah?" The words caused an uproar among those present.

A moment ago, they thought of simply ignoring the invitation. Now they realized Ye Fan not only anticipated this move but had already sent people to eliminate those sects that did not come.

Although Hai Wuzi supported Ye Fan, she walked over with a troubled expression and said, "Young Master Ye, you are..."

"Sect Master Hai, rest assured, everything I do is for the greater good of the secret realm. Even if those sects refuse to attend, I would never resort to extermination. Persuasion will still be the priority. However, if some sects are truly stubborn, I can only temporarily put them at a disadvantage. I won't imprison them but will monitor them to prevent actions that might endanger the secret realm and all beings!" Ye Fan's tone carried a sense of authority.

Even among established sects, the principle of "those who follow me thrive; those who oppose me perish" is prevalent. Now, Ye Fan also promised not to resort to massacre or imprison the opposing sects but only to monitor them. This was considered benevolent. Ye Fan understood that these small sects were, at most, mere lackeys for those with malicious intent in the shadows. They didn't have the capability to threaten the secret realm or cause a heavenly calamity.

Hai Wuzi nodded and said, "Young Master Ye's actions are truly benevolent."

Someone in the crowd questioned, "How do we know if Alliance Hierarch Ye is being honest? What if he talks of mercy here but tortures those sect members elsewhere to force them into submission?"

"Who dares to speak to Young Master Ye like this?" Huang Ze shouted. "If Young Master Ye can consolidate the seven major sects and each sect's force within the Pan Gu secret realm, is he someone who would break his promises?"

Ye Fan observed Huang Ze. He never imagined Huang Ze would speak up for him so fervently, as if Huang Ze had changed fundamentally.

With Huang Ze's words, none of the seven major sects' masters questioned Ye Fan, and others dared not speak up either.

Ye Fan was now the absolute authority, and challenging him was likely courting death. Everyone had to weigh their cultivation level. For most cultivators, their purpose wasn't to attain immortality. Given their sects could never reach ascension in a lifetime, they pursued a few more centuries of life, chasing an unreachable dream.

In face of absolute authority, they preferred to preserve themselves by conforming.

...

...

The group flew to the air over the Death Sea, where Ye Fan previously broke the Death Spirit Array's eye.

There were already more than ten cultivators waiting in mid-air. Among them were both men and women, all clad in black robes, currently working together to cast an array, causing a massive vortex to appear on the Death Sea's surface, revealing the entrance to the sea-bottom cave.

Those more than ten cultivators had cultivation levels above the Divinity Transformation Stage and were Sang Yuan's subordinates, now all under Ye Fan's command.

Seeing the underground entrance already open, Ye Fan gestured and said, "Everyone, please."

Even Huang Ze, who previously supported Ye Fan, dared not enter the vortex first. The situation below was unknown; should there be a trap inside, entering would mean death.

But Ye Fan considered their concerns and sent Sang Yuan's men in first to pave the way. Only afterward did Ye Fan, the seven major sects' masters, along with Li Zhaojun, Sang Yuan, and others descend to the seabed.

The Death Sea's depth reached no more than a hundred meters. This was not actually an ocean, but a saltwater lake, only vast enough to resemble the ocean on Earth.

After a moment of darkness, the party's feet touched the substantial ground. When everyone steadied themselves in their confusion, the initially sent cultivators had illuminated the entrance of the underground cave with luminous stones. This was indeed a massive underground graveyard, littered with debris and bones—both animal and human. Based on the timing, these humans and animals had died at least tens of thousands of years ago.

Hai Wuzi, knowledgeable and experienced, said, "This is indeed a relic from the Middle Ages, but why has it remained hidden beneath the Death Sea for so many years and yet undiscovered?"

Huang Ze sneered, "Sect Master Hai, you must have forgotten often. Don't you remember? It was Young Master Ye who unlocked the Death Spirit Array and revealed the secret. Since the Death Spirit Array had gone unbroken for millennia, there must have been cultivators maintaining it. These people might be the descendants of those sects that disappeared during the Middle Ages or those with ulterior motives."

Suddenly, a shrill, miserable scream echoed from afar. The more than two hundred people who had descended together immediately fell silent; no one knew what had just occurred in the distance.

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