If you find this book on platforms other than Royal Road, Sufficient Velocity and my Patreon, then it has been pirated.

Sigh—Li Xueya breathed out deeply, as though a heavy stone had been lifted off her heart.

Soon after, Wu Ming, his second aide, also arrived, and Xu Mo finally had to halt his training session. He channeled his spiritual energy to cover the wooden sword, coating it in a faint glow. In the blink of an eye, it began shining with a light shade of grey mixed with bright white particles. The wooden sword left his grasp and traveled in a streak, cutting through the atmosphere with deadly precision before slowing down as it approached his residence.

Xu Mo controlled it carefully; small droplets of sweat formed on his forehead as a deep frown creased his usually calm and composed features.

'Fortunately, this time the sword didn't explode. But it's still a challenge to slowly dissipate the coating from the sword while also making it land perfectly where I want it to.'

Li Xueya and Wu Ming remained silent. For Li Xueya, being able to witness the everyday life of a Gold Core Realm cultivator up close was something she wouldn't give up for anything in the world.

The reason she had made such rapid progress was partly because the True Successor was almost like a mentor—he had taught her how to breathe in her first breath of spiritual energy.

A few minutes later, Xu Mo was unable to completely control the coating effect, and the sword exploded like a firecracker. His spiritual energy was simply too powerful for just a branch of wood. Not even a speck survived; it all dissolved into nothingness, like ashes drifting away in the air.

"Okay, you can speak now." Xu Mo allowed Wu Ming to talk. He had long since grown used to being embarrassed in front of Li Xueya and had become immune to such things. In his mind, the more nonchalant one acted in their own embarrassment, the less anyone could find a weak point to strike at.

"Master," Wu Ming began, "the number of males has seen a stark rise since the spread of your rumors."

Xu Mo only raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt, aware of Wu Ming's nature—he would explain everything even without being asked.

"I have investigated," Wu Ming continued. "According to what I've compiled and understood from the reports—after asking around and talking to the recently joined male disciples—they said that since the True Successor was already a tyrant, he would surely need an army under him to carry out his will. The male disciples only wish for the True Successor to ignore their minor offenses within and outside the sect, while they promise to swear allegiance only to you—not to the sect—through an oath to the heavens."

Xu Mo had long given up on trying to save his dying reputation. Instead, he preferred to fan the flames of those rumors—it would only prove that he was ineligible for marriage to the disciple of the Supreme Elder of the Verdant Sky Hall. On the other hand, Long Chen would also hear that Xu Mo had lost himself to worldly pleasures and was no longer someone worth keeping tabs on.

But he had never expected this.

"True Successor, the reason the females are leaving the sect is the same," Wu Ming continued. "Before, when the Saintess was here, the female disciples—despite the rumors about you—trusted that the Saintess would protect them from any harm. But after news spread that she had left the sect for good, the weaker female disciples no longer trust the sect to protect them if something bad happens."

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Xu Mo listened to both his aides' reports and rubbed his chin in thought. He couldn't understand how these people's minds worked. It wasn't as if other sects were any better—in fact, theirs was far superior in comparison.

"Think of a solution for the female disciples," Xu Mo said. "Wu Ming, compile a list of everyone involved in this from within the sect. Also, investigate if something has happened that I'm unaware of—no matter if it's elders, core disciples, inner disciples, or even outer sect disciples."

Xu Mo smiled faintly as he thought something ironic.

'Tyrant, huh? Did they forget that a tyrant is someone hated by all, regardless of whether they're male or female?'

Wu Ming, too, allowed a rare smile to appear. He had been feeling stiff, having not flexed his muscles in years—finally, he had a chance to let loose some steam.

"Wait," Xu Mo added, "also check where the first batch of disciples who dropped out went, and who they came in contact with before deciding to leave the sect." He said this to Li Xueya, who had almost started down the mountain. He felt the matter might be more complex than it appeared.

He closed his lips, and both aides took their leave. Xu Mo went inside his humble residence and took out a communication token—the one given to him by the Ancestor. Though he didn't want to disturb the old man, he still needed to gain his approval for something.

[Ancestor, this junior greets you and wishes you a long life. I apologize if I'm disturbing you, but this is somewhat urgent and linked to the sect.]

Xu Mo left a quick message, so that whenever the Ancestor had time, he would respond.

[Gather the council.] Xu Mo sent a second message to Grand Elder Long Bai. He needed to meet the elders and understand things from their perspective. He smiled faintly, imagining Yin Chen growing jealous, thinking Xu Mo held too much power. But in truth, he neither possessed such power nor desired any status.

He was merely biding his time—until Long Chen and the other protagonists left this domain far, far away. By then, he could continue advancing in peace for a while, until someone new appeared—whether villain or protagonist.

No sooner had Xu Mo called for the council than all the elders throughout the sect gathered in the True Successor Hall within minutes. Xu Mo was already waiting for them.

"I'm thankful that all of you gathered at my call," Xu Mo began. "But I hate to waste your precious time, so I'll get straight to the point."

His eyes swept across the hall, surveying every face. Although many elders were stronger than him, unfortunately for them, the Grand Elder was seated beside the True Successor, giving them a look that said: Disobey him, and see how I deal with you once we're outside.

There was complete silence in the hall—aside from the sound of everyone's breathing, not a single noise could be heard.

"I've heard some news," Xu Mo said evenly. "Disciples are leaving the sect."

"Not disciples—female disciples," an elderly female elder corrected, grinding her teeth in annoyance. She was still heartbroken to see her valley grow emptier as time passed, while her rival's peak continued expanding as new and talented male disciples flocked to it. Some had even come to her peak, but their ill intentions were too obvious, so she had them thrown out of the sect.

"And why is that?" Xu Mo asked—not the female elder, but the Grand Elder. He wouldn't believe that the Grand Elder could be unaware of something so obvious.

Even his aides wondered how the strongest person in the sect after the Sect Master could not know.

"Recently, the rumors surrounding you have gotten out of hand," the Grand Elder said gravely. "Since your face isn't widely known, some people have been going around committing crimes while claiming to be you—if they have the strength to back it up. Others use your name to threaten already fearful people within and outside the sect, taking advantage of them."

"How many have you dealt with so far?" Xu Mo asked, clenching and unclenching his fist as he thought bitterly, I'm the one being taken advantage of here, okay?

"About fifty or so," the Grand Elder replied. "But many are still working undercover and are hard to trace. It's clearly the work of evil cultivators, and I believe some nearby righteous sects are also fanning the flames."

The elders' eyes widened in shock. They had expected the True Successor to lash out at the Grand Elder—or even at them—and begin issuing punishments. But instead, they saw the True Successor and the Grand Elder holding a civilized discussion.

After all, the True Successor stood above everyone except the Ancestor and the Sect Master. In some ways, his worth might even surpass that of the Sect Master—since they had all heard that the True Successor, at a very young age, had already managed to reach the Gold Core Realm, an achievement unheard of except among truly exceptional individuals from the Verdant Sky Hall and other domains.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.