Liu Yunfeng gave a bitter smile, and with a face full of bitterness he said, "Saint Patriarch... sigh, I shouldn't really comment, but the old man truly isn't willing to handle these matters. Many years ago, the moment the Patriarch ascended to the Saint Realm, he declared that he had entered sainthood and would no longer concern himself with the mundane world. He could protect the sect from one existential crisis, but if there were another, he would not intervene again... This matter has also become the greatest secret of the Haoyue Sect. Because the entire Haoyue Sect needs the sanctity of this 'Saint' title..."

"Entering sainthood means no longer being a mere mortal? So in his eyes, everyone below a saint is just a mortal?" Zi Dao expressed disbelief, "Your Patriarch truly is heartless and ungrateful. Even the Great Saints weren't like this, were they?"

Liu Yunfeng sighed, "This is the Tiangang Great Domain, not the Luotian Immortal Domain."

With these words, although Chu Mo and Zi Dao still couldn't agree with the viewpoint of this Saint from the Haoyue Sect, they began to understand internally. The original Eight Great Domains, now reduced to Seven Great Domains—unsealed worlds where it isn't rare for supreme beings who have achieved the Great Dao to emerge, and where the chances of becoming a Quasi-Saint are high. But truly entering sainthood... that's too difficult! Even in worlds that have not been sealed, achieving sainthood is not easy.

Therefore, it wasn't so strange for the Patriarch of Haoyue Sect to develop such an attitude after entering sainthood.

In the entire Tiangang Great Domain, a Saint... is the strongest existence.

The Seven Great Domains below and the Luotian Immortal Domain, although interconnected, the truth is, countless cultivators below the supreme level might never have heard of the Luotian Immortal Domain. Even if they have, they would feel that world is too far beyond their reach.

"This is a good thing; the less the Saint Ancestor involves himself, the less pressure we'll face," said Chu Mo.

Zi Dao nodded in agreement: "That's right, it's best if he never shows up."

Liu Yunfeng also nodded deeply, genuinely fearing that the heartless Saint Patriarch might suddenly appear and obstruct them. But thinking about it, even the death of his own Master didn't disturb the old Patriarch, so probably whatever he and his brothers do, he might also turn a blind eye, right?

The three of them sped along, all wearing clothes that disguised their identities, and also changed their appearances. Led by Liu Yunfeng, the three brothers headed straight for Qingping Peak as mentioned by Zha Xiaojin—the place where Lin Xiu was imprisoned.

On the way, Chu Mo quietly asked Liu Yunfeng, "Second Brother, can we trust what Zha Xiaojin said? Should we investigate it first?"

Zi Dao also felt the same, whispering softly, "A person who betrays you once can betray you again. It's better to investigate first."

Liu Yunfeng frowned, "Qingping Peak... indeed is a place where the Haoyue Sect detains major criminals. But now that you mention it, I'm also feeling unsure. Let's investigate it then."

The entire Haoyue Sect was enveloped in a tense atmosphere.

All of Liu Yunfeng's sect lineage were annihilated, accused of colluding, betraying the sect, and plotting to swallow the Haoyue Sect whole...

People actually knew very well—colluding? With which enemy? In the entire Tiangang Great Domain, the Haoyue Sect is the strongest sect, without equal! Who so full would collude against them? Betraying the sect... that's even more far-fetched; countless people heard the profound Dao voice of Liu Yunfeng's Master, that Elder of Haoyue Sect—wrongly accused!

As for plotting to swallow the entire Haoyue Sect, that's even more absurd. One could say, in the whole Tiangang Great Domain, no one has the capability!

Because everyone knows, behind the Haoyue Sect stands a Saint!

Even if it was a conflict within the sect, if Liu Yunfeng's Master sought to forcibly rise to power, it would still be impossible.

Anyhow, this incredibly unbelievable incident, which not even three-year-olds would believe, unfolded within this top sect of the Haoyue Sect.

Those who died... were not merely Liu Yunfeng's brothers and sisters. It was countless lives! All related to that lineage were purged.

One could say, this was the most severe internal strife initiated unilaterally in tens of thousands of years within the Haoyue Sect. The purpose was to use the Liu Yunfeng incident as a pretext to completely root out the grassroots lineage within the Haoyue Sect!

Because today's Haoyue Sect, now a sect with a Saint, has become the most powerful sect in the Tiangang Great Domain, a true noble sect. The self-righteous clan, which already despised Liu Yunfeng's Master's practice of finding disciples from ordinary families, thought this utterly demeaned the Haoyue Sect.

Now that they found the opportunity, how could they let it pass?

But this round of killings did not completely eliminate all the commoners from Haoyue Sect, so, the surviving disciples of Haoyue Sect felt extremely unsafe. They feared being purged at any moment. But now, they dared not even flee, because once they did, it would give those in power within the Haoyue Sect countless excuses.

How much slander would then be cast upon them in an instant? A group of people without a voice, what could they use to defend themselves? How would they protect themselves?

Thus, the usually very active Haoyue Sect became quiet virtually before the sun had even set.

Liu Yunfeng, well-acquainted with the path, led Chu Mo and Zi Dao stealthily into an ancient building.

"This is where the outer disciples of Haoyue Sect reside," Liu Yunfeng communicated telepathically to them.

Chu Mo, somewhat puzzled, telepathically asked, "Outer disciples... how would they know where my sister-in-law is imprisoned?"

Liu Yunfeng shook his head, indicating he had things under control.

Chu Mo and Zi Dao thus refrained from asking further questions.

Afterward, Liu Yunfeng ambled through multiple turns and entered a vast mansion. The courtyard was cold and silent, without a single sound.

The three of them passed through pavilions and over water, through a considerable stretch of forest, and finally arrived at the deepest part of the courtyard.

There, a few rooms were arranged, among which one still had a light on.

Liu Yunfeng barely opened his mouth when suddenly a bird call rang out. The sound was subtle, resembling that of birds in the mountains.

However, the room with the light instantly dimmed. Soon, the light flickered back on.

Liu Yunfeng signaled for the two to follow him and swaggered into that room.

In the room, sat an elderly man, whose cultivation level was inscrutable. Yet his eyes gave Chu Mo and Zi Dao a feeling: This elder was no ordinary man.

The elder, upon seeing Chu Mo and Zi Dao, seemed slightly surprised, but said no unnecessary words. Instead, he gestured for the three to sit.

Liu Yunfeng remained standing, knelt down with a thud, and tears began to flow.

The elder's eyes reddened; he raised his hand towards the sky, sighed softly, and with a wave of his hand, set up a barrier within the room.

Then he softly said, "You've finally returned. When they went to capture you, I knew they couldn't get you and that you would surely return. Xiu' er is at Tiger Ridge, go and rescue her. Then leave directly for the Trial Field and never come back."

"Grandfather!" Liu Yunfeng looked at the elder, "Come with me!"

"I am old," the elder's face revealed a benevolent smile, and he lightly chuckled, "Don't worry. Here, no one will bother me."

Chu Mo and Zi Dao exchanged looks, unsure of the relationship between Liu Yunfeng and the elder.

Liu Yunfeng took the initiative to explain, "Grandfather is my Master's lifesaver and the one who brought my Master into Haoyue Sect. He adopted my Master as his child. Later, he saved my Master two more times, rescuing him three times in total. He also saved my life thrice; had it not been for him, I would have long died. But these matters, known to less than three people in Haoyue Sect, have all passed away. Grandfather is one of the most senior venerables in Haoyue Sect, his power has reached the peak of Quasi-Saint. If not for a grievous injury suffered years ago, grandfather might have already ascended to saintship."

Astonished reverence dawned on Chu Mo and Zi Dao; from Liu Yunfeng's few words, they understood. This Grandfather must be a great cultivator hidden within Haoyue Sect. Not exactly a person from Haoyue Sect, yet closely connected to it.

"They acted too quickly. By the time I thought of rescuing your Master, it was already too late... prejudices birth slaughter," the elder murmured with a soft sigh, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

"Grandfather," Zha Xiaojin told me that Xiu' er is confined at Qingping Peak," Liu Yunfeng, placing immense trust in the elder, voiced his doubts.

The elder shook his head, "That's a trap they set just in case. Nowadays, there should be four Quasi-Saints at Qingping Peak."

Unable to help himself, Liu Yunfeng gasped and looked at Chu Mo and Zi Dao, a flicker of fear passing through his eyes.

Honestly, if he had rushed in as he had intended, it would likely have been falling into the enemy's trick. Four Quasi-Saints could not detain them, but rescuing Lin Xiu would be impossible.

"Go quickly, child, any delay might lead to unforeseen changes," Grandfather waved at Liu Yunfeng.

"Grandfather... are you really not leaving?" Liu Yunfeng's eyes turned red as he spoke emotionally: "What's the point of staying in this heartless, unrighteous sect?"

Grandfather sighed, "My life expectancy is short..." observing Liu Yunfeng about to speak, Grandfather calmly smiled, "Everyone eventually dies, and it's an inescapable fate. Do not be saddened; returning to the dust is the best outcome."

Leaving Grandfather's place, Chu Mo covertly transmitted to Zi Dao, "This elder seems resigned to his fate."

Zi Dao responded, "I saw it too. When he said his life was running out, that intent flashed through. You can tell he's restraining himself, the loss of his second disciple affected him deeply. Though he has no biological children, the bond... it's just like that with one's own children!"

Liu Yunfeng remained silent, speeding toward Tiger Ridge. His heart equally knew Grandfather's sorrow and choices yet he was powerless to stop them. Having asked twice if Grandfather would leave with him and being refused, he understood.

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Delivered at the third night watch, seeking recommendation votes!!!

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