Chapter 4055: Wanting To Put A Puppet Patriarch

Zhenyu’s expression turned mocking. "How convenient. Accuse the future Patriarch of being a traitor, then kill him before anyone can question the accusation."

"That was essentially what happened."

"Did the Patriarch believe them?"

"Initially, no. He believed they were fabricating excuses to escape punishment. However, the investigation eventually revealed that the attackers had indeed received those orders through the Lightless Hall’s internal command structure."

The Grand Elder sighed. "They had been provided with fabricated evidence concerning Wen Wu’s supposed betrayal. Several believed they were carrying out a legitimate assignment to protect the sect."

Lin Mu considered the implications. The attackers had been deceived into murdering the future Patriarch. That meant the true culprits were the individuals who had issued the orders.

"And who gave those orders?" Zhenyu asked.

The Grand Elder’s expression darkened. "Senior has likely already guessed."

"The Hopeful Star Pavilion?"

"Yes." The Grand Elder nodded gravely. "Several influential members of the Hopeful Star Pavilion had gained control over important parts of the Lightless Hall. They used that authority to arrange Wen Wu’s assassination."

Zhenyu’s eyes narrowed. "Why?"

The Grand Elder hesitated before answering. "Because they wanted someone else to become Patriarch."

Silence settled within the Clarity Reversal Bead. Lin Mu had suspected that ambition played a role in the matter, but the explanation still revealed just how far the conspirators had been willing to go.

The Grand Elder continued, "By that period, certain members of the Hopeful Star Pavilion had accumulated considerable wealth and influence. Their ambitions extended far beyond the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect. They had established connections with other organizations, merchant groups, and powerful cultivators across the Immortal Realm."

He paused briefly. "However, they still needed a secure foundation within the sect itself. Having one of their own members ascend to the position of Patriarch would have provided them with tremendous authority and resources."

"And Wen Wu stood in their way," Zhenyu concluded.

"Exactly." The Grand Elder nodded. "Wen Wu had already earned the trust of the current Patriarch and many senior elders. His succession was almost guaranteed. The conspirators knew that removing him would create an opportunity for their preferred candidate."

Zhenyu let out a cold laugh. "So they murdered a promising disciple for the sake of putting their own puppet on the Patriarch’s throne."

The Grand Elder did not object to that description. "The Patriarch reached the same conclusion."

"And what did he do?"

"He ordered the Lightless Hall to be disbanded immediately." The Grand Elder’s expression grew grave.

"All individuals directly involved in the conspiracy were apprehended and executed. Those who had knowingly assisted the assassination were also punished, while others were subjected to investigations to determine their level of involvement."

Zhenyu nodded slowly. "And the Hopeful Star Pavilion?"

"That was more complicated." The Grand Elder sighed.

"By then, the Hopeful Star Pavilion had already expanded beyond the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect. Many of its members had established themselves in other worlds or joined other organizations. Some had become influential figures in their own right."

He looked toward Zhenyu. "Since the Pavilion was never an official division of our sect, the Patriarch had no authority to order its complete dissolution beyond the sect’s jurisdiction."

Lin Mu understood the problem as even a powerful Patriarch could not simply command independent cultivators scattered across the Immortal Realm to disband an organization. Especially if some of those cultivators possessed considerable influence.

"The members directly involved in the conspiracy were punished," the Grand Elder continued. "However, those outside the sect remained beyond the Patriarch’s immediate reach. Some severed their connections with the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect, while others withdrew from the Pavilion entirely."

Zhenyu stroked his beard. "So the Pavilion fractured."

"Yes." The Grand Elder nodded. "The executions removed several of its most influential members. The resulting investigations exposed internal conflicts that had been developing for a long time. Different factions began accusing one another, and many of the remaining members no longer trusted each other."

"Serves them right," Zhenyu muttered.

"Eventually, the Hopeful Star Pavilion ceased to function as a unified organization. What remained were scattered individuals and small groups who still maintained some of their old connections."

Lin Mu considered the explanation carefully. ’So the Pavilion’s downfall was tied to the Lightless Hall, but it wasn’t completely destroyed.’

That was an important distinction. If remnants of the organization had survived, then some of its secrets might have survived as well.

The Grand Elder continued, "Among those who remained were several individuals who had never participated in the conspiracy. They had opposed the ambitions of the faction responsible for Wen Wu’s death and were therefore spared the punishment that befell the others."

Zhenyu raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

The Grand Elder took a slow breath. "My grandfather was one of them."

Lin Mu’s attention sharpened.

The old man continued, "As I mentioned earlier, he had joined the Lightless Hall relatively late. He had also maintained connections with the Hopeful Star Pavilion through his family. However, he had no involvement in Wen Wu’s assassination and was cleared during the investigation."

Zhenyu nodded. "And the others?"

The Grand Elder glanced toward the Clarity Peak Head and she understood the gesture.

"My master was another," she said.

Zhenyu turned toward her. "Your master?"

"Yes, Senior. The former Peak Head of Clarity Peak."

Lin Mu felt a sudden realization. ’So that’s why she knows.’

The Clarity Peak Head continued, "My master had been associated with the Hopeful Star Pavilion for many years. She was also aware of the Lightless Hall’s existence, though her involvement in its activities was limited."

Zhenyu gave her a suspicious look. "And she was cleared too?"

"She was," the woman answered calmly. "She was vehemently against any sort of treachery and would never participate in things like that." She insisted.

Lin Mu now understood why she felt displeased when he had insulted the Hopeful Star Pavillion. Because he was essentially insulting her master as well.

The Grand Elder nodded. "Both my grandfather and the former Clarity Peak Head were among the surviving members who continued to preserve certain records and knowledge concerning the Hopeful Star Pavilion."

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