(MC POV)

For some reason, they had decided the meeting to take place in my courtyard instead of the Grand Hall or even Sect Master Qing's courtyard. Their reasoning being that Phoenix Sect was submitting to me, whatever that meant.

The whole set up was quite elaborate as well, which frankly in my opinion was just going a little bit too far.

I had expected it to be an informal thing where Sect Master Feng would come to meet with me and discuss the terms but everyone else apparently did not think so.

They had all the other Elders and Masters attend it alongside with almost all the Elite and Inner Core Practitioners. Sect Master Qing had chosen to stand beside me even though I insisted on him taking a seat which he vehemently declined for some reason.

Sophia stood on my other side mirroring Sect Master Qing which was natural considering she was there as my 'assistant'.

I would have thought my disciples would need to join the other Elite Practitioners below but Sect Master Qing had allowed them to stand behind me like they were some sort of overseers.

I really don't get the basis of all this.

Well, I didn't mind that arrangement in the slightest though I realised my disciples kept glaring at Sophia for some reason, especially when she got closer to me to speak with me. Maybe they don't trust her yet?

Well, can't blame them, she did have a history with the Dark Sect before, no matter how brief it was. They should grow to trust her after living together for some time, right?

"So… Why do we have to make this such a big event again?" I whispered to Sect Master Qing.

Sophia answered me instead, "This involves the top two Sects merging, Master Lin. No doubt news of this would have already spread around and others are already watching this unfold. Some people might even want to stop this from happening."

I frowned, "It's only been a day and don't the other Sects have their own persecutions to worry about?"

"Gufufu~ That is just simply human nature, Master Lin. Even when they are falling in a ditch, they would pull down anyone they see that is hanging onto the ledge."

Well, she's got a point there.

Cracking my neck, I asked, "So how long are we supposed to wait for them?"

Just as those words left my lips, there was a high pitched shriek from the sky.

Everyone looked up to see a phoenix diving out of the clouds and straight towards my courtyard. No prizes to who is riding on that bird.

"I know they were called Phoenix Sect but… I never knew they had a tamed Phoenix," I muttered.

"Neither did anyone else I believe, Master Lin," Sect Master Qing commented beside me.

"That one is Sect Master Feng's personal pet if I am not wrong," Sophia supplied, seemingly unfazed by its appearance.

I raised an eyebrow at her, "Let me guess, the Dark Sect investigated that too?"

"Not really," She smiled at me. "I gifted them a Phoenix egg when I was the Sect Master. It would have hatched after a century of them pouring Phoenix Fire Quarks into it."

"And nobody else knows about this because?"

"One, it happened a hundred years ago. Two, it was meant as a bribe to them. For what the bribe was, I shall only tell Master Lin in private if you wish to know."

"It's alright," I waved it off. Since it happened over a century ago, it probably wasn't that important now.

She shrugged at my answer and turned back to watch the Phoenix land in front of my courtyard, Sect Master Feng descending from it.

It seemed like he wasn't at all fazed by the crowd as though he had been expecting something like this from the start. Am I the only one who thinks this much preparation is too much?

The fact that he had came alone and knew exactly where to land as well probably meant someone here had been making these arrangements together with the Phoenix Sect people. Why was I the only one left out of this?

Sect Master Feng walked past the gathered Heaven Sect members with his head held high, his eyes staring straight at me.

I was instructed repeatedly by my disciples, Sophia and even Sect Master Qing that I should not stand when he approached.

The Phoenix remained at where Sect Master Feng had left it, its eyes staring at its owner while he approached me, looking concerned for its owner.

Sect Master Feng stopped in front of me, his expression neutral.

"Master Lin," He greeted, raising his hand to summon a roll of paper in his hands. "I hope these terms would be satisfactory to officiate our merger."

As I had been instructed prior, I made no move to take it from him and instead, nodded to Sophia who took it in my stead.

She unfurled the paper and began reading the terms aloud.

"'This document officiates the merger between Heaven Sect and Phoenix Sect. All of Phoenix Sect's assets shall be absorbed by Heaven Sect and all of its members shall be officially recognised as Heaven Sect Practitioners from this date forth. Sect Master Feng shall step down as Phoenix Sect's Sect Master and join the ranks of Heaven Sect as an Elder while all other Sect members maintain their prior Practitioner ranks after the merger. Phoenix Sect shall submit to Heaven Sect's rules and traditions from henceforth, the former Phoenix Sect location shall remain but will be recognised as a branch of Heaven Sect. Signed this date, Former Phoenix Sect Master Feng.'"

Sophia furled the paper and turned to me, "The terms are acceptable, Master Lin."

I nodded, "Very well then. Elder Feng, I accept your terms of merger, I hope both of people will prosper for times to come together as Heaven Sect."

He cupped his hands together, "All of us thank you, Master Lin. You will not regret this decision. Everyone in our Sects will prosper for the days to come and with your guidance and wisdom we will definitely see prosperity for centuries."

I nodded and was about to stand up to cup my hands as well when a whistling sound pierced through the air.

I looked up just in time to see an arrow whizzing past me to embed itself into Elder Feng's chest, right where his heart should be.

Another arrow was shot towards me but it was stopped by my barrier, hovering in front of my face for a moment before it dropped to the ground and shattered like ice.

Everyone around stared at the arrow poking out of Elder Feng in shock, no one having sensed the arrow's approach until the very last moment.

The man himself was gaping like a fish out of water, his hands grasping at the arrow as though trying to pull it out.

All of a sudden, the arrow seemed to melt and flowed itself into the open wound, Elder Feng collapsing on the ground a short moment later.

Well… Looks like things are pretty much screwed now...

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