Fang Hui remained silent, unresponsive to the words spoken.

Elder Jie Liang's reference to the allegory of Hun Dun, or Chaos, is a parable often employed by the Daoist Sect. It speaks of Chaos, which had no orifices. The deities Shu and Hu, in gratitude for the kindness of Chaos, attempted to create seven orifices for it, so that it could see, hear, eat, and breathe. However, their well-intentioned act inadvertently led to its demise. This tale serves as a metaphor for the principles of cultivation—advocating for tranquility, inaction, and compliance with nature's way. Here, it relates to the principles of the cultivation process; the subsequent discourse on the compensatory cycles of heaven and man pertains to the methodology of one's actions; and the phrase "be cautious at the start and respectful at the end" is a firm assertion that a bad beginning makes a hard end.

This conversation not only alludes to the "significant affair" of his years spent refining and improving the Sect's Thunderbolt Tribulation Method but also touches upon the "details" of the life-and-death transformations of He Qing and Yu Zhou. In essence, it is a series of probing questions and scrutinizing statements. Yet, as clear as these explanations might be, they amount to the same old story.

Fang Hui understood that Elder Jie Liang had not come to reason with him. The principles they had discussed exhaustively over the past seventy years had been made abundantly clear. Now, everyone knew that reason, morality, and discipline were utterly ineffective in deterring him. Therefore, the essence of Elder Jie Liang's barrage of questions lay entirely in his last statement:

"...but in the presence of the Patriarch, I am overwhelmed with 'confusion.' Why is this so? I beg the Patriarch to dispel my 'confusion'"

This was an admission of their conflicting views and the most explicit statement of position.

Indeed, Elder Jie Liang was taking a stance, asserting himself with the identity of a prodigy from the third generation of Lichen Sect disciples, one with the most promise of attaining enlightenment.

Sixty years ago, he had achieved the Golden Elixir; within thirty years, he had stepped into the Vacuum Walking Realm. Although Elder Jie Liang's cultivation did not progress with the breathtaking speed of Yu Qingxuan, he had steadily climbed to the pinnacle of this realm. Particularly after entering the Vacuum Walking Realm, he had innovated and perfected the "Primordial Root Qi Method"—a marvelous technique that encapsulated the essence of morality, discipline, and theory in a unique approach. Should he continue to develop, he could potentially carve out a new path like the Empirical Department of old, earning the title of a Grandmaster.

If Fang Hui's rectification of the flaws in the Sect's Thunderbolt Tribulation Method represented the elders' self-rescue, then the growth of exceptional third-generation disciples like Elder Jie Liang symbolized the Sect's hope for the future. Their importance was no less significant and perhaps even surpassed it.

Moreover, Fang Hui was aware that Elder Jie Liang had a circle of friends: Xie Yan, Uncle Lu De, Thousand Treasures Daoist, and the now transcended Yu Zhou. Within that close-knit group, Xie Yan was the eldest. Despite his somber demeanor, which hardly suggested a fraternal presence, his level of cultivation was profoundly advanced, already at the higher echelons of Vacuum Walking, with the prospect of eternal life within reach. Uncle Lu De and Thousand Treasures were also influential among the third-generation disciples, and the Sect's recent advancements in the field of Magical Instruments owed much to their design, forging, and fine-tuning.

The capricious nature of worldly affairs is known to all. It is common knowledge that Elder Jie Liang, a man of learning well-versed in the three disciplines of Morality, Discipline, and Theory, harbors a distinct aversion to the style of the Empirical Department. Yet, paradoxically, his friends are predominantly from that very department—those with considerable influence at that. Undoubtedly, they share a common purpose with Elder Jie Liang, naturally forming a formidable alliance.

An alliance that even Fang Hui must confront with due seriousness!

Already displeased over the matter of He Qing, these individuals were further aggrieved by the death of Yu Zhou, their emotions turning sour. Signs of an Alienation of Heart and Morality were emerging, and if not addressed with care, disintegration could occur in the blink of an eye—at least, that was the possibility Elder Jie Liang had painted for him.

Fang Hui realized that at this moment, Elder Jie Liang did not employ the simplicity of the Morality Department, the strictures of the Discipline Department, nor the ideals of the Theory Department. Instead, he was clearly wielding the tactics of the Empirical Department.

Negotiation, transaction, and even threat!

Was this what integration truly meant?

Fang Hui had long aspired for such synthesis, but now that it was before him, he could only respond with silence. To see Elder Jie Liang, a man so rigid in character, abandon his steadfast principles and bare his chest in the mire was surely a testament to his utmost desperation and disappointment.

He had no regrets about his past actions, for they were the quickest solutions he could devise. However, he felt a pang of emotion thinking of Yu Zhou—a man of considerable talent yet lacking in temperament and foundation. If only he could have postponed his fate by a decade, just ten years for Elder Jie Liang to emerge and display his astonishing aptitude, perhaps...

Then, he laughed, even if it meant using the methods of the Empirical Department!

By now, Fang Hui had been silent for far too long, so when he finally spoke, everyone present was taken aback: "If my reasoning appears unclear to you, it is likely a reflection of my own lack of clarity in action. Well then, as a mentor, it is my duty to dispel confusion. Let me use the current situation as an example and try to explain things more clearly..."

His gaze fixed on Elder Jie Liang, then swept across the faces of everyone present: "Today's affairs must come to some resolution."

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"What resolution?"

Uncle Lu De could no longer contain himself, sensing something amiss, and chuckled, "With He Qing's Taoism Immortal Cultivation Level, even if Yu Ci struck without her moving an inch, could he truly harm even a hair on her head?"

"What's the point in dwelling on the dead?"

Fang Hui remained indifferent to Uncle Lu De's rudeness and said calmly, "He Qing's death was caused by the Great Ordeal of Inner Demons, and ultimately, it was I who delivered the final blow. This matter will certainly be addressed. We are all well aware of the causes and consequences, and with her death, let bygones be bygones. We shall handle this discreetly, claiming He Qing is in seclusive cultivation. Once this period has passed and we've had time to buffer, announcing it later will not be too late. As for Yu Ci..."

He turned to Su Ji Ren: "Let bygones be bygones. From this moment on, you are the head of the Discipline Department, in charge of overseeing the laws and regulations. It's only at critical times for the Sect's Mountain Gate, when the strength of the Sect must be united to defend against external calamities, yet he chose to leave and not return after a conflict with his senior, what reason does he have for this?"

Elder Jie Liang and Uncle Lu De were both taken aback; this accusation was indeed peculiar...

Without giving them room to ponder, Fang Hui continued, "Send a Communication Flying Sword to summon him back. Observe his actions before deciding on the punishment."

Su Ji Ren paused, just about to respond, when she remembered something, "Yu Ci is an Outer Disciple. According to the usual practices, he has not yet inscribed his blood at the Ancestral Master's Hall to leave his essence, so the Communication Flying Sword may not find him."

"This is a battlefield; surely there are some remnants left. Just make a temporary mark. If that fails, then we must send someone to find him. We need a result one way or another."

His statement left those present exchanging glances.

"What if he cannot be found?"

"Then we'll proceed with the Sect Discipline," he stated.

Elder Jie Liang looked towards Su Ji Ren. He was well-versed in Sect Discipline himself, but under these circumstances, it was naturally more appropriate to consult the head of the Discipline Department.

After a moment of contemplation, Su Ji Ren said, "For Outer Disciples who defy the Sect's decrees and leave on their own accord, facing the wall for more than ten days is the penalty, confinement in the bitter prison for more than a month. If it is confirmed that they have left the Sect, depending on the severity of their actions, they may be stripped of their disciple status or have the mystical incantations bestowed by the Sect retracted, or they could be imprisoned, with execution being the most severe punishment."

Seeing Elder Jie Liang's expression, she explained further, "Imprisonment and execution are to be considered in conjunction with other reasons. If Yu Ci is not a spy sent by another Sect and has no intentions of harming our Sect, but simply came of his own accord and left when there was a disagreement, considering his status as an Outer Disciple, at most we would retract the mystical incantations bestowed by the Sect to prevent them from being leaked..."

Elder Jie Liang fell into a thoughtful silence, while Fang Hui glanced at Su Ji Ren. He had to admit that the head of the Discipline Department was indeed astute. She had clearly seen that the essence of the matter was not to follow the law by the book, but a strategic game regarding the handling of Yu Ci. Therefore, she who usually remained neutral and within bounds had quietly chosen her stance.

As expected, Elder Jie Liang, prompted by her reminder, then said, "Retracting the mystical incantations should pertain to the level of the Elixir Formula. Yu Ci has not yet been taught the Golden Elixir method by the Sect!"

Uncle Lu De was overjoyed and quickly said, "Then..."

Fang Hui spoke indifferently, "The Primordial Root Qi Method has already been entered into the Ancestral Master's Hall, and it differs from other Primordial Qi Methods."

Elder Jie Liang frowned, "The words of the Ancestral Master, I find somewhat improper. The origin of all is the method of qi, what difference does it make? Moreover, when I began, I used the technique of heart-to-heart instruction, without committing anything to writing, so as to avoid any leakage of the Sect's teachings."

Fang Hui said nothing, merely gazing at him in silence.

Elder Jie Liang was momentarily taken aback, then remembered that this was not a discussion about logic or discipline, but rather a negotiation and contest in the style of the Empirical Department. He took a deep breath and said no more, only requesting, "Please, Ancestral Master, speak clearly."

Fang Hui did not respond immediately, instead turning his head to look at He Qing, whose legacy he honored. After a long pause, he finally spoke, "You all possess the grace of dragons and phoenixes, the natural gifts of prodigies. It's hard to imagine how difficult cultivation must be for those of lesser talent. Heaven destroys men not with water, fire, swords, demons, or calamities, but with time, making resistance impossible. The saying of the ancients, 'Time waits for no one,' is apt here."

The assembly was puzzled, not understanding why Fang Hui had shifted the topic, but they soon saw the shadow of a river of blood growing brighter around him, swirling and roaring like a raging tide. This was Fang Hui's fundamental secret technique, 'Burning Marrow Blood River.' As the river of blood flowed, he continued slowly, "That is why I most admire the words of Senior Brother Zhu, which I now offer to you: 'All things can be reversed, but time cannot be moved.' Without grasping the true divine within these words, one cannot hope to achieve enlightenment..."

His voice faded away, but within the river of blood, a spell chant took form, coalescing into a dazzling orb of bloody light. At that moment, Jade Void Elder suddenly remembered something and his complexion drastically changed. He was about to speak out to stop it when Fang Hui let out a long howl, hurling the condensed Curse Technique Light Bead. As it left his hand, it expanded rapidly, and by the time it had fallen a hundred or so feet, it had grown to over a meter in diameter. Blood-red waves of light burst from the orb, spraying in all directions.

Within moments, the sight before the cultivators was filled with red, its influence spreading continuously, until it covered a thousand-mile radius.

Jade Void Elder was stunned in mid-air. To his senses, the world had suddenly become noisy and chaotic. Thousands of birds bathed in the Blood Light became excited, flapping their wings and soaring high. Even the smallest sparrows, which usually hopped between branches, now dared to fly through the vast sky, while eagles and hawks broke through the clouds, some even reaching the heads of the cultivators high above.

Not only this, but any tree or plant touched by the Blood Light, regardless of its orientation or state, whether withering or lush, immediately burst into vigorous growth. Fish, insects, and beasts became restless, and some of the stronger wild beasts even opened their Spirit Orifices, transforming into half-demons.

Fang Hui, as if he had done the most ordinary thing, retracted the shadow of the blood river and said indifferently, "Let it be so. If Yu Ci returns to the Sect within a month, we will not speak of punishment by wall-facing or harsh imprisonment; if he insists on not returning, it will prove that he has left the Sect in rebellion. From then on, everything will be unrelated to the Sect, and it will all depend on his fate... Is this acceptable?"

Elder Jie Liang did not speak. He simply released his divine consciousness, casting it towards a meadow on the ground that was wildly overgrowing.

A moment before, the grass had been lush and green, standing half a person tall, but in the blink of an eye, the green turned to yellow, and the grass withered away, leaving behind a land of death.