“Good, now, let’s discuss... the Dungeon," The hall fell into a heavy silence as Elder Qiao spoke, her stern gaze flickering across the gathered Elders.

Then, Elder Qiao's eyes narrowed toward Elder Fang, the creases around her eyes deepening as she leveled an intense stare in his direction.

But, Elder Fang met her unwavering look, his jaw clenched tightly. Eventually, aftering sighing, he rose from his seat, back rigid as he positioned himself beside Elder Qiao.

"This 'dungeon' is actually an unrelenting spawning of vicious creatures that have been wreaking havoc across the entire Qinhai region," he said, his deep voice reverberating through the hall. His brow furrowed as he began to recount the dire situation.

"The loss of life has been staggering, but the creatures themselves are not exceptionally powerful."

Elder Fang paused, grinding his teeth audibly as a pained expression flickered across his weathered features. "But...they keep coming. Endlessly," he continued, clenching his fists at his sides. The other Elders leaned in, their faces etched with grave concern.

"The reports indicate the creatures just keep reappearing, even after our disciples massacre them by the hundreds.

"In addition, our disciples also have ventured into the depths of this 'dungeon' and cleared it of every last foul beast." He shook his head slowly, lines of frustration creasing his forehead. "But the next day, they emerge again from some unseen place as if by demon essence."

With a sharp rap of his knuckles against the aged wooden table, Elder Fang's scowl deepened, the cords in his neck straining with pent-up exasperation.

A rarity to behold the typically unflappable Elder in such a state of dismay. Besides Elder Qiao's piercing focus, the other Elders wore similar masks of grim perplexity.

"Then what transpired after that exodus? When our forces could no longer maintain the guard?" The heavy silence stretched until Elder Tan spoke up, his voice hushed with worry.

"Exhausted and with no other recourse, our disciples were forced to withdraw. In their absence, the creature hordes descended upon the surrounding villages in great ravenous swarms." Elder Fang's expression grew more somber as he recounted the terrible aftermath.

He paused, casting his gaze across the solemn faces before him.

A wave of distress tongue clicks and muffled thumps against the table punctuated his words.

"Is there truly no other way to stem this tide?" At last, the Patriarch, who had watched in brooding silence until now, found his voice. His words hung heavy in the air.

For Jianghu to be unable to safeguard the common folk - the situation had indeed grown dire. If left unchecked, the entire region would soon be overwhelmed.

Elder Fang could only hang his head with a weary sigh. "Aside from sealing the 'dungeon' entrance and posting a permanent guard rotation to cull the relentless waves...there is no other solution I can perceive."

"This is a catastrophe beyond reckoning." Elder Tan's voice was laced with disbelief and growing frustration.

He ran a trembling hand across his brow. "And you say this elemental chaos is merely one of a hundred such 'dungeons' manifesting across Jianghu?" He shook his head slowly as if to dislodge the words from his mind.

On the other hand, Elder Qiao's eyes narrowed, her expression severe. "Indeed, this is not our burden 'alone'. It is a crisis that threatens all of 'Jianghu'." Her words cut through the tension like a blade. All eyes turned toward her.

"Which means we can seek the other sects at the upcoming gathering to properly address this scourge. " she paused for a moment, "But, in the direst circumstance... we may need to intervene directly."

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A palpable hush fell over the chamber as they all weighed the implications of Elder Qiao's words.

For the them, the protectors of the righteous path to abandon their posts, even temporarily...it would be a grave risk.

The hidden sects, unorthodox factions, and evil sects would surely seize any such opportunity to strike out from the shadows.

Unlike their honorable order, those path-walkers held no regard for the plights of the common folk - this elemental chaos may even play into their selfish designs.

"So be it. Then we shall await the gathering and hope wiser solutions may present themselves," The Patriarch's voice was grave.

With those words, he motioned for Elder Qiao and Elder Fang to be seated once more.

An uneasy silence lingered as each Elder inwardly grappled with the monumental scale of the threat they now faced.

But there were other matters that could not be delayed.

"Now that we have reckoned with these...external difficulties," Elder Tan rose again, squaring his shoulders with renewed determination.

Though remnants of frustration still tinged his features, it slowly faded as he retrieved another parchment and stick it on the wooden board. "Let us turn our focus to more...enriching discourse regarding the future development of our sect."

At these words, a noticeable shift happened in the hall. The stifling pall of dread lifted like a receding cloud, replaced by a newfound energy and sense of purpose.

The Elders seemed to sit taller, their expressions brightening with undisguised enthusiasm - even the perpetual crease between the Patriarch's furrowed brows softened somewhat at the prospect of this topic.

On the other hand, Elder Tan allowed himself a slight smile as he took in the transformed atmosphere. "As you all are well aware, the Tower of God remains a vague and powerful existence - materializing without warning or context in our world.

But thanks to it, our plans has yielded bountiful harvests of knowledge, resources and martial insights beyond our wildest dreams." He paused, sweeping an appraising gaze across the assembled Elders as if gauging their receptiveness before continuing.

With affirming nods from the other Elders, Elder Tan retrieved another parchment and affixed it to the large wooden board with practiced ease.

His expression took on a look of eager satisfaction. "This is but one example of the extraordinary martial arts my disciples have brought from the Tower Shop."

The scroll unfurled to reveal an intricate array of ancient texts and faded illustrations.

"Of course, what I mean by 'brought' is not necessarily 'brought,' but instead, the knowledge they got transplanted into their minds has been poured into this parchment."

Elder Tan then ran a reverent hand along the aged parchment. "This martial art is known as the 'Breath of Kunlun'."

The name alone seemed to command a revered hush over the chamber.

Elder Tan's smile broadened at their rapt attention.

"A rather coincidence, is it not?" He posed the query with the faintest hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Which is precisely why my pupils chose this martial art."

Elder Tan paced slowly, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "The Breath of Kunlun does not merely smooth the Qi flow and reduce Qi consumption."

He paused for dramatic effect. "It also imbues the practitioner with an unshakable foundation of moral fortitude - calming and purifying the heart and mind of any...unrighteous impulses."

A collective murmur of amazed gasps and disbelieving whispers rippled through the audience.

To acquire such an enlightened practice was truly a boon beyond their wildest hopes.

"By embracing this martial art," he proclaimed, "we can help guide each and every disciple along the path of perfect righteousness - not through strict doctrine or harsh judgement, but by allowing them to awaken to their own innate moral essence.

The seeds of darkness and impurity will wither in the brilliance of their cultivated consciousness."

As Elder Tan concluded his impassioned summary, he flashed a beatific smile to the Elders, awash in the warm glow of his own vision.

Elder Tan was in charge of guiding, teaching, and ensuring disciples stayed on the righteous path thus possessing such an elevated teaching tool was a perfect fit.

He could already envision a harmonious sanctuary where disputatious conflict between disciples was rendered obsolete, replaced by an bonds of earnest camaraderie.

Yet not every Elder shared his idyllic outlook.

Elder Qiao in particular had been regarding the proceedings with a deepening frown etched into her delicate features. As the others descended into admiring discourse, she could remain silent no longer.

"Is this not merely a sanctioned form of brainwashing?" Her voice sliced through the hubbub like a steel blade. "Such stringent homogenization runs counter to the very tenets and diversity that defines the Jianghu moral code."

All eyes turned toward her.

Though her words carried no malice, they radiated an intense conviction honed by her unique path - one that often straddled the precarious boundaries between light and shadow, good and evil.

For one of Elder Qiao's perspicacious nature, this 'Breath of Kunlun' represented an insidious existential threat - not only judging her cunning methods as inherently unrighteous, but stripping their disciples of the very moral autonomy they strived to cultivate.

At the same time...

"While I respect your vision, Brother Tan, mandating such...rigid conformity gives me pause." Elder Fang's deep baritone rumbled through the chamber as he stroked his chin in contemplation.

Though he shared Tan's aspirations for nurturing righteous disciples, the idea of cultivating an order of blindly obedient acolytes left him disquieted. "To obscure their independent thought and moral discretion...it begins to tread uncomfortably close to outright indoctrination."

Not only Elder Fang and Elder Qiao, on the other hand, Elder Xia's frown deepened as he massaged his furrowed brow, shaking his head slowly. "Indeed, I also must concur with Elder Fang. If we did that, what’s the difference between us and the Shaolin Temple?" He let the words hang in the air, thick with implied meaning.

As more voices joined the chorus of dissenting opinions, Elder Tan's initially ebullient demeanor withered like a flower in the cold. His broad smile faded into a crestfallen expression, eyes downcast with evident disappointment.

With a heavy sigh, he slumped back into his chair, the fight seeming to go out of him all at once. Shoulders sagging, he waved a resigned hand. "If that is the consensus...then I have nothing further to add."

A palpable pall of regret settled over the chamber as the other Elders exchanged uneasy glances.

An awkward hush lingered until one by one, the others began unveiling their own newly acquired martial arts from the Tower.

Like that, as each subsequent parchment was unfurled, the lingering tension slowly dissipated - replaced by a rekindled buzz of academic fervor and vigorous discussion.

Strident debates rang out over the merits and potential applications of these martial arts. Proposals were put forth, objections rebuffed, compromises hashed out through the spirited back-and-forth.

Eventually, the night passed as a morning chirping bird resounded.