A day later, a pleasure boat slowly landed outside the Xuan Sect's Shangqing Palace.
Standing on the deck of the boat were Hong Cheng'en, Gong Zimo, Mu Qingyu, and Wen Yuanbai.
After the boat landed in the plaza, the chief disciples of each peak bowed to the four peak lords and then led their respective disciples back to their peaks. Regarding the interception midway, everyone knew that although it seemed over, it was likely only the beginning.
"You all come along," Hong Cheng'en glanced at Yue Mingchi and Li Xuan, then strode directly into the Shangqing Palace. Yue Mingchi and the other nine Saint Sons followed suit, and Li Xuan also joined them.
"We pay our respects to the Sect Master!"
Entering the main hall, Li Xuan and the others bowed to Xuan Yixian, who was seated at the head of the hall.
Li Xuan noticed that besides the Sect Master Xuan Yixian, the peak lords of the other peaks were all present. In addition, the Grand Elder of the Outer Sect and some managing elders of the Xuan Sect were also in attendance.
It could be said that all the high-ranking officials of the Xuan Sect were present in the hall.
"Rise, all of you."
Xuan Yixian waved his hand and then looked at Yue Mingchi and the others with a smile, his gaze falling on Li Xuan. "It is truly fortunate that our Xuan Sect's Saint Sons have all returned safely. According to the information previously sent back by Junior Brother Yuanbai, the one who deserves the most credit this time is Li Xuan, a disciple under Junior Brother Zimo."
"Li Xuan, what reward do you desire?"
"The Sect Master is too kind. As a disciple of the Xuan Sect, I should naturally do my best. This is all that I should have done," Li Xuan stepped forward three paces and replied respectfully.
Xuan Yixian nodded with satisfaction and then said, "Although that is the case, since you have rendered merit, our Xuan Sect will naturally reward you accordingly. However, with matters being urgent, the reward will be decided later. It will be delivered to your cave dwelling shortly."
"Li Xuan, please present the Shangkou Palace now."
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan understood why all the high-ranking officials of the Xuan Sect were present. He nodded and, with a thought, a small palace slowly floated before him.
Li Xuan gently pushed with his left hand, and the small palace instantly flew towards Xuan Yixian.
Buzz!
Seeing this, Xuan Yixian immediately waved his left hand, and a beam of spiritual light instantly lit up. Just as the spiritual energy was about to enter the palace, the small palace, which had been steadily floating in mid-air, suddenly let out a buzzing sound and began to tremble.
"All Junior Brothers, attack together!"
Sensing the resistance from the small palace, Xuan Yixian's expression became more serious. He then waved his hand, and a surge of spiritual energy shot towards the small palace.
At the same time, Leng Feihong, Wen Yuanbai, Gong Zimo, and the other five individuals also unleashed their spiritual energy, directing it towards the small palace in mid-air.
"What's going on? Sect Master, this thing seems to be devouring my spiritual energy!" After three minutes had passed, Leng Feihong's expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Xuan Yixian.
Xuan Yixian's expression also changed. He glanced at Leng Feihong and the others and said urgently, "The self-awareness within this thing has awakened. Our suppression has angered it. Prepare to withdraw!"
However, as soon as Xuan Yixian finished speaking, even Li Xuan saw the spiritual energy from Xuan Yixian and the other five rapidly flowing into the small palace.
This scene caused everyone present to stand up.
Even more shocking was that the Shangkou Palace spun once in mid-air before suddenly shooting towards Li Xuan and disappearing.
Li Xuan was greatly shocked, as he sensed that the Shangkou Palace had entered his Zhenyu Ring.
It was known that the Zhenyu Ring had recognized Li Xuan as its master, and it could not be entered without Li Xuan's authorization. Yet, the Shangkou Palace had achieved this!
"The treasure has a spirit. It seems it has chosen its own master," Xuan Yixian said with a hint of helplessness.
Everyone looked at Li Xuan, but no one spoke, asking him to hand it over.
"Never mind. Li Xuan deserves the highest merit for this matter, and without him, our sect's disciples would likely have suffered even greater losses. Furthermore, the gains from this expedition were substantial. Let the Shangkou Palace be Li Xuan's reward."
Although everyone remained silent, Xuan Yixian knew it would be difficult to not acknowledge the situation. After a moment of deliberation, Xuan Yixian decided to grant the Shangkou Palace to Li Xuan.
Of course, even if Xuan Yixian hadn't spoken, it would have been useless. A spiritual treasure of the acquired supreme treasure level choosing its own master was not something Xuan Yixian and the others could control.
Everyone present understood this point.
"Sect Master, the fact that the Sheng Sect intercepted our Xuan Sect disciples midway clearly shows their intention to eliminate us all. Their sinister ambitions are obvious. If we let this matter go so easily, our Xuan Sect's prestige will likely be completely lost," Wen Yuanbai said, changing the subject after Xuan Yixian finished speaking.
As the leader of the Yinglong Cave Heaven expedition, Wen Yuanbai was extremely enraged by the Sheng Sect's dispatch of three Hall Master-level powerhouses to intercept them.
If Hong Cheng'en and the other two had arrived even a moment later, not only would Li Xuan's life have been in danger and the acquired supreme treasure lost, but Wen Yuanbai himself might have perished under the combined efforts of Yuan Qiongjin and Rong Xixiao.
"While that may be true, our Xuan Sect's Ancestor Cangxuan has been missing for a long time. If war breaks out, our Xuan Sect may not gain any advantage. It might even shake our foundations. The consequences of all this are something even we cannot bear," Mu Qingyu shook his head.
Everyone else nodded in agreement. If Ancestor Cangxuan were not missing, the Sheng Sect would not have dared to act this way. If war were to break out now, the Xuan Sect's situation would be extremely disadvantageous.
"Are we just going to endure this?" Wen Yuanbai exclaimed loudly, his tone clearly laced with dissatisfaction.
Xuan Yixian replied, "If the Ancestor were still within the sect, we would naturally have no fear of Sheng Taixu. And Sheng Taixu might not have acted like this today. But we have searched for the Ancestor for a long time without finding any trace of him."
"If war breaks out, the outcome may not be good. But if we let this matter slide, Sheng Taixu will think we are easy to bully. This would also be a provocation to our Xuan Sect's prestige."
"Whether to fight or make peace, as the high-ranking officials of the Xuan Sect, I want to hear your opinions."
After speaking, Xuan Yixian looked at the assembled crowd in the hall. Li Xuan's gaze also shifted to the other five Hall Masters and the elders, as they were the ones who could decide whether to go to war.
Even the Xuan Sect's Saint Sons, such as Yue Mingchi, bowed their heads and listened attentively, showing no signs of wanting to express their opinions.
Li Xuan, being a newly joined disciple of the Xuan Sect, naturally would not seek to steal the spotlight at this moment.
After a period of waiting, no one in the hall spoke. Clearly, everyone present understood that if war broke out, only one of the Xuan Sect or the Sheng Sect would remain.
With Ancestor Cangxuan of the Xuan Sect missing, and his whereabouts unknown for over ten years, whether he was dead or alive was uncertain. On the surface, the Xuan Sect was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.
However, if they did not go to war, the Xuan Sect would be seen as inferior to the Sheng Sect. It was likely that in future affairs, they would also be suppressed by the Sheng Sect.
"Since no one is expressing an opinion, I will call upon one person to share their thoughts," Xuan Yixian said, rubbing his temples at the silence of the crowd. He then moved his gaze and it fell upon Li Xuan.
Li Xuan felt a chill, especially when he saw everyone's eyes turning towards him. He could not help but smile bitterly.
Such a major decision was to be decided by the opinion of a newly joined disciple, which was quite baffling to Li Xuan.
However, Li Xuan knew that since Xuan Yixian had chosen him to express his opinion, there must be a reason. He cupped his fists and bowed to everyone. "Your disciple is ignorant. If I say anything incorrect, I ask the Sect Master, the peak lords, and the elders for their forgiveness."
"It's fine. Although you are a new disciple, you have made an indelible contribution to our Xuan Sect. You were instrumental in the demise of the Sheng Sect's three Saint Sons. Moreover, precisely because you are a new disciple, your perspective may be more useful than ours," Xuan Yixian said with a smile, waving his hand.
Li Xuan nodded with a wry smile. Xuan Yixian's words clearly indicated that he had intended for him to express his opinion from the beginning. He did not delay, and with a serious expression, said, "Regarding this matter with the Sheng Sect, I believe our Xuan Sect should go to war!"