Primordial Era: The Holy Maiden Shiji, a woman of exceptional talent and beauty

Upon hearing these remarks, the Grand Elder frowned. He knew that someone was secretly pulling the strings, trying to incite trouble among the sect's members. He was determined to find the mastermind and teach these people a severe lesson.

So the Grand Elder sought out Shi Ji to discuss countermeasures. After listening, Shi Ji pondered for a moment and said, "Grand Elder, these remarks are clearly being instigated by someone behind the scenes. We must find this mastermind to quell this storm."

The Grand Elder nodded in agreement: "Young Master Shi is absolutely right. But how should we begin our investigation?"

Shi Ji smiled slightly: "Elder, why not start with the disciples who spread these rumors? They may not know the truth, but they should be able to get some clues out of them."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Elder's eyes flashed with a sharp light: "Good idea. I'll send someone to investigate secretly right away."

After a thorough investigation, the Grand Elder and Shi Ji finally found the mastermind behind it all. It turned out that a disciple named Chen Feng was secretly instigating trouble among the sect's villains. He harbored a grudge against the Grand Elder from many years ago and attempted to overthrow the Grand Elder's rule by inciting a rebellion.

The First Elder and Shi Ji decided to play along, deliberately spreading the news that the First Elder was going into seclusion for cultivation, and that the Second and Third Elders would temporarily handle sect affairs. Upon hearing this news, Chen Feng thought that a golden opportunity had arrived, so he began to actively contact other disciples who were dissatisfied with the First Elder, preparing to launch a rebellion while the First Elder was in seclusion.

However, they were unaware that all of this was under the control of the Grand Elder and Shi Ji. On the very night they were preparing to take action, the Grand Elder and Shi Ji suddenly appeared and captured Chen Feng and his companions in one fell swoop.

Chen Feng and the others were brought to the main hall. Faced with the interrogation of the Grand Elder and Shi Ji, they could not deny their crimes and had to confess. The Grand Elder sneered, "Chen Feng, you thought you could get away with it, but you don't know that your actions have already been seen through by us."

Chen Feng's face turned deathly pale, and he was speechless. The Grand Elder continued, "You instigated internal strife within the sect due to personal grudges, a crime that cannot be forgiven. Today, I will expel you from the Lingyun Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng collapsed to the ground. He knew he was completely finished this time. The other disciples who had participated in the rebellion also knelt down and begged for mercy, expressing their willingness to repent and reform.

Inside the sect's main hall, the Grand Elder and Shi Ji faced the kneeling traitors, the air thick with tension and remorse. The Grand Elder's voice was resolute and powerful, echoing in every corner.

The Grand Elder said solemnly, “You disciples should have been the pillars of the sect, but you were misled by Chen Feng and participated in this pointless rebellion. Although you made mistakes, you were also used. Today, I will give you a chance to return to the sect and start anew.”

Shi Ji added, "The sect's willingness to accept you back is a testament to the Grand Elder's magnanimity. From now on, we hope you can turn over a new leaf and truly contribute to the sect."

The traitors kowtowed and apologized, and the atmosphere gradually eased. At this moment, the Grand Elder turned to Shi Ji and said in a low voice, "Young Master Shi, we were able to quell the rebellion this time thanks to your wisdom and assistance. But we still need to remain vigilant, as there are many people like Chen Feng in our sect."

Shi Ji nodded in response: "The Grand Elder is right. I will continue to assist you to ensure the safety and stability of the sect."

At that moment, a young disciple suddenly stepped forward, his expression tense yet sincere. "Elder, Young Master Shi, I have something important to report," he said in a low voice. "During the search just now, we discovered a batch of weapons of unknown origin in a secret warehouse in the back mountain. It seems they were prepared for a larger-scale rebellion."

The Grand Elder and Shi Ji exchanged a glance, both sensing the gravity of the situation. The Grand Elder said in a deep voice, "Take us there immediately. This rebellion may seem to be over, but there are undercurrents beneath the surface. We must find out the whole story."

The group quickly headed to the back mountain and found the secret warehouse. It was filled with all sorts of weapons, clearly meticulously prepared. After inspecting it, Shi Ji said, "These weapons are of extremely high quality, not ordinary items found on the market. Someone is supporting the rebellion behind the scenes; we must find out who it is."

The Grand Elder nodded in agreement and decided, "We must trace the source of these weapons and find the mastermind behind them. This matter concerns the safety of our sect and even the entire martial arts world, so we must not take it lightly."

Shi Ji then suggested, "I recommend setting some traps to see if we can elicit more clues. At the same time, we also need to strengthen the internal management of the sect to prevent similar incidents from happening again."

The Grand Elder agreed with Shi Ji's proposal and began to deploy corresponding measures. It was already late at night in the main hall, but the Grand Elder and Shi Ji continued their work.

Under the moonlight late at night, the Grand Elder and Shi Ji left the secret armory, their expressions resolute and serious. They walked back to the Lingyun Gate's main hall along the mountain path, discussing countermeasures as they went.

Shi Ji said in a low voice, "Although this rebellion has been quelled, the hidden enemies have not been eradicated, and the safety of the sect is still in grave danger. We need to strengthen our vigilance and at the same time trace the source of these weapons."

The Grand Elder nodded, a cold glint in his eyes: "I have sensed the power of this force behind the scenes. This is not something an ordinary sect could do. It is very likely that an even greater force is pushing things along."

They entered the main hall, the firelight illuminating their resolute faces. The Grand Elder sat back in his seat, took a deep breath, and continued, "Young Master Shi, we may need to seek outside help and join forces with other sects to expose the mastermind behind this."

After pondering for a moment, Shi Ji suggested, "Elder, I think we should start by investigating the manufacturing process of these weapons. Such high-quality weapons must have unique manufacturing techniques, which might provide clues. At the same time, I suggest sending some trusted disciples to secretly contact a few friendly sects to inquire whether similar situations have occurred."

"Good idea." The Grand Elder agreed, then waved to summon a disciple and instructed, "Go and call Senior Brother Liang here. I have something important to discuss with him."

Before long, a handsome middle-aged man entered the main hall. He was none other than Senior Brother Liang, a high-ranking cultivator in the sect. He bowed and asked, "Elder, what are your orders?"

The Grand Elder looked at Senior Brother Liang and said in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Liang, this sect conflict has exposed our weaknesses. Now, we need you to go to the White Cloud Sect in the north to discuss the alliance with them. At the same time, we need to find out if they have also encountered similar troubles."

Senior Brother Liang nodded in agreement, his eyes resolute: "Please rest assured, Elder, I will definitely fulfill my mission and strive for more support and intelligence for the sect."

Shi Ji added, "Senior Brother Liang, be careful in your actions. The current situation is complex; the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Every step must be taken with caution."

Senior Brother Liang clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for the reminder, Young Hero Shi. I will definitely be more careful with my words and actions."

The Grand Elder and Shi Ji watched their Senior Brother Liang leave the main hall. Afterwards, the two began plotting how to set traps to lure out more enemies. The Grand Elder stroked his chin and slowly spoke, "This matter is of great importance; we need more wisdom and strength. Young Master Shi, do you have any other suggestions?" Shi Ji pondered for a moment and said, "Grand Elder, I think we can set up some formations in the back mountain, using the weapons we found earlier as bait, to see if we can attract the enemy to walk into our trap. At the same time, we should also strengthen the training and loyalty testing of our sect disciples to ensure internal stability."

The Grand Elder nodded approvingly: "Young Master Shi's insights are profound. These arrangements should be implemented immediately. We must ensure the safety of the sect and not allow any conspiracy to succeed."

As night deepened, the main hall of Lingyun Sect was brightly lit, and the Grand Elder and Shiji's plan unfolded step by step. They both knew that this was a long-term struggle concerning the life and death of the sect.

Preparations continued, and the Grand Elder and Shi Ji discussed matters late into the night in the main hall. In the flickering firelight, Shi Ji unfolded an ancient array diagram on the table.

"Elder, this is a long-lost defensive formation diagram that I found in the Scripture Pavilion. If we can set up this formation in a key location on the back mountain, it will greatly enhance our defensive capabilities," Shi Ji explained, pointing to several key parts on the diagram.

The Grand Elder gazed at the paper, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This formation seems complex, but it is indeed exceptionally powerful. We need to select disciples skilled in formations to set it up. Do you have a suitable candidate?"

Shi Ji nodded and replied, "I have considered this issue. Several young disciples have recently made breakthroughs in their array formation cultivation, and I think we should give them this opportunity."

The Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Have them begin preparations tomorrow and complete the formation as soon as possible. At the same time, I will order the other disciples to strengthen patrols to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Shi Ji then proposed another idea: "Elder, should we simultaneously set up some minor interference arrays on the outer perimeter to confuse and dissipate the enemy's energy? In this way, even if the enemy discovers our formation, it will be difficult for them to immediately identify the true defensive stronghold."

"Brilliant plan!" The Grand Elder slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "In this way, even if we are outnumbered, we can effectively restrain our opponents and create more opportunities for counterattacks."

As the two were discussing, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door, and a disciple in charge of reconnaissance ran into the main hall, panting. "Elder, Young Master Shi, we found suspicious figures loitering in the back mountain, seemingly searching for something."

Shi Ji reacted immediately: "This is very likely the enemy's advance party. We must take action immediately. I'll take a few disciples to intercept them and see if we can get more information from them."

The Grand Elder nodded: "Go quickly, but be careful not to easily reveal our strength and plans."

Shi Ji accepted the order and quickly led several disciples towards the back mountain. Under the cover of night, they disappeared like ghosts into the dense forest, preparing to face any possible battle in the darkness.

After Shi Ji left, the Grand Elder returned to his seat, gazing intently at the flickering firelight, silently praying for the safety of the sect and all its disciples, hoping that the night would pass peacefully.

In the dense forest behind the mountain, Shi Ji and his men silently followed the suspicious figures. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, providing them with the necessary illumination. Shi Ji signaled for the men to stop, and they concealed themselves behind a thicket of bushes, observing the movements ahead.

Suddenly, Shi Ji lowered her voice and said to one of her disciples, "Look, those three people have split up over there, one going east and two going west. We'll split into two groups. You lead one team to track down the one going east. Remember, don't make any noise. If possible, try to capture them alive."

The disciple nodded and replied softly, "Understood, Young Master Shi. We will proceed with caution." After saying that, he led several disciples and quietly moved in the designated direction.

Shi Ji, along with the remaining two disciples, followed the two heading west. They moved stealthily, trying their best to avoid stepping on branches and making any noise. Soon, they heard low voices of conversation ahead. Shi Ji signaled the group to stop and listen carefully.

A rough, hoarse voice said, "Hurry up. I've heard that the Lingyun Sect's secret armory is hidden in this back mountain. If we can find and control it, it will be of great benefit to our operation."

Another slightly nervous voice replied, "Yes, but we must be careful. There might be formations or ambushes here. Our mission is just reconnaissance; don't alert the Lingyun Sect."

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Shi Ji's eyes. He whispered to his disciple beside him, "It seems our guess was right. They do indeed have designs on the back mountain. Now let's approach quietly, try to capture them alive, and obtain more information."

The three men slowly approached, using the trees and the darkness for cover. When they were close enough, Shi Ji suddenly pounced on the two men like a cheetah. After a brief but fierce struggle, Shi Ji and his team successfully subdued the two scouts.

After binding the two men, Shi Ji began her interrogation: "Who are you? Why did you infiltrate Lingyun Sect? Tell me quickly, who ordered you to do this?"

One of them retorted defiantly, "Do you think your Lingyun Sect is safe? You'll be overthrown sooner or later!"

Shi Ji sneered, "You have no right to talk about the future of Lingyun Sect. Tell me your true purpose, or don't blame me for being impolite."

Seeing that things were not going well, the man's expression began to waver, and he finally revealed some information: "Alright, we are from the Northern Black Wind Gang. We are just here on orders to investigate, and we really don't know any more details."

After confirming the enemy's identity and intentions, Shi Ji ordered her disciples to bring the two prisoners back to the sect and hand them over to the Grand Elder for further interrogation. They cautiously returned to Lingyun Sect, keeping a close watch on every subtle sound in the night until they arrived safely at the sect.

Back at Lingyun Sect, Shi Ji brought the two prisoners before the Grand Elder. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, and the Grand Elder's eyes flashed with cold light as he stared at the two bound outsiders.

The Grand Elder's deep voice echoed in the hall: "You are members of the Black Wind Gang. How dare you infiltrate Lingyun Sect? What is your purpose? Who is the mastermind behind this?"

One of the prisoners appeared quite frightened, while the other tried to remain calm. The more composed one spoke up: "Elder, we are indeed from the Black Wind Gang, but we are only acting under orders. Our mission is merely reconnaissance, and we have no intention of making enemies of the Lingyun Sect."

Shi Ji stood aside and coldly interjected, "Just reconnaissance? Reconnaissance of the location of the secret weapons depot in the back mountain? Do you really think we'd believe that?" (End of Chapter)