Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Chongde Mountains, Heyu Peak.

In the cave on the top of the mountain, Elder Gu and Yang Liqian sat opposite each other, lowering their heads slightly, as if they were lost in deep thought.

Yan Tongchun stood behind Elder Gu, with his hands hanging down and a respectful look on his face.

Yang Liqian frowned, "Senior Brother Gu, at the elders' meeting two months ago, you just set a one-year deadline for Chen Yuan to be listed on the sect's wanted list."

"But Elder Qingliu suddenly asked the elders to discuss Chen Yuan's matter yesterday. What was his intention?"

Elder Gu pondered for a moment and said, "Tongchun, what do you think about this matter?"

Yan Tongchun was startled, then he bowed slightly and clasped his fists and said, "Master, I think that Elder Qingliu saw that things were not going well and was anxious to draw a clear line between himself and Chen Yuan to avoid getting into trouble."

"Tell me in detail." Elder Gu said lightly.

Yan Tongchun replied respectfully, "It has been five years since Chen Yuan left Chongde City, and there has been no news since then. He either died at the hands of the Frost Jade Lion or has already fled far away."

"During the last meeting, the elders in the sect had some complaints about him, otherwise they would not have agreed to Master's proposal to only give Chen Yuan a one-year deadline."

"In my opinion, Elder Qingliu must have seen the thoughts of the elders after the meeting and felt quite regretful, so he wanted to convene the elders' meeting again to determine Chen Yuan's guilt."

"After all, he was the one who guaranteed that Chen Yuan could use our sect's spiritual veins to form a baby. If the elders really put Chen Yuan on the wanted list at the meeting a year later, he would be to blame, and Master would not miss this opportunity to hold him accountable."

"So the longer it drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for Elder Qingliu. He took the initiative to propose putting Chen Yuan on the wanted list, which can actually reduce some of his responsibilities."

Yang Liqian praised: "Junior Brother Yan's words make sense. Chen Yuan has gone and will never come back. Elder Qingliu is doomed. He has been completely defeated in front of Senior Brother Gu. The only way to save a little dignity is to admit defeat."

Elder Gu frowned slightly: "Junior Brother Qingliu has a strong character, how could he voluntarily surrender and admit defeat?"

Yang Liqian's eyes gleamed with brilliance, and he smiled and said, "To be honest, I have always been quite puzzled. Senior Brother Gu and Elder Qingliu used to have a deep friendship. Why did they suddenly become enemies and fight with each other everywhere, never giving in?"

"That Chen Yuan is just a casual Yuanying cultivator. Senior Brother, for his sake, he actually volunteered to guard the Fire Prison. Why did he bother?"

Elder Gu looked at Yang Liqian deeply and said calmly, "This is a long story and involves a private matter, so I can't tell you."

"Although Chen Yuan has just formed his infant, he is quite powerful. Before he formed his infant, we suppressed him and had a grudge against him."

"If you don't remove the roots, the grass will grow again in the spring breeze. I think Junior Brother Yang knows this principle better than I do."

"Haha, Senior Brother Gu is right. I was confused..." Yang Liqian smiled, raised the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

He put down the teacup, clasped his fists and bowed: "Senior Brother Gu, I still have to prepare for the elders' meeting tomorrow, so I'll take my leave now."

Elder Gu said calmly, "Tongchun, I'll send your Uncle Yang off."

"Yes, Uncle Yang, please follow me." Yan Tongchun responded respectfully, raised his hand and led Yang Liqian out of the cave.

After a while, he returned to the hall and bowed, "Master, I have sent Uncle Yang away."

Elder Gu nodded slightly: "Still no news from that Taoist friend Peng?"

Yan Tongchun's expression became serious, and he lowered his voice a little: "Every seven days, I will go to Chongde City to the meeting place agreed with Senior Peng, and order people to pay close attention in Chongde City, but nothing was found."

Elder Gu frowned and said, "The three-year deadline has long passed, but there is no news about this Taoist friend Peng. Could it be that Chen Yuan really did not go to Hanzhou, but fled directly to another place?"

Yan Tongchun looked puzzled. "Master, whether Chen Yuan died at the hands of Senior Peng and the Frost Jade Lion, or escaped, he can no longer serve as an external aid to Elder Qingliu. Why should we care about him?"

"In order to cooperate with Master, Senior Peng took out a piece of Cangming Stone. Regardless of whether Chen Yuan is alive or dead, he will definitely come back to take this treasure. Maybe he just encountered something and was delayed."

Elder Gu shook his head slightly: "You don't understand... continue to pay attention to the whereabouts of that Taoist friend Peng. Whether Chen Yuan is alive or dead, we must have accurate information."

"You took that forbidden sky formation privately from the sect's treasury with your master token. It must not be left outside."

"I will give this Cangming Stone to you first. If Brother Peng returns to Chongde City, you must return it to him immediately and take back the forbidden sky formation."

After saying that, he took out a gray stone about a foot in size from the mustard seed ring and slowly flew towards Yan Tongchun.

This gray stone looks inconspicuous, but after it appears, the surrounding space becomes distorted.

This is the top-grade spiritual material Cangming Stone, which contains rich spatial power and can be called a treasure.

However, the Forbidden Sky Array is a formation used to deal with great cultivators, and it is extremely difficult to refine. Compared with the Cangming Stone, it is only slightly inferior.

Yan Tongchun's mind was flowing, but a look of gratitude appeared on his face. He stretched out his hands and took the Cangming Stone: "Disciple understands."

Elder Gu said calmly: "Go ahead, but remember, this matter cannot be leaked."

"Yes." Yan Tongchun bowed and left, and the cave became completely quiet.

Elder Gu sat upright on the main seat, his eyelids slightly lowered, a trace of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, and he murmured: "Brother Qingliu, no matter whether Chen Yuan is dead or alive, the next time Jueling Island opens, it will be your burial time..."

……

Haoran Peak.

Going up the mountain steps to a point two thousand feet high, on top of a cliff, a palace is faintly visible in the clouds.

This is the meeting place of the elders of Haoran Sect. At this moment, in the hall, there are nine Nascent Soul cultivators sitting on the left and right.

They were all summoned by Mr. Qingliu to discuss the matter of Chen Yuan.

Compared with the elders' meeting five years ago, the number of people attending this meeting was slightly reduced, and two new faces appeared.

Of the two Nascent Soul elders, one was traveling outside, while the other was practicing in seclusion. The other two elders had just returned to the sect and replaced their positions.

The Haoran Sect has many disciples and complicated affairs. The ordinary chores are handled by the Jindan cultivators in the sect. Only when it involves Yuanying cultivators will the elders discuss and decide together.

This is also a unique tradition of the Haoran Sect. Since ancient times, Confucian and Taoist monks have emphasized "co-governance by the wise". Except for major matters concerning the life and death of the sect, all matters are discussed by the elders together.

However, cultivators are not ordinary people after all. Strength is respected. As long as the leader issues an order, the elders generally will not disobey it.

This is also the reason why Elder Gu was able to persuade the head of the Haoran Sect to issue an order, forcing Chen Yuan to kill the Hanyu Lion.

In the hall, Elder Qingliu sat at the head seat on the left with his eyes slightly closed, and Elder Gu sat opposite him.

Today's meeting was convened by him. Although Elder Gu has a higher level of cultivation, he can only take the second seat.

Yang Liqian sat below Elder Gu. Mr. Chengli was weak and could only sit at the end on the left.

Yao Songtao sat on the cushion at the end of the right side, without any airs of a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, closing his eyes to rest, looking as if he had nothing to do with it. Just half a quarter of an hour ago, the ninth elder had come to the hall, but Qingliu Lay Buddhist had not opened his eyes, just sitting there quietly, as if he had entered a state of meditation.

Finally, the meeting time came. Elder Gu looked around and asked, "Elder Xinzhai is also at the mountain gate. Why can't we see him?"

Lay Buddhist Qingliu opened his eyes and smiled, "Brother Xinzhai has been in seclusion for training a few days ago and cannot participate in today's meeting. The nine elders are enough."

Elder Gu nodded slightly: "Then let's get started... Senior Brother Qingliu has summoned all the elders today to discuss Chen Yuan's matter, but has a decision been made?"

Everyone looked over and Elder Gu took the lead. It seemed that the winner would finally be decided today.

Elder Qingliu said solemnly, "Yes, after the last meeting, I thought about it and felt that what Junior Brother Gu said made sense."

"Chen Yuan destroyed our sect's spiritual vein mountain gate, accepted the task entrusted by our sect, and then left without returning. There has been no news for five years. We must not tolerate this."

When everyone heard this, they all looked surprised.

In the previous two meetings, Mr. Qingliu always defended Chen Yuan in every possible way. Why did he change his mind this time?
Elder Gu was also quite surprised: "So, Senior Brother Qingliu agrees to put Chen Yuan on our sect's wanted list?"

Elder Qingliu nodded, then shook his head: "Yes and no."

Elder Gu narrowed his eyes and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Everyone then felt relieved, as they knew that Mr. Qingliu would not give up just like that.

Elder Qingliu said, "During the last meeting, Junior Brother Gu said that if Chen Yuan still doesn't bring back the body of the Frost Jade Lion within a year, he will be included in our sect's wanted list. Is that right?"

Elder Gu said calmly, "Yes, although the three-year deadline has long passed, Chen Yuan was entrusted by our sect to kill the transformed demon king. Giving him another year will also demonstrate our sect's magnanimity as one of the top ten sects."

"What if Chen Yuan kills the cold jade lion within a year?" asked Mr. Qingliu.

Elder Gu paused for a moment and said slowly, "If he really brings back the body of the Frost Jade Lion, the sect will naturally not hold him responsible for damaging the Spiritual Vein Mountain Gate."

Mr. Qingliu looked around and asked, "Do the elders agree with what Elder Gu said?"

Everyone in the hall was a shrewd and calculating person. When they heard this, they all looked at him in different ways. Obviously, they were thinking of something, but they all said in agreement.

Mr. Qingliu nodded slightly, took out a sound transmission note from the mustard seed ring, put it to his lips, said a few words silently, then raised his hand and threw it out.

The sound transmission note turned into a stream of light and flew out of the hall.

Elder Gu narrowed his eyes and asked, "Brother Qingliu, what do you mean?"

Lay Buddhist Qingliu clasped his fists and bowed, looking apologetic: "I suddenly remembered that Junior Brother Xinzhai was not in seclusion for cultivation, but was receiving a distinguished guest. He can participate in the elders' meeting, so I sent a sound transmission note to inform you. I hope the elders will wait for a moment."

At this moment, everyone realized what was going to happen next and looked towards Elder Gu.

Elder Gu remained calm and looked at the entrance of the hall with a deep gaze.

After a while, two monks walked into the hall. Everyone turned around and saw that the person leading them was Xinzhai Sanren who had not arrived yet.

The person next to him was dressed in a white shirt, tall and slender, with eyes as bright as stars and slanted eyebrows. He was the protagonist of today's meeting, Chen Yuan.

He followed Xinzhai Sanren and came in front of the crowd. He looked around and finally his eyes fell on Elder Gu.

"Mr. Chen has fulfilled his mission. This is the corpse of the Cold Jade Lion. Please check it, Elder Gu." He smiled slightly and flicked his sleeves. A huge white-haired lion appeared in the hall.

The hall was silent and no one spoke.

All the elders spread out their spiritual senses and checked the body of the Cold Jade Lion.

Even Yao Songtao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, was no exception.

Chen Yuan actually killed an eighth-level demon king. He had just formed a fetus, while the cold jade lion was an old demon king with a powerful bloodline, and many of his subordinates were the souls of Nascent Soul cultivators.

The eyes that everyone looked at Chen Yuan suddenly changed, revealing a hint of fear.

Since Chen Yuan was able to kill the Cold Jade Lion, most of them would probably not be his match.

Elder Gu looked at the cold jade lion on the ground with a slightly gloomy look.

Yang Liqian glanced at the pupils of the cold jade lion that were frozen with fear and horror, then glanced at Chen Yuan who had an indifferent expression, and felt a slight chill in his heart.

Chen Yuan clasped his fists and bowed, saying sincerely: "My elders, this cold jade lion is very powerful. I have been waiting outside his cave for five years and finally found an opportunity to kill this monster. I am here to report."

"Unfortunately, my strength is insufficient and I have exceeded the three-year deadline. I hope the elders will forgive me."

Lay Buddhist Qingliu said with a smile: "Daoyou Chen is too modest. This cold jade lion has been roaming around Hanzhou for nearly a thousand years and is extremely ferocious. Daoyou has killed it in just five years and spread the prestige of our Haoran Sect. This is already extremely difficult."

He turned to look at Elder Gu and said, "Junior Brother Gu, Fellow Daoist Chen has brought back the body of the Frost Jade Lion and completed the task entrusted by our sect. There is no need to discuss putting him on the wanted list, right?"

Elder Gu shook his head.

Qingliu looked at the crowd again and asked, "What do you think, elders?"

"Yan agrees with Elder Qingliu's proposal."

"Fellow Daoist Chen has made our sect famous, how could he be included in the wanted list?"

"Chen Daoyou's tactics are justifiable, even though they exceed the three-year deadline..."

Everyone spoke in agreement, and even Yang Liqian nodded reluctantly.

At this time, Elder Gu said, "Since Fellow Daoist Chen has lived up to my trust and killed the Frost Jade Lion, the matter of damaging the Spiritual Vessel Mountain Gate is now over. I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he stood up, bowed, and was about to leave.

"Elder Gu, wait a minute!" Chen Yuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he raised his hand to stop him.

Elder Gu frowned slightly: "What do you mean, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Chen Yuan said calmly: "Chen has also encountered something that seems to be related to Elder Gu. I would like to ask the elders to judge."

Elder Gu showed a look of surprise: "I wonder what happened to Fellow Daoist Chen, and how it is related to me?"

Chen Yuan stared into his eyes and said coldly: "This time when I went north to Hanzhou, in addition to killing a cold jade lion, I also killed a Kunyu Demon King. This Kunyu Demon King has admitted that he and Elder Gu have joined forces to deal with me!" (End of this chapter)