Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Unlike the original history, Master Yue now has a better successor.

Xia Zuo was not only more talented and stronger than Linghu Chong, but he also liked Xia Zuo's temperament better. So he didn't feel despair, but just anger.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and ordered, "Xia Zuo, come with me."

Yue Buqun brought Xia Zuo back to the Righteousness Hall, summoned all the disciples, and in front of everyone, had his wife bring out the Purple Cloud Divine Skill.

Then, he solemnly handed over the Zixia Divine Skill to Xia Zuo, instantly shocking everyone in the Huashan Sect, including Ning Zezhong.

Linghu Chong, in particular, was struck dumb, as if by lightning.

He suddenly remembered what his seventh junior brother had said to him, deliberately avoiding Feng Qingyang, when he left the Cliff of Contemplation.

"Senior Brother, you discovered the inner cave of the Contemplation Cliff a long time ago, but why didn't you tell Master when he tested your swordsmanship last time?"

"Hey, Seventh Junior Brother, I was sick that time, and my mind was all over the place. I didn't know how to tell Master."

"Senior brother, how could you not tell Master about something so important? Do you still consider the sect leader your master?"

"Seventh Junior Brother, of course, Master is my master. I was just too flustered to care about anything else when I saw the Huashan Sect's swordsmanship being broken."

"Senior Brother, this shows you don't trust Master. Didn't Master help you clear up your confusion? Why didn't you speak up afterwards?"

"I...I forgot. I'll tell my master next time I see him."

"I'll trust you one last time. Next time you see your master, no matter what happens, tell him as soon as possible."

"Okay, Seventh Junior Brother, don't worry. Eldest Senior Brother is a man of his word, and he will never go back on his promise."

"Senior Brother, I'll keep this a secret for you for a while, but if you forget Master when you see him, don't blame me."

Thinking of the conversation that took place on the Cliff of Contemplation a dozen days ago, Linghu Chong felt a chill run through his body and his hands and feet trembled.

What did he do? After defeating the Sword Sect senior, he became so arrogant and carried away with himself.

He was so busy showing off to his junior brothers and sisters that he completely forgot about his promise. His seventh junior brother angrily reported him to their master.

Therefore, the master disliked him and bestowed the Zixia Divine Skill upon the seventh junior brother.

Does this mean that the master has tacitly approved the position of sect leader to the seventh junior brother? Then, what about the junior sister's marriage?

Linghu Chong's mind was filled with Yue Lingshan. The more he recalled the girl's every smile and frown, the further away his beloved girl seemed to drift from him.

He lay there wallowing in self-pity, oblivious to everyone else's words, until Yue Buqun shouted, "Linghu Chong!"

Linghu Chong was startled awake and instinctively knelt down, saying, "Master."

Yue Buqun was furious.

He told Feng Buping and the other two about how his Uncle Feng Qingyang had gone into seclusion on Siguo Cliff to protect the Huashan Sect. They were stunned and couldn't believe it, but they dared not disbelieve it.

Seeing his three junior brothers from the Sword Sect, who had been his adversaries for half their lives, looking so dejected, Old Yue felt incredibly pleased.

So he pressed on, asking Linghu Chong to talk about his interactions with Feng Qingyang, which convinced the three of them to accept their fate and return to the Huashan Sect.

Who knew that Linghu Chong was out of his mind, standing there as if he didn't hear anything no matter how much they called him, until Old Yue roared in exasperation.

Yue Buqun was so angry that he almost fainted. His anger made his chest heave rapidly, and he wished he could swing his sword sheath and give Linghu Chong a good beating.

But 40 years of cultivating composure hadn't gone to waste; Yue Buqun ultimately suppressed his anger and gave the order once more.

Linghu Chong then began to speak haltingly, but his mind was in a complete fog, and what he said was incoherent and disjointed, leaving the Huashan disciples dizzy and Yue Buqun's anger growing even stronger.

But Feng Buping, Cheng Buyou, and Cong Buqi listened with trepidation, for they knew far more about Feng Qingyang than Yue Buqun did.

Linghu Chong's words were incoherent, but the three of them could automatically connect the dots based on their understanding, sketching in their minds an old man with a golden face and a green robe.

It really is Uncle-Master Feng Qingyang.

Feng Qingyang, the martial uncle, was tricked into going to Jiangnan. After realizing he had been deceived, he returned to find the Huashan Sect littered with corpses and the Sword Sect expelled. How heartbroken and angry he must have been.

However, for the sake of the Huashan Sect, he not only did not kill Yue Buqun, but also quietly lived in seclusion here, guarding the safety of Huashan.

Compared to Master Feng, the three of them were incredibly narrow-minded, actually trying to seize the Huashan Sect by using outsiders' power.

Once his obsession was gone, Feng Buping realized how foolish his decision had been. If the three of them had actually won, Yue Buqun, Ning Zezhong, and the other Qi Sect disciples would have been forced to leave, and Mount Hua would have become a no-man's land.

Yes, Feng Buping has been away from Mount Hua for more than 30 years. He is a complete outsider here, unfamiliar with the place and its people.

If the Songshan Sect were to send just five or six of its Thirteen Protectors, they could easily drive away Feng Buping, Cong Buqi, and Cheng Buyou, and then take over the Huashan Sect.

On the contrary, Yue Buqun and Ning Zezhong were not much stronger than the three members of the Sword Sect, but the couple had cultivated their influence in Mount Hua for more than 30 years and established intricate connections with the local area, making them true local bullies.

The Songshan Sect was not a lone bandit like Tian Boguang, but a powerful and influential force with a large family and business. Given the many rules they had to follow, they were helpless against local bullies like Yue Buqun.

Fortunately, Linghu Chong and Xia Zuo displayed extraordinary strength. Linghu Chong defeated Cheng Buyou in a sword duel, and Xia Zuo blocked six strange men, saved Cheng Buyou's life, and drove away the people from the Songshan Sect.

The foundation of the Huashan Sect was preserved, and Feng Buping did not become a sinner of the Huashan Sect.

Thinking that Linghu Chong learned swordsmanship from Feng Qingyang, and that Xia Zuo had saved Cheng Buyou's life, Feng Buping, this sallow-faced man, could no longer hold on. He knelt down with a thud and bowed deeply to Yue Buqun.

"Feng Buping, a former disciple of Huashan, has failed the ancestors of Huashan Sect. He is certain that the sect leader will punish him. He only hopes that the sect leader will allow the three of us to return to Huashan Sect."

Yue Buqun was overjoyed. He stepped forward and helped Feng Buping up, laughing loudly as he said, "We are brothers, we are family. What punishment? It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

He looked at Ning Zezhong and instructed, "Madam, quickly prepare a banquet. Tonight, let's celebrate the return of my Huashan disciples."

He then looked at Feng Buping, Cong Buqi, and Cheng Buyou, and said earnestly, "Three junior brothers, after returning to the Huashan Sect, you must never mention the difference between the Sword Sect and the Qi Sect again. We are all disciples of the Huashan Sect."

"After all, whether it's the Sword Sect or the Qi Sect, it's just a focus when you first start. Once you and I reach this stage, we cultivate both sword and qi, and it's hard to say which is more important."

Cheng Buyou had just been forced into a miserable state by Linghu Chong's swordsmanship, and in the end, he was so angry that he used his internal strength advantage to fight back, losing all face. How could he still have the face to say that swordsmanship was the priority?

Feng Buping and the other two could only nod repeatedly and say kind words.