Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Lin Ran turned around and activated his illusion technique, transforming into Lu Wangchuan's appearance.

He led everyone into the Nine Heavens Cave, while he went alone towards the Azure Profound Sect.

The white jade archway outside the mountain gate was even more solemn than before, and the number of guards had increased from two Foundation Establishment disciples to eight, each with a tense expression, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Upon seeing Lu Wangchuan descend from the sky, the guards were initially stunned, then knelt down in unison.

"Welcome back to the sect, Supreme Elder!"

Lin Ran nodded slightly, continuing his journey through the archway without stopping.

Disciples along the way stopped to pay their respects, the atmosphere tense yet filled with a sense of relief.

Clearly, the sect was in a state of panic during this time, all waiting for news from the secret realm.

Lu Huai'an strode quickly from the direction of the main hall, his face showing some urgency. He bowed and greeted him as he approached.

"Grandmaster, you're back."

"Hmm." Lin Ran replied calmly, mimicking Lu Wangchuan's condescending manner.

"Grandmaster, how is the plan going over the secret realm...?" Lu Huai'an asked tentatively, lowering his voice.

"It went fairly smoothly." Lin Ran replied casually, then changed the subject: "Go, call everyone to the council chamber."

Lu Huai'an was slightly taken aback: "Everyone?"

"Yes, every single direct descendant of the Lu family."

"Disciple understands." Although Lu Huai'an was puzzled, he dared not ask any more questions and turned to leave quickly.

Lin Ran stepped into the council hall and sat down in the main seat in the center.

Before long, people began to enter the council chamber.

Lin Ran glanced around and found that the previous sect leader was indeed no longer there.

The newly appointed sect leader also shares the surname Lu. He is a middle-aged man with a square face and a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level.

More than thirty people arrived one after another, filling the council chamber to capacity.

Lu Huai'an was the last to enter, and bowed to report: "Grandmaster, except for one senior brother who is visiting a friend, all other disciples have arrived."

"In that case, let's begin."

Lin Ran stood up from the main seat and looked around.

These direct descendants of the Lu family all looked respectful, waiting for the "ancestor" to speak.

"Start what?" The newly appointed sect leader, Lu Chengyuan, stepped forward, looking puzzled.

"Let's start settling the accounts."

Lin Ran raised his hand and waved it, and the entrance to the Nine Heavens Cave opened up beside him.

Five Nascent Soul elders stepped forward first, followed closely by twenty-three Golden Core cultivators.

Finally, Zhu Wanwan transformed into her true form, her phoenix wings outstretched, flames surging.

Xuanjiao and Ao Zheng stood on either side, their demonic aura soaring into the sky.

The council chamber fell silent for a moment, then erupted into chaos.

"How... how are you still alive?"

"What exactly happened in the secret realm?"

"Elder, what's going on?"

Lu Chengyuan's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly turned to look at "Lu Wangchuan" in the main seat: "Grandmaster! Shouldn't these people be..."

Lin Ran raised his hand and wiped his face, dispelling the illusion technique and revealing his true appearance.

"Should have died in the secret realm? Should he have died there?"

A collective gasp filled the council chamber.

"You...you're not the grandmaster!" Lu Huai'an's voice changed.

"Of course not," Lin Ran said casually. "Your grandmaster is dead, and he died a rather tragic death."

"Impossible!" Lu Chengyuan took two steps back, his spiritual energy surging around him. "Our ancestor was a Nascent Soul cultivator, how could he possibly die at the hands of a mere Core Formation cultivator like you?"

"So what if he's at the Nascent Soul Realm?" Lin Ran curled his lip. "He suffered a backlash when he sacrificed his fellow disciples, and ended up blowing himself up. I just gave him a push."

"You!" Lu Chengyuan's face turned ashen as his gaze swept over the five Nascent Soul elders. "You traitors to the sect, you actually helped outsiders attack your own fellow disciples!"

"Who exactly attacked their fellow disciple first?"

A Nascent Soul elder coldly spoke up: "Lu Wangchuan, a dignified Deity Transformation cultivator, actually resorts to a blood sacrifice of his fellow disciples to break through his cultivation level. Truly despicable!"

"Among you direct descendants of the Lu family, how many are innocent?" another Golden Core cultivator chimed in.

"Nonsense! Even if the ancestor was wrong, it's not for outsiders to settle accounts!"

"You disciples of the Qingxuan Sect have betrayed your sect by recognizing a thief as your father! You have utterly disgraced the sect!"

The two sides argued incessantly, creating a chaotic scene.

"Shut up!"

Lin Ran let out a cold shout and secretly used his divine soul power.

The council chamber fell silent instantly, and everyone's face paled slightly.

"We're giving you a chance to choose for yourselves."

Lin Ran held up two fingers: "First, abandon darkness and embrace light, swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, and acknowledge me as your master. Second, I will send you to see Lu Wangchuan."

"My Qingxuan Sect has a history of thousands of years; how can we submit to a Nascent Soul cultivator from an outside sect!" Lu Chengyuan gritted his teeth and stepped forward: "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you!"

"You have backbone." Lin Ran nodded and looked at Zhu Wanwan.

Li Zhu Wanwan understood, and spread her phoenix wings.

Phoenix flames poured out, enveloping Lu Chengyuan.

"what!"

After a scream, the new sect leader turned to ashes, and even his primordial spirit could not escape.

The council chamber was deathly silent.

"Does anyone else want to choose the second path?" Lin Ran looked around.

A Golden Core cultivator gritted his teeth and charged out, only to be killed by Lin Ran with a casual sword strike.

After killing several people in succession, the remaining people finally fell silent.

"I...I am willing to swear an oath."

"I am also willing to make an oath."

In the end, except for the one who slipped through the net while visiting a friend, the remaining thirteen Golden Core cultivators and two Nascent Soul cultivators all made a Heavenly Dao oath and had their soul imprints planted on them.

"Alright." Lin Ran clapped his hands. "From now on, we're all family. Work hard, and I won't treat you unfairly."

After reorganizing the sect, Lin Ran sat in the main seat of the hall and began assigning tasks.

"Lu Huai'an".

"Disciple... Your subordinate is here." Lu Huai'an stepped out from the crowd, his forehead still damp with cold sweat.

"Select a group of disciples to mine spirit stone veins in the secret realm. Hmm... my spirit beasts will be in charge of guarding them."

"Yes, ma'am."

Lin Ran looked at Zhu Wanwan and said, "Go ahead."

"Aren't you afraid I'll pocket all your spirit stones?" Li Zhu Wanwan feigned doubt.

"What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, your increased strength will benefit me as well."

Ao Zheng poked his head in from the doorway: "Master, I want to go too."

"One mine doesn't need two guards." Lin Ran didn't even look up. "You should go guard the entrance to Blue Star."

"I think the spirit stone mine is more suitable for me!" Ao Zheng said seriously.

"Why don't you have a fight with Wanwan?" Lin Ran finally looked up at it. "Whoever wins goes."

Ao Zheng glanced at Li Zhu Wanwan, then at the phoenix flames swirling around her, and remained silent for two seconds.

"Forget it, I think I'm more suited to guarding the entrance to Earth."

"You're smart to know what's good for you."

After the tasks were assigned, Lin Ran stretched and turned to look at Lu Huai'an.

"Where is the sect's treasure vault?"

"It's...it's in the forbidden area behind the mountain. I'll take you there right away."

Lu Huai'an led Lin Ran through several corridors and arrived at a stone gate in front of the back mountain.

The stone gate is heavy and its surface is covered with forbidden patterns.

Lu Huai'an formed a hand seal to release the restriction, and the stone gate slowly opened.

"My lord, please come in."

Lin Ran stepped into the treasure vault and glanced around.

The treasure vault wasn't large; a few rows of shelves held some bottles, jars, and weapons. Compared to other treasure vaults he had seen, it was rather shabby.

"Is that all?"

"Ahem... My Qingxuan Sect has never been wealthy, and in recent years, our ancestor... Lu Wangchuan's forced breakthrough has consumed a lot of resources." Lu Huai'an's voice grew softer as he spoke.

Lin Ran shook his head and casually flipped through the items on the shelf.

After taking a few steps, the Xuanhuang Cauldron in his sea of ​​consciousness trembled slightly.

Lin Ran paused, then followed his senses to the innermost corner.

A long sword was stuck diagonally in the corner, its blade covered in cracks and missing several pieces of the edge, looking like a piece of scrap metal that had been carelessly thrown there.

The voice of the Lord of Xuan Chen resounded in his mind: "If this sword were intact, it would be a top-grade immortal sword."

"What level is the Legend of Sword and Fairy?"

"Naturally, it's at the level of an acquired spiritual treasure."

Lin Ran reached out and picked up the longsword. It was heavy in his hand, and there was a faint spiritual energy flowing through the damaged blade.

"Then I have to fix it."

"You don't know how to forge weapons."

"I don't know how, but there are people in this sect who do."