Qiu Shou Immortal truly lived up to his reputation as a Taiyi Golden Immortal, harnessing a Heavenly Gang Divine Power known as Vertical Earth Golden Light, which was much faster than Shi Ji's Green Bird.

Originally, the journey was supposed to take a month, but in merely three days, they had already rushed from Skull Mountain to Penglai Island.

This was still with Yu Yuan and Shi Ji accompanying him; had he been alone, his speed could have been further increased by about thirty percent.

Seeing the Penglai Holy Realm just ahead, Qiu Shou Immortal stopped the golden light and shifted to riding the clouds instead.

Yu Yuan glanced at him, noting a slight hesitation on his face, and with a smile, offered him a cigarette, "Here, have one to calm your nerves."

Qiu Shou Immortal reached out, expertly pinching the cigarette between two fingers and placing it into his mouth, then a flame emerged from his fingertips to light it, and he took a deep inhale before hesitantly asking, "Nephew, are you sure your method will work?"

Observing Qiu Shou Immortal, who now resembled a seasoned smoker after only three days, Yu Yuan ambiguously responded, "Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"Fine."

Qiu Shou Immortal sighed, "We'll do as you said!"

In a short while, the three descended from the clouds and landed on the square in front of the Biyou Palace.

Yu Yuan scanned left and right, spotting his master's Seven Fragrant Treasure Car parked at the edge of the square, and further away, a number of mythical creatures such as celestial deer and Bi'an lazily sprawled on the ground soaking up the sun.

Clearly, the owners of these mounts and treasure carriages were still inside the Biyou Palace and had not left.

"Let's go in."

With a deep breath, Qiu Shou Immortal, wearing an expression of resolute determination akin to facing death, led the way into the Biyou Palace.

Yu Yuan and Shi Ji followed him.

Unlike Shi Ji, who was exceedingly cautious after entering the Penglai Holy Realm and proceeded slowly with his head down, Yu Yuan started looking around as soon as he entered the Biyou Palace.

After all, it had been centuries since he last entered.

The interior of the Biyou Palace looked exactly as he remembered it.

Everywhere intricately exquisite, with layers of dragons and phoenixes soaring.

Immortal herbs and divine medicines were planted all around.

Saint Refining Elixirs fluttered about.

Innate Spiritual Treasures appeared endlessly.

However, what caught Yu Yuan's attention the most was a certain omnipresent aura.

Formless, shapeless, soundless, and colorless.

Sometimes ethereal and elusive, sometimes heavier than Divine Mountain.

Brilliant as the sun and moon, vast as the stars.

This was the majesty of a Saint!

Whenever he focused on sensing it, Yu Yuan naturally came to a subtle realization in his heart.

The Saint is like the Dao.

Existing alongside heaven and earth.

Thus, seeing a Saint is like seeing the Dao, like seeing heaven and earth!

Soon, he followed Qiu Shou Immortal into a spacious grand hall.

At the head of the hall sat a figure on a White Jade Cloud Bed.

"Disciple pays respects to the master!" The M@|&V*|LE$&*MP+Y%R t^ea-m. w&o!r+ke&d. ha.r$d on t-hi@s c*ha%p#ter@.

Qiu Shou Immortal and Shi Ji successively prostrated on the ground, bowing respectfully.

Yu Yuan followed up with a bow and then lifted his gaze toward the Saint at the head position.

In the imagination of many immortal gods of the Primordial era, a Saint is typically a lofty being, nearly one with the Dao, possessing no concrete form...

Yu Yuan was unsure about other Saints, but within his view, the so-called Upper Pure Saint and Tongtian Sect Hierarch was merely a handsome and young looking Daoist.

He wore a Furong Crown and was dressed in a Golden Silk Jade Cloud Robe, his lips slightly pursed, face bearing a slight smile, appearing very approachable and giving off a carefree and unrestrained aura.

Perhaps it was this easy-going and unrestrained disposition that made most of the disciples of Jie Sect so loyally devoted to him.

Yu Yuan mumbled to himself, his gaze shifting to the left and right, noticing the four direct disciples, four external sect disciples, Seven Attendant Immortals, Ten Heavenly Lords of Golden Turtle Island, Flame Immortal of Fire Dragon Island, Four Saints of Nine Dragons Island, and Lv Yue among others were all present.

It could be said that nearly all the elite of the second-generation disciples of Jie Sect had gathered.

What an impressive assembly this was!

As he swiftly surveyed the surroundings, the Tongtian Sect Hierarch and everyone else in the hall were also looking at him.

Yu Yuan's initiation as a disciple was barely a thousand years ago, an insignificantly brief period in the Primordial era where a solitary cultivation session usually starts from ten thousand years.

Despite being part of the Jie Sect, many did not know of Yu Yuan's existence.

Even if they knew of such a person, they had never seen him.

This was precisely why many Jie Sect disciples did not recognize Yu Yuan during his recent excursion.

In essence, this moment was Yu Yuan's first official appearance before this group of Jie Sect elites— in the posture of one "captured" for trial.

However, Yu Yuan felt no such awareness.

Especially with the trembling Qiu Shou Immortal and the exceedingly cautious Shi Ji for contrast, Yu Yuan, who looked around as if a leisurely tourist, stood out remarkably.

Seeing this scene, Lv Yue, who was sitting in a corner, couldn't help but sneer inwardly: You, youngster, probably have no idea what awaits you next, do you?

He had heard about "Ma Yuan entering the Heavenly Court" and the Sect Hierarch intending to punish Yu Yuan on his way back from the Northern Continent. Following the spirit of "many hands make light work," he immediately utilized his mana to employ his Great Divine Power and hastened back day and night.

Not for anything else, but to publically reveal Yu Yuan's "evil deeds".

Not far from him, Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's gaze scrutinized Qiu Shou Immortal and Yu Yuan back and forth a couple of times, showing a slight hint of confusion but not dwelling on it.

His previous scheme involving Qiu Shou Immortal was merely an idle move; if it worked, so much the better, if not, it wouldn't make much difference.

After all, as long as the crime of "harmin one's own fellow disciples" was duly proven against Yu Yuan, even if he is spared from being expelled out of consideration for his master, the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, he, at least, should be cast into the East Sea Sea Eye to be subdued for ten or eight thousand years.

At this moment, the voice of the Tongtian Sect Hierarch sounded, "Everyone, rise. No need for excessive formalities."

His voice was calm, indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

"Thank you, Master."

Shi Ji thanked him and slowly stood up.

Yu Yuan also stood up beside her.

However, Qiu Shou Immortal did not get up, instead, he said in a deep voice, "I report to Master, your disciple has violated the sect's rules, accidentally harming the life of our fellow disciple Yao Gongbo..."

He unreservedly confessed everything that happened, including harboring prejudice against Yu Yuan due to the words of Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal, and finally bowed deeply, saying, "Due to a moment of anger, your disciple has made a big mistake and asks for Master's punishment!"

During his recount, the expressions of the Immortal Gods within the hall changed unpredictably.

Their gazes shifted between Qiu Shou Immortal and Yu Yuan.

There was surprise, confusion, perplexity, doubt...

Among them, Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal had the most significant reaction, his face turning alternately green and white.

Especially when Qiu Shou Immortal spoke that last sentence, his face was full of bitter smiles.

Qiu Shou Immortal attributed all faults to the word "anger."

And where did this "anger" stem from?

Qiu Shou Immortal had already made it crystal clear; it was all thanks to Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal!

This was not a plea for forgiveness at all; it was clearly an accusation!

However, Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal was no ordinary person. Though seeming somewhat flustered on the surface, he was calm as an old dog inside.

After Qiu Shou Immortal finished speaking, he too hurriedly knelt down, bowing deeply to the Tongtian Sect Hierarch and said, "What the elder disciple Qiu Shou Immortal said is true; indeed, it was I who spoke to him about our nephew disciple Yu Yuan.

But every word I said was true, not deliberately fabricated, and I did not anticipate such a serious consequence arising!"

"True words?"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother let out a slight cold huff, which sounded to Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal like distant thunder.

His forehead sweating, he explained, "Perhaps there were some rumors, please do not take offense, elder sister."

Golden Spirit Saint Mother looked at him coldly, not pursuing the matter further, but coldly asked, "I would like to know why did brother Long-eared not tell the truth about the Yao Gongbo incident?"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal hastily explained, "At that time, my connection with Yao Gongbo was also inexplicably interrupted, and later I was preoccupied with other matters, so I forgot about this."

"Heh, I hope you really just forgot."

Golden Spirit Saint Mother coldly left those words behind and turned away, no longer looking at him.

A bitter smile appeared on Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's face.

He knew that today he had deeply offended his elder sister and couldn't help but feel some regret.

Ah, an idle move remains idle, a hasty move can lead to big troubles!

The Tongtian Sect Hierarch, seated high on a cloud bed, showed no reaction to the verbal duel between the two, waiting for their exchange to end before finally looking at the assembly of Immortal Gods, indifferently saying, "Now speak up, for the fratricide of Qiu Shou Immortal, how do you think he should be punished?"

Being the chief disciple, Duobao Taoist naturally stood up first, saying seriously, "Our Jie Sect strictly prohibits infighting among fellow disciples, logically, brother Qiu Shou Immortal should be severely punished...

However, considering that this matter was an accident and brother Qiu Shou had no intention of causing it, I would like to earnestly request that Master be lenient!"

After he finished speaking, the other Immortal Gods in the hall also spoke out, pleading for mercy for Qiu Shou Immortal.

Including Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal.

He was even more earnest than anyone, going as far as saying, "I am willing to take the punishment on behalf of my brother."

This caused Qiu Shou Immortal to doubt whether his judgment might have been mistaken.

It was clear that Qiu Shou Immortal was quite popular among the elite disciples of the Jie Sect.

The Tongtian Sect Hierarch nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face.

He looked at Qiu Shou Immortal and said, "Since they all plead for you and you yourself sincerely regret, I will spare you this time."

Hearing this, Qiu Shou Immortal was overjoyed, bowing repeatedly and saying, "Thank you, Master, for your generosity!"

He hadn't expected to get through the ordeal so smoothly.

He hadn't really done anything; he merely confessed everything honestly, just as his nephew disciple Yu Yuan had suggested, pushing all blame onto that one word "anger."

Such a simple defense, and yet nothing really happened!

Could it indeed be that honesty leads to leniency, and resistance to strictness?

Nephew disciple Yu Yuan truly did not deceive me!