Inside the Biyou Palace, there are numerous halls, each serving its own purpose.

The central main hall is specifically used by the Hierarch Tongtian for receiving guests, or for preaching and teaching the disciples.

The hall is vast and wide, with no trace of architectural features visible.

Being in it feels like standing between Heaven and Earth.

Looking up, there is the blue sky and the bright sun; looking down, there are thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.

There is no sense of confinement whatsoever.

Only a sense of freedom and unrestraint lingers in the heart.

At this moment, after receiving a personal "forgiveness" from Hierarch Tongtian, Qiu Shou Immortal was joyful but did not forget another significant matter.

He still had not risen from his place, and looking up at Hierarch Tongtian he respectfully said, "Disciple has another matter to report to Master. When disciple rushed to Skull Mountain, fellow disciple Ma Yuan… had already perished."

As soon as this statement was made, the originally quiet hall immediately became noisy.

Gazes from both sides focused, sweeping over Shi Ji and Yu Yuan momentarily, before finally locking onto Yu Yuan.

Among these two, Yu Yuan is clearly more suspicious.

Duobao Daoist stood up, looking at Qiu Shou Immortal, and sternly asked, "Who killed him?"

Without waiting for Qiu Shou Immortal to respond, Yu Yuan straightforwardly admitted, "It was me!"

Upon his declaration, the reactions among the immortals in the hall varied.

Some like Lv Yue and Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal slightly nodded and revealed a smirk that said "just as expected," their eyes revealing both self-satisfaction and a delight in the misfortune.

In their view, since Yu Yuan admitted that he killed Ma Yuan, the subsequent matters would be much simpler.

All that needed consideration was the severity of the punishment.

However, immortals like Zhao Gongming, Three Pure Ones, and Flame Immortal who were not familiar with Yu Yuan now showed expressions of shock and doubt.

In their eyes, Yu Yuan, who had only cultivated for a bit over a thousand years as a Profound Immortal, should not possibly be a match for a high-ranked Heavenly Immortal!

After all, from Profound Immortal to Heavenly Immortal, it is not merely crossing several great realms, but involves tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation!

But the biggest reaction in the hall was not from them, but the usually cold and frosty eldest sister, Golden Spirit Saint Mother.

At this moment, the elder sister of the Jie Sect had already stood up, her beautiful eyes tightly fixed on Yu Yuan, her expression extremely cold.

She sharply rebuked, "Don't spout nonsense! Ma Yuan was a high-ranked Heavenly Immortal. How could you, a mere Profound Immortal, kill him? Quickly confess the truth, was there somebody else who killed Ma Yuan?"

The immortals in the hall: "..."

When she said the first part, everyone didn't find it odd.

But with the latter part, it became clear she was trying to advocate for her disciple.

"Senior sister is mistaken!"

Lv Yue stood up and said: "Although nephew Yu Yuan is only a Profound Immortal, he is naturally powerful. Previously, when he came to my Nine Dragons Island to gather herbs, he reverted fellow disciples Zhou Xin and Li Qi, both high-ranked Heavenly Immortals, back to their original forms, causing their Dao Xing to majorly..."

Halfway through his speech, he suddenly felt a chilling gaze directed at him.

He instinctively turned his head, only to meet the icy stare of the Golden Spirit Saint Mother.

At that instant, Lv Yue felt a bone-chilling coldness growing at the bottom of his heart, and he found himself unable to continue speaking.

Fortunately, at this moment, Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal stood up to complete his sentence: "Since nephew Yu Yuan has previously managed to injure two high-ranked Heavenly Immortals, then it's not such a difficult task for him to kill one now, right?"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother coldly glanced at him and indifferently said, "Yu Yuan is my disciple. It's not your place to be excessively talkative!"

"Junior sister!"

Duobao Daoist sharply called out, frowning as he said: "In front of Master, do not behave recklessly! Us Jie Sect disciples particularly abhor infighting among peers, and no matter who violates this sect rule, they must face strict punishment!"

Upon saying this, he glanced at Qiu Shou Immortal, who was still kneeling and not getting up, before adding another sentence: "Unless there is a just cause!"

"Clap, clap, clap—"

A series of clear applause echoed.

Duobao Daoist looked up only to see Yu Yuan striding forward while clapping and loudly saying, "Elder Taoist is right! Regardless of who, anyone attempting to harm a fellow sect member must be punished severely!"

Seeing Yu Yuan's actions, the immortals in the hall cast unusual glances.

Curious, surprised, doubtful...

Even the Hierarch Tongtian seated high on a celestial bed flashed a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Looking at Yu Yuan who had approached him, Duobao Daoist squinted his eyes, his expression becoming even more solemn.

As the foremost disciple of the Jie Sect, he was always mature and solemn, not one for jests, with a tall and sturdy figure that at first glance made him appear even more imposing and authoritative than the striking Hierarch Tongtian.

Moreover, since the establishment of the Jie Sect, almost all major and minor sect affairs had been managed by him, rarely requiring personal intervention from Hierarch Tongtian.

Over the years, his dignified bearing had reached quite a high level.

Across the vast Primordial Heaven and Earth, whether it be disciples within the sect or gods outside the sect, everyone who saw him held him in high respect, always polite and courteous.

Only this Yu Yuan, who kept a carefree demeanor, did not even show the usual courtesies, calling him "Elder Taoist" already considered giving face.

It was only because the Jie Sect did not place as much emphasis on 'propriety' as the Chan Sect that he did not take it too seriously.

But this didn't mean he wasn't annoyed by Yu Yuan!

In his view, this disciple, who usually flitted about without a care, not maintaining propriety even in the Yuan Biyou Palace and showing no understanding of "reverence", was problematic.

However, with his composed demeanor, he would not let his inner thoughts show on the surface.

At the moment, he was just calmly looking at Yu Yuan, gravely saying, "If you have something to say, speak directly. Do not be impudent here!"

Yu Yuan smiled and nodded, loudly saying, "As Elder Taoist commands, let me elaborate on this matter!"

He briefly recounted the conflict between himself and Ma Yuan, then looked up at the Hierarch Tongtian and loudly said, "Master, please judge for me! I didn't provoke or upset anyone; from beginning to end, it was Ma Yuan who wanted to fight and kill me…"

Turning his head, he addressed Shi Ji who had been standing with his head bowed at the back: "This matter can be witnessed by Uncle Shi Ji who also resides on Skull Mountain!"

Hearing this, the eyes of all immortals in the hall fell upon Shi Ji.

The moment has come!

Shi Ji thought to himself, took a deep breath, and knelt down again, bowing respectfully towards the Hierarch of Tongtian and said, "Indeed, I personally witnessed Disciple Ma Yuan launching a surprise attack, trying to put Disciple Yu Yuan to death!

Disciple Yu Yuan only struck back with a punch in self-defense after repeated persuasions and warnings proved ineffective.

Master, this is absolutely true, and there is no fabrication in my words!"

Hearing this, Golden Spirit Saint Mother's eyes brightened, and looking at the Hierarch of Tongtian seated high upon the cloud bed, she said, "If it was Ma Yuan who struck first, then it is indeed his own fault, and no one else is to blame!"

"Sister, your words are not right!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal stood up and said, "Even if Ma Yuan struck first, it was because of the previous grievances with the disciple! If it wasn't for the severe oppression by the disciple, why would Ma Yuan still strike first knowing he was no match?"

"That's right!"

Lv Yue stood up, angrily denounced at Yu Yuan, "Last time you caused havoc on Nine Dragons Island, burned my Medicine Garden, and injured two fellow disciples… Ma Yuan must have acted out of indignation from your bullying!"

"Tsks—"

Yu Yuan smacked his lips, said discontentedly, "Qiu Shou Immortal Uncle accidentally harming a fellow disciple is deemed innocent! And Shi Ji Uncle has already proven that I acted in self-defense, yet according to you all it turned into bullying fellow disciples...

Aren't you bullying the honest person here?

I would like to ask, who exactly is distorting facts and oppressing fellow disciples?!

Can one still remain in Jie Sect?!"

A series of questions resonated through the main hall, instantly making the expressions of all immortals in the hall vivid.

Even the Hierarch of Tongtian seated on the cloud bed was momentarily dazed.

When was the last time someone spoke to him like this?

"Yu Yuan! What audacity you have!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's eyes tinted red, sternly reprimanded, "Daring to be so presumptuous in front of the Hierarch!"

"It is you who is presumptuous!"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother spoke again, her voice still cold, "Just because Yu Yuan ruined your plans in Qingqiu, you repeatedly slander him…

Now I suspect the incident of Qiu Shou unintentionally killing Yao Gongbo was also your scheme, aiming to silence and cover up your wicked deeds outside!"

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal's face alternated between green and white, forcing a smile, "Sister, I understand the feeling of wanting to exonerate your disciple, but to frame me like this is somewhat… too childish."

"Framing?"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother scoffed coldly, right at that moment, a loud shout rang out, "Enough from everyone!"

It was the Duobao Daoist who spoke.

This chief disciple of Jie Sect finally couldn't hold back any longer, his gaze sweeping between Golden Spirit Saint Mother and Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal, he sternly said, "In front of our Master, to argue and quarrel like this, do you still have any consideration for the camaraderie among fellow disciples?" Text acquired from M|V|LEMP&YR.

"Brother is right to reprimand."

Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal said while quickly bowing to the Hierarch of Tongtian, "It's all my lapse in behaviour that provoked Sister to this anger, please forgive me, Master."

Compared to his "smooth and tactful" manner, Golden Spirit Saint Mother appeared "straightforward and direct".

After being berated by Duobao Daoist, she simply ignored him and turned to address the Hierarch of Tongtian, "Master, you are a Saint, nothing in this world can be hidden from you!

Will you just watch as your grand-disciple is being bullied?"

Hierarch of Tongtian: "…"

As the Golden Spirit Saint Mother said, he is a Saint, capable of deducing everything and knowing all.

From Yu Yuan's account, he knew that his grand-disciple had slightly obscured some details, and whether by coincidence or otherwise, what Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal said was already extremely close to the truth.

As a Saint who only needs a thought to know everything, the Hierarch of Tongtian often turns a blind eye to many things.

Regarding the dominant and privileged actions of Jie Sect disciples across Primordial lands, he has always been well aware, just too lazy to intervene.

Usually, as long as it doesn't get out of hand, he lets Duobao handle it.

This summoning of disciples to Biyou Palace, calling back Yu Yuan, was because the issue between Yu Yuan and Ma Yuan had caused a stir, unsettling the disciples within the sect.

Under such circumstances, as the Hierarch, he naturally had to gather the disciples to provide an explanation.

As for what this explanation was, the Hierarch of Tongtian wasn't particularly concerned.

The Way above has no virtue; the Way below only recognizes virtue!

The great Way has fifty, Heaven develops forty-nine, a single line of survival escapes, and it should be for all beings to seize this line of survival!

This was his philosophy in founding the Jie Sect.

He has always only taught his disciples cultivation, allowing them to have the capability to seize that line of survival, but did not teach them how to actually seize it.

It wasn't him being irresponsible, but he disdained for others to act according to his standards.

It was like cultivating flowers; he wanted to see millions of different styles, not all flowers looking exactly like him.

Such flowers, no matter how beautiful, seemed lifeless to him.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he did not want to interfere in the matters of the sect.

However, now that the disciples below him were disputing, and even Duobao couldn't settle it, the Hierarch of Tongtian thought for a while and finally spoke, "Ma Yuan has committed heavy sins, recklessly threatening the lives of fellow disciples, he only has himself to blame for this calamity… that will be all, you may all leave."

With these words, the matter was decisively concluded.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother's expression slightly eased, following the others, she bowed and respectfully bid farewell.

As she straightened up, her cold gaze lingered on Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal and Lv Yue's faces briefly before she, taking the lead, swiftly left the main hall with Yu Yuan.

It wasn't until then that Long-eared Ding Guang Immortal and Lv Yue sighed in relief, exchanged a look, both conveying a desire to "stick together for warmth".

…