At this moment, everyone witnessing this scene was utterly astonished. No one expected the Lake Master to address the young man as "big brother" with such courtesy; it was simply unbelievable! Especially those two sect leaders, who were extremely surprised, but they seemed to recall something. The Lake Master calling the other "big brother"? It seemed like they had heard of that before.

At this time, the elder beside Long Ren learned about the events here from the gatekeeping cultivator and then leaned close to Long Ren's ear to relay the situation.

Upon knowing the details, Long Ren's expression turned exceedingly grim. As he looked at Sect Master Tian among the bowing crowd, he spoke with a somewhat gloomy tone:

"Please, rise."

Sect Master Tian, upon hearing the Lake Master's words, dared not disobey and slowly stood upright, though with a very grim expression and a complex demeanor. He still harbored considerable resentment towards Ding Fan, given that Ding Fan had injured his beloved disciple. However, with the Lake Master treating the person with such deference, he naturally dared not say much more.

"Sect Master Tian, putting aside the fact that Ding Fan is my big brother, and how you ought to treat him, if we simply discuss the matter at hand: your disciple challenged my big brother and was defeated by him. My big brother even provided guidance to your disciple, yet your disciple repaid kindness with enmity and ambushed my big brother. In the end, my big brother showed mercy and merely repelled him. As a sect master, not only do you fail to understand the situation, but you also intend to take action against my big brother. Sect Master Tian, are you really that foolish a sect master?"

Long Ren's face was stern, and although he was one or two years younger than Ding Fan, the aura he exuded as the Lake Master was formidable and gave a sense of authority. Nonetheless, Long Ren did not rely on his status as Lake Master or exert pressure with authority but rather clarified the situation to the other party.

Seeing this, Ding Fan felt a sense of approval, for a leader should be fair and just, understanding principles clearly and speaking straightforwardly.

Sect Master Tian, hearing Long Ren's words, lowered his head for a moment, not daring to retort, but his anger towards Ding Fan remained unabated, as he listened tightly to the Lake Master's speech.

"Alright, with that matter concluded, let's move on to discuss my big brother's contributions. If not for my presence, do you really think you would stand a chance against my big brother? Do you think you would still be alive now? As for your disciple, it wouldn't have been just a hundred times over! You may choose not to accept this favor."

Long Ren, with a stern countenance, now looked at Sect Master Tian, whose face showed no signs of change, feeling infuriated, and continued indignant:

"Now I'll mention something you might acknowledge! It was my big brother who saved everyone at the 36 Caves Conference the last time. Sect Master Tian was present then, right!"

Upon hearing Long Ren's words, Sect Master Tian was taken aback, and only then did he completely remember where he had seen the Lake Master's big brother. It was indeed at the previous 36 Caves Conference, and if it weren't for the person finding the eye of the Nine Star Killing Formation, perhaps he and all the sect masters of the 36 Caves would be dead by now.

Recalling this incident, Sect Master Tian still felt some lingering fears. He had not faced such a life-threatening situation in decades, after all, as his cultivation improved, fewer people could surpass him, and thus, fewer could end his life.

But during that incident, nearly all the sect masters of the 36 Caves, including himself and even the Lake Master, almost perished to the Wild Wolf Gang's formation. How could it not be deeply imprinted in his memory! It was indeed the presence of the Lake Master's big brother who unraveled the formation, enabling everyone to drive back the Wild Wolf Gang and survive.

Reflecting on this matter, Sect Master Tian always felt immensely grateful to the Lake Master's big brother. He had not realized that this person in front was indeed the Lake Master's big brother. As a Spirit Severing Cultivator, his memory was excellent, and clearly, the appearance of the Lake Master's big brother at that time was still unforgettable, but the visage of this person now was evidently not him.

However, after closely observing the gestures and the subtle yet habitual aura of this person, Sect Master Tian finally discovered that this was indeed the Lake Master's big brother. At this moment, Sect Master Tian unmistakably understood.

Evidently, the person must have used something like a Disguise Pill to alter his appearance, although the disguise was so successful that since he had not initially paid much attention, he failed to recognize it immediately. This realization brought a wave of regret, and Sect Master Tian, overwhelmed with guilt, said:

"I acknowledge my mistake!"

Long Ren, hearing his acknowledgment, felt his anger subside somewhat and coldly said:

"This year, your sect will not receive its share of resources!" Without a doubt in his voice, Long Ren finished speaking, then walked directly to Ding Fan's side and proceeded up the mountain together with him, with the Great Elder following behind them.

Below, Sect Master Tian, having heard the Lake Master's words, felt as if he had plunged into an abyss, overwhelmed with heartache. Knowing that was an entire year's worth of resources! Without this year's resources, the sect would cultivate at least a dozen fewer disciples to the Emergence Stage, and he would struggle to break through to the Spirit Severing Late Stage this year.

This punishment was exceptionally severe!

Sect Master Tian understood that although his sect was not a small sect in the Donglai Continent, it wasn't a great gate sect either, merely of mid-level standing. However, within the 36 Caves, his sect was certainly a lower-ranking sect. Now, with the loss of a year's worth of cultivation resources, who knows how much further it would fall down the rankings.

Even if just one year of cultivation resources is missing, the small sects around him are all eyeing him like a tiger, waiting to pounce. Previously, an Immortal Sect was wiped out overnight by the Wild Wolf Gang, which clearly shows that the strength of Qinghe Sect is not much greater than that of the previous Immortal Sect. Therefore, if the Wild Wolf Gang wants to destroy them, it's naturally not impossible.

Sect Master Tian knows that his sect is one of the Thirty-Six Caves, so the Wild Wolf Gang wouldn't dare to easily make a move against them. However, with this year's cultivation resources gone, it means his sect's progress is at a standstill. Cultivation is like rowing a boat against the current; if you don't advance, you fall back, so clearly, his sect will fall behind this year.

After all, I cannot always rely on the power of the Thirty-Six Caves to protect my sect; this year, I probably won't be able to ease my mind at all...

But Sect Master Tian dared not voice even a slight objection when he heard the Lake Master's decision. After all, his mistake was too great, almost laying a hand on the Lake Master's elder brother, who was also his lifesaver. If there were more people present, the other sect masters would have surely exaggerated the incident, and his punishment would have definitely been more severe than now.

Possibly, he might not even be able to keep his position as Sect Master.

For the Thirty-Six Caves, laying a hand on the Lake Master's brother might be a small matter, but repaying kindness with enmity is a big one!

At this moment, Sect Master Gao walked up to Sect Master Tian, comfortingly saying:

"None of us expected this to happen, but the Lake Master has been lenient, Brother Tian, don't be too upset."

"..."

Sect Master Tian's heart was too bitter to say anything at all. Was it that he didn't check the almanac before going out today? All sorts of bad luck seemed to have found him.

Involuntarily, Sect Master Tian moved to the side of the muscular young man, who was supported by several cultivators from Qinghe Sect. At this moment, the muscular youth had taken some medicine pills and was much better, although his injuries were still severe, he could exert about fifty to sixty percent of his strength.

Sect Master Tian couldn't help but take out a medicine pill from his bosom, handing it over to the muscular youth with a pained expression, reluctantly saying:

"This is a Seventh Grade Healing Pill. Take it. Don't affect this time's assembly of the Thirty-Six Caves, I hope you bring me a surprise!"

Sect Master Tian's tone was clearly weak as well. His disciple had already recovered around seventy or eighty percent of his strength, but with the assembly's expert congregation, without peak strength, there's naturally little chance of finding any opportunity.

The muscular man was deeply saddened seeing his master like this, obviously regretting what he had stirred up. He had heard the Lake Master's punishment earlier and was deeply shocked by its severity. However, the most painful part for the muscular youth was seeing how his master had seemingly changed completely, devoid of his former pride, leaving the youth feeling very guilty. Meanwhile, a trace of malice flickered in his eyes, as he deeply remembered Ding Fan.

He didn't care if Ding Fan was the Lake Master's brother. If the other had severely injured him and caused Qinghe Sect to lose a year's worth of cultivation resources, his master wouldn't be like this. The muscular youth took the pill from Sect Master Tian with guilt written on his face but firmly declared:

"Master, rest assured, I promise to perform well at the assembly, seize the opportunity, and strengthen our Qinghe Sect!"

"Alright, let's go."

Sect Master Tian reluctantly smiled upon hearing his disciple's words, agreed with a nod, and then instructed the following disciples to head up the mountain.

The muscular youth was very surprised to see his master's current state, not expecting the blow to be so heavy. The current master was unlike anything he had seen before. Naturally, he didn't know how greatly this lack of one-year cultivation resources would affect the sect.

Sect Master Tian was very aware that the Wild Wolf Gang was exceedingly rampant, devouring sects everywhere. Generally, the small sects weren't worth the Wild Wolf Gang's time, but his sect was different—neither small enough to be insignificant, nor large enough to defend against them if they set their sights on his sect. Losing his sect might even be easier for the Wild Wolf Gang than eliminating the Immortal Sect.

Moreover, any sect would face betrayal and schemes from all sides. Once one sect is in trouble, the others, regardless of size, would seize the moment, ensuring they never recover.

Sect Master Tian knew that although the Thirty-Six Caves protected his sect, his sect's strength was weak, unable to fend off outsiders, so how could he not worry! This sect, which he built with his hands, every brick and tile bore deep emotions, how could he willingly let it be destroyed.

Qinghe Sect receives more than half its yearly cultivation resources from the Thirty-Six Caves. Without that support, it wouldn't have grown from a small sect to its current medium-sized strength, and suddenly lacking a year's resources could lead to many disciples wanting to leave the Sect this year!