Chapter 231: Chapter 192: Layers of Misunderstanding

Yang Jiye and his group were all stunned. Since the sect’s destruction, how long has it been since they’ve heard the names of their fellow sect members?

Excitement, delight, and doubt surged within them, leaving them momentarily speechless. Suddenly, most of the fog before them cleared away, as Zheng Duan adjusted the Five Elements Grand Array from activation mode to concealment mode, allowing them to see each other’s faces clearly.

Seeing the person in front of them, both sides were filled with excitement.

"Junior Brother Yang, you, you have suffered," Tan Hong looked at Yang Jiye’s graying hair and weathered face, feeling a deep ache in his heart and couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Yang Jiye sensed briefly, happily saying, "Senior Brother Tan looks well, and has even broken through to late-stage Qi Cultivation, that’s great."

Tan Hong then realized, his eyes widening with joy and surprise, "Junior Brother Yang has actually broken through to Foundation Establishment! This is truly joy upon joy!"

Yang Jiye hadn’t yet understood what joy upon joy meant, when Wang Yu spoke up with a clear voice, "Today, fellow sect members meet, a blessing from the heavens, should we just stand here? Senior Brother Tan, quickly let us inside to talk."

Tan Hong nodded repeatedly, instructing Zheng Duan to open the array. Just then, Bai Ling suddenly shouted, "No! They are here for the Bailu Mountain Spirit Vein; Fellow Daoist Qi has already reached an agreement with me to help the Yuehua Sect develop. This Fellow Daoist Tan, although you were once a Yunshan disciple, now that you’ve joined the Xuanguang Sect, you must follow Fellow Daoist Qi’s arrangements!"

She didn’t know the true identities of the crowd, only hearing Tan Hong call the person outside the array "Senior Brother," she thought such a coincidence unlikely, but she could only invoke "Fellow Daoist Qi" to prevent letting Yunshan Sect people inside. Otherwise, Tan Hong might remember the old sect ties and let them in, risking losing Bailu Mountain.

Tan Hong was taken aback at her words, just recalling his disguise now.

Zheng Duan quickly added, "Senior Brother Tan, now Senior Brother Qi’s Foundation Establishment is the priority. As for the Yunshan Sect Leader’s matter, let’s decide after Senior Brother Qi exits seclusion, shall we?"

He emphasized the words "Yunshan Sect Leader."

Unlike Tan Hong, Zheng Duan didn’t have such deep ties with the outsiders, though he was somewhat pleased to encounter lost Yunshan disciples. Despite the excitement, he remained rational. Listening to Bai Ling earlier, he realized the Yang-named Foundation Establishment Feather Scholar outside might actually be the Yunshan Sect Leader, seemingly chosen by the exiled disciples themselves. In this case, how to treat them required careful consideration.

At least, it wasn’t his decision to make. Now everything centered on Lu Qian’s Foundation Establishment; it’s best without complications arising.

Tan Hong was startled by this, recalling Bai Ling’s words, and hurriedly asked, "Junior Brother Yang, how did you become Sect Leader?"

Yang Jiye’s expression cooled, "Senior Brother Tan, so you’ve joined another sect? So, you’re keeping us outside the array?"

Wang Yu shouted from the side, "Senior Brother Tan, when the Mountain Gate was destroyed, the disciples scattered in all directions, a few of us were lucky to escape. At that time, Senior Brother Yang had the highest cultivation, so we followed him. Later, as we gradually found other sect members, everyone elected Senior Brother Yang to succeed as the fourth-generation Sect Leader."

"Senior Brother Tan! You’re always dedicated to the sect and value the ties within the sect. We deeply respect this. Now, with the blessings of past ancestors, the Sect Leader has successfully advanced to Foundation Establishment, and Yunshan Sect has hope of revival. You joined another sect; we understand it was out of necessity, we don’t blame you!"

"Leaving midway to join another sect, Senior Brother Tan must not be faring well in the new sect, right? Now, the Sect Leader wants to seize the Spirit Vein and rebuild the Mountain Gate; it’s a great event! Senior Brother Tan, why not turn back to the light, open the array, and return to Yunshan Sect, you’ll still be our respected elder brother! Together, we’ll revive Yunshan!"

Shuangye Alliance cultivators exchanged bizarre looks, finally focusing on the Yunshan Sect disciples, led by Tan Hong and Zheng Duan.

The Yunshan Sect disciples also looked embarrassed, flushed red with frustration. What a situation!

Tan Hong desperately wanted to reveal his real identity, to tell Yang Jiye that the true Yunshan Sect Leader was right here, that the sect had been rebuilt, was reviving, and under Lu Qian’s leadership, would continuously rise, exceeding the achievements of past ancestors.

However, Bai Ling and Yuehua Sect disciples were nearby, and Lu Qian led them under the Xuanguang Sect’s guise to ensure safety and smooth Foundation Establishment. Revealing their identity risked ruining Lu Qian and Bai Ling’s agreement, Lu Qian’s plans, the worst possible outcome being letting the Wang Family and Ziluo Mountain make moves, even causing Qiling Sect’s involvement!

Additionally, Junior Brother Yang was known for being impulsive and hot-tempered. If he knew Lu Qian was Sect Leader, who knows how he’d react. Now was the critical time for Lu Qian’s Foundation Establishment, no interruptions allowed.

Tan Hong felt anguished, overwhelmed, the joy of reuniting with sect members mixed with current anxiety, leaving him less rational than usual, unable to think of a better solution immediately.

He hastily said, "Junior Brother Yang, fellow sect members, things aren’t as you imagine. Presently, in Bailu Mountain, there’s a... great figure undergoing Foundation Establishment, you absolutely must not disturb him. Please wait a moment. At most, a few hours, until he successfully establishes his foundation, he’ll handle your issues and ensure a good result."

This backfired instead, Yang Jiye snorted angrily, "Senior Brother Tan, no, Fellow Daoist Tan, indeed, how things change. You’ve turned from a faithful Yunshan Senior Brother to a watchdog of another sect!"

"For someone else’s foundation, you block us fellow sect members outside, hindering Yunshan Sect’s revival plan, I’ve truly misjudged you!"

Tan Hong’s forehead broke out in sweat, just about to speak. Wang Yu pulled the furious Yang Jiye back: "Sect Leader, regardless, using Bailu Mountain’s grounds for establishment, the opposing party seems to have high status; attacking now might lead to disaster. We must retreat and plan longer-term."

Yang Jiye fell silent, sighed deeply, while the Yunshan disciples behind him were furious yet helpless, preparing to retreat.

Tan Hong heard them about to leave, panicking, simultaneously anxious and unable to think of any reasoning, loudly calling, "No! You cannot leave! Wait... wait for him to exit seclusion, then everything will be decided!"

The vast world, endless sea of people, now with ancestors’ pity enabling meeting fellow sect members again. It’s clear Junior Brother Yang and the others have no fixed home; failing to seize the Spirit Vein this time, who knows where they’ll wander next.

If they left now, there’d never be contact again. Junior Brother Yang had reached Foundation Establishment and would certainly become a strong supporter of the Sect Leader in the future. No matter what, he couldn’t let them leave.

But his words caused a bigger misunderstanding. The impatient Yang Jiye’s eyes widened, angrily shouting, "Tan Hong! You traitor to your ancestors! With no regard for sect ties, not only do you refuse us entry, now you’re blocking our exit, intending to hand us over to your new master, to collect reward for our heads?"

"Fine, today I’ll break this array, seize Bailu Mountain, see how your new master establishes his foundation! No one can stop the Yunshan Sect revival and rebuilding of the mountain gate!"