Inside the Council Hall, as Di Yuanpu spoke, the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy. Only the giant crocodile continued to watch the show cheerfully.

Heiye hid behind Lechuan, feeling too wronged to speak. ’He never would have thought he’d get bullied by a crocodile in a place like this.’

"Fifty years ago, Zhao E Lian failed in his bid to become the Sect Leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, losing to Lechuan. He was subsequently transferred to the Outer Sea Iron Wind Islands. There, he suddenly prospered, and all sorts of cultivation resources appeared out of thin air. For this, Sect Leader Zhao, do you have a reasonable explanation?"

The one who took the lead in the attack was a Golden Core Cultivator beside them. He didn’t look very old, even a few years younger than Lechuan. His features bore a faint resemblance to Di Yuanpu, who was seated at the head.

Zhao E Lian remained silent, and the man smiled smugly:

"The Outer Sea Iron Wind Island is barren and was originally a place of banishment. Back then, you botched a task and were reported to Zongshan by the head of the branch here, which is why you scurried off to Iron Wind Island. Yet, in less than thirty years, Iron Wind Island has been completely transformed. If this was all due to your own ability, we would have nothing to say. But someone has reported that this was all the result of you colluding with Demon Cultivators. Regarding this, does Sect Leader Zhao have anything to say?"

Zhao E Lian’s eyes narrowed. He stared intently at the man, his ugly face immediately feigning innocence:

"Di Qing, one must be careful with their words. You accuse me of colluding with Demon Cultivators—do you have any proof?"

Di Qing chuckled. Looking up at Di Yuanpu and receiving a slight nod, he pointed at Fang Qingyuan:

"This man can testify. Fang Qingyuan, tell them what you saw and heard."

Fang Qingyuan moved lightly to Lechuan’s side. Just as he was about to speak, Zhao E Lian interrupted him.

"No! This man is Lechuan’s Closed-door Disciple. Lechuan and I have a grudge. Who knows if he’s trying to frame me on purpose? This man’s words cannot be used as evidence."

Fang Qingyuan blinked. ’Zhao E Lian has a point.’ But having a point didn’t matter in the face of absolute power.

Sure enough, Di Yuanpu, seated at the head, frowned and scolded,

"Enough of your desperate arguments. It’s true that he is Lechuan’s disciple, but he is also the leader of one of the Great Zhou’s Sealed Sects. How could he possibly commit perjury? Just listen."

Rebuked by Di Yuanpu, Zhao E Lian’s imposing manner instantly deflated. After that, he remained silent as Fang Qingyuan recounted what he had seen on the Outer Sea Iron Wind Island. It seemed he understood that no matter how he defended himself today, it would be useless.

Besides Fang Qingyuan, Di Yuanpu also brought forth several other witnesses. They came up to testify about how incompetent Zhao E Lian was as the leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, how he coerced his disciples, and how he extorted wealth.

After the long series of testimonies ended, Zhao E Lian completely lost his fight. He had done all those things and couldn’t deny them.

Perhaps Zhao E Lian had anticipated this day ever since he became the leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, which was why he had been so cruel to its members.

In the end, Zhao E Lian was stripped of his position as leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect on the spot. Di Qing would take over temporarily. Once the formalities were completed with Zongshan, Di Qing would become the third leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect.

No one made things overly difficult for the deposed Zhao E Lian. They simply placed him under house arrest, preparing to take him back to Zongshan for final sentencing.

After everything was concluded, Lechuan went forward to congratulate Di Qing. Fang Qingyuan sidled up beside them and said to Di Qing,

"Sect Leader Di, this disciple has a request. The patriarch previously mentioned that rewards could be exchanged for resources. This disciple wishes to exchange his reward for a Beast Taming Heart Method."

With Lechuan at his side, Di Qing’s expression was warm. He agreed readily and then walked inside with a group of Golden Core Cultivators. It seemed the celebratory banquet was about to begin.

Lechuan was also a participant, while Fang Qingyuan could only tag along behind him. Di Yuanpu only made a brief appearance before leaving with the giant crocodile. During the banquet, Lechuan secretly told Fang Qingyuan that Di Qing was actually Di Yuanpu’s clan nephew.

When the banquet ended, Lechuan took Fang Qingyuan back to White Mountain. Heiye had disappeared again. He was to follow the Golden Core Cultivators sent by Di Yuanpu to hunt down the Evil Cultivator who had secretly harmed Zhao Liangde years ago. After all, Heiye had witnessed the event firsthand, and his presence was needed for the matter to proceed.

On the way, Fang Qingyuan gazed back at the ever-growing and developing Southern Border Beast Taming Sect and sighed. ’The Beast Taming Sect is developing better and better, but Lechuan and I can never go back. And how long will Di Qing, this third Sect Leader, last in his position?’

....

After returning to White Mountain, Fang Qingyuan did not linger at the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. He went straight back to his own sect.

The Cultivation Technique would take some time to arrive; it wasn’t something that could be produced immediately upon request.

After returning to the sect, Fang Qingyuan let Jinbao out and then asked if Jiang Wanqin had returned.

He learned that Jiang Wanqin still hadn’t come back. Hearing this news, Fang Qingyuan’s brow furrowed deeply. ’The Qingyuan Sect isn’t far from Yuanling Mountain; a round trip should only take about ten days. I’ve been away for over a month, and Jiang Wanqin still isn’t back at the sect. Could something have happened to her?’

A headache instantly washed over Fang Qingyuan. Jiang Wanqin was already at Late-stage Qi Cultivation, but she had never fought against outsiders. In a place like the White Mountain Land Realm, this made her one of the weakest types of Cultivators in combat: a Home Cultivator.

Recalling that there were many White Mountain Tribulation Cultivators, Fang Qingyuan summoned Mao Cheng and asked,

"Did Wanqin go by herself? Was anyone accompanying her? After she took the beast ship, did she board a specialized beast ship bound for the Southern Border at Nine Stars Square?"