Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

A month later, Liu Yuanqing convened his first Elder Council meeting after assuming the position of Sect Leader. The location was the Jieyuan Hall on True Nature Peak, Tong Tianfu's residence.

Tong Tianfu had already returned to the sect. In Flowing Cloud Immortal City, he had fought several battles against Qin Guangzhi, a Transformation Realm demonic cultivator from the Abyss of Heavenly Ink. He had tried to kill this person with the Heavenly Thunder Halberd several times, but each time, Qin Guangzhi had sensed the danger and escaped.

The Heavenly Thunder Halberd was a powerful weapon of slaughter, extremely formidable. However, it was quite difficult for Tong Tianfu, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, to wield it. He needed to prepare in advance to unleash its power.

Since Qin Guangzhi knew that he possessed this weapon, he was highly vigilant. At the first sign of an attack, he would flee far away, never giving Tong Tianfu a chance to use the Heavenly Thunder Halberd.

After Du Fuming and Lu Dingyi fled in panic from Tianque Mountain, the battle situation near Flowing Cloud Immortal City eased. Tong Tianfu left Hu Tiancong in charge of the defense and returned to Tianque Mountain.

Liu Yuanqing stood up from his seat and bowed to the eighteen Core Formation Elders in the hall. Then, he said slowly and deliberately, "The main purpose of this Elder Council meeting is to discuss two matters: first, the battle situation to the west, east, and south of Tianque Mountain and the selection of people to oversee them; second, how to deal with Zhang Yuanjing, a Jindu Peak disciple who has been wandering outside for seventy years. The Real Person suggests that we discuss the second matter first, then the first. Uncle Tu, among those present, besides the Real Person, you have the highest cultivation and are the oldest. I wonder what your opinion is?"

Tu Tianyuan was a thin old man in his fifties, with a long, narrow face that was always expressionless, making him look somewhat dull and slow.

He stood up and, without any preamble, said bluntly, "I have not been to the Void Demon World or the Mustard Seed Space, but I know they are very dangerous. According to Hu Shixiong and the other survivors, Yuanjing indeed attracted cultivators from the Abyss of Heavenly Demons and powerful alien demons, which led to the death of Qi Shixiong. This is undoubtedly a great mistake. However, he also went to the Mustard Seed Space with Yuan Kui, venturing into a deadly place, which can be considered a kind of self-imposed exile. Although he was lucky enough to survive in the end, it was just good fortune. In my opinion, we cultivators have a hard time. The karma in the Void Demon World should be settled there and not extend beyond. Let's just let bygones be bygones. Now is the time to use people. Let Yuanjing serve the sect!"

After he finished speaking, he sat back down in his seat, still looking dazed, regardless of how others looked at him.

Some of those present looked puzzled, some lowered their heads to calculate, and some flashed with disdain. However, everyone understood the deep meaning contained within his words.

Liu Yuanqing nodded and looked at Yu Tianwan, saying, "Uncle Tianwan, what is your opinion?"

Yu Tianwan stood up, first bowed to Tong Tianfu, and then said, "I am a witness to what happened back then, and Yuanjing's guilt is undeniable. However, I also agree with what Tu Shixiong said. The past is the past. Even if we execute Yuanjing, it will not undo what has been done. Instead, it will reduce the sect's strength. If Yuanjing is unrepentant, then he is unforgivable. But he has traveled thirty million miles to return and has participated in several major battles against the enemy, making great contributions. He himself is very remorseful for his past mistakes and is willing to go through fire and water for the sect to atone for his sins. Therefore, my opinion is the same as Tu Shixiong's: allow him to atone for his crimes with merit."

Everyone already knew his position and was not surprised. However, some people looked serious, exchanged glances, and nodded slightly.

Liu Yuanqing invited the next elder to speak, who was Huo Tiantong.

This gaunt Daoist stood up, first bowed to Tong Tianfu, then greeted everyone with a smile, before putting on a solemn expression and said seriously, "I agree with Yu Shixiong's opinion! I watched Yuanjing grow up, and his feelings for the sect are extremely sincere and profound. It can be said that Tianque Mountain is his home, Real Person Qi is his father, and all the cultivators in the sect are his family. How could he deliberately harm his own father and family! He was just young and ignorant and deceived by that old thief Ling Xiao.

"Of course, he made a mistake. But who hasn't made a mistake! As long as he is not insane and does not intentionally harm others, we should give him a chance to reform. In the Void Demon World, he knew he had to atone for his sins and resolutely went to a deadly place with Yuan Kui. Fortunately, he survived and broke through to the Core Formation Stage. He did not hide outside and live in comfort but was determined to return. As soon as he arrived near the mountain gate, he made great contributions to the sect and has repeatedly expressed his willingness to die for the sect. How can we reject such a loyal and sincere disciple! I think we should not pursue the past and let Yuanjing quickly take on important responsibilities and contribute to the sect. This is the right thing to do!"

He spoke at length, but many people showed disdain. When he said words like "young and ignorant," some couldn't help but laugh mockingly. However, with the Real Person present, no one dared to openly criticize him.

Next to speak was Zhao Tiange. This person looked very young, handsome, and serious. Before, while listening to Tu, Yu, and Huo's statements, he looked straight ahead, expressionless, but his eyes became colder and more stern.

He stood up, first bowed meticulously to Tong Tianfu, then greeted Liu Yuanqing, before looking at everyone and saying loudly, "Esteemed Elders, my Xuantian Sect has been standing tall for tens of thousands of years, and strict rules are a very important reason for this. In the past, when my sect's Nascent Soul combat power was at its peak, often with seven or eight people, disciples competed fiercely for the position of Sect Leader, Elders, and cultivation resources, but there was never any internal strife. Why? Because everything was done according to the sect's laws and regulations, and everyone was convinced! Zhang Yuanjing's crime is clear, the evidence is solid, and undeniable. In that case, of course, we must deal with it according to the sect's rules. How can we offset his crimes with merit! If we allow offsetting crimes with merit, those with strong cultivation can do whatever they want, and the sect will be in great chaos! If so, how can the sect maintain long-term stability and continue to be passed down?"

After Zhao Tiange came Shu Tianqi.

She hesitated slightly, but still unreservedly expressed what she thought in her heart: "Merit is merit, and crime is crime. Merit and crime cannot be offset. Merit can be rewarded, and after the reward, the crime can be punished. For the sect to be passed down, rules come first and cannot be neglected!"

After this, Li Tiankan, Han Tianzai, Hu Tianzhen, and others also demanded that Zhang Yuanjing be severely punished. There were also Jin Tianwu, Min Tianzhuo, You Tianwu, and others who advocated putting the matter of punishment aside for the time being, first using Zhang Yuanjing to contribute to the sect, and then determining whether to punish or pardon him based on his subsequent performance. This was a euphemistic way of saying that there was no difference from offsetting crimes with merit.

In the end, among the eighteen elders, those who agreed to offset crimes with merit and those who demanded severe punishment each accounted for half, both being nine people.

Liu Yuanqing first asked, "Esteemed Elders, is there anything else to say?"

Everyone was silent.

Liu Yuanqing waited for a few breaths, and when he saw that no one spoke, he said, "Because the number of people with both opinions is the same, I will not make a decision. Please Real Person Tong decide!"

After speaking, he bowed and stepped aside, yielding the main seat behind him.

Tong Tianfu stood up, glanced around the field, and then said in a deep voice, "Several people from Flowing Cloud Immortal City and Bingyuan Peak have not come here because they are on duty, but it is no longer important. My Xuantian Sect especially values sect rules and emphasizes that punishment should be given when due and rewards should be given when due. If it is a reward, it can be determined leniently. If it is a punishment, it must be strictly reviewed. This is also the reason why the sect established the Elder Council tens of thousands of years ago, to gather everyone's wisdom and handle internal and external affairs of the sect well, rather than relying solely on a few people with high cultivation realms.

"For all serious crimes and above, the Elder Council must discuss them and make a decision on punishment only after a majority agrees. Of course, there are exceptions, such as Transformation Stage cultivators and Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, who can make a decision with one word in special circumstances. But today is not such a situation. Therefore, in accordance with everyone's opinions, it is not appropriate to make a conclusion on the punishment of Jindu Peak disciple Zhang Yuanjing but should allow him to perform meritorious service while bearing his sins and observe his subsequent effects!"