The moment Zhang Sanfeng landed, the people from the Mount Shu Sect ceased their attack, for the remaining disciples of the Emei Sect had been utterly annihilated. The old Taoist could only let out a helpless sigh upon seeing this.

"Ye Jimen!"

"Venerable Master Zhang!"

After exchanging courtesies, Zhang Sanfeng took in the devastated state of the Emei Sect. "It is best to show mercy where mercy can be given. I hope that after today, Sect Leader Ye will no longer pursue this matter!"

Ye Wen smiled lightly. "I, Ye, am not one to kill without reason. As long as they do not oppose my sect, I naturally will not trouble them further!"

This statement had two implications. First, it pointed out that the day's events were not initiated by him; the two elders of Emei had intended to strike lethally, and he had merely retaliated! The Emei disciples were killed entirely because they sought to take advantage of the situation to kill him, thus inviting utter ruin.

Second, he had only slain those who sought to endanger him. He had not bothered the Emei disciples who had fled earlier. During that fierce battle, some Emei disciples had wisely taken to their swords and flown away when the situation looked grim. Ye Wen couldn't be bothered to pursue those who fled, partly because he didn't wish to expend the energy, and partly because such people were not worth chasing. Once today passed, they would have virtually no standing in the cultivation world; even if they found another sect, it would likely be a minor, insignificant one.

Precisely because the logic and facts were laid bare so clearly, although the Mount Shu Sect had killed so many, the righteous faction had nothing to say. At most, they felt the Mount Shu Sect's actions carried too heavy a scent of slaughter.

After all, if they merely put themselves in the other's shoes, they would likely have acted much the same way if faced with such a situation. The reason everyone was silent toward Ye Wen was mostly because they were at least somewhat familiar with the Emei Sect.

"Sect Leader Ye, how do you intend to handle the Emei Golden Summit?" Zhang Sanfeng’s mention of the Emei Golden Summit did not refer to the peak known in the mundane world, but a more concealed location high on Mount Emei. This was the Emei Sect’s true base, though Ye Wen had now destroyed nearly half of it, and most of its members were dead.

If it were anyone else, they would likely seize this place for themselves. Although the spiritual energy atop the Emei Golden Summit was not as abundant as that found in a Small World, it was slightly better than that in the secular realm. Given the limited space within the Small World, cultivating here could at least guarantee one’s cultivation would not regress.

However, this held no meaning for the Mount Shu Sect and the others. The cultivation methods they practiced allowed them to thrive anywhere in the secular world. Ye Wen and Xu Xian might still be affected by the environment, but with the Penglai Immortal Realm as their backing, they certainly had no need for this place.

Moreover, Ye Wen currently did not have enough disciples to manage such a vast mountain sect. Even if he eventually refined the Nine Provinces Tripod entirely and summoned the Mount Shu disciples within, Ye Wen planned to settle them in various Immortal Realms for their training, which would surely be superior to staying here.

Therefore, the Emei Golden Summit held no attraction for Ye Wen.

"My actions today were purely for self-preservation; I did not covet the foundation of the Emei Sect to do this. Thus, this Emei Golden Summit—I naturally do not want it!"

When he spoke these words, he did not conceal them, and his voice was loud enough for all the surrounding masters of the righteous path to hear clearly. Only after hearing Ye Wen’s declaration did their expressions soften slightly.

They all felt that as long as Ye Wen was not a person given to reckless slaughter, everything could be discussed. Otherwise, they genuinely feared that this Mount Shu Sect Leader might one day lead his people to their own mountain stronghold, wreak havoc, and claim it as his own.

"Since Sect Leader Ye says so, then I shall handle the aftermath. What does Sect Leader Ye think?"

"I would desire nothing better!"

Leaving the matter to Zhang Sanfeng was fine. Whether the old Taoist found the hidden and fled Emei disciples to re-establish the lineage or allowed a new Emei Sect to be built was no longer Ye Wen’s concern. Regardless, after today, the prestige of the Mount Shu Sect was established, and he would henceforth be a voice to be reckoned with in the cultivation world. Glancing around, Ye Wen noticed that everyone within his sight nodded to him with a smile. As Ye Wen returned the salutes, he understood their motives.

"These people, seeing my current strength, now harbor a degree of apprehension toward me! Coupled with the matter of the Penglai Immortal Realm, I have both virtue and might on my side—it's only natural for this kind of fawning behavior!" Indeed, just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Zhang Jiyu of the Mount Hua Sect approaching, leading a Taoist, and introducing him to Ye Wen. "This is my senior brother, who is currently the Sect Leader of Mount Hua!"

The Taoist performed a bow. "Sect Leader Yi Yangzi of Mount Hua!"

The Mount Hua Sect housed scholars of all disciplines. Although Zhang Jiyu presented a Confucian appearance, it didn't mean their Sect Leader adhered to Confucian principles, so him being a Taoist was not surprising.

After Ye Wen returned the courtesy, he saw the leaders of several other sects bustling over—the Hundred Herbs Gang, the Artifact Forging Pavilion, the Artifact Refining Sect, and so on.

One person among them drew Ye Wen’s attention the most: Yu Shuang, the Sect Leader of Qingcheng. Ye Wen had previously reached a preliminary understanding with the Old Ancestor Qiu Yuanlong of the Bloody Jade Sect, agreeing to thoroughly discuss with Sect Leader Yu Shuang of Qingcheng how to deal with the Emei Sect during this assembly.

However, unforeseen complications arose. Monk Di Hong was unexpectedly impatient; the moment Ye Wen appeared, the old monk charged out to kill him, forcing Ye Wen’s hand and leading him to wipe out Emei entirely, rendering the Qingcheng Sect's involvement unnecessary.

This situation created a lingering awkwardness for both Ye Wen and Yu Shuang!

Ye Wen wondered if the Qingcheng Sect would still be as composed and aligned now that he had settled Emei so swiftly and cleanly. Originally, the Qingcheng Sect relied on its deep roots in Shu territory, believing that even if Mount Shu destroyed Emei, they would be severely weakened and require time to recover—creating an opportunity for Qingcheng to develop.

But now, it appeared Ye Wen was completely unharmed, and his disciples were unscathed. Mount Shu had vanquished Emei without drawing a drop of their own blood. This strength was far greater than what they had anticipated.

Would things still unfold in the direction they had planned?

More critically, they had no idea how much strength Mount Shu still kept hidden. After all, Ye Wen had mentioned that his sect practiced in seclusion in a hidden place. Everyone had initially assumed Mount Shu was virtually empty, but here stood a junior brother! (Ye Wen hadn't introduced him, but Zhang Sanfeng knew, and had already given a rough introduction to everyone present when they were airborne!)

It was only when the crowd heard that the young man was Ye Wen’s junior brother that they realized the talk of Mount Shu's seclusion was not an excuse but the truth—they truly practiced in a secret domain, and the sect was not without members. Zhang Sanfeng chose not to reveal that the entirety of the Mount Shu Sect resided within the Nine Provinces Tripod, considering it the sect's private secret that he dared not divulge without Ye Wen's consent.

Considering all these factors, Yu Shuang’s displayed enthusiasm toward Ye Wen was noticeably limited, and his gaze held a degree of dread. This wary expression, however, was only shown when he was slightly farther away from Ye Wen.

He had believed that since Ye Wen had his eyes closed and he was standing slightly further back, his expression wouldn't be noticed, unaware that Ye Wen observed the world with his spiritual senses and had been focusing on him long ago. Not a single shift in expression escaped Ye Wen’s notice.

Knowing that the Qingcheng Sect Leader now harbored apprehension toward him, Ye Wen also felt the need to be cautious.

"Befriend those far away, attack those near. This is not just a policy for governing a state; it applies equally well to sects! With Emei gone, Mount Shu and Qingcheng are the only major powers left in Shu. If Qingcheng seeks to rise, they will likely feel that Mount Shu will obstruct their path."

Thinking this through, Ye Wen felt that the previously arranged alliance with Qingcheng was likely defunct. Since they no longer shared a common enemy, the demise of the Emei Sect had turned them into adversaries over resources. Qingcheng needed talented individuals to pass on their legacy, and Mount Shu did too. Even though Mount Shu now had state support, the more geniuses they could gather, the better. They wished to sweep up every talented youth in Shu territory. In light of this...

After the sect leaders chatted for a while, Ye Wen suddenly asked, "Given the situation, is the assembly still proceeding?" Zhang Sanfeng glanced left and right. "It's already reached this state; what is there left to discuss at the assembly? It might as well be canceled!" In Zhang Sanfeng’s view, the main issue for the assembly was the matter of the Mount Shu Sect. But the people from Mount Shu had already displayed their power today. Zhang Sanfeng especially knew what strength they possessed just a few years ago; such tremendous progress in just a few years proved Ye Wen's words to him were not empty boasting.

Seeing the situation, everyone understood that attempting to use so-called righteousness to force Ye Wen to surrender the Nine Provinces Tripod was impossible. Moreover, Ye Wen’s strength was terrifyingly immense. They all gave up the notion of seizing it by force.

After all, what they witnessed today made it clear: if Ye Wen truly intended to fight them to the death, none of the assembled masters, save for Zhang Sanfeng, would fare well!

The Emei Sect was a stark lesson!

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Since there are no major issues left, this assembly was merely for us to gather. The current situation is hardly suitable for continuing. Perhaps we should disperse now!"

"Yes, let's disperse!"

"Let's each return to our own ways!"

Seeing that everyone agreed, Ye Wen said no more. He cupped his hands toward the crowd. "If that is the case, then I, Ye, shall take my leave first!" At that moment, the members of the Mount Shu Sect had gathered around Ye Wen. Having overheard his words, Xu Xian put away her treasured sword and asked, "Are we heading back now?"

"There’s nothing left for us here; of course, we must return!" Ye Wen finished without delay, erupted in sword light, and soared into the sky. Ning Ruxue and Huayi exchanged a glance and also unleashed their sword lights, enveloping the few disciples unable to fly, chasing after Ye Wen.

Seeing that Ye Wen flew away alone without using his light to shield anyone else, they surmised that Ye Wen’s condition might not be ideal, so they stepped in to carry the others.

Once everyone was airborne, Xu Xian bid farewell to the remaining crowd, flew up to join Huang Rongrong, then burst forth with power, shooting forward to instantly catch up with Ye Wen and the others who had departed earlier.

Everyone looked up as the Mount Shu contingent departed, and nearly all let out an unconscious sigh of relief!

"Everyone from the Mount Shu Sect carries such a heavy aura of killing intent!" Someone whispered softly, yet everyone heard it clearly, nodding in unison to affirm the sentiment.

"And Sect Leader Ye’s junior brother possessed the most intense killing intent!" The speaker paused here, seemingly recalling something, then continued, "When Ye Wen’s junior brother made his move just now, he mostly engaged in close-quarters combat, relying entirely on his long sword and bare palms to slay enemies. He used martial techniques exclusively—truly a Martial Cultivator without a doubt!" The others also reviewed what they had seen and heard. Thinking of Ye Wen using his bare palms to withstand magical artifacts and spells, and Xu Xian fighting only with the sword in her hand, sent shivers down their spines. They began to ponder whether they could gain the upper hand if they had to fight such a person.

After much thought, they concluded that the only viable method would be to maintain a sufficient distance and absolutely avoid letting Ye Wen close in. Otherwise, once he closed the gap, victory would be impossible! In that case... perhaps the safest method would be through formations...

As this thought occurred, everyone involuntarily glanced at Zhang Jiyu, only to immediately recall that Zhang Jiyu had previously clashed with Ye Wen and even the artifact he used to set up portable formations had been heavily damaged by Ye Wen.

"Alas! With the emergence of the Mount Shu Sect and the reappearance of Martial Cultivation, is this good or ill for our cultivation world?"

This question was difficult to answer, so no one spoke. An incorrect answer could easily offend someone; it was better to feign ignorance.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Sanfeng spoke up. "Naturally, it is a good thing! How magnificent was the Huaxia cultivation world in the past? We struck fear into the foreign barbarians, making our descendants forever stand at the pinnacle of the world, looked up to by all! But what about now?"

The old Taoist sighed deeply. "The cultivation world has withered, while external forces grow stronger, causing our descendants to be unable to lift their heads. Do you wish for this situation to continue indefinitely?" Zhang Sanfeng had lived through turbulent times, spanning three dynasties, and held deep memories of Huaxia under foreign rule. In his youth, he had roamed the Jianghu with his sword, slaying many foreigners.

Therefore, he deeply resented the current state of affairs, regretting that he alone could not change the situation. To finally see someone like Ye Wen emerge, promoting cultivation methods capable of altering Huaxia's standing, made the old Taoist very happy. Naturally, he would offer his full support.

Hearing Zhang Sanfeng’s words, everyone fell silent. They, too, felt stifled by the decline of the cultivation world, spending years hiding away in the Kunlun Immortal Realm, not for the sake of ascension anymore, but merely to prolong their lives.

"Sigh! Let's observe the changes for now," one person suddenly sighed deeply before leading his disciples away. Subsequently, everyone else departed as well. Some cultivators from smaller sects, who had been watching the excitement from the sidelines, now knew the show was over and also began to leave.

Moments later, only members of the Wudang Sect, Mount Hua Sect, and Qingcheng Sect remained on the Golden Summit.

Since the Wudang Sect had offered to clean up the mess left by Emei, Zhang Sanfeng naturally could not leave. As for the Qingcheng Sect? Yu Shuang spoke directly, "Qingcheng and Emei have been neighbors for several hundred years. We will stay to see if there is anything we can do!"

Zhang Sanfeng glanced over, well aware of the calculation in Yu Shuang's mind, but he didn't mind. Having help was better than working alone.

Furthermore, given Emei’s current condition, it was practically equivalent to being erased from the cultivation world. Even if he managed to rebuild the Emei Sect, everyone would know that it would no longer be the original Emei Sect. Even if the name remained unchanged, extinction was extinction. A rebuilt Emei would merely be a new sect operating under an old signboard.

Such a new sect was not worth paying attention to; even if Yu Shuang molded it into a vassal state of the Qingcheng Sect, no one would care.

As for the Mount Hua Sect, Yi Yangzi was merely curious why the Kunlun Sect members had not yet arrived.

"I wonder what's going on with the Kunlun Sect?" Zhang Sanfeng, however, was unconcerned. The Kunlun Sect’s actions in recent years had become increasingly strange. Not only had they rarely interacted with others over the past few centuries, but the figures of the Kunlun Sect were almost entirely absent from the Kunlun Immortal Realm. Those still outside were almost exclusively younger disciples, the most famous being the North River Scholar.

"The situation with the Kunlun Sect has been rather odd these past few years. I plan to personally visit Mount Kunlun once I finish up here to see what exactly is happening," Yi Yangzi mused, then added, "When that time comes, Venerable Master Zhang, please remember to call upon me! I also wish to see what’s going on!"

Zhang Sanfeng nodded, dropping the topic. He then instructed his disciples to look for any hidden Emei members and to reinforce the formations around the Emei Golden Summit, even setting up a prohibition to prevent unauthorized entry or exit.

Ye Wen knew none of these arrangements. After leading his group away from Mount Emei in one swift departure, he flew a great distance until he reached a deserted ravine before retracting his sword light.

"Senior Brother, how are you?"

Ning Ruxue landed and immediately rushed to Ye Wen's side, looking upon his increasingly pale face with deep anxiety.

Ye Wen waved his hand. "It's nothing. The expenditure for that Myriad Sword Art was too great. I thought I had recovered a fair amount, but I didn't expect such a lingering repercussion..."

The short flight had nearly depleted his true essence again. He now realized how terrifying the cost of that single move had been; it hadn't just wiped out his true essence but had nearly damaged his very foundation.

However, he couldn't explain this clearly in front of his numerous disciples, so he forced an appearance of calm. "I just need some proper rest, and I'll be fine!"

Hearing Ye Wen say this, Ning Ruxue knew her Senior Brother was trying to hold on. She exchanged a look with Huayi, and the two women helped support Ye Wen as they soared back into the sky. They then erupted in sword light, heading toward the East Sea at the fastest possible speed, intending to take Ye Wen directly back to the Penglai Immortal Realm, as its environment was more conducive to recovery.

Xu Xian was unbothered by being left behind. She took charge of the remaining group, leading them first to Chengdu, dropping off Zhou Lei, Wang Bing, and Zhao Lin, then smiling goodbye before heading toward the East Sea with the others.

What Xu Xian did not expect was that Ye Wen, who had left first, did not reach the Penglai Immortal Realm ahead of them. Because as Ye Wen and his group arrived over the East Sea, they were intercepted by a single person.