Ziyuan taking the lead to depart left the cultivators from the major sects with no standing ground. Zou Ping saw Ziyuan struck until blood trickled from her lip; Li Yundong’s previous punch was so mighty and overwhelming that no one present could have blocked it—this was clearly no staged fight. She couldn't say anything more, only stamped her foot and huffed, "You win this time, but our Zhengyi Sect will reclaim this loss eventually! Li Yundong, don't get too pleased with yourself!"

She snapped at the short, stout disciple beside her, "Let's go!" With that, the three of them quickly flew away.

In an instant, the people of the Zhengyi Sect were gone, followed swiftly by those from the Zhengyi Spirit Palace. Two top masters and several other skilled figures had just left the arena, prompting others to reconsider their positions.

Du Fei of the Longmen Quanzhen Sect was the first to bow and speak, "True Master Li, you forced the issue today, defeating nine experts from our various sects. You certainly earn the description of having astonishing divine abilities and formidable combat skills. However, I have a few words I wish to offer, if I may speak them!"

Li Yundong’s expression was solemn, and he returned the bow, "Please do."

Du Fei announced loudly, "Regarding the matter of the Fox Zen Sect today, our Longmen Quanzhen Sect will temporarily let this pass. But in the future, we hope True Master Li will often admonish the Fox Zen Sect not to commit wicked deeds or engage in petty mischief. Otherwise, next time, the conversation will not be so amicable! No matter how immense your divine power, don't expect us major sects to simply walk away!"

Li Yundong stated gravely, "It shall be so."

Du Fei snorted, turned to the head disciple of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect, and commanded, "We leave!"

A disciple of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect whispered quietly, "Senior Brother, we're just leaving like this?"

Du Fei glared at him, "Are you unconvinced? Then go up and fight him!"

The disciple immediately shrank his head back, muttering softly, "With so many people beaten back by him alone, what will people say about us when this spreads?"

Du Fei was furious and rebuked him, "What is more important in this world than winning or losing? It is our word! A true man's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold; it must be honored! A fate worse than losing a battle is having no credibility! If you all won't leave, I will!"

With that, he strode towards the Daoist temple exit. The disciples of the Quanzhen Longmen Sect rushed to follow him, "Senior Brother, wait for us!"

The Quanzhen Longmen Sect was a major power among the Six Sects. Their departure immediately left a large void in the assembly, causing the remaining cultivators from various sects to exchange bewildered glances.

At this moment, the short and sturdy Dang Qiang stepped forward, bowed with a smile, and said cheerfully, "True Master Li, thank you for holding back just now. We of the Penglai Sect concede as well. Farewell!"

Before he finished speaking, a cultivator jeered, "Your Penglai Sect only has you! With a stick stuck up your nose, who do you think you are?"

Dang Qiang acted as if he hadn't heard the remark, grinning as he scratched the scar on his scalp, shaking his head and swaggering away.

With his departure, the Jinshan Sect also announced their farewell. Following them, the cultivators from the major sects began to withdraw like a receding tide. Only a few, greedy for the Fox Zen Sect's artifacts, were reluctant, lingering with hesitant steps.

Zheng Yuan, the Sect Master of the Wuhuashan Yin-Yang Sect, stared intently at Li Yundong, his eyes flickering, pondering God knows what.

Ding Nan watched as Li Yundong, by his own power, had forced back so many from the major sects, standing alone in the center of the arena, looking down upon all—truly a heroic figure, peerless. Her mind was a confused mess, like a jar of mixed flavors overturned.

Ding Nan whispered to Zheng Yuan beside her, "Master, aren't we leaving yet?"

Zheng Yuan narrowed his eyes and murmured, "You go first; I'll be right there."

Seeing the cultivators departing one after another, Li Yundong turned and quickly walked to Liu Ye's side.

Although Liu Ye had looked immensely encouraged throughout the continuous battles, his tension was extreme. When the victory was finally secured, he let out a breath he had been holding, and his strength immediately failed him.

Li Yundong observed that Liu Ye was breathing shallowly and unevenly. Anxiously, he grabbed Liu Ye’s hand, intending to channel his True Essence into him.

But Liu Ye struggled to wave his hand away, managing to speak with difficulty, "You... want to find Su Chan's whereabouts. I... I know. But I have one unreasonable request. Please grant it to me, for the sake of this old man who is about to die, alright?"

Li Yundong vaguely guessed what Liu Ye intended to ask, and a look of difficulty crossed his face.

Seeing this, Liu Ye gasped, "Don't worry, even Su Chan... she would want you to do this."

Li Yundong said gravely, "Tell me."

A twitch pulled at Liu Ye’s lips, and he forced a smile, "You have seen it. Our Fox Zen Sect is bullied to our doorstep, killed on a whim, wiped out by a mere shout. When I am gone, without a powerful Sect Master to anchor things, they will eventually be bullied again."

As he spoke, Liu Ye suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, brilliant crimson, clearly indicating he did not have long left. He suddenly gripped Li Yundong's hand tightly and said, "Do you want Su Chan to eventually have no sect to return to? Take over the Fox Zen Sect, become the Master, and Su Chan... she would be very happy too!"

Li Yundong frowned, "But I am so young, and... and..." He wanted to finish with: and not a fox spirit. But glancing at the other Fox Zen Sect disciples beside him, he kept the rest unspoken.

Liu Ye seemed to sense Li Yundong's hesitation and gasped urgently, "In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures. Right now, there is no one more suitable to be the Master of the Fox Zen Sect than you. If you refuse, the danger of the Fox Zen Sect's annihilation looms tomorrow. I... I cannot rest in peace if this happens!"

Cao Yi, standing nearby, also wept, "Martial Uncle Master, please don't say any more. At worst, we can live under assumed names from now on. If this Fox Zen Sect dissolves, let it dissolve."

As soon as she finished speaking, the other female disciples of the Fox Zen Sect covered their mouths and sobbed.

Li Yundong could least bear to see women cry, especially a group of beautiful women. He immediately sighed, "Fine, I will reluctantly accept. If a better candidate appears in the future, I will pass the position of Master on to him."

Seeing Li Yundong agree, Liu Ye suddenly relaxed completely. The grip he had on Li Yundong's withered old hand loosened, and it slowly dropped. He murmured softly, "In the future, you must treat them well, guide them onto the righteous path. If any are disobedient, punishing them as you see fit is not excessive. Also, also, Su Chan is in... in Dongwu City..."

Liu Ye’s voice grew fainter and fainter until his head drooped, and he finally fell silent.

Li Yundong quickly checked his pulse and found his life force completely gone. He immediately panicked internally: Hey, Dongwu City where? Why didn't you finish saying it? Damn it, do all dying people stop mid-sentence?

At this, the remaining disciples of the Fox Zen Sect burst into loud wails. The entire grounds were instantly shrouded in sorrow, their cries shaking the heavens.

Li Yundong sighed, shook his head, stood up, and remained silent.

Cao Yi, the sixth disciple of the Fox Zen Sect, was clearly the most decisive among them. She stood up, wiped away her tears, and asked, "Sect Master, what should we do now?"

Li Yundong, just two days ago a university student, had now, in a blink, become the Master of a cultivation sect. This sudden shift in role made him feel quite unsettled.

Li Yundong smiled wryly, "Don't call me Sect Master; just call me Li Yundong."

Cao Yi took a step back, shook her head, and said respectfully, "There is a distinction between superior and inferior, between those above and those below!" Then, addressing the other Fox Zen Sect disciples, she said, "Fellow disciples, come and pay respects to the Sect Master."

These Fox Zen Sect disciples all rose, stood shoulder to shoulder with Cao Yi, and bowed gracefully toward Li Yundong, causing Li Yundong to rush, "No need for this, no need for this."

But Cao Yi insisted, "Our Fox Zen Sect has suffered such a disaster. Although our vitality is severely wounded and our numbers decimated, our rites and laws must not be abandoned. If the Sect Master does not agree, we will not rise."

Li Yundong had no choice but to let them. He felt a strange sensation watching a group of beautiful women in Daoist robes kneeling before him.

After they finished their obeisance, Cao Yi rose and began introducing the disciples of the Fox Zen Sect to Li Yundong one by one. All of them were women, totaling eleven including Cao Yi, each exquisitely beautiful. Li Yundong found his vision swimming. As these fox spirits paid their respects, their eyes flickered, boldly assessing their young, handsome, new Master. As they stepped back, they whispered among themselves: "This is truly a rare event. In the history of our Fox Zen Sect, there have only ever been three male Masters, counting him."

"Indeed. And he is a pure human, not one of our fox demon forms. To have an outsider become the Sect Master—this is the very first time in the history of the Fox Zen Sect."

Li Yundong clearly heard their hushed conversations, and the sense of strangeness and awkwardness grew stronger. He stood in the center of the area feeling as if sitting on pins and needles. When all introductions were done, Cao Yi asked, "Sect Master, what are your plans now?"

Li Yundong sighed and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I’ll speak plainly. I originally came here concerned for Su Chan's safety and intervened because I couldn't stand seeing them bully the few. But I never expected to become the Master of the Fox Zen Sect. My heart is burning with anxiety; I only want to rush to Dongwu City immediately to find Su Chan. Only when I find her can my mind settle. I hope you understand."

Cao Yi glanced at Li Yundong, thinking: This new Master doesn't look like a simple infatuated lover. She asked, "Then what should we do?"

Li Yundong pondered for a moment and said, "I suspect the major sects value their reputation and won't return soon. But if any malicious vagabonds show up, you might as well disperse for the time being, wait for the trouble to pass, and then return. I will wait here for you. I will go to Dongwu City to find Su Chan and then return. How does that sound?"

Cao Yi opened her mouth, wanting to object, but seeing that although Li Yundong’s tone was suggestive, his gaze was incredibly firm, clearly showing he had already made up his mind, she changed her words. "Dispersing individually isn't necessary. Although the major sects were rather shameless, they still have some credibility. Even if a few petty villains appear, we can handle them. Please, Sect Master, return swiftly. The Fox Zen Sect cannot be without a leader."

Li Yundong laughed, "It should be without a fox leader!"

Cao Yi smiled faintly. Just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed, and she sharply called out behind Li Yundong, "Who is there!"

Li Yundong whipped his head around and saw a plume of black smoke swiftly dart past the corpse of Ye Yu.

Cao Yi pointed at the black smoke, and two Emei short daggers shot out rapidly from her cuff, striking the ground with du-du sounds, but they struck empty air.

After the black smoke swept past, a cackling laugh was heard. Before Li Yundong could give chase, it vanished quickly.

This column of black smoke continued until it reached the foot of the mountain, where it slowly coalesced into a human shape—it was Zheng Yuan of the Yin-Yang Sect.

Zheng Yuan looked up at the Fox Zen Sect atop the peak and laughed menacingly. He beckoned to Ding Nan, who stood not far away, "Ping'er, let's go."

Ding Nan looked at him puzzledly, "Master, where were you just now?"

Zheng Yuan triumphantly pulled a golden hairpin from his sleeve and dangled it in front of her, "Look what I have!"

Ding Nan glanced over and saw that the golden hairpin was about five inches long, its tip faintly emitting a silvery-gray light, the end shaped like a phoenix tail, and hung with a golden tassel, showing exquisite craftsmanship.

Ding Nan asked curiously, "Doesn't this look like the artifact Yan Fang used to sneak-attack Ye Yu?"

Zheng Yuan laughed heartily, "Exactly! This is the Fox Zen Sect's Luo Mu Soul Separation Hairpin—a fine artifact! Heh, how could I, Zheng Yuan, come all this way only to return empty-handed? Good Ping'er, when we return to the mountain, I will pass this artifact to you, and then you will truly appreciate its marvelous uses!"

Saying this, he reached out to take Ding Nan's wrist. When their skin touched, Zheng Yuan deliberately let his fingers lightly scratch her palm.

Ding Nan smiled slightly, acting as if she hadn't noticed, but in her heart, she sneered coldly: Old pervert, you dare to have designs on me? You must be tired of living!

========================================= Roar, next chapter we go find the little girl! C