"Fang Yang, how dare you! I am the sect's First Senior Brother, and the one our master appointed to enforce the sect's rules."
"You haven't even been in the sect for one epoch. What gives you the right to punish your fellow disciples?"
Daoist Duobao was so furious his lungs felt ready to burst. He had never imagined anyone in the Interception Sect would dare openly oppose him.
Only he had the authority to set the Interception Sect straight. For Fang Yang to do it was to overstep his bounds and usurp power.
He couldn't understand why Fang Yang would insist on setting the Interception Sect straight when everything had been going perfectly well.
The Interception Sect was famous throughout the world for one thing: its vast numbers of disciples.
As long as the Myriad Immortals of the Sect of Interception stood united and had numbers on their side, no other force under Heaven could match them.
Fang Yang's actions would not only weaken the sect, but also make outsiders laugh at it and look down on it.
After all, most of the Interception Sect's disciples were birds and beasts, and the Myriad Races of the Primordial Era looked down on the sect for it.
Many powerful beings sneered at their origins, calling them the sort who were furred and horned, born from wetness and eggs.
Could Fang Yang look down on our origins?
After much thought, Daoist Duobao finally saw the light and arrived at what seemed a highly plausible conclusion.
Back on Kunlun Mountain, the Chan Sect Disciples had looked down on their origins, and the two sects had even come to blows over it.
So it was entirely possible that Fang Yang, a member of the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth's race, was relying on his birthright and treating his senior brothers and sisters with contempt.
At that thought, Daoist Duobao muttered to himself, I was careless.
He believed that only beings born as birds and beasts truly valued friendship. All other beings were selfish, heartless creatures.
Thinking it through that way eased his anger considerably.
The more Daoist Duobao thought about it, the more certain he became. Immortal light churned around him as he began to consider striking back.
"Fang Yang, no matter how formidable your Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order is, can it really reach Golden Ao Island?"
Daoist Duobao couldn't believe there was anyone in the Primordial Wilderness bold enough to storm Golden Ao Island.
Indeed, for now, no such person existed in the Primordial World.
He decided to summon his junior brothers and sisters to Golden Ao Island and lie low until the storm passed.
As for dealing with Fang Yang, that had never crossed his mind. He knew a Quasi-Saint powerhouse was protecting Fang Yang. He couldn't hurt him with that guardian watching over him.
The situation was extremely unfavorable to him. All he could do was endure for now and wait for Sect Master Tongtian to change his mind.
Then, no matter what Fang Yang tried, he would be invincible.
Daoist Duobao thought this through—and acted accordingly.
Even so, he felt terribly humiliated. Since when had he ever had to bow his head to anyone?
Ever since he had become Sect Master Tongtian's disciple, he had feared no one but the Saints.
Back in the day, he had gone to the Northern Darkness with Grand Master Xuandu and Guangchengzi to borrow the River Diagram and Luo Book. When Old Ancestor Kunpeng, a Quasi-Saint at the peak of his cultivation, met them, he had no choice but to hand the treasures over obediently.
Daoist Duobao would never forget the moment Old Ancestor Kunpeng placed the River Diagram and Luo Book in the hands of the three of them.
So this was the might of a Saint Disciple—so exalted and precious that even the Demon Master of the Demon Race had to bow his head.
That experience led Daoist Duobao to imagine that if he became the leader of the Saint Disciples, he would be the most powerful person beneath the Saints.
Even Saint Disciples would bow before him, submit to his authority, and willingly do his bidding.
This was how Daoist Duobao had lost himself in the pursuit of power.
In truth, he hadn't really lost himself. His own ambition had simply been awakened.
Some people craved resources, so they killed for treasure. Some valued talent, so they spread the teachings to all who were willing. Others craved power, so they began to scheme and manipulate.
Daoist Duobao was one of those who craved power. His Only I Am Supreme Dao had been born from that very desire.
Daoist Duobao's order reached the Outer Sect of the Sect of Interception, sending shockwaves through its ranks. Even Zhao Gongming and his sisters, who usually kept out of worldly affairs, were stirred.
Fang Yang wasn't particularly fond of Zhao Gongming. It was true that he was loyal to his friends, but he was also irresponsible.
Zhao Gongming was the Outer Sect's First Senior Brother, after all. Every Outer Disciple was under his command.
Yet Zhao Gongming had handed all authority over the Outer Sect to Daoist Duobao, letting him run it as he pleased.
He held a position of authority but neglected its duties. The Outer Sect's corruption was inseparable from Zhao Gongming's inaction.
Zhao Gongming was oblivious to this. He even gathered with the Three Xiao to discuss Fang Yang's Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order.
Though the order did not target them, it threatened the safety of most Outer Disciples.
Of the Three Xiao, Fairy Yun Xiao was the most composed. She gazed at the immortal mist swirling beyond the hall and frowned slightly before speaking:
"Big Brother, Junior Brother Fang Yang didn't act without cause. We're all members of the Interception Sect. How could we fail to see what our fellow disciples are like? For years, they've relied on the sect's reputation to oppress the myriad races and harm the innocent. Senior Brother Fang Yang is simply following the sect's rules and doing what must be done."
Bi Xiao was lively by nature. She immediately chimed in, speaking with frank conviction:
"Exactly! Those scoundrels deserve to die. In the past, they used the name of our Interception Sect to run wild and commit evil, leaving the myriad races of the Primordial Wilderness to gossip about us behind our backs. They said our sect was full of lawless brutes. Now Senior Brother Fang Yang is cleaning house and washing away that stain on our sect!"
Qiong Xiao said nothing, but she nodded lightly, clearly agreeing with her sisters.
Zhao Gongming furrowed his brows at their words. He considered the matter for a moment before replying:
"I'm not defending those fellow disciples. It's just that Senior Brother Fang Yang only became a Core Disciple recently. Making such a big move—issuing a Myriad Worlds Pursuit Order and purging the sect—is bound to unsettle the disciples."
"Besides, Senior Brother Duobao is the First Senior Brother. He's been in charge of enforcing the sect's rules for years. This is the sort of thing he should handle. Whatever the reasons, Fang Yang's actions seem like an overstep."
Yun Xiao sighed softly, her voice tinged with helplessness:"
"Big Brother, you're simply too sentimental. That's why you handed the Outer Sect's authority to Senior Brother Duobao. Over the years, he's shown favoritism, protected his cronies, and turned the Interception Sect into his own private property. He's long since forgotten our teacher's original ideals: 'Teach without discrimination and seize every chance at life.'"
"Though Senior Brother Fang Yang joined later, he sees the truth clearly. His actions are saving the Interception Sect, not throwing it into chaos."
She paused and looked toward Golden Ao Island, lowering her voice:
"Besides, our teacher has never tried to stop Fang Yang. If anything, he's tacitly approved. That tells us everything. We need only do our duty impartially and stay out of conflicts among the Core Disciples, lest we go against our teacher's wishes."
Zhao Gongming fell silent. He knew Yun Xiao was right, but his years of friendship with Daoist Duobao made it difficult to stay out of the matter. He could only sigh and say no more.
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