Chen Xuan's sudden change in expression made Chang Er Ding Guang Xian tremble like a leaf.
He repeatedly apologized to Chen Xuan, terrified that a single wrong word would earn him another three thousand years of wall-facing meditation.
"It's good that you know you were wrong. If you dare question me again, you'll learn what regret truly means."
After speaking, Chen Xuan transformed into a mist of water and vanished directly from Chang Er Ding Guang Xian's cave dwelling.
Once Chen Xuan had left, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian finally let out the breath he had been holding. By then, his clothes were already completely soaked with sweat.
"When you're under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head. I only hope I get a chance to turn things around one day."
"Duo Bao, while I was away for those thousand years, did anyone violate the sect rules?"
"Reporting to Eldest Senior Brother, during the first few hundred years, some people occasionally violated the sect rules, whether intentionally or unintentionally. However, Duo Bao punished every one of them according to the rules.
By now, no one dared violate the Three Pure Ones Sect Rules again. The Three Pure Ones Sect Rules had become a sword hanging over every disciple's head."
Hearing Daoist Duobao's reply, Chen Xuan nodded. "Give me the list of disciples who violated the sect rules."
Daoist Duobao was stunned, and a bad feeling rose in his heart.
"Eldest Senior Brother, are you truly planning to expel them from the sect?"
Chen Xuan looked at Daoist Duobao and only spoke after a long while. "Duo Bao, do you know how to maintain a collective?"
Daoist Duobao shook his head. "Duo Bao does not know. Please enlighten me, Eldest Senior Brother."
"To govern a collective well, that collective might be a family, a sect, a nation, or even a great religious order.
But regardless of what it is, it needs clear rules, for without rules, there can be no order.
As for order, the square reveals its edges, making people hate and fear it. The circle handles matters smoothly, making people draw close to and respect it.
Thus, where there is one who acts as the square, there must be one who acts as the circle. Only then can there be square and circle; only with square and circle can there be rules.
You spend your days mingling with these junior brothers and sisters, so you must be the smooth one. As for me, your senior brother, I can only be the sharp one and play the villain.
Only when you and I, two brothers, form one circle and one square can these junior brothers and sisters have rules. Only by letting them know right from wrong can we spare them from Karma and deadly tribulations."
After hearing Chen Xuan's explanation, Daoist Duobao finally understood.
He immediately bowed to Chen Xuan. "Eldest Senior Brother's breadth of mind is beyond Duo Bao."
After saying that, he handed Chen Xuan the names of everyone who had violated the sect rules during Chen Xuan's thousand-year absence.
Looking at the names Daoist Duobao had given him, Chen Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had never heard of any of these people, which meant they were not key figures in the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation.
That left Chen Xuan with no reservations about dealing with them.
"Go. Gather everyone before the Door Rules Stone Tablet." Chen Xuan waved at Daoist Duobao.
Daoist Duobao nodded to Chen Xuan, but he did not immediately turn and leave.
After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Eldest Senior Brother, do I have the qualifications to be the square?"
Chen Xuan stood with a smile and patted Daoist Duobao's solemn face. "Go. There are some things you cannot handle."
Daoist Duobao nodded, then turned and left with a resolute expression.
Before the Door Rules Stone Tablet stood thirty or forty of Tongtian's disciples. Naturally, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian was among them.
They whispered among themselves, wondering why Duo Bao had summoned them here.
At that moment, Chen Xuan appeared before the Door Rules Stone Tablet.
Upon seeing Chen Xuan, all of Tongtian's disciples performed a Half-Teacher's Salute.
Chen Xuan waved his hand and helped everyone to their feet.
"Today, I will activate the stone tablet. Anyone who did not violate the sect rules during my thousand-year absence may address me as Senior Brother."
After speaking, he waved toward the Door Rules Stone Tablet. Immediately, one of the rules inscribed upon it began to glow.
That light fell directly upon one disciple after another, illuminating a total of eight disciples.
Chen Xuan's expression had already turned incomparably grim. With a wave of his hand, he pulled those eight disciples before the crowd.
"When I left, I said that anyone who did not violate the sect rules within a thousand years could call me Senior Brother.
Anyone who violated the sect rules had no right to be my junior brother or sister. It seems you treated my words as mere wind in your ears.
Since you believe my words cannot restrain you, then go back to wherever you came from."
Though Chen Xuan's words were not particularly harsh, they carried a suffocating authority.
The eight disciples were instantly dumbfounded and dropped to their knees before Chen Xuan.
"Eldest Senior Brother, we did not intentionally violate the sect rules. Please forgive us this once."
"I will not cripple the cultivation you gained over these three thousand years. But the Supreme Purity Immortal Technique must be taken back."
Hearing that Chen Xuan not only intended to expel them from the sect but also reclaim the Supreme Purity Immortal Technique, the eight disciples were instantly enraged.
However, they were not foolish enough to attack Chen Xuan. Their cultivation was inferior to his, and fighting him would be courting death.
"We refuse to accept this! Our master taught us the Supreme Purity Immortal Technique. What right do you have to take it back?
"We want to see Master! We were accepted by Master, and only Master has the right to expel us from the sect!"
Chen Xuan shook his head helplessly, his eyes filled with killing intent as he looked at the eight disciples. "If you all think so, then take one step forward."
The eight disciples looked at one another, then nodded at the same time.
They immediately lifted their feet and took a step forward.
Yet those steps were not the same, for seven remained where they were while only one stood at the very front.
That disciple had not expected the others to scheme against him.
But there was no turning back now. He could only brace himself and look at Chen Xuan before him.
Chen Xuan nodded with a cold smile. "You can even scheme against your fellow disciples. That proves you do not deserve to remain in the sect.
"Originally, you only needed to leave behind the Supreme Purity Immortal Technique before departing Kunlun Mountain. Now, you no longer have that chance."
Seeing that Chen Xuan had truly developed killing intent, the seven disciples turned and tried to flee without another word.
Unfortunately for them, Chen Xuan would never let them have their way. The Green Lotus Precious Color Banner and the Plain Colored Cloud Realm Banner flew out at the same time.
They directly blocked the seven disciples' escape routes. At the same time, the Eighteen Level Pagoda appeared in Chen Xuan's hand.
As the Eighteen Level Pagoda descended, the seven disciples turned directly to ash without even managing to let out a scream.
With a wave of his hand, Chen Xuan had killed seven disciples, leaving the sole disciple who had stepped forward completely stunned.
Thinking he would be next, he instinctively closed his eyes and prepared to meet his fate.
Yet, to his surprise, Chen Xuan's Eighteen Level Pagoda did not descend for a long time.
Instead, Chen Xuan's voice rang out. "I greatly appreciate your performance just now. Now, I will give you two choices."
Before you continue