Chapter 120: The Speech

Liu Junhuai ignored Mao Xiaojun and Bao Yunxian, who were lying on the ground lost in their own thoughts, and walked toward where Mo Sitong was standing. As for the two figures on the ground, others were already tasked with taking them into custody.

"How was it, Sitong? Did you record everything? This must be kept safe; we will need it when dealing with the Meteor Mansion later." Liu Junhuai wore a beaming smile, which prompted Palace Master Fang to ask curiously, "What recording? Where did you learn such fresh terminology?"

Mo Sitong triumphantly waved the crystal ball in her hand and said, "Mother, this is called a Crystal Imaging Orb. It can record everything that just happened. Let me play it for you."

Seeing the rare treasure in her hand, those nearby gathered around Mo Sitong to watch the events that had just transpired, all of them letting out exclamations of surprise.

Palace Master Fang remarked, "I have heard seniors from the Dust-Free Palace mention similar crystal orbs. This is a rare item indeed; you must keep it safe!"

Mo Sitong replied, "Mother, if you wanted one, you only had to ask. Junhuai still has more! Why beat around the bush? Did you really think I wouldn't notice?"

Palace Master Fang chuckled and tapped Mo Sitong playfully, laughing, "Give your mother some face, will you? I am a Palace Master, after all!"

Liu Junhuai walked over to Palace Master Fang, casually produced another crystal orb, and handed it to her, saying, "Auntie, here is another one. Please take it back to the Dust-Free Palace."

Palace Master Fang felt a bit embarrassed, as Liu Junhuai was still somewhat of an outsider. Mo Sitong quickly stepped in and said with a smile, "Just take it, Mother. If others see it, they’ll just make a fuss again!"

Palace Master Fang took it and said to Liu Junhuai, "That blade you used earlier was terrifying! I could feel my breathing hitch even from here. That must be a divine artifact, right?"

"That is the Ghost-Eye Blood Blade," Liu Junhuai said. "It was the weapon used by the Demon King Yuan during the ancient Three Realms War. I suppose it qualifies as a divine artifact."

Palace Master Fang looked at Liu Junhuai with a strange expression and said, "I often hear your grandfather talk about you, but it seems your great opportunities go far beyond what he has seen. When will you take me to see your Chaos Space?"

Liu Junhuai chuckled, "Sitong has many good things too, more than just one. Tonight, we will return to the Chaos Space, and I’ll let Sitong show off her treasures as well!"

Palace Master Fang nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation. After all, it concerned her daughter, and her care was mixed with a hint of curiosity.

At this moment, Wu Yaohan approached and said, "Junhuai, the disciples have gathered in the square in front of the hall. You should go over and say a few words."

Liu Junhuai nodded and said to Palace Master Fang, "Please, Auntie, join the seniors and senior sisters from the Dust-Free Palace, and I also invite the seniors from the Heavenly Mystery Sect to come along."

He ushered everyone to the square in front of the hall and took their seats on the main stage. After Wu Yaohan briefly introduced the guests, it was time for the Sect Master of the Myriad Phenomena Sect to speak.

Liu Junhuai stood up and said in a loud voice, "From now on, you are all members of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. As our sect has just been established, there are many imperfections that we must work together to overcome. Many disciples are not yet familiar with the specific situation of our sect. My name is Liu Junhuai, and I am the first Sect Master of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. I am still quite young and have much to learn about managing and developing a sect, so for now, I hold the title in name only. The actual affairs of the sect will be temporarily managed by Deputy Sect Masters Wu Yaohan and Wan Xingyun, along with Elder Bian Jizhong and others.

"Now, let me briefly introduce the upper-level personnel: I, Liu Junhuai, am the Sect Master. We currently have three Deputy Sect Masters: Wu Yaohan, Wan Xingyun, and Mo Sitong. There is one vacancy, which we will fill by selecting a cultivator from among you who possesses both excellent character and cultivation; the candidates are currently under review.

"Above us, there are two Supreme Elders. Both are seniors at the Nascent Soul stage, so be careful if you talk behind my back—their hearing is terrifyingly sharp." At this, the tension in the crowd eased significantly, and some even began to whisper about the cultivation levels of these two Supreme Elders.

A significant portion of these people had transferred midway from the Heavenly Mystery Sect and the Dust-Free Palace. In their previous sects, the highest cultivation level was merely late Nascent Soul, yet this new sect suddenly had two. Furthermore, their young Sect Master was capable of capturing a late Golden Core cultivator within a few moves despite being only at the early Golden Core stage. His hidden strength was unfathomable, which far exceeded their expectations for a newly founded sect. How could they not be excited?

Fang Keyin had concealed his true appearance and cultivation level; after all, his allegiance remained with the Dust-Free Palace, and only by returning there could he reveal his true self.

This was a trump card Liu Junhuai had hidden. A Divine Transformation stage expert—with him presiding, any enemy would steer clear. Without conflict, how could the Myriad Phenomena Sect or he himself grow and thrive?

Liu Junhuai continued, "Below the Deputy Sect Masters, there are seven Elder positions. We currently have Elders Bian Jizhong, Wu Shaoyuan, and Mei Bingyi. The other four will be promoted from among you; Deputy Sect Master Wu Yaohan is fully responsible for the arrangements and assessments. Below the seven elders, there are several stewards, whose appointments will be decided by the Deputy Sect Masters and Elders.

"Furthermore, our grand opening ceremony will be held soon, and dozens of sects will attend. The leader of the Sect Alliance is discussing a joint hosting plan with me. It is highly likely that their alliance ceremony will be held on our grounds. At that time, you must show your best spirit; we cannot let outsiders look down on our Myriad Phenomena Sect.

"Next is the matter of cultivation, which is what concerns you most. As the first Sect Master, I can guarantee that every cultivator will be able to select a cultivation technique suitable for their spiritual root attributes. Every Foundation Establishment disciple may choose one Earth-tier mid-to-high-grade weapon, and Qi Refining disciples may choose one Mysterious-tier high-grade weapon or below.

"As you are all founding members of the sect, you may choose these unconditionally. Any disciples joining after tomorrow will need to earn them through contributions.

"More importantly, from now on, the Myriad Phenomena Sect will provide medicinal pills to assist every disciple with their rank advancement. For Golden Core cultivators and above, in addition to pills, there will be extra rewards of heavenly treasures depending on the situation." As Liu Junhuai said this, the entire crowd, including the guests from the other two sects, erupted into a frenzy.

This treatment was unprecedented in the cultivation world for thousands of years. In other sects, such benefits were reserved for top-tier cultivators or the descendants of high-ranking officials. Yet in the Myriad Phenomena Sect, even an ordinary disciple received such generous treatment—benefits far exceeding those of elders in other sects.

Some cultivators even began to envy those from their former sects who had joined the Myriad Phenomena Sect—a thought they never would have had before Liu Junhuai spoke.

After the scene quieted down, Liu Junhuai continued, "The benefits for disciples are not limited to these, though they remain confidential for now. However, I can disclose one thing first: those who make significant contributions to the Myriad Phenomena Sect can receive special medicinal pills that allow for an immediate breakthrough to the next major realm! And whether the contributor is an individual or a group, they will be treated equally!"

The crowd, which had barely calmed down, boiled over once more. Liu Junhuai’s brief statement revealed just how profound the resources of the Myriad Phenomena Sect truly were.

A pill that grants a breakthrough to the next major realm must be at least a level-seven pill. And the Sect Master said that even if a hundred people made contributions, they would all be rewarded. Just how large were the Sect Master's pill reserves?

Even Palace Master Fang Yingqiu of the Dust-Free Palace looked at Liu Junhuai with glowing eyes and signaled Mo Sitong.

Mo Sitong laughed inwardly. Liu Junhuai was truly a master of bluffing. There were indeed many pills in the Myriad Phenomena Tower, but there were very few that could grant a major realm breakthrough. However, his ability to win over hearts was admirable. After all, when managing a sect, if you don't promise something, how can you boost morale? Especially since most of these disciples were coerced into joining.

Liu Junhuai pressed his hands downward, and the commotion died down immediately.

He continued, "However, I must state the ugly truths first. The Myriad Phenomena Sect has no place for treacherous or evil people, no matter how high your cultivation is! You all know about the former Yanfu Palace—out of less than two hundred people, nearly forty were spies for the Blood-Slaying Alliance. There is a common saying in the mortal world: one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. The Yanfu Palace was ruined because of one person, Deputy Palace Master Li Chengyi, who dragged dozens of others down with him over the years. I reiterate: from this day forward, any disciple who colludes with outsiders will be executed on the spot! Anyone who frames or slanders a fellow disciple will be executed! Anyone who abandons a fellow disciple in crisis will be executed! Anyone who reports false military information will be executed! This policy takes effect tomorrow. If anyone has objections, you may leave tonight, and the sect will not pursue you. But those who stay tomorrow must abide by these rules, and violators will be punished without exception!"

The scene fell into a deathly silence. Mo Sitong worried that Liu Junhuai’s rules were too harsh, and she kept glancing at him, signaling him to show some restraint.

Liu Junhuai noticed her concern and gave a slight nod, signaling that everything was under his control.

After a long while, almost simultaneously, the nearly two hundred disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Sect erupted into thunderous applause.

They realized that the Sect Master’s strict rules were first to ensure the safety and stability of the sect, and second, to protect them—the ordinary disciples. Only in this way would the sect have hierarchy based on rank rather than inequality between people. For most ordinary cultivators, such rules were a guarantee of safety and a manifestation of mutual respect.

If Liu Junhuai’s previous words had given them a sense of a bright future, then his subsequent words gave them a sense of home, making the atmosphere feel much more human.