Lin Feng made his way to the meeting point, where his disciples were waiting with increasingly worried expressions.

  "Master!" Shen Yue said with relief as Lin Feng dropped his concealment. "We were worried. The Sect Master has agreed to see us, but Elder Mo has also been summoned. It's going to be a public hearing in the Grand Hall."

  "That might work in our favor," Lin Feng said, holding up the recording jade. "I found evidence. Lots of it. Elder Mo has been working with demonic cultivators for years, and he's planning something terrible during the founder's day celebration."

  Zhou Yuan's eyes widened. "Founder's day is in two days! We need to stop him now!"

  "The hearing is starting soon," Shen Yue said. "Should we present the evidence there?"

  Lin Feng nodded. "Yes, but I'll stay hidden. You two present the case. I'm still just a Foundation Establishment cultivator—my word won't carry much weight. But you're both Core Formation cultivators now, and Shen Yue, your achievements have made you famous. People will listen to you."

  What Lin Feng didn't realize was that Shen Yue's fame was directly tied to rumors about her mysterious master. Many people wanted to know who had taught her.

  The Grand Hall was packed.

  Word had spread that Zhou Yuan—the "dead" genius—had returned with accusations against an elder. Half the sect had shown up to witness the spectacle.

  The Sect Master, a dignified man with silver hair and kind eyes, sat on the central throne. To his left and right were the sect's elders, including Elder Mo Tian, who sat with a confident smirk.

  "This hearing is now in session," the Sect Master declared. "Zhou Yuan, you claim Elder Mo has betrayed the sect. Present your evidence."

  Zhou Yuan stepped forward, his voice clear and strong. "Sect Master, three weeks ago I discovered that Elder Mo has been selling sect secrets to demonic cultivators. When I reported this to my master, Elder Wan, he and Elder Mo tried to kill me. I barely escaped with my life."

  Elder Mo laughed mockingly. "Ridiculous! This boy was expelled from the sect for theft. He's clearly fabricating lies to take revenge! Sect Master, I demand he be punished for these false accusations!"

  "I have proof," Zhou Yuan said coldly. He produced the recording jade. "This contains copies of Elder Mo's personal ledgers, detailing years of transactions with demonic cultivators."

  The hall erupted in shocked whispers.

  Elder Mo's expression darkened. "Impossible. Those ledgers are... I mean, those fabricated documents are clearly—"

  "You just admitted the ledgers exist," Shen Yue said, stepping forward. "How interesting."

  The Sect Master gestured for silence. He took the jade and examined it, his expression growing darker with each passing moment.

  "These records..." he whispered. "Poison in the spirit spring? Mo Tian, is this true?!"

  Elder Mo's composure finally cracked. His spiritual energy exploded outward, causing many disciples to fall to their knees.

  "You think you've won?" he snarled. "I've spent decades building my network! Even if you have evidence, who's going to stop me? The Sect Master is old and weak! I'm the strongest Nascent Soul in this sect!"

  He pointed at Shen Yue and Zhou Yuan. "I'll kill you both here and now, then I'll take over this sect myself!"

  Elder Mo's cultivation erupted fully. Nascent Soul pressure flooded the hall, causing the weaker disciples to cough up blood.

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  Shen Yue and Zhou Yuan drew their swords, ready to fight, but they both knew they couldn't win against a Nascent Soul cultivator.

  Then, a calm voice spoke from the empty air.

  "I'm afraid I can't allow that."

  Lin Feng dropped his concealment, appearing in the center of the hall.

  To his perception, he was revealing himself to help his disciples. In reality, when he dropped his concealment, the entire sect shook. The protective formations blazed with light. The spirit spring erupted with energy. Every cultivator in the Azure Sky Sect, from the weakest outer disciple to the Sect Master himself, felt an overwhelming presence descend upon them.

  It was as if a god had manifested in the mortal realm.

  "Who... who are you?" Elder Mo stammered, his earlier confidence evaporating.

  Lin Feng scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm Lin Feng. I used to be an outer sect disciple here, actually. These two are my students. I'd appreciate it if you didn't hurt them."

  The Sect Master's eyes widened in recognition—not of Lin Feng specifically, but of the overwhelming power he represented.

  "Senior!" The Sect Master immediately stood and bowed deeply. "This junior greets the senior! I apologize for any disrespect!"

  All the other elders followed suit, bowing so low their foreheads touched the ground.

  Lin Feng waved his hands frantically. "No, no, please don't bow! I'm just Foundation Establishment! You're all way above my level!"

  The elders exchanged confused glances. Foundation Establishment? This power that made their souls tremble was... Foundation Establishment?

  Clearly, the senior was testing their wisdom. They bowed even lower.

  Elder Mo, realizing he was completely outmatched, tried to flee. He gathered his energy and shot toward the exit—

  And bounced off an invisible barrier, crashing to the ground.

  "Ah, right," Lin Feng said. "I put up a small formation when I entered the hall. Just a basic containment array to make sure Elder Mo couldn't escape. It should hold someone at... um... Nascent Soul realm? I think? The system shop description was a bit vague."

  The "basic containment array" was actually the Prison of Ten Thousand Realms, a legendary formation that could trap immortal emperors. Elder Mo had no more chance of breaking through it than an ant had of moving a mountain.

  "Please, Sect Master," Lin Feng said, "deal with this man according to sect law. He's dangerous, and he was planning to harm many innocent people."

  The Sect Master nodded quickly. "Of course, Senior! Your wisdom and righteousness illuminate us all! Guards, seize Elder Mo Tian!"

  As guards rushed forward to restrain the defeated elder, the Sect Master turned to Lin Feng with reverence.

  "Senior, the sect owes you an immense debt. If I may be so bold... would you honor us by revealing your identity? Surely a master of your caliber is famous throughout the realm."

  Lin Feng shook his head. "I'm really nobody special. I've been in seclusion for fifty-five years on Tranquil Peak, just cultivating quietly. I only came out today to help my disciples."

  "Tranquil Peak?" The Grand Elder spoke up, his voice trembling. "The Tranquil Peak? The hidden paradise that even immortals cannot find? The legendary sanctuary of the Unfathomable Master?"

  Lin Feng blinked. "Hidden paradise? It's just an abandoned peak with thin spiritual energy. And what unfathomable master?"

  Shen Yue stepped forward, smiling proudly. "Master, they're talking about you. Your legend has spread throughout the cultivation world."

  "My... legend?" Lin Feng looked genuinely confused.

  [Achievement Unlocked: Legend Status Confirmed!]

  [The cultivation world now recognizes you as one of the supreme experts!]

  [Reward: 50,000 Seclusion Points]

  [Note: Host still believes he is Foundation Establishment. This is impressively stubborn, even for you!]

  The Sect Master stepped forward eagerly. "Senior Lin Feng, would you consider accepting a position as the sect's Grand Ancestor? Your guidance would—"

  "No, thank you," Lin Feng said quickly. "I really prefer my quiet life on Tranquil Peak. I only left seclusion because my disciples needed help. Now that this matter is resolved, I'll be heading back."

  He turned to his disciples. "Shen Yue, Zhou Yuan, you're welcome to stay here if you want to reconnect with the sect, or you can come back to Tranquil Peak. Either way is fine with me."

  "We'll return with you, Master," both disciples said in unison.

  Lin Feng smiled. "Good. I missed Xiao Hong. Let's go home."

  As the three of them walked out of the Grand Hall, every cultivator in the room remained bowing, not daring to raise their heads until the legendary master had completely departed.

  Outside, Lin Feng breathed in the fresh air and smiled contentedly.

  "Well, that went better than expected," he said to his disciples. "No one got hurt, the bad guy is captured, and we can go back to peaceful cultivation. Perfect!"

  Shen Yue and Zhou Yuan exchanged glances, suppressing smiles.

  Their master had just revealed himself to the sect, demonstrated power that made Nascent Soul cultivators look like children, solved a major crisis, and gained legendary status.

  And he thought it was just a simple trip out of seclusion.

  The Unfathomable Master of Tranquil Peak truly lived up to his name.