The Sect Hierarch has come out of seclusion.

Master Xu and Li Chuping immediately hurried over.

Then a multitude of sect internal affairs piled up, but fortunately, the continent has just stabilized, everyone is reflecting painfully on their past and licking their wounds, and there aren't many external troubles.

After focusing on his cultivation for five years, even though he is the leader of the sect, he feels somewhat guilty; everyone is a cultivator, why do others have to painstakingly toil with daily affairs while he can just focus on himself?

This is one reason why he has always been very respectful to Palace Master Xu and Tower Master Li Chuping, but respect aside, things can't continue like this. He needs to find a method to free them from these tedious and transactional tasks.

Even if he can't temporarily promote some respected yet unpromising candidates, at least a rotation should be possible.

"You've both been working hard, I will cut to the chase; at the upcoming Elder's expanded sect meeting, I will suggest reelections for the Shaking Light and Tongtian Palaces. I am not satisfied with your work, it's time to change personnel. If you have suitable candidates, feel free to suggest them."

Master Xu and Li Chuping exchanged glances, unable to hide their delight. They obviously understood the true intention of the Sect Hierarch; he just couldn't speak straightforwardly, always with such sarcastic undertones.

Master Xu replied cheerfully, "Junior Brother Yan is quite capable, has sufficient seniority, is familiar with the sect's internal affairs, and is a good candidate."

Li Chuping didn't hesitate, "Senior Brother Cheng is renowned among Foundation Establishment disciples, diligent and impartial, a role model for us."

Hou Niao grinned mischievously, "Do they both understand that relieving the Sect Hierarch of worries is their primary task?"

Li Chuping snorted, "Of course they understand, who among the upper echelons of Dushan doesn't? Sect Hierarch Hou loves those who never bother him and loathe those who always need to file reports."

He originally wanted to promote Yu Zhengxing, but considering how Yu Zhengxing has been trapped in the complexities of Foundation Establishment disciples like himself, he changed his mind. He deeply understands the temper of his old friend, stripping him of his position would be more in line with his desires than making him Tower Master, and both of them indeed need a period of quiet to prepare for the Upper Realm.

Hou Niao chuckled, "That's good, self-reliance is important; after the personnel change, you two can still help for a while, then enjoy some peace—there are forty-four years left, I'm still looking forward to Elder Xu becoming a True Monarch and Capital Commandant succeeding in Heaven Creation."

The two looked at him with feigned annoyance, he could eloquently say pretty words, sometimes able to handle personnel matters effectively.

While chatting idly with them, Hou Niao quickly skimmed through the Jade Scroll detailing the complex affairs over the past five years,

"Good, good, there were four sword appointments in these five years, and our Sword Sect gained nearly a thousand True Sword Cultivators, especially during the second appointment, over three hundred were appointed, yes, good, well done… huh, what's with this? Is Yan Baiyi also a disciple of our Sword Sect? The name sounds nice; is there another with the same name?"

Master Xu replied earnestly, "Yan Baiyi, Loose Cultivator, not a duplicate name!"

Hou Niao slowly put down the Jade Scroll, still finding it hard to believe, but recalling the scene outside Zhenbei City back then, he had to believe,

"Yan Baiyi left Yan Sect, came to us, received a Sword Embryo, and then became a Sword Sect disciple?"

Master Xu nodded, "Yes, that's how it happened. That sword appointment was presided over by the sect master brother, he tirelessly tried to dissuade him from ruining his future over a momentary impulse, but couldn't succeed. Sect Hierarch, don't blame sect master brother, we all understand the reasoning, but couldn't act at the time. Later, when he got the Sword Embryo, it became even more impossible to make him leave."

Hou Niao chuckled as he looked at them, "Why would I blame sect master uncle? I'd sooner thank him; for such talented cultivators from the continent, I try to recruit every single one I see, no matter about alliances; the Sword Sect does not pick and choose!"

Pausing, "What does Yan Sect say?"

Master Xu sighed, "As soon as Yan Baiyi got the Sword Embryo, I sent a letter to several masters of Yan Sect, but received no response; three months later, Brother Hai and I personally visited them, hoping to clarify things to avoid hurting both sides' relations."

Hou Niao felt uneasy, "What did they say?"

Master Xu smiled bitterly, "They were very polite, evading direct responses, neither warm nor distant, but this thorn is likely buried deep, hard to resolve easily. In the future, when facing Yan Sect, Sect Hierarch must pay attention to this."

Hou Niao let out a chuckle, "What can Yan Sect do? I don't cater to their whims! I know what you're worried about, worried that my brother will be reluctant in the future and act without concern;

Rest assured, you don't understand, he doesn't possess the undercover ability like I do."

Elder Xu and Elder Li felt utterly speechless, this guy is becoming more and more outrageous, not ashamed of being undercover, but rather proud of it.

Hou Niao said confidently, "I understand his thoughts; I was there at the time. If that Daoist Langshan does well, then nothing needs to be said; if that guy leads Yan Sect astray, my brother will take his life, then push a reliable helmsman.

But he himself would not go back; he doesn't have the skills of changing to a servant of several families, on the Jinxiu Continent, I am…"

The two listeners left dismissively, unwilling to listen to any more.

After handling sect affairs, the sky gradually darkened. Hou Niao transformed into a shadow and appeared on another lonely snowy peak, where those who settled their cave mansions had a solitary personality, fond of being alone, including the four people mentioned by Master Xu who might cause trouble.

He didn't care, as he already realized that the future opponent of Jinxiu might not be among them but someone else.

Arriving at an ice hall on the mountainside, he looked down stealthily from midair, below the Sword Qi rose like a rainbow, the Sword Light Division despite having only ten or so strands, each strand contained power that surprised him, a sense of magic emanated.

In his memory, this brother Yan was a very sunny person, why's he so full of magic when wielding the flying sword?

Is it because of the person or the sword?

Hard to judge, after watching for a while, feeling a little eager, his Purple Mansion trembled, sending out similarly ten or so strands of sword light, striking the white-clad man below.

Yan Baiyi was quite alert, he had long known someone was in midair, though he hadn't practiced sword for long, his other abilities didn't lose much to Hou Niao, how could he be unaware?

The sword lights clashed together, hard to separate...

Of course, the so-called hard to separate was only because one side didn't want to separate. Not speaking of other abilities, merely in terms of swordsmanship, Yan Baiyi now couldn't compare to Hou Niao.

Hou Niao's main intention was merely to test from where this sense of magic came from; now the sword light clash had shown him clearly.

Laughing heartily, he sheathed his sword and landed on the ground, "Old Yan is here? Now it's good, we're all in one pot, stirring to eat together, let's stay close from now; your Sword Embryo is remarkable, even the Sword Tomb Cave Heaven I established didn't know there was such a wonderful thing inside!"

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