The Sect Master’s Authority

At this moment, the words Jiang Hongyu had spoken now felt like sharp mockery, stinging her nerves.

She snapped her head around, her gaze, sharp as a blade, piercing Li Xuan, who stood beside her. Her eyes blazed with an unspoken fury.

It was clear she was blaming Li Xuan for failing to inform her of these crucial details earlier!

Li Xuan, feeling Jiang Hongyu’s almost murderous glare, turned ashen, her lips trembling as she tried to offer an explanation, yet no words escaped her. She was a mix of shock and indignation. ‘You were the one who excitedly jumped out and immediately started pinning accusations on someone; now that it’s backfired, you blame me for not reminding you? When was it ever my place to speak?’

Yet, there was nothing to be done; a single rank higher could crush a person. The best course of action now was not to explain her non-involvement, but to step forward and take responsibility.

Li Xuan immediately knelt, her forehead hitting the ground with a resounding thud. “It… it was this subordinate’s dereliction of duty! I… I failed to explain clearly in time, which led to this misunderstanding!”

“Sect Master, it seems this is a misunderstanding. My words just now… didn’t pass through my mind. Please don’t take them to heart.”

Jiang Hongyu’s throat was parched, her mind a blank. Unable to fathom how to handle the situation, she could only try to gloss over it. She wasn’t worried that Mu Qingli would dwell on this; as the Chief Alchemist of the Xuan Nv Sect, her position was incredibly vital! At worst, she could claim she had been in seclusion refining pills, and just now her cauldron had exploded, causing her to inhale some gaseous byproducts of the failed alchemy, leaving her disoriented—any such excuse would suffice.

Nonetheless, she was also acutely aware of her own temperament… a little too impetuous. She had been too eager, too confident, allowing her deep-seated disdain and contempt for Mu Qingli to completely cloud her judgment! Merely because the Sect Master had brought someone along, she had arbitrarily concluded that the other party intended to ‘impose’ them, and without even waiting for their specific intentions, she had impatiently leaped out to publicly challenge them!

She had intended to severely suppress this ‘nepotistic’ Sect Master, but instead, she had stumbled, landing herself in an inescapable dilemma! However, she was not one to easily admit defeat. Grand Elder Qing You had shown her kindness, and she had to assist her as much as possible.

She moistened her slightly chapped lips with her tongue, forcing herself to speak, “But even if he is to become a disciple of the Alchemy Hall, why bring a disciple to such a vital place as the Alchemy Hall? Sect Master Mu, the sect rules clearly state that the Alchemy Hall is a crucial sect ground! Entry is strictly forbidden for non-alchemists! This is a grave offense! Even high-ranking sect members must apply to enter the Alchemy Hall, and only after approval and proper documentation may they enter.”

She once again turned her head to Li Xuan, hoping to use Lin Mo’s status as an ‘outsider’ to regain some ground. “Manager Li! How could you be so negligent? Allowing an outsider, who understands nothing, to enter the Alchemy Hall! What if he interferes with the pill furnaces or damage the spiritual materials? Can you bear such responsibility?!”

Li Xuan trembled, cold sweat beading on her forehead. She knew she had become a scapegoat. “It… it was this subordinate’s dereliction of duty!” she stammered.

Lin Mo’s heart skipped a beat! He had no idea the Alchemy Hall had such rules! ‘Damn it! Now I’ve given them leverage! It wouldn’t be worth it to antagonize the Alchemy Hall now… Was I too impatient?’

Uncharacteristically, Lin Mo was at a complete loss. It was Mu Qingli, however, who remained unhurried, speaking slowly, “Alchemist Jiang, your unwavering loyalty to the Alchemy Hall and your thorough understanding of its rules are truly admirable to this Sect Master. However, Alchemist Jiang, you seem to have forgotten a few things.”

Jiang Hongyu had a bad premonition, but she couldn’t recall what it was.

“Indeed, the Alchemy Hall is a vital sect ground, and it is a fact that one cannot enter it casually. However, as the Sect Master, I also have the right to conduct monthly inspections and reviews of the sect’s vital grounds.”

“…?!”

Mu Qingli’s voice, like a cold jade spring, carried an all-knowing clarity as she distinctly completed her unfinished statement:

“‘Inspections and reviews may include accompanying personnel for consultation, record-keeping, and corroboration.’ This is stipulated in Article 2, Clause 1 of the ‘Xuan Nv Sect Master’s Regulations on Rights and Responsibilities.”

“And Article 17 of Chapter 3.”

Her cool gaze swept over Jiang Hongyu’s instantly pallid face, then flickered past Li Xuan’s slightly agape mouth, finally resting on the group of Alchemy Hall disciples, including Jiang Hanchai, who were diligently shrinking their necks. She ensured every single person could hear her next words clearly:

“Lin Wan’er, my direct disciple, is precisely the attendant I personally designated to record this Sect Master’s inspection of the Alchemy Hall today. He stands within the Alchemy Hall at this moment, his path guided by this Sect Master, his sights permitted by this Sect Master, and his conduct supervised by this Sect Master. The entire process falls within this Sect Master’s inspection authority, fully compliant with regulations. How then can there be any talk of trespassing on a vital ground?”

Her tone was not loud, yet it held the undeniable authority of the Sect Master, shattering the accusations Jiang Hongyu had hurled, leaving behind only fragments of embarrassment.

“On the contrary, Elder Jiang—” Mu Qingli’s gaze, like a frosted sword, pierced directly into Jiang Hongyu’s eyes, “—as the Chief Alchemist of the Alchemy Hall, are you truly so unfamiliar with the core articles of the sect rules? To be ignorant would be one thing. But just now, you generalized from a single point, took words out of context, and attempted to use such a flimsy excuse to question the Sect Master!”

“Elder Jiang, you constantly speak of upholding the Alchemy Hall’s rules and maintaining the sect’s foundation.” Mu Qingli’s voice suddenly rose a notch, carrying a metallic resonance that echoed through the silent hall. “Then, I ask you, as the head of a vital sect ground, openly misinterpreting and abusing sect rules, publicly offending the Sect Master’s authority, and questioning the Sect Master’s right to inspect—what crime is this?”

“Th-this, I…” Jiang Hongyu felt as if she had been nailed to the spot. Her face beneath the veil flushed crimson, and only a few incoherent syllables escaped her throat.

Lin Mo watched from the side, cheering inwardly! ‘Master has certainly established the Sect Master’s authority this time! It seems ever since she was confined to the Hall of Clarity and disciplined, she must have diligently studied the Xuan Nv Sect’s rules.’

‘It’s a good thing I decided to come with Master this time. If I had come alone… I probably would have given someone leverage… What a sigh.’

Lin Mo had originally intended to come by himself, but fortunately, Master… ‘No, it’s not like that; she never gave a compliant reason for the Alchemy Hall. Otherwise, he would have been crushed by the Alchemy Hall’s rules. No, she knew this point, which is why she came with me. I originally thought Master wanted to continue staying with me… but it’s not like that, is it?’

‘I should also go and thoroughly study the Xuan Nv Sect’s rules later.’

Even as Lin Mo marveled at Mu Qingli, her words were not yet finished.

She paused for a few breaths, her voice growing even colder and more cutting:

“Today’s inspection was intended to understand the current state of the Alchemy Hall and, incidentally, to broaden a disciple’s horizons. Yet, Alchemist Jiang, you presumed the intentions of your superior based on personal grudges, made baseless accusations, and moreover, neglected this Sect Master’s duties. Manager Li.”

“Su-subordinate here!” Li Xuan flinched, quickly responding.

“Record Alchemist Jiang’s inappropriate words and actions today—her misinterpretation of sect rules and defiance of the Sect Master—in detail within this Sect Master’s inspection report, to be filed under the sect’s crucial records, awaiting my review.”

“Yes! Yes!” Li Xuan’s cold sweat poured like rain as she repeatedly assented. This was not merely an internal Alchemy Hall record, but something to be formally submitted to the sect! Elder Jiang had truly shot herself in the foot this time!

Mu Qingli no longer looked at the stiff, statue-like Jiang Hongyu. Her gaze shifted to Lin Mo, her tone returning to calm:

“Wan’er, follow your Master and carefully observe the atmosphere of this Alchemy Hall. The things you should learn, your Master will teach you; the rules you should observe, you must engrave them in your heart.”

“And,” Mu Qingli paused, emphasizing her words, “remember not to become like certain arrogant and indiscriminately judgmental individuals.” Having said this, she took the lead, stepping past the pale-faced Jiang Hongyu and walking towards the spiritual glow of the pill furnaces deep within the hall.

She did not spare Jiang Hongyu a single glance.

Jiang Hongyu stood rooted to the spot, her face beneath the veil fluctuating between red and white, her chest heaving violently, her knuckles white from clenching.

“Are you not following?”

Mu Qingli’s voice drifted back faintly, “If you do not come with me to explain, how am I to understand the situation of the Alchemy Hall?”

At this, Jiang Hongyu completely broke. Humiliation, anger, yet also a bone-chilling coldness washed over her. She had no choice but to swallow her pride and follow behind Mu Qingli.