Chapter 180: Great Integration

On the summit square of Biluo Palace, seven flags of different colors fluttered and snapped in the wind: the cyan of Qingyun Palace, the purple of Zixia Sect, the black of Heavenly Sword Sect, the pink of Wanhua Valley, the silver of Star Pavilion, the gold of Taixu Hall, and the green of Biluo Palace.

The seven flags were planted on the same plot of land, with the flagpoles less than three zhang apart.

Su Yun stood atop the high steps, followed by Fairy Biluo, Qingxuan, Fairy Zixia, Ziyun, Valley Master Hua Qianying, Sword Wuxin, Xingyue, and Xuchen.

Among the eight of them, seven were at the Mahayana Middle Stage, and one was at the Late Mahayana Stage.

Though dressed in different attire, they all kept their heads lowered, standing quietly behind the young man in the moon-white robe.

Over three thousand representatives stood in the square, four or five hundred from each Sect, all of them Elders and Core Disciples.

Their gazes fell upon Su Yun—some filled with curiosity, some with awe, some with obedience, and some with unconcealable reluctance.

The reluctant gazes mainly came from a few male Elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect and Taixu Hall.

They stood at the edge of the crowd, their faces livid, hands pressing against their sword hilts, yet they never dared to draw them.

Su Yun spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears: "From today on, the Seven Great Immortal Sects will merge into the Qinghe Sect. All female Disciples are to remain in the Sect, under unified organization and unified Cultivate. Male Disciples, I give you three days to pack your things and leave. Those willing to leave will each be given one thousand High-Grade Spirit Stone as travel expenses. Those unwilling to leave will have their Cultivate crippled and remain on the mountain as laborers."

As his voice fell, the square instantly went silent.

Immediately after, a cold sneer came from the direction of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

A burly, stubble-faced middle-aged man stepped out, carrying a black heavy sword on his back—he was at the Mahayana Initial Stage, an Inner Sect Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Jian Kuang.

He stared at Su Yun, his eyes full of mockery: "Merge? You say merge, so we merge? The Heavenly Sword Sect has been established for eight thousand years; why should we listen to a Loose Cultivator who ascended from the Lower Realm?"

Su Yun looked at him indifferently: "Because I am stronger than you."

Jian Kuang snorted coldly and drew his sword.

The Sword Qi of the black heavy sword soared into the sky, and the bluestone slabs of the square were instantly cut with countless cracks.

He slashed out with a full-power strike, the black sword light like a streak of silk, slicing straight at Su Yun's face with a momentum capable of splitting a mountain.

Su Yun stood motionless, merely raising his hand and extending two fingers to gently pinch.

The sword light exploded at his fingertips, turning into black specks that dissipated across the sky.

Jian Kuang's expression changed drastically.

Su Yun had instantly appeared before him, his fingertip pointing at the center of his brow.

A golden light flashed.

[Enslavement successful]

[New slave acquired: Jian Kuang]

[Loyalty: 32]

Jian Kuang's body stiffened, the reluctance in his eyes quickly turning into obedience.

He lowered his head and said respectfully: "Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand, turned to scan the crowd, his voice calm yet carrying a chill: "Who else is unconvinced?"

The entire place was deadly silent.

Those male Elders who had originally been pressing their sword hilts quietly let go.

Su Yun's gaze swept over the direction of Taixu Hall, and several male Elders immediately lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

He walked back to the steps and said coldly: "Three days from now, all male Disciples must leave. Those remaining on the mountain at that time will be treated as laborers."

No one dared to object.

After the assembly dispersed, everyone left the square one after another to go back and convey the news.

Fairy Biluo walked behind Su Yun and whispered: "Master, there were a few male Disciples causing trouble over at the Zixia Sect, but they have already been suppressed by Fairy Zixia."

Su Yun nodded: "Let her handle it herself; if she cannot, report it back to me."

Fairy Biluo acknowledged and withdrew.

Three days later, over forty thousand male Disciples had left completely.

Those who took the Spirit Stone left decisively; those who wanted to stay were thrown out of the mountain gate by the female Elders of their respective Sects, and the few who wanted to cause trouble were knocked unconscious and dragged away before they could even speak.

From then on, the Qinghe Sect only had female cultivators.

On the fifth day, Zhao Lanxin and her group ascended from the Lower Realm.

She brought Zhou Ruoyun, Liu Wugou, and Elder Han Yue, and the four of them stood before the mountain gate of Biluo Palace.

The female Disciple guarding the gate took the Jade Slip handed over by Zhou Ruoyun, probed it with her Divine Sense, and her expression changed drastically.

She hurriedly bowed and saluted, personally escorting them up the mountain.

Su Yun was waiting in the main hall.

When Zhao Lanxin walked through the hall doors, he stood up.

The little girl was wearing a pale pink ru-skirt, her hair tied up with a jade hairpin, revealing a fair and slender neck.

When she saw Su Yun, her eyes instantly turned red, yet she held back from crying.

She walked up to him and gestured to ask if he was doing well.

Su Yun said softly: "I am well."

Zhao Lanxin nodded, lowered her head, and her fingers gripped her hem tightly.

Su Yun reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

Zhao Lanxin leaned against his chest, her small hands clutching his lapels tightly.

Zhou Ruoyun stood to the side, pulling on his sleeve, tears pattering down.

Liu Wugou's eyes were red, and she said with a smile: "Master has become even stronger."

Elder Han Yue stood at the back, her expression calm, but her gaze never shifted from him.

Su Yun held Zhao Lanxin, looked at them, and said in a gentle voice: "You have all come."

Liu Wugou stepped forward: "Master, the Lower Realm has all been arranged. Valley Master Su Yao remains in Qinghe City to hold the fort, Fairy Jianyun and Zi Wuji are guarding the Western Regions. The forces of Palace Master Shui Linglong and Fairy Biluo in the East Sea have also submitted. The Lower Realm is now very stable."

Su Yun nodded, released Zhao Lanxin, and sat down in the main seat.

Zhao Lanxin stood by his side, her small hand holding his sleeve and refusing to let go.

Zhou Ruoyun pulled on his other sleeve.

Su Yun looked left and right, and couldn't help but smile.

"The affairs of the Immortal Realm are not yet finished. Although the Seven Great Immortal Sects have merged, old grudges remain, and the hearts of the people are not united; it will take time to slowly digest this."

Liu Wugou asked: "What does Master intend to do?"

"Take it slow, there is no need to rush," Su Yun said, "First, have Fairy Biluo arrange accommodations for you; I still have a pile of documents to deal with here."

In the following days, Su Yun was so busy that he barely had time to rest.

The integration of the Seven Great Immortal Sects was far more complex than he had imagined.

The female cultivators of Wanhua Valley disliked the roughness of the Heavenly Sword Sect Disciples; the Zixia Sect Disciples found the people of Biluo Palace arrogant; and the old grudges between the Star Pavilion and Taixu Hall had lasted for hundreds of years, causing the Disciples of the two factions to quarrel whenever they met.

Su Yun had to mediate disputes almost every day.

That evening, just after he had finished dealing with a dispute between Wanhua Valley and the Heavenly Sword Sect, he returned to the main hall to find Zhao Lanxin sitting on the steps in front of the hall, embroidering.

Seeing him return, she immediately stood up and gestured to ask if he was tired.

Su Yun shook his head: "Not tired."

Zhao Lanxin didn't believe him, but she didn't press further.

She simply took his hand, pressed him down to sit on the steps, stood behind him, and gently massaged his shoulders.

Su Yun closed his eyes, feeling the gentle strength of those small hands, and sighed comfortably.

He asked casually: "Are you getting used to living in the Immortal Realm?"

Zhao Lanxin gestured in reply: It is alright, it is just that the Spiritual Qi is too dense, and I am a bit unaccustomed to it when I Cultivate.

Su Yun chuckled: "Take your time, no need to rush."

The distant sunset sank behind the mountains, and the lights of Biluo Palace lit up one by one, like pearls hanging on the mountainside.

Su Yun suddenly remembered something and asked Zhao Lanxin where Elder Han Yue was staying.

Zhao Lanxin gestured: In the small courtyard on the east side, living with Liu Wugou.

Su Yun stood up: "I will go see her."

Elder Han Yue's small courtyard was secluded, with a few green bamboos planted in it, very similar to her Immortal Cave at the Jade Maiden Peak of the Zhengyi Sect back then.

She wore a moon-white Daoist robe, her hair tied with a jade hairpin, cold and frosty.

Seeing Su Yun enter, she bowed slightly and called out softly: "Husband."

Su Yun sat down by the stone table, and Elder Han Yue poured him a cup of tea.

The fragrance of the tea was light, slightly bitter upon entering the mouth, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

Su Yun took a sip and asked: "How was life in the Lower Realm?"

"It was fine; with Valley Master Su Yao holding the fort, nothing happened," Elder Han Yue said in a calm voice, "I Cultivate every day, and occasionally go to the city for a walk; the days were very quiet."

Su Yun was silent for a moment, then said seriously: "The Immortal Realm is more dangerous than the Lower Realm; stay by my side and do not wander off."

Elder Han Yue nodded, a trace of warmth flashing in her eyes: "I will listen to you, Husband."

Su Yun finished his tea and stood up to leave.

Elder Han Yue saw him to the courtyard gate.

Under the moonlight, she remained cold and frosty, yet had a bit more softness.

He reached out and gently patted her shoulder, then turned and left.

When he returned to the main hall, the night was already deep.

Zhao Lanxin was still sitting on the steps, clutching the embroidered belt in her hand.

Seeing him, she stood up and handed him the belt.

The silver-white cloud patterns gave off a faint luster in the moonlight.

Su Yun took it and tied it around his waist.

Zhao Lanxin stepped back two paces, tilted her head to look, and nodded with satisfaction.

Su Yun smiled and pulled her into his embrace, whispering: "Let's go, let's go back to sleep."

Zhao Lanxin blushed and obediently followed him into the hall.

The hall doors slowly closed, blocking the moonlight outside.

In the distance, the lights of Biluo Palace extinguished one by one, and the entire mountain was immersed in the quiet night.

The new order of the Immortal Realm was quietly taking shape.