Chapter 198 – Refusing the New Assignment, the Grand Elder of the Punishment Hall

As soon as the words were spoken, the surroundings fell into silence.

The ten elders present, each with their own expressions, suddenly froze.

“Elder Yu,” Luo Fan narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, “What are you saying?”

The other nine elders came back to their senses as well, each of them showing angry expressions as they stared at Yu Xian with clear hostility.

But Yu Xian still smiled calmly. “What I said was—I disagree.”

“What gives you the right to disagree?!”

Luo Fan’s eyelids twitched as fury surged in his heart. He couldn’t help but roar, “This was a decision made jointly by all the elders! What qualifications do you have to disagree!?”

“Exactly! Who do you think you are to disagree!?”

“Ridiculous! The Elder Council reached a collective decision and you think you can just veto it!?”

“Outrageous!”

“The Elder Council made this decision for the good of the sect! Are you not a disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect!?”

“You don’t agree!? Then what do you want? If you don’t want to be an elder, step down!”

“You just don’t want any responsibility, right!? You just want to eat and sleep as an elder, is that it!?”

…

The ten elders were nearly seething with rage, glaring at Yu Xian as if ready to tear him apart.

Yet Yu Xian remained completely unaffected. He smiled and said, “Since I’ve taken the position of elder, I naturally will take responsibility. But your attempt to pile more duties on me—what a joke. Such childish behavior.”

The ten elders were once again stunned, brows furrowing.

Luo Fan’s eyes gleamed coldly. “Elder Yu, what do you mean by ‘piling on more duties’? This task was decided after careful discussion by all of us. We even took into account your mid-Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, which is why we assigned you a relatively easier duty. You’re really judging others with a petty heart!”

“Petty heart!”

“Hmph!”

“Despicable coward…”

“So suspicious!”

…

The other nine elders chimed in with sneers and disdain, looking at Yu Xian as if he were some dishonest schemer.

Yu Xian swept a glance across them, still smiling. “Let’s make it simple then. If you all swear—truly swear—that you had no ill intention in assigning this to me, that if you did, your Dao foundations will crumble and you’ll die miserable deaths, I’ll gladly accept the task and maintain the sect’s protective formation. How about that?”

The expressions of the ten elders immediately changed.

Luo Fan’s eyes widened in fury. “This is outrageous! We’re simply assigning duties! It’s our responsibility! And you want us to swear!? Should we swear every time we assign duties from now on!? Utter nonsense!”

It was well-known that cultivators took oaths very seriously.

Oaths were bound by the Dao itself. One careless word could lead to disastrous consequences—instant death, even.

Unless someone was a life-and-death enemy, it was rare for a cultivator to make such a serious oath.

But Yu Xian wasn’t their enemy.

They didn’t want him dead—just wanted to assign him a taxing job maintaining the formation for the next few years as a lesson.

But to swear on it? That was not worth the risk.

Yu Xian’s smile faded as he locked eyes with Luo Fan. “Luo Elder, you talk a good game. But if this matter escalates, it won’t end well for anyone. Should we bring this matter before the Sect Master and discuss it there?”

Luo Fan’s eyelid twitched, and the anger on his face turned stiff.

The other elders were stunned as well, their gazes shifting uneasily.

Yu Xian calmly swept his eyes across them and said, “I suggest we reassign the duties.”

But this Elder Yu… he was the Sect Master’s own son!

What background could compare to that?

Now they seemed to be suppressing him, but in reality—who in the sect could truly bring him down?

Sooner or later, he would become the Sect’s Young Master, second only to the Sect Master himself.

Now was the time to align with him.

Meanwhile, Yu Xian walked calmly toward the Punishment Hall. On the way, disciples of various ranks—whether Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment—gave him strange looks but dared not meet his gaze directly. They had all heard of his sudden rise.

The power of the Punishment Hall Elder was immense. Targeting someone was all too easy.

After half a stick of incense’s time, Yu Xian arrived at the Punishment Hall.

Several disciples guarding the hall looked uneasy upon seeing him, but none stepped forward to greet him.

Yu Xian glanced at them, face calm.

But Wu Zong stepped forward and shouted, “Are you all blind!? That’s the Punishment Hall Elder! Why aren’t you greeting him!? Are you looking to be locked in the Shadow Prison!?”

The disciples panicked and quickly bowed. “We greet the Elder!”

Yu Xian approached and said, “At ease. Since you’re Punishment Hall disciples, remember who you serve. Don’t let outsiders confuse your loyalties. Pass along my command: gather all Punishment Hall disciples here within one incense stick’s time. Anyone who fails to arrive—expelled.”

The four disciples quickly acknowledged and ran off.

The Punishment Hall had one elder now—Yu Xian—three Protector Disciples, and forty Law Enforcement Disciples.

Yu Xian entered the hall and said, “Light the incense.”

Wu Zong quickly lit the stick of incense.

This was the last chance Yu Xian would give them.

Before long, three Qi Condensation peak disciples rushed in and bowed. “Law Enforcement Disciples Zhang Jing, Lan Xian, and Qi Yu greet the Elder!”

“You’re the first. Well done,” Yu Xian nodded.

Then the four door guards returned, having relayed the message.

Another half a stick later, eight more disciples came in sweating. “Apologies for being late, Elder!”

“As long as you came, it’s fine.”

They exhaled in relief.

But time passed, and only fifteen disciples showed up. The rest—twenty-five—had not come.

And the three Protector Disciples?

None of them had arrived.

Yu Xian had no interest in actually managing affairs long-term—he planned to leave eventually.

But to fully reject duties now would risk the Sect Master’s displeasure.

So if he had to take a post, the Punishment Hall Elder was ideal: high authority, low workload—so long as no one constantly broke the rules…

Wait.

A flicker of cold light passed through Yu Xian’s eyes.

Would they send people to commit minor offenses to constantly keep him busy?

No matter.

It was temporary. Once the Sect Master lowered his guard, Yu Xian would request to go out—and never return.

Though the spiritual energy at the front mountain was thinner, the salary and resources were much better. And the power he now held was enormous.

But instead of going directly to the hall, Yu Xian made another visit to the Scripture Pavilion.

The disciple stationed there welcomed him nervously. Clearly, news of Yu Xian’s promotion had already spread.

Yu Xian retrieved a pill formula scroll and read for three hours.

By the time he emerged, the entire sect knew that the Eleventh Elder Yu Xian was now the Grand Elder of the Punishment Hall.

Even that Wu surname disciple greeted him with a beaming smile.

“Congratulations, Elder Yu, on your promotion!”

Yu Xian stopped and smiled. “Oh? Do you want to join the Punishment Hall, or stay here?”

“Eh?” Wu was stunned. “Are you transferring me?”

Yu Xian smiled, “You haven’t answered me. Do you want to join or not?”

“I do! I do!”

“Very good. Follow me.”

“What about here…?”

“Don’t worry. Someone else will take over.”

Wu Zong blinked, then gritted his teeth and followed.

Even if it meant offending the other elders, it was worth it. The Punishment Hall was powerful and lucrative.

Back in the Elder Council, Luo Fan sighed. “Very well. If Elder Yu dislikes the previous task, we shall reassign.”

The other elders coughed awkwardly, eyes flickering.

One said, “I also wasn’t very satisfied with my duty…”

“Yes, let’s reassign…”

“I agree…”

…

All nine yielded. What pressure? What isolation?

This was the Sect Master’s own son.

Push him too far and he’d just complain to daddy—and then they’d be finished.

Ten elders sat solemnly.

Luo Fan suppressed his bitterness and said, “Since Elder Yu is new, how about giving him full authority over sect punishment affairs?”

The Grand Elder of the Punishment Hall.

A post with great power—but easy to offend others.

Two elders immediately said, “We’re willing to step down from that duty. Let Elder Yu handle it.”

“Yes, he’s a great fit.”

“We agree.”

“Support.”

“All in favor.”

…

Unanimous consent.

Luo Fan turned to Yu Xian. “Elder Yu, surely you don’t object now?”

Yu Xian was calm, unreadable. After a ten-second pause, he asked, “As Punishment Elder, do I have authority over fellow elders?”

Their expressions shifted.

Damn. He didn’t even try to be polite anymore!

Luo Fan smiled coldly. “Of course. Even the Vice Sect Master is subject to discipline.”

The others fell silent.

Yu Xian smiled faintly. “In that case, I accept.”

He stood up. “I’ll be busy with sect affairs from now on. Excuse me.”

Ten elders watched him leave.

Then, the whispering began—complaints, curses, angry muttering…

Yu Xian descended the steps, expression calm.

Soon enough, the whole sect would know:

Yu Xian was now the Grand Elder of the Punishment Hall.