Chapter 1081: The Troubles Of Happiness

A streak of light fell into the martial arena, and the maid reappeared.

Everyone knew full well that her appearance must have brought an order from the Supreme Elder. Tens of thousands of disciples wore stern expressions, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the maid bowed toward the high platform.

"Palace Master."

"By the order of the Supreme Elder, Fu Haotian is to be imprisoned in the Forbidden Prison!"

Whoosh!

Millions of heads snapped up in unison!

To actually punish one's own kin for the sake of justice...

What?

Is this still the same domineering and autocratic Supreme Elder from before?!

Disciples from both the inner and outer sects wore expressions of disbelief, yet no one dared to utter a word. The periphery of the martial arena fell even more silent, while many elders pondered deeply, their eyes flickering with unusual thoughts.

Fu Haotian, disheveled and covered in dust, was so shocked that his face turned deathly pale!

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Grandfather would never issue such an order. It must be you, this treacherous wench, who's betraying us and forging the decree!"

Harsh curses continued to pour out, as Fu Haotian began to lose his composure, bordering on madness.

The crowd in the arena was stunned, and no one responded.

Only Nanli Qingming's clear voice echoed.

"In accordance with the Supreme Elder's order, take Fu Haotian away!"

His tone was completely natural, as if he hadn't been the least bit surprised.

Several elders immediately stepped forward to carry out the order, binding Fu Haotian on the spot.

"No! No!"

Amidst his hoarse screams, the once-arrogant Young Master Fu was escorted away. His anguished roars continued to echo, finally convincing the tens of thousands of disciples of the truth.

Instantly, heated discussions erupted, and the crowd erupted in cheers!

"Holy crap! Fu Haotian finally got what was coming to him!"

"The Supreme Elder is wise!"

"This year's Chief Ceremony was truly thrilling! Both sides pulled out all the stops, but in the end, Senior Sister Zhongli came out on top!"

"Twists and turns, completely unexpected!"

"Haha, I always said Senior Sister Zhongli would win!"

"Shameless! You changed your stance three times already!"

"Congratulations, Senior Sister Zhongli!"

"The Palace Master is wise! The Supreme Elder is wise!"

The cheers were deafening, and the tens of thousands of disciples were beyond excited.

Zhongli Meng was surrounded by well-wishers, basking in the glory of her dreams. Everything felt too good to be true, and this moment would undoubtedly be etched in her memory forever.

On the high platform, many experts also wore smiles, creating a scene of harmony and satisfaction.

...

Two days had passed in the blink of an eye.

The entrance to the Chief's side courtyard was crowded with people as guests continued to depart. The air was still filled with the intoxicating aroma of wine, and the tables inside and outside the courtyard were littered with dishes and cups.

In the main hall.

Several fellow disciples were tallying the gift list, and exclamations of surprise never ceased.

"Master Jiu Huo sent the Nine Revolutions Yang Pill—a Heaven-grade elixir! If Senior Sister takes this during her breakthrough, it will increase her chances of success by at least 30%!"

"Lady Longyue Xuanji also sent the Moonlight Heart-Cleansing Dew. It's said that consuming this treasure can preserve one's beauty for ten thousand years. It's also a legendary Heaven-grade treasure!"

"That's nothing! The Grand Elder of the Qian Yuan Heavenly Gate sent a Flowing Cloud Dress, specifically marked as a Heaven-grade Tier 2 treasure!"

"Heavens! Heaven-grade Tier 2?!"

"My goodness! All these treasures combined—even a regular Heavenly Sect wouldn't have such resources! Even the Palace Master of Nanli might be tempted!"

"Nonsense! Why would the Palace Master covet Senior Sister's gifts?"

"Right, right! How could the Palace Master wear women's clothing anyway?"

The fellow disciples exclaimed and chattered, their eyes nearly blinded by the dazzling array of treasures.

They gasped in awe, their excitement bordering on hysteria.

Zhongli Meng was also deeply moved, feeling both honored and overwhelmed by the generosity of the many Heavenly Sect elders. However, being level-headed, she quickly regained her composure.

She quietly spoke up to rein in the increasingly outrageous conversation.

"Junior Brother Lu, fellow junior brothers, we must not speak carelessly about the Palace Master and the elders."

The group calmed down a bit, but their admiration and curiosity for Zhongli Meng only grew.

"Senior Sister, I heard that the Supreme Elder has recently entered closed-door cultivation. What do you think about that?"

"Senior Sister, why did Elder Wei help you so much?"

"I never expected Elder Wei to have such influence. He truly hides his capabilities well!"

"Senior Sister, you can't keep secrets from us! We've been through life and death together. Now that you're the Chief, you can't be too distant..."

Though they tried to act normal, their words and demeanor lacked their usual ease, clearly showing a newfound reverence.

Zhongli Meng, however, remained as approachable as ever, smiling and responding to each of them in turn.

But when faced with a barrage of questions, she was just as clueless.

"This..."

"Fellow junior brothers, to be honest, I don't know the details either."

As she spoke, Zhongli Meng's expression grew more serious.

"You might find it hard to believe, but I truly don't know. Elder Wei's assistance was strange in hindsight, and I can't figure out the reason behind it."

"Judging from those terrifying demonic corpses, Elder Wei must have some powerful and mysterious backing. As for who's behind it all, I have no idea..."

"However, fellow junior brothers, please remember this: from now on, you must never disrespect Elder Wei!"

Her solemn words left the junior brothers half-convinced and half-doubting.

If it weren't for their deep understanding of Zhongli Meng's character and her heartfelt advice, anyone else might have thought that Zhongli Meng, now having risen to prominence, had become distant and unapproachable.

The group expressed their gratitude, their eyes filled with warmth.

"Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister!"

"It seems Senior Sister really doesn't know. We misunderstood. Please forgive us!"

Light laughter filled the air, easing the tension slightly.

The youngest, the thirteenth junior brother, bowed and asked the crucial question.

"Senior Sister, have you never asked Elder Wei about it?"

His words caught everyone's attention.

Zhongli Meng smiled wryly, looking helpless.

"He wouldn't say."

Elder Wei wouldn't say?

After helping so much, he just wants to remain an anonymous benefactor? This is really strange.

The group was even more baffled, exchanging glances but finding no answers.

Hearing her response, they could only drop the topic. No matter how close they were, everyone had their secrets, and it was impossible to share everything.

This was only human nature, and no one would hold it against her.

Little did they know, Zhongli Meng had indeed tried to probe Elder Wei several times.

Each time, the old man would give her a mysterious smile and calmly utter three words, as if they were priceless treasures.

"You understand."

Recalling that steady, enigmatic smile, Zhongli Meng was still utterly confused.

What did she understand?

She understood nothing.

Just then.

A disciple arrived to pay his respects, bowing respectfully.

"Reporting to Chief Senior Sister, the Palace Master summons you!"

...

In the grand hall of the Heavenly Palace.

Luxurious chairs were neatly arranged in two rows, standing quietly on either side.

In the past, one would only have the privilege of meeting the Palace Master on special occasions, and the hall would be filled with elders, seated in order of precedence with the right side being the most honored.

Today, however, the hall was empty.

The opulent hall felt vast and eerily quiet.

Nanli Qingming sat calmly on his jade chair, exuding an approachable demeanor.

Seated to his right, Zhongli Meng sat nervously, still somewhat reserved. Clearly, she hadn't yet adjusted to her new status as the Chief Disciple. Even when responding to a few casual remarks, she fumbled a bit.

After sipping some immortal tea, Nanli Qingming's smile grew even warmer.

"Chief Zhongli, there are no outsiders here today. There's no need to be so reserved."

"In the past, your father and I were old friends. As the daughter of an old friend, you should call me Uncle. From now on, when we're alone, I'll address you as my niece. How does that sound?"

His words were even more intimate, almost shedding the formalities of their positions. It truly sounded like a conversation between old friends, not between a Palace Master and his Chief Disciple.

If anyone else had been present, they would have been shocked.

Zhongli Meng was both flattered and nervous, rising to her feet and bowing uneasily.

"Palace Master, you honor me too much. Zhongli Meng dares not accept..."

Seeing her reaction, Nanli Qingming gently waved his hand to reassure her.

"Niece, there's no need to be so formal."

"I've long known of your exceptional talent and had the intention to nurture you. The events of the Chief Ceremony were also my doing. You are meant to be the Chief of our Heavenly Palace, and the title of 'niece' is only fitting."

Hearing this, Zhongli Meng could only bow in gratitude, not daring to refuse.

Nanli Qingming seized the opportunity to continue, his smile growing even warmer.

"Niece, since we are old friends and will both lead the Heavenly Palace in due time, it's a fateful connection. There are some things... we should be transparent about."

As he spoke, Nanli Qingming lowered his voice, his smile fading slightly.

"Tell me, who is the person behind you?"

Finally, understanding dawned in Zhongli Meng's eyes.

So, the Palace Master's sudden warmth and familiarity were all for this purpose.

This motive was only natural, no different from the intentions of the other Heavenly Sect elders.

In theory...

The Palace Master wasn't an outsider, and he had firmly supported her during the Chief Ceremony. It wouldn't be inappropriate for Zhongli Meng to share a little with him.

Unfortunately, she could only force a helpless smile.

"Palace Master, please forgive me..."

"Regarding this matter, I truly know nothing."

Seeing this, Nanli Qingming pretended to be displeased, turning his head away.

"Niece, even I can't be told? You're being too distant."

"Although this matter is significant, there's no need to be so guarded with me. We're family, after all."

Facing the Palace Master's smiling face, Zhongli Meng could only force a smile, feeling utterly helpless.

The whole world was asking her for answers, but who could she ask?

She truly didn't know where this mysterious and terrifying force came from, nor why she, of all people, had been elevated to such heights.

Though her current achievements filled her with excitement, the lack of clarity left her uneasy. No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn't make sense of it.