A useless person with five spiritual roots? I sacrificed the proud daughter of heaven.

Tianyu quickly lifted the folding fan covering the chair and hurriedly climbed up from the recliner.

"Oh, my good disciple, let me see how you've fared these past few years of training!"

Sheng He pushed away Tian Yu, who was about to pounce on him, with disdain. Tian Yu sighed and shook his fan sadly: "How come you've become so distant from your teacher after just a few years away? Your teacher still prefers the way you were when you were a child."

After saying that, Tianyu looked at Shenghe with a look of satisfaction. The girl in front of him was tall and slender with a beautiful face and bright eyes. Although she was a little dusty from the long journey, she could not hide her bright eyes.

She's completely different from the timid, blond-haired girl who begged him to become her apprentice a few years ago.

"Junfu, Zhelan, your senior sister is back! Hurry up and greet her!"

"Meet Senior Sister."

The two girls, who looked to be eleven or twelve years old, one at the mid-stage of Qi Refining and the other at the late-stage, immediately bowed to Sheng He in a proper manner upon hearing Tian Yu's words.

These are Junfu and Senior Sister Zelan?

Sheng He was somewhat amused and exasperated. In the cultivation world, strength was paramount. In her previous life, her cultivation level was low. Although she was older than Jun Fu and Senior Sister Ze Lan, she would still respectfully address them as "Senior Sister" if they met within the sect.

Now it's reversed.

She became the one being called "senior sister" instead.

Sheng He quickly helped up his two junior sisters and gave each of them some spirit stones and magic items as a gift before looking at Tian Yu.

"Master, has something happened in the sect that summoned me back this time?"

Upon hearing this, Tianyu also dropped his carefree smile, pulled Shenghe aside, and asked in a low voice, "You went to Dragon Island too?"

Sheng He nodded, and Tian Yu's expression immediately became serious.

"This time, I'm afraid things might get a bit complicated."

Before Tianyu finished speaking, several disciples from the Discipline Department came up. After bowing to Tianyu, they looked directly at Shenghe.

"The sect leader heard that Senior Sister Sheng has returned and has some questions for her, so we have come to invite her to the Discipline Department."

The disciple's voice sounded somewhat familiar, and Sheng He couldn't help but take a few more glances at him before realizing that he was actually an old acquaintance.

Qin Lang.

This was her Daoist partner in her previous life.

In his previous life, he also played a part in forcing Sheng He to his death on Xiaoxiang Terrace.

In this life, however, she was busy cultivating and traveling to gain experience, and for a time she completely forgot about him.

Sheng He's brow twitched slightly. In this life, she would keep her distance from Qin Lang. If Qin Lang behaved himself, that would be fine. But if he took the initiative to provoke her, he shouldn't blame her for settling all her old and new grudges together.

Tianyu thought her apprentice was just nervous, so she gently patted her shoulder to comfort her.

"Don't be afraid, it's just a questioning. I will protect you. Those old bastards can't hurt you."

A warm feeling welled up in Sheng He's heart, and she looked up and smiled, "Yes, I'm not afraid."

Inside the main hall of the Discipline Department, the doors were wide open, and almost all the elders of the Qingyun Sect had arrived. There were also many unfamiliar faces sitting on both sides of the hall, who also appeared to be dressed as elders. Shen Ci stood behind one of the unfamiliar elders, his eyes fixed on Sheng He.

Although the Discipline Department was large, being surrounded by these highly skilled old men, even without them speaking or making any extra movements, still created a strange sense of tension.

Sheng He only glanced around the hall and roughly understood the current situation. This was her second time in the palace, so she stood in the main hall of the Discipline Department with great familiarity.

"Disciple Shenghe greets the Sect Master, Vice Sect Master, and all elders. May I ask why the Sect Master has summoned me here?"

The sect leader sat in the middle, his face as cold as ice.

A total of twenty-six sects came this time, all of them seeking an explanation from the Qingyun Sect.

Three months ago, Jiang Xuanli suddenly wrote to say that he had discovered traces of Dragon Island and took the opportunity to invite the disciples of these sects to go together. This time, the most talented children in the sects went, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the future of these sects.

But of all three, only three returned, two of whom were seriously injured. Shen Ci insisted that it was Sheng He who did it. He and Zhao Yanran had already safely boarded the ship, but Sheng He kicked them off the ship and colluded with the mermaids, causing them to be seriously injured and almost die in the Eastern Sea.

Of all the people who went, only the members of Qingyun Sect returned alive. The other sects, who were already dissatisfied with Qingyun Sect because of this, immediately started making a scene. As if they had agreed beforehand, they all stormed into Qingyun Sect, demanding an explanation, or they would not leave.

They have already been staying at the Qingyun Sect for three or four days.

The sect leader pursed his lips, and all his anger vanished when he saw the girl standing in the center of the hall.

He stared at Sheng He for a long time before turning to Tian Yu beside him and asking, "Is this really your disciple?"

Tianyu rolled her eyes inwardly: If he's not my apprentice, then is he your apprentice?

But in front of so many sects, he still had some pride, so he simply nodded slightly.

The sect leader immediately stood up and asked excitedly, "You've already reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm? How old are you this year?"

Sheng He frowned. Although he didn't quite understand what the sect leader meant, he still answered truthfully, "Sect leader, this disciple is seventeen years old this year."

Seventeen years old, mid-stage Golden Core stage!

Chu Heng himself only reached the Core Formation stage at the age of twenty-five. Xuan Xiao's little disciple, who is quite talented, recently turned eighteen and also reached the Core Formation stage.

Ke Shenghe, she has five spiritual roots!

And he is in the middle stage of Jindan!

Such talent coupled with such a rapid cultivation speed made the sect leader's hands tremble slightly. He stood up, looked at Sheng He, and said "Good!" three times in a row.

Seeing the Qingyun Sect Master's demeanor, the people from other sects exchanged glances and sensed that something was amiss.

Could it be that the sect leader sees this girl's exceptional talent and intends to protect her?

The elder of the Wuji Sect coughed lightly and reminded him, "Sect Master, it's time to get down to business."

The sect leader then seemed to wake from a dream and slowly sat back down in his seat. He had originally planned to push Sheng He out directly to quell the anger of the various sects.

But now it seems that his previous plans are no longer valid.

The sect leader didn't speak, but gestured with his eyes to the vice sect leader, Fengxing Immortal Venerable, beside him.

The deputy sect leader immediately understood. He stood up and looked at Sheng He kindly, saying, "Xiao He, you also went to Dragon Island a few days ago? I called you here today mainly to ask about the situation on the island."

Of the dozens of disciples who went with you, only Yanran, Shen Ci, and you have returned. The life lamps of the other disciples shattered more than a month ago. What exactly happened on the island? Do you know anything about their deaths?

"What else is there to ask! Ci'er witnessed all of this herself, and your own disciples from the Qingyun Sect have also said so. The truth of the matter is irrefutable and there is no room for argument!"

"Brother Fengxing, does what you're saying imply favoritism?"