Chapter 159: The dust settles, the hero returns, the Youge rises, and a giant emerges

The news of their triumphant return spread like wildfire, igniting every corner of the spirit world overnight. When Ye Li and Qin Yixuan, accompanied by Ye Feng and Su Wan, slowly descended in front of the Xuanyun Sect's mountain gate on a magnificent cloud chariot sent by the Jiuxiao Celestial Palace and pulled by nine divine blue phoenixes, the entire Northern Territory erupted in excitement.

The welcoming spectacle was far grander than anyone had anticipated. Not only were there top figures, led by the Yaoguang Palace Master, Muyun Lay Buddhist, and Huijue Arhat, but the Crown Prince of the Zhongzhou Dynasty personally presented a valuable gift. The Living Buddha of the Western Buddhist Kingdom sent his chief disciple. The Palace Master of the East Continent Star Palace sent his Star Envoy. Several great demon kings from the Southern Wilderness Demon Territory arrived in person... Nearly every major power in the spiritual world had sent their highest-ranking representatives. Outside the Xuanyun Sect's mountain gate, banners covered the sky, auspicious clouds gathered, and the sea of ​​cultivators who had come to admire the hero stretched as far as the eye could see.

The Cloud Chariot came to a stop, and Ye Li was the first to step out. She was still dressed in a simple white dress, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall. Her cold face showed no signs of emotion, but as her deep eyes swept over the crowd, they naturally revealed the calmness and majesty of someone who had experienced life and death and understood the cycle of reincarnation. She turned around and, along with Qin Yixuan, carefully helped her parents, still frail but with agitated expressions, down from the Cloud Chariot.

In an instant, thunderous cheers reached the sky!

"Welcome Venerable Ye Li! Her Excellency Xuan Nu! You have returned in triumph!"

"The spirit world will always remember the Venerable's kindness!"

"Eternal glory to the Xuanyun Sect!"

Waves of shouting rose higher and higher, countless cultivators were moved to tears, and they bowed deeply, expressing their highest respect. It was this young woman before them who had bravely stepped forward in the spiritual world's most perilous moment, turning the tide, slaying the demon, and saving billions of lives!

Ye Li's eyes were calm, and she nodded slightly. She looked at her parents, their eyes slightly red, and a wave of warmth and sadness welled up in her heart. After enduring hardships, her loved ones were finally reunited, a feeling that brought her greater peace than any honor. Qin Yixuan stood beside her. Xuannu, with her graceful demeanor and a gentle smile, stood shoulder to shoulder with Ye Li, like a pair of goddesses descended to the mortal world, accepting the worship and blessings of all.

Mr. Muyun walked forward quickly, tears streaming down his face. He held Ye Li's hand tightly, his lips trembling. After a while, he said, "It's good that you're back... It's good that you're back!" Thousands of words were transformed into these four simple words, but they were full of the deepest concern and pride.

The Xuanyun Sect's leader was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. He led the entire sect in a deep bow towards Ye Li and her parents: "The entire Xuanyun Sect thanks His Excellency for saving the world! From today on, Your Excellency is our sect's Grand Master, with a transcendent status, on par with the founder of the sect! All matters in the sect are decided by Your Excellency!"

Ye Li gently helped the Sect Master to his feet. Her voice was clear but carried an undeniable strength: "Sect Master, you are too kind. Xuanyun Sect is my master's sect, and protecting it is also Li's duty. From now on, we need all of you to work together to protect the peace of the spirit world."

Though her words were soft, they echoed clearly throughout the audience, carrying a calming power. Representatives from various factions stepped forward, offering gifts and expressing their desire to make friends and submit. At this moment, Ye Li's reputation reached an unprecedented peak. She was not just a hero, but a de facto spiritual leader and patron saint of the spirit world.

In the days that followed, Xuanyun Sect held a grand celebration that lasted a full month. Ye Li, uninhibited by the clamor, spent most of her time with her parents, using her own Nirvana Essence and the nourishing power of the Samsara Mirror to warm their meridians and repair their damaged spiritual foundations. In her free time, she and Qin Yixuan would stroll along the familiar mountain paths of Xuanyun Sect, or sit quietly beneath the waterfall in the back mountains, savoring the hard-earned tranquility.

Yet, beneath the calm, undercurrents surge. Ye Li knows that vanquishing the Shadow Demon and slaying the Supreme Being only temporarily alleviates the immediate threat to the spirit world. The mysterious "Mark of Reincarnation" within her parents' bodies, the five restless fragments of the Reincarnation Mirror, and the shadow of the "Void Devourer" hidden beyond endless time and space all foreshadow a greater storm brewing. The dust has settled on the hero's return, but the new journey has only just begun.

While Ye Li was accepting the worship of the crowd on the stage, the power she founded, Youge, also ushered in a golden period of explosive development.

While the details of the Demon Realm War were not fully publicized, the crucial role played by the Phantom Pavilion, particularly the loyalty, efficiency, and fearlessness displayed by its members, had already spread through various channels. Coupled with Ye Li's rising star, the Phantom Pavilion had become the most attractive destination for all independent cultivators and small and medium-sized factions.

Liyuan City, this massive new city, built with the utmost care by Youge under Ye Li's instruction, has become the new center of the Northern Territory and even the entire Spirit World. Its walls, hundreds of feet high, are engraved with a complex defense system that blends ancient array patterns with modern concepts. Its spiritual aura flows throughout, making it impregnable. The city is well-planned, with wide streets and numerous shops. Specialty goods and cultivation resources from various domains converge and are traded here, making its prosperity even surpass that of some of the ancient and majestic cities in Zhongzhou.

In the heart of the city, towering majestically stands the Youge headquarters—the "Watchtower." Thousands of feet high, reaching into the clouds, its body forged from rare Void Stone and Star Steel not only gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth but also possesses powerful spatial stabilization and interference capabilities. Atop the tower, a massive "Guiding Crystal" radiates a soft yet steadfast white light day and night, like a beacon in the darkness, symbolizing the Youge's core belief: "Watching in the dark night, guiding in troubled times."

In the pagoda's highest-floor meeting hall, Sun Xiaohou presided over the monthly cabinet meeting. Now clad in the black gilded robes of the Pavilion Master (acting as his acting chief), his face was calm, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. Thanks to the accumulation of abundant resources and his own efforts, his cultivation had steadily advanced to the late Yuandan realm, and his every gesture exuded a growing aura of authority. Below them sat a dozen or so core elders, overseeing key departments such as intelligence, commerce, war preparedness, internal affairs, criminal law, and external relations. Each possessed a profound aura and possessed shrewdness.

"Reporting to the Deputy Chief Deacon," the Intelligence Elder spoke first, his voice steady. "According to the latest secret report from the Dongzhou branch, abnormally strong spatial fluctuations have been detected deep within the 'Meteoric Sea'. They are suspected to be related to the 'edge of the realm' recorded in ancient history. Three additional teams of elite scouts have been dispatched, and the highest level of information blocking has been activated."

"Regarding the Southern Wilds," the Commerce Elder continued, "we have reached a preliminary agreement on in-depth cooperation with the Ten Thousand Demon Valley. We've exchanged three sets of customized peak-grade Xuan-grade armor and some rare elixir formulas for the exclusive, century-long mining rights to three high-quality black iron ore veins. We've also obtained permission to establish three outposts within their sphere of influence."

"The new round of assessments for the 'Youge Preparatory Camp' has concluded," the Internal Affairs Elder submitted a report. "From three thousand applicants, fifty-eight core candidates have been selected. Twelve of these individuals possess exceptional core competence and have been incorporated into the 'Hidden Dragon' program for focused training, in accordance with the regulations established by the Pavilion Master."

Sun Xiaohou listened carefully to every report, sometimes asking for details, sometimes giving clear instructions, his decisions decisively and clearly organized. Years of hard work had transformed him from a nimble teenager into a qualified leader capable of managing a vast organization.

"Everyone," after all the elders had finished their reports, Sun Xiaohou surveyed the room, his voice grave. "Before leaving, the Pavilion Master said that the purpose of the You Pavilion was to 'protect' and 'explore,' not to compete for hegemony. Although our Pavilion is now powerful, we must remember our original aspirations. As we expand our branches across the regions, we must prioritize stability, preferring a shortage to a mediocre one, and ensuring member loyalty and organizational purity. Resource integration and talent cultivation are the foundation of our Pavilion, and we must not slack off. At the same time, we must strengthen monitoring of abnormal spatial fluctuations and energy loss in various locations, especially any leads related to the ancient 'wasteland.' Once discovered, report them immediately with the highest priority!"

"We will follow the orders of the deputy chief deacon!" The elders responded in unison, their eyes filled with admiration for Ye Li and firm belief in the future of Youge.

After the meeting, Monkey King Sun ascended alone to the observatory atop the Watchtower. This was where Ye Li occasionally came to meditate, its decor minimalist. He leaned over the railing and gazed out into the distance. Beneath him lay the bustling Liyuan City, in the distance the rolling mountains of the Northern Territory, and beyond that, the vast expanse of the spiritual world.

He was stroking a seemingly ordinary storage ring in his hand. This was given to him by Ye Li. It not only contained a huge amount of resources that supported the development of Youge for hundreds of years, but also her personal handwriting on the future development direction of Youge, strategies for dealing with various crises, and personal encouragement and instructions to Sun Xiaohou.

"Brother Lin Feng, Pavilion Master... don't worry." Sun Xiaohou gazed at the sky and whispered to himself, his voice as firm as iron. "You Pavilion will never become a tool for power struggles. It will be a sword that pierces the darkness and a beacon of hope. I will guard this place and wait for you... to return with glory!"

Today, under the protection of Ye Li's transcendent reputation, Youge, with its unique openness, efficiency, and clear purpose, has attracted countless new generation elites and rapidly grown into a behemoth with tentacles reaching across the entire spiritual realm and far-reaching influence. It is not only an extension of Ye Li's personal influence, but also represents a new order and hope, playing an increasingly important role on the spiritual stage.