Upon hearing Shu Lan's words, the Third Elder immediately knelt down.

"Uncle-Master, is there some hidden story behind this?" The Third Elder was still somewhat skeptical, harboring a sliver of hope.

"The evidence of harming fellow disciples is conclusive! Whether it is true or not, we'll know once we bring Cao Quan here!" Venerable Lieyang's words were resounding and dispelled any lingering hope in the Third Elder's heart.

The Third Elder thought about it carefully and realized that, given his son's character, he might actually do such a thing!

The Third Elder felt incredibly bitter. "You son of a bitch, what a disgrace to the family! You've really dragged your father down with you this time!"

"Third Elder, I'm giving you a chance to prove yourself." At this moment, Venerable Lieyang suddenly spoke up.

"Please speak!" The Third Elder's eyes lit up, and he immediately grasped at this lifeline.

"Go and bring Cao Quan to us yourself."

"Yes!" The Third Elder quickly agreed. He knew this was his only chance. You little bastard, don't blame your father for being ruthless!

The Third Elder quickly flew out of Zheyan Peak and headed to the residence he had arranged for Cao Quan outside the Star River Sect.

A short while later, the Third Elder brought over the insane Cao Quan.

"Impossible! How could Qin An still be alive! Impossible!..." The Third Elder had just thrown Cao Quan into the courtyard of Zheyan Peak when everyone heard Cao Quan repeatedly saying these words.

It turned out that when the Third Elder found Cao Quan, Cao Quan asked the Third Elder why he wanted to arrest him. The Third Elder then told Cao Quan about Qin An's return and how his grandmaster and the Supreme Elder had personally sent him to arrest him.

Unexpectedly, Cao Quan couldn't accept this outcome and went insane on the spot.

After hearing what Cao Quan said, how could the Third Elder not know that what his grandmaster and the Supreme Elder had said was true? His own son had actually dared to harm his fellow disciples!

Now, the Third Elder knew he couldn't save his own son.

Everyone turned their attention to Cao Quan.

At this moment, Cao Quan's eyes were lifeless, with a hint of madness flashing in them from time to time. He kept muttering, "Impossible, impossible..."

Judging from Cao Quan's appearance, the Third Elder truly doted on this son. Although Cao Quan's cultivation was crippled, he looked quite well, suggesting that the Third Elder had been secretly taking care of him. If Cao Quan hadn't done such a thing, he could have lived a life of luxury as a wealthy man.

But there are no "what ifs".

"Third Elder, what else do you have to say?" Venerable Lieyang looked at the Third Elder with a stern gaze.

"I...have nothing to say." The Third Elder lowered his head deeply, not daring to look directly into the eyes of Shu Lan and Venerable Lieyang.

"Cao Quan has repeatedly harmed his fellow disciples, a crime that cannot be forgiven! He should atone with his death!" Venerable Lieyang said coldly, uttering his verdict on Cao Quan word by word.

"Third Elder."

"Yes!" The Third Elder stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"I'm leaving this matter to you!" Venerable Lieyang entrusted the task of dealing with Cao Quan to the Third Elder, giving him one last chance.

"Yes!" the Third Elder replied bitterly.

Then, the Third Elder summoned his natal sword and pointed the tip at Cao Quan.

He closed his eyes in anguish, his hand gripping the sword trembling. After a long while, the Third Elder suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with unwavering resolve. "Son! I'm sorry! May you be reborn into a good family in your next life! Don't do evil again!"

The Third Elder thrust his sword into Cao Quan's heart. With a "thud," the Third Elder's sword pierced through Cao Quan's heart. Cao Quan's eyes gradually lost their light, and he eventually lost consciousness completely.

Even when he drew his natal sword, the Third Elder's hand still trembled slightly.

"Third Elder, you may step back!" Seeing the Third Elder's appearance, Venerable Lieyang waved his hand, signaling the Third Elder to step back.

"Yes!" The Third Elder turned and walked out of Ochre Flame Peak, his eyes still full of daze.

After Cao Quan's death, people's attention returned to the inner disciple.

"What's your name?" Venerable Lieyang asked the inner disciple in an icy tone.

"I am Zhang Ce." Zhang Ce trembled and stammered out his name.

"Zhang Ce, together with Cao Quan, harmed our disciples. According to the sect rules, he should be stripped of his cultivation and expelled from the Star River Sect!" Venerable Lieyang said angrily, delivering his verdict against Zhang Ce.

"No, no! Spare me!" Zhang Ce knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead was bleeding profusely, but he seemed oblivious to it and continued to kowtow desperately.

Shu Lan and Venerable Lieyang ignored them. Venerable Lieyang summoned the law enforcement elders and dragged Zhang Ce away.

The law enforcement elder personally destroyed Zhang Ce's dantian.

"No! No!..." Zhang Ce's screams immediately echoed throughout the entire Law Enforcement Hall.

Then, the disciples in the sect watched helplessly as Zhang Ce was dragged out like a dead dog by the law enforcement elder and thrown outside the Star River Sect.

Now, Zhang Ce is completely cut off from the immortal sects.

"Do you see that? This is the consequence of harming fellow disciples and violating sect rules!" Venerable Lieyang turned his gaze to the other inner disciples standing in the courtyard.

The inner disciples all nodded like chickens pecking at rice, and from then on, they all took this as a warning.

From that time on, the entire sect took this as a warning.

Once the matter was settled, Venerable Lieyang dismissed all the inner disciples.

Then, Venerable Lieyang turned to Shulan and asked, "Junior brother, are you satisfied with how I handled this?"

Shu Lan looked at Qin An and asked, "Xiao An, are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Qin An nodded, "Satisfied!" He couldn't be more satisfied; his master had personally stood up for him! How could he not be satisfied?

"That's good!" Shu Lan was relieved and took Qin An's hand, leading him back to Tinglan Peak.

Strolling on Tinglan Peak, the surrounding scenery is beautiful, and the sunshine is just right.

Shu Lan and Qin An walked side by side, quietly enjoying this peaceful moment.

When they reached the foot of the thousand-year-old orchid tree, Qin An suddenly broke the tranquility.

"Master brother." Qin An suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"Hmm?" Shu Lan looked at Qin An, somewhat puzzled.

Looking at his master's handsome face and the gentle gaze in his eyes, Qin An took a deep breath and made up his mind. There were some things he had wanted to say for a long time. After his master had just stood up for him, the love in his heart had reached its peak. Qin An felt that if he didn't say it soon, he wouldn't be able to hold it in any longer.

"Master brother, would you be willing to become my Daoist partner?" Qin An stared intently at Shu Lan, his heart filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying Qin An's words to Shu Lan's ears. Petals fell softly from all around, landing on the hems of Shu Lan and Qin An's clothes.