Black Owl put his left hand behind his back and raised his right hand slightly to stop everyone's cheers. He tried to speak to everyone in his old manner and tone as much as possible: "When my sect left a thousand years ago, there were three thousand disciples on and off this martial arts arena. Now only you are left. I am very happy."

Everyone looked puzzled, but out of respect for the rules, no one asked any questions.

However, Black Owl quickly cleared up their doubts: "The way of the sword emphasizes strength and calmness, and strength is resilience."

The fact that you have been able to guard your sect for a thousand years and endure the desolate years shows that you have enough resilience; the fact that you have been able to hold on to your sect, whose future is uncertain and whose day may come, and not be swayed by external forces and things shows that you have enough composure.

Time has weeded out those who did not belong to our sect. The remaining disciples are all the most promising and outstanding disciples of our sect, and we are fortunate to have you.

Therefore, I am very happy, and I hope that everyone can continue to uphold their original intentions, focusing on spiritual practice and diligently cultivating virtue.

Although the disciples of the Hanyu Sect below the steps had many questions, they were still very happy to be able to listen to their sect leader's teachings again.

All the disciples bowed respectfully and responded in unison:

"Disciple shall diligently follow the Patriarch's teachings, devote oneself to cultivation, diligently cultivate virtue, uphold one's original heart, and forever protect the sect!"

Ling Du lowered his eyelids, silently rolling his eyes, feeling extremely resentful.

Do these idiots not understand what he's saying?

And yet they cheer so enthusiastically for someone who once easily abandoned his sect and acted selfishly?

And Ling Qing has probably learned to be shameless by spending too much time with that scoundrel Yun Xiao.

He has the nerve to tell others to focus on self-cultivation and cultivate virtue, when he himself is the first person to cultivate himself and his virtue!

For the sake of Yunxiao, he even disregarded the dignity of his ancestral lineage.

Why didn't Sect Master Ling descend to the mortal realm and strike this shameless, unfilial son to death?

"Alright, I just got back today and I still have many things to discuss with the elders. You may all leave now," Black Owl said calmly.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

The disciples below responded with great enthusiasm, no longer as lifeless as before, as if they had found their pillar of support.

Ling Jie, Chong Beishan, and Ling Yuan felt gratified by the changes in their disciples, and their faces showed a hint of joy.

Lingdu's face grew even longer, and when he occasionally made eye contact with people, his attempt to appear relaxed only made his facial expression more stiff.

Zhao Guanchao was the only one among the five whose eyes were constantly darting around, and whose micro-expressions were the most rich; he was almost always thinking about the various changes to come and how he should deal with them so that he wouldn't become the most prominent nobody he used to be.

Upon entering the main hall, the other elders who were in seclusion had already arrived, and the two patriarchs were even alerted.

Everyone's eyes showed obvious relief when they saw Hei Xiao, but their eyes clearly showed displeasure when they saw Ji Fengming.

A thousand years ago, people spread rumors about Ling Qing and Yun Xiao, but they didn't believe it at first.

But later, Ling Qing actually sacrificed her body to be reborn for Yun Xiao, and only then did they believe it to some extent, and also resent Yun Xiao to some extent.

However, now that everyone has reunited after a thousand years, these people, though harboring resentment, find it difficult to bring it up.

Moreover, since neither of the two patriarchs had spoken yet, they were even less in a position to say anything.

Once everyone was seated.

Ling Feng, the fourth-ranked patriarch, then spoke up: "It is your good fortune to be reborn as Qing'er, and it is also the inextricable bond between you and my Han Yu Sect. However, since you have just returned today, let your friends outside be taken to rest first, and let us family members talk."