Xiao Fei, under the guise of the Ancestor, assumed the title of Enforcement Elder in the Danxin Sect. He even crafted a dazzling golden token, which, whenever displayed, could awe a considerable number of people.
When undertaking any task, it was crucial to have legitimacy. Elder Shangguan must have forgotten that such minor matters could be handled by him, alleviating the Ancestor's burdens.
As for anyone who doubted or disagreed, they were free to seek confirmation directly from Elder Shangguan.
However, no one was so tactless as to bother the Ancestor with such trivialities.
Xiao Fei, brandishing the grand golden token and flanked by a handsome and beautiful Golden Core stage attendant, traversed the various peaks of the Danxin Sect, drawing countless admiring gazes.
His first priority was to establish his own team. For the Foundation Establishment cultivators, he already had two ready recruits: his fifth senior sister, Huangfu Xuan, and Fei Xin's son, Fei Ming.
When it came to personnel, naturally, he would prioritize those he knew well and could trust.
For the remaining manpower, he summoned one Foundation Establishment cultivator from each peak's Golden Core elders, bringing his total to ten. As for Qi Refining cultivators, he couldn't be bothered to recruit them.
He began by testing these ten individuals with a jade disk. The results were far from satisfactory.
One of the ten was a cultivator parasitized by a demonic seed, seemingly unaware of his condition. Upon its sudden detection, his face turned ashen, and he slumped to the ground, awaiting the judgment of fate.
"Meng Hai! Come with us. I will personally report to your master."
Xiao Fei specifically chose a desolate peak in the Cuihua Mountain Range. Under the Ancestor's name, he drew some materials from the sect's treasury and instructed Huang Feifei to set up a formation, enveloping the entire peak in isolation.
The group escorted Meng Hai to the nameless peak. With the others kept outside, Xiao Fei opened the grand formation and dragged Meng Hai inside.
"Meng Hai, normally, anyone infected by a demonic seed faces certain death. However, I can offer you a way out. The demonic seed within you can be removed."
Meng Hai, who had already despaired, quickly kowtowed to Xiao Fei.
"I implore the Enforcement Elder to show this junior a clear path."
"I can help you remove the demonic seed, but you must remain within this peak. Without my permission, you are absolutely forbidden to leave, nor can you leak even a sliver of information to outsiders."
Meng Hai immediately swore a solemn oath never to leak any information or to leave without authorization.
"Good! I will begin helping you expel the demonic seed starting today."
As Xiao Fei spoke, a golden divine lightning bolt, resembling a loach in size, appeared in his hand and burrowed into Meng Hai's body.
After Meng Hai endured a violent bout of tremors and convulsions, a lightning spirit, as thin as a hair, flew out from his body and entered Xiao Fei.
"Alright, rest here with peace of mind. I will return in a few days for your second treatment."
Xiao Fei gave his instructions and left the formation. The remaining nine Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying him saw Xiao Fei emerge with a calm demeanor and assumed that Meng Hai had been killed by him.
A sense of melancholy and empathy for a fellow creature befell them. Brothers who moments ago were laughing and chatting together were now slain by their own kin.
"For the prosperity and stability of the cultivation world, for the safety of the Danxin Sect, Meng Hai has sacrificed his young life."
Xiao Fei had no intention of revealing the truth. He solemnly announced Meng Hai's death.
"Esteemed fellow cultivators, remember, demons are the mortal enemies of the cultivation world. Never harbor any illusions."
"Now, we shall begin with the Danxin Sect, leaving no one unchecked."
Following this, Xiao Fei instructed Huang Feifei to guard the nameless peak. He and Zhu Yu led a group, causing upheaval throughout the Danxin Sect.
From Golden Core elders to lowly杂役 (za yi - miscellaneous laborers) responsible for chopping wood and carrying water, everyone was screened, not a single person was spared.
As the screening progressed, Xiao Fei was inwardly shocked by the depth of the demonic infiltration.
Including Meng Hai, eight Foundation Establishment cultivators were found to be parasitized by demonic seeds.
It was important to note that after the great war, the entire Danxin Sect was left with only 120 Foundation Establishment cultivators.
This loss of nearly a tenth was a severe blow to the Danxin Sect.
The Qi Refining cultivators fared better, with only a dozen or so found to be infected by demonic seeds. It was likely that the hidden demons did not wish to waste too many demonic seeds on low-level cultivators.
Xiao Fei confined all these individuals to the nameless peak, while publicly announcing that they had been directly eliminated.
Suddenly, the entire Danxin Sect was filled with wails. Many cultivators believed they had lost loved ones and harbored both fear and hatred towards Xiao Fei and his entourage.
However, Xiao Fei was acting under the Ancestor's orders, and his group included disciples of almost all the sect's elders, making them untouchable.
Yet, the resentment towards Xiao Fei was sown deep in their hearts. Should an opportunity arise, they would not hesitate to strike.
As for adhering to the greater good and righteousness, when others were asked to make sacrifices for the greater good, everyone understood and was reasonable. But when it came to themselves, not a single person could remain calm.
One day, Xiao Fei, leading his motley crew, went to visit the sect's True Treasure Anbao.
"I am acting under the Ancestor's orders and request True Treasure Anbao's cooperation."
True Treasure Anbao was responsible for many of the sect's external businesses and had been away for a long time, only returning today.
Now, True Treasure Anbao was the only one left in the entire sect who had not been tested.
"No problem! For the sake of the sect's overall situation, everyone has an obligation to cooperate with the Enforcement Elder."
True Treasure Anbao was also a reasonable person. He casually extended a hand and placed it on the jade disk.
The moment he channeled his spiritual power, a red dot lit up on the jade disk.
True Treasure Anbao's expression changed. He exerted force with his hand, and the jade disk instantly shattered.
"Apologies, I used too much force just now! I will check the sect's treasury for a similar artifact."
True Treasure Anbao stood up, intending to leave.
The red light had only appeared for an instant, but Xiao Fei had seen it clearly. This fellow was trying to destroy evidence and escape.
Xiao Fei and Zhu Yu immediately moved to block True Treasure Anbao from front and back.
"True Treasure Anbao, there's no need to conceal it further. I saw it just now!"
"Xiao Fei, I advise you not to stop me. I can leave the Danxin Sect from now on. Even if I turn into a demon in the future, I will not harm the Danxin Sect. As fellow disciples, I do not wish to cause discord between us."
Most people, even upon learning they had a terminal illness, would cling to the hope of living another day rather than readily accept death.
True Treasure Anbao was no exception. He had at least several years left to live and did not want to forfeit his life.
Xiao Fei, through his arrests during this period, had accumulated considerable experience. While anyone could be righteous in trivial matters, few could remain composed when it affected them directly.
Therefore, he was well-prepared. He extended his hand, and a large net, crafted from hundreds of blood-sucking demonic vines, was cast over True Treasure Anbao.
True Treasure Anbao attempted to resist by conjuring a magic artifact, but it was frozen in mid-air by Xiao Fei's Five-Colored Divine Light.
Simultaneously, Zhu Yu's jade flute was also conjured. Just as Xiao Fei's net enveloped True Treasure Anbao, his jade flute struck.
"Boom!"
With a single strike of the flute, True Treasure Anbao's bones were shattered.
Under the combined assault of the two, True Treasure Anbao was quickly defeated and finally lost the ability to resist.
Bound by Xiao Fei's net, he was lifted by the nine Foundation Establishment cultivators and sent to the nameless peak.
The ease with which Xiao Fei and Zhu Yu captured True Treasure Anbao sent shockwaves throughout the sect.
In an instant, Xiao Fei's fearsome reputation soared.
The few Foundation Establishment cultivators carried True Treasure Anbao to the foot of the nameless peak and tossed him to the ground like a dead dog.
Since he was a dying man, there was no need for courtesy. Among these nine was even a disciple of True Treasure Anbao, who, facing his dying master, showed no respect and even kicked him in the backside.
Xiao Fei witnessed this and felt genuinely concerned for the Foundation Establishment disciple, wondering what his future held.
True Treasure Anbao was now beyond caring, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. Since he was going to die anyway, he didn't mind being tossed around.
As Xiao Fei, carrying him like a dead dog, brought him into the interior of the nameless peak, he saw the disciples who were rumored to be dead were actually alive and well.
"Junior Brother Xiao, what... what is going on?"
"Senior Brother Anbao, since you are here, I might as well let you in on a secret. I have actually found a method to clear demonic seeds, and these fellow disciples are all gathered here for treatment."
"Junior Brother Xiao, you kept me in the dark! You made me act like a fool for nothing."
True Treasure Anbao sighed. His beating had been in vain, and he had lost face. If Xiao Fei had revealed even a hint earlier, he wouldn't have had to attempt an escape!
"Heh heh... To put on a convincing act, one must perform it completely, lest others see through it. And I also used Senior Brother An's reputation to establish my authority."