The Great God Who Abandoned His Cultivation to Win Back the Heroine in a Supporting Male Role 07

"Palace Master, you've been neglecting your cultivation lately, constantly running down the mountain. This is inappropriate."

Fang Zhiyi had just returned to Cloud Sky Palace when he was confronted by a group of furious elders.

"Some disciples are following your example, completely disregarding their training. I heard you've not only started a vegetable delivery business but also opened a restaurant for mortals?"

"Palace Master, what kind of attire is this? Utterly disgraceful. The disciples are being led astray."

The elders clamored all at once.

Fang Zhiyi rubbed his temples in frustration and finally silenced them by unleashing his spiritual pressure.

"Palace Master, such recklessness won't do. Our Cloud Sky Palace has had too much contact with the mortal realm lately, and our expenses have skyrocketed. We're already operating at a loss."

Fang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. "So all this fuss is just about money?"

One elder muttered, "Other forms of compensation would suffice. I heard the seven great sects have pledged treasures to your merchant guild..."

Fang Zhiyi sighed. "Next time, just say what you mean. No need for all this nonsense!"

Yue Anyao quickly escorted one elder to retrieve funds, while another took the keys Fang Zhiyi provided to inventory the collateral from other sects. When they returned, their eyes were practically gleaming with delight.

"Anything else?" Fang Zhiyi eyed the remaining four elders.

One spoke up. "Palace Master, I was thinking... perhaps we could set up a hotpot and barbecue spot on the mountain. That way, disciples wouldn’t need to keep running downhill..."

"Approved. Next."

"Palace Master, I still believe this is improper. Cultivators should renounce worldly desires to attain the Great Dao."

Fang Zhiyi studied him. "Elder Wen, how long have you been at the Void Refinement stage?"

Elder Wen lifted his gaze. "A hundred years."

"And yet, despite your supposed detachment, you've made no progress?"

Elder Wen faltered, unable to respond.

Fang Zhiyi slung an arm over his shoulder. "Let’s do the math. Void Refinement extends your lifespan by two thousand years. If I recall correctly, you’re already fifteen hundred. Do you plan to spend your remaining five centuries waiting for death in asceticism, or will you embrace life and seek a breakthrough?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Elder Wen’s eyes.

"Think it over. I’ll have hotpot prepared for you later. Next."

"Palace Master, there are rumors circulating that you and Yue Anyao are demonic cultivators."

Fang Zhiyi was taken aback. So soon? It’s only been a few years.

The others tensed immediately—this concerned the sect’s reputation.

"Some claim you deliberately rekindle cultivators’ appetites, material desires, and carnal urges to weaken the righteous path and erode disciples’ resolve. They say demonic cultivators will soon attack orthodox sects as a result."

Fang Zhiyi nodded. Though the details were off, it seemed the Qihua Sect was determined to spread slander.

"Last one. What’s your issue?"

Elder Kong hesitated. "Ah? Oh, well... a few demonic cultivators submitted applications to franchise your hotpot business. The junior disciples couldn’t decide, so it was passed up the chain. I wanted your opinion."

Silence fell over the room.

"Rumors! Who’s spreading this filth?"

"Absolute slander!"

The reporting elder added, "I’ve already ordered an investigation. The source appears to be the Qihua Sect."

The elders, except Elder Wen, erupted in outrage. "Let’s demand an explanation!"

"Hold on!"

In the original plot, the protagonist would suppress his cultivation, infiltrate the Qihua Sect, expose their schemes, and clear his name. But Fang Zhiyi had other plans.

"The Qihua Sect’s master is only at the early Unity stage, right?"

"Correct. At the last sect competition, he made snide remarks because we recruited more disciples."

"This time, I’ll force him to apologize!"

Fang Zhiyi silenced the elders’ protests. "No need for complications. Gather the troops—we’re moving out!"

"Brothers!"

The assembled disciples were bewildered, especially by the informal address.

"Someone’s spreading lies that your Palace Master and Elder Yue Anyao are demonic cultivators! What should we do?"

"Demand justice!"

"That’s right! Confront them!"

Fang Zhiyi shook his head. "What is justice?"

The disciples fell silent.

"Today, I’ll impart another lesson. Once you enter Cloud Sky Palace, you’re family! If any of you is wronged outside, it’s an affront to all of us! Justice is meaningless—what we seek is dignity! And dignity is won with fists! From now on, if you’re bullied, I don’t care who’s right. Might makes right! Understood?"

"Understood!"

That day, thousands soared from Cloud Sky Palace, heading straight for the Qihua Sect. The cultivation world trembled at the news.

"What’s happening?"

"Who knows? Did Qihua Sect kill a Cloud Sky disciple?"

"With this scale, I’d believe they assassinated the Palace Master."

Spectators soon flocked to Qihua Sect.

The Qihua Sect’s gatekeeper elder paled at the sea of cultivators overhead but feigned composure. "Qihua Sect and Cloud Sky Palace are both orthodox sects. What is the meaning of this... display?"

Fang Zhiyi, hovering at the forefront on his sword, glanced down. "Oh? Didn’t your sect declare me a demonic cultivator? Do demons need reasons?" His aura surged, pressing down on the Qihua disciples below.

The elder inwardly cursed. So it was about that. "Palace Master Fang, please calm down. This must be some disciple’s thoughtless words. Name the culprit, and we’ll hand them over. There’s no need for—"

Fang Zhiyi flicked his wrist. A colossal force hammered Qihua Sect’s protective formation. Strike after strike shook the entire mountain.

"Who dares defy Qihua Sect?!" The Sect Master of Qihua flew out with dozens of elders, only to freeze at the sight of thousands opposing them. "Fang Zhiyi! Explain yourself!"

Fang Zhiyi didn’t pause his assault. "You slandered me. Now I’ll crush you. Any objections?"

Gasps rippled through the onlookers and Qihua members alike. Death for rumors? If this became the norm, the cultivation world would descend into endless conflict—especially since gossip had long been its primary pastime.

With a final crack, the protective formation shattered.

"You—you and that partner of yours are demons!" the Sect Master of Qihua snarled, unleashing his Unity-stage aura.

"Oho, Unity stage. Isn’t Fang Zhiyi also at Unity?"

"Then this’ll end in mutual destruction, no? Should we inform our sect leader?"

"Wait—rumor has it Fang Zhiyi broke through to mid-Unity after his enlightenment. Qihua’s master is outmatched."

Fang Zhiyi’s power swelled further. As the Sect Master of Qihua hurled a magical artifact, a colossal phantom materialized behind Fang Zhiyi. He lazily extended three fingers and clenched—the artifact froze mid-air, immobilized.

An old man suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Great Ascension Phase!"

"What?" The onlookers were stunned.

Even more astonished was the Sect Master of Qihua: "You! How is this possible?"

"I shared the true path of cultivation with good intentions, yet you dared to slander me as a demonic cultivator? Slandering me is one thing, but you even dragged my dao companion into this? Has Cloud Sky Palace been too lenient in the past?"