Chapter 979: The Current State of the Gongsun Family!

The Founder of Heavenly Sword glanced over: "If you can repay it yourself, why need you rely on others' hands?"

Feng Zhangyue hurriedly said: "I..."

The Founder of Heavenly Sword waved his hand: "No need to explain. I ask you but one question: do you still wish to be my disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect?"

These words struck like thunder exploding!

Feng Zhangyue's pupils shrank sharply, his voice filled with utter disbelief: "Founder, you...?"

At last, a faint smile appeared on the Founder of Heavenly Sword's face: "In the past, I would have been powerless against your damaged foundation. But now, I have reached the realm of Sword Saint. A mere touch is enough to restore your foundation!"

"If you wish to return to the Heavenly Sword Sect, I shall reignite your path forward. But above all..."

The Founder of Heavenly Sword paused slightly, glancing at Nie Wushuang beside him: "Don't you want to witness him grow step by step, reaching the pinnacle of the Sword Dao?"

Hearing this, Feng Zhangyue's eyes flickered, his heart deeply stirred.

But soon, as if remembering something, he hesitated: "Respected Founder, you often enter seclusion, immersed in the Sword Dao—perhaps you do not know I have already established a power here, named the Tianlin Sword Pavilion, and taken in many disciples. If I leave now, it would inevitably be a bit..."

After all, though these disciples lacked Nie Wushuang's talent, to him they were each one raised before his eyes, like his own children!

So even though he longed to restore his foundation, he suppressed his longing, unable to sever this bond.

Seeing this, the Founder of Heavenly Sword was deeply moved, his admiration for the man growing even stronger.

Such loyalty and affection—willing to forsake a return to the peak for the sake of younger generations—was truly rare.

Thinking thus, the Founder of Heavenly Sword made up his mind and said at once: "If you return to the sect, bring all of them with you. They shall all become my disciples. And their master shall still be you."

Feng Zhangyue snapped his head up, his face filled with disbelief: "Founder..."

The Founder of Heavenly Sword stroked his beard and smiled: "What? Still unwilling?"

Feng Zhangyue rushed to reply: "Willing! Ten thousand times willing! Founder's grace—Feng Zhangyue shall never forget it in this lifetime!"

He had thought he would die in gloom and despair—but now, in this darkest moment, light had appeared!

The Founder of Heavenly Sword nodded in satisfaction: "Good. When you return to the sect, you shall assume the position of Vice Sect Leader. Perfect—you can assist Zhaixing, that young lad..."

"Vice Sect Leader? But what of Gongsun..."

Feng Zhangyue was utterly astonished.

He knew the Heavenly Sword Sect already had a Vice Sect Leader.

That was the one from the Gongsun family.

The Founder of Heavenly Sword spoke gravely: "Formerly, Gongsun Lanying displeased Zhiwei, and within the sect she caused endless trouble, oppressing the disciples. Her father, Gongsun Xing, as Vice Sect Leader, turned a blind eye. Such conduct has stirred deep discontent among many disciples."

"Afterward, Zhaixing submitted hundreds of letters to me."

Feng Zhangyue's eyebrows lifted—he sensed what was coming: "So these letters..."

The Founder of Heavenly Sword sighed: "Yes. They contained every vile and corrupt act the Gongsun family committed within the sect while I was in seclusion. It was because of these letters that I removed Gongsun Xing from the position of Vice Sect Leader, leaving it vacant."

"Moreover, I stripped Gongsun Hai of his position as Supreme Elder, and cast all members of the Gongsun family—including Gongsun Lanying—into the Sword Tomb to forge swords for five hundred years..."

The Sword Tomb?

Feng Zhangyue's heart jolted!

He never imagined that the once mighty Gongsun family had been sent to such a perilous place by a single set of letters from their own sect leader's disciple.