Chapter 564: Internal Troubles and External Threats, the Reform Alliance

"A phenomenon of heaven and earth!" Shuiyun Xianzi trembled with excitement, "Junior Sister Xiao Yuan is about to break through to the Golden Core Stage! And it is the rarest recognition by the Heavenly Dao!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Xiao Yuan slowly opened her eyes. A light of wisdom flickered in her eyes, and her entire temperament underwent a fundamental change, becoming more gentle and resolute.

"Xiao Yuan!" Lin Xuan rushed to the bedside in excitement, "You're finally awake!"

Xiao Yuan looked at the worried crowd before her and revealed a warm smile: "I've made everyone worry. I feel... good, better than ever before."

She slowly sat up, the spiritual power within her circulating like a rushing river; she had completely reached the level of the Golden Core Stage. More importantly, her Dao heart had become incomparably firm, and she had gained a brand-new understanding of the concept of "Accepting Imperfection."

"Xiao Yuan, your cultivation..." Xingchenzi said with pleasant surprise.

"I have broken through to the Golden Core Stage," Xiao Yuan said calmly, "and I have comprehended a new Dao technique—the 'Harmony Dao.' It is a Dao technique capable of embracing all things and resolving conflicts."

But just as everyone was immersed in the joy of Xiao Yuan's recovery, hurried footsteps came from outside. A disciple of the Star Moon Sect rushed into the Medical Hall, reporting with a pale face: "Sect Leader, something terrible has happened! There is a rift within the alliance!"

"What?" Xingchenzi's expression changed, "What happened?"

The disciple said tremblingly: "Ever since the news of Senior Yunyou Zhenren's disappearance spread, many newly joined sects have begun to waver. Some say we have offended too many powerful enemies and continuing this way will only lead to our own destruction. Even... even some are proposing to surrender to the traditional powers!"

Hearing this news, the expressions of everyone present became grave. The disappearance of Yunyou Zhenren was indeed a major loss for the Reform Alliance; he was not only powerful but also the spiritual pillar of the alliance. Now that his life or death was uncertain, it was only natural for people's hearts to waver.

"Master, what should we do?" Lin Xuan asked anxiously.

Xingchenzi pondered for a moment and was about to speak, but Xiao Yuan suddenly stood up: "I will go handle this matter."

"Xiao Yuan, you have just recovered, you should get some rest," Lin Xuan said worriedly.

"No," Xiao Yuan shook her head firmly, "It is precisely because I have just experienced a trial of life and death that I can better understand everyone's worries and fears. Moreover, this is the perfect time for me to verify my new philosophy."

Xiao Yuan changed into a white long dress and, accompanied by the others, arrived at the main hall of the Harmony Academy. By this time, representatives from various sects had already gathered in the hall, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

"I say this Reform Alliance is a joke!" a strange voice came, "You can't even protect a powerhouse like Yunyou Zhenren, and you still talk about reform?"

"Exactly! Now the eight Nascent Soul Ancestors are all eyeing us; continuing this is just courting death!"

"I suggest we dissolve the alliance immediately and return to our original sects!"

Various questions and complaints rose one after another, and the entire hall was in chaos. Some wavering sect representatives had already begun packing their things, preparing to leave.

Just then, Xiao Yuan slowly walked into the hall. Her appearance caused the noisy voices to gradually subside, and everyone looked at this young girl who had just returned from the edge of death.

"Fellow Daoists," Xiao Yuan's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, "I understand everyone's worries and fears. Facing powerful enemies, fear is human nature; this in itself is a form of 'imperfection'."

"However," her tone became firm, "it is precisely because we are all imperfect that we need to unite. One person's imperfection might be a flaw, but the imperfections of a group combined can become an incomparably powerful force."

Following her words, a special power spread throughout the hall. This was her newly comprehended "Harmony Dao," capable of calming disputes and dissolving hostility.

Those who had been emotionally agitated began to calm down, listening carefully to her words.

"I propose establishing a 'Harmony Council'," Xiao Yuan continued, "giving every sect a voice, with all major decisions made through democratic discussion. The Reform Alliance should not be decided by one or a few people, but should be a home for everyone."

This proposal made everyone present light up. Although the previous Reform Alliance had advanced concepts, its organizational structure was still relatively traditional, with decisions mainly made by a few Core figures. If democratic decision-making could truly be realized, it would indeed be more in line with the spirit of reform.

"Moreover," a light of wisdom flickered in Xiao Yuan's eyes, "I will teach everyone a brand-new cultivation method—the 'Imperfect Cultivation Method.' This method does not require the practitioner to have perfect aptitude, but instead teaches everyone how to leverage their strengths and compensate for their shortcomings."

"Imperfect Cultivation Method?" Everyone looked at her curiously.

Xiao Yuan nodded: "Everyone has their own unique talents and flaws; traditional cultivation methods require everyone to follow the same standard, which is inherently unreasonable. My method is to teach according to one's aptitude, allowing everyone to find a cultivation path that suits them."

As she spoke, she began to demonstrate the basic principles of this cultivation method on the spot. By adjusting the way spiritual power circulates, even practitioners with mediocre aptitude could rapidly improve their strength.

Seeing this miraculous effect, those who had originally wavered rekindled their hope. If they could truly master this cultivation method, the overall strength of the Reform Alliance would see a qualitative improvement.

"I am willing to support the Harmony Council!"

"I support it too!"

"Let us work together to build a better Cultivation World!"

Inside the council hall of the Taixuan Sect, eight Nascent Soul Stage Ancestors sat around a huge round table, but the atmosphere was exceptionally tense. Ever since the battle at Youming Gu, these powerhouses who were usually high and mighty felt a real threat for the first time.

"Fellow Daoists, we must discuss a countermeasure as soon as possible," Taixuan Laozu said in a deep voice, "Although that old scoundrel Yunyou has disappeared, the influence of the Reform Alliance is expanding rapidly."

Yunxiaozi of the Heavenly Sword Sect slammed the table and stood up: "What is there to discuss? Just mobilize all our forces and pull the Reform Alliance out by the roots! They are nothing but a mob; as long as we attack with all our might, we can solve the problem within three days!"

"Fellow Daoist Yunxiao, that is not the right way to put it," Huiming Fangzhang of Leiyin Temple pressed his palms together, his voice peaceful but firm, "The Buddha Sect says: turn hostility into friendship, and transform people with virtue. This poor monk believes we should adopt a policy of appeasement, allowing those misled practitioners to turn back to the shore."

"Appeasement?" Yunxiaozi sneered, "Huiming Fangzhang, are you getting old and muddled? Those traitors have already betrayed the righteous path; what is there left to appease?"