He pointed to the door, "From today, take whoever from the Ye Family is willing to follow you and leave the Creation Gate! Otherwise, every single one of you, as long as you violate the Sect rules, I will spare none in settling past accounts."
"You want to expel us from the Creation Gate!?"
Ye Qingzhu’s eyes widened.
Gu Jinlai said, "Let’s see whether the other members of the Ye Family, who you claim to always stand up for, prefer to leech off the Creation Gate or are willing to leave and restore the glory of the Ye Family."
After speaking, his gaze turned to several Ye Family elders standing behind Ye Qingzhu, "Ye Qingzhu is leaving the Ye Family, is there anyone who wishes to leave with her?"
Under Gu Jinlai’s coercion, these elders’ eyes flickered, but not a single one was willing to step forward.
Ye Qingzhu watched this scene, first stunned, and then her heart quickly sank.
"So, do you see? You arrogantly thought all your actions were for the Ye Family, but in reality, everyone was just leeching off the Creation Gate because of your relationship with Venerable Daoist Ye Yan. Even now, knowing full well that staying in the Creation Gate will bring severe punishment, they are still unwilling to abandon it to establish a Sect entirely belonging to the Ye Family, a new power base," Gu Jinlai said calmly.
Ye Qingzhu’s gaze swept over each elder who not long ago had pledged loyalty to her.
Yet not a single one dared meet her eyes.
Gradually, Ye Qingzhu’s face became a picture of misery, and in that moment, she suddenly felt all her years of effort were so laughably, pitifully in vain.
"The key members of the Ye lineage I will temporarily detain and deal with according to the Sect rules."
Gu Jinlai did not waste further words on her, and after announcing their detention, his gaze swept over everyone present.
"As for the other elders, just as Venerable Daoist Ye Yan said, I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves. You have three days to confess your own crimes, leniency to those who confess, severity to those who resist. During this period, you may also feel free to report any other elders’ rule-breaking or illegal actions. Once verified, I will show no mercy," he stated, his voice echoing in the main hall.
Although the sound was not loud, it made all the elders feel as if they were in personal danger.
Especially the elders of the Ye lineage, their faces filled with reluctance.
What they did not know was that Gu Jinlai, out of respect for Ye Yan and the face of the Creation Gate, had already shown them mercy.
In the past, people smeared with the blood of Karma would not even have a chance to redeem themselves, every single one would be killed.
The leniency he was showing now was the greatest kindness to the higher-ups of the Creation Gate.
"Elder Yu, activate the Sect Protection Array, within a month, the inside and outside of the Creation Gate must be thoroughly cleansed," Gu Jinlai instructed Yu Xu.
Yu Xu nodded solemnly and promptly withdrew.
Seeing Gu Jinlai handling matters in an orderly fashion, and realizing he had actually become an enabler of his sister Ye Qingzhu’s crimes, Ye Yan couldn’t help but feel disheartened.
"Sect Master Yu Feng, I will go back to the Grotto Heaven directly and assist the Sword Master with all my might in his breakthrough. You can decide on all matters big and small within the Sect on your own, and if anything is too much to handle, consult with the Sword Master," Ye Yan said.
Gu Jinlai nodded, "Venerable Daoist Ye Yan, as you wish. I promise you, in one month, I will return to you a Creation Gate free of corruption."
"I trust Sect Master Yu Feng."
Ye Yan bowed and quickly departed.
With his leaving, the rest of the elders felt even more uneasy.
With Gu Jinlai’s strength comparable to that of Peak True Immortals, no one could stand against his stern policies if he decided to enforce them single-handedly within the Creation Gate.
"Remember, you have three days," Gu Jinlai said as he slowly moved to the Sect Leader’s position in the main hall and sat down. "In three days, for those who remain obstinately misguided, I will take action myself. At that time, there will be no turning back."