Today, many disciples of the Qingyun Sect were anxiously waiting for the results of the discussion in the Central Hall. This was especially true for the disciples under the five Golden Core cultivators, who were all uneasy.
Once one of the Golden Core elders took the position of sect leader, the disciples following that elder would also prosper. This was exactly what people meant when they said that when one person achieved the Dao, even his chickens and dogs rose to heaven.
Suddenly, a grand voice descended from the sky and rang in the ears of every member of the Qingyun Sect.
“All members and disciples of Qingyun Sect, whether inner disciples, outer disciples, or servant disciples, are to hurry to the central plaza and gather there within half an hour!”
When they heard this announcement, the entire Qingyun Sect boiled over. Countless streaks of light rose from every direction and flew toward the central plaza.
Many servant disciples still did not know how to ride streaks of light, so they could only walk to the central plaza. At this moment, the hearts of most servant disciples were filled with confusion.
In the past, when major events happened in the sect, servant disciples like them basically never participated. Sect leaders had changed many times before, but this was the first time servant disciples had been summoned.
On Green Wood Peak, Er Gouzi searched everywhere for Sun Yi with an anxious face. After searching for a long time, he still could not find him, making him stamp his feet in frustration. “Where has that bastard hidden himself to slack off again? He really never lets anyone relax. Forget it. He is only a servant disciple. Even if he does not go, it probably will not matter much.”
Unable to find Sun Yi, Er Gouzi could only head to the central plaza alone.
Before long, a large number of Qingyun Sect members and disciples had gathered in the central plaza. The first to arrive were the inner disciples, about five hundred in total. Wearing inner disciple robes, they stood closest to the main platform and faced the outer disciples behind them with an aloof air.
Behind them stood more than twelve hundred outer disciples, all in outer disciple attire. Most of them looked at the inner disciples with deep awe and envy, but when they looked farther back at the servant disciples, their gazes became proud again.
On the outermost edge of the central plaza were the servant disciples, the largest group in Qingyun Sect, numbering around two thousand three hundred. They wore servant disciple clothing and looked the most miserable. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
They stood at the very edge, looking at the outer disciples and inner disciples inside the circle with deep envy. Becoming an outer disciple or inner disciple had always been the goal of servant disciples, but that goal was far too difficult to achieve.
The entire Qingyun Sect currently had only a little over four thousand two hundred people left. Of those, around four thousand were disciples, with about two hundred managers. At this moment, all of them had gathered in the central plaza.
The disciples in the plaza were discussing in groups of two or three exactly who would be appointed as the new sect leader.
“I guess the new sect leader will definitely be Elder Jin Jue. He has the highest prestige in the sect, has controlled the Law Enforcement Hall for over fifty years, and he is also Patriarch Qingxuan’s disciple,” one inner disciple said with an excited expression.
An inner disciple beside him looked unconvinced. “Hmph. Elder Qin Chu is also Patriarch Qingxuan’s disciple. He controls the Internal Affairs Hall and is more familiar with sect affairs. The person most likely to be appointed as the new sect leader should be him.”
Another person nearby chuckled. “Heh, you are both wrong. I think Elder Li Tai is the most likely to become the new sect leader. You should know that he used to study beside the old sect leader all the time. I heard the old sect leader long ago decided he was the candidate for the next sect leader, so it must be him.”
…
The disciples throughout the plaza were all guessing who the new sect leader would be. The disciples under those Golden Core elders even argued until their faces turned red and nearly came to blows.
Er Gouzi followed the other servant disciples to the central plaza. After searching through the crowd for a while, he still did not see Sun Yi. He could only sigh helplessly and pray that Sun Yi would not be discovered missing.
Half an hour quickly passed. All members and disciples of the Qingyun Sect had gathered in the central plaza. As bell after bell rang through the sect, everyone in the plaza shut their mouths and looked up toward the Central Hall above.
They saw Patriarch Qingxuan and the five Golden Core elders flying over together on streaks of light. Beside Patriarch Qingxuan stood Sun Yi, his face full of confidence.
This was Sun Yi’s first time flying in the sky. It felt especially great, though it was also a little frightening.
The group descended from the sky and landed on the high platform in the central plaza. Their powerful auras instantly enveloped the entire plaza. For a moment, no member or disciple dared make a sound. Everyone looked toward the platform.
At the back of the central plaza, Er Gouzi stared wide-eyed at Sun Yi standing on the platform. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, so he shook his head hard and looked again. Sun Yi was still on the platform. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
Then Er Gouzi slapped himself hard across the face and looked toward the platform again. It actually was not an illusion. Sun Yi really was standing on the platform, and he was standing beside Patriarch Qingxuan.
What is that bastard doing? He couldn’t really have gone to compete for the new sect leader position, could he? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Er Gouzi had a bold guess in his heart, but he also felt it was not very likely.
At this moment, Er Gouzi was not the only one who noticed Sun Yi on the platform. All the members and disciples below noticed him as well. The inner disciples and outer disciples basically did not know him, while among the servant disciples, some recognized him, though not many.
Standing beside Patriarch Qingxuan, Sun Yi looked down at the Qingyun Sect cultivators below. There were half as many people as at the university he had attended, their clothing was not uniform enough, and they lacked spirit and drive. This had to change.
Patriarch Qingxuan looked at the members and disciples in the plaza with mixed feelings. Once, Qingyun Sect had over a hundred thousand members and disciples. Now, only a little over four thousand remained. It could be said to have weakened to the extreme. If not for him holding the sect together, it would surely have already fallen out of the ranks of first-rate sects.
Aside from himself, there were only five Golden Core cultivators. Once he died or sat in death, Qingyun Sect’s decline would be inevitable. Whether it could even remain a second-rate sect in the end was uncertain.
Moreover, Qingyun Sect was now located in Chaos Demon Commandery. Although Sun Yi said this place was a treasure land, Patriarch Qingxuan, like Elders Jin Jue and the others, still felt it was extremely dangerous. One careless step could make the entire sect vanish like smoke.
Patriarch Qingxuan had cultivated in Qingyun Sect since childhood and had always treated it as his home. What he least wanted to see was the Qingyun Sect’s decline, but he himself was powerless to stop it. That was why, after hearing Sun Yi’s plan today, he decided to appoint Sun Yi as the new sect leader of Qingyun Sect and see whether he could bring the sect a miracle.
Patriarch Qingxuan took a deep breath and announced in a clear voice, “I am Qingxuan. I now announce on behalf of Qingyun Sect that Sun Yi will become the next sect leader of our Qingyun Sect. From top to bottom, everyone in the entire sect, including the Golden Core elders, must obey the new sect leader’s orders. Anyone who refuses will be severely punished according to the new sect rules, with no leniency!”
As soon as Patriarch Qingxuan finished speaking, the entire central plaza fell instantly silent. Everyone was stunned. This scene was not right at all! This was not any result they had guessed.
As for Er Gouzi, his mind had already gone completely blank. Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
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