The position of sect leader

To outsiders, Qi Yuan's eighteenth birthday was a grand and spectacular event.

It also attracts jealousy.

However, in her own eyes and Mu Qinghuai's eyes, there were more unknown challenges and burdens.

Yun Xingjun held a grand birthday banquet, inviting numerous family heads and sect leaders from all corners of the world to the Silver Bamboo Sect. More important than the birthday celebration was the matter of Qi Yuan succeeding as sect leader.

She pursed her lips, changed into the heavy sect leader's robes, and waited quietly inside the door. The guests had almost all arrived.

"Your Highness!"

"Congratulations, sir!"

A man and a woman suddenly burst onto the peak, shouting excitedly. They were of ordinary appearance and dressed in outer sect disciple robes.

Qi Yuan immediately guessed who it was, and sighed helplessly, "Yan Gui, Fu Yao, what are you doing here?"

"I heard that you are going to take over as the sect leader of the Silver Bamboo Sect, so I came to congratulate you!"

"That's right. The regulations Your Highness wrote are really effective; there haven't been any troubles in the Ghost Realm recently!"

"Go back quickly. If they find out you're ghosts, it'll be troublesome," Qi Yuan said, frowning.

"I will return to the Ghost Realm after I finish watching the celebration," Yan Guifu said firmly.

“…Be careful,” she said again.

"You can leave now. If a disciple comes and sees you, things will get complicated."

"yes!"

No sooner had Yan Guifuyao left than two inner disciples wearing red headbands came in to greet him, bowing and saying, "Sect Master, you may proceed now. Congratulations!"

Qi Yuan stood up, straightened her clothes, and put on a proper expression as she was surrounded by the two people: "Lead the way."

"You didn't see it! That Fairy Xie was like a goddess descended from heaven, driving away all the demonic cultivators!"

"Yes, yes, I was there too. It's just a pity that the position of sect leader still belongs to Qi Yuan."

"Fairy Qi is the most powerful, okay? You were invited by Xie Juxing, weren't you?"

"What right do you have to call me a goddess! Anyone who contradicts me will have their spiritual veins burst and their cultivation completely destroyed!"

"A rebound!"

"..."

The banquet was noisy, and many people were still arguing with Qi Yuan's followers about Xie Juxing's actions that day.

Ye Hanyun and her group, as her disciples, sat at a separate table, while Nie Yi and the others sat at the next table with their martial uncle.

"Hey, do you think that after Senior Sister became the sect leader, Master retired like the legendary Grandmaster?" Ye Munian asked while eating the immortal fruit.

"Hmm." Ye Hanyun was absent-minded, her eyes occasionally glancing at Xie Juxing's empty seat.

Wu Rongqiu nudged Ye Munian's sleeve and asked curiously, "Senior brother, should we call her Senior Sister or Sect Leader from now on?"

"Junior Sister, how could you be so confused?" Ye Munian lowered his head and said slowly, "Of course, we can only call her... Sect Master."

"Oh..." Wu Rongqiu awkwardly withdrew his hand.

"Ye Hanyun, what's wrong with you!" Ye Munian grabbed Ye Hanyun's collar, his temper flaring up instantly.

Ye Hanyun was already in a bad mood, and this provocation was too much for her to bear. She yelled, "What's it to you?!"

Ye Munian loosened his collar and froze. Not only him, Ye Hanyun also stood there stunned.

No matter how much they argued before, Ye Hanyun's impatience and hostility were never this intense.

He fell silent.

"That's wonderful! Senior Sister Qi is going to become the sect leader..." Liu Huaxu was moved to tears.

Nie Yi handed over a tissue and exclaimed, "Senior Sister is amazing! She became the sect leader so quickly."

The disciples from other sects have mostly arrived, and Ye Ting and the others are all discussing this matter; no one's mouth is idle.

Only Lu Wenxing from Liu Gongzong came. Ye Munian pulled him to sit at the table with the disciples of Yinzhu Sect.

"Everyone, please be quiet." Yun Xingjun finally appeared and coughed.

The crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on the person on the stage.

Qi Yuan followed Yun Xingjun out, and thunderous applause erupted.

She stood ramrod straight, her expression composed, only her lips trembled slightly, and beads of sweat seeped from her palms, which were hidden by her wide sleeves.

"First of all, thank you all for taking the time to come to the Silver Bamboo Sect. As everyone knows, today is the eighteenth birthday of my beloved disciple, Qi Yuan."

Yun Xingjun paused, then said with a forced smile, "I believe she is capable of succeeding as sect leader, therefore, today is also a succession banquet. After that, I will leave the cultivation world and find a secluded mountain forest to live in seclusion."

These words caused a huge uproar, and everyone was in an uproar: "What? Lord Yunxing is leaving the cultivation world!"

"Take note, Yun Xingjun is the true embodiment of indifference to fame and fortune!"

Wu Rongqiu exclaimed in surprise, "Why? Why does Master want to go into seclusion?!"

Jin Yanjun and Huiguangjun exchanged a glance but did not react. They disliked this junior brother in the first place, so whether he lived in seclusion or not was irrelevant to them.

Qi Yuan looked at Yun Xingjun with surprise and uncertainty, as did Mu Qinghuai, who was mixed in with the crowd.

Yun Xingjun accepted the token handed over by the inner disciple. This token was a symbol of the sect's power. It was made of pure jade, rich in spiritual energy, and carved with exquisite golden crane patterns.

He hesitated for a moment, then handed it to Qi Yuan, who solemnly accepted it with both hands.

"I hereby declare that Qi Yuan has officially taken over the position of sect leader and will become the third sect leader of the Silver Bamboo Sect!!" Yun Xingjun shouted loudly with a determined heart.

Cheers and shouts rose and fell, and the disciples of the other sects were genuinely happy for Qi Yuan. Only the person in question remained surprisingly calm and unmoved.

"Rongqiu, you... come to the main peak with the sect leader tonight. I have some final words to say." He finished speaking and left in a hurry.

"What about me, Master?" Ye Munian could only see Yun Xingjun's increasingly blurry figure, and he couldn't help but feel lost.

"Senior brother, it's alright," Wu Rongqiu sighed.

Qi Yuan stood numbly on the stage, holding the token high, until the sound gradually faded before she stepped down and sat down.

She noticed that Ye Hanyun was not in a good state of mind, seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and still did not speak.

Two days ago, Ye Hanyun approached her.

"Senior sister. We've found out about what happened back then." He remained silent for a long time before speaking softly.

Qi Yuan asked nervously, "Who is it?!"

“That person comes from… Lingguang Pavilion.” Ye Hanyun loosened her clenched fist.

Lingguang Pavilion...

"Where's Xie Juxing? I'll go ask her." Qi Yuan had been holding back for a long time before finally uttering this sentence.

"...She is not in the clan."

Therefore, Qi Yuan could understand Ye Hanyun's feelings, even though Xie Juxing was not at the Silver Bamboo Sect today.

"Congratulations!" Duan Yu, unusually, didn't pat her on the shoulder and spoke from a distance.

“…Congratulations,” Cheng Jin said.

Wu Shangyao toned down his tone and said in a low voice, "Congratulations, Sect Master! I hope... that this genius can become the Sect Master of the Monthly Promotion Sect in the future."

"Aren't you going to congratulate her?" Dongfang Yilin asked coldly.

"I'm not going," Ye Ting answered decisively.

For some reason, even Song Yu came to such an important occasion, but Pei Yin did not.

Lu Wenxing and the others had mostly dispersed when he, Ye Munian, and Wu Rongqiu stepped forward: "Congratulations." He paused for a moment, "Sect Master."

Qi Yuan was stunned when she heard this address. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and in the end she could only say, "Hmm..."

"Ye Hanyun has returned to the peak," Ye Munian said.

“Zhi Xiao,” she replied.

Wu Rongqiu stepped forward: "Sect Master, this disciple wishes to accompany you to the main peak tonight."

"……good."

Mu Qinghuai's gaze remained fixed on Qi Yuan, yet he could only watch from the shadows. He so wanted to... congratulate Qi Yuan...

The night was bright, with a clear moon and few stars.

After most of the guests had left, Qi Yuan descended the peak and saw Wu Rongqiu waiting for her. The latter bowed and said, "Sect Master."

She loosened her clenched fist and said, "Let's go."

The main peak was deserted; the whereabouts of Radiant Lord and Golden Rock Lord were unknown.

"Where did Master go..." Wu Rongqiu muttered to himself.

"Isn't this right behind you...?"

The two turned around at the sound and saw Yun Xingjun slowly walking down from upstairs, his smile chilling.

"Master..." Wu Rongqiu murmured.

Two blurry figures emerged from the darkness on either side of Yun Xingjun, becoming clearer and clearer.

"Xie Juxing... Yun Qing?!"

As the blood rushed to her head, Qi Yuan cried out and unconsciously took two steps back, feeling a chill run through her body.

Impossible... Leaving Xie Juxing aside for now, Yun Qing was clearly imprisoned underground by her, how could she appear here?!

"You...I..." Faced with this situation, even the usually calm and composed Qi Yuan was speechless, while Wu Rongqiu stood there dumbfounded.

"An accident, Senior Sister~" Xie Juxing's tone was playful, and although she smiled sweetly as usual, it sent chills down one's spine.

"Sect Master... Senior Brother Yun, he's not..." Wu Rongqiu couldn't help but tremble. Qi Yuan instinctively stepped in front of Wu Rongqiu, her own voice also trembling slightly: "Don't be afraid...! I'll protect you!"

Yun Qing cupped her hands in greeting and smiled gently, "Senior Sister, we meet again."

Yun Xingjun sighed, his words carrying a profound meaning: "It's a pity that person isn't here. I can only... try a different approach."

"What?" Wu Rongqiu swallowed hard and asked fearfully.

"Qing'er, use your newly created puppet technique," Yun Xingjun said calmly.

Yun Qing stepped forward: "Yes."

Qi Yuan reacted and turned around to push Wu Rongqiu away: "Run!" Then she quickly took out the Spirit-Slaying Blade from her storage bag and cut the puppet rope in Yun Qing's hand with one stroke.

"Why is the Spirit-Slaying Blade in your hands?!" Yun Xingjun frowned and shouted, his face filled with disbelief.

"This knife is mine!" Xie Juxing lunged forward to snatch it, but was blocked by a sturdy body.

"It's you?!"

"Ouyang?"

Yun Xingjun flung his sleeves and strode forward, his voice filled with gritted teeth: "You still have the nerve to come back?"

Ouyang Lanyue casually caught the weapon thrown by Yun Xingjun and said with some amusement, "My coming here is none of your business. I'm just keeping my promise to someone else."

“Ouyang Lanyue! You traitor!” Yun Qing shouted angrily, pointing at the person in front of her.

"Oh? Yun Qing, have you forgotten where your desire for rebirth came from?" Ouyang Lanyue said with a smile.

"You! You... could it be..." Yun Qing's pupils dilated in shock, and she involuntarily took a step back, her voice trembling.

Yun Xingjun caught the key phrase: "What? What rebirth technique?"

While Qi Yuan was still standing there in a daze, he stepped behind her and grabbed her by the neck. The next second, a sharp sword was slashed at him: "Don't touch her!"

"Ah Huai?" Yun Xingjun released his grip in surprise, but before he could dodge, Mu Qinghuai's sword pierced deep into his shoulder.

He raised his hand to touch the blood flowing from his shoulder, and suddenly laughed: "I see."

Yun Xingjun grabbed Mu Qinghuai's wrist, and Qi Yuan, sensing something was wrong, shouted, "What are you doing!"

In the next instant, Yun Xingjun and Mu Qinghuai disappeared at the same time.

When she turned around again, Yun Qing and Xie Juxing had already escaped, leaving only Ouyang Lanyue staring at her quietly.

Qi Yuan panicked and, before she could even get up, anxiously shouted, "Where was he taken?!"

"He'll be fine."

"..."

"I am the man you are to meet when you turn eighteen. Let's pretend it's our first meeting."

"In...the true face."