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Jiang Yingyue's gaze swept across the training ground, finally settling on the Thunder Sword. Within the flowing azure light of the sword's blade, blue-purple arcs of electricity, like lurking thunder dragons, meandered and danced along the sword's spine.
According to the rules, Ji Yinglei, as the eldest disciple, would go first. She took a deep breath, and Jiang Yingyue caught a glimpse of Ji Yinglei folding the silver thread pattern on his cuffs neatly—evidence that Ji Yinglei had spent the entire night alone in the library the day before the sect leader's succession.
"Ying Lei, come up here." Jiang Yuan's voice carried an unquestionable authority.
Ji Yinglei slowly stepped forward, bringing with her the fragrance of laurel. She looked at the sword in front of her that symbolized the entire Bright Moon Sect, and without the slightest hesitation, she reached out to touch the hilt.
Jiang Yingyue naturally understood Ji Yinglei. Although she was adopted by the sect leader, she cultivated more diligently than anyone else and assisted Jiang Yuan in continuously improving the Bright Moon Sect's status in the martial arts world. She was the only suitable candidate for the position of sect leader. On the other hand, Jiang Yingyue always secretly ran down the mountain and disobeyed Jiang Yuan's arrangements. Compared to the position of sect leader, she longed for the outside world.
A muffled thunderclap resounded, and a barrier of lightning rose around Ji Yinglei. Jiang Yuan gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. He suddenly shouted, "Stop!" But before he could finish speaking, the Thunder Sword erupted with a blinding purple light, engulfing Ji Yinglei entirely.
"Senior Sister!" Jiang Yingyue instinctively rushed forward, but was knocked to the ground by an invisible wave of energy. In her hazy vision, she seemed to see Ji Yinglei's figure becoming increasingly broken and battered.
Just when everyone thought Ji Yinglei was about to die, the lightning around her miraculously calmed down, and she herself was covered in sweat, as if she had just gone through a fierce battle.
This outcome was unexpected by everyone. They didn't know whether it was a success or a failure, and could only look at the sect leader Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yingyue was the same. When she looked up, she caught a glimpse of the complex expression that flashed in her father's eyes—regret, relief, and a hint of indescribable wariness.
Jiang Yuan hesitated for a few seconds, but no one dared to guess what he was thinking. He sighed and said, "The Thunder Sword doesn't recognize it." Then he turned around with his hands behind his back and said, "Yue'er, come here."
Jiang Yingyue's heart sank into a deep panic. For a moment, she was even a little scared, wondering what would happen if she really became the sect leader. She looked at Ji Yinglei, whose expression was just as complicated as the sect leader's. Clearly, this was not the outcome she wanted either.
She slowly walked towards Ji Yinglei, every organ in her body resisting the urge to pick up the Thunder Sword. Just then, a hand patted her shoulder: "You can do it, Yue'er."
Accompanied by her senior sister's reassuring laurel scent, Jiang Yingyue steeled her resolve and truly let go of her worries: no matter what, she would take it first, since she was unlikely to succeed anyway. She closed her eyes and reached out to touch the hilt of the sword.
A moment of silence followed.
The expected thunder and lightning did not appear; there was only silence.
Jiang Yingyue opened her eyes and looked at the Thunder Sword in front of her, which was now eerily quiet and unresponsive, held in her hand.
Jiang Yuan turned around and looked at his helpless daughter below.
No, this is the last thing she wanted to see.
"Thunder Sword acknowledges you, Moon." Jiang Yuan was about to announce the final result when Jiang Yingyue interrupted him.
"No! It shouldn't be mine." Jiang Yingyue's tone was full of anxiety. She didn't want to become the sect leader at all. She hadn't even had a chance to travel around the world. "Father, I can't bear the responsibility of the sect leader."
She raised her head again, her eyes pleading: "Senior Sister has devoted herself to the sect, so it should be her, both morally and logically!"
"Junior Sister!" Ji Yinglei's face was full of worry. Looking at Jiang Yuan, he seemed a little absent-minded. "Sect Master, Junior Sister is still young and it is understandable that she does not understand the rules. Please do not blame her. Lei will follow the Sect Master's arrangements."
Jiang Yingyue wanted to say something more, but Jiang Yuan gently raised his hand: "Thunder Sword's recognized leader is the rule, so there's no need to discuss this further."
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