King of Creation
Chapter 322 - 319: Sect Leader’s Successor?

Chapter 322: Chapter 319: Sect Leader’s Successor?

"Senior Brother, the Sect Leader has requested your presence at Qitian Peak!" On Fairy Peak, Ren Xihua respectfully came to invite Ye Zhen, which left Ye Zhen somewhat astonished.

The reason for Ye Zhen’s astonishment was mainly due to Ren Xihua’s identity.

In the past few days as Ye Zhen stayed within the sect, he had come to understand the major changes within the Qiyun Sect over the past year.

In fact, there weren’t many changes, except that six months ago, Sect Leader Guo Qijing publicly accepted two direct disciples, one being Ren Xihua, and the other the True Inheritor, Lud Shuo.

Within the sect, once someone is publicly taken as a direct disciple by the Sect Leader, it signifies one possibility—the potential future Sect Leader.

As a potential future Sect Leader, Ren Xihua personally inviting Ye Zhen made this matter quite solemn; usually, a simple Talisman Communication from Guo Qijing was enough to summon Ye Zhen.

With a mind full of doubts, Ye Zhen flew towards the Sect Council Hall at Qitian Peak.

"Senior Brother, the Sect Leader is waiting inside!" The other direct disciple of the Sect Leader, Lut Shuo, was guarding the entrance of the Council Hall and hurriedly paid his respects when he saw Ye Zhen arriving.

"Hmm," Ye Zhen responded and stepped into the Sect Council Hall, muttering to himself about the grandness of this arrangement.

In the Sect Council Hall, aside from Sect Leader Guo Qijing, Grand Elder Lut Changchuan, Second Elder Jis Che, Hong Banjiang, the Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing were all present, except for the Eighth Elder who was guarding the Spirit Mine. The others were all seated within.

Unexpectedly, Liao Feibai was also present, seated alongside the Sect Elders.

"I greet the Sect Leader and all elders. Sect Leader, you wanted to see me?" This arrangement made Ye Zhen’s heart pound vigorously.

"What, do you think this arrangement is a bit much?" Guo Qijing started laughing.

"It’s alright!"

Ye Zhen by now had experienced transformations vastly different from before. With the power of the Spirit Transformation Realm Second Stage and having directly confronted several Soul Sea Realm beings, he was already accustomed to the Spirit Pressure of the Soul Sea Realm martial artists. Other than his curiosity, he felt nothing else.

However, if it were a common martial artist from the Spirit Transformation Realm entering here, they would probably feel weak in the knees with so many Sect Elders gazing at them.

"Ye Zhen, there is something that after discussion with many elders and a sect resolution being passed, we now seek your opinion," said Guo Qijing.

"Please speak, Sect Leader!"

"As you know, we at Qiyun Sect have not yet finalized a future Sect Leader successor, although we have always been cultivating one. However, I have been somewhat dissatisfied with all of them.

But, your return this time has astonished me."

"Besides your cultivation, the fact that you restrained yourself from killing Chu Jun in a critical moment shows an excellent grasp of the bigger picture, and your prestige among the disciples is unmatched.

Most importantly, you have made numerous significant contributions to the sect!

Therefore, after careful deliberation with the elders, we have decided to designate you as the successor to the Sect Leader of Qiyun Sect! If you have no objections, I would pass on the Qiyun Secret Scripture, the sect’s supreme cultivation technique, to you today in public!

After a few years of secluded cultivation and mastering the Qiyun Secret Scripture, once your cultivation reaches the Soul Sea Realm, you can succeed me in this position of Sect Leader."

Upon saying this, Sect Leader Guo Qijing sighed lightly, "By then, I can lay down this heavy burden and focus solely on Martial Arts."

These words, spoken lightly by Guo Qijing, struck Ye Zhen like thunder, completely stunning him with the news.

The successor to the Sect Leader of the Qiyun Sect—what kind of position was that?

In terms of status and position, the successor to the Sect Leader of the Qiyun Sect was even more revered than the Crown Prince of Black Water Kingdom, and could even sit equally with the Emperor of Black Water.

As for becoming the future Sect Leader of Qiyun Sect, basically, that made one the Supreme of Black Water Kingdom. If Ye Zhen wished, even the Emperor of Black Water would have to bow in respect.

To put it more dramatically, once Ye Zhen became the Sect Leader of Qiyun Sect, then Ye Zhen would be the Supreme of Black Water Kingdom. Mainly because Black Water Kingdom today was no longer the Black Water Kingdom of the past.

Originally in Black Water Kingdom, the two great sects were manipulated by the Royal Family to check and balance each other, preventing Qiyun Sect from becoming too dominant. But with Ye Zhen’s emergence and his retrieval of the War Soul Blood Flag, Qiyun Sect had regained its dominant status in Black Water Kingdom once again.

However, these were not the most important factors; the most crucial was the Sect Guardian Skills that only previous Sect Leaders of Qiyun Sect had the privilege to cultivate—the Qiyun Secret Scripture.

The Qiyun Secret Scripture, of Upper-grade Earth Level, represented the greatest benefit and attraction!

Among the cultivation techniques and martial skills that Ye Zhen was currently practicing, only the Floating Cloud Finger could compare to the Qiyun Secret Scripture. However, the Floating Cloud Finger consisted of only one finger technique, whereas the Qiyun Secret Scripture was a complete set.

Similar to the Shattered Jade Scripture Ye Zhen was currently studying, it involved a mental method, techniques for cultivating an Acquired Spiritual Body, and a martial skill.

But according to what Ye Zhen knew, the Qiyun Secret Scripture was more comprehensive, including not only mental methods and techniques for cultivating an Acquired Spiritual Body but also a corresponding Body Skill, a set of Palm Techniques, and a Sword Technique, reputedly even comprising a Spiritual Power Secret Technique.

The strength of the Qiyun Secret Scripture was unquestionable; otherwise, what would past Sect Leaders of Qiyun Sect use to command respect among sect members and traverse the world?

Gulp!

Upon hearing this news, Ye Zhen unconsciously gulped down a large mouthful of saliva.

To be honest, the olive branch thrown abruptly by Sect Leader Guo Qijing was indeed startling.

"What do you think, Ye Zhen?"

As he watched Ye Zhen’s reaction, Guo Qijing laughed, "Ye Zhen, I won’t hide from you, our Qiyun Sect’s Qiyun Secret Scripture is extraordinary. With it, along with the sect’s resource allocation, your cultivation could break through to the Soul Sea Realm within ten years. By then, with me as your backing, you could first assume the Sect Leader position."

As he spoke, Guo Qijing’s expression suddenly turned solemn, "Ye Zhen, are you willing? As long as you agree, I will organize a grand ceremony for our sect and declare it to the world!"

All the present elders’ eyes were fixated on Ye Zhen, varied in expression—some looked relieved, some sighed, some smiled, and many were complex.

For instance, Fifth Elder Hong Banjiang’s gaze towards Ye Zhen was somewhat complex at this moment.

Strangely enough, Liao Feibai’s gaze towards Ye Zhen conveyed a sense of contradiction.

Ye Zhen’s heart skipped a beat uneasily, this decision was really difficult.

Once he agreed, from then on within the Black Water Kingdom, he would be an existence akin to a supreme being, with the power of the entire Qiyun Sect and even the entire Black Water Kingdom at his command.

But it also meant immense responsibility and encumbrance.

For a moment, Ye Zhen felt conflicted.

Ye Zhen suddenly realized that he was standing at a crossroads of fate. Today’s choice could affect his whole life.

For a moment, various thoughts surged, such as the benefits and advantages of becoming the Sect Leader if he agreed, or the losses and gains if he refused, all these thoughts flooded his mind, making it chaotic.

In this chaos, Ye Zhen became even more entangled.

"Should I agree, or should I not?"

"If I don’t agree, I might never have such an opportunity again!"

"If I agree and become the Sect Leader, I could easily gain many things without much effort..."

However, deep down, Ye Zhen felt a reluctance preventing him from agreeing to this matter.

Ye Zhen knew that once he agreed to become the heir to the Sect Leader of the Qiyun Sect, he could see where his future path lay. It would be nothing but the road walked by the previous Sect Leaders of the Qiyun Sect.

The lives of the previous Sect Leaders of the Qiyun Sect were a miniature of what Ye Zhen’s future would be.

To agree or not to agree?

Ye Zhen’s heart wavered between these two answers!

....

"Ye Zhen, how to decide depends on your true heart, your pursuit!"

Amid Ye Zhen’s chaotic thoughts, Liao Feibai’s cool voice pierced into his mind.

That cool voice, like a bolt of lightning, suddenly made Ye Zhen’s mind clear.

What were Ye Zhen’s true heart and pursuit?

Martial Arts!

The pinnacle of martial arts!

Not power or fame!

If Ye Zhen needed power and fame, with the War Soul Blood Flag and his strength, earning a title of equality with the king in the Black Water Kingdom wasn’t impossible.

However, over the past year, Ye Zhen had been fighting outside, enhancing his cultivation, pursuing his own path of martial arts.

Spirit Sword Grave Mountain, Divine Capital, Floating Cloud Cave, Jade Water Lake, and the soon-to-open Black Water Ancient Land—the outside world was so varied, how could Ye Zhen settle for a single flower when he could embrace the whole world?

Moreover, becoming the Sect Leader meant that Ye Zhen would have to stay at the Qiyun Sect, as it was the Sect Leader’s duty.

Furthermore, a greenhouse flower, no matter how well-nourished, could never match flowers that grew out in the storms.

Ye Zhen’s progress in strength was a prime example.

Most disciples of the Qiyun Sect, under the sect’s arrangements, cultivated and improved their strength step by step and even their experiences were within the limits of the sect, so their growth was nothing extraordinary.

But the growth of Ye Zhen was shocking to everyone every time; it made people look at him with new respect, growing at a pace that others found hard to believe.

That was because Ye Zhen grew amidst storms, under the harsh sun and chilling winds.

Suddenly, Ye Zhen had made his decision.

"Sect Leader... I’m sorry!"

Ye Zhen’s response surprised everyone present, raising a trace of astonishment in their eyes.

"Ye Zhen, think it through carefully, the position of the Sect Leader of the Qiyun Sect! Not to make you laugh, but every elder here has dreamed of becoming the Sect Leader without ever having the chance!

And the Qiyun Secret Scripture, we old folks have desired it for a lifetime without the chance to cultivate it! Now, this opportunity is right in front of you.

Think about it, how precious this opportunity is, think carefully!" Grand Elder Lut Changchuan unusually urged Ye Zhen.

"Grand Elder, all elders, Sect Leader, I have thought it through! What I pursue is the path of martial arts. I want to walk longer and farther on this martial path!"

After a pause, Ye Zhen continued, "Of course, the Qiyun Sect is my home, and it is where I grew up. If the sect needs me in the future, I will appear at the first available opportunity!"

Grand Elder Lut Changchuan’s eyes showed endless disappointment, while Sect Leader Guo Qijing could only give Liao Feibai a wry smile, "Feibai, you actually guessed it right."

"That’s right!"

As he spoke, Liao Feibai stood up, stretched a long stretch, and stepped out of the Council Hall with a single step, "Sect Leader, in the future, spare me from such boring matters! Ah, if there’s a fight, just call me early!"

The Sect Council Hall was filled with astonishment. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)