Caspian Qin, Sect Leader of Shushan, had perished in the Valley of Fallen Demons, sacrificing himself to seal away a Great Demon. The grim news spread through the northwestern desert and soon reverberated across the land, leaving everyone in disbelief.
No one had imagined that the leader of Shushan, the most prominent faction of the righteous path, would fall in the Valley of Fallen Demons. The entire world was stunned, and Shushan Sword Sect itself had fallen into a deep silence.
"Sarah, you must stay strong," the Great Elder murmured, looking at the tear-streaked face of the young girl before him with a sorrowful sigh.
Who could have foreseen this?
He had been present at the battle in the Valley of Fallen Demons. That Great Demon, for reasons unknown, went berserk, becoming unimaginably powerful. Had it not been for Caspian Qins decision to sacrifice himself in the end, the elite Longevity practitioners from various factions—Langya Sword Sect, Demon-Suppressing Sect, Celestial Masters Pavilion—might all have perished there. Such an outcome would have allowed the three major demon sects to sweep across the land with devastating consequences.
"Caspian gave his life for the sake of the world," thought the Great Elder, his gaze darkening as he looked at Sarah Qin.
Now, numerous challenges lay ahead. Although Caspian Qin's sacrifice had averted disaster for the world, Shushan was now left without a leader. The urgent question facing Shushan's leaders was: who would become the next Sect Leader?
Becoming Sect Leader of Shushan was no simple matter. It required both exceptional capability and the respect of all members. According to the previous plan, Caspian had intended to groom Sarah Qin to reach the Golden Core Sage stage before passing the title to her. A few hundred years of preparation should have sufficed. But now, Sarah was still young and relatively weak, only at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer.
This level of strength was insufficient to command respect. In recent centuries, Shushan had seen numerous losses among its powerful members, and aside from Sarah Qin, there were few prodigies in the younger generation. If Sarah were to take the role now, it would be a burdensome task, rather than a blessing. As her master, the Great Elder naturally wanted to shield her from such a weighty responsibility.
"Master, I'm all right," Sarah said, her voice steadying. "Father just wanted to be with my mother. His departure… may have been his own choice. I want to carry on his legacy and lead Shushan to greater heights."
She was calm now, her tone resolute as she spoke to the Great Elder. Her mother had fallen in battle against demons when she was still a child, and now, having lost her father as well, she was determined to shoulder his mantle. Despite her current Foundation Establishment stage, she declared her intention to assume the position of Sect Leader.
The Great Elder looked at her deeply, admiration evident in his gaze.
With that, he set off to persuade the other elders to support Sarah in becoming the Sect Leader. Though she might not yet be able to command universal respect, the memory of Caspian Qin's sacrifice was still fresh, and Sarah was a prodigious talent. In the Great Elder's eyes, it shouldn't be too difficult to gain sufficient support.
But an unexpected twist occurred a few days later.
The Ninth Elder, Justin Shang, emerged from the depths of the Ninefold Sword Gate, successfully surpassing the Golden Core barrier to become a Longevity practitioner.
"Sarah is still too young to bear this heavy burden. I will take on the role, and when she matures, I will pass the position to her," Justin said righteously, presenting himself before the Elders Pavilion. His speech, brimming with moral conviction, won nods of approval from the other elders. No one suspected Justin of seeking power for its own sake; they believed he was acting out of genuine concern for Sarah and for Shushan.
"Justin's selflessness is commendable. I support him," said Simon Shang, the Third Elder, stepping forward to express his approval.
"The Longevity stage is more than adequate to hold the position of Sect Leader," the Second Elder added calmly.
One by one, the other elders agreed to support Justin as Shushan's new Sect Leader. In their view, Sarah was indeed too young; her cultivation and temperament were insufficient to manage a transcendent sect like Shushan.
"Very well," the Great Elder said with a helpless expression. Though he felt something was amiss, the overwhelming support left him with no choice. His dissent alone would change nothing.
"Three days from now, invite allies from across the land to Shushan Sword Sect for the inauguration of our new Sect Leader!"
The Great Elder announced the decision, albeit reluctantly.
"Thank you all for your support," Justin said with a rare smile, bowing courteously to those around him.
"Given these turbulent times, I suggest that Sarah Qin should head to the Yuhua Battlefield for training," Simon Shang, the Third Elder, proposed casually.
His words stirred a ripple of expressions among those present. Sending Sarah for "training" was a thinly veiled exile.
"Agreed."
"It would be beneficial. She should grow stronger quickly so Justin can pass on the mantle with ease."
"I second that."
The majority of the Elders' Pavilion quickly voiced their support. They were old foxes who understood that Sarah had considerable backing within Shushan. Keeping her within the sect could hinder Justin. Sending her to the Yuhua Battlefield to train until she broke through to the Golden Core stage seemed the most prudent choice.
Only the Great Elder's expression darkened. The Yuhua Battlefield was an ancient battleground rumored to have originated from a fallen fragment of the upper realms. Entering it carried mortal peril. Though he had great faith in Sarah, there was no pressing need to send her there.
"This cannot happen," he interjected firmly.
But his opposition was in vain. The votes in the Elders' Pavilion heavily favored sending Sarah to the Yuhua Battlefield. In the end, not only had she failed to secure the position of Sect Leader, but she was also to be escorted to the battlefield.
…
"Ding!"
"Congratulations to the Host for signing in at Star Plucking Tower, obtaining the Grand Technique of Celestial Concealment."
Jason Chu, meanwhile, had completed his exploration of Shushan Sword Sect and decided to venture outside. He was unaware of the upheaval within Shushan, absorbed instead in his cultivation.
"I've gained quite a lot."
"Time to return to the Swordmaking House."
Satisfied with his recent harvest, Jason prepared to return to his secluded haven.
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