Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Chapter 772: Chapter 9: The Sect Leader Retires, The Immortal Resigns
 

Although Su Jian was so angry that he was fuming, everyone else, feeling guilty, was secretly relieved.

The former Qi Sha True Person, although merciless in sword fights and hence slandered by his fellow disciples as the Shushan Slaughter Star, still abided by the rules after all.

But this Current Qing Heng True Person, he is far more ruthless than Qi Sha True Person.

One sword defeated the Long Eyebrow Immortal, two swords destroyed the Ancestral Master Hall, and with three swords, four swords, Mount Emei would have been chopped into four parts!

Compared to the Tai Yin Sword Master, Qi Sha True Person was simply a role model of Shushan.

Taking into account that this person was also the father-in-law of the Tai Yin Sword Master, and that the Tai Yin Sword Master practiced the Sentiment Inquiry Path, shouldn’t they at least give some respect to the relatives on the wife’s side and not continue with this havoc?

Mount Emei is not a mooncake! It can’t be cut anymore!

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Jade Capital Sect Leader also knew the matter was urgent and could not be delayed any longer, otherwise, the morale of the Shushan Sword Immortals would truly dissipate.

So he opened his mouth and said:

“Elder Qi Sha, we all understand the resentment of Qingluo Peak. But the most urgent task at hand is to figure out how to solve the problem.”

“Hmm,” Su Jian nodded as well.

Shushan is now in such a broken state, he understood the priority of issues without the Sect Leader having to say more.

So he looked towards Ling Yunpo and said:

“That…”

Wait, what was his disciple’s name again?

He was taken as a disciple by Su’er during my seclusion! I have no idea what his surname or personal name is, nor where he hails from!

“Disciple Ling Yunpo, with the Taoist name Qing Heng.” Ling Yunpo promptly said.

“Hmm,” Su Jian nodded and said, “Qing Heng, don’t worry. Now that your master has left seclusion, he will definitely stand up for you.”

The surrounding Peak Masters and elders were on the verge of tears: Having Su Jian to stand up for them, that would be wonderful!

Otherwise, if Qing Heng True Person continued on his rampage, he would have killed off everyone in Shushan.

“We…” The Jade Capital Sect Leader was about to subconsciously say “Let’s talk in the Ancestral Master Hall,” before suddenly realizing the hall was gone.

Shushan, how tragic!

Thinking this, the Jade Capital Sect Leader quickly signaled to Long Eyebrow Immortal with his eyes.

Long Eyebrow Immortal understood the hint in his gaze and couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Seeing this, it’s time to make it clear: With Ling Yunpo devastating Shushan like this, it seems the deep-seated hatred and grievances between the two could never be resolved, right?

Actually, not really.

To kill a fellow disciple warrant an eye for an eye; to murder an elder was a greater crime; to assassinate the Sect Leader was unforgivable; to defeat an immortal was something else…

… Then you are the pride of Shushan!

This was the harsh reality faced by everyone in Shushan.

Qing Heng True Person, Tai Yin Sword Master, they were definitely unbeatable for the majority.

It was not only important to avoid becoming his enemy but also to ensure he felt at ease, understanding that Shushan had abandoned any previous grievances and would not target him again.

Otherwise, if the Tai Yin Sword Master decided to act decisively and wiped out Shushan completely, then there would be nothing left to discuss.

Luckily, Su Jian chose this moment to emerge from his seclusion, neither too early nor too late, providing a bridge for reconciliation between Shushan and Qing Heng True Person.

Without Su Jian, just to ease the Tai Yin Sword Master’s wariness would require the Shushan Shangqing Faction to humble themselves, kneel, and admit their mistake… but by doing so, they would lose all initiative, and the whole sect would lose its authority and dignity.

With Su Jian present, things became much easier.

“I wish to resign from the position of Sect Leader,” the Jade Capital Sect Leader said concisely, “Elder Qi Sha, with your profound seniority and strength far surpassing your peers, is the rightful candidate to take on the role of Shushan Sect Leader.”

He had already clearly seen that after his latest seclusive meditation, Su Jian had had a moment of enlightenment at the brink of life and death, making leaps and bounds in his cultivation realm. Now his level was probably at the intermediate rank of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Although he did not know how Su Jian achieved this, this level of cultivation was certainly enough to be the Sect Leader.

“Mm,” Long Eyebrow Immortal first nodded in agreement, then said, “I wish to resign from the position of Sect Guardian Immortal of Shushan, and henceforth be a Guest Elder Scattered Immortal. That will suffice.”

Who forced the Tai Yin Sword Master into rebellion? This pot was first for Long Eyebrow Immortal to carry; resigning from the position of Sect Guardian Immortal meant also losing the power to intervene in Shushan’s political affairs, offering an explanation to Qingluo Peak and aiming to alleviate Qing Heng True Person’s wariness.

What is the role of a guest elder for? When Shushan needs to fight someone, you have to come and lend a hand.

At other times, go about your business as usual and don’t have the right to interfere here.

Having secluded himself for many years, Su Jian heard about the ostracism Qingluo Peak had faced but never personally experienced it.

Now, witnessing the Sect Leader resigning and the Immortal stepping down, his expression inevitably showed some reluctance.

Reluctant as he was, he knew that without doing so, the situation at hand simply couldn’t be settled.

Shushan had been beaten to such a state that, although the high levels swallowed their anger for the sake of the Tai Yin Suming Sword, the cultivators below might not understand, having lost all face.

With the Jade Capital Sect Leader and Long Eyebrow Immortal both gone, it signified the comprehensive rise of the Qingluo Peak lineage. Tai Yin Sword Master Qing Heng True Person immediately transformed from a traitorous deserter to Shushan’s direct descendant of the Sect Leader’s lineage—surely he couldn’t continue to oppose Shushan? The Sect Leader is your father-in-law, after all!

At the same time, with Su Jian, this great Sect Leader deity, presiding, the Various Peaks would have to weigh the pros and cons before picking a fight with the Tai Yin Sword Master…

But on further thought, this risk wasn’t too great.

Firstly, despite the catastrophe of Shushan, the Ancestral Master Hall being destroyed, and Mount Emei being split, not many lives were lost, only the two traitors, Ming Hua and Leng Quan.

Although the exact nature of their conspiracy wasn’t clear, since the Tai Yin Sword Master said they were traitors of the Demon Cult, then of course they were traitors of the Demon Cult.

As long as there were no deaths, it wasn’t a grievous hatred. The Ancestral Master Hall could be rebuilt, Mount Emei… Split into four, just to highlight the Tai Yin Sword Master of Shushan’s superior swordsmanship.

Secondly, despite Long Eyebrow Immortal’s retirement, his reputation from many years still stood, and he would surely fully support his disciple Su Jian, helping him consolidate his authority as the Sect Leader.

Next, the Shushan Shangqing Sect would surely enter an era where the word of the Sect Leader was law. With Long Eyebrow Immortal’s strong support above and the shrewd gaze of the Tai Yin Sword Master below, who would dare to disobey Su Jian’s command?

This was the best solution and the only one.

Ling Yunpo, a shrewd man, caught on to the calculations between the two as they spoke, immediately deciphering their strategies.

He had to admit, there truly was a moment when he considered killing Long Eyebrow Immortal on the spot, taking the piece of Heaven-Mending Stone, and fleeing.

But by doing so, the other Immortals in possession of Heaven-Mending Stone pieces would be extremely vigilant, and obtaining a second piece wouldn’t be easy anymore.

Now that his father-in-law had emerged from seclusion and his own status in Shushan was about to rise, instead of acting rashly, it was better to plan carefully… Having schemed for over a hundred years, waiting a bit longer wouldn’t make a difference.

Once he entered the Nascent Soul Realm and his true strength matured, he would seize all their pieces of the Heaven-Mending Stone!

The Jade Capital Sect Leader and Long Eyebrow Immortal were still eagerly looking at Ling Yunpo, fearful that the Tai Yin Sword Master might make a ruthless move and declare, “Father-in-law, we don’t care for the position of Sect Leader, let’s plan!”

But Ling Yunpo did not show any unusual signs, merely looking excitedly at Su Jian and saying,

“Master, you’ve finally emerged from seclusion! My senior sister and I have waited far too long for this day!”

Su Jian felt a bit embarrassed at those words.

Although originally he had entered a deadly seclusion due to severe injuries, he had long since passed the point of life-threatening danger in his cultivation.

However, during his recovery, he had caught a glimmer of enlightenment, so he chose not to leave seclusion but focused all his attention on comprehending it.

Had it not been for Ling Yunpo splitting Qingluo Peak with a single sword, Su Jian might have continued his seclusion indefinitely!

Of course, he could not have anticipated that, without him, Qingluo Peak would be subjected to such ostracism.

Long Eyebrow Immortal was especially mortified, aware that the reason Qingluo Peak had suffered so was ultimately due to his dissatisfaction with Su Jian for sustaining severe injuries while saving his daughter.

The demeanor of an immortal can lead to a change in the entire sect’s atmosphere, something Su Jian had not anticipated at all—he had thought Long Eyebrow Immortal would look after his daughter.

The two of them stood there in real embarrassment, until a Jade Capital elder stepped forward to break the silence, saying,

“Qi Sha True Person emerges from seclusion and ascends to the Sect Leader’s position; it is only right to hold a grand ancestral worship ceremony.”

Let’s not dredge up past conflicts, the more we discuss, the harder they are to resolve; instead, let’s look forward to the future.

But as for this grand ancestral worship ceremony…

Everyone looked at the fractured Emei Golden Summit, falling into silence and deep contemplation once again.