Chapter 1316 Seven Saints Compete
To men, the greatest achievement was to be conferred nobility. A further step forward was to ascend to the throne.
However, great teachers didn’t hold thrones in high regards. What they wanted was to become saints and let all students walk down the path they had constructed in their minds.
Changing others and thus changing the world, letting it turn into the way they liked. This was the pursuit of saints. “Sun…”
By habit, An Xinhui wanted to call Sun Mo’s name again, but once again, she could only say his surname. This surprised her very much. “You’re a secondary saint now?”
“En!”
Sun Mo nodded.
“What on earth have you been through in the Darkness Continent?” An Xinhui continued to ask. She was astonished by Sun Mo’s great talent-being able to obtain such tremendous achievements at such a young age-and at the same time, her heart also ached for him.
To be able to attain such great achievements, one would need to put in more hard work and effort than ordinary people did. “There’s no need to talk about matters that have passed.”
Sun Mo smiled bitterly. “How are things in the school? Are Xiuxun, Ziyu, and the others all doing well?” “In the first few months after you left, Xiuxun was very down and dejected. I gave her a few months of leave, and she has gotten better now. As for Ziyu, I can tell that she’s thinking of returning to Jixia Academy. However, she also wants to see you the first instant you return. Therefore, she has been holding it in and hasn’t left.”
An Xinhui sighed and couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Sun Mo. (Everyone has become old women.) (You’ll have to take responsibility!)
Sun Mo didn’t know what to say and was about to take his leave and head to the Saint Gate. But at this moment, the office door was pushed open fiercely.
“Sister Xinhui, Sun… Ah!”
Gu Xiuxun looked anxious, wanting to ask if Sun Mo had returned. But she bit her tongue midway to calling his name. “Xiuxun!”
Sun Mo felt very awkward. He wanted to hug the masochist but didn’t dare to do so. After all, he was in front of his fiancée. However, Gu Xiuxun couldn’t hold back her feeling and hugged him.
(Even if I have to get beaten up by Sister Xinhui, I’ll accept it.) “Sun… Where did you go?” Gu Xiuxun was in tears. “Do you know how worried I was?” “I’m sorry!”
Sun Mo patted Gu Xiuxun’s back.
An Xinhui sighed and shook her head ever so slightly that it was not noticeable. She averted her gaze and pretended that she didn’t see anything “Sun…”
Mei Ziyu came too and was standing at the door. When she saw this scene, she felt bad about entering and only looked at Gu Xiuxun enviously “Ziyu!” Sun Mo greeted her. Things became even more awkward. Thankfully, the Nine Provinces was a polygamy society. If men were more shameless, they could even marry young girls. Therefore, Sun Mo didn’t have to be reproached both legally and morally. Of course, the prerequisite was that one could manage the relationships with the various women well, not letting them get into fights and kicking up a fuss. “You… Are you still going to leave?” Mei Ziyu’s gaze was filled with anxiety and pleading “I won’t be leaving anymore!” Sun Mo let out a long exhale. “I’ll be a good teacher, a good husband, and even a good father!”
Pa!
Gu Xiuxun hammered Sun Mo’s chest with her small fist. “Who is going to give birth to your child? Don’t get it over your head!” “He didn’t say that it’s you!” Jin Mujie teased as she walked in. “Sun… Hmm?”
Jin Mujie was stunned. She moved her mouth again but was unable to say the two words ‘Sun Mo’. “What the hell? Why can’t I call your name anymore?” “Hmmm? You can’t do it either?”
Gu Xiuxun was stunned.
“Sun… You couldn’t have become a secondary saint, could you?” Murong Mingyue came too. Hearing that, she looked toward Sun Mo, feeling surprised. She had a good impression of Sun Mo, but it hadn’t reached a stage in which she wasn’t willing to marry anyone but him. Sun Mo shrugged and removed the Unknown Obscurity Halo on him. After that, a strange fragrance immediately permeated. An Xinhui and the others were instantly invigorated, feeling very refreshed and energetic. “You’re really a secondary saint now?” Gu Xiuxun was shocked and instinctively got close to Sun Mo, sniffing the smell on him like a little dog.
That smelled really nice!
Outside the office, the two great teachers who felt that it’d be bad to interrupt Sun Mo’s reunion with his female friends couldn’t help but probe to look in too. There was no helping it. The impact of this piece of news was too great. Secondary Saint Sun?
That was amazing!
“It was just luck!”
Sun Mo said humbly.
The Unknown Obscurity Halo was a benefit that Sun Mo received after becoming a secondary saint. He had gained enlightenment to it directly without any difficulty.
As secondary saints carried a natural body fragrance that could refresh the brain, if they didn’t conceal it, they’d incur worship from people no matter where they went. This would result in a commotion and disturb the public.
The reason heaven gave secondary saints this halo outright was to let them understand that to give and contribute silently was the loftier behavior. “Sun… Secondary Saint… Do you know that the way you’re acting modestly right now gives others the urge to beat you up?” As Gu Xiuxun spoke, she punched Sun Mo again.
Mei Ziyu nodded and got closer too, hammering Sun Mo’s chest to vent her upset feelings over so many years. However, she couldn’t bear to exert too much strength.
Jin Mujie looked at Sun Mo and couldn’t help but recall the scene when she had first met him!
Who’d have thought that an intern teacher who had been trying to curry up to her back then had reached a height impossible for her to reach?
(Sigh!)
(Such regrets!) (If I knew that you’re such a genius, I’d let you lick me wherever you want and not just let you curry up to me. I could even take any pose that you like!) (It’s a pity, it’s a fact that I’ve missed out!) “You’re already a secondary saint, so what are you waiting for? Let’s hurry up and set off!” Gu Xiuxun pulled Sun Mo’s wrist and tugged him out of the office. “Let’s head to the Saint Gate and fight for the position of sect lord!” Gu Xiuxun wasn’t the only one. The others also became excited and agitated. Previously, after knowing that Sect Lord Su Taiqing had gone missing, everyone felt sad but also a little agitated. It was because some schools also had several saints and secondary saints. They had the right to fight for the position. But after asking, even An Zaiyi, who had the greatest chance of winning, wasn’t interested in becoming the sect lord.
Saint Yang, Secondary Saint Shi, and Secondary Saint Hu didn’t care for these things. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have stayed in a place like the Battlegod Canyon or the Prison of Desperation for over 100 years.
This made everyone very disappointed. After all, the sect lord title was a position of great power, the pinnacle of the great teacher world. All the teachers and students in the school hoped to see such an important character coming from their school! They didn’t care about benefiting through connections. They just wanted the glory.
Now, not only had Sun Mo come back in time, but he had also become a secondary saint.
“Fight!” Jin Mujie gritted her teeth. “No matter what, you should fight for it.” (To think that my great friend has the right to stand at the pinnacle. Even if I have to sell my body to get the funds, I’ll have to support him!)
Everyone didn’t delay and rapidly headed for the Saint Gate, not even having lunch. After Sun Mo left together with An Xinhui and the others, the two great teachers couldn’t hold it in anymore. They quickly told their good friends the news that Sun Mo had become a secondary saint. This news spread to more and more people. Very soon, all the teachers and students in the school were astonished. Dinner time. In the first canteen, at the dining hall on the third floor that was catered to great teachers.
“Everyone, should we go to the Secondary Saint to show our support for Secondary Saint Sun?”
“It’s useless. Sun… Secondary Saint Sun doesn’t have any backing. Although he’s a secondary saint now, how can he compare to those secondary saints who have years of accumulation? The connections they have worked on for so many years aren’t for nothing!” “In the end, just having capability alone won’t work in the great teacher world!”
When those young great teachers heard these, their agitated expressions also cooled down. In those top-notch circles, each secondary saint was the leader of a faction and a power. “Headmaster An can support Secondary Saint Sun!”
After a great teacher said this, everyone rolled their eyes in disdain.
If Headmaster An wanted to be good to Sun Mo, he wouldn’t have removed Sun Mo’s position as the vice-headmaster. Moreover, Sun Mo and An Xinhui hadn’t completed their wedding even after so long. Who’d believe it that there wasn’t any story behind this?
“What on earth is Headmaster An dissatisfied about when Secondary Saint Sun is so outstanding?” Everyone couldn’t understand.
If they were in his shoes, they’d definitely want this grandson-in-law. After Li Ziqi was done going through the official documents and stamped on them with the imperial seal, she didn’t let her attendant serve her to rest. Instead, she went through the teleportation gate to return to the Central Province Academy. She also hoped to be able to meet her teacher at the first instant.
The two maids who had served Sun Mo in the past were ordinary people and not cultivators. As a result, they had gotten older and had married. Therefore, Li Ziqi was the one personally cleaning up the villa now. She didn’t wish to let other people touch her teacher’s stuff.
After she was done with the daily cleaning work, she planned on heading to the library. However, she had just entered the school grounds when some students rushed up to her. “Teacher Li, the secondary saint is back!”
All the students recognize this Great Tang’s female emperor. “Secondary saint? Li Ziqi blinked. Secondary Saint Hu and Secondary Saint Shi didn’t go out to give lectures, right?
“It’s Sun… Secondary Saint Sun!”
A student added.
“Sun… You’re referring to my teacher?”
Li Ziqi looked elated. “Where is he?”
“He went to the Saint Gate!”
Hearing this, Li Ziqi didn’t delay and turned to rush toward the villa, returning to the palace through the teleportation gate. When the attendants saw that the emperor was back, they quickly went up to her. “Prepare the horses! Bring out all my fine steeds! Hurry, hurry, hurry! I’m going to the Saint Gate!”
The little sunny egg headed straight for the palace gates. It was closer to the Saint Gate from Chang’an.
In West Capital City, where the Saint Gate was located, all the inns and hotels were all packed. More people were continuing to rush over too. Without any exceptions, all of them were great teachers.
Several secondary saints were going to contend for the position of the sect lord. As this was a major event that was hard to come by in several centuries, who wouldn’t want to watch it?
The usual practice was that if they couldn’t decide verbally, they could only compete in their skills, deciding on the victor based on their capabilities. A competition between secondary saints? This would be so interesting! Evening had passed and the sky had turned dark. However, the Saint Gate’s hall was still filled with voices. Over 100 major characters were seated here, quarreling non-stop. The weakest one of them were at least 6-stars. It could be said that it had been over 100 years since so many high star-level great teachers had gathered. “Secondary Saint Zhou has a great prestige and has earned lots of glory. Why can’t he be made the sect lord directly?”
A 6-star great teacher, Zhao Gang, questioned with a rough voice, bellowing like a lion roar. His voice suppressed everyone else. “6-stars can keep quiet!” An 8-stars great teacher, Ji Xiangdong, retorted. “Let’s just talk about facts. How is it reasonable to be suppressing others with star-level?” “That’s right. You make it sound as if you didn’t rise from a low star-level!”
“I feel that Great Teacher Ji is right. Can those who are 7-stars or lower leave?”
“Then you might as well get everyone to leave with the exception of the saints!” Everyone started quarreling again. This had become a norm over the past few days.
Usually, everyone would be polite and reserved to save face for others. However, they couldn’t do that today. Supporting their leader to assume the position would mean that it’d be a lot easier for them to get a lot more funds when they made requests to the Saint Gate in the future. Moreover, they’d be able to speak more confidently when they were outside. “Cough cough!” An old man coughed, instantly suppressing all of the other voices. He then spoke, “Brother Zhou’s achievements are undeniable, but what about the matter with Li Ziqi?”
Everyone’s heart paused as they looked toward this old man.
He was called Chen Zhiming, a secondary saint who had the right to contend for the sect lord position.
He was finally unable to hold it in anymore and spoke up personally. Secondary Saint Zhou’s countenance turned grim. This matter had become a great humiliation in which he couldn’t erase. Even after his death, he’d have to continue carrying it to his name.
At the thought of this situation, Secondary Saint Zhou had a strong urge to skin Sun Mo. “We can’t say that. When Li Ziqi asked to become Secondary Saint Zhou’s disciple, she was still too young. No one would be able to tell her aptitude!”
Zhao Gang continued the conversation. He mustn’t let Secondary Saint Zhou be the one to argue for himself over such a matter. It’d represent his loss. “Even Sun Mo wouldn’t be able to do it. If she had done it a year or so later, Secondary Saint Zhou would naturally be able to assess it too!”
Everyone sneered.
This argument could really work! However, everyone understood that without Sun Mo’s keen judgment, Li Ziqi would have been wasted. Look at Li Ziqi’s current achievements. It could be said that Secondary Saint Zhou had almost destroyed a genius. “Everyone knows how defensive Sun Mo is toward the people close to him. He dared to speak up against Secondary Saint Zhou back when he was taking the 1-star examination. If he were to find out that Brother Zhou has become the sect lord, he’d probably kick up a big fuss!” Another secondary saint spoke up. He was called Gao Ning.
Everyone felt a little troubled. They yearned to get the various good stuff from Sun Mo and really didn’t wish to offend him.
“That’s right! We must decide carefully!”
The only female secondary saint present, Fang Hong, also spoke up. The moment she expressed her stand, the other secondary saints also chipped in. “These damned fellows!” Secondary Saint Zhou’s expression didn’t change, but he felt very upset inside. He understood that these people planned on kicking him out first. It’d be one less opponent for them.
“All you guys do is fight! Don’t you get tired of it? Don’t you guys find it embarrassing to be destroying the harmony over a sect lord position?”
An old man seated on a wheelchair suddenly bellowed, “Since we can’t come to a decision, then let’s decide by capabilities!”
O
Everyone fell silent, lowering their heads to express that they were listening. This old man was called Xu Chunbo. Being the oldest saint in the Nine Provinces, he didn’t seek fame or glory, and didn’t even get married. He took it upon himself to teach and educate people. Think about it. He didn’t even have any children and stayed in an ordinary house with a tiled roof. Moreover, he had simple dishes for all of his three meals and wore simple clothings. This continued on for several centuries, so how noble was his character? These secondary saints didn’t dare to quarrel against him.
“Saint, isn’t it too ugly for secondary saints to compete?”
Gao Ning smiled bitterly.
“The heck is it ugly! You guys just want to win but don’t want to lose face!” Xu Chunbo’s words exposed his thoughts.
Having reached this stage, everyone cared for their image a lot. After all, a competition would depend on their respective capabilities. If they were to lose, their reputation would be ruined.
No one wished to go through such a loss.
“That’s enough. The few saints here have decided on this. Those who wish to contend for the sect lord position can raise your hand!”
Xu Chunbo decided on this by himself.
Everyone looked at the few saints present. They looked very composed and were sipping tea quietly, not raising any objections. That was true. When one reached the realm of a saint, it no longer mattered to them who were to become the sect lord. The benefits they received wouldn’t be any lesser.
“F*ck!”
Seeing that there was no escaping the competition, Chen Zhiming cursed in his heart before raising his right hand. When the other secondary saints saw this, some of them felt conflicted while others raised their hands decisively.
“It’s a pity Sun Mo isn’t around, and he isn’t a secondary saint either. Otherwise, I’d be able to watch a good show!”
Li Wanjun, who was seated in a corner, found this regretful.
Of course, his greatest regret was that he himself wasn’t a secondary saint. Therefore, no matter how much he wished to, he had no right to assume that position.
He didn’t even have the right to participate in the contention.
