The turbulent waves slammed against the cliff. Myriad city stood proudly on the ocean. As one of the most prosperous and progressive sects of the Human realm, the city bustled with people forever. The distant, intense war seemed to have nothing to do with this cape city.
Day after day, year after year, even the sorrow of losing half their direct disciples had been washed away by the waves very quickly.
Just the day before, the entire city was draped in mourning dressed with tears running down their faces. Today, it was beaming once again with delighted smiles.
This was neither the Heaven realm nor the Hell realm. This was human society. There was no eternal happiness nor unchanging pain.
The city bustled, welcoming guests from afar. It seemed particularly busy on this day.
The Fate Perturbing casino was filled to the brim with guests, but Le Tian was not present. Instead, he was in the Direct Disciple hall. The doors and windows were all open, allowing sunlight to flood the place. It was solemn and quiet.
His appearance had become visibly older. Whether it was the peppered hair near his temples or the spreading wrinkles by the corner of his eyes, he was covered with the signs of decline, but he continued to smile away without any concern. He touched his chin and squinted. “A pity, a pity. I missed out on a fine gamble!”
Pi Yangqiu heard that from beside him and smiled. “Who would take you up on a gamble like that?”
Le Tian pursed his lips and said in disdain, “It was me who didn’t want to gamble. There are plenty of fools who’d gamble on something like that. Though, what’s the point of a gamble where the outcome is guaranteed? Heh, I need to save some of my luck too.”
Pi Yangqiu glanced at him and nodded. “Hope you can win!”
“Hehe, who knows?” Le Tian wiggled his index finger and pointed it upwards. “Fate always stands highest!”
Pi Yangqiu was just about to say something when Dai Mengfan walked over slowly, taking the stage.
She held a ritual sceptre and was dressed up formally, such that she was graceful and poised. She left many inner disciples stunned. Normally, they had no right to enter the Direct Disciple hall, and their opportunities to see this master of the Direct Disciple hall were almost non-existent. How could any mortal woman match her beauty?
Only Shen Yushu stood uneasily in the crowd like he was on pins and needles. He had no interest in her beauty at all. He constantly prayed inside, Not him, not him…
Dai Mengfan stood on the platform and glanced down. Half of the familiar faces had vanished. Even after almost a year, she still could not help but sigh at the thought of that. However, this was not the first time she had seen something like this, so she adjusted herself mentally very quickly.
New direct disciples would surge forth from the inner disciples very soon. The last thing that the six realms of sa?sāra and trichiliocosm lacked were people. Talented and naturally-endowed figures would emerge in an endless stream.
But probably from today onwards, no one would be able to match the name on the ritual sceptre anymore.
She cleared her throat. “I’ve just received the news that senior brother Li Liehuo has already decided to enter secluded cultivation for good. He has withdrawn from this election.”
The inner disciples were thrown into an uproar. “Then doesn’t that mean…”
Shen Yushu was ashen. I’m done for…
The inner disciples around him immediately backed away, forming an empty ring. They gazed at him with pity and mocking.
However, the direct disciples were not surprised. They had been expecting Li Liehuo to enter secluded cultivation for good.
He had probably benefited tremendously from that battle. Directly facing the embodiment of a true god, even if he collapsed in the next instant, was enough to make him break through mentally and reach a higher realm with the Heavenly Tome of Scorching Fire. Regardless of whether he succeeded or not, it was impossible for him to hold the position of first senior brother anymore.
No one would have thought that the struggle between scorching fire and xuanwu would actually end like this. The dark horse of liberty that had suddenly arisen out of nowhere made it in front of everyone unbelievably, yet they were convinced by his abilities too.
He directly faced a true god and defeated him, turning the tides by force. Let alone the Myriad sect, just which other Human Sovereign in the world could achieve that?
“So!” Dai Mengfan paused before she said, “The new first senior brother is Li Qingshan!”
As soon as Dai Mengfan said that, laughter rolled out. “Hahaha, you sure know how to drag it out. You could have just declared my name right at the start!”
Li Qingshan walked in with vigorous strides. He was like a great gust of wind, where the crowd parted for him like wheat being blown to two sides.
With only a few steps, he made it onto the stage. He gave Dai Mengfan a bear bug before turning towards the direct disciples and inner disciples. He suddenly swung his arm, and the phoenix standing on his shoulder spread his wings and cheered, “First father, you’re the best!”
“Shh!” Li Qingshan brought his index finger up to Li Fengyuan’s beak and smiled. “I know.”
Li Fengyuan called out, “Long live Li Qingshan!”
“Yeah~” Li Qingshan nodded in agreement, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
Dai Mengfan shot a vicious glance at him, but she was also astounded. Just how powerful was he? She had actually completely failed to respond to that hug. He had completely forced it on her.
Though, with a first senior brother like this watching over Black Cloud city, I can keep my distance from the battlefield!
With the announcement of the final result, Li Qingshan’s name on the Myriad rankings immediately rose to the very top.
All of the cultivators knew the Myriad sect had a first senior brother again. He would become the actual ruler of the entire Myriad sect, and he would be in control over a tremendous amount of resources, deciding the fate and future of countless people.
This result was expected. Before this, his name had already spread through the Myriad sect, as well as the entire Human realm, with the battle in the Demon domain.
He was a man who defeated a god!
If it were not for the fact that countless people had witnessed it with their own eyes, no one would believe a story as absurd as that. The stronger the cultivator was, the more they understood just how undefeatable gods were.
Gods did not only represent power, but wisdom and the law as well!
Yet, there were still some people who firmly believed that this was a great game of chess played by the Desireless Heavenly Palace. They thought it was Chao Tianjiao who had recently broken through to Human Immortal and become the leader of the Six Ding that ultimately turned the situation around. Li Qingshan was only a figurehead for the public to attract even more cultivators to the Myriad sect so that they could make up for the losses from this battle.
However, the direct disciples did not believe that, or Li Qingshan would not have become the first senior brother.
In terms of contribution alone, Li Qingshan had enough to become a direct disciple, but he still could not surpass what other disciples had built up over many years. He was even a fair bit off from Ruan Yaozhu.
What mattered more was the choice of the direct disciples. With Li Liehuo in secluded cultivation for good, they originally had a chance at competing for the position. However, while the “great senior brother” possessed all the authority, he was also tasked with great responsibilities. He had to preside over the war in the Demon domain.
Even when they knew the Demon domain probably would not try anything new in the near future and Black Cloud city should become extremely peaceful, no one wanted to take that risk after experiencing that battle. The Formation of Black Clouds and Roaring Thunder still required a very long time before it was repaired. If they encountered Taowu trying to redeem himself, then that truly would be complete devastation.
There was only one person who was not under that mental pressure!
Pi Yangqiu gazed at Li Qingshan who grinned from ear to ear on the platform and murmured in thought, “Doesn’t that kid know fear?”
“I told you a long time ago. He’s a true gambler. He’s born for a gamble!” Le Tian gazed at the ceiling and said mysteriously, “Who knows if I’m fortunate enough to see it.”
At this moment, Dai Mengfan made her way off the platform. He had messed with the atmosphere, but the ceremony still had to go on. “Disciples, pay your respects to the first senior brother!” She brought her hands together and her sleeves draped down, bowing deeply towards Li Qingshan.
All of the direct disciples and inner disciples lowered their heads, saying together, “We pay respects to the first senior brother!”
Li Qingshan stopped smiling and waved his hand dramatically. “All rise, my subjects!”
The corner of Dai Mengfan’s eye twitched. This…
Li Qingshan asked, “What’s wrong, junior sister? Is there something wrong?”
Dai Mengfan behaved like she had accepted her fate. “Nothing. You’re the first senior brother. Everything you say counts.”
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“Alright then!” Li Qingshan nodded in satisfaction. “I have high hopes for you. This position will be yours sooner or later.”
“Please keep it for yourself, first senior brother. It’s not something that I can enjoy.”
“Yeah. What do I say again? Oh right!” Li Qingshan thought about it. “First of all, I’d like to thank…”
“Oh my, who’s this? So mighty and so glorious!”
Before he knew it, Chao Tianjiao was already sitting on the window sill, stroking the “black rabbit” in her arms and gazing at Li Qingshan with ill intentions.
During the battle in the Demon domain, she repelled the Faceless Heretic God in the end. She listened to Ruan Yaozhu’s description of the battle as she pressed down on her blade. She stared at the unconscious Li Qingshan with a mixed expression for a very long time.
Chao Tianjiao ground her teeth as she stared at him, which left Ruan Yaozhu terrified, fearing that she would butcher Li Qingshan. She put in a lot of good words for him.
In the end, Chao Tianjiao left behind a single message and left. “I’ll see once he wakes up!” She had already become a Divine General of Six Ding and the leader of the Six Ding, the God of Dingmao. She directly reported to the Zhenwu Emperor, and she was extremely busy usually. There was a very large temporal difference between beyond the Nine Heavens and the Human realm, so the wait lasted almost a year.
Li Qingshan shivered inside and took a step back. “We can talk things out!”
