Shu Mountain’s New Sect Leader

Chonglou stood between Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan like a gigantic third wheel.

It was clearly a movie for two, yet he stuck out like a herniated disc.

Chu Yang could no longer stand watching and quietly reminded him, "Demon Lord, why don’t you find somewhere to rest? Repairing the Demon Imprisonment Tower just now consumed a great deal of your Magic Power."

"No need!" Chonglou waved a hand and continued staring Xu Changqing down.

Seeing how tactless he was, Chu Yang simply said, "Demon Lord, don’t you think this scene has one extra person in it?"

Tang Xuejian and Lin Yueru could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.

Chonglou suddenly understood what Chu Yang meant. He turned and stared at him, his gaze gradually turning dangerous.

"Shouldn’t our second match be starting about now?"

Chonglou spoke with clear hostility.

"Not at all, not at all. You have yet to fulfill our first agreement, Demon Lord. Surely the mighty Demon Lord will not leave a debt unpaid?"

Chu Yang smiled brightly.

Chonglou froze for a moment. "You said it yourself just now—the Demon Imprisonment Tower was repaired by me!"

Chu Yang said admiringly, "Demon Lord, you bear the world in your heart and serve as a model for the rest of us. But what does that have to do with our agreement?"

Afraid Chu Yang did not understand, Chonglou explained again, "If I watched the tower collapse, many people would die, including those you asked me to protect."

Chu Yang went for a second round. "Demon Lord, you bear the world—"

"Enough!" Chonglou’s face turned red with anger. Now he was red from head to toe, truly becoming a red-furred monster.

Even Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan could not hold back their laughter.

Chonglou, who had been fuming moments ago, suddenly calmed down again, making Chu Yang shake his head.

Tsk, tsk. Love Brains were terrifying.

"Change the agreement. I am not suited to do this."

For Chonglou to say such words was practically the same as begging Chu Yang.

"Please wait a moment, Demon Lord."

Chu Yang walked over to Zi Xuan and asked her to take out the Sacred Relic Pearl. Zi Xuan seemed to guess what he intended and hesitated somewhat.

Xu Changqing smiled. "Give the Sacred Relic Pearl to Junior Brother."

Hearing that, Zi Xuan no longer hesitated and handed the Sacred Relic Pearl to Chu Yang.

Another love brain!

Chu Yang wrapped six spirit pearls in true essence. The Five Spirit Orbs each occupied one point, forming a pentagram, while the Sacred Relic Pearl sat at the center. It was a miniature Five Spirit Formation.

The Five Spirit Formation began operating. The spiritual power of the five elements circulated endlessly, continuously repairing the damaged Sacred Relic Pearl.

The Demon Lord’s eyes lit up, and he nodded in praise. "So the Five Spirit Formation can be used like this. Your talent in Array Dao surpasses that old Daoist Qing Wei’s by quite a bit."

The elders looked awkward, while Qing Wei alone stroked his beard and laughed loudly. "Talents rise one after another. This is a sign of Shu Mountain’s revival!"

The Sword Saint looked at Chu Yang, Xu Changqing, and the other young disciples, suddenly falling into deep thought as though engaged in some inner struggle.

After a long while, he turned to the Drunken Sword Immortal and asked, "Junior Brother, do you think the Sword Sect has a chance to reclaim the name Shu Mountain Sect within the next century?"

The Drunken Sword Immortal solemnly shook his head. "Senior Brother, if the Qi Sect only had Xu Changqing while we took in Li Xiaoyao, the two sects could contend. But now the Qi Sect has a disciple as monstrously gifted as Chu Yang. He can practically suppress the Sword Sect for centuries, even millennia, until he ascends and becomes an immortal."

"Centuries, even millennia…" The Sword Saint looked melancholy and lost. "I often wonder—if there had been no Sword Qi Competition back then, if we had united the strength of both sects, we would have had enough power to stop Jiang Ming after he fell to demonic ways and wreaked havoc upon Shu Mountain."

"And Qing Wei and the others were so desperate to use forbidden arts to increase their cultivation back then, creating a monster like the Evil Sword Immortal, because the Sword Sect placed too much pressure upon the Qi Sect."

"In the end, the Sword Qi Competition has poisoned Shu Mountain for far too many years…"

The Drunken Sword Immortal seemed to hear a certain realization in the Sword Saint’s words. His expression became deeply shocked. Instinctively, he reached down for a drink to calm himself, only to discover that his wine gourd had long since disappeared from his waist.

He could only swallow hard several times and mutter, "Shu Mountain is truly about to change!"

A while later, Chu Yang finished repairing the Sacred Relic Pearl with the Five Spirit Orbs and the Five Spirit Formation, then returned it to Zi Xuan.

The Five Spirit Orbs had also dimmed as a result. Without several centuries, they likely could not recover their power.

Just as everyone wondered how Chu Yang would deal with the Five Spirit Orbs, they saw him hand the pearls to Chonglou with a smile. "I’ll leave the restoration of the Five Spirit Orbs to the Demon Lord!"

Back then, Zi Xuan had not wanted Chonglou to repair the Sacred Relic Pearl. First, she disliked how relentlessly he pursued her. Second, she did not want Magic Power to taint the Sacred Relic Pearl, because it held extraordinary significance—it was where the sacred souls of every generation of Descendants of Nüwa returned.

Chu Yang took a roundabout approach. He used the Five Spirit Orbs to repair the Sacred Relic Pearl, then had Chonglou restore the Five Spirit Orbs. This way, everyone was happy and no one felt uncomfortable.

"You trust me that much? I am of the demon race, the most fickle and unpredictable of all!"

"You jest, Demon Lord. Had you not come today, the situation would have become far worse. Chu Yang will remember this in his heart."

A fleeting smile appeared at the corner of Chonglou’s lips. He then nodded and accepted the Five Spirit Orbs.

Restoring the nearly depleted Five Spirit Orbs would take even him quite some time.

Cang Gu and the others seemed to have objections, but Qing Wei forcefully suppressed them all.

"Since our agreement has been fulfilled, when shall we hold our next match?"

As soon as Chonglou said this, worry appeared on everyone’s faces.

They did not know how Chu Yang would handle things this time.

Chu Yang glanced at Jing Tian, and an idea struck him. "Last time, we compared strength. How about comparing techniques this time?"

Chonglou nodded. "Fine."

Then he pointed at Jing Tian. "You too."

Jing Tian’s face paled in shock.

Tang Xuejian stepped forward and shielded Jing Tian behind her. With her hands on her hips, she said, "He’s the weakest among you. Why drag him in? Afraid you’ll lose and embarrass yourself?"

Chonglou’s face turned livid.

Jing Tian covered Tang Xuejian’s mouth again. He was nearly losing count of how many times he had performed this action.

Chonglou opened a teleportation formation and entered it with a dark expression.

"Junior Brother, be careful!"

After Chu Yang stepped in, Xu Changqing hurriedly called out a warning. Chu Yang nodded at him before entering the formation.

Jing Tian hesitated for a moment, then pulled free from Tang Xuejian’s grasp and walked toward the formation.

Tang Xuejian stomped her feet in anger, deciding that when he returned, she would give him a proper scolding.

"Wait, young man." Qing Wei stepped forward and handed Jing Tian something. It was a mirror-shaped magical artifact. He explained, "This is called the Mystic Light Mirror. It is an artifact I use to contact Shu Mountain disciples, and it can let us see what is happening on the other side."

Jing Tian accepted the Mystic Light Mirror and entered the formation beneath everyone’s watchful eyes. When he appeared on the other side, a breathtakingly beautiful scene met his gaze.

"This is the New Immortal Realm. Fei Peng and I discovered this place together back then. To claim it, we fought for thousands of years, until Fei Peng was banished to the mortal world. This place has never changed, but Fei Peng…"

Chonglou shook his head in disappointment.

Jing Tian felt like he was being insulted, but he had no proof.

Chu Yang said, "Demon Lord, you brought Jing Tian here because you intend to teach him some things, so that he can grow stronger soon, fight you, and fulfill your wish."

For the first time, Chonglou smiled. "You are very clever, unlike the others. Compared to Fei Peng’s return, I now look forward more to your growth. One day, you and I will have a fair fight!"

Their duel began under Jing Tian’s witness. Chu Yang used his proudest swordsmanship to face Chonglou.

Since making his name, Chonglou had experienced countless battles. Whether in awareness or experience, he utterly surpassed Chu Yang. His techniques—or rather, his combat skills—had been gradually forged through endless slaughter.

Every move was a killing move.

Neither side used true essence or spiritual power. They competed purely through techniques, though physical ability still provided the necessary foundation.

In that regard, Chu Yang held the advantage.

Then came the difference in their techniques.

Chonglou’s moves were more concise and direct, techniques made solely for slaughter. Chu Yang’s moves, however, contained the principles of heaven and earth and possessed the embryonic form of Dao.

Watching through the Mystic Light Mirror, Qing Wei could not help but sigh. "The threshold of the fourth realm of cultivation, Refining Emptiness to Dao, is practically nonexistent to Chu Yang. Once his cultivation reaches the proper level, he can merge with Dao and become an immortal at any time. His ascension is certain."

Cang Gu and the other elders could not help but smile bitterly. Cultivating Dao and becoming immortals was what they had pursued all their lives, yet for Chu Yang, it seemed as simple as eating and drinking.

Tang Xuejian did not fully understand. She only knew that Chu Yang could become an immortal. Looking at the foolish-looking Jing Tian again, she could not help feeling that the gap between people was truly enormous.

Everyone’s past life was extraordinary. Why were you the only idiot?

Li Xiaoyao stared fixedly at the Mystic Light Mirror, absorbing Chu Yang’s swordsmanship completely like a sponge and silently deducing it in his mind.

Sword arts from several worlds collided in his mind, sparking brilliance. After long accumulation, a world-shaking sword Dao was about to be born.

Fighting a Demon Lord who had lived for who knew how long placed an enormous strain upon Chu Yang’s mind. His Observation Haki had nearly failed completely, leaving him unable to predict his opponent’s next move.

The only thing that could still be of some use was the Rinnegan.

Chu Yang relied on the Rinnegan to capture Chonglou’s moves and learn from them. His offensive style also increasingly resembled Chonglou’s.

Chonglou likewise sensed that Chu Yang’s swordsmanship was gradually discarding its former weightiness and becoming sharper, simpler, and more direct.

"Not bad. But if you only imitate me blindly, you will merely lose faster!"

Chonglou gave him a reminder.

Of course Chu Yang knew he would lose that way. He merely wanted to see how Chonglou responded to his attacks, then incorporate those responses into his own swordsmanship.

Having the person who made the test take it himself, then copying his answers, might not be the righteous path in most people’s eyes, but it was the most suitable method for the present situation.

The battle lasted unexpectedly long. A full day and night passed before Chu Yang and Chonglou finally determined the victor.

Chu Yang won by exactly one move.

Chonglou seemed to have expected his loss long ago. He merely said, "Don’t make me protect anyone," before entering the teleportation formation and vanishing.

"Hey, hey, hey! At least open the way back!"

Chu Yang silently cursed Chonglou for being petty. Then he flew back to Shu Mountain on his sword with Jing Tian, taking more than half a day.

With the Demon Imprisonment Tower repaired, Shu Mountain’s greatest crisis in centuries had been resolved. The entire mountain was filled with celebration.

Li Xiaoyao and the others took the opportunity to request entry into the Shu Mountain Sect to study swordsmanship and Daoist arts.

Since they had contributed to gathering the Five Spirit Orbs, Qing Wei and the Sword Saint, the two Sect Leaders, both nodded in agreement.

Late that night.

Qing Wei, Sect Leader of the Shu Mountain Sect, Cang Gu, and the other four elders, along with Dugu Sword Saint, Sect Leader of the Xianjian Sect, the Drunken Sword Immortal, and seven others, gathered in the Ancestral Hall to discuss Shu Mountain’s future survival.

Whether it was the Jiang Ming rebellion several decades ago or today’s disaster at the Demon Imprisonment Tower, both had made them realize that Shu Mountain could not continue like this.

Dugu Sword Saint was the first to propose merging the Sword Sect and Qi Sect to establish the Shu Mountain Xianjian Sect.

Moved by the Sword Saint’s resolve, Qing Wei agreed to the proposal without hesitation.

Once the leaders of both sects made their decision, everyone else’s opinions became far less important. After all, no one dared openly defy the decisions of both Sect Leaders at once. The merger of Shu Mountain’s sword and qi branches thus became inevitable.

However, the matter was not entirely smooth.

"After the merger, who should serve as Sect Leader of Shu Mountain?"

"There cannot be two Sect Leaders at the same time, can there?"

The question raised by the Drunken Sword Immortal plunged everyone into silence.

It was not that the others had not considered it. They simply felt that this was not the right time to discuss such a sensitive issue. One careless word could destroy the understanding they had worked so hard to reach tonight.

Everyone in the hall treasured this opportunity.

After a long while, Qing Wei laughed heartily. "Since Junior Brother Sword Saint can set aside old grievances and propose merging Shu Mountain, this old Daoist should naturally respond in kind. The position of Sect Leader after the merger shall be held by Junior Brother Sword Saint!"

Cang Gu, Jing Ming, and the other elders cried out in unison, "Sect Leader, please reconsider!"

Qing Wei shook his head. "My mind is made up. Junior Brothers, there is no need to say more."

Cang Gu let out a long sigh, turned his back, and said no more.

The Sword Saint looked steadily at Qing Wei and said, "Senior Brother, there is no need for this."

Qing Wei smiled. "It is not that your Senior Brother is deliberately yielding the position to you. The truth is, I am already old. If I do not make a greater effort now, I fear I will have no hope of ascending in this lifetime. It is time for me to set down this burden and rest properly."

The Sword Saint stood there silently.

When he had still been an ordinary Sword Sect disciple, Qing Wei had already been the Qi Sect’s Sect Leader. They called each other senior and junior brothers only because, after the Jiang Ming rebellion, the Sword Saint had assumed the position of Sect Leader at an early age, allowing them to interact as equals.

Qing Wei truly had reached the age where he could pass away and ascend at any moment.

Qing Wei continued persuading him. "Junior Brother’s reputation as the Sword Saint far surpasses this old man’s. Only under your protection can Shu Mountain travel farther in the future."

With matters put so plainly, everyone assumed the Sword Saint would naturally accept. Yet he still shook his head.

Even the Drunken Sword Immortal could not help looking puzzled. He bluntly said, "Senior Brother, what are you playing at? You are normally so straightforward. Why are you being so wishy-washy today?"

Seeing everyone’s eyes fixed on him, the Sword Saint smiled faintly and explained, "With the two sects merged, Shu Mountain will become an entirely new sect. Since it is a new sect, it should have a new outlook. Old fellows like us are not suited to become the Sect Leader of this new sect."

The Drunken Sword Immortal wore a strange expression and teased, "You will not do it, and he will not do it. Don’t tell me I am supposed to do it? Or should Xu Changqing or that brat Chu Yang—"

His voice abruptly cut off. He suddenly turned his head and stared at the Sword Saint in shock.

The Sword Saint burst into laughter. "What? Is that brat not fit to be Shu Mountain’s Sect Leader?"

For a moment, the Ancestral Hall was filled with sharp gasps!

Qing Wei furrowed his brows slightly and fell into thought.

"He is fit! Of course he is fit!" The Drunken Sword Immortal hurriedly pulled out a new wine gourd and raised it to his mouth, gulping down several mouthfuls before letting out a long breath.

Senior Brother Sword Saint’s drunken madness was even worse than mine!

Cang Gu hesitated. "Would that not be too risky? A Yang’s past life may have been…"

The Sword Saint said calmly, "Who he was in his past life is beyond my control. But in this life, he is a Shu Mountain disciple. So long as he has not been expelled from the sect, he will be a Shu Mountain disciple for life!"