A black cloud carried the members of the Demon Exorcism Hall into the distance, vanishing from sight a moment later.

The tense atmosphere that had hung over the crowd for so long finally eased.

"This..."

Kan Feichen began, offering an apologetic salute.

"Zhu..."

"Sect Leader!"

Before he could even decide how to address Zhu Ju, Jiang Qiu, the Hall Master of the Talisman Hall, had already fallen to his knees. With tears in his eyes and a voice thick with emotion, he cried out:

"Sect Leader Zhu, we have guarded the Sect for hundreds of years. At long last, we have awaited your arrival!"

"Hmm?"

"Ah!"

"..."

The Sword Sect disciples looked on in astonishment.

Zhu Ju wore a strange expression himself; the corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch. "Hall Master Jiang, what is the meaning of this?"

"Sect Leader." Jiang Qiu looked up, his expression grave.

"It’s not that I am trying to curry favor, but the Sword Control Method you just demonstrated... was that the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control?"

"Well..." Zhu Ju slowly nodded.

"I am indeed familiar with this Sword Technique."

The True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control he had comprehended from the Ten Thousand Swords Map contained numerous Sword Manipulation Methods, which he had, of course, integrated into his own Five Elements Sword Technique.

Although Jiang Qiu’s personality was somewhat weak, one had to admit that as the Sword Sect’s foremost expert, his insight was remarkable.

He had actually managed to discern the nuances of his Sword Manipulation Techniques.

"Sect Leader, there is something you don’t know." Jiang Qiu was overjoyed and said:

"The True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control is the core of the Sword Sect’s many Sword Control Methods. You could say that all of the Sword Sect’s Methods evolved from this one."

"Unfortunately!"

"A long, long time ago, the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control was lost."

"The Sword Sect ancestors left behind a final decree: if, one day, someone could recover the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control, that person would be the Sect Leader of the Sword Sect."

He looked directly at Zhu Ju and declared loudly:

"We have guarded the Sect through many bitter years, and have finally lived to see the day the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control has reappeared and welcomed our new Sect Leader."

"This..." Xiao Meng, the Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall, looked puzzled. She turned to Kan Feichen, who was being supported by Su Fei.

"Senior Brother Kan, is there really such a rule in the Sect?"

’I know about the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control, and its importance to the Sword Sect is obvious,’ she thought. ’But I’ve never heard that whoever finds it automatically becomes the Sect Leader.’ ’Besides, it doesn’t make sense.’ ’After all, even though the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control is called the ’Origin of Sword Formulas,’ it’s just a foundational Sword Control Method.’ ’The person who obtains it might not even be that strong. How could they lead the Sword Sect?’ ’But Jiang Qiu spoke with such certainty, as if it were an undeniable fact.’ ’As the longest-serving of the four Hall Masters, Kan Feichen ought to know the truth of the matter.’

"..."

Faced with Xiao Meng’s questioning gaze, Kan Feichen’s eyes shifted. He then broke free from Su Fei’s grasp and knelt.

"Kan Feichen, Hall Master of the Sharp Gold Hall, greets the Sect Leader!"

’So it’s true,’ she thought.

Xiao Meng nodded and followed his example, kneeling to the ground.

"Xiao Meng, Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall, pays respects to the Sect Leader!"

WHOOSH...

With all three Hall Masters kneeling, the other disciples no longer had any doubts. They all dropped to their knees in unison, shouting loudly:

"We disciples of the Sword Sect pay our respects to the Sect Leader!"

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

"..."

"Everyone," Zhu Ju began slowly.

"I’m afraid this matter requires more careful consideration."

"There’s no need for that!" Jiang Qiu looked up and exclaimed loudly.

"In terms of seniority, you are our elder. In terms of Cultivation and strength, you are no weaker than a Second Decline Demon True Man. And in terms of Sect rules, the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control is irrefutable proof. The position of Sect Leader of the Sword Sect is yours by right; you are the only one worthy."

"Sect Leader!"

"From this day forward, the four halls of the Sword Sect will look to you for leadership. Everything the Sword Sect possesses is yours to command!"

Hmm?

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

Then, a carefree smile spread across his face.

*

*

*

In a side hall.

The three Hall Masters dismissed everyone else and gathered together.

Kan Feichen shot Jiang Qiu a cold look, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"What a brilliant scheme, Junior Brother. Knowing the Demon Exorcism Hall won’t let this go, you’re willing to give away the position of Sect Leader just to deal with them."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Meng asked, her expression one of surprise.

"The person who recovers the True Understanding of Divine Soul Sword Control becomes the Sect Leader... wasn’t that a decree left by the Sect’s ancestors?"

"Hmph!" Jiang Qiu snorted.

"Whether it was or not is irrelevant now. As of today, Zhu Ju is the Sect Leader of the Sword Sect."

"Senior Brother Kan, didn’t you acknowledge it as well?"

Kan Feichen’s face turned ashen.

He knew perfectly well that Jiang Qiu was lying, but given the Sword Sect’s current situation, they truly couldn’t afford to lose Zhu Ju.

"Let it go."

Jiang Qiu’s voice softened as he tried to persuade them.

"He is, after all, a member of the Sword Sect, and a Treasure Artifact True Man at that. We don’t lose out by making him Sect Leader."

"You two."

Straightening his sleeves, he started to walk.

"The Sect Leader is still waiting for us. We mustn’t keep him waiting."

"Let’s go!"

Kan Feichen stared at his back, his fists tightening, before he finally moved to follow. Xiao Meng could only sigh in resignation.

It had already come to this; there was no point in saying anything more. ’Might as well go with the flow,’ she thought. ’After all, like Jiang Qiu said, having a True Man as our Sect Leader is hardly a loss.’

The Main Hall.

Under the power of a Mysterious Technique, the shattered stones and broken beams were reassembled in just a few moments.

From the outside, it looked as if it had never been damaged at all.

The Everlasting Lamps were lit. Under the night sky, the great hall was as bright as day.

Zhu Ju sat upon the large, central tiger-skin throne, his brow slightly lowered as an invisible aura of pressure silently emanated from him.

The three Hall Masters felt their hearts clench, and they subconsciously held their breath.

’This new Sect Leader looks to be in his twenties at most. How does he have the kind of aura that only comes from being in a position of power for a long time?’

Though Jiang Qiu was inwardly puzzled, his expression remained placid. He offered a salute and said:

"Sect Leader."

"Your subordinate has already arranged for a residence to be prepared for you on the mountain. It is fully furnished, and you may head over at your leisure."

"There’s no hurry." Zhu Ju slowly sat up straighter, asking in a measured tone,

"Have the funeral arrangements for the Hall Master of the Fire Separation Hall been properly made?"

"The funeral will be held in seven days," Kan Feichen replied.

"There are established procedures for this. I will assist the disciples of the Fire Separation Hall to ensure everything is handled correctly."

"Good." Zhu Ju nodded.

"I am very interested in the legacies of your four halls. Might I take a look?"

"Of course!" Jiang Qiu agreed without hesitation. He took out several scrolls containing Visualization Images and presented them on the desk.

"These are the eight legacies of the Talisman Hall, including the Invisible Sword Visualization Image that I myself practice. They are all here."

Kan Feichen and Xiao Meng exchanged a look. After a brief hesitation, they too handed over their respective Visualization Techniques.

These days, Cultivators who walk the path of Treasure Artifacts were exceedingly rare.

Those with their own established inheritances wouldn’t give the Sword Sect’s legacies a second glance, even if they were laid out right in front of them.

And this was especially true for a True Man.

"Hmm?"

Zhu Ju, who was looking through the Visualization Images, suddenly raised his head in surprise.

"The Invisible Sword..."

"Is it a Magical Treasure?"

"A Magical Treasure?" Jiang Qiu paused, stunned for a moment, before replying,

"The Invisible Sword is a Spiritual Artifact, which is indeed different from an ordinary Treasure. But that was a thousand years ago. By now, the Invisible Sword has long since lost most of its Spirituality and is a shadow of its former self."

A Spiritual Artifact?

’So, what they call a Spiritual Artifact is a Magical Treasure in the Main World,’ he thought.

Zhu Ju nodded slowly, lost in thought.

’I never expected the Sword Sect’s ultimate legacy wouldn’t be a High Grade Spiritual Artifact, but a full-fledged Magical Treasure.’ ’No wonder the Sword Sect was once called the greatest Daoist Sect in the world. With a Magical Treasure, wouldn’t they be able to crush even a Second Decline True Man?’

A pity!

Time flows on.

Countless years had passed, and the once-great Magical Treasure had lost its Spirituality, degenerating into a mere Magical Artifact.

The resources of this world had been harvested for countless years and were now all but depleted. Forget Magical Treasures, even forging a new High Grade Spiritual Artifact was nearly impossible now.

However...

’It might be impossible here, but in the Main World, there’s still a chance!’

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Zhu Ju continued his questioning. "How long has it been since the Sword Sect produced a True Man?"

"Well..." Jiang Qiu’s expression shifted.

"It has been nearly two hundred years."

"Senior Brother," Xiao Meng interjected with a frown.

"I know Yun Wuya’s crimes are unforgivable, but he was still a member of our Sword Sect when he became a True Man."

"Sect Leader."

Xiao Meng offered a salute.

"Thirty years ago, someone from the Sword Sect did achieve the rank of True Man. It was the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, Yun Wuya."

"He has now even mastered the technique of Sword Light Division, and his strength is comparable to that of a Second Decline True Man."

"Oh?" Zhu Ju showed his surprise.

"The Sword Sect has such an expert among its former members? Why not ask for his help when you were in trouble?"

"Sect Leader!" Jiang Qiu’s voice rose, a rare expression of fury contorting his face.

"That man has already fallen to the Demon Dao! He will stop at nothing to advance his Cultivation, even if it means killing his brothers and murdering his master..."

"As long as the Sword Sect still stands, we and he are sworn enemies!"

He hadn’t been this agitated even when facing the pressure from the Demon Exorcism Hall, or when filled with indignation over Wang Huo’s death.

"Sect Leader."

Kan Feichen spoke up.

"That Yun Wuya was a disciple of the Talisman Hall. In order to gather the resources he needed to advance, he killed many Sword Sect disciples."

"That included his own master, the previous Hall Master of the Talisman Hall. Junior Brother Jiang’s wife was also killed that day."

"So..."

"He has been expelled from the Sword Sect!"

So that’s how it was!

Zhu Ju finally understood. Looking at Jiang Qiu again, seeing his ashen face and bloodshot eyes, he couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

’Even a pathetic man has his pitiable aspects.’

Perhaps it was because he had experienced that tragedy all those years ago that Jiang Qiu was willing to endure the Demon Exorcism Hall’s humiliation just to protect the lives of his disciples.

"I’ve looked at the Visualization Techniques you all cultivate."

Putting down the Visualization Images, Zhu Ju said slowly,

"If you have a suitable Magical Artifact and refine it with your lifeblood, you could absolutely use it to advance to the True Man realm."

"It seems..."

"...it’s not too difficult."

"Sect Leader," Kan Feichen said with a wry smile.

"Take the Sharp Gold Hall’s Red Gold Twin Swords as an example. For me to advance to the True Man realm, I would need five taels of Purple Gold Essence, three Golden Flame Stones, and two portions of Fire-Melted Gold."

"While the Purple Gold Essence and Golden Flame Stone are rare, it’s not impossible to find a way to acquire them. But as for Fire-Melted Gold... no one has seen that for countless years."

"Even if we found some..."

He sighed.

"...the entire fortune of the Sharp Gold Hall combined probably wouldn’t be enough to afford it."

Xiao Meng and Jiang Qiu’s faces were also grim.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t dreamed of one day advancing to the True Man realm, but the path of a Treasure Artifact True Man was exceptionally difficult to begin with.

"There’s no way at all?" Zhu Ju frowned.

"Some Magical Artifacts can be melted down and reforged. Low-Tier Materials aren’t that rare. If you pool your resources, there should be a chance."

"Well, there is a place," Xiao Meng admitted with a nod.

"The Spider Cave in Tianzui City sells all sorts of rare materials, but everyone who goes there is a True Man."

"If we went..."

"...I’m afraid we’d be picked clean, with nothing left."

The Spider Cave?

Zhu Ju lightly tapped the armrest, falling into deep thought.

「After a long moment.」

He spoke slowly.

"List all the assets of the four halls. Anything that can be exchanged for Spirit Jade should be converted as quickly as possible."

"I have a use for it."

"Sect Leader!"

The expressions of the three Hall Masters changed drastically.

Kan Feichen said hurriedly,

"The Sword Sect has nearly a thousand disciples! Their daily needs and Cultivation require a great deal of resources. How can we touch those assets so lightly?"

"Please, reconsider!"

Xiao Meng nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Even Jiang Qiu was secretly starting to regret his decision, wondering if he had just led a wolf into their den.

’He just became Sect Leader, and he hasn’t even warmed the seat yet, but he already wants to empty the coffers of the four halls? Isn’t he being a bit too hasty?’

"The Sword Sect needs more True Men. I alone am not enough," Zhu Ju said, his voice unhurried.

"If the resources of one hall aren’t enough, then we’ll pool the resources of all four. That will surely be enough to fund one person’s advancement to the True Man realm."

"Once we have another True Man, it won’t be too late to earn more money!"

’He needed to observe the process of a Great Mage advancing to the True Man realm to gain experience for himself, and he didn’t have the luxury of time to wait.’ ’These people in front of him were the perfect candidates.’

Hmm?

At his words, the three of them snapped their heads up, their eyes burning with a fervent light.