Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Stripped of the Sect Master’s Position

Song Wanning ripped away the Sect Master’s fig leaf, announcing his long-hidden secret to the public.

The crowd instantly erupted in an uproar.

The Sect Master’s face turned crimson. He stared at Song Wanning in disbelief, clearly never having expected his secret to be exposed.

Thinking back on recent events, he seemed to understand something. He pointed an angry finger at Song Wanning and cursed, "So it was you! You were the one scheming behind my back, trying to take me down, weren’t you?"

"I’m just supporting a few women. It’s not like I’ve done anything outrageous! This is my private business. What right do you have to accuse me?"

With the cautionary tale of the Mountain Gazing Sect’s Sect Master, his own messy affair would at most be criticized, not considered a major transgression.

"We indeed can’t control you for keeping women, but if you use the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s resources to support them, then we *must* get involved!"

Song Wanning’s expression was icy, and she paid no mind to the impact her words would have on the disciples.

’Now that I’ve made my move against the Sect Master, I have to take him down in one fell swoop and force him out of that position.’

"Do you dare swear a Heart Demon Oath that you haven’t spent a single coin of the Sect’s money on those women, or on their families?"

As a Sect Master, it was a tacitly accepted fact that one would skim some benefits from the position.

Otherwise, in a world where cultivation was paramount, who would sacrifice their time to handle such mundane affairs?

But the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s Sect Master’s biggest problem was that he had already lost the people’s support. Now that this point was brought up, it became a major offense.

The Sect Master naturally understood this as well.

He didn’t dare swear the Heart Demon Oath.

"Song Wanning, don’t you go too far! Today was supposed to be about resolving the matter with Lu Nanfeng. How did this turn on me?"

"I see you’re just trying to settle a personal score!"

The Sect Master roared, his face flushed deep red.

He had never imagined that one day, someone would point at him like this and demand he step down from his position.

Throughout history, which past Sect Master had ever resigned before advancing to the Divinity Transformation realm?

If he really were to step down, he would become a complete laughingstock forever after.

"That’s right, you guessed it. I *am* settling a personal score. So what?"

Song Wanning’s expression was open as she admitted to her own selfish motives.

A disdainful smile played on her lips as she continued without backing down, "But have I said a single thing that was wrong?"

"You repeatedly targeted me for Gu Qingyuan’s sake, even endangering my disciple’s life. So what if this is my revenge?"

She looked at the elders and disciples. "Right now, I just want to ask: does everyone feel the same way I do? Does everyone believe that you, Sect Master, can no longer distinguish right from wrong and are unfit for this position?"

Her gaze swept swiftly over everyone, but instead of inspiring fear, it gave them confidence.

’Song Wanning never hides her intentions. She’s open and honest about what she truly thinks. That kind of person is always better than a hypocrite like the Sect Master!’

A glint flashed in the Second Elder’s eyes, and she immediately voiced her support.

’I’ve already completely offended the Sect Master anyway. We might as well unite and take him down.’

"I agree with Junior Sister Song’s assessment!"

With her taking the lead, several more elders stepped forward to express their agreement.

The remaining elders said nothing, but no one stepped up to speak in the Sect Master’s defense either.

Seeing that the elders had made their stance clear, the disciples also began to chime in, shouting for the Sect Master to be replaced.

At first, it was just a few people, then a dozen, then twenty, then a hundred...

More and more disciples shouted in unison, clamoring for the Sect Master to be replaced.

Such a scene was a truly rare sight to behold.

The members of the Lu Family were all dumbfounded. Who would have thought that coming here to seek justice would lead to them witnessing Song Wanning stage a coup?

His wary gaze fell upon Song Wanning.

’This woman is a ruthless one, daring to do something so outrageous.’

’And yet, she still has the disciples’ support...’

’This Heavenly Inquiry Sect Master’s position is probably no longer secure!’

"You—all of you—"

Listening to the shouts all around him, the Sect Master felt as if a basin of ice-cold water had been poured over his heart.

His face deathly pale, he stared at the crowd, feeling a chill that pierced him to the bone.

’To have dedicated so many years to the Sect, only to end up like this... How tragic, how lamentable!’

"Good! Good! Good!"

The Sect Master couldn’t help but burst into laughter, a desolate tear forming in the corner of his eye.

This time, not even the Seventh Elder stepped forward to speak for him...

’He knew he had lost. Utterly and completely defeated.’

But he was unwilling to give up just like that.

"I will petition the Ancestor! Even if I have no great merits, I have toiled tirelessly for all these years! I believe the Ancestor will stand by my side!"

The Sect Master took out a Communication Talisman, his hand trembling slightly. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’This was his last chance. As long as the Ancestor refused, these people would have no choice but to swallow their defiance.’

However, before he could send his message, a Communication Talisman from the Ancestor arrived first.

He hurriedly activated it, only to hear words that made him feel as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar.

"He Xiao, Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect, has governed the Sect poorly and shown favoritism in defiance of Sect rules. He is unfit for this great responsibility. Effective immediately, he is stripped of his title as Sect Master and will assume the position of an elder."

The Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s recent demotion had already enraged the sole remaining Ancestor. Now that the Sect had become a laughingstock, how could he possibly tolerate this?

The Sect Master dazedly dropped the Communication Talisman, his face a mask of shock and disbelief.

The Ancestor...

The Ancestor had actually abandoned him.

’Why?’

’Why?’

’He refused to accept it!’

’He Xiao still didn’t think he had done anything wrong. Everything he did was for the good of the Sect!’

"Sect Master—oh, my mistake, it’s Elder He now. You heard that, didn’t you?"

Song Wanning clicked her tongue, her smile not bothering to hide her gloating. "I was originally going to let you keep a shred of dignity and resign on your own, but you just had to push your luck... *Sigh*."

She let out a theatrical sigh, making He Xiao tremble with rage.

’He finally understood. Song Wanning had calculated everything from the start. She had deliberately not replied to his Communication Talisman to mislead him into making the wrong judgment, then reported him to the Ancestor to seize his position as Sect Master.’

’Her schemes ran so deep.’

"Song Wanning, you did all this just so you could take power, didn’t you? Climbing up on the back of your own disciple’s suffering—your calculations are truly impressive!"

Malice flashed in He Xiao’s eyes. His nails dug into his palms so deeply they broke the skin.

’In his eyes, Song Wanning simply wanted to be the Sect Master, which was why she had schemed so tirelessly to unseat him.’

But Song Wanning simply scoffed at the position of Sect Master.

"There, you’ve guessed wrong. I have no interest in the position of Sect Master. I withdraw from the running."

She gave an innocent shrug, tilted her head at He Xiao, and said with a mischievous smile, "I simply couldn’t stand seeing you as the Sect Master, that’s all!"

"You—"

He Xiao was so enraged his vision went black. The metallic taste of blood rose in his throat, and he almost coughed up a mouthful from sheer fury.

His hands trembled like leaves in the wind, and his vision swam with black spots.

After a long moment, he finally managed to spit out a harsh retort, "The position of Sect Master isn’t one that just anyone can fill! I’d like to see if the next Sect Master does any better than me!"

"When the Heavenly Inquiry Sect eventually falls into decline, you will all realize just how absurdly wrong your decision today was!"