Chapter 962: Assuming the Role of Sect Master, An Unexpected Reward
The hall fell into a profound silence, where even a pin drop could be heard.
“I—”
Finally, Jiang Chengxuan raised his head and spoke slowly.
“I, Jiang Chengxuan, am willing to accept the position of Sect Master of the Haoran Sect. From this moment on, I will dedicate myself to the welfare of the Haoran Sect, tirelessly serve its disciples, and uphold the ethos that if the sect exists, I exist; if the sect perishes, so do I.”
His resolute oath seemed to have the power to split stone, filled with an unwavering will and determination.
Jiang Chengxuan was never one to seek the spotlight. Rather than leading the pack, he preferred to pursue the Dao on his own terms, free from entanglements.
However, his achievements in the Floodgate Realm today were undoubtedly rooted in the foundation provided by the Haoran Sect.
And the nurturing he received from Qin Shenwu and Xue Ping had been immensely beneficial.
He owed a debt of gratitude and a sense of responsibility, which he was now ready to repay.
Moreover, considering the entire Haoran Sect, there truly was no better candidate than him.
In terms of reputation, he was almost on par with his Shifu, Qin Shenwu; in terms of strength, he had long since proven himself through his deeds.
In terms of talent and capability, no one else possessed the confidence that he did.
At this point, he was placed on a high pedestal, and the position of Sect Master was such that anyone else in his place might face dissent.
Because of his presence, it would be difficult for others to command the same respect.
censure”Heaven grants this opportunity, and to not accept it would be to incur its censure.”
After thorough consideration, Jiang Chengxuan resolutely agreed.
“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!”
Hearing Jiang Chengxuan’s acceptance, Xue Ping’s face lit up with joy, the excitement of a generation’s Sect Master palpable as he repeated his approval thrice.
Qin Shenwu also showed a look of relief and joy. After so many years, his disciple had finally achieved renown and authority, becoming a dominant leader.
As the Sect Master of the Haoran Sect, his status was now immensely prestigious, ranking among the top ten in the Floodgate Realm.
“Chengxuan, from today onwards, the Haoran Sect is in your hands. I hope you can lead it to greater heights.”
In that moment, Xue Ping’s emotions were complex, but ultimately, he passed the symbol of the Sect Master to Jiang Chengxuan.
He recalled much at that moment—the days of his youth when he joined the Haoran Sect, his rise through numerous challenges with great vigor, and eventually taking on the mantle of Sect Master.
Under his leadership, the Haoran Sect had navigated through perilous times and undoubtedly improved.
He felt he had fulfilled the legacy passed down by the previous Sect Master.
Overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings, Xue Ping’s gaze was intensely emotional.
The Sect Master token was accepted by Jiang Chengxuan with both hands, then with a grand gesture by Xue Ping, the entire Sect Master Hall burst into brilliant light, releasing an ancient aura as mystical forces flowed down, unlocking the restrictions on the Sect Master token.
“Chengxuan, inscribe your Dao marks.”
Xue Ping instructed, now that the token had been cleansed of his aura and lay unclaimed.
This procedure could only be completed within the Sect Master Hall, so the token was safe from being misplaced.
“Okay.”
Jiang Chengxuan responded solemnly, then with a gesture, his body’s Dao rules manifested—the Great Dao rule of Five Elements, Samsara, and Creation converged, and were inscribed onto the Sect Master token.
This was now the best symbol of Jiang Chengxuan’s identity.
Rumble!
The Sect Master Hall trembled mightily as the token burst forth with stunning radiance.
In that instant, Jiang Chengxuan felt new, indescribable connections forming in his heart.
Towards the Sect Master Hall and the entire Haoran Sect, he felt a strange affinity as if they could understand his words.
This solemn occasion was thus simply concluded.
From that moment, Jiang Chengxuan officially became the Sect Master of the Haoran Sect!
[Ding!]
Just then, a system notification echoed in Jiang Chengxuan’s mind.
[Congratulations, host, for achieving the milestone of inheriting the position of Sect Master of the Haoran Sect.]
[Reward: Immortal Blessing Jade Token]
[Upon use, receive the blessing of the Immortal Beings from the Haoran Sect in the Immortal Realm for one breath’s time, granting the combat power of an immortal.]
Hearing this, Jiang Chengxuan’s heart skipped a beat. This reward, linked to the Immortal Realm, allowed the user to momentarily possess the combat power of an immortal.
It was an astonishingly powerful tool, equivalent to a lifesaving trump card.
Indeed, taking on the enormous responsibility of the Haoran Sect’s Sect Master had brought with it significant rewards.
Jiang Chengxuan’s resolve as the new Sect Master was reinforced, fully embracing his role at the pinnacle of the Haoran Sect.
“Ha ha ha, I, Xue Ping, now greet the Sect Master.”
Having relinquished the burdens of Sect Master, Xue Ping felt noticeably lighter, joking cheerfully for the first time in many years.
Hearing this, Jiang Chengxuan could only smile.
“Ha ha ha, Chengxuan, the burdens of a Sect Master are not light; prepare yourself well,” Qin Shenwu chimed in, approaching Jiang Chengxuan and patting his shoulder.
As the sole Mahayana Daolord within the sect, his status was essentially on par with that of the Sect Master.
“Yes, although the task is daunting, I will certainly not let the Haoran Sect down,” Jiang Chengxuan replied firmly, knowing that from now on, all his decisions must prioritize the sect’s interests.
“Alright, Chengxuan, let me use the last of my energy to help you get acquainted with the treasures exclusive to the Sect Master.”
Following this, under Xue Ping’s guidance, Jiang Chengxuan quickly became familiar with the responsibilities and the vast array of powers available to the Sect Master.
He gained a deeper understanding of the specific rights and capabilities that came with the role.
Among the most important were the powers related to the immortal ancestors of the Haoran Sect in the higher realms.
These included the privilege to request immortal treasures’ projection and power enhancement, as well as the ability to communicate with the immortal ancestors of the Haoran Sect in the mysterious realms above.
These two powers were exclusive to the holder of the Sect Master token.
Requesting immortal treasure projection involved invoking the power of immortal beings to enhance one’s Dharmic power temporarily, breaking through limits.
The extent of immortal power one could harness was directly proportional to the individual’s capacity to withstand it, making it a formidable tool.
Communicating with immortal ancestors was a more abstract way to leverage immortal power.
It was clear that as the Sect Master of the Haoran Sect, one could indeed make contact with immortal beings above.
But the specifics of how these interactions would influence the lower realms were less certain.
Perhaps, these connections were related to the causality and the ability to comprehend the heavenly secrets that came with the role of Sect Master.
At least for Jiang Chengxuan, who possessed the sixth level of Heavenly Calculation Technique, he had a clear feeling of the connection.