At dawn.
Great Luo Holy Land had already become lively.
All the disciples hurried toward Heaven Worship Hall.
Today was the day the Eldest Senior Brother would be enthroned. From top to bottom, whether True Disciples or outer disciples, everyone had to come to Heaven Worship Hall and witness the Eldest Senior Brother's enthronement with their own eyes.
Outside Heaven Worship Hall, there was room for hundreds of thousands. For today's grand ceremony, there were likewise hundreds of thousands throughout the sect.
The robes of Great Luo disciples were woven from azure and white, exuding an ethereal grace.
"Do you think the Eldest Senior Brother will ascend in broad daylight today?"
"Definitely."
"Ah, to be fortunate enough to witness the magnificent feat of ascending in broad daylight—I truly haven't lived in vain."
"Not necessarily. Perhaps the Eldest Senior Brother is reluctant to leave us behind and doesn't wish to ascend."
"No way. If he can ascend, why wouldn't he? Ascending after three years—such a feat has never been seen before and will never be seen again. If it were me, I'd definitely ascend."
"That is your way of thinking. Who is the Eldest Senior Brother? How can you possibly compare to him?"
The crowd discussed it heatedly. Many believed Lu Changsheng would ascend today, though there were also opposing views.
"He definitely won't ascend. The Eldest Senior Brother adores Eldest Senior Sister—how could he bear to leave her alone in the mortal world?"
"Right, right, right! The Eldest Senior Brother is hopelessly devoted. He definitely won't abandon Eldest Senior Sister."
Before long, several female cultivators spoke up and gave an affirmative answer.
"How do you know the Eldest Senior Brother is so devoted?"
A male disciple asked curiously.
"It says so in the books. Handsome men are all deeply devoted."
The female disciple replied.
"What book?"
The other party pressed on.
"Peerless Prodigy Lu Changsheng."
She immediately answered.
"Who wrote that book?"
"Senior Sister Ziyun's maid wrote it."
—
The commotion at Heaven Worship Hall did not reach Great Luo Palace.
At this very moment.
Inside Great Luo Palace.
Lu Changsheng stood in the middle of the main hall, holding a Jade Slip and studying it intently.
Above the hall, Qingyun Daoist stroked his long beard, his face brimming with pride.
After a while.
Qingyun Daoist's voice gradually rang out.
"Changsheng, what do you think of this proclamation?"
As he spoke, the pride on Qingyun Daoist's face could no longer be concealed.
Yet Lu Changsheng fell somewhat silent.
The so-called proclamation was the text he would have to read after worshipping the heavens shortly.
Most proclamations went roughly like this: I am so-and-so, and now I am becoming so-and-so. From now on, I will do this and that, and I hope everyone will support me in such and such ways. Then it was more or less over.
But the proclamation Qingyun Daoist had given him was truly a little over the top.
It began with a wild bout of self-praise. Its meaning was roughly that after becoming the Eldest Senior Brother, he would lead the sect to new glory, punch the Eastern Land, trample the Western Desert beneath his feet, and stand alone as supreme across heaven and earth.
This was simply absurdly exaggerated.
The problem was that his master was still thoroughly pleased with himself and took great pride in it.
"Master, isn't this proclamation a little too flamboyant?"
Lu Changsheng could not help replying.
"Flamboyant? It isn't flamboyant. How is it flamboyant?" Qingyun Daoist walked down, looked at the proclamation in Lu Changsheng's hands, then said, "Changsheng, this proclamation was written by your master back when I inherited the position of Sect Leader. But your grandmaster stopped me later, so this proclamation became one of my greatest regrets. Today, as you are enthroned as Eldest Senior Brother, I am giving you this treasured proclamation. It can be considered the fulfillment of one of my wishes."
Qingyun Daoist spoke with utmost seriousness.
It truly was impossible to tell that his master possessed such a powerful urge to show off.
Rubbing his temples.
Lu Changsheng truly felt that this proclamation was far too showy.
He wanted to change some of it, but found himself unable to begin.
Wouldn't it be better to keep a low profile?
"Alright, alright. I understand. You are low-key by nature and dislike this sort of thing. But it will be difficult to come up with a better proclamation in such a short time. In another quarter of an hour, the heaven-worship ceremony will begin. If you can think of a better proclamation, I will follow your wishes. If you cannot, then we will use mine."
Qingyun Daoist said so.
Only then did Lu Changsheng understand.
His master had wanted to show off back then, but his grandmaster had forced him to swallow it back. His master had remained bitter over it, so he had placed his hopes on Lu Changsheng.
Yet he knew Lu Changsheng would not do such a thing.
So he had played a dirty trick.
Frowning, Lu Changsheng rubbed his temples again.
Lu Changsheng knew he had been schemed against.
As expected, old ginger was still spicier.
Still, it did not matter. Though he could not think up a proclamation in such a short time, Lu Changsheng knew a few inspirational words.
In the end, the proclamation his master had given him was simply too exaggerated.
Lu Changsheng felt that if he took this proclamation out, he would probably make countless enemies at once.
"The hour of the dragon has arrived!"
Along with the ringing of bells.
The grand ceremony officially began.
A rainbow bridge appeared outside Great Luo Palace, connecting to Heaven Worship Hall.
"Go, Changsheng."
Qingyun Daoist was all smiles.
Clearly, he had already imagined countless disciples boiling with passion because of that proclamation.
After straightening his robes, Lu Changsheng stepped onto the rainbow bridge beneath Qingyun Daoist's watchful gaze.
"The Great Luo Gathering, the Enthronement Ceremony, officially begins!"
A thunderous voice rang out.
Then immortal music began to play, and countless flower petals drifted down from the sky.
Lu Changsheng stood upon the rainbow bridge, and his transcendent bearing instantly became the focal point of the entire gathering.
Countless gazes fell upon him, every one of them filled with shock and disbelief.
Many people had never seen Lu Changsheng before. Upon seeing him today, they were utterly astonished, as though beholding a celestial being.
At that moment, every rumor became true. No one doubted Lu Changsheng any longer.
Because he looked far too much like an immortal.
Clad in the Azure Cloud Qilin Robe, walking upon a rainbow bridge, with Yin Yang Qi swirling around him, he was like the child of the Great Dao, like a Fallen Immortal descending from the immortal realm.
At Heaven Worship Hall.
Lu Changsheng stepped down from the rainbow bridge. Following the ritual, he lit three incense sticks, then bowed above to heaven and earth and below to the patriarchs. After passing through one tedious rite after another.
Half an hour later, the Sect Leader's voice rang out.
"I am Qingyun Daoist, Sect Leader of Great Luo. Today, I enthrone Lu Changsheng as the Eldest Senior Brother of Great Luo Holy Land, an example for Great Luo and a model for all disciples. I hereby bestow upon him First Mountain Peak, the office of inspector over the Seven Halls, and one Great Luo Ancient Token, granting him authority to mobilize all Great Luo disciples."
Qingyun Daoist's voice rang out.
These words left many people shocked.
But as an ancient token appeared in the air and fell into Lu Changsheng's hand, everything was settled.
The reason for everyone's shock was simple: this was the Great Luo Ancient Token. There were only three in the entire sect.
One was held by the Supreme Elders, one by the Sect Leader, and the remaining one was in the hands of the Great Luo Holy Son.
The ancient token represented the highest rank of authority in Great Luo.
The Supreme Elders possessed one, but it was only to be used as the final trump card.
Only if the Sect Leader died in battle or was absent, and the other holder of a Great Luo Ancient Token was also absent, would that token possess supreme authority.
The final token was the one in Lu Changsheng's hand.
If the Sect Leader was absent, he was the Sect Leader!
Any decree he issued would be equivalent to the Sect Leader's decree. It was the highest authority, granting him the right to act first and report afterward, with absolute power.
This ancient token would only be bestowed upon the Great Luo Holy Son, yet it had now been handed to Lu Changsheng during his enthronement as Eldest Senior Brother.
This proved two things.
First, so long as Lu Changsheng committed no grave errors in the future, his position as Holy Son was beyond doubt. He was Great Luo Holy Land's successor!
Second, Lu Changsheng had already received the collective approval of the Sect Leader, the upper ranks, and the Supreme Elders.
Otherwise, the Great Luo Ancient Token could never have been given to him now.
In other words, Lu Changsheng had conquered everyone with his looks!
"We greet the Eldest Senior Brother!"
As the Sect Leader's voice fell.
In an instant, one hundred thousand disciples spoke in unison, cupping their fists as they shouted.
"Lu Changsheng greets all Junior Brothers!"
Lu Changsheng likewise cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
From this moment onward.
Lu Changsheng was Great Luo's Eldest Senior Brother, holding the highest authority.
Yet in the distance, Qingyun Sect Leader watched Lu Changsheng with eager anticipation.
He was waiting for that world-shaking proclamation.
Before you continue