Jinling Takes Office as Chan Jiao's Sect Leader

Tongtian and the Seven Immortals of Biyou Palace were convinced. This was truly a grand stroke!

Yuanshi, Taishang, and Jinling returned together to Kunlun Mountain Jade Void Palace.

Why had Taishang gone as well?

He was not only the leader of the Human Sect, but also Chan Jiao's second sect leader.

Thus, Taishang had to be there.

Yuanshi summoned all the immortals of Chan Jiao.

Yun Zhongzi, Guang Chengzi, Chi Jingzi, and the other immortals, including third-generation immortals such as Yang Jian, and even the Three Thousand Loose Immortals who had been stationed outside Jade Void Palace year-round, were all invited by Yuanshi.

These Three Thousand Loose Immortals were not disciples of Jade Void Palace, yet they had remained on Kunlun Mountain all this time, unwilling to casually change their Dao grounds.

Chan Jiao was famed throughout the Primordial Era for its strict standards in accepting disciples.

These immortals knew Chan Jiao would not take them in as disciples, yet they still refused to change their Dao grounds.

The Immortal Dao was hard to seek.

Though Jade Void Palace would not accept them as disciples, whenever Yuanshi gave a grand lecture, he never barred the immortals from attending.

To the disciples of a Sage, such grand lectures might not bring any obvious improvement.

But to these immortals, they were supreme opportunities.

Among the countless billions of cultivators in the Primordial Era, how many immortals had the good fortune to hear a Sage expound the Dao?

Thus, for the benefits of those lectures, these immortals refused to leave.

The various factions of the Primordial Era also tacitly regarded them as belonging to Jade Void Palace.

Even Yuanshi thought so as well.

Chan Jiao's Twelve Golden Immortals were also known as the Twelve Chief Immortals.

"Chief" meant leader.

Yuanshi had organized the Three Thousand Loose Immortals into twelve teams, each led by one immortal.

Whether it was Yun Zhongzi, Guang Chengzi, Chi Jingzi, or the Three Thousand Loose Immortals, when they entered Jade Void Palace and saw the scene before them, they were truly stunned.

Upon the great hall, Yuanshi sat in the central seat, with Sage Taishang at his left.

There was nothing unusual about that.

But seated at his right was actually a Female Daoist!

The immortals of Chan Jiao were all familiar with this Female Daoist. She was none other than Jinling, one of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace!!

Yuanshi spoke:

"The Investiture of the Gods Calamity has ended. We Sages shall gradually withdraw behind the scenes."

"Buddhism is already governed by Rulai, and Biyou Palace is now governed by Duobao."

"It is also time for Chan Jiao's Second Generation Disciples to take their positions."

The immortals of Chan Jiao were greatly startled.

They had never expected the Sage of Jade Void Palace to make such a decision.

At this moment, they had long since cast aside their doubts over Jinling sitting alongside the two Sages.

Chan Jiao's second-generation disciples were to take office?

Who would it be?

Guang Chengzi? He was the foremost of the Twelve Golden Immortals and the Bell-Striking Immortal. It was possible.

Chi Jingzi? He was the Chime-Striking Immortal among the Twelve Golden Immortals, and his prestige was not low either.

Yun Zhongzi? He was Chan Jiao's True Immortal of Fortune and Virtue. He seemed a possibility as well.

For a time, the immortals of Chan Jiao kept weighing the strengths and weaknesses of Chan Jiao's various cultivators in their hearts.

The Three Thousand Loose Immortals, however, were thrilled beyond measure. They had never imagined that they themselves would be able to witness such a moment!

Chan Jiao's new sect leader was taking office!

The Three Thousand Loose Immortals were exceedingly excited.

The Sage was bestowing them with a benefit!

As witnesses to the new sect leader's succession, they would first form a bond of goodwill with the new sect leader.

Moreover, after such major ceremonies, there would generally be lectures on the Dao and demonstrations of techniques.

Wasn't this precisely their stroke of fortune?

As for who would become Chan Jiao's sect leader, they truly did not care—that was not something they needed to worry about!

Yuanshi swept his gaze over the immortals.

Then he said slowly, "After discussing it with your Senior Uncle Taishang and Junior Uncle Tongtian, I have invited Jinling to join our Chan Jiao."

"From this day forth, she shall be the Sect Leader Fairy of our Chan Jiao!"

Hiss!!

The immortals of Chan Jiao and Kunlun's Three Thousand Loose Immortals were all dumbfounded!

What?

Jinling was to lead Chan Jiao?

That couldn't be!

They had considered Guang Chengzi, Chi Jingzi, even Yun Zhongzi—any one of Chan Jiao's Golden Immortals—to take charge of Chan Jiao.

Yet they had never imagined that it would be Jinling!!

The few remaining members of the Jade Void Palace's Twelve Golden Immortals flushed crimson with shame.

Yuanshi had not chosen from among the Twelve Golden Immortals, instead going to Biyou Palace to invite Jinling.

How dissatisfied with them must he have been?!

Yet the Twelve Golden Immortals had no thought of objecting whatsoever.

Clearly, both leaders of Chan Jiao had approved this matter.

A Sage had personally made the choice and given the nod.

How could disciples like them oppose it?

What was more, Jinling's cultivation was at the Peak Quasi-Saint realm!

They were absolutely no match for her!

Yuanshi glanced over the immortals.

He shook his head faintly to himself. Other than Yun Zhongzi and Yang Jian, the rest of these immortals were essentially rotten wood that could not be carved.

Yuanshi said decisively, "Jinling, receive the decree."

Jinling solemnly stepped before Yuanshi and said, "This disciple receives the dharma decree!"

Yuanshi declared solemnly, "I decree you the second-generation sect leader of Chan Jiao!"

With a casual gesture of his finger, a Three Treasures Jade Ruyi radiating the light of Merit appeared in Yuanshi's hand.

Jinling raised both hands high.

Yuanshi placed the jade ruyi in Jinling's hands.

"This is the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, the token of Chan Jiao's sect leader."

"From this day forth, you are the second-generation sect leader of Chan Jiao."

Holding the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi respectfully, Jinling saluted the two Sages, Yuanshi and Taishang. "I obey the dharma decree!"

She held the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi

and quietly looked upon the gathered disciples.

Not the slightest trace of imposing aura emanated from her.

Yet both the immortals of Chan Jiao and Kunlun's Three Thousand Loose Immortals were shaken to the core.

Yuanshi and Taishang exchanged a glance, both of them satisfied.

The domineering presence Jinling possessed was precisely what their Jade Void Palace needed.

Only Jinling could keep these disciples in line and lead Chan Jiao to another era of glory.

Jinling quietly regarded Chan Jiao's immortals.

Yun Zhongzi immediately bowed down. Taking the lead, he brought all the Chan Jiao immortals to their knees, whether willing or not.

They praised in unison, "This disciple greets the Sect Leader! May the Sect Leader's sacred life know no bounds."

Jinling said indifferently, "Fellow Daoists, rise!"

Only after three kneelings and three bows was the ceremony complete!

Just then, a streak of Spiritual Light pierced through time and space, arriving before Jinling.

All the immortals of Chan Jiao were stirred.

This was the Jade Void Palace, a Sage's sacred grounds.

Yet this Spiritual Light had passed through it as though it were empty space?!

As the Spiritual Light dispersed, it revealed a seal as small as a mountain.

The seal fell into Jinling's hand, and a voice rang out: "Martial Nephew, congratulations on becoming the sect leader. This little trinket is yours!"

As the words fell, boundless merit suddenly surged from the small mountain.

Yuanshi and Taishang were overjoyed, saying in unison, "Fellow Daoist Wukong's Supreme Merit Treasure!"

The two Sages exchanged a glance and nodded at the same time, both thinking, Jinling possesses Great Fortune!

At that moment, boundless merit descended within Biyou Palace, falling upon Jinling and the gathered immortals who had come to witness the ceremony—Heavenly Dao had been stirred, acknowledging the merit upon them.

That merit directly drew forth the boundless merit within Jinling's body.

A colossal Golden Wheel of Merit slowly turned behind Jinling's head.

She held the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in her left hand and the Small Mountain Seal in her right, shaking the four directions for a time.