"Kid, do your best. The First Ancestor and all of us old bones will be watching you."
With that, True Lord Qingxiao lingered no longer. He turned into a streak of azure light and vanished back into the clouds high above.
Only when the azure light had faded completely did the pressure weighing on the square begin to lift.
Daoist Chen Yuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and raised his right hand high.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
"Bring forth the Sect Leader's golden seal and confirm the next Sect Leader!"
A mighty bell rang nine times across the peaks of Shushan.
Nine tolls were the highest honor the sect could bestow.
Two supreme elders of the Enforcement Hall hurried onto the Heavenly Dao Platform, carrying a tray between them.
Bright yellow brocade covered the tray. Beneath it lay two precious treasures.
One was an ancient seal crackling with violet lightning: the Violet Heaven Thunder Seal, symbol of Shushan's supreme authority.
Beside it lay an ancient, ink-black sword in its sheath, passed down through generations of Shushan leaders—the Heavenly Secrets Sword.
Daoist Chen Yuan solemnly lifted the brocade.
"Chen Changqing, receive the seal and accept the sword!"
Chen Changqing stepped forward with steady movements.
He took hold of the Violet Heaven Thunder Seal, and the nine Scarlet-Gold Primordial Spirits within him trembled faintly.
The instant the seal touched his hand, Shushan's Mountain Protection Array, spanning ten thousand li, seemed to resonate faintly with him.
The flow of the mountains' Spirit Veins and every point where spiritual energy gathered and dispersed appeared within his perception.
Then Chen Changqing gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Secrets Sword.
Clang!
He drew the sword half an inch. A clear sword cry pierced the clouds.
His domineering, razor-sharp Invincible Sword Intent erupted. A pillar