The future belonged to others; the present belonged to oneself.
Trade someone else's future for your own present.
From the very beginning, Elder Miao had been thinking along the right lines.
Once he understood that, Elder Hong knew he could no longer stand against Elder Miao, no matter what.
He would rather step aside and yield the position of Acting Sect Leader to Elder Miao.
If that could make Elder Miao change his mind, he would have no regrets.
Elder Miao sneered. "What you can't do doesn't mean I can't. Donghua will surely flourish in my hands. Hong Jiantong, you can go back to being an elder and live your life in peace. I want you to witness with your own eyes how Donghua rises under my leadership."
Elder Miao's eyes brimmed with resolve and fervor. He seemed to have convinced himself of his own righteousness, never once believing he was a sinner who had betrayed the Donghua Immortal Sect.
"If that's the case, then I have no choice but to ask the Sect Leader to settle this."
With that, Elder Hong bowed to the ground. Before long, a faint phantom drifted in from outside the hall.
It was a soul clone, its features clear. It was none other than Sect Leader Zhu.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!"
Elder Hong bowed to the ground, and everyone else followed suit. Elder Miao's face turned ashen, but he had no choice but to bow as well.
Sect Leader Zhu's hundred years of authority were no small thing.
"Rise. This old man doesn't have much time left. I'd planned to pass the position to Jiantong before quietly departing, but I never expected this commotion to break out today and make a laughingstock of us before outsiders."
Sect Leader Zhu gave a salute. "Fellow Daoists Xia