The Ceremony Begins, Mount Shu Trembles
After the Sect Master Ceremony concludes, the next goal will be the Righteous and Demonic Assembly three months from now.
Thinking of those potential powerful figures from the Demon Sect sects and potential AFK Points, Chen Changqing's warlike blood began to surge.
The first rays of sunlight in the morning shine on the peaks of the Mount Shu.
"Clang--"
The deep, ancient chimes of the bell resounded from the top of the Taiji Main Peak.
The powerful sound waves pierced through the layers of clouds, echoing repeatedly between the Thirty-Six Main Peaks and the Seventy-Two Spirit Peaks.
Then came the second and third sounds.
Nine bells rang out in unison, resounding throughout the heavens.
The nine-ringed gong is only used when a sect changes its Sect Master or faces annihilation.
All the gates of Mount Shu were wide open.
Countless disciples Outer Sect members, dressed in white and green robes, flew out of the cave abode, transforming into a dense river of Sword Light that converged on the Taiji Martial Arts Square at the very center of Mount Shu.
Not only the Cultivator stayed behind at the sect, but also all the True Disciples and stewards who were training outside, stationed in major cultivation cities, or even stationed in remote borderlands, all crushed their Inter-Realm Talisman and rushed back to the sect within a few days.
The entire Mount Shu was in an uproar.
The Taiji Square is vast and boundless, carved from a single massive piece of white Spirit Stone, with eighty-one coiled Coiling Dragon Jade Pillars standing around it.
The square was already packed with people, with tens of thousands of Cultivators lined up in neat rows.
On the high platform of the outer side hall, Ran Hua led several figures to slowly take their seats.
The middle-aged man at the head of the group had a dignified appearance; he was none other than Ran Zhenbang, the head of the Ran Family.
Ran Zhenbang gripped the chair armrests tightly with both hands, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, and his whole body trembled slightly.
He looked around and saw nothing but the aura of True Lord Cultivators, and occasionally he could even sense the immense pressure of Heavenly Monarch powerhouses sweeping over his head.
The Ran Family was considered a powerful clan in Green Mountain Town, but in the face of a behemoth like the Shu Mountain Sacred Land, they were as insignificant as dust.
Previously, the Ran Family didn't even have the qualifications to step into the Outer Sect of Mount Shu.
Now, thanks to his son, he is actually able to sit in the VIP seats, which are reserved for those who are affiliated with the core elders of the sect.
Ran Zhenbang lowered his voice, his tone trembling.
"Hua'er, Holy Son truly going to assume the position of Sect Master at the grand ceremony?"
Ran Hua stood to the side, her back ramrod straight.
"Father, please rest assured, what the Holy Son said himself will not be wrong in the slightest."
Ran Zhenbang took several deep breaths before he could barely suppress the turmoil in his chest.
If the Holy Son Changqing truly becomes the Sect Master the Mount Shu, then the Ran Family's status in the Nine Provinces will rise to the top in one leap.
To the east of the square, dozens of towering Purple Jade Lotus Platforms float in mid-air.
The Spirit Wine Peak Master, True Lord Lieyang, the Alchemy Hall Master, True Lord Qingmu, and the Punishment Peak Deputy Peak Master, Zhao Wuji, along with many other elders, arrived early.
Even several Heavenly Monarch Supreme Elders who had secluded themselves for hundreds of years and remained detached from worldly affairs sat on the highest lotus platform.
All eyes were focused on the towering Heavenly Dao Platform in the center.
The sun gradually rose to its zenith.
A surge of Pure Yang Purple Qi erupted from the depths of the sea of clouds.
A figure dressed in Mysterious Black Daoist robe and wearing Purple Gold Crown Treading the Void and slowly descended from the clouds.
With each step taken, the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth trembled once more.
The overwhelming pressure of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm Great Perfection spread out without reservation, enveloping the entire Taiji Square.
Tens of thousands of disciples and elders stood solemnly and bowed in reverence.
"Greetings True Person, Sect Master!"
The roar, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, soared straight into the sky.
Daoist Chen Yuan stood at the forefront of the Heavenly Dao Platform, calmly looking down at the countless disciples below.
He raised his right hand and gently pressed it down in the air.
The cacophony of noise suddenly subsided, and the entire square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Daoist Chen Yuan surveyed the entire area, his voice, enveloped in True Essence, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.
"Today, we have gathered the entire Mount Shu here to announce a momentous event that concerns the fate of our sect."
The disciples in the square held their breath, a vague premonition in their hearts.
Daoist Chen Yuan paused, his tone becoming heavy.
"I have been in charge of Mount Shu for over two thousand years."
"Over the past two thousand years, the Nine Provinces has been in constant flux, with the righteous and the demonic constantly clashing."
"I have always been mindful of my duties and have never disgraced the illustrious names of our ancestral masters."
"However, a great calamity is imminent, undercurrents are surging Nine Provinces, major Demon Sects are stirring, and Foreign Races are also lurking in the borderlands."
"I am keenly aware of my limited energy and the bottleneck in my cultivation. I am no longer able to lead Mount Shu to new heights, let alone cope with the great storms to come."
These words immediately caused a stir among the ordinary disciples below.
Many junior inner disciples looked astonished, completely unexpected that the Sect Master would say such things at the very beginning.
Ignoring the whispers below, Daoist Chen Yuan suddenly raised his voice several octaves.
"To ensure the eternal Changqing of Mount Shu, and to safeguard the flourishing of our righteous path."
"Today, I formally resign from my position as the Sect Master of the Shu Mountain Sacred Land!"
Boom!
Although rumors had circulated beforehand, hearing the Sect Master announce his abdication still caused an uproar throughout the Taiji Square.
Countless disciples looked at each other in disbelief, their faces filled with shock.
With the Sect Master stepping down, who will succeed him?
According to the sect's rules, they should be selected from among Heavenly Monarch Peak Masters or Supreme Elder.
But looking across the entire Mount Shu, which Heavenly Monarch has enough prestige to suppress the thirty-six peaks?
Just as the entire audience was in an uproar, Daoist Chen Yuan waved his sleeve, and a golden Sect Master Command Talisman rose from his palm, hovering above the Heavenly Dao Platform.
"At the same time, I hereby announce the next Sect Master."
Daoist Chen Yuan turned around, facing the direction of Evergreen Peak, his voice like thunder.
"Chen Changqing, the First Sequence Holy Son of Mount Shu!"
Between heaven and earth, three words echoed endlessly.
Countless Divine Sense turned towards the entrance of the plaza.
In the direction of Evergreen Peak, nine long, azure bridges formed from pure Sword Qi spanned the void, leading directly to the Heavenly Dao Platform.
A tall, slender figure in a white robe strode into Cambridge.
Chen Changqing wore a plain white Daoist robe, his black hair cascading over his shoulders.
He wore an ancient-looking Heaven-Stepping Ring at his waist, his steps were steady, and each step was accompanied by a crisp sword sound.
Behind him, Mo Yuan, Old Servant stood with a cold expression, while Jian Zhenzi, Luo Futian, and Ji Changkong, the three Sequence Holy Son, followed half a step behind in neat formation.
Further on were Qingyang, Shi Tian, Wang Yang, Lin Yuan, and other core followers of Evergreen Peak.
The elite forces of the entire Main Peak emerged together, their imposing presence subtly overshadowing the grandeur of ordinary Main Peaks.
The eyes of tens of thousands of Mount Shu disciples in the square were all focused on Chen Changqing.
These gazes contained fervor, reverence, and also the complex emotions of a few veteran Cultivator.
Chen Changqing remained calm and composed as he stepped onto the Heavenly Dao Platform. He stopped three zhang in front of Daoist Chen Yuan and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple Chen Changqing greets Master."
A look of satisfaction appeared on Daoist Chen Yuan's face, and he reached out to help him up.
No need for formalities.
Daoist Chen Yuan turned around and faced the tens of thousands of disciples once again, his voice resounding in all directions.
"Perhaps some within the sect still feel that Changqing's cultivation years are too short and his qualifications are insufficient to convince others."
"Today, I will announce to all the disciples Chen Changqing's achievements since joining the sect!"