Seven Kill Sect, the main hall.
More than a dozen elders had gathered, all core members of the Seven Kill Sect.
They looked at Chen Jianjun seated in the place of honor, then at Chen Fan standing beside him, utterly confused.
The sect leader had just emerged from seclusion and summoned everyone. Had something major happened?
"Sect Leader, you summoned us..."
The First Elder spoke first.
Chen Jianjun raised a hand to cut him off. His gaze swept over everyone present as he said gravely, "I summoned you today to announce something important."
He paused, then said each word distinctly, "Starting today, I, Chen Jianjun, am stepping down. Chen Fan will take over as sect leader of the Seven Kill Sect!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire hall erupted!
"What?!"
"The sect leader is stepping down?"
"Eldest Young Master Chen Fan is taking over? This... this..."
The elders exchanged stunned looks.
The sect leader of the Seven Kill Sect held the highest authority in the sect!
By tradition, the sect leader was always succeeded by the young sect leader.
And the Seven Kill Sect had named Chen Xin its young sect leader long ago.
At present,
Chen Xin had even broken through to become a Titled Douluo. Both his seniority and strength were beyond reproach.
So why was the position suddenly being passed to Chen Fan?
An eighteen-year-old boy?
One elder couldn't help looking at Chen Xin and tentatively asked, "Young Master, you..."
Chen Xin's expression remained calm, as if he'd known about this already. He said mildly, "I support Father's decision."
"Starting today, I'll serve as Sect Leader Chen Fan's protector and assist him with everything I have."
He hadn't been particularly interested in sect affairs to begin with. Otherwise, in the original story, he wouldn't have said that he was currently serving as an elder in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Just thinking about all the sect business gave him a headache. Now that there was a successor, he was actually relieved.
"This..."
The other elders had no idea about any of this!
Chen Xin's words left them even more astonished.
Chen Xin had no objections?
He'd even volunteered to become a protector?
And assist him with everything?
What was going on?
After a full two and a half minutes of silence,
the First Elder finally frowned and spoke. "Sect Leader, Young Master Chen Fan may be talented, but he hasn't even reached Soul King yet. Isn't it too hasty to have him take over as sect leader?"
"Do you think I made this decision out of selfish motives?"
Chen Jianjun gave a cold snort. "I called you here to explain why."
He didn't waste words. Instead, he released the pressure of his Soul Power.
The terrifying aura of Level 98 instantly enveloped the entire hall!
Every elder's expression changed!
"This... Level 98?!"
"Sect Leader, you broke through?!"
"How is that possible? Before you went into seclusion, you were only at the peak of Level 96!"
Chen Jianjun withdrew his pressure and said calmly, "I spent a year in seclusion and only broke through to Level 97."
"Fan'er gave me a fortuitous opportunity, allowing me to break through to Level 98."
The elders exchanged bewildered, astonished looks.
Young Master Chen Fan had given the sect leader a fortuitous opportunity?
What kind of opportunity could an eighteen-year-old child give a Super Douluo at Level 97?
Chen Jianjun looked toward Chen Fan and nodded.
Chen Fan understood. He stepped forward and briefly explained the system.
When he'd finished, Chen Jianjun added, "I believe Fan'er has caught the eye of a legendary deity."
"Otherwise, how could something so inconceivable have happened?"
"This..."
The elders exchanged looks, all thoroughly shaken. For a full two and a half minutes, nobody spoke.
But a moment later,
the elders' eyes began to gleam, like hungry wolves that had spotted a lamb.
The only Titled Douluos in the Seven Kill Sect were Chen Jianjun and his son, Chen Xin. All the other elders were Soul Douluos.
The First Elder, in particular, had been stuck at Level 87 for many years.
If only they could get their hands on one of those pills...
"I saw it with my own eyes. After Father took the pill, he broke through from Level 97 to Level 98."
Seeing that none of the elders were speaking, Chen Xin took the initiative to say, "This matter is of great importance. I ask you all to keep it secret!"
"Rest assured, Young Sect Leader. We will keep this matter confidential!"
The First Elder took a deep breath and was the first to pledge his support.
Then he turned to Chen Fan and bowed respectfully. "Young Master Chen Fan... no, Sect Leader! I was blind to your worth. Please forgive this old man!"
The other elders voiced their support in turn, each of their eyes glinting.
"Sect Leader, I support you taking over!"
"So do I!"
"I support you!"
The elders rushed to make their positions clear, afraid they'd be resented if they were even a moment too late.
Chen Jianjun nodded in satisfaction and took an ancient-looking token from his robes. He handed it to Chen Fan. "Fan'er, this is the Seven Kill Token, the sect leader's insignia. From today on, it belongs to you."
Chen Fan accepted the token and bowed solemnly. "Don't worry, Uncle. I won't let you down."
Chen Jianjun patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of pride. Then he turned to Chen Xin. "Xin'er, from today on, you'll be Fan'er's protector."
"Where Fan'er goes, you go. If Fan'er dies, you die."
Chen Xin dropped to one knee and said solemnly, "Rest assured, Father. I swear by my Martial Soul that I'll protect my younger cousin Xiaofan with my life!"
Chen Fan hurriedly helped Chen Xin up. "Cousin, get up. We're family. There's no need for this."
Chen Xin stood, a rare hint of a smile on his face. "I wouldn't dare disobey the sect leader's orders."
"Sect Leader, is that true?"
The Third Elder rubbed his hands together. "You mean, if you have a child, you can get one of those pills?"
"That's right."
Hearing Chen Fan confirm it, the Third Elder slapped his thigh in excitement. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"Quick, find Young Master Chen Fan a wife! The best one! The more, the better!"
The First Elder stroked his beard, his eyes flashing. "Bibi Dong, the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, has Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. Her talent is peerless!"
"Sect Leader, I have a plan. I'm not sure whether I should say it..."
Chen Fan hadn't yet caught on. It wasn't until the First Elder looked at him with gleaming eyes that he finally realized he was the sect leader now. "Go ahead."
The Third Elder picked up where he left off, growing more and more excited as he spoke. "I think we could propose a marriage alliance with Spirit Hall!"
"A marriage proposal?"
At that, Chen Jianjun fell into thought.
He'd already planned to go to Spirit Hall to spar with Qian Daoliu. There was no reason he couldn't propose a marriage alliance while he was there.
With that in mind, Chen Jianjun looked at Chen Fan. "Fan'er, what do you think?"
Chen Fan considered it for a moment, then nodded. "We can go and see!"
Of course he wouldn't refuse. The system required offspring to give him rewards, so he would need to find a woman with high talent.
However,
he'd hardly ever left the Seven Kill Sect, so he didn't know what was happening in the current timeline. For that reason, he didn't commit himself too firmly.
"What the Third Elder says makes sense!"
The First Elder nodded. "Spirit Hall is the strongest power on the continent, and its Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong, is peerlessly talented. Rumor has it she has Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. A marriage alliance with the Seven Kill Sect would benefit both sides."
"Besides, the new sect leader needs... ahem, needs offspring to earn rewards. The Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall would be perfect!"
The First Elder put it delicately, but everyone present understood.
"If that's the case, then it's settled."
Seeing that Chen Fan didn't object, Chen Jianjun made the decision. "Elders, three days from now, I'll take Xiaofan with me to Spirit Hall."
"Chen Xin and the rest of you will guard the sect while we're gone!"
Hearing this, Chen Xin suddenly grew anxious. "Father, what about me..."
"Hey, you just broke through. You need to stabilize your realm first. Don't rush."
What could Chen Xin do when his father had put it that way?