Within the grand hall, sandalwood incense curled through the air.
The seat of honor had been carved from thousand-year Warm Jade. It was the seat of the Azurewood Sect Master.
Xu Changqing's figure flickered, and he appeared before the main seat.
His aura was steady and composed, carrying the natural majesty of a sect master.
Without needing him to say a word, the seats below had already been arranged according to seniority and closeness.
At the foremost seat on the left was his Dao companion, Ruo Qunshuang.
Beside her sat, in order, his son Xu Ping'an and his daughter Xu Linglong.
Further down were his eldest disciple Sun Shangxiang and her Dao companion Li Muyao, along with their twin children—a boy, Li Chen, and a girl, Li Buran.
Only after them came his third disciple, Qingyao.
On the right sat the Water-Control Pavilion Master Mo Qiushui, the Beast Spirit Valley Master Mu Yunsheng, as well as second senior brother Zhou Yan, third senior brother Qin Ye, fourth senior brother Gu Qiao, and fifth senior sister Mu Ning.
At the very end sat Xu Changqing's two right-hand men, Li Sancai and Han Su.
Once everyone had taken their places, they all held their breaths in anticipation.
They awaited the division of rank, authority, and responsibility.
Xu Changqing swept his gaze across the hall. His voice was clear as he directly set the tone. "Today, the Azurewood Sect is formally established. We must make ranks clear and responsibilities definite; only then can we stand firm for the long term.
"Pavilion Master Mo possesses Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, and the entire Water-Control Pavilion has submitted to us. Her contributions are indispensable.
"From this day onward, she shall serve as the Azurewood Sect's Vice Sect Master, assisting in all matters, great and small, throughout