A group of people had holed up in the side hall without setting foot outside, working without sleep or rest for more than five full days and nights. At last, they finished drafting the sect’s code. It was so detailed that it could easily be called the most comprehensive code in the cultivation world. Bao Gu alone had obtained nearly a hundred volumes of regulations and codes used by various sects and factions as references through the Nether Shadow Pavilion.
Overall, everyone was extremely satisfied with the result. Nothing, no matter how minor, was left without a legal basis. They had even established an “Annals Hall,” modeled after the official historians of a mortal court. It was headed by a “Historian Elder” and was responsible for collecting and recording the major events that occurred in the cultivation world and among the sects each year.
Bao Gu was also saddled with another task: she had to find Xue Qing and have her restore the origins and history of the inheritance that the Xuantian Sect had lost in the past.
After that, they moved on to establishing the Elder Hall and confirming the various Peak Masters.
Following the procedures laid out in the newly compiled sect code, they were about to select the elders when Zi Yunshu suddenly spoke up.
“Is anyone going to compete with me for the position of Artifact Hall Elder?”
Everyone in the side hall looked at one another, then shook their heads. Competing with Zi Yunshu in artifact refinement would be nothing but asking for abuse.
“Since I’m the only one running, why are you holding an election? Let’s keep this simple. The Artifact Hall Elder will be me. Any objections? Anyone with a problem, step forward. We’ll compete in artifact refinement. The loser can strip naked, run around once, and shout thirty times, ‘I was wrong!'”
Judging from the predatory look in her eyes, anyone who dared to challenge her would suffer far worse than a naked run. She would leave them scorched inside and out, steam puffing from their mouths, lightning crackling above their heads, and their hair standing on end as they fled around naked and disheveled.
Yu Mi glanced faintly at Zi Yunshu.
“I agree to Little Martial Aunt serving as Artifact Hall Elder.”
“Those in favor, raise your hands. Anyone opposed, step forward!”
Whenever Zi Yunshu’s gaze landed on someone, that person immediately raised a hand in agreement. Once everyone had raised their hands, Zi Yunshu swiftly grabbed her engraving knife and carved the words “Artifact Hall Elder, Zi Yunshu” onto the jade slip.
Then she called out,
“Next, the Ritual Elder!”
Everyone immediately turned to look at Feng Menglong.
Feng Menglong looked around and found that everyone was staring at him. He did not have a single competitor, so he nodded very calmly.
“Since everyone thinks so highly of me, I suppose I can reluctantly—”
Hua Sheng stomped hard on his foot, turning the rest of his sentence into a shriek.
“Ow!”
“What are you putting on airs for? Learn from Little Martial Aunt how to step up without false modesty!”
Zi Yunshu nodded in satisfaction.
“Exactly!”
She had no idea what humility meant. She swiftly carved Feng Menglong’s name onto the jade slip and called out again,
“Next, the Punishment Hall Elder!”
Feng Menglong had wanted to put on another act and savor the feeling of competing for an elder position, but Zi Yunshu had already moved on to the next appointment. His position as Ritual Elder was settled in just a couple of sentences, leaving him no chance at all.
Everyone looked around, already considering who among them would be most suitable for the position of Punishment Hall Elder.
Yu Mi pulled out a straight-backed cultivator from the far edge of the group. He looked just over twenty and was in the mid-stage of Void Tearing. Yu Mi’s eyes curved with a smile.
“I nominate Chu Chen!”
Feng Menglong’s eyes lit up.
“Junior Brother, congratulations on earning Senior Sister Yu Mi’s approval.”
Chu Chen looked around in confusion.
“Punishment Hall Elder? What does that have to do with me?”
Seeing everyone’s eager gazes, he hurriedly shook his head.
“No, no, that won’t do. Back when Martial Uncle Feng was holding down the Punishment Hall, it was no big deal for me to deal with a few people. Besides, I can’t stand that bunch of bastards, so naturally I’d have to punish them harshly. No, no…”
Zi Yunshu carefully studied everyone’s reactions and saw that they were all quite satisfied with Chu Chen.
“Chu Chen is declining. Shall we look for someone else? Does anyone have another candidate?”
Zhao Dapeng spoke up.
“Personally, I can’t think of anyone more suitable than Chu Chen. I nominate Chu Chen.”
Lu Lei rolled his eyes at Chu Chen.
“Chu Chen, look around this group. Apart from you, who here has actually worked in the Punishment Hall and knows its affairs inside and out? Or do you plan to choose someone from the younger disciples? If you can find someone more outstanding than you, with a higher cultivation realm, I’ll concede! If the Punishment Hall Elder is too weak, they won’t be able to keep anyone in line.”
Chu Chen opened his mouth to say something else, but Little Martial Aunt was already murmuring “Punishment Hall Elder, Chu Chen” as she swiftly carved his new position and name onto the jade slip.
He could only close his mouth and lower his head awkwardly, rubbing his nose. His fair face instantly flushed red.
He had only planned to follow his senior brothers and sisters wherever they went, standing shoulder to shoulder against their common enemies. Somehow, he had ended up as Punishment Hall Elder.
After a moment, he suddenly raised his head and shouted,
“But I don’t even have any Punishment Hall disciples!”
“Pick them yourself from the various peaks later. Tall, short, fat, thin—take whichever ones you like. Surely the peaks won’t refuse to give you people. Next, Formation Hall Elder—”
Everyone turned toward Bao Gu.
Bao Gu glanced weakly around the hall.
“Why not appoint me as Pill Hall Elder too?”
Hua Sheng praised her decisiveness.
“Now that’s straightforward!”
Bao Gu added,
“I have to be busy building the realm-breaking gate.”
Zi Yunshu asked,
“Is anyone here actually reliable at formations? My standards aren’t high. Someone who can surpass my Saint’s formation mastery will do…”
Thinking of her Saint’s astonishing formation skills, Zi Yunshu abruptly shut her mouth.
With Bao Gu and the Demon Saint as precedents, who would dare take the position of Formation Hall Elder? Back in the old Xuantian Sect, the post had always remained vacant, with Grandmaster Zi Tianjun serving concurrently. He personally handled ordinary formations; for anything more advanced, they called on the Demon Saint.
For a moment, everyone was speechless. Almost everyone present was good at fighting, but when it came to setting up formations, they were all half-baked.
Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Bao Gu spoke up.
“I have a proposal. The Pill, Artifact, Formation, and Talisman Halls should be merged into one. Little Martial Aunt, as Artifact Hall Elder, can oversee all the sect’s pills, talismans, and artifacts. Saint Auntie and I can temporarily assist with formations and alchemy. Once we train the disciples under us, we can assign each branch to a specific person and promote that person to deacon.”
No one objected.
Zi Yunshu continued,
“Next, the Transmission Elder…”
Everyone thought of Grandmaster Zi Tianjun at the same time. They suddenly realized how capable Grandmaster really was. He was practically a one-man command center: Formation Hall Elder, Transmission Elder, and Treasury Elder all at once. He had taken on several offices and had truly rendered outstanding service through his hard work.
Yu Jianming spoke up.
“My master! Her—”
His own master shot him a sharp look, but he did not let personal ties stop him from recommending the best candidate. He continued,
“My master’s strength is second only to Little Martial Aunt’s. She has command of the greatest number of Xuantian Sect techniques, and her mastery of them is the most complete. She even possesses the complete Xuantian cultivation art. In battle, her prowess can be called number one in the Xuantian Sect.”
Yu Mi asked quietly,
“Do you think I’m someone who knows how to teach disciples?”
Yu Jianming pointed at himself.
“Look at me. Look at me! Everyone, look at me! I’m my master’s disciple, a ready-made example. Among the disciples of my generation, I’m the most outstanding!”
Everyone struggled not to laugh. They nearly asked whether Yu Jianming had any shame left, but this was not the time. If they did, Yu Mi would have a legitimate excuse to refuse.
So they held it in with all their might.
Bao Gu was speechless.
“How badly do you want my Senior Sister to become the Transmission Elder?”
Yu Jianming caught the tiny sidelong glance Bao Gu gave him and thought that if his master refused, the position might land on him instead. Better to let his master take it. A disciple should shoulder his master’s burdens, but this post was too important and its burden too heavy. He could not carry it, so he would not volunteer.
Hua Sheng was the first to lose control and burst out laughing. Soon, the entire group was laughing uproariously.
Wen Zixuan said to Yu Mi,
“Senior Sister Yu Mi, look at how Jianming has thrown away his dignity just to get you appointed Transmission Elder. Can you really bear to refuse? Little Martial Aunt, hurry and write it down!”
Yu Mi reached for Zi Yunshu’s engraving knife.
Zi Yunshu was an eight-tribulation flood dragon, after all. She blocked Yu Mi’s advance with one claw, slowing her for an instant, then swiftly carved Yu Mi’s name with her other hand.
Jade Shura stepped into the side hall. She was astonished to find that everyone was still not finished after all this time. Then she saw the entire hall roaring with laughter.
“What is so funny?”
Yu Mi gave Jade Shura a faint look.
“We’re deciding on the sect’s elder candidates.”
Her own disciple had tricked her into taking the position of Transmission Elder, and she felt as though everything had gone wrong. She had thought that once she no longer needed to be the Young Sect Master, she could finally wander wherever she pleased.
Jade Shura blinked.
“Don’t people usually fight over elder positions until their faces turn red, wishing they could slap their competitors to death? Why is everyone laughing so happily?”
Seeing how Yu Mi had wilted, she asked,
“Did you lose?”
Yu Mi replied in despair,
“I became the Transmission Elder!”
Given Yu Mi’s restless nature, being trapped in the sect every day teaching disciples really was miserable. Jade Shura gloated openly.
“Congratulations!”
Then she asked,
“Who nominated you? What a wise and mighty person!”
Everyone in the hall pointed at Yu Jianming.
Bao Gu and Yu Mi simultaneously shot murderous glares at him.
Yu Jianming suddenly felt an urge to run.
The position of Deacon Elder naturally went to Hua Sheng, who had already served as Deacon Elder in the former Xuantian Sect. Lu Lei took over as Outer Sect Elder. For now, he would also continue serving as a Peak Master. Once a suitable successor was found, he would relinquish that position.
They also selected four “Executive Elders,” the kind of people who could be moved wherever they were needed, like bricks. The positions went to Wen Zixuan, Chang An, Gao Ling, and Xiahou Chun, all of whom were outstanding in both strength and ability.
The Peak Masters did not move from their current positions. They remained sprawled in their respective holes.
Zi Yunshu swiftly recorded the assignments for all twenty-six peaks on the jade slip.
“All right. Now for the most important appointment—the Sect Master!”
Jade Shura interrupted at the worst possible moment.
“Am I allowed to watch from the side?”
Zi Yunshu glanced at her.
“If you want to watch the show, just say so. It’s not as if I’m going to kick you out.”
Jade Shura smiled brightly and sat down in a chair nearby.
“I’ll stay here to witness the birth of the first Sect Master. Carry on. Don’t mind me; pretend I don’t exist.”
In truth, no one had time to pay attention to her.
When everyone’s eyes turned toward Bao Gu, she hurriedly shook her head.
“Not me! I have to be busy building the realm-breaking gate!”
Seeing the disdainful looks everyone gave her, she added,
“After I finish the urgent matter at hand, I have to enter seclusion to carve formation diagrams. Who knows how many years that will take? You can’t just appoint me Sect Master and then, right when the newly founded sect needs a Sect Master most, choose an acting one again. I’m not suitable. If we don’t build the realm-breaking gate in one sustained effort, it may be much harder to build it later.”
Everyone considered it and decided that building the realm-breaking gate was indeed more important. It was a major matter for the entire cultivation world, so they let Bao Gu off the hook.
When all their gazes shifted to Yu Mi, she snorted.
“Don’t look at me.”
She pointed at her own nose.
“I’m the Transmission Elder. Me!”
Her tone was exactly the same as Yu Jianming’s when he had told everyone to look at him. If Jianming had not been her disciple, she would have nominated him and let him take the fall.
They could not have Yu Mi resign from a position she had just been appointed to and immediately become Sect Master. Besides, if Yu Mi did not take the Transmission Elder position, who else could? No one was more suitable.
Everyone looked at one another. Then they were all stunned by the same realization.
They had drafted a huge pile of regulations restricting the Sect Master’s authority and had even placed the Sect Master under the supervision of the Elder Hall. Once all the elders and Peak Masters had been confirmed, every one of the thirty-plus people present, except Bao Gu, either held a Peak Master position or had been appointed an Elder.
There was literally no one left to become Sect Master.
The grand finale had arrived, only to reveal that no one was willing to take office.
Jade Shura, who had been sitting nearby waiting to watch a new Sect Master emerge, stared at everyone’s stunned expressions in confusion.
What was going on?
Yu Mi finally suggested,
“How about one of you shifts positions and reluctantly takes the Sect Master seat? With the Elder Hall keeping watch, nothing too disastrous can happen.”
After considering all the rules governing the Sect Master, everyone declared that they could not take the position. Each refusal was so upright and reasonable that no one could refute it.
Jade Shura finally understood. In this enormous sect, all these pillars of support were standing right there, and not one of them wanted to become Sect Master.
Heavens!
Her eyes went wide.
Zi Tianjun had kicked all of them away so that he could sit securely on the Sect Master’s throne, yet not one of them was willing to take it now. She had assumed the position would fall to the Lingyun Peak lineage, but apparently not.
Feng Menglong said grimly,
“Yu Jianming, you’re up!”
Yu Jianming immediately became anxious.
“No chance! With all you Martial Aunts here, how could it possibly be my turn? And Little Martial Aunt Grandmaster is right here too! Can’t you see that I’m the youngest by seniority? If we go by seniority, I should be last. My cultivation realm isn’t the highest, either! If I become Sect Master while my master becomes Transmission Elder, what will happen to the whole Lingyun Peak household? You want me to manage Lingyun Peak and the sect at the same time? Aren’t you afraid I’ll become a second Grandmaster?”
Zi Yunshu said weakly,
“Could you stop using my father as a cautionary example?”
Yu Jianming immediately threw the problem back at her.
“Then you become Sect Master.”
Zi Yunshu blinked, hunched her neck, and fell silent. She knew she would be even less reliable as Sect Master than her father had been.
Jade Shura immediately produced a sound-transmission talisman and sent a message to her master, telling her to hurry over. She said that Bao Gu and Yu Mi were trying to force through the appointment of a new Sect Master and were about to come to blows.
By coincidence, the Demon Saint, Qu Yirou, and Si Ruo were gathered together, drinking tea and chatting idly. Jade Shura’s message alarmed them, and they hurried over.
When the three women hurriedly landed outside the side hall, they saw that no fight had broken out. However, the atmosphere inside was tense and subtly strange.
Then they heard Yu Jianming say,
“I have a proposal! Why don’t you draw lots to decide who becomes Sect Master?”
The Demon Saint, Si Ruo, Qu Yirou, and Jade Shura all wondered if they had misheard. They stared into the hall in astonishment.
Zi Yunshu weakly objected,
“That doesn’t seem like a very good idea.”
Yu Jianming raised his brows.
“Does Little Martial Aunt Grandmaster have a better suggestion?”
Zi Yunshu hesitated.
“Er… no.”
“Then this is my proposal, period! If anyone has a better suggestion, speak up! Drawing lots is still better than rock-paper-scissors!”
The hall fell silent.
Was this really how they were selecting a Sect Master? Were they going to decide it with rock-paper-scissors?
Everyone in the hall gave Yu Jianming a look that clearly said, Don’t mess around!
Lu Lei’s face tightened.
“Nominate someone! Choosing the Sect Master by drawing lots? If word of this got out, we’d be laughed to death!”
The Demon Saint, Si Ruo, and Qu Yirou were deeply shocked. They really were discussing drawing lots to choose a Sect Master. They had not misheard.
Wen Zixuan answered,
“Who are we supposed to nominate? Bao Gu is the most capable, but she keeps saying that she has to build the realm-breaking gate! Senior Sister Yu Mi is dead set on staying in her Transmission Elder’s den and refusing to budge. Anyone who dares nominate her as Sect Master had better watch out for her sword. And look at the rest of us. Every one of us already has a position. Who has time to be Sect Master?”
Si Ruo and Qu Yirou exchanged glances. They had thought everyone was about to fight over the position. Looking at all the red faces and bulging necks, they finally realized the truth: everyone was fighting not to take it.
The people of the Xuantian Sect were suffering from pounding headaches and had no idea what to do. The four people watching from the side were utterly astonished.
Finally, Bao Gu said something that shocked them even more.
“Let’s all draw lots. Whoever draws the Sect Master token becomes the Sect Master.”
Even Bao Gu agreed. It seemed they truly had no other option.
Jade Shura cried out in despair,
“This is too tragic! I can’t believe I’m personally witnessing the most tragic moment in Xuantian Sect history! The first Sect Master of the reestablished sect is being chosen by drawing lots!”
Si Ruo thought that if she had not seen this with her own eyes, she would never have believed it if someone told her.
Qu Yirou could only remain silent, silently agreeing with her disciple’s words.
The Demon Saint slowly walked into the hall and grabbed Zi Yunshu’s hand.
“Shu’er is a demon cultivator, so she isn’t suitable. We’ll stand to the side and serve as witnesses.”
She quickly pulled her Dao companion out of this sea of suffering. At the same time, she felt deep sympathy for the people of the Xuantian Sect and silently echoed Jade Shura’s lament.
This was truly too tragic to watch.
Zi Yunshu volunteered,
“I’ll refine a lot-drawing artifact for you. Wait, it’ll be quick. I’ll act as the referee, and I guarantee I won’t favor anyone. Whoever is unlucky enough to draw the Sect Master token has to accept the result. Anyone who goes back on their word will strip naked, run ten laps around Nether Shadow City, and shout, ‘I broke my word and got fat! I’m a big fatso!'”
She took out the materials and refined a jade box, along with thirty-six jade tokens. One of the tokens was clearly engraved with the words “Sect Master,” while the rest were blank.
Once a token was closed, no one could use divine sense to determine whether its hidden face bore the words “Sect Master” or was blank. Zi Yunshu placed them all inside the jade box, which blocked divine sense, shook them thoroughly to mix them up, and then poured them onto the table.
“Draw lots. One each. Whoever gets it can consider themselves unlucky.”
Qu Yirou, the Demon Saint, and Si Ruo had no idea how to react.
Qu Yirou and Si Ruo had another dilemma. If someone else became Sect Master, congratulating them would obviously be appropriate. But once the new Sect Master emerged, should they offer congratulations—or condolences and sympathy?
The people in the hall approached with solemn expressions and each took a jade token.
Then only one token remained on the table.
Yu Mi looked around.
“Who hasn’t drawn one?”
Everyone held up the tokens they had just taken. Then they noticed Yu Jianming shrinking back at the side, watching them warily.
When Yu Jianming saw everyone’s eyes turn toward him, and noticed that his master and all the Martial Aunts already had a token in hand, he suddenly jumped backward.
“What does this have to do with me? Deal with your own generation’s affairs yourselves! Why are you dragging me into this?”
Zi Yunshu grabbed Yu Jianming and pressed his hand onto the last token.
“You have a share!”
Hua Sheng snorted.
“You’re one of the twenty-six Peak Masters. Do you really think you’re not qualified? Even if you weren’t, the two people backing you could make you qualified!”
After saying this, Hua Sheng nervously began to open the token. The heart of the Deacon Elder seemed to rise into the throat. Finally, Hua Sheng steeled themself, shut their eyes, and snapped the token open.
After sweeping it with divine sense, Hua Sheng’s eyes lit up. The blank inner face was held up for everyone to see.
“See? It’s blank! Blank!”
The delight was completely unbecoming of a dignified Deacon Elder, and the other disciples responded with deep, fierce contempt.
After despising Hua Sheng, everyone else nervously began opening their own tokens, terrified that they might be the unlucky one who had drawn “Sect Master.”
Zhao Dapeng was soon the next to open his token. He laughed several times, then slapped it onto the table and held it up.
“See? See? Blank! Blank! Your turn!”
His expression clearly said that he had escaped the sea of suffering and was now waiting to watch everyone else suffer.
Lu Lei cursed him.
“You shameless bastard!”
He flipped over his own token and slapped it onto the table as well. Then he turned his face aside, narrowed his eyes, and peeked at it. When he saw that it was blank, his eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet, hugged Zhao Dapeng, and laughed uproariously.
Yu Mi picked up her token and asked Bao Gu with some guilt,
“If I draw the Sect Master token, you’ll take the position for me, right?”
Bao Gu thought about it, then nodded lightly.
Yu Mi let out a huge sigh of relief and patted her chest. She clasped the token between her palms and muttered,
“Founding Ancestor, bless me. This is the first time I’ve ever asked you for anything. Please, please don’t let me draw it!”
Then she snapped the token open and found it was blank.
Bao Gu stared at Yu Mi’s token without blinking. When she saw that it was blank, a faint smile appeared on her lips. She lowered her head and opened her own token. It was blank as well, so she picked it up and waved it at Yu Mi.
Then she suddenly caught sight of Yu Jianming opening his token and stuffing it into his mouth. With a gulp, he swallowed it into his stomach.
Bao Gu was speechless.
Yu Mi noticed her strange expression.
“What happened?”
Bao Gu replied,
“Yu Jianming drew the Sect Master token.”
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone looked at Bao Gu, then at Yu Jianming. Those who had not yet opened their tokens suddenly felt as though they had received wonderful news. They quickly opened their own tokens, confirmed that they were not the unlucky ones, and cheerfully looked toward Yu Jianming.
Yu Jianming gave Bao Gu a regretful look. Then he tightened his face and spoke with great seriousness.
“No! Mine doesn’t have it! Search me if you don’t believe me.”
“Doesn’t have it? Then where’s your token?”
Yu Jianming pointed toward the pile on the table.
“Over there!”
Everyone picked up the tokens they had placed on the table. The table was instantly empty.
“Where is it?”
Yu Jianming shamelessly insisted,
“Anyway, I don’t have a jade token.”
Feng Menglong draped an arm over Yu Jianming’s shoulder.
“Your Martial Aunt saw it! Do you really want Little Martial Aunt Grandmaster to drag you out and make you run ten naked laps around Nether Shadow City?”
“It’s gone!”
Zi Yunshu said,
“To prevent anyone from denying the result and hiding the token, I left a tracking mark on it. Judging from its aura, it seems to be in your stomach.”
Yu Jianming immediately realized that things were going badly. Before anyone could react, he rushed to Yu Mi’s side.
“Master, save me!”
Then he realized that his master was not fearsome enough. He darted behind Bao Gu and shouted,
“Martial Aunt, save me!”
Bao Gu turned her head and looked at him.
Yu Jianming hid behind Bao Gu. The others truly did not dare reach in and drag him out.
Bao Gu suddenly raised a hand and crooked one finger. A faint energy fluctuation rippled through the air. The space around Yu Jianming’s stomach twisted, and a jade token flew out of the distortion and landed in Bao Gu’s hand.
The token clearly bore the words “Sect Master.”
Bao Gu handed it back to Yu Jianming.
“There. I got it out for you.”
Yu Jianming was speechless. He looked at Bao Gu as if he were about to cry. He really wanted to say, You truly are my very own Martial Aunt!
The people in the hall exchanged glances. Then they all bent one knee and performed a solemn salute. In unison, they shouted,
“We pay our respects to the Sect Master!”
Yu Jianming was utterly speechless. They were forcing him into the position!
He said nothing, and everyone remained kneeling.
When Yu Jianming saw his master about to perform the grand salute, he hurriedly caught Yu Mi and shouted,
“Up, all of you! Get up!”
Then he saw Little Martial Aunt beginning to raise her arm to salute. He panicked and yelled,
“Fine, fine, I’ll do it! Isn’t that enough? No need for formalities!”
The final words came out as a roar. The sound echoed through the air and carried for thirty li.
The shout startled Qingying into appearing at the doorway in an instant.
“What happened?”
She looked Yu Jianming up and down. Seeing that he was perfectly fine, she muttered unhappily,
“If nothing’s wrong, why are you yelling like a slaughtered pig?”
Then she left again, carrying her cauldron.
Yu Jianming was left with a breath stuck in his chest, unable either to exhale or swallow it. His entire being felt utterly miserable.
