Chapter 158: A Shocking New Sect Leader
Chu Yang was taken aback.
You two, with your honest faces—how did you end up switching sides too?!
Xu Changqing glanced at Zixuan.
The Drunken Sword Immortal looked at A'nu and Ming Yuanqing.
The reason was self-evident.
Chu Yang could only sigh. "If you're really not going back, fine... but, Uncle-Master, if you don't return, this really is a big deal. How am I supposed to explain this to the sect leader and the others?"
The Drunken Sword Immortal took a deep swig of wine and grinned. "No need to explain anything to them. From now on, in Shu Mountain, you'll be the one who—"
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Only then did he remember: once they returned to the mountain, the elders were planning to announce Chu Yang as the new sect leader.
This could very well be the most important day of Chu Yang's life. If they weren't there for it, even without thinking too hard, one could imagine how disappointed Chu Yang would be.
The Drunken Sword Immortal suddenly turned serious. "We have to go back with Chu Yang. No one can be left behind."
"Huh?" Li Xiaoyao's eyes widened. "Senior, don't tell me you're drunk again?"
"I only took one sip—I'm not drunk!" The Drunken Sword Immortal couldn't outright tell them the truth, not with the matter of the two sects merging being so sensitive. He could only speak vaguely. "Something big is happening in Shu Mountain. We can't miss it."
Xu Changqing hesitated. "Everyone has to go? Even Elder Shi and the rest?"
The Drunken Sword Immortal looked around and nodded. "Yeah! Everyone Chu Yang knows should go!"
Li Xiaoyao frowned. "Sounds serious... but can't you just tell us directly?"
The Drunken Sword Immortal shook his head decisively. "No can do!"
Chu Yang was just as confused—he had no idea what plot event had been triggered this time.
Seeing the Drunken Sword Immortal keep things mysterious made the others anxious. A'nu even clung to his arm and acted cute.
Shi Gonghu, however, seemed to sense something. He looked at Chu Yang and nodded slightly with a smile. "Princess, since the Shu Mountain Sect has extended such a sincere invitation, we should go. It's only a few days' journey."
Coming from Shi Gonghu, his words basically reflected the stance of the entire Nanzhao Kingdom. Zhao Ling'er, who had originally wanted to stay behind to attend to state affairs, readily agreed.
What was supposed to be no one going back had now turned into everyone going. The shift was so sudden that even Chu Yang was caught off guard.
And so, their group once again set out in grand fashion toward Shu Mountain, this time with a noticeably larger party than before.
Even the General Nanman and the Saintess were part of the procession.
Several days later.
By the time Chu Yang and the others returned to Yuzhou City, the entire city was abuzz with news about Shu Mountain founding a new sect.
Everyone was stunned.
Liu Jinyuan remarked, "No wonder Senior Drunken Sword Immortal kept his mouth shut. It really was a big deal. If we'd missed it, we might've regretted it for the rest of our lives."
Li Xiaoyao patted the Drunken Sword Immortal on the shoulder. "Drunken Maniac Uncle-Master, I owe you an apology."
"A banquet? Are we throwing a banquet? A'nu loves banquets!" A'nu clung tightly to the Drunken Sword Immortal, laughing happily.
The Drunken Sword Immortal smiled too. "Don't think this is the only big event. The real excitement is still to come. Just wait—you won't be disappointed."
Everyone's anticipation rose.
Back when the Sword Saint returned, Shu Mountain had announced the merger of its internal sword factions, inviting all righteous sects to witness the occasion.
Now, Yuzhou City was packed with representatives from countless major sects, some even from extremely distant regions...
Among them, three groups stood out the most.
One group wore Daoist robes, their aura quite similar to that of Shu Mountain disciples. Another consisted of monks in kasayas, exuding compassion and serenity.
The third group, dressed similarly to the General Nanman's people, moved like flames with every step and gesture.
They were clearly unfamiliar with Yuzhou's local customs—their accents were even harder to decipher than the Southern Barbarians'.
Chu Yang grew curious and was about to approach them when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him and attacked without a word.
The assailant used their fingers as a sword, striking with bold and unrestrained swordplay—like a general charging on a battlefield.
Instinctively, Chu Yang used Tai Chi to neutralize the attack, countering with stillness and deflecting the sword force, then used a shifting technique to hurl the attacker away.
Thud—thud—thud—
Only after several staggered steps did the person manage to absorb the force of the Tai Chi technique. It was Lin Tiannan, making a rare appearance, and Chu Yang had left him looking rather disheveled.
"Dad? What are you doing here?!" Lin Yueru shouted excitedly as she ran into Lin Tiannan's arms. It had been a long time—she truly missed her stubborn old father.
Lin Tiannan's heart was comforted, and he laughed heartily. "Sword Saint and I are sworn brothers—how could I not attend such a momentous occasion?"
Then he turned to look at Chu Yang. Compared to a few months ago, this young man was practically a different person. Lin Tiannan admired him, even envied Shu Mountain for taking in such a fine disciple.
Chu Yang cupped his hands. "Apologies, Senior. I didn't recognize you just now."
Lin Tiannan waved it off. "No harm done. I just wanted to see how much your skills have improved. You didn't disappoint me!"
Thanks to that little interruption, the three groups that had caught Chu Yang's attention had already disappeared—he couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Drunken Sword Immortal, Lin Tiannan urged the group onward to Shu Mountain.
When they finally arrived, the main plaza on the sect's summit was already packed with people—every major faction in the world had sent someone.
Shu Mountain disciples were busy arranging accommodations for the guests. Xu Changqing instinctively joined the effort, helping to receive them.
With him there, it was as if the guests had found their anchor—everyone gravitated toward him. Zixuan stood silently nearby, momentarily dazed.
"Don't worry. Once Senior Brother makes up his mind, he won't waver," Chu Yang said, appearing beside Zixuan. "It's just hard to let go of his fellow disciples who've been with him every day."
Zixuan murmured softly, "Maybe living here makes him happier than being with me."
Chu Yang rolled his eyes. "Senior Brother doesn't like men."
Zixuan blinked, then burst into laughter, her worries dissolving like mist.
Upon Chu Yang's return, the Sword Saint immediately announced that the ceremony would be held two days later.
In those two days, even more guests arrived—it was likely the grandest event since the sect's founding.
The day of the ceremony.
Atop the high platform...
The Sword Saint, Qingwei, the Drunken Sword Immortal, along with Elders Cang Gu and the others—seven figures in all—stood in a row.
Behind them stood core disciples like Xu Changqing and Chu Yang.
With a kind expression, Qingwei stepped forward, stroked his beard, and smiled. "Qingwei of Shu Mountain thanks all of you for attending this ceremony…"
He went on at length with polite greetings, then recounted the history of Shu Mountain's internal sword faction rivalry and the recent turmoil at the Demon-Sealing Tower.
Many of the guests had heard vague rumors, but now, listening to Qingwei recount it in detail, it felt as if they were there themselves. Many broke into a cold sweat.
"After such a catastrophe, the Sword Saint and I felt it was time for Shu Mountain to shed its old ways, and thus came today's merger of the two factions."
At that moment, a curious voice called out from the crowd.
"Headmaster Qingwei, after the two factions merge, who will lead Shu Mountain—you, or Sword Saint Du Gu?"
The plaza instantly fell silent. Everyone waited for Qingwei's answer.
Qingwei turned to the Sword Saint, who stepped forward to stand beside him.
The crowd tensed, assuming the new headmaster would be the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint raised his voice. "Chu Yang, where are you?"
Startled, Chu Yang stepped forward and bowed. "Disciple present!"
The Sword Saint smiled and nodded. "From this day forth, you shall be the new head of Shu Mountain!"
The moment those words were spoken—
The entire plaza erupted in thunderous gasps and cries!
Every single pair of eyes turned to Chu Yang!
Shu Mountain's new sect leader was neither the Daoist Qingwei nor the renowned Sword Saint, but a second-generation disciple with barely any name recognition?
Not even Xu Changqing, the eldest disciple?
The shock was overwhelming. The guests began to suspect Qingwei and the Sword Saint had gone mad.
Even Li Xiaoyao and the others were dumbfounded.
"No wonder Senior Drunken Sword Immortal insisted we come back—it turns out he didn't want us to miss Chu Yang's ascension to sect leader!"
Liu Jinyuan's expression didn't show much surprise—he seemed to have expected this. So did Shi Gonghu, who stood beside him.
"Though young, Daoist Chu Yang is more than qualified to lead Shu Mountain in both character and strength. The courage and vision of the sect leaders are truly remarkable—Shu Mountain is destined to rise."
Shi Gonghu stroked his beard in admiration, recalling his first meeting with Chu Yang. Even back then, he had sensed that the young man's future would be extraordinary—who would've thought he'd become the sect leader so soon?
After a brief moment of shock, Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru broke into applause, jumping up with excitement.
Some of the guests slowly followed their lead, clapping sporadically—but it was a far cry from the overwhelming crowd, making the applause feel thin and disjointed.
Gradually, murmurs of doubt emerged about Chu Yang's appointment. Though it was an internal matter for Shu Mountain, the sect's unique status as a symbol of righteousness made it everyone's concern.
"Never heard of this guy before—how did he become Shu Mountain's leader?"
"Shu Mountain's been going downhill year after year..."
"I thought the merger would make them stronger. At this rate, they'll collapse within a few years."
"This decision is reckless! It concerns the safety of the mortal realm!"
"Sect leaders, please reconsider!"
Once the doubts started, the murmuring swelled into an uproar. Xu Changqing quickly stepped forward to calm the crowd.
But given the weight of the matter, the crowd wasn't buying it. Some even began openly denouncing the sect's decision.
The loudest voice came from Shen Family Fortress, the rival of Lin Family Fortress.
South Lin, North Shen.
Fortress Master Shen Qingfeng's status was on par with Lin Tiannan's.
For decades, the two fortresses had traded victories, though Lin Family Fortress generally had the upper hand.
Now that Lin Tiannan was sworn brothers with the Sword Saint and his daughter Lin Yueru was a disciple of Shu Mountain, the alliance between the Lin family and Shu Mountain was ironclad—unshakable in the martial world.
How could Shen Qingfeng not be worried?
Given the current situation, doing nothing would be the same as waiting to be crushed.
Shen Qingfeng wouldn't miss any chance to strike at Shu Mountain or Lin Family Fortress—even if it meant offending Shu Mountain directly.
He had nothing left to lose.
Besides Shen Family Fortress, the four great clans—Ouyang, Xiahou, Huangfu, and Shangguan—also voiced their objections.
Together, these forces represented the majority of the martial world.
The cultivation sects, such as Penglai's Sword Hall and Kunlun's Qionghua Sect, remained outwardly restrained, but the flicker of unease in their expressions was unmistakable.
Faced with the mounting dissent, Qingwei and the Sword Saint stood calm and resolute. They trusted that Chu Yang would handle the matter well.
At that moment—
Now suddenly installed as Shu Mountain's sect leader, Chu Yang felt somewhat conflicted. His original plan had been to spend his days wandering the Scripture Pavilion, catching demons in the mortal world, and living a carefree life.
He'd never imagined becoming Shu Mountain's sect leader.
But things had come to this.
So be it.
Since Qingwei and the Sword Saint had both chosen him as the new leader, he wasn't about to shy away from the responsibility.
Shu Mountain's sect leader?
Why shouldn't he take the position?
Chu Yang stepped forward and unleashed a flurry of Silencing Spells on the noisiest dissenters, instantly plunging the plaza into silence.
Everyone from Shen Fortress, including Shen Qingfeng himself, found their voices sealed. The four great families were affected to a lesser extent, with only a few individuals silenced.
The noble families were different from Shen Fortress. Their objections stemmed from genuine concern for the mortal realm—not petty provocation.
Even so, Chu Yang's blanket silencing unsettled many.
The same thought echoed through everyone's minds:
This new Shu Mountain leader has a temper!
Unlike the amiable Qingwei, Chu Yang preferred to assert dominance through power before reasoning things out.
Though even that depended on his mood.
"If any of you still have something to say, speak freely..." Chu Yang's sharp gaze swept across the gathered sects. Only after most had lowered their heads in silence did he continue, "If no one objects, then as of today, I am the sect leader of Shu Mountain."
Who would dare object?
Those who did had already been silenced!
In the Qionghua Sect, a few younger disciples whispered amongst themselves.
One short-haired disciple with clear eyes, who spoke the loudest, turned to his companions. "Mengli, Lingsha, why's everyone gone quiet all of a sudden? Weren't they all criticizing the new sect leader a moment ago?"
A girl with bright eyes and a high bun, wearing the purple robes of a Qionghua disciple, angrily knocked him on the head.
"Yun! Tian! He!"
"You idiot! Why are you talking so loud?! Can't you see everyone's looking our way now? You're going to get us in trouble!"
Han Lingsha wagged her finger at Yun Tianhe, scolding him nonstop.
Yun Tianhe covered his head, looking aggrieved—he had no idea what he'd done wrong.
Nearby, a gentle young woman in a pale violet dress, graceful and reserved, quietly reminded them, "Arguing now will only draw more attention."
At that, Han Lingsha finally went silent, shooting a glare at Yun Tianhe.
Feng Yao, the current sect leader of Qionghua, merely frowned at the commotion but said nothing—perhaps letting Yun Tianhe speak out was her way of expressing the sect's stance.
Instead, it was Murong Ziying—renowned alongside Xu Changqing as one of the "Twin Talents"—who stepped forward and gave Chu Yang a slight bow in apology.
The mood in the plaza grew increasingly delicate.
Among the various factions, only Penglai's Sword Hall, which had long-standing ties with Shu Mountain, seemed openly supportive of Chu Yang.
Sect leader Shang Fengzi gave a light cough and spoke:
"Brother Qingwei and Brother Yin are both prudent and experienced. They wouldn't choose a new sect leader without good reason. In my view, this Chu Yang… Sect Leader Chu Yang, must possess qualities that set him apart."
"Today marks a joyous occasion—the unification of Shu Mountain's two branches. Why not seize the moment to forge good relations?"
As soon as Shang Fengzi finished speaking, a man stepped out from the four noble families' ranks.
The man's features were sharp and resolute, his posture upright like a drawn sword, exuding a piercing aura. He spoke in a clear voice:
"I am Ouyang Ying, head of the Ouyang family. I first wish to congratulate both elders for achieving the unification of Shu Mountain within their lifetimes…"
Qingwei and the Sword Saint gave him subtle nods.
"But for the sake of the world's people, I must ask this: Senior Qingwei is advanced in age—if he finds it difficult to continue leading Shu Mountain, it is understandable that he would step down. But what of the Sword Saint?"
"For a cultivator, you are still in your prime. You could have led Shu Mountain to even greater heights!"
"And now, a second-generation disciple hopes to claim the leadership of the righteous path—how can he possibly convince the masses?"
Just as the Sword Saint was about to respond, a crimson figure suddenly appeared overhead like the blazing sun.
Chonglou gazed coldly down upon the crowd, his expression full of disdain—as if looking at a group of ants. Their denigration of Chu Yang was, in his eyes, no different than insulting him.
The suffocating pressure of his immense demonic power left everyone in the plaza aghast.
The Demon Lord Chonglou slowly spoke:
"In the six realms, there are few who can stand as my equal. You ask what qualifies him to be Shu Mountain's sect leader?"
"He defeated me twice. That's what qualifies him!"