Those who stayed on the top of Tianguang Peak and those riding the swords in the night sky were all stunned after witnessing the scene.
Elder Bai Rujing in the upper state of the Broken Sea had been defeated by Jing Jiu in the middle state of the Free Travel. How could it be possible?
And he had been holding the cat the entire time!
Looking at Jing Jiu sitting back in the chair, the people couldn't help but feel bewildered, thinking it was even more unbelievable than Jing Jiu becoming the sect master.
Even Zhao Layue and Gu Qing, who trusted Jing Jiu unconditionally, couldn't believe their eyes.
Nan Wang hadn't left the top of Tianguang Peak the entire time. "When did you break through the Broken Sea State?" he asked in surprise while looking at Jing Jiu.
In Aoyama, breaking through the states was usually described as entering a certain state, except for the state of the Broken Sea. Since the state of Broken Sea was included in it, there was no need to go through so much trouble.
This habit started more than six hundred years ago.
"A few days ago," replied Jing Jiu.
Guangyuan Zhenren happened to hear the question as he flew back to the peak top. He couldn't help but smile bitterly in his mind, feeling less shocked.
He had said earlier that Jing Jiu was not qualified to be the sect master because his Cultivation state was too low; he didn't expect Jing Jiu to have broken through the Broken Sea State. Though Jing Jiu was still a distance away from the Broken Sea State, he was already in a higher state. If someone in the Broken Sea State was not qualified to be the sect master, would he have to stay in the hermit peaks until he reached the Heavenly Arrival State?
Moreover, Jing Jiu was still very young.
Even Nan Wang and Guangyuan Zhenren were so surprised, to say nothing of the elders and regular disciples of Aoyama.
Jing Jiu had been cultivating on Green Mountain for no more than thirty years, and he had already entered the Broken Sea State!
Nobody had ever seen or heard of such a thing, and they didn't even dare think about it.
People often said that he was probably the genius with the fastest Cultivation speed in the history of Aoyama, but the word "probably" should be crossed out.
To say nothing of the Aoyama Sect, he should be the fastest practitioner in the entire Cultivation history of Chaotian!
There were no suitable words to describe such an unimaginable achievement. Perhaps only the words' world-shaking 'could barely be used to describe it.
Countless shocked and admiring gazes fell on Jing Jiu.
However, there was still an unimportant question that no one could understand.
Even if Jing Jiu succeeded in breaking through the state, he was only in the initial stage of the Broken Sea State, far inferior to Elder Bai Rujing. How could he defeat his opponent so easily?
"Is the Innate Invisible Sword Body this powerful at the later stages of cultivation?"
Guangyuan Zhenren looked at Jing Jiu and said with emotion.
After the Sword Trial of Aoyama many years ago, the peak masters had stayed behind to discuss Jing Jiu. Some of them suspected that he was the successor of experiencing the mortal world at the Guocheng Temple, but in the end, they concluded that he should have the rumored Innate Invisible Sword Body and should be trained well.
Even the Sword Sect of Aoyama didn't know much about the Innate Invisible Sword Body, and nobody knew what would happen when one's Cultivation state improved.
The news had spread a long time ago. Many people knew that Jing Jiu had the Innate Invisible Sword Body, but nobody had ever seen him fight, so they had gradually forgotten about it. It wasn't until they saw the scene on the peak top that night and thought of the Innate Invisible Sword Body that they were so shocked that they couldn't calm down for a long time.
Jing Jiu was already so powerful when he had just entered the Broken Sea State. If he had a higher Cultivation state, wouldn't he be able to fight against someone in the Heavenly Arrival State?
At this moment, everyone thought that they understood why Spiritual Master Liu Ci had left behind that edict.
He was aiming for the future.
The Sword Justice didn't become the sect master because he was thinking about the future.
The future of Aoyama was Jing Jiu.
…
…
Jing Jiu of course knew he didn't have the Innate Invisible Sword Body, but he wouldn't deny what Guangyuan Zhenren said.
Anyway, nobody had ever seen the Innate Invisible Sword Body or the Netherworld Fairy Sword, so he could cover it up.
Bai Rujing's disciples helped him up, but they didn't dare to help him leave. They stood nervously in front of the cliff.
Guangyuan Zhenren bowed to Jing Jiu to plead for mercy for Bai Rujing.
Elder Mo Chi and other elders and disciples of Tianguang Peak also pleaded for mercy for Bai Rujing.
They were dissatisfied with Bai Rujing's performance that day, but he had lived on Tianguang Peak for hundreds of years after all, so they couldn't bear to see him in such a miserable state.
Moreover, everybody could tell that the punishment was imposed by the Sect Master on purpose. Otherwise, why would Master White Ghost howl at that time, and why would Gu Qing say that?
Guo Nanshan, Gu Han, and others knew clearly why Jing Jiu did that.
It was something that had happened many years ago.
It was something that had happened to Liu Shisui.
It was true that Jing Jiu had made up his mind that he would beat up Bai Rujing as soon as he entered the Broken Sea State.
Thinking of this, Gu Han felt a bit chilly, and You Siluo and other disciples felt a bit conflicted.
The relationship between Tianguang Peak, Liangwang Peak and Shenmo Peak had never been good. If the Sect Master held a grudge against them, what would they do in the future?
Zhuo Rusui looked at Jing Jiu with a complicated expression in his eyes.
He didn't plead for mercy for Bai Rujing, nor did he worry that Jing Jiu would hold a grudge against him. In the Illusionary Realm of the Green Sky Mirror, he had helped Jing Jiu kill many people.
Jing Jiu was quite familiar with the expression in his eyes at the moment.
The expression in his eyes contained a hint of yearning, envy, and helplessness.
Six hundred years ago, after he and his Big Brother had killed those senior masters, Liu Ci and Yuan Qijing had the same expression in their eyes when they looked at him.
As he thought of Yuan Qijing, Yuan Qijing's sword arrived.
The wild grass on the top of Tianguang Peak was covered with a thin layer of frost.
The voice of Yuan Qijing came out from the Three-Foot Sword amid the slight snow.
"Bai Rujing has been disrespectful to the Sect Master. He will be sent to the Sword Jail to reflect on his actions for three years."
This was a heavy punishment, but it was not too severe considering that the Cultivation practitioners had a lifespan of hundreds of years.
Jing Jiu didn't say anything.
A moment later, the voice of Yuan Qijing rang out from the Three-Foot Sword again, "What do you think, Sect Master?"
Everybody looked at Jing Jiu.
Jing Jiu uttered "hmm".
…
…
Bai Rujing was taken away by a caretaker disciple of Shangde Peak. Even if he was locked in the Sword Jail, he wouldn't live in a cell that was too bad, and Jian Ruyun could be his companion.
Guangyuan Zhenren had indeed left. The sword lights flashed in the night sky, and the people disappeared into the peaks.
Standing in front of the hut, Guo Nanshan thought of the interrupted report, wondering if he should continue.
As he was about to continue, Nan Wang came over and said to Jing Jiu, "I have something to ask you."
The disciples of Tianguang Peak grew nervous again, thinking that the peak master of Qingrong didn't address him as the Sect Master. Given his petty and vengeful temperament, would something happen to him?
Jing Jiu didn't even think about it, asking, "What's the matter?"
When Liu Ci was still alive, Nan Wang seldom called him the Sect Master. Calling him Big Brother was a sign of respect.
After a moment of silence, Nan Wang suddenly said, "It's not a big deal. Let me borrow Ada for a while."
Having said that, she grabbed Ada without waiting for Jing Jiu's consent and mounted the Zither Sword, heading toward Qingrong Peak.
Ada was held in her bosom. He poked his head out from her shoulder and looked at Jing Jiu innocently.
Jing Jiu knew that Ada was nervous at the moment, but he didn't mind it after some thought. He signaled with his eyes that he trusted Ada and that Ada shouldn't let him down.
The starlight shone on the Zither Sword, reflecting countless faintly discernible sword strings, which would bend and shrink from time to time, looking like question marks.
After being interrupted twice in a row, Guo Nanshan gave up on the idea. He introduced the situation of Tianguang Peak briefly, and asked Jing Jiu to explain it to him.
This time Jing Jiu didn't dismiss the meeting right away. He glanced at the crowd of Tianguang Peak and then fixed his gaze on Mo Chi, saying, "You're too honest. You can't do that."
The Elder Mo Chi nodded repeatedly, thinking that the new Sect Master knew him very well.
Jing Jiu looked at Zhuo Rusui and shook his head.
Zhuo Rusui wasn't convinced, yelling, "Senior Master!"
Jing Jiu uttered "Hmm".
Zhuo Rusui cleared his throat and asked again in a gentler tone, "Senior Master, why did you shake your head?"
Jing Jiu said, "You're too smart, so you're not suitable."
Zhuo Rusui thought, "So that's how it is. I don't have anything else to say, so I left happily."
"I'll leave Tianguang Peak to you."
Jing Jiu said to Guo Nanshan, "Just one thing. If you want to do anything in Liangwang Peak, you have to go to Shenmo Peak and ask me first."
Guo Nanshan was surprised, thinking that there were so many Senior Masters in Tianguang Peak; how could he be in charge of it? And why did he have to go to Shenmo Peak to ask him?
Mo Chi was also confused, asking, "Sect … Master … Don't you live in Tianguang Peak?"
Jing Jiu said, "I haven't lived there before. I'm not used to it."
He was used to living in Shanghai Peak, but he didn't like it. Besides, Yuan Qijing wouldn't let him live there.
Having said that, Jing Jiu didn't say anything else. He put away the Sword of the Universe and stood up, ready to leave.
Zhao Layue called out the Thoughtless Sword, and pulled Jing Jiu's hand, disappearing into the night sky like a red line.
Gu Qing called out his ordinary flying sword, which hadn't been replaced yet, and followed them hurriedly.
Yuan Qu raised his eyebrows, feeling overjoyed, thinking that it was great that his Senior Master still lived in Shenmo Peak.
Ping Yong-Ka couldn't figure out why Jing Jiu was so happy. He looked at him innocently with his hand in the air, thinking, "Big Brother, you have to take me with you."
…
…
After returning to Shenmo Peak, Ping Yong-Ka finally realized why Big Brother Yuan Qu was so happy. His Master was now the Sect Master of Aoyama, but he still lived in Shenmo Peak. His status in Shenmo Peak was naturally different from before, and his disciples … Wait a moment!
He finally realized what had happened, and was stunned. His Master … had become the Sect Master of Aoyama?
Jing Jiu wondered if what had happened today was a hallucination.
He was still behind closed doors in the Grand Hall. Were those the Inner Demons?
He looked at Yuan Qu and Gu Qing, hoping to get their help. But he found that these two Big Brothers didn't look right either.
Yuan Qu had calmed down from the ecstasy. He was sitting by the cliff's edge with Gu Qing in a daze, looking at the silvery clouds under the night sky. No one knew what they were thinking.
Ping Yong-Ka walked over and lay down by their side. After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Does this count as a victory without doing anything?"
"Of course it counts. But I feel a great pressure." After a moment of silence, Yuan Qu said earnestly, "I'll start to stay behind closed doors tomorrow. I can't bring shame to the Sect Master."
Gu Qing fell silent, as he thought that speaking of pressure, he didn't want to criticize them …
No cat could be seen by the cliff's edge that night. Cold Cicada was chewing on the Cold Chalcedony happily. When it was full, it turned over and started cultivating facing the starlight.
Gu Qing shot a glance at Cold Cicada, feeling a bit jealous.
…
…
Jing Jiu and Zhao Layue were in the highest manor cave on Shenmo Peak.
The starlight shone down from above the manor cave and shone on them.
Sitting on her knees by Jing Jiu's side, Zhao Layue looked at him in Silence. "Does this count as getting back what you've lost?" she asked, her black and white pupils exceptionally bright.
"I've never been a sect master, and I don't want to be one," said Jing Jiu.
What had happened that day had shocked the nine peaks of Aoyama, and it would shock the whole of Chaotian in a few days.
The three disciples of Shenmo Peak were so shocked that they started talking nonsense.
Yet, Jing Jiu himself was quite calm.
It was true that he had never been a sect master, but he had been the great sect master for at least three hundred years, so he didn't feel anything special about it.
In fact, it was a demotion.
It was nothing to be excited about.
As the sect master of Aoyama, he had to deal with many affairs, and he often had to decide the life and death of many people with one word, which was contrary to his temperament.
If he didn't want to hold the sheath of the Inherited Heaven Sword in his hand, he wouldn't agree to it even if Liu Ci came back to life.
Well, he would think about it if he could come back to life.
Zhao Layue said, "It's a happy occasion after all. We can celebrate it even if it's not the New Year."
Jing Jiu understood what she meant. He held her in his bosom and patted her back with his free hand.
Zhao Layue leaned against Jing Jiu with her eyes closed, a contented smile on her face.
Though it was a matter of course for Jing Jiu to be the sect master of Aoyama, she was still quite happy about it. "Did you plan everything that happened today?" she asked curiously.
"As Gu Qing said, a sect master needs to convince the masses."
Jing Jiu continued, "I can't convince them with my current Cultivation state, so I've made my choice then."
In Aoyama, his true supporters were Yuan Qijing and Ada.
Ada was the grandmaster of Bihu Peak, so he had two votes. Yuan Qijing was the current master of the Dead Dog, so he had two votes. In addition, Shenmo Peak had an iron vote, so he had five votes.
No matter what Bai Rujing did, Tianguang Peak would support Liu Ci's Will in the end, which was another vote.
"Even if you have confidence in the Master Round Turtle, you only have seven votes."
Zhao Layue suddenly thought of this. She sat up straight and said while staring into Jing Jiu's eyes, "You might lose today."
As long as one of Yunxing Peak, Xilai Peak, Shiyue Peak, and Qingrong Peak didn't support him, he would lose the position of the sect master.
Judging from the situation, this was likely to happen.
Jing Jiu uttered "hmm".
Zhao Layue asked, "What if I lose today?"
"I'll just leave," said Jing Jiu.
If he was kicked off the position of the sect master after being identified by the Will, what else could he do? He was too ashamed to stay in Aoyama any longer.
Though Jing Jiu spoke calmly, Zhao Layue's Dao Heart was in turmoil.
She had never thought that Jing Jiu would leave Aoyama one day.
All of a sudden, she understood why Jing Jiu wanted to push the situation to the path of voting; it was because he was tired.
He had been trying to find those ghosts since he returned to Aoyama. It wasn't until the battle of the West Ocean that he found out there were so many ghosts.
If he couldn't get the support of the peaks today, his tiredness would come true, and he would no longer pay attention to the affairs of Aoyama from then on.
He might be trying to find an excuse for himself to leave, or he might be giving the disciples of the later generation a last chance to persuade him to stay.
Thinking of this, Zhao Layue felt a bit sad. "Do you feel better?" she asked in a low voice.
Jing Jiu thought of Mo Chi, who had finally shown courage after hundreds of years of compromise with Bai Rujing, Guo Nanshan, Zhuo Rusui, and Nan Wang …
Nobody knew what was on Nan Wang's mind.
He was worried about Ada.
Seeing that Jing Jiu didn't say anything, Zhao Layue's pity turned into unwillingness and ruthlessness. She said in a low voice, "Even if someone has to leave, it should be them."
Everything had to be first come, first served.
"What happened seven hundred years ago was similar to what happened tonight. Big Brother lost, but he didn't leave … So many people died later."
Jing Jiu said, "Killing people like that once is enough."
Zhao Layue understood what he meant, but she remained silent.
Jing Jiu stopped talking about these things. He picked up the sheath of the Inherited Heaven Sword and said, "Come out."
With a fluttering sound, a Blue Bird flew out from inside.
(End of this chapter)
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
