SWDnovel Chapter 46 The new Sword Sect Master must be loyal to the Great Qin!
Chapter 46 The new Sword Sect Master must be loyal to the Great Qin!
After three resounding drumbeats, the training ground fell into a brief silence.
All eyes were focused on the high platform.
There, seven figures slowly walked out.
The seven elders of the Qinglan Sword Sect all wore blue Daoist robes with silver cloud patterns embroidered on the lapels and cuffs.
Although they were all over fifty years old, they were all in good spirits, walked steadily, and had a hidden aura of sword energy flowing around them.
The leader was the Grand Elder, "Qingyun Sword" Mo Wentian.
His hair and beard were all white, his face was thin and refined, and he held an ancient longsword in his hand. The sword was not drawn, but a chilling sword intent emanated from his body.
Those eyes, which had weathered a century of storms, calmly swept across the entire venue, finally settling on the main seat in the due north direction.
Beside him, the Second Elder, "Flowing Cloud Sword" Liu Suifeng, followed closely behind.
Liu Suifeng looked much younger than Mo Wentian, around fifty years old, with a handsome face, clear features, and a gentle smile that was always on his lips.
But upon closer inspection, a subtle sharpness and calculation are hidden deep within those smiling eyes.
Next is the Third Elder, "Blood Sword" Li Wuhen.
He was about sixty years old, with a gaunt face, high cheekbones, and a pair of triangular eyes that were half-open, as if he were forever asleep.
But the occasional flash of bloodlust in his eyes when he opened and closed them sent chills down one's spine.
A crimson short sword hung at his waist, its scabbard covered with strange runes.
The other four elders, the Fourth Elder "Sword of Broken Mountain" Yue Qingcang, the Fifth Elder "Sword of Flying Frost" Bai Ningshuang, the Sixth Elder "Sword of Piercing Clouds" Feng Wuying, and the Seventh Elder "Sword of Listening to Rain" Su Tingyu, lined up in order, each with their own unique style.
The seven elders stood still, and the entire audience fell silent.
Mo Wentian stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a voice as strong as an ancient pine tree: "Fellow martial artists, your presence from afar is an honor to the Qinglan Sword Sect."
He paused, then turned his gaze to the person in the main seat and bowed deeply.
"Today is the grand ceremony for the enthronement of the new sect leader of our Qinglan Sword Sect. It is an honor for our sect, unprecedented in three hundred years, to have His Majesty the Emperor of Great Qin personally witness the ceremony. According to the ancestral teachings of the Sword Sect, the sect leader must be a person of virtue. Therefore, in addition to following the sect rules, we also ask His Majesty to witness this ceremony, so as to demonstrate our Qinglan Sword Sect's loyalty to the Great Qin royal family and its righteousness towards the world."
These words were spoken with utmost integrity and without any flaws.
This not only demonstrated the Sword Sect's orthodox status and expressed loyalty to the royal family, but also established the sect's image in front of heroes from all over the world.
A low murmur of admiration rose from the audience.
Qin Mu leaned back in his rosewood chair, still holding Jiang Qingxue's cold fingers in one hand. Hearing this, he smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.
Mo Wentian straightened up and continued:
"Sect Master Xiao Tiannan has been in seclusion for thirty years, comprehending the Dao of Heaven, and has not emerged yet. The sect cannot be without a leader for a single day. After discussion among the seven elders, a new sect master will be elected today."
He surveyed the entire room, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:
"According to the rules of my Sword Sect, the position of sect leader requires three conditions: first, martial arts cultivation must be unparalleled in the entire sect; second, virtue must be sufficient to win the respect of the masses; and third, the sect's disciples must support him."
"Therefore, today's grand ceremony is divided into three parts."
Mo Wentian held up three fingers:
"First, a martial arts competition. Those who wish to compete for the position of sect leader may come up on stage for a duel, and the winner will be respected."
"Second, the evaluation of moral character. This will be jointly conducted by the seven elders and the heads of various sects and families present."
"Third, a public vote among disciples. All three thousand disciples of the Sword Sect, both inner and outer, are eligible to vote."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seats on either side of the platform:
"Of course, with heroes from all over the world gathered here today, any outstanding individual who believes themselves worthy of being the Sword Sect Master is welcome to step forward and give it a try. The Azure Sword Sect has always valued talent above all else!"
These words were spoken with great eloquence, and a cheer immediately erupted from the audience.
"What a fine example of meritocracy!"
"The Sword Sect's demeanor is truly extraordinary!"
In the world of martial arts, strength is valued most, but courage is also highly respected.
Mo Wentian's words not only demonstrated the Sword Sect's confidence but also gave everyone a chance, instantly winning him a lot of goodwill.
Qin Mu watched this scene with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
This elder is a wise man.
Knowing full well that the position of sect leader would most likely be decided between Mo Wentian and Liu Suifeng, they still insisted on adopting the attitude of "appointing only the talented."
This not only silenced the criticisms of the world but also demonstrated the magnanimity of the Sword Sect.
High, really high.
but……
Qin Mu's gaze swept over the Third Elder, Li Wuhen, almost imperceptibly.
This "Blood Sword" elder was unusually quiet today.
Given his personality and ambition, he shouldn't be so quiet.
Unless... he's waiting for something.
Just then, Mo Wentian walked to the main seat and bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty, please inaugurate the grand ceremony."
All eyes instantly focused on Qin Mu.
This Qin emperor made his first official appearance before the heroes of the world since ascending the throne six months ago.
His attitude and his words and actions will directly affect the course of today's ceremony, and even the future relationship between the martial arts world and the imperial court.
Jiang Qingxue felt Qin Mu tighten his grip on her hand slightly before releasing it.
She looked up and saw Qin Mu slowly getting up.
The dark dragon robe gleamed with a dull golden luster in the morning light, and the hem brushed against the rosewood chair, making a slight rubbing sound.
He walked step by step to the center of the platform, his pace unhurried and his demeanor calm and composed.
Although it was just a simple walk, an invisible pressure emanated from it, gradually quieting down the originally noisy training ground.
Thousands of eyes followed the figure in black.
Xu Longxiang sat in the Northern Frontier camp, staring intently at Qin Mu's back, his eyes bloodshot.
He noticed that when Qin Mu got up, he naturally put his arm around Jiang Qingxue's waist and whispered something.
An unnatural blush appeared on Jiang Qingxue's pale face, and she nodded gently.
Their posture was as intimate as a husband and wife whispering to each other.
Xu Longxiang felt as if his heart was being squeezed and squeezed tightly by an invisible hand!
He almost lost control and rushed forward, tearing those hands off Jiang Qingxue's waist and ripping the man to pieces!
But he knew he couldn't.
This is Qinglan Mountain, a place where heroes from all over the world gather.
If he loses his composure in public, it will not only ruin everything, but also cause the North to lose face.
Xu Longxiang closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.
When he opened his eyes again, he had regained his composure, but beneath that composure lay churning lava.
"Your Highness, our plan..." Fan Li's extremely low voice came from behind, "Should we continue?"
Xu Longxiang was silent for a moment, his voice hoarse:
"Qin Mu is secretly protected by powerful figures. In the battle of Falling Eagle Gorge, the Shadow Tower was completely wiped out, and even Tie Xiong was killed. The fact that he dares to come in person today means he must be fully prepared."
He paused, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes:
"Pass down the order: the original plan is cancelled. Everyone, remain still and observe the situation."
Fan Li's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly nodded: "Understood, subordinate."
Just as he was about to step back to relay the order, Xu Longxiang suddenly spoke again:
"etc."
Fan Li stopped.
Xu Longxiang's gaze fell on the light green figure on the high platform, his expression complex and indescribable.
"Qingxue... gaining such attention from that tyrannical emperor might actually be a good thing for us. She'll have access to even more secrets."
When he said this, there was a strange, almost masochistic sense of satisfaction in his voice.
It was as if Jiang Qingxue's favor and attention from Qin Mu were not a humiliation, but a proof of her value.
Fan Li glanced at the strange light in Xu Longxiang's eyes, sighed inwardly, but said respectfully, "Your Highness is wise. Miss Jiang is righteous and will certainly not disappoint Your Highness's expectations."
Xu Longxiang nodded and said nothing more.
His gaze returned to the high platform.
There, Qin Mu had already walked to Mo Wentian's side.
The two stood side by side.
A man in a green robe and Taoist hat, with an air of otherworldly grace and a chilling aura of swordsmanship.
A figure in black robes adorned with dragon patterns, exuding a languid yet noble air, hinting at imperial power.
It creates a strange and wonderful scene.
Qin Mu raised his hand, signaling Mo Wentian to take half a step back.
This subtle gesture touched the hearts of many in the audience.
Is Your Majesty going to speak in person?
As expected, Qin Mu surveyed the entire room and slowly began to speak.
His voice wasn't loud, but it traveled clearly to everyone's ears, as if whispering right next to them:
"I am honored to be here today to witness the enthronement ceremony of the new sect leader of the Qinglan Sword Sect."
The opening remarks were very polite and peaceful.
But then, the tone shifted:
"The Azure Sky Sword Sect has been established for three hundred years. Its swordsmanship is unparalleled in the world. It has made great contributions to guarding the northern border of our Great Qin. Eighty years ago, the Sword Saint Senior Xiao Hanyun, with his sword alone, killed seven generals of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm of the Northern Barbarians, protecting the mountains and rivers of our Great Qin and ensuring the peace of our people."
He paused, then his voice suddenly became solemn:
"Such loyalty and such achievements will never be forgotten by the Qin royal family."
Below the stage, many older members of the martial arts world looked nostalgic.
That battle eighty years ago was indeed brutal.
When the Northern Barbarians' million-strong cavalry marched south, Yanmen Pass was in grave danger. It was only through the combined efforts of various martial arts factions of the Qin Dynasty that the border was saved.
Among them, the Qinglan Sword Sect made the greatest contribution.
"Therefore, I have come here today not merely to observe the ceremony."
Qin Mu's voice echoed in the training ground:
"It is also to witness whether the new generation sect leader of Qinglan Sword Sect can carry on the legacy of his predecessors, build on the past and open up the future, protect our Great Qin, and safeguard our people."
That's a very strong statement.
It was almost a clear statement: the Qin royal family had expectations and demands of the Qinglan Sword Sect.
The new suzerain must be loyal to the Great Qin.
Below the stage, the leaders of each sect displayed different expressions.
In the Northern camp, Xu Longxiang frowned slightly.
Qin Mu's words, seemingly praising the Sword Sect, were actually setting the tone.
The sect leader chosen today must be a person of the Great Qin.
That Li Wuhen...
He looked at the Third Elder, only to see that Li Wuhen still had his eyes half-closed, as if he were asleep.
On the high platform, Mo Wentian and Liu Suifeng exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity in each other's eyes.
His Majesty's words were both a show of pressure and a statement of his position.
Whom does he support?
The two of them quickly made a decision in their minds.
Qin Mu seemed oblivious to the reactions of the audience and continued:
"Of course, I will not interfere in matters concerning the Sword Sect. The position of sect leader should be decided by the Sword Sect itself."
He smiled slightly, his tone softening:
"I am here today merely to observe and witness. May the Qinglan Sword Sect select a new sect leader who is virtuous, talented, and possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, to lead the sect to new heights of glory."
After saying that, he nodded to Mo Wentian, turned around and walked back to the main seat.
His steps remained composed.
But everyone knew that those words had set the tone for today's ceremony.
Qin Mu returned to his seat but did not sit down immediately.
He first reached out and pulled Jiang Qingxue up from the passenger seat, then sat down himself, and pulled Jiang Qingxue to his side, letting her sit on the armrest of his chair.
This action was so intimate it bordered on brazen.
Caught off guard, Jiang Qingxue gasped and nearly fell into Qin Mu's arms.
The flowing, light green dress with wide sleeves spread out, intertwining with the black dragon robe.
Her cheeks flushed instantly. She tried to get up, but Qin Mu pressed her waist down.