Immortal Martial Emperor

Hong Yu took a deep breath, looked around at everyone, and said calmly, "I will not accept the position of Sect Leader!"

Feng Xue Xin said, "But... if you don’t take it, who will be the Sect Leader?" He looked toward White Cloud Peak. "Elder Bai, perhaps you could..."

White Cloud Peak waved his hand, still looking decrepit and old.

In the past few days, the torture he had suffered was simply too much.

Wang Jiankun had vented all his resentment and fury on him.

As a result, White Cloud Peak looked at least thirty years older than he had a year ago, like a man at death’s door. He had also come to see many things with a sense of detachment.

He smiled faintly. "I am already old. For my remaining days, I’ll just watch over the Library Pavilion within the Sect and peacefully live out my retirement."

Seeing the once high-spirited White Cloud Peak undergo such a massive transformation, everyone fell silent.

It was hard to imagine what kind of hardship and torture could make a dignified Primordial Core Realm powerhouse lose all ambition for supremacy, asking only to live out his later years in peace.

But Hong Yu quite agreed.

He looked at White Cloud Peak’s aged face. ’I have to find a way to search for Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, and maybe even find another Enlightenment Fruit, to help Master raise his cultivation.’

Seeing that Feng Xue Xin was still trying to persuade him, Hong Yu smiled. "Senior Brother Feng, you know I’m fated to a life of wandering. Besides, in a few days, I’ll be leaving the Fengyue Kingdom. The next time we meet will probably be a year from now at the Xiahuang Ancient Kingdom’s True Dragon rankings. If you put me in charge of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, wouldn’t that just be pushing the Sword Sect into a pit of fire?"

"But..."

Feng Xue Xin was troubled.

He had been adopted by the long-missing Grand Elder as a child and had grown up in the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. Naturally, his feelings for it were different from Hong Yu’s and the others’.

Looking at the ruined Cyan Nether Sword Sect, he knew very well that if the Sword Sect couldn’t rise again, all that awaited it was decline.

This was something he did not want to see!

Hong Yu smiled slightly and patted Feng Xue Xin’s shoulder. "Senior Brother Feng, I actually think there’s someone who is very suitable to be the Sect Leader!"

"Oh?"

Feng Xue Xin’s eyes lit up as he looked at Hong Yu.

Hong Yu grinned. "It’s you!"

"Me? No, no way..."

Feng Xue Xin waved his hands hastily.

He had a flighty personality and a singular passion for food. If he were put in charge of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, he was afraid it would turn into a barbecue club!

But Hong Yu stopped Feng Xue Xin’s refusal and explained, "Senior Brother Feng, with your status as one of the Four True Dragons, not to mention your Mid-Stage Primordial Core Realm Cultivation, no one will object to you taking the position of Sect Leader. Besides that, the most important thing is that you have no desires. As the saying goes, ’He who is without desire is strong.’ You won’t be blinded by personal greed."

"Only under your leadership can the Sword Sect truly reach its peak and achieve glory."

Hong Yu continued, "More importantly, in your heart, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect is your home. Senior Brother Feng, please accept the position of Sect Leader. Build our home well, so that when I grow weary from my wanderings in the future, I’ll have a safe harbor to return to. Senior Brother Feng, are you willing?"

Feng Xue Xin trembled.

The sincerity and clarity in Hong Yu’s eyes, along with his heartfelt words, all struck a chord deep within his soul.

Anyone else in charge of the Sword Sect might have selfish desires.

But Feng Xue Xin wouldn’t!

He was naturally carefree, someone who had no desires as long as there was good food to eat. More importantly, he would run the Sword Sect as if it were his own home.

Just think...

What could make someone more willing to give their all than managing their own home?

Under the hopeful gazes of the crowd, Feng Xue Xin nodded firmly. "Alright, then I’ll take on this position of Sect Leader for a while."

He clapped Hong Yu heavily on the shoulder and said, "Junior Brother Hong, if you get tired of wandering out there, remember to come back and visit. The Cyan Nether Sword Sect will always be your home!" After a pause, a cunning smile appeared on his face. "By the way, since you call me Senior Brother, I’ll take the liberty of asking you to do one thing for me!"

"What?"

Hong Yu was taken aback.

Feng Xue Xin’s expression gave him the feeling of being targeted by a thief.

Feng Xue Xin grinned. "Since your big brother has become the Sect Leader, you, my little junior brother, can’t just be idle. How about this? The Sect happens to be missing a Supreme Elder. I’ll give that position to you!"

Seeing Hong Yu was about to refuse, he quickly added, "It’s been happily decided! Yes, I’m sure that for the sake of the bond between us senior and junior brothers, you absolutely won’t have the heart to refuse me!"

Staring at the shameless Feng Xue Xin, the corner of Hong Yu’s eye twitched. "..."

White Cloud Peak: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

’The dignified Sect Leader is willing to throw away his face and integrity for a Supreme Elder. What reason do I have to refuse?’

Hong Yu gave a wry smile. "Alright, then I’ll take the title of Supreme Elder in name only."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Just then, Old Sir Tie, who had been standing to the side, looked at Hong Yu with a flicker in his eyes. He grit his teeth hard and said, "Sect Leader Feng, I have an impertinent request!"

"Oh? Old Sir Tie, please speak!"

Feng Xue Xin said quickly.

This Old Sir Tie before him was not just the founder of the Iron Soldier Pavilion, the largest merchant guild in the Southern Ten Nations. More importantly, he was a dignified Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse, currently the only publicly known Primordial Embryo Realm existence in the Southern Ten Nations.

In the vast Southern Ten Nations, aside from the two True Dragons, Hong Yu and Yao Yueye, and those reclusive powerhouses, he was without a doubt the number one figure!

’This is the kind of person I need to build a good relationship with!’

Old Sir Tie chuckled. "Sect Leader Feng, I founded the Iron Soldier Pavilion and have been adventuring for over a hundred years. I’ve grown accustomed to the world’s changing sentiments, its joys and sorrows. Now I’m a bit tired and want to find a quiet place to rest and recuperate. I’d also like to take up a title in your esteemed Sect."

"This..."

Feng Xue Xin trembled.

’With Old Sir Tie’s current status and strength, what sect or power in the Southern Ten Nations wouldn’t be desperate to recruit him?’

’If Old Sir Tie were willing, more than half of the powers among the Ten Kingdoms and Ten Sects would be willing to serve him with the highest possible treatment!’

For such a figure to proactively ask to join the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, which had just suffered a catastrophe—this was an absolute godsend!

White Cloud Peak, Tie Heng, Beichen Ba, and the others also looked at Old Sir Tie in astonishment.

Only Hong Yu looked at Old Sir Tie with a faint, enigmatic smile.

"Sect Leader Feng, are you saying you don’t welcome me?" Old Sir Tie asked, a little anxiously.

"Ah? Ah, no..."

Feng Xue Xin finally snapped back to his senses and said quickly, "Old Sir Tie is willing to join my Sword Sect; how could I not welcome you? HAHAHA, then please, Old Sir Tie, serve as our Sect’s Chief Honored Guest Elder. Would you be willing?"

"HAHAHA, that’s excellent, truly excellent!"

Old Sir Tie walked toward White Cloud Peak. "Younger Brother Bai, from now on, we two old men will have to visit each other often!"

White Cloud Peak was an extremely shrewd man.

He naturally knew that Old Sir Tie had joined the Cyan Nether Sword Sect and lowered his status to interact with him all because of his disciple.

While feeling exceptionally proud in his heart, White Cloud Peak smiled. "Brother Tie, rest assured. We’ll often have to battle it out over three thousand games!"

"HAHAHA, that sounds great, absolutely great!"

Old Sir Tie nodded repeatedly, not forgetting to give Beichen Ba and Tie Heng a meaningful look.

The two were startled for a moment, then exchanged a glance.

Both understood the deep meaning in the other’s eyes and immediately, one after the other, expressed their willingness to join the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

Feng Xue Xin was naturally happy to accept them.

’After all, these are two Primordial Core Realm powerhouses!’

He recalled how back then, with just one Primordial Core Realm powerhouse, Wang Jiankun, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect had been ranked as a National Guardian Sect of the Fengyue Kingdom and had even reached seventh in the rankings.

Although the Sect had now suffered a great disaster and its foundations had taken a devastating blow, it now had a Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse and two Primordial Core Realm powerhouses joining its ranks.

Furthermore, it had the True Dragon Demon Fiend, Feng Xue Xin, as its Sect Leader.

Once Elder Bai recovered from his injuries, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect would be equivalent to having one Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouse and three Primordial Core Realm powerhouses. With such combat strength, even if they couldn’t dominate the sects of the Southern Ten Nations Alliance and be considered invincible, they would absolutely be at the top tier!

What’s more...

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect also had this year’s number one True Dragon from the martial gathering, Hong Yu, serving as its Supreme Elder.

Although he would soon be leaving the Southern Ten Nations, with his title as a True Dragon and his talent, the worst he could do in the future was reach the Primordial Embryo Realm Level!

In that case, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect would be equivalent to having two Primordial Embryo Realm powerhouses.

The position of the number one sect in the Southern Ten Nations would undoubtedly belong to the Cyan Nether Sword Sect!

Although it had just experienced a nearly devastating blow, the reborn Cyan Nether Sword Sect was now radiating with even more brilliant and dazzling vitality and potential.

Given time, it would surely become a behemoth of a sect!

The two brothers, Feng Xue Xin and Hong Yu, exchanged a look, both revealing expressions of unwavering determination.

After this, Feng Xue Xin began the intensive project of rebuilding the Sect. Old Sir Tie and Elder Bai took up residence in a quiet corner of the Sword Sect, and the two often played strategy games together.

At first, Old Sir Tie approached Elder Bai to curry favor with Hong Yu.

But over time, the two old men became the closest of friends.

Of course...

This close friendship wasn’t one of mutual support and polite respect.

The two of them often got into huge arguments over their games, bickering until they were red in the face, or even flipping the game board over.

But it never went further than that.

The two old men would sulk for a while, then go right back to drinking and playing their games, carefree as could be.

Meanwhile, Tie Heng and Beichen Ba returned to the Qin Kingdom.

After all, having joined the Cyan Nether Sword Sect meant the two of them had to move the center of their merchant guild’s operations over here, which was a massive undertaking.

But one thing was certain: once these matters were completed, the rise and strengthening of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect was just around the corner!

During this time, Hong Yu also made new arrangements for the Hong Family.

The King of the Fengyue Kingdom took the initiative to allocate a huge area in the priceless land of the Royal Capital, Fengyue City, to build a magnificent Hong Family Mansion. For the Hong Family, it was like trading a musket for a cannon.

They went from a small, remote family to a hot-ticket, powerful household in the Royal Capital in one fell swoop.

Everyone in the Hong Family, from top to bottom, changed their tune from their previous insults and scorn. They revered Hong Yu like a deity and repeatedly invited him to become the Patriarch, or even the Chief Elder.

But Hong Yu refused every time.

After all, he felt he had already done more than enough for the Hong Family.

The Hong Family knew this as well and had no choice but to give up, trying instead to build a relationship with the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

For Hong Yu’s sake, Feng Xue Xin promised to look after the Hong Family in the future. This made the entire Hong Family so happy they couldn’t sleep for days. ’In the future, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect will be our great backer!’

Of course, Hong Yu didn’t care about any of this.

「In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.」

On the morning of the third day, just as Hong Yu was preparing to leave for the Ice Kingdom, an unexpected guest arrived...