Chapter 35

After hearing this, the elders all stood up and left one after another. And when they left, most of them looked at Su Fan with expressions of scrutiny, hesitation, and unwillingness.

Clearly, they had mostly guessed the Sect Leader's intention in keeping Su Fan.

Zhou Buyu was dead, so it was not easy for the Qi Sect to find another outstanding disciple comparable to Zhou Buyu.

However, Su Fan's performance over the past two years was truly extraordinary. Except for his age, which might be a problem, in other aspects—whether it was strength or ability—he was really not bad.

His strength might not be comparable to Zhou Buyu's, but in terms of ability, he was definitely not bad. Even in the eyes of many, Su Fan's ability was even above Zhou Buyu's. Some elders even asked themselves that if they were in Su Fan's position, they would definitely not be able to do better than him.

Since Su Fan sent silver back from the Huashan Branch in Liaodong, many elders had taken an interest in that place.

After all, a branch that could subsidize the sect, and it only took one year—how many people in the entire Huashan Sect could achieve this kind of ability?

In this year, the sect sent out twenty or thirty inner sect disciples, and more than a dozen Huashan branches were built, but let alone others, only three or five managed to stand firm. The others mostly returned in disgrace.

Even those three or five who stood firm still needed support from the sect. One had to know that those few needed several inner sect disciples together to barely stand firm.

And Su Fan alone built such a large foundation in Liaodong.

One could imagine just this ability alone.

If it weren't for Su Fan's age being too young and his entry into the sect being too late, even Zhou Buyu's position as Sect Leader successor would not be stable.

Now, Zhou Buyu was dead, and most of the Qi Sect inner sect disciples lacked ability. Su Fan's ability naturally fell into everyone's eyes.

So many elders already understood that the Sect Leader wanted to include Su Bufan as a Sect Leader successor.

Some elders were gratified because they felt Su Fan's ability was not bad. As for strength, the Sect Leader could still hold on for ten or so years; by that time, Su Fan breaking through to first-class would be a certainty.

Of course, there were also elders who were dissatisfied in their hearts. If the Qi Sect obtained this Sect Leader position again, wouldn't their benefits decrease once more?

So they were all thinking about how to fight for the Sect Leader successor position after going back.

The elders left in twos and threes with various complex emotions. Soon, in the Sword-Qi Piercing the Heavens Hall, only Great Elder Zhou Qingyun, Xiong Qingyuan, Su Fan, and Sect Leader Ning Qingyu remained.

Ning Qingyu held his teacup, drank a few mouthfuls, and said nothing.

Su Fan naturally dared not speak casually, but in his heart, he was wondering why the Sect Leader kept him and his master behind.

Keeping the Great Elder might be to discuss countermeasures, but what was there to discuss with him and his master?

And he felt today's meeting was somewhat strange.

The atmosphere in the living room became increasingly strange; no one spoke. Great Elder Zhou Qingyun sat there like an old god, eyes closed tightly, as if he were half-asleep.

Xiong Qingyuan was even looking up at the ceiling, as if counting stars.

As for Su Fan, he could only lower his head.

"Ahem!"

After a long time, Ning Qingyu finally coughed twice. Su Fan was instantly shocked, straightened his body, and looked up at the Sect Leader, and the former was also looking at him; the two locked eyes.

"Senior Brother, Junior Brother Xiong."

"Do you have doubts about why I kept you few alone?"

"What the Sect Leader wants to do, this old man does not know, but this old man still has a few years to live, and I will definitely help with all my strength."

Zhou Qingyun said with a calm expression. After speaking, he glanced at Su Fan. Ning Qingyu keeping Su Fan meant he knew what the Sect Leader's plan was.

He was also a person of the Qi Sect, and he was the Great Elder, so his heart also leaned towards the Qi Sect. Naturally, he hoped the next generation's Sect Leader would come from the Qi Sect.

This was human nature.

Zhou Buyu's death indeed made him very sad. Don't look at Zhou Buyu as Ning Qingyu's disciple; as Sect Leader, Ning Qingyu was really too busy. Besides cultivation, he had to handle all the affairs of the Huashan Sect.

In terms of teaching disciples, his time was naturally limited.

Most of the time, Zhou Buyu was actually taught by him personally, so the relationship between the two was quite close.

He originally thought he could see him successfully take over the Sect Leader position, but he did not expect him to be killed halfway.

However, Zhou Qingyun had also become accustomed to life and death. Having lived for more than seventy years and experienced much, he naturally saw through it quickly.

The most important thing now was the Sect Leader successor of the Huashan Sect. This could be said to be the top priority. A successful Sect Leader successor represented that the Huashan Sect could continue smoothly.

The rise and fall of many sects were because the Sect Leader could not be successfully succeeded.

Back then, their Huashan Sect also almost fell into decline; that Sect Leader at the end of the Yuan Dynasty could be said to have always been the shame of their Huashan Sect.

A good successor could support the Huashan Sect for decades. Although the Huashan Sect was now thriving, who didn't hope for it to be even better?

So the Sect Leader successor was particularly important.

He had roughly already known Sect Leader Ning Qingyu's choice—it was the kid in front of him.

To be honest, he still had some hesitation in his heart, not doubting the kid's martial strength and ability.

In terms of strength, the kid's talent was not bad. He was already second-class when he left the Huashan Sect, and the Primordial Technique had already reached the fourth layer. As for what level he had reached now, although he did not know, he thought it would not be bad.

Breaking through to first-class within ten years was also very likely.

In terms of ability, being able to develop the Huashan Branch in Liaodong with his own strength until it was thriving could be said to be a heaven-sent talent.

However, Zhou Qingyun felt that he was still too young, and he had always been smooth sailing and had not suffered setbacks. He worried that in the future, he would become arrogant, which would not be a blessing for the Huashan Sect.

He had lived for seventy years and had seen too many geniuses who eventually bowed their heads.

But he would not refute the Sect Leader's opinion, because Ning Qingyu's judgment of people was still good. And since Ning Qingyu wanted to treat Su Fan as a Sect Leader successor, he would cultivate him with care.

"Whatever the Sect Leader orders, I, Old Xiong, will be the first to support."

Xiong Qingyuan was still his usual boorish self and did not think much; he was just a very simple person.

On the contrary, Su Fan had some thoughts: "Ning Qingyu keeping me, he wouldn't want to treat me as the next generation's Sect Leader, would he?"

It was no wonder Su Fan thought this way. Most of the Qi Sect inner sect disciples were not up to the mark. This time, the test of the Huashan Branch could be said that except for Su Fan and Yue Buqun, the others were completely wiped out and returned in disgrace.

Although Yue Buqun did not do badly in the south, he only barely survived and occasionally needed support from the sect.

If such a test could not be completed, how could one be a Sect Leader?

As for those Qi Sect disciples whose strength was not bad, so what? Every Sect Leader was not necessarily the strongest in strength.

Back then, in Ning Qingyu's generation, he was not the strongest either.

The position of Sect Leader required consideration of all aspects.