Chapter 3157: My Wife and I Roleplay Our Daily Life 44

The Sect Leader's hall was unusually filled with people.

Originally, it was practically a foregone conclusion that Shen Guiyan would become the next Sect Leader; he was the senior direct disciple, steady in his actions, upright in character, his cultivation stood out among his peers, and most importantly, he had the sect's best interests at heart.

Whether it was the peak masters or the elders, none had any objections to this.

But that was before Chenshu displayed his terrifying power.

Now things are different; Chenshu's feat of slaying a demon emperor with a single move on Boundless Mountain has spread throughout the cultivation world. All the major sects are buzzing, saying that our Free and Easy Immortal Sect has produced a peerless genius who has already reached the Great Vehicle stage at a young age, possibly even the Crossing the Tribulation. With such strength, not making him the next Sect Leader would be a waste of talent.

Thus, the matter that had already been settled was dug up again for renewed discussion.

By rights, not every Sect Leader is chosen solely for being the strongest; rather, it's about who can bear the responsibility and win the people's support.

But no matter how the discussion went, it always circled back to this point—Chenshu's strength is simply too great; he is still too young now, and his future is limitless. If we don't let him become Sect Leader, never mind whether he himself would have objections, just those outside sects would surely use this to sow discord, claiming our Free and Easy Immortal Sect fails to recognize talent, or outright offer better terms to poach him.

Within the sect, the elders and peak masters argued incessantly about this, to the point of being unable to reach a consensus.

Immortal Venerable Lingxiao sat at the head, listening to the two sides debate back and forth, feeling his temples throb. He picked up his tea cup, took a sip, set it down, picked it up again, took another sip, set it down. After repeating this three times, he finally made a decision—to summon the parties involved and ask them directly.

Thus, Chenshu and Shen Guiyan, together with their generation's inner-disciples, as well as Qian Duoduo and the other five direct disciples, were all summoned to the hall.

Of course, Jin Chen wasn't summoned. This little troublemaker must not be involved in anything. Whenever he comes to a meeting, he just zones out or slacks off—either playing with his hair or picking at the table, and sometimes he'll openly lean on Chenshu's shoulder to nap, seriously undermining the meeting's solemnity; it's better if he doesn't come.

Inside the hall, all nine peak masters supported Shen Guiyan.

They handle more of the sect's practical affairs and thus understand better how the Sect Leader's governance is vital to our Free and Easy Immortal Sect. A good Sect Leader need not be the strongest, but must be the most adept at managing the sect. Over these years, Shen Guiyan has assisted the Sect Leader in handling affairs, becoming thoroughly familiar with them, making him the most suitable candidate.

Meanwhile, the elders who care more about the sect's reputation and long-term prospects favored Chenshu even more.

They believed that if Chenshu were not chosen as the next successor, those outside sects would surely find excuses to stir up trouble, creating countless issues out of thin air. After all, his name alone could awe the four directions, keeping petty troublemakers from acting rashly.

As soon as Chenshu and Shen Guiyan stepped into the hall, they received especially sympathetic glances from the Fengyao Six.

Chenshu and Shen Guiyan exchanged a glance.

By rights, if this were another sect and two heavenly talents were both candidates, there might at least be some grudge or mutual wariness, but in Chenshu and Shen Guiyan's eyes there was only helplessness.

Immortal Venerable Lingxiao saw this, smiled, and gave a silent nod.

He picked up his tea cup, took a slow sip, and finally spoke to stop the bickering between the peak masters and elders.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing. Since everyone's here, let's hear what the parties themselves think."

Shen Guiyan first poured a cup of tea for his master and Dao Lu partner, Gu QingShang, to let him catch his breath; earlier, Gu QingShang had argued with the Grand Elder over protecting his own disciple, his face flushed and ears red, and now he was holding his tea cup, gulping it down.

Immortal Venerable Lingxiao asked the two, "What are your thoughts on the Sect Leader's position? Although it's still early to draw a firm conclusion, deciding sooner would make it easier for me to offer guidance and settle the endless debates among the outside sects."

Shen Guiyan was about to speak when Chenshu pressed his sleeve and stepped forward first.

He spoke openly before everyone, "I do not wish to succeed as Sect Leader."

"I also hope that Master, all my uncles and aunties, and all the elders will no longer argue about this. The senior brother is the best choice for the next Sect Leader."

The Grand Elder furrowed his brows and said, "That's correct, Shen Guiyan is indeed outstanding. But you…"

"If the senior brother succeeds," Chenshu interrupted him calmly, "I and my fellow disciples will certainly give him our full support."

Qian Duoduo and the six others nodded in unison: "Yeah, yeah! The senior brother has long been handling all the sect's affairs, big and small, and we find it easy to work under him."

Chenshu raised his eyes, "Furthermore… I and Jin Chen will not stay long in this continent."

As soon as he said that, everyone in the hall was startled.

Although they had already felt that Chenshu's strength was certainly beyond the Great Vehicle stage, hearing him admit it personally still came as a shock. Being able to leave this continent means what? It means he has already touched the threshold of ascension, and may even possess the power to ascend.

No wonder, no wonder, no wonder he could slay a demon emperor with a single move—his cultivation has long surpassed the limits of this world.

Now even the elders had nothing to say.

They're all about to ascend—what's there to argue about who gets to be Sect Leader? You can't have someone ascend and still manage the sect from afar.

Shen Guiyan hadn't said anything yet; at that moment he gave a wry smile, bowed to the elders, then exchanged a smiling glance with Gu QingShang, turned to Chenshu, and gave a slight bow, saying: "In that case, we might as well pick a day to prepare the Dao Lu Grand Ceremony for my junior brother, so as to leave no regrets and let those outside who are probing for news know that our Free and Easy Immortal Sect is united above and below, with no rifts."

Now the elders and peak masters had no objections left, all turning their gazes to Chenshu.

"This is good, this is good!" the Grand Elder slapped his thigh, "Our sect hasn't been this lively in a long time!"

"Exactly, exactly! The Dao Lu Grand Ceremony—it must be held grandly!"

Immortal Venerable Lingxiao, seated above, laughed as he took in the suddenly lively atmosphere in the hall, his gaze falling on Chenshu: "Junior Nephew Chenshu, what do you think?"

Chenshu: "That's fine, but I need to go back and ask Jin Chen for his opinion."

Immortal Venerable Lingxiao smiled and asked: "You say that—does it mean if that kid Jin Chen isn't willing, we won't hold the Dao Lu Grand Ceremony?"

Chenshu also didn't realize anything was off, nodding: "Hmm."

Everyone: "..."

How could a cultivation genius with extraordinary talent also be so… lovesick?

The master of Indestructible Peak, Shi Potian, tried to advise this disciple, "Well, now he basically dares not call himself Chenshu's master, since the disciple far outstrips the teacher—"This isn't good. Your opinion matters too; if you want to go ahead with it, then whatever you say must be present."

Chenshu gave a slight bow: "I understand."