Sanfang Qixiang, Wenru Fang.
The Lu Shan Sect Grand Courtyard.
The Lu Shan Sect Grand Courtyard, usually sparsely visited, was exceptionally lively today.
The entrance to this alley, situated in the bustling heart of Rongcheng, was filled with all sorts of luxury cars. Dignitaries from all walks of life were arriving one after another, entering Wenru Fang with a unified destination – the Lu Shan Sect!
Lu Xin was also attending in full regalia today. She wore exquisite makeup that concealed all the wrinkles on her face, a pair of fish-patterned earrings, and a black Daoist robe, holding a white horsetail whisk.
She exuded an air of a celestial Daoist nun.
Although forty years old and bearing wrinkles, Lu Xin could still be described as gracefully mature. She possessed a great figure, and even in her loose Daoist robe, she still drew furtive glances from men, sparking forbidden fantasies in their minds.
The young Daoist acolytes accompanying Lu Xin stood on either side of the entrance. Whenever a guest entered, they would bow and exclaim, "Welcome honored guests who have traveled from afar to attend the succession ceremony of Sect Leader Lu Xin!"
The entire Lu Shan Sect was bustling with activity today, but not every disciple wore a smile.
This contrast lent a peculiar atmosphere to the day.
"Congratulations, Sect Leader Lu! Congratulations, Sect Leader Lu! It is fitting that the Lu Shan Sect is finally passed on to you!"
"Indeed! Your grandfather was the former Sect Leader of the Lu Shan Sect. For the Lu Shan Sect to be handed down to you is truly legitimate!"
"From now on, we shall rely heavily on Sect Leader Lu. After all, we are allies!"
Several high-ranking officials were socializing with Lu Xin. Despite her Daoist robe, Lu Xin carried herself like a businesswoman.
One greasy middle-aged man looked at Lu Xin with an unusual glint in his eyes. As he chatted happily with her, he casually reached out to grab her hand.
But miraculously, Lu Xin's hand, hanging by her side, remained motionless. The middle-aged man's grasp met empty air, as if an invisible force had pushed his hand away.
The middle-aged man, unwilling to believe it, tried again. The result was the same.
As he looked up, he met Lu Xin's gaze. Lu Xin's expression was cold, her eyes calm, and she spoke with a clear, cool tone:
"I keep several evil spirits under my care. They too covet me, and if any man dares to approach me, they would wish to tear that man to shreds."
Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man's face turned pale. He certainly did not wish to be torn to shreds by evil spirits.
Like a whipped dog, he retreated to a corner with his tail between his legs, not daring to speak to Lu Xin again.
Lu Xin withdrew her gaze and looked at the others.
They, too, were lowering their heads, like servants expressing loyalty to their master.
Lu Xin was pleased with this. Her association with these dignitaries was merely to solidify her position within the Lu Shan Sect.
Today, for her sect leader succession ceremony, she had invited not only the dignitaries of Rongcheng but also important figures from many renowned sects.
With their endorsement, Lu Xin could stand on firmer ground.
After dealing with the officials, Lu Xin welcomed the day's most important guests.
Representatives from various esteemed sects.
Xuan Zhen, a highly respected monk from Dingchan Temple.
Yuan Hong, an elder from the Talisman Sect of Laoshan.
Cao Gaochi, the Abbot of Liu Ren Guan on Longhu Mountain.
Qian Kangping, an elder from Qingfeng Guan on Wudang Mountain.
Yin Zhiming, the Master of Bai Yu Fu on Changbai Mountain.
...
While the individuals Lu Xin had invited were not the top figures of first-tier sects, they all had connections to them.
For instance, Xuan Zhen, the monk from Dingchan Temple, had a senior brother who was the abbot of Hanshan Temple.
Cao Gaochi of Liu Ren Guan on Longhu Mountain had an elder martial brother who was the seventh elder of the current Heavenly Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain.
The elder from Qingfeng Guan on Wudang Mountain was related by marriage to the orthodox Zhang family.
To the outside world, in a sense, these individuals represented the righteous sects.
After all, on some occasions, first-tier sects found it inconvenient to attend directly and would send these associated Daoist temples and Buddhist monasteries to attend, subtly indicating their support from behind the scenes.
When these individuals arrived at the Lu Shan Sect, Lu Xin and her confidantes behind her wore bright smiles.
Previously, the Lu Shan Sect was merely a second-tier sect, with some recognition nationwide but no real influence.
Therefore, in the presence of these esteemed sects, even those of lower standing would show a degree of deference.
She put in ten times the effort and personally went out to greet them.
"It is truly an honor for the Lu Shan Sect to host all of you today. You have brought glory to our humble abode!" Lu Xin said with a smile.
Cao Gaochi of Liu Ren Guan chuckled and praised, "Today is also the auspicious day of Sect Leader Lu Xin's 'great joy.' We are all honored by this occasion!"
Qian Kangping of Qingfeng Guan also said, "Sect Leader Lu Xin, we must maintain close contact and communicate frequently in the future."
Xuan Zhen, the monk from Dingchan Temple, clasped his hands together and chanted, "Amitabha. To congratulate Sect Leader Lu Xin on her assumption of office, Dingchan Temple has specially sent a pair of precious pearls. We hope Sect Leader Lu Xin will graciously accept them."
Other representatives also presented their gifts, filling the Lu Shan Sect with an atmosphere of prosperity and peace.
Lu Xin accepted the gifts, thanked them one by one, and had them escorted to the honored seats.
The seats of these representatives were closest to the main hall's central seat, signifying their extraordinary status. As they passed by other guests, they enjoyed the envious and respectful gazes, feeling quite pleased.
They relished this feeling of superiority, and therefore, they would never miss such an occasion.
After being seated, the old acquaintances savored their tea and engaged in casual conversation. They first reminisced about old times, then shifted the topic to Lu Xin.
Cao Gaochi praised, "Although Sect Leader Lu Xin is merely a woman, her strength and methods are no less than ours."
Yuan Hong, the elder from the Talisman Sect of Laoshan, chuckled and asked, "Cao, are you perhaps infatuated with Sect Leader Lu?"
The other men also turned their gaze, while Xuan Zhen clasped his hands and recited Buddhist chants.
Cao Gaochi snorted:
"A beautiful woman is a desirable match for a gentleman. Although Sect Leader Lu Xin is not young, she is still graceful. How many of you old fellows can honestly say you have no thoughts of her? At least I am open and honest, saying what I think!"
Seeing that Cao Gaochi was getting a little agitated, the others began to smooth things over.
Yin Zhiming, the Master of Bai Yu Fu, laughed and said, "Old Cao is a straightforward man. It's a pity I am already married, otherwise, I might have competed with Old Cao!"
Yin Zhiming's simple self-deprecating remark immediately diffused the awkwardness, and the crowd burst into laughter.
At this moment, Cao Gaochi let out a soft sigh and said,
"However, speaking of beauty and the Lu Shan Sect, it reminds me of someone else. Her beauty is truly peerless, captivating and charming. Even if Lu Xin were twenty years younger, she could never compare to her!"
Everyone's interest was immediately piqued. They first glanced cautiously at Lu Xin, who was still greeting guests, and then asked:
"Who?"
Cao Gaochi slowly uttered a name: "The last disciple of Lu Jingsheng – Lin Zitong."
The crowd appeared confused: "I recall that Sect Leader Lu Xin was previously managed by Lu Jing, and Lu Jing was the successor of Lu Jingsheng... Who is this Lin Zitong you speak of? Is she at the Lu Shan Sect now? Do you think we might have the chance to meet her today?"
The group was very curious about Lin Zitong and asked several questions in quick succession.
However, Cao Gaochi's expression was somewhat peculiar. He glanced at Lu Xin again before lowering his voice and saying,
"A while ago, our Longhu Mountain held the Luotian Great Ceremony and elected a new Heavenly Master. You all know about this, right?"
"Yes, we do. We also heard that Longhu Mountain was attacked by demons and that the Old Heavenly Master Zhang Yin died."
"That is all true, but that's not the main point I want to make," Cao Gaochi continued. "Lin Zitong also participated in the Luotian Great Ceremony and made it into the top four. The leader of her contingent was the former Sect Leader of the Lu Shan Sect, Lu Jing. Do you know Lin Zitong's identity at the time?"
The others' appetites were whetted, and they urged Cao Gaochi to continue.
Cao Gaochi stroked his mustache and said mysteriously, "But Lin Zitong's identity is precisely the next Sect Leader of the Lu Shan Sect!"