The next morning at nine o'clock, inside the main hall of Emei Sect's inner disciples, and in the square outside the hall, members of various sects gathered in their respective formation squares.
Each sect had its own banner and distinct clothing, a riot of colors forming a sharp contrast. Everyone was engaged in lively conversation.
The topic of discussion was naturally the wedding, and why it had suddenly transformed into the Grand Ceremony for the Sect Leader's Accession overnight!
Yesterday afternoon, Wan Yunting had exposed Mistress Jun Xuan's misdeeds in the main hall in front of the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders of the various sects. In just one night, the disciples of these major sects had also learned what had happened the previous night.
At the entrance of the main hall, Wan Yunting, attending as the Sect Master of Wuliang Daoist Temple, stood alongside Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, Zhang Xian'er and Zi Qing, the Lin Yiping father and son, and the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders of the various sects.
"Sect Leader arrives!"
As an Emei Sect disciple announced loudly, from the long corridor on the left side of the main hall, Mistress Yun Bai and Mistress Jin Yu personally led Zhou Ruoxi, dressed in magnificent robes, who was walking towards them surrounded by Jiang Tingxia and many young disciples of the Emei Sect.
Facing the assembled crowd and the festive scene, Zhou Ruoxi suppressed her emotions. Her peerlessly beautiful face was dignified, her demeanor graceful, and her presence exuded the authoritative aura befitting a sect leader, impressing everyone present.
As Zhou Ruoxi passed by the men, she and Wan Yunting exchanged a brief glance. Wan Yunting smiled and nodded at her, while the other sect leaders and sect masters applauded in congratulation.
Next was Zhou Ruoxi's Grand Ceremony for Accession, which was to be held in the main hall. Mistress Yun Bai would personally crown her, while Wan Yunting and the others watched from the left and right sides of the hall.
The succession of a sect leader was a very solemn and grand ceremony involving a crowning ritual.
As a first-tier major sect among many, the Emei Sect's Grand Ceremony for Accession was naturally even more grand and imposing. After a ceremony lasting an hour, Zhou Ruoxi, holding a Sect Leader's sword and the Sect Leader's seal, slowly ascended the steps to the main seat of the hall.
She looked sternly at the Sect Leader's throne before her. After a long pause, she turned with authority, flicked her sleeves, and sat upon the Emei Sect Leader's throne, her presence radiating with renewed power, like a roaring flame.
"Greetings, Sect Leader..."
The Emei Sect members present bowed in unison.
At this moment, Zhou Ruoxi seemed like a different person, with her proper demeanor, resolute gaze, and sharp aura. She slightly raised her head, and only then did the Emei Sect disciples below rise to their feet.
Zhou Ruoxi's gaze swept over Wan Yunting and the sect leaders of various sects standing on the left and right sides of the hall. She stood up, smiled, cupped her fists, and said, "I express my gratitude to all the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders for your support. I, Zhou Ruoxi, thank you all."
"Sect Leader Zhou is too kind..."
Sect Leader Liu and others waved their hands, smiling and indicating that no thanks were necessary.
With Zhou Ruoxi's Grand Ceremony for Accession concluded, it was time for lunch. Everyone moved to the square in front of a grand hall in the backyard, where hundreds of tables were set. As people from various sects took their seats, the banquet began.
This banquet, which was originally intended to celebrate the wedding of Zhou Ruoxi and Lin Xiaobao, the son of Heavenly Master Lin from Longhu Mountain, had now become a celebratory feast for Zhou Ruoxi's succession as Sect Leader, making the occasion very lively.
Inside the main hall, three tables were also set, occupied by distinguished guests such as the sect leaders, sect masters, and elders of various sects. Zhou Ruoxi and Mistress Yun Bai personally hosted them. Mistress Jin Yu, not fond of such lively occasions, had already returned to the Peach Blossom Forest in the back mountain.
As the guest of honor at this celebratory banquet, Zhou Ruoxi naturally received numerous toasts from the sect leaders of the various sects. After this round of drinking, her cheeks were flushed, but thankfully, she suppressed the effects of the alcohol within her with her internal energy, preventing her from getting drunk.
Unexpectedly, Wan Yunting stepped forward at this juncture to shield Zhou Ruoxi from further toasts, which did not go unnoticed by the assembled guests.
It seemed the rumors were true; Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi had an unusual relationship.
Seeing but not speaking, everyone could only envy Wan Yunting's good fortune.
In the afternoon, members of various sects began to depart one after another. However, Wan Yunting did not leave yet. He decided to stay for another two days, primarily to help Zhou Ruoxi devise strategies to stabilize the Emei Sect, which was currently facing internal turmoil.
Although at Zhou Ruoxi's Grand Ceremony for Accession today, Elder Guo Yu, other stewards, and disciples of the Emei Sect had all acknowledged her succession as Sect Leader without issue, these individuals were likely not truly convinced.
This was similar to the situation Wan Yunting had faced at Wuliang Daoist Temple previously. Hence, he planned to stay for two days to offer Zhou Ruoxi advice and stabilize those within the Emei Sect who harbored ulterior motives.
Indeed, in the afternoon, Zhou Ruoxi, accompanied by Mistress Yun Bai, convened a meeting with the stewards of the Emei Sect. Naturally, as an outsider, Wan Yunting could not attend.
In the guest courtyard, Wan Yunting, Lu Xiaodie, and Zheng Rong were chatting over tea. Zhang Xian'er had gone to escort the Lin Yiping father and son back to Longhu Mountain.
At this moment, Elder Zuo Qi of the Wudang Sect, along with Xian Yun and Zi Qing, Huo Fei and Chong Ling'er, and Lan Xin, walked in. Wan Yunting turned and rose to greet them, "Elder Zuo Qi, are you also descending the mountain back to Wudang today?"
"Yes, Sect Master Wan. I've come to bid you farewell."
Elder Zuo Qi cupped his fists and nodded with a smile, then gestured towards Zi Qing and Lan Xin, his disciples: "I entrust Zi Qing and Lan Xin to Sect Master Wan's care."
Wan Yunting looked at the master and disciple, knowing they would be staying with him for some time. He smiled and nodded, "Rest assured, Elder Zuo Qi, I will take good care of them."
"Very well, then I bid you farewell." Elder Zuo Qi cupped his fists, saying no more.
"See you at the Martial Arts Assembly!"
Wan Yunting also cupped his fists towards their party and watched them leave. He then turned to Zi Qing and Lan Xin and asked, "I'll be returning in two days. Do you want to move into this courtyard, or not?"
"Let's move. The light in our room is too poor," Lan Xin said.
Zi Qing remained silent, always possessing a naturally dazed and adorable demeanor. She could even squat on the ground and watch a blade of grass for an entire day, exuding a calm and ethereal aura that led Wan Yunting to believe she was an extraordinary woman.
"I'm back."
Just then, Zhang Xian'er returned after seeing off the Lin Yiping father and son. Upon entering, she sized up Zi Qing, who was sitting next to Wan Yunting, silently drinking tea and lost in thought. She smiled and said, "I've long heard of a young sword genius from the Wudang Sect. Is that you?"
In response to Zhang Xian'er's challenge, Zi Qing maintained her tranquil demeanor, as if unfazed, even appearing to believe Zhang Xian'er was not referring to her.
However, Lan Xin, as her disciple, knew her master's personality. Faced with someone issuing a challenge, she naturally felt indignant and stood up, haughtily snorting at Zhang Xian'er, "Yes, my master is the sword genius of the Wudang Sect's younger generation. Who are you?"
Zhang Xian'er's small face showed disdain. Her left hand, holding her long sword, nudged the sword hilt with her thumb, drawing out a sliver of blade that glinted with cold light. Zi Qing, who was sitting with her back to her, raised her delicate eyebrows slightly and said with a hint of surprise in her voice, "Qingping Sword of Longhu Mountain!"
"Oh, you recognize it. You even know our Longhu Mountain's Qingping Sword." Zhang Xian'er's peach blossom eyes lit up as she looked at Zi Qing with increased interest.
Lan Xin also knew what the Qingping Sword of Longhu Mountain represented. She looked at Zhang Xian'er in surprise and asked, "Who exactly are you?"
Wan Yunting, sitting beside them, interjected, "She is Zhang Xian'er, the personal disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader. She's my bodyguard now!"
"What? The personal disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader, and your bodyguard?"
Lan Xin's jaw nearly dropped in astonishment. Only Zi Qing, sitting beside her, maintained her usual serene expression. However, her strong interest in the Qingping Sword made her rise and turn to face Zhang Xian'er, proactively saying, "How about a sparring match?"
"Heh heh, I was waiting for you to say that."
Zhang Xian'er flashed a smug, mischievous smile. She slightly pushed off with her left foot, leaped backward, and landed slowly in the spacious courtyard. Then, she drew her Qingping Sword and tossed the scabbard towards Wan Yunting, who caught it and placed it on the table. He made no move to stop Zhang Xian'er and Zi Qing from sparring.
He even watched them with keen interest, curious to see whether the personal disciple of the Longhu Mountain Sect Leader or the personal disciple of the Wudang Sect Leader would prevail.
"Master, here you go..."
Lan Xin also handed her peach wood sword to Zi Qing. Zhang Xian'er was taken aback and said, "Hey, are you humiliating me? Fighting me with a wooden sword?"
Zi Qing took the peach wood sword and walked slowly out of the small pavilion towards Zhang Xian'er. Her naturally dazed phoenix eyes were calm, and her pleasant, soft voice said, "A swordsman has a sword in his heart; all things are swords!"
"Heh heh..."
Zhang Xian'er chuckled dismissively at these words, retorting, "If you haven't reached that level, don't spout such nonsense to show off, or you'll just be laughed at. In my opinion, wood and iron are not on the same level!"
Zi Qing slightly raised her eyes, her naturally dazed phoenix eyes gazing directly at the cold, gleaming Qingping Sword in Zhang Xian'er's hand. She praised, "At least my peach wood sword is not on the same level as your Qingping Sword, but I can still take a few of your moves."
Zhang Xian'er nodded with a smile. Her peach blossom eyes widened, and holding her sword, she declared, "Then let's cut the pleasantries. Let me first experience the swordsmanship of the Wudang Sect's number one sword prodigy..."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Xian'er preemptively attacked, thrusting her sword directly forward. An invisible aura enveloped the Qingping Sword, making its blade flash with cold light, as if seeing a sword energy a foot long. Before the sword even arrived, its energy reached its target, causing Zi Qing's naturally dazed phoenix eyes to gleam instantly. Her peach wood sword was also enveloped by an aura, and she raised it to block.
"Clang!"
The collision of iron and wood actually produced a sound like metal striking stone.
Swish...
Having her attack blocked by Zi Qing's peach wood sword, Zhang Xian'er, with her graceful posture, twirled the Qingping Sword and thrust it towards Zi Qing's right side, her movements swift, sharp, and decisive.
But Zi Qing was no ordinary martial artist. Her peach wood sword blocked again. Zhang Xian'er rotated her wrist, and the Qingping Sword and Zi Qing's peach wood sword entangled and twisted. It was evident that the incredibly sharp Qingping Sword was shaving off many wood chips from the peach wood sword, which then drifted through the air.
For a moment, the two exchanged blows, trading several moves in less than ten seconds. Wan Yunting and Lan Xin, as well as the Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong sisters, who were watching from the pavilion, could not help but widen their eyes and stare, mouths agape, in shock at Zi Qing and Zhang Xian'er.
"No wonder they're called geniuses. Is this the power of their genius?"
Lu Xiaodie could not help but exclaim. She could see that both Zhang Xian'er and Zi Qing were younger than her, yet they possessed such superb martial arts and swordsmanship, which inevitably filled her with envy.
This was the difference between the ordinary and the gifted. Unless one worked twice as hard in the future, one could not surpass the latter.