Chu Kuangren had obtained the Opportunity of Fortune within the Sword Gauntlet. The other sword cultivators, on the other hand, took a huge blow to their confidence. Some even lost interest in their training.
It was soul-crushing.
Why bother training when people like Chu Kuangren existed?
Except for a few people that stayed in Hidden Sword Canyon to observe the sword marks in the ground, most of the people left, including the One Mountain and Two Clans.
âMister Qian, see you again sometime.â
âTake care on your journey, Brother Chu.â
Qian Fugui laughed out loud. He had interacted with Chu Kuangren a lot the past few days, and while they were not exactly friends, they were at least on good terms with each other.
Watching Chu Kuangrenâs retreating figure, Qian Fugui smiled. âComing to Hidden Sword Canyon was a good idea. Weâve gained some good stuff thatâs worth quite a bit.â
A green figure appeared behind Qian Fugui. âBoss, did you plan to make friends with Chu Kuangren by following him around the last few days?â
âThat goes without saying.â
âThen why didnât you just tell him who you were?â
âTsk, making friends is all about the heart. How could you not know this?â
The green figure rolled his eyes. âBoss, you know very well why you tried making friends with him. You have your eye on who he is and the potential talent he has, donât you? Saying youâre making friends with him is so fake.â
âShut it. To think you have the guts to talk back to your boss.â
âYes, yes. My boss is always right.â
The green figure could only go along with Qian Fugui helplessly.
Qian Fugui looked back at Chu Kuangrenâs retreating figure while he rubbed the white jade ring on his finger with his thumb. âThereâs an endless amount of investment opportunities in this Era of Great Battles. And this Chu Kuangren will be a great asset for business.â
âWe canât go wrong with maintaining a friendly relationship with him.â
â¦
âAn Emperorâs Scripture?â
On the Fairy boat, the Black Heavenâs Third Forefather let out a gasp of shock upon hearing that the Opportunity of Fortune in the Sword Gauntlet was an Emperorâs Scripture.
Something like that was extremely valuable.
Even Sages would go green with envy.
âThank goodness you didnât tell them. If not, I bet that those three old fogeys wouldnât hesitate to start an orthodoxy war over it.â
âAn Emperorâs Scripture is surprising indeed.â The Black Heavenâs Third Forefather rejoiced slightly.
âKuangren, lady luck seems to always be on your side, but an Emperorâs Scripture is very valuable. You must never tell anyone. If this gets out, even Black Heaven Sect will have trouble keeping you safe.â The Black Heavenâs Third Forefather heavily emphasized his point.
Something stirred in Chu Kuangren when he heard those words.
After all, he had three sage orthodoxies backing him up.
If even they could not guarantee his safety, then just what kind of forces were they up against?
âKuangren, things in the world arenât as simple as they seem. Sage orthodoxies are not necessarily the most powerful force we know. Many things lurk in the unknown lands, still undiscovered.â
The Black Heavenâs Third Forefather said deeply.
âUndiscovered things in the unknown landsâ¦â Chu Kuangren muttered before he nodded. âI understand.â
âGood. Train and attain the Emperorâs Scripture well. Fight until the day you get to be an Emperor. Only then can you stand fearlessly before everyone.â
âThank you for your guidance, Third Forefather.â
Soon enough, the group was back at the Black Heaven Sect.
Honorable Xuan Qi felt pleased knowing that Chu Kuangren had obtained the Opportunity of Fortune within the Sword Gauntlet. âI knew that you could do it, Kuangren.â
âNo one else but him couldâve done it.â
Elder Ruyan smiled as she stood at the side.
âBy the way, what was the Opportunity of Fortune?â
Some elders asked curiously.
At that moment, Black Heavenâs Third Forefatherâs voice came from the void. âNo one is allowed to ask about the Sword Gauntletâs Opportunity of Fortune!â
Everyone looked at each other pensively.
Meanwhile, Chu Kuangren smiled at them sheepishly.
âDonât worry, Lead Disciple. Since the Sage has spoken, we will obey. We wonât ask about it anymore.â
âHm, it makes sense. It would be bad if the Sword Gauntletâs treasured Opportunity of Fortune attracted unwanted attention. The fewer people know about it, the better.â
The elders expressed their understanding.
âAlright, thank you for your hard work in the Sword Gauntlet, Kuangren. Go back and rest. You still have the Inauguration Ceremony to attend in two weeks.â
âYesâ what?â Chu Kuangren was about to turn around and leave, but the words had him turn back immediately. He asked, âWait, what Inauguration Ceremony?â
âOf course, the ceremony for you to take over as Sect Leader!â
Only when Chu Kuangren heard the words did he remember. âHonorable Teacher, are you really not going to reconsider? Look at the elders we have. Theyâre all as capable as me. Could you not have chosen one of them?â
âAh, Lead Disciple, you canât just say that. Thereâs no one else more qualified than you.â
âExactly. It has to be you.â
âKuangren, please accept it.â
A few of the elders laughed heartily, and none of them had any objections.
Chu Kuangren felt like crying. Why must they all look up to him so much?
âSee? All the elders are in agreement, Kuangren. The title of Sect Leader belongs to you alone. You need to accept it since your Honorable Teacher is now a Boundary Sage and needs to retreat to accumulate wisdom to become a Sage.â
Honorable Xuan Qi patted Chu Kuangrenâs shoulder. âYou donât have to worry about this affecting your cultivation. The elders will help you out with managing things. All you need to do is make decisions for bigger issues.â
âAs for other times, you can just become a âhands-offâ Sect Leader and do nothing. Thinking back, thatâs something I used to do as well.â
As Honorable Xuan Qi spoke of his past experiences, the mouths of the elders who were standing to the side twitched and they really wanted to slap him.
D*mn it, of course it was comfortable for you to do the bare minimum as a Sect Leader!
In the end, they were the ones that ran themselves ragged doing work!
âOkay, Honorable Teacher. I understand.â
Chu Kuangren quickly cut him off after seeing the eldersâ, including the ever beautiful Elder Ruyanâs, faces turn as black as coal.
Any longer and his Honorable Teacher would have gotten slapped to death.
âGood, good. Being Sect Leader isnât all too bad!â Honorable Xuan Qi grinned in satisfaction as if he was testing the eldersâ patience.
âKuangren, please go on ahead. Iâd like to have a little discussion with your Honorable Teacher regarding the ceremony.â Elder Ruyanâs smile was sickly sweet.
âOkay,â
Chu Kuangren immediately felt goosebumps creeping up his skin. He then sent Honorable Xuan Qi a look, praying for him to not say anything else stupid before he turned to leave.
He even kindly closed the palace doors upon leaving.
Soon enough, a shriek came from behind the doors.
âDidnât we already talk about the ceremony? What elseâ Hey, what are you guys doing? Ow! Why are you hitting me?â
âHey! Whatâs going on??â
âSo⦠âhands-offâ Sect Leader, huh? I see you speak from experience.â
âXuan Qi, you *sshole! Do you know how much white hair Iâve grown dealing with internal affairs? And here you are, without a care in the world!â
âGet him!â
âHey! Wait, stop!â
âIâ Ow! Iâm sorry! Great Elder Ruyan, please stop pinching me!â
âKuangren, save me!â
Outside the palace doors, a chill shot up Chu Kuangrenâs spine. He faced the doors and bowed as he said, âMy deepest apologies for the betrayal, Honorable Teacher, but⦠every man for himself. I canât help you.â
He sighed before turning tail and bolting out of the area.
When he got back to the Daoist Palace, Lan Yu and Lil Bing were organizing some clothes.
âOh, whatâs happening here?â
âMaster, welcome back. These are the clothes that the internal affairs office sent over for you to wear during the Inauguration Ceremony.â
Lil Bing walked over with an armful of clothes.
Chu Kuangren took one look and thought, âWow, all these clothes were made with high-quality materials. One outfit alone would cost a few hundred thousand soulstones.â