Chapter 7: The Grand Elder Isn't Dead

"What? Sect Master, are you saying that mysterious senior is our Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder?"

Everyone exclaimed in shock upon hearing this.

"Keep your voices down! Don't disturb the Grand Elder.

Remember what those Blood Yin Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators said earlier?

Eighteen years ago, the Grand Elder obtained a cultivation method that could dissolve his physical body and transform it into a False Nascent Soul!

The Grand Elder didn't die at all—he went into closed-door cultivation for eighteen years and successfully mastered it!

That transparent figure we saw earlier was the False Nascent Soul the Grand Elder transformed into!

That's why the surviving Blood Yin Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted 'impossible' and fled in panic."

The Sect Master spoke in a low voice with a grave expression.

Upon hearing this, everyone was both shocked and delighted.

The Grand Elder wasn't dead, and he had mastered a profound technique with greatly increased strength?

But some still looked doubtful.

"But I remember those Blood Yin Sect demons said the cultivation method the Grand Elder obtained was fake, didn't they?

This technique was fabricated by that Core Formation cultivator Zhao Wuxue from the Blood Yin Sect, specifically to harm the Grand Elder."

Yan Yu, the female Foundation Establishment cultivator who was Jiang Rong's master, pondered for a moment before voicing her doubts.

Hearing this, the others immediately showed doubtful expressions as well.

Right—if it was a fake cultivation method, how could the Qingxuan Grand Elder have succeeded in cultivating it?

But upon hearing this, the Sect Master smiled slightly.

"Our Grand Elder is at Late Core Formation Stage—what level of cultivation and insight does he possess?

If the technique were completely fake, how could it possibly deceive him? That cultivation method was probably half-true and half-false.

The Grand Elder likely mastered the genuine parts of the technique, which is why he could transform into a False Nascent Soul and annihilate the enemy with one strike!

However, because part of the technique was false, the Grand Elder's condition isn't right. After eliminating the enemy, he didn't even have time to speak before returning to the Elder Hall to continue his closed-door cultivation."

The Sect Master explained.

It sounded quite reasonable and well-founded.

Though the Sect Master knew there wasn't a single soul in the Elder Hall.

"Senior Brother Sect Master makes a good point."

"That's right, it must be the Grand Elder!"

Yan Yu and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators all "suddenly understood" and nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, the outstanding disciples who had been brought to attend the meeting were now completely stunned, both shocked and delighted.

Originally, they had been anxious and uneasy about the earlier Blood Yin Sect attack.

After all, with He Zhi, the "mysterious senior," having left, their Qingxuan Sect had no backing—how would they resist if a powerful enemy came again?

But now, they had no more worries.

Because that mysterious senior was the Grand Elder!

"So the senior really is the Grand Elder?"

"Wonderful! The Grand Elder isn't dead! And his strength has greatly increased!"

"With the Grand Elder presiding over the sect, we no longer need to fear demon cultivator attacks!"

These disciples whispered excitedly among themselves, their confidence restored.

"Alright, now that you young people know, you may all leave."

"Rong'er, you stay."

Seeing the disciples' confidence restored, the Sect Master smiled and dismissed them, keeping only Jiang Rong behind.

The disciples immediately stood respectfully and left excitedly.

Before long, everyone in the entire Qingxuan Sect knew that the Grand Elder wasn't dead, and they were all overjoyed.

***

However, after those disciples left, the Sect Master and the five Foundation Establishment cultivators all turned somber, the atmosphere growing heavy.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Rong, the only disciple who remained, looked puzzled at this sight.

They were all smiling just moments ago—why did the atmosphere suddenly turn cold?

"Senior Brother Sect Master, is that mysterious senior really the Grand Elder?"

At this moment, Yan Yu suddenly asked.

"Whether he is or not, he must be!

He has to be!"

The Sect Master answered decisively.

The Qingxuan Sect needed a Core Formation Elder presiding over it to continue existing.

"I see. Then there's no problem."

Yan Yu nodded, understanding.

The other four Foundation Establishment cultivators were the same.

But Jiang Rong still looked completely confused, not understanding what this meant.

So Yan Yu whispered a few words in her ear.

Immediately, Jiang Rong's delicate eyes widened.

She understood now too.

The Qingxuan Sect had no Core Formation expert and was being targeted by the Blood Yin Sect.

If things continued this way, today's crisis would inevitably repeat itself.

So the Sect Master wanted to spread word and tell everyone that the Grand Elder wasn't dead—he had mastered the False Nascent Soul technique and his strength had greatly increased!

This would be enough to scare off some malicious villains.

Of course, this kind of thing could only deceive ordinary disciples.

The sect's true core naturally needed to know the truth.

Though Jiang Rong was a disciple, her Earth-Grade Spirit Root qualification gave her the right to know.

"So it was all fake..."

After learning the truth, Jiang Rong looked dejected.

She should have realized it earlier.

Yan Yu had said that mysterious senior's aura was completely different from the Grand Elder's—they weren't the same person at all.

However, the Grand Elder had been in closed-door cultivation for eighteen years and hadn't appeared in the world for so long that only the few Foundation Establishment experts knew his aura.

As long as they didn't reveal it, those disciples would never know the truth.

"Jiang Rong, watch your words and expressions. You must never leak even half of this in the future.

Alright, this matter is settled!

Let's go to the treasury now and find some precious spiritual fruits and spiritual wine. Then we'll gather all the disciples and go to the Elder Hall together to offer them respectfully to his venerable self!

Although the Grand Elder can freely take anything from our entire Qingxuan Sect treasury, how could we trouble the Grand Elder to do it himself? It's only proper that we offer them proactively."

The Sect Master admonished Jiang Rong, then stood up.

This was to put on a show for the disciples to see.

The Grand Elder had just saved their lives—how could they not show some appreciation?

***

In the real world.

"I see."

He Zhi nodded. He understood now too.

No wonder that window had popped up saying he could accept becoming the Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder.

The Qingxuan Sect Master, for the sake of the sect, had decided to announce that the "mysterious senior" was the Grand Elder.

So the "Game System" immediately received the signal, popped up the window, and let He Zhi choose.

"Becoming the Grand Elder means I can freely take all items from the treasury?

Doesn't this mean I can take cultivation resources at will?

Accept!"

After understanding the full story, He Zhi didn't hesitate and clicked accept.

[You have accepted and become the Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder.]

[In the Qingxuan Sect, you possess supreme authority and can decide the appointment and dismissal of the Sect Master. You may freely take items and resources from the Qingxuan Sect treasury.]

[The previous Grand Elder's belongings also belong to you.]

[At the same time, you also have the responsibility and obligation to protect the sect and help it develop and grow stronger...]

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Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶