The smile on Chu Xingchen's face deepened as he stepped forward.
"I didn't expect our big disciple Li to want to be Sect Master so badly. In that case, there's no need for your junior brothers and sisters to vote. As your master, I decree that from now on, you'll be the Sect Master, and I'll be the Grand Elder."
"This will also fill the vacant Grand Elder position in our sect."
Li Yingling's reaction was swift as she stood up immediately, her face filled with disdain.
"Master, dream on! I won't be Sect Master. I'd have to clean up after you every day. With so many people in the sect, Master can manage them himself."
Chu Xingchen asked with a smile, "Now you know how tiring it is to be Sect Master? You used to complain that Master was lazy all day long."
"Wasn't he?" Li Yingling picked up the teapot on the table and skillfully poured a cup of tea for Chu Xingchen, who had taken the main seat.
Although the sect didn't have much official business... or rather, under normal circumstances, there was basically no official business.
But naturally, there were some procurement projects. Back in Yuzhou City, cultivating spiritual plants and various consumables were counted as official business.
These not-so-numerous official duties were usually handled by Chu Xingchen and Li Yingling together while they chatted.
Naturally, this chatting would often result in buying some extra things.
Whenever Chu Xingchen agreed to let her buy some small trinkets, Li Yingling would beam with joy and praise her master's wisdom, then pour him a cup of tea.
Back then, Li Yingling thought her master had it easy being Sect Master. He just had to wave his hand and buy, buy, buy—there wasn't really much else he did.
But when she personally managed things and watched the spirit stones in the warehouse flow out item by item...
She had to admit, Li Yingling truly felt some heartache.
So Master might appear leisurely on the surface, but in reality, he was probably refining pills like crazy behind the scenes.
Chu Xingchen's gaze fell on the steaming tea as he instinctively asked.
"What do you want this time? I came back in a rush this time, and the place I went to was desolate. I really didn't bring anything for you."
Li Yingling shook her head slightly, then pointed to the letter Chen Baiqing had sent back on the table.
"Master, do you know Third Junior Sister went to Dongsheng Shenzhou?"
"Mm, I received word."
"Master... what do you think? Should we bring Third Junior Sister back? If she knew Master had returned..."
"No need." Chu Xingchen shook his head and interrupted. "Let her see the world. It's beneficial for her to go out and explore. Her world shouldn't only consist of Master and the sect."
Chen Baiqing was very well-behaved, and Chu Xingchen naturally doted on her.
However, her entire life shouldn't be spent at his side brewing tea, always being his little cotton-padded jacket.
Chen Baiqing had talent and was intelligent. She deserved a broader world and a more brilliant future.
Ideally, as her master, he would just be there to chat with her when she wanted a moment of rest.
Li Yingling looked at her master's calm gaze, then at the letter on the table.
Actually, Master must have some reluctance in his heart too...
But Master probably wanted all his disciples to grow even more than anyone else.
Master always spoke beautifully, and hearing his words warmed people's hearts.
But more often, it was precisely these unspoken choices of Master's that tightly bound everyone in the sect together.
At least if Li Yingling were to make decisions based on her own feelings, she might not be able to be as pure-hearted as Master.
"Master, you won't run off again after a few days this time, will you?"
Li Yingling changed the subject, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Before, at least you'd take your disciples with you when you ran. Now you just run off by yourself."
Chu Xingchen looked at Li Yingling's expression and reached out to lightly tap her little head.
"This time I'm back to properly supervise your cultivation. If you keep dawdling, Li Xing Tian will be the first to reach the Nascent Soul realm."
This wasn't just Chu Xingchen making things up. He returned to the sect this time specifically to personally oversee it. After all, even if Li Yingling devoted herself to cultivation during his absence, some of her energy would still be diverted by sect management.
Not everyone was Li Xing Tian. There would always be things others couldn't handle and would have to bring to Li Yingling.
Now, matters regarding the demons had been reported to Lu Xuan and Bai Xuanling.
Regarding his warning, although there was no evidence, both Lu Xuan and Bai Xuanling indicated they would take it seriously and handle it, working together with Xuanqing Heavenly Sect.
Chu Xingchen could certainly choose to continue investigating, but that was far from the choice that would maximize benefits.
Returning to the sect to settle his disciples' hearts and let them cultivate properly might be the choice with the greatest returns.
After all, Chu Xingchen had only planned to get a general understanding of the situation initially. He never expected to single-handedly take on the system-verified great tribulation.
In the system, there were still rewards for disciples advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.
Furthermore, the series of missions would be completed, entering the next stage.
Perhaps the next stage of system missions would specifically target this so-called great tribulation.
Also, after advancing to Nascent Soul, would the system give anything special to its recognized disciples?
Qi Condensation gave heart techniques, Foundation Establishment gave divine abilities, and Golden Core realm gave spirit treasures.
So would there be special rewards at the Nascent Soul realm too?
Moreover, regarding the investigation, although he had the system's attribute bonuses to bypass many traps, he likely still couldn't match the intelligence network forged by Tianyan Sect.
For now, focusing his heart on his disciples was certainly not wrong.
"Merely Second Junior Brother thinking he can surpass me?" Li Yingling scoffed lightly, her gaze falling on her master as her voice became slightly softer.
"Master, if something really is going on, you can actually tell me. Although my cultivation might not be sufficient, my brain is definitely sharp enough. Maybe I could give Master a fresh perspective?"
Chu Xingchen: "..."
"Your suggestion is very good. Bring it up again next time." Chu Xingchen silently picked up the teacup Li Yingling had poured for him and took a sip.
Li Yingling looked at her master who didn't appreciate her kindness. She wanted to say more, but in the end only said.
"If there are any problems, Master can come find me to discuss."
Chu Xingchen nodded with a smile as his response.
Li Yingling waved goodbye to her master, then turned to leave with Zhang Miaoyu.
Chu Xingchen sat alone in the main hall for a while before finally picking up the letter Chen Baiqing had sent back.
Moments later, a soft laugh from Chu Xingchen echoed through the great hall.
Water Pavilion.
Cui Hao sat with a solemn expression on the stone chair by the water's edge.
On the stone table sat San Dong, equally solemn.
San Dong rarely saw Cui Hao with such a serious expression. After waiting a moment, it finally asked quietly.
"You... what's wrong?"
Cui Hao's gaze suddenly fell on San Dong. Under San Dong's nervous gaze, he sighed softly.
"I'm missing the tea Third Senior Sister brewed."
He wondered... if Third Senior Sister was truly doing well and staying safe.
Although Third Senior Sister was cold to him, that was special treatment reserved only for her own people.
Moreover, although Third Senior Sister was young...
As a senior sister, she had always been qualified.
At least, that was what Cui Hao sincerely believed.
[
Dear Readers,
I want to speak with you directly for a moment.
For the past two years, I have been here every single day, translating two chapters daily, pushing out bonus releases, and keeping early access running for those who want more. Three novels are being worked on simultaneously. The schedule is relentless, but I have kept it consistent because I know readers are waiting.
The truth is, the financial side of this work has become difficult. Patreon is what makes this sustainable. It is what allows me to keep the daily releases going instead of slowing down or stopping. If you have been reading along and the stories have meant something to you, joining a tier is the most direct way to ensure they continue without interruption.
Here is exactly what each tier offers:
$3 per month
10 chapters in advance across all works, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction.
$7 per month
15 chapters in advance across all works, plus 8 chapters per week for each fiction.
$10 per month
30 advanced chapters instantly for the same price the old 20-chapter tier used to cost. That comes out to 56 chapters per month for each fic, and I am working on 3 fics right now. You can do the math on how much content that is. This tier also includes access to character images.
A quick but important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30% fee because of Apple and Patreon policy. Subscribe through your browser to avoid that extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late, around 2 to 3 months, which makes it much harder to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it genuinely helps keep the daily releases alive. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work still matters more than you know.
---
New Novel Announcement
I am excited to announce a new addition to the lineup.
Title: The Greatest Immortal Sect of All Time
Synopsis:
This is an invincible sect. This is the strongest sect to ever exist across all ages.
The ultimate trickster, Chen Xi, transmigrates to a foreign continent and obtains a heaven-defying system.
You call yourself the Heavenly Profound Saint Venerable? Barely acceptable. You will serve as a menial disciple.
The Yellow Springs Great Emperor? Not bad. From now on, you are in charge of cleaning the latrines.
The number one female emperor of the Nine Heavens? The strongest demon god of the Primordial Era?
Sorry. Our sect is full of people like you.
This is not a story where the main character starts off completely invincible. Chen Xi begins slightly stronger than average, but he is still weak-to-strong with clear goals and steady progression. The power scale builds over time, and the journey is what drives the story.
The first 30 chapters will be free to read on Patreon, so you can get a feel for the tone and decide if it is something you want to follow.
I think this one is going to be a lot of fun, and I cannot wait to start sharing it with you.
Thank you for your time, and thank you for being here.
Patreon: patreon.com/Alex_Cruise
]