The Path Toward Heaven

These people were prepared to sacrifice their lives to prevent Jing Jiu from becoming

the sect master.

They might appear courageous in the eyes of others, but the act was kind of senseless

in Jing Jiu’s eyes.

If he hadn’t taken the Inherited Heaven Sword and accepted the Will, he might have

said something imperturbable at the moment, like “You should find a faraway place to

kill yourself, and stay away from the clean water and green mountains”.

However, he was the Sect Master now, so he had to say something more appropriate.

The problem was that he knew only how to do things the way he had done at the

Hanging-Bell Sect, and he didn’t know how to do things in any other way. As such, he

chose to do and say nothing.

Sitting in the chair, Jing Jiu looked at the sheath of the Inherited Heaven Sword while

thinking of Liu Ci at the end of the horizon. He thought that what was happening was

truly boring; so he didn’t even bother taking a glimpse at the crowd.

Many Green Mountain disciples noticed his demeanor; they thought he behaved

imperturbably rather than indifferently.

Yet, nobody could behave as imperturbably as he did, even though they were

Cultivation practitioners.

In the next moment, more people came out.

If Jian Ruoyun and other young disciples were not significant enough, the people who

had come out this time were different.

“This is an imprudent order; I can’t accept it,” Bai Rujing said with a grave expression.

He represented Tianguang Peak, but he came out to oppose the Will of the Sect

Master!

Soon afterwards, Elder Chen of Xilai Peak and a few elders had landed on the peak top.

More and more people landed on the peak top.

The sound of discussion by the Green Mountain disciples grew louder and louder.

Hum!!! Hum!!! Hum!!!

It was quite chaotic on the peak top and on the verge of going out of control.

Yuan Qijing stared around with a cold expression in his eyes.

All the humming sounds stopped short.

The peak top was enshrouded in the twilight.

The young disciples rode their swords and landed behind the masters of their respective

peaks, feeling anxious and uneasy.

The important figures who could determine the future of Green Mountain hadn’t spoken

yet.

Fu Wang, the peak master of Yunxing, had a terrible look on his face.

If it were Fang Jingtian or the Immortal Guangyuan in the Will of the Immortal Sect

Master, or even Nan Wang, he could accept it. But…why Jing Jiu?

Why couldn’t he compete with such a young disciple?

“I don’t think the Will of the Immortal Sect Master is appropriate either.”

Fu Wang didn’t question the authenticity of the Will, but he demanded while staring at

Jing Jiu sitting in the chair, “You’ve entered Green Mountain for only thirty years; what

qualifications do you have to become the sect master?”

As Yuan Qijing was about to speak, a cold but extremely forceful voice burst out.

“We are the personal disciples of the Immortal Jing Yang and have the same generation

as you. If he were not qualified, what qualifications would you have?” exclaimed Zhao

Layue expressionlessly.

Fu Wang gave a sneer. As he was about to say something more, the Immortal

Guangyuan raised his hand.

He looked at Jing Jiu in the chair, and said after a pause, “Nobody can deny that you

have a special talent in Cultivation, or your prowess; but your Cultivation state is still too

low, so it’s hard for you to convince others.”

This meant that the Immortal Guangyuan had expressed his opinion.

The Green Mountain disciples grew even more nervous.

The Immortal Guangyuan had demonstrated his profound Cultivation state and strength

in the battle of the West Ocean. He was considered by many as the best candidate for

the next sect master.

Did he mean to contend for the position of the sect master?

Under the circumstances, Jing Jiu had the right to become the sect master since the

Immortal Sect Master had left a Will. And yet the Green Mountain Sect indeed needed a

powerful and trusted swordsman to lead them confronting the Center Sect in Chaotian

after the departure of the Immortal Liu Ci. Jing Jiu was still too young, and his status

and Cultivation state were still too low.

Even those young disciples who admired him couldn’t imagine what Green Mountain

would become after he took over the position of the sect master.

Looking at the masters who had landed on the peak top and Jian Ruoyun and Ma Hua

who had come out earlier, Guo Nanshan felt heavy in his heart.

“What’s wrong?” Zhuo Rusui asked in a whisper. “These people talked back and forth,

but nobody pays attention to your opinion as the principal disciple of Green Mountain?!”

“No,” said Guo Nanshan. “I’m just wondering if our Master’s words have lost their effect

after he left.”

Zhuo Rusui glanced at him once, asking, “Do you support Jing Jiu?”

“All I care about is that it’s the Will of our Master,” said Guo Nanshan.

After a moment of silence, Zhuo Rusui said, “But, have the Wills of our Green Mountain

ever worked?”

Hearing this, Guo Nanshan fell silent.

It was true. If the Wills were followed, Green Mountain shouldn’t have suffered so many

casualties back then.

…

…

Jing Jiu still looked as calm and composed as ever. It seemed as if this matter had

nothing to do with him.

Sitting in the chair, he looked at the sheath of the Inherited Heaven Sword in his hands,

saying nothing.

The current situation was not unexpected by him.

The Will was important, but…the Green Mountain Sect had never been used to

following the Wills.

If the Wills had effect, why would the Will of his Master be torn to pieces in public, and

would the right of his Big Brother to become the sect master be forfeited?

Otherwise, he and his Big Brother would have no need to kill so many senior masters to

get back the position of the sect master.

Green Mountain cultivated the sword.

The sword was meant to pierce the heaven.

If it dared pierce the heaven, there was nothing it didn’t dare pierce.

…

…

It was a stalemate right now.

Yuan Qijing was the Sword Justice of Green Mountain. He had the highest power and

status after the departure of the Immortal Sect Master. However, would he be willing to

suppress so many people forcibly for the sake of complying with Liu Ci’s Will?

Even if he thought the sect rules were more important than anything else, many people

might die when the turmoil ensued on Green Mountain.

The Center Sect had already opened their mountains; their intention was evident.

How could the current Green Mountain withstand the consequence of an internal

conflict?

Nobody noticed that Zhao Layue glanced at Ma Hua, a disciple of Liangwang Peak in

such a chaotic environment.

Ma Hua narrowed his eyes. He didn’t look at Jing Jiu in the chair; instead, he was

looking at the faces of Chi Yan and a few other elders of Shangde Peak.

Zhao Layue was aware that this chubby fellow had no courage to oppose the order; but

he anticipated that Yuan Qijing wouldn’t want to see the internal conflict happen on

Green Mountain for the sake of this matter.

Ma Hua suddenly walked out from the crowd, saying, “As this disciple remembers, it’s

up to all the peaks to select the sect master under such circumstances.”

He turned to Yuan Qijing and said while bowing to him in reverence, “Senior Master,

please make the decision.”

Yuan Qijing didn’t say anything.

The elder of Shangde Peak, Chi Yan, who stood in a place farther away, furrowed his

brows after hearing this; his empty sleeve ruffled without the aid of the wind.

There was indeed such a sect rule. If someone could obtain two-thirds of the support

from all the peaks, he would be able to become the next sect master.

Yet, it was carried out only when no Will had been left by the former sect master. Why

would they do so under the current circumstances?

Understanding what many people were thinking at the moment, Ma Hua said with a faint

smile, “It’s because Senior Master Jing Jiu…can’t be accepted by all of us.”

This was a simple reason.

And it was indeed a convincing one.

Green Mountain was rather practical.

In comparison to the Will, the future of Green Mountain was much more important.

“Nobody supports him. If he became the sect master, what would happen to Green

Mountain?”

Bai Rujing looked at Yuan Qijing, and continued, “Big Brother, please make a decision.”

Nan Wang, who remained silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. Her eyes were a bit

red; it was unclear if she had drunk too much wine last night. She was evidently irritated

as she said, “Can we do it faster? Let’s vote as soon as possible if we have to.”

Yuan Qijing shot a strange glance at her, and said, “Let’s do it then.”

Upon hearing this, there was an uproar among the crowd.

The Sword Justice had agreed to vote, meaning it was going to be carried out.

Bai Rujing felt relieved since he didn’t notice the expression in Yuan Qijing’s eyes. He

thought that Yuan Qijing must be unwilling to let that child become the sect master.

He wasn’t worried about Jing Jiu getting the support from six peaks.

Among the nine peaks of Green Mountain, Liangwang Peak had no voting right. As

such, eight peaks had the rights.

The Immortal Guangyuan, Fu Wang, Elder Chen who represented Xilai Peak, himself

representing Tianguang Peak, and Nan Wang who disliked Shenmo Peak the most

would all oppose the Will.

Now that Yuan Qijing agreed to let the peaks select the sect master, that meant that he

didn’t want Jing Jiu to become the sect master. He didn’t say anything earlier because

he had behaved that way to show to the others that he tried to comply with the sect

rules; otherwise, why would he accept the suggestion by Nan Wang so quickly?

Even if Chen Youtian, a coward, chose to give up the vote, Jing Jiu could only obtain

the support of his own peak, Shenmo Peak, at most; it was far from the supporting

votes of six peaks needed.

No matter what, it was a losing prospect for Jing Jiu.

As expected, the Immortal Guangyuan and Fu Wang expressed their opposition.

Jing Jiu wouldn’t be able to inherit the position of the sect master if only one more peak

opposed him.

It was a winning bet, Bai Rujing thought.

He said nonchalantly, “I’m against it too.”

It was an act that would be recorded in the history of Green Mountain; he didn’t want to

miss the opportunity.

…

…

It was very quiet on the peak top.

The crowd was in a mood that was hard to describe.

Many of the Green Mountain disciples who didn’t support the Will felt a bit sorry for Jing

Jiu now.

Jing Jiu had just sat in the chair and claimed that he was the next sect master of Green

Mountain with the Will in his hands, yet but he was deposed soon after.

This was an extremely humiliating thing.

Jing Jiu shouldn’t be treated like this due to his contributions to Green Mountain.

Apart from a few people, a vast majority of the Green Mountain disciples and elders

thought this way.

Jing Jiu was looking down at the sheath of the Inherited Heaven Sword. It was unclear if

he felt too embarrassed to lift up his head or lost in some sort of thoughtful reflection.

The Immortal Guangyuan showed a hint of pity in his eyes. As he was about to say

something to comfort him, Jing Jiu suddenly lifted up his head.

He had been waiting for someone to mention that sect rule.

It was like what had happened seven hundred years ago.

It was said that one couldn’t step into the same river twice.

But, was it possible for the same event to happen twice?

It was naturally impossible, at least as far as he was concerned.

Jing Jiu questioned Bai Rujing, “What qualifications do you have to oppose me?”

This question made many people feel bewildered at first, but they soon felt worried.

They wondered if Jing Jiu’s Dao Heart was unstable after such a tumultuous

experience.

Otherwise, how could he raise such a senseless question?

Looking at Jing Jiu, Bai Rujing smiled. He seemed to feel pity for Jing Jiu, but he was

actually quite resentful of Jing Jiu. “I represent Tianguang Peak; I’m of course qualified

to oppose you,” he claimed.

Jing Jiu went on, “What I asked was why you’re qualified to represent Tianguang Peak!”

Bai Rujing was taken aback. He had never thought of this issue, but he demanded

angrily, “Why would I be not qualified?”

The Green Mountain disciples were taken aback as well. They thought that Bai Rujing

was the most powerful elder with the highest Cultivation state on Tianguang Peak. He

was of course qualified to represent Tianguang Peak since the Immortal Sect Master

had departed.

Jing Jiu leaned against the chair, making himself more comfortable. He didn’t bother

talking to this person further.

Gu Qing walked out from the crowd and explained, “My Master meant that even if you

have the qualification to represent Tianguang Peak, Senior Master Bai, it doesn’t mean

that Tianguang Peak is willing to be represented by you. These are two different

concepts.”

Bai Rujing understood what he meant by now. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud,

saying, “Do you mean that someone will oppose me…”

“I do.”

Guo Nanshan came out. His calm gaze met Bai Rujing’s, steadfastly.

“Me too.”

Zhuo Rusui walked out from the crowd while rubbing his eyes. Somehow, his eyes, like

those of Nan Wang’s, were a bit red; it was unclear if this was due to excessive

sleepiness.