Chapter 59: The Result Is In, the Sect Leader’s Request

Lin Tiancheng was a little surprised by the Ninth Elder’s vote. Yu Tianlu had never been particularly close to the Great Elder and rarely appeared in public. Yet this time he had supported him.

If the Great Elder had promised Yu Tianlu some benefit, he might have bought off the Tenth Elder too. Lin Tiancheng was no longer so confident.

“Thank you for your support, Ninth Elder.”

Yao Tiansheng smiled at Yu Tianlu.

Yu Tianlu gave no answer. He went on resting with his eyes closed. If the Great Elder had not promised to help him reach mid Soul Formation, he would never have bothered to offend the Sect Leader.

Among the current Elders, only the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Elders remained at the early Soul Formation stage. The Eighth Elder was already showing signs of a breakthrough, while the Ninth Elder alone had been stuck at this realm for over a hundred years. This was his opportunity, and he did not want to miss it.

“It is five to five. The deciding vote is yours, Tenth Elder. Have you made your choice?”

Lin Tiancheng looked uncertainly at Tenth Elder Lu Wenrui.

“That’s right, Tenth Elder, have you made a decision?”

The Great Elder quickly interjected. He could not let the Sect Leader put pressure on Lu Wenrui alone.

With both men watching him, Lu Wenrui could only give a bitter smile. How had the deciding vote ended up in his hands?

He had expected the result to be settled before his turn. Then he could vote for the winner, and the matter would have little to do with him. Now he had to offend one side or the other.

“This… needs careful consideration. After all, it’s not a small matter. Allow me to think a bit more.”

Lu Wenrui didn’t dare answer immediately and could only stall for time.

He had hoped to sit on the fence and offend neither side. When the Sect Leader spoke to him, he kept assuring him there would be no problem. When the Great Elder approached him, he readily agreed too. As long as his vote was not decisive, he could back the winner and nobody could blame him. And now look—everything depended on his vote.

“Tenth Elder, have you thought it through?”

After a short wait, the Great Elder pressed him, afraid something might change.

“Yes, Tenth Elder, have you thought it through?”

Lin Tiancheng also followed up.

“I will support the Sect Leader. Qin Xiao does have unusual strengths. With his disciple’s help, he is sure to win good places for our sect.”

Lu Wenrui had thought it over and chosen the Sect Leader. He worked on the Main Peak. However tempting the Great Elder’s offer, Yao was only a Peak Master. The Sect Leader held real power.

“You… you…” Yao Tiansheng could find nothing more to say.

“Enough, Great Elder. Six to five. The matter is settled. Qin Xiao is one of the candidates. There is no need to discuss it further.”

Lin Tiancheng quickly interrupted the Great Elder and announced the result.

“I refuse to accept this! My son is dead, and Qin Xiao and his disciple Yun Man are the prime suspects. Yun Man has a Heavenly Spirit Root and has even reached Nascent Soul. I can let her go. But what makes Qin Xiao worthy? He is useless and cannot cultivate. I oppose his nomination, and I also ask you to strip him of his position as Peak Master and lock him in the dungeon. We can decide what to do once the facts are clear.” Find the original chapter at novelping.com.

Yao Tiansheng could not accept the result and shouted angrily.

“That’s right, Sect Leader. Qin Xiao is suspected of killing fellow disciples. Immortal Cloud Peak will not accept this either.”

Second Elder Yao Yongzhi quickly backed him up.

“Immortal Artifact Peak agrees.”

Third Elder Kang Zhengye also declared his position.

“What grounds do you have for suspicion? Explain them.”

Lin Tiancheng had expected the Great Elder to turn hostile, so he gave a blunt reply.

“Only Qin Xiao, his disciple, my son, and Li Cheng left the group. My son and Li Cheng are dead, while those two are fine. Is that not grounds for suspicion?”

Yao Tiansheng said indignantly.

“Things changed in the secret realm. Soul Formation Demon Beasts and Beast-Control Sect remnants appeared on the second layer. Who can say nothing happened on the first? That alone is not enough. Great Elder, please produce solid evidence.”

Lin Tiancheng would not let speculation become a verdict. Produce evidence if you have it. Otherwise, I will protect Qin Xiao.

“I will find evidence. Until then, Qin Xiao must be locked in the dungeon. If I find proof later and he has fled, who will answer for it?”

Yao Tiansheng would not give up. He kept pressing.

“I nominated Qin Xiao. If he flees, I will bring him back myself. If I cannot, you may do as you wish with me, Lin Tiancheng. Great Elder, do you still object?”

Lin Tiancheng had openly broken with the Great Elder. Only he, Qin Xiao, and Yun Man knew what had happened. Unless they volunteered it, there would never be evidence.

“You intend to protect Qin Xiao, Sect Leader?”

Yao Tiansheng rose and glared at him.

“Yes. I will protect him. What else do you have to say, Great Elder?”

Lin Tiancheng made his position plain. I will protect him. What can you do about it?

“Fine, fine, fine. This is not over. Immortal Sword Peak withdraws its candidate. Give the place to that boy. I hope he lives to see it.”

With that, Yao Tiansheng swept his sleeves aside and left.

After the Great Elder stormed out, nobody dared speak. They looked at one another. None had expected such an open break, and for a moment they did not know what to say.

“Alright, since the matter is concluded, all Elders may disperse. Qin Xiao, stay.” New chapters come out on novelping(.)com first.

Lin Tiancheng had nothing more to say to the elders and dismissed them. He wanted to discuss their next move with Qin Xiao.

“Then we’ll take our leave first.”

Hearing Lin Tiancheng say this, the Elders all bid farewell.

The hidden struggle had become an open one. Their votes had shown where they stood, and they needed to plan their next moves. If the Great Elder won, the Sect Leader would likely be replaced. If the Sect Leader won, Immortal Sword Peak would get a new master.

Qin Xiao had said nothing since the vote began. He had been studying the elders, judging who truly hated him and who sincerely helped him. He had a rough idea now.

“Qin Xiao, do you realize I have openly broken with the Great Elder for your sake today? If this goes badly, you could drag me down too.”

Lin Tiancheng spoke to Qin Xiao, now the only other person left.

He was not complaining. He wanted Qin Xiao to see how firmly he supported him, and that he could be trusted completely.

“Sect Leader, I saw everything clearly. Thank you for your support. I definitely won’t disappoint you.”

Qin Xiao did not know why Lin Tiancheng was staking so much on him, but he had no intention of letting him lose.

“Enough pleasantries. I am not helping you for nothing. You brought Yun Man to Nascent Soul so quickly that you must have some extraordinary method. My request is simple: can you do the same for Shimeng?”

Lin Tiancheng had finally revealed what he wanted. He was already at late Soul Formation and had no need of the method himself. His daughter Lin Shimeng, however, had a Heavenly Spirit Root and was only twenty-one. Whatever the method was, surely it would work better the younger she started.

“Are you sure, Sect Leader? I do have a condition.”

Qin Xiao said somewhat hesitantly.

“Of course I do. But does your method have side effects? Could it exhaust her talent or use up her future potential? If it has no such effects, I will agree to any condition.”

Lin Tiancheng did want this, but he was also worried about side effects, so he asked.

“There are no side effects. If there were such serious side effects, do you think Yun Man would agree?”

Qin Xiao answered quickly. All he had done was pile on Spirit Stones and Spirit Liquid. How could that have side effects?

“Since that’s the case, then tell me your condition.”

Satisfied with the answer, Lin Tiancheng asked Qin Xiao to name his condition.

Qin Xiao hesitated, then spoke.

“Senior Sister Lin must join my school and become my disciple.”