Morning.
The sun hung high in a flawless blue sky, casting warm light over the sprawling mountain.
A gentle breeze rustled the silken banners, each one bearing the crest of the sect in gold and crimson thread.
Hundreds of disciples stood assembled below the stone platform, their gazes fixed on the figure who stood at its center.
The Sect Leader stood tall, her robes billowing slightly in the wind, her expression calm but unreadable.
On either side of her were the seated elders—stern and silent as statues—and before her, in orderly formation, the sect’s top disciples.
And beside her, as if he belonged there, was the man who had turned every head in the sect over the past day:
Hei Long.
He offered the gathered crowd a relaxed smile and a casual wave, as if greeting old friends.
His dark robes contrasted with the brilliant light, and his posture was easy, confident—too confident, many thought.
A murmur swept through the crowd.
Whispers. Frowns. Suspicious glares.
Who was this man, and why had he, a relative outsider, been given such a lofty title?
The Sect Leader closed her eyes briefly.
She heard the unrest, felt the judgnt in the air as surely as the wind itself.
She hadn’t wanted this either.
But so things could not be helped.
The blackmail was too much—and here stood the result.
Opening her eyes, the Sect Leader raised her hand and silenced the murmuring with a simple gesture.
"And so," she began, her voice clear and commanding:
"I formally announce that Hei Long will serve as the Saint of our Sect from this day forward."
The Sect Leader sighed and then continued:
"He will be afforded the honor and authority that cos with this title. You will show him your highest respect. There will be no exceptions."
Her eyes scanned the crowd, lingering briefly on a few known troublemakers, before turning back to Hei Long.
He simply smiled at the crowd, perfectly calm under the weight of all the stares.
Ji Yao stood beside Hei Long, arms crossed, face frozen with no emotion.
The Sect Leader’s voice softened, not in tone, but in purpose:
"I understand that many of you feel confusion. Even resentnt. I do not deny your emotions. They are valid."
A pause.
"This appointnt was not made lightly. Hei Long hails from the Hei family, yes—but this is not a favor to his family. This is a decision born of necessity. A decision based on rit, strength, and the greater vision for our sect’s future."
Another breeze passed through, and the Sect Leader stepped forward:
"During his short ti here, Hei Long has shown not only imnse potential, but sothing far more rare: conviction. And though so of you may not know it... he carries burdens that few of us could even comprehend."
A beat passed.
Then:
"He does not seek this title. He did not ask for it. But he has accepted it, for the good of the sect, and for the good of humanity. You may not understand that now. But in ti, you will."
Silence lingered for a long mont before the Sect Leader nodded slowly.
"Make no mistake—he is not here to play politics. He is not here to compete for favor. He is here because we need him."
Then, a final glance at Hei Long:
"Do not disappoint us."
The Sect Leader turned and walked away.
Hei Long, still smiling, took a casual step forward. "Guess I’ll be in your care, then." His voice was calm, even playful.
But beneath that smile... he had a deep smirk.
Before anyone could even take another breath, just as an elder stepped forward to announce the day’s training regin, a sharp voice sliced through the air like a blade:
"THIS IS BULLSHIT!"
The crowd stirred.
"Why the fuck is he the Saint!?" shouted a furious Lin Fan, pushing his way to the front, eyes burning with rage:
"He’s a womanizer of the highest degree! A disgrace to every human cultivator who ever picked up a sword!"
Small gasps rippled through the assembly.
Everyone turned.
"..." Lin Fan’s fists were clenched tight, knuckles white.
His jaw trembled—not with fear, but with fury.
There was no hiding the hatred in his eyes.
Hatred not just for Hei Long, but for what he represented.
Lin Fan’s mind boiled with thoughts:
’This bastard dares take the title that should have been mine... after stealing the Young Miss’s virginity?! Unforgivable.’
All the elders shifted their eyes.
One of them opened his mouth to silence Lin Fan, but before he could utter a word—
Hei Long raised his hand.
Effortlessly, without anger.
With a calm, almost theatrical grace, he placed his other hand on his chest.
"Please," Hei Long said, voice smooth and clear, echoing across the platform:
"I ask that you don’t treat as your Saint—not yet."
He continued, tone humble but firm:
"I know that many of you are confused. So of you are angry. I don’t bla you. I appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly given a title that others have worked their entire lives for."
Hei Long looked directly at Lin Fan, eyes neither mocking nor fearful:
"I understand your frustration. And to so degree... I agree."
Another ripple of murmurs moved through the crowd.
"But let say this: I did not ask for this title. I did not demand it, nor was it gifted to through gas or trickery. The Sect Leader entrusted with it, not for my sake, but for the future of our sect."
Hei Long let that sit for a mont before lowering his hand:
"I don’t ask for your blind loyalty. I don’t ask for worship or praise. I only ask for one thing—ti. Ti to prove that I am worthy of the title I’ve been given. Ti to show you that I’m here not to stand above you, but beside you."
His voice rose with conviction:
"I will do everything I can to support our sect. I will fight, bleed, and rise for all of you. I will not bring sha to this position. Together—we will bring this sect to the highest of heavens!"
The final words rang like a vow.
For a mont, silence.
Even the wind stilled.
It was then...
A wave of applause surged through the crowd.
What began as a few hesitant claps quickly swelled into a thunderous round of cheers.
The uncertainty that had gripped the disciples only monts ago had faded, replaced by excitent.
Faces lit with admiration, voices called out Hei Long’s na, and in that mont—it was clear:
The sect stood behind him.
But Lin Fan?
His face twisted with more frustration, body trembling with barely suppressed rage.
His glare bore into Hei Long like daggers, but he said no more:
’Fucking bastard... I swear I’ll kill him...’
While this was happening...
The Sect Leader watched from the background, eyes narrowed slightly:
’Young Master of the Hei family... I still can’t believe he forced those words out of . If not for that damn recording rock...’
She rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to ease the tension that had been building:
’He’s not just clever—he’s precise. Every word, every pause, every smile... all of it placed with intent. He seized control of this situation like he had rehearsed it a hundred tis.’
The Sect Leader let out a defeated giggle:
’I have to admit, his manipulation is... masterful. He knew the exact mont to humble himself, the exact tone to win them over. In one speech, he turned outrage into loyalty."
A long, quiet breath:
’The question now is whether he’ll be the sect’s downfall... or its salvation.’
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