82: At the succession ceremony, Lu Jiuyuan came as promised!

In this great hall, only those with status could sit; those without could only stand.

Daoist Shi Yan, in his brand-new Sect Head Daoist robe, sat majestically in the main seat, his eyes scanning the assembled crowd with amusement.

After today, he would be able to step down from the position of Sect Head, acquire a couple of houses, and spend his free time drinking tea and tending to flowers and plants, living a relaxed and peaceful life.

His gaze swept over his Personal Disciples again. These young fellows must think that the position of Sect Head would be chosen from among them, his Senior Brothers.

Look at how nervous each of them is, their legs almost trembling into afterimages.

If they knew I was passing the position to Junior Martial Uncle Daoist Mu, I wonder what kind of shock they would have.

It's truly too interesting.

Thinking of this, he almost laughed out loud.

He forcefully suppressed it. He was still the Wudang Sect Head, he had to be serious, no laughing!

A hurried figure darted in from outside the palace gate, shouting loudly:

"Sword Saint, Great Hero Lu Jiuyuan has arrived!"

The noisy viewing platform instantly fell silent.

All eyes, in unison, turned towards the palace gate.

A figure in a sky-blue cloud brocade robe, like a piece of clear, sunny sky cut out, slowly stepped in.

It was Lu Jiuyuan.

The sunlight fell on him, making the sky-blue appear even more cold and detached, unstained by dust.

In his hand, a sheatheless long sword was casually carried. The sword body was slender, with distinct edges, shimmering with a cold silver light—the Guhong Sword!

This sword, this attire, and his face, which was calm to the point of indifference, instantly made the temperature outside the entire Shangqing Palace seem to drop by several degrees.

He didn't remove his sword!

He actually dared to carry his sword up Wudang Mountain, in front of all the heroes of the Jianghu, at the Wudang Sect Head's succession ceremony!

Daoist Shi Yan's eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze like lightning, sweeping over the Guhong Sword in Lu Jiuyuan's hand, then falling on his face. In his deep eyes, no emotion could be discerned, only a profound stillness like water in an ancient well.

Daoist Mu, sitting beside the Sect Head, subtly moved his hand hidden in his sleeve, and the cold sneer at the corner of his mouth deepened slightly.

Great Master Tie Jian's fingers, twirling his prayer beads, paused.

Daoist Xiao Gu from Bashan, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow with interest.

The air solidified, with only the rustling sound of the mountain wind fluttering the Daoist banners.

Lu Jiuyuan ignored the countless gazes, whether astonished, angry, scrutinizing, or fearful.

He walked directly to the front of the viewing platform, his gaze sweeping across the entire scene, finally settling on Daoist Mu, who was in the main seat.

No bow, no pleasantries.

He merely nodded slightly, his voice clear and calm, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present:

"Lu Jiuyuan, here by appointment."

"To observe."

Two words, resounding clearly.

He stood with his sword, as if on the peak of Wudang Mountain, in front of all the heroes of the Jianghu.

Before Daoist Shi Yan could speak, his eldest Disciple couldn't help but say sharply:

"Sword Saint Lu! The Sword-Removing Cliff was established by Wudang's Ancestral Master and is respected by the entire Jianghu! By carrying your sword up the mountain, what do you take our Wudang rules for? What do you take the heroes of the world for?"

Lu Jiuyuan didn't even look at him, only quietly watching Daoist Mu.

"Sect Head Shi, Lu's visit today is for two matters. First, to observe. Second..."

Before he could finish his sentence, another Daoist child rushed in, shouting:

"Wanmei Villa, Villa Master Ximen Chuixue of Wanmei Villa has arrived!"

"Boom!"

This time, the entire viewing platform completely erupted!

What's going on? Not only did the Sword Devil come, but the Sword God also arrived.

These two are great killers, having caused countless deaths in the Jianghu recently.

Now they both came to Wudang Mountain, and it was clear at a glance that they were uninvited guests.

They came with ill intentions!

All eyes, once again, turned in unison, with shock, towards the palace gate.

A patch of snow-white entered their sight.

Ximen Chuixue, holding his black-sheathed long sword, walked in step by step.

He likewise ignored everyone, his gaze piercing through the crowd, precisely and firmly locking onto the sky-blue figure in front of the viewing platform.

His sword was in its sheath, yet it was more unsettling than if it were unsheathed.

He walked step by step towards Lu Jiuyuan.

The entire Sanqing Hall was dead silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Only Ximen Chuixue's footsteps on the bluestone ground were as clear as drumbeats, striking at everyone's heart.

Ximen Chuixue finally walked up to Lu Jiuyuan and stopped.

The two were only about ten feet apart.

One was detached in sky-blue, the other in snow-white.

One held a sword, silver light flowing; the other clasped a sword, its sharpness contained.

"I'm here!" Lu Jiuyuan looked at Daoist Mu.

"I'm here too!" Ximen Chuixue looked at Daoist Mu.

Daoist Mu's smile froze slightly, and a trace of almost imperceptible gloom flashed in the depths of his eyes.

He looked at Sect Head Shi Yan, who sat on his left with a face already as calm as water, then at Great Master Tie Jian on his right, who also had a solemn expression.

Then he surveyed the surrounding heroes, who were either surprised, grave, or gloating, and let out a dry laugh, his voice carrying a deliberate lightness:

"It is an honor to have two Sword Dao masters grace Wudang. However..."

He stroked his long beard, his gaze sweeping over the swords in Lu Jiuyuan's and Ximen Chuixue's hands:

"Sword Saint Lu just said 'here by appointment'. I wonder what virtue or ability this old Daoist possesses to be so fortunate as to have this 'appointment' with you two?

Could it be that you came to observe the ceremony and incidentally wanted to chat with this old man?"

"I killed your and Shen Sanniang's son, Ye Guhong, and I killed your and Shen Sanniang's daughter, Ye Xue. I also killed Ye Ling, the daughter of Ye Lingfeng and Shen Sanniang!" Lu Jiuyuan said calmly:

"I met Ye Lingfeng, and I killed Ye Lingfeng! I met Zhong Wugu, and I killed Zhong Wugu!

Because I have met too many people, and killed too many people.

So I also know too many things.

I know your secret, and I know what is hidden in the hilt of the Seven Stars Sword."

"Today, I came by appointment, to remove the biggest cancer in the Jianghu, here and now.

Daoist Mu, or rather, the Master of Youling Villa, Old Handle of the Saber."

"Boom—!"

The entire Sanqing Hall, as if an invisible giant stone had been thrown into it, instantly stirred up monstrous waves!

"Old Handle of the Saber? Daoist Mu? And a son and daughter?"

"Ye Lingfeng and Shen Sanniang?"

"Youling Villa?"

"Daoist Mu is Old Handle of the Saber? How is that possible?"

"How can the Sword Saint's words be without cause?!"

"How is it possible..."

Exclamations, gasps of cold air, and incredulous questions erupted like boiling water.

Daoist Shi Yan suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze like a substantial blade, fixed firmly on Daoist Mu's face, filled with immense shock and scrutiny!

He knew Daoist Mu had an affair with Shen Sanniang, but he didn't know that he was Old Handle of the Saber of Netherworld Manor.

Having a child was nothing; making a mistake in youth was trivial. Shi Yan didn't care about that.

Daoist Mu had prestige, strength, and connections, and Wudang was currently lacking in talent. With him at the helm, Shi Yan felt at ease.

He was still planning to hand over the position of Sect Head to Daoist Mu today so he could recuperate, but he never expected...