Chapter 2005: Zhang Xuan Becomes the Sect Leader

"Too dangerous..."

Han Jianqiu was anxious.

Zhang Xuan said, "I have comprehended the Sword Intent of the Gods; sooner or later, I will become the Sect Leader of the Sword Pavilion and go further. How can I grow if I always hide under your protection? Moreover, a swordsman must have an indomitable spirit. If you shrink back out of fear, you cannot maintain your Sword Intent!"

"This..."

Han Jianqiu was speechless.

What the other said was correct.

Sword Intent represents a swordsman's essence, energy, and spirit. Where the will goes, the sword must reach!

Once one becomes timid and loses spirit in everything, even the powerful Sword Intent will dim.

Lingyun Sword Pavilion had such an example. A thousand years ago, a sect leader's Sword Intent reached the profound, and he had few rivals in the world. However, due to a trivial matter, he mistakenly killed his close friend. Overwhelmed by guilt, he doubted his cultivation, eventually causing his Sword Intent to collapse, his cultivation to plummet, and he died in depression.

The one before him had comprehended the Sword Intent of the Gods; he surely possessed an indomitable spirit and a determination that no one in the world could stop. He could not afford any fear or hindrance.

Close protection was for his safety, but if it ruined this persistence, it would be more harm than good.

"Then... I'll give you the fastest flying immortal beast from the sect!"

Without further ado, Han Jianqiu said.

"No need. Doing so would also attract attention!"

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xuan asked, "Do you know where there are flying immortal beasts skilled in flight nearby? If not, I'll go tame one!"

The experts of the Divine Temple were hidden somewhere unknown. If he rode the sect's fastest flying immortal beast out now, wouldn't he be a living target?

It would be better to change his appearance, leave quietly, and find a place to tame one; it would be just as fast.

"Tame?" Han Jianqiu's brows jumped. "Immortal beasts are usually very unruly. Taming them might take a long time; it's not as easy as you imagine..."

The spirit beasts raised by Lingyun Sword Pavilion were mostly purchased from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. They were only skilled in swordsmanship and had almost no experience with taming.

Nevertheless, they knew the difficulty.

Many disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, who were skilled in taming, spent who knows how long to tame one, let alone this one.

Although sharpening the axe does not delay the work of cutting firewood... the prerequisite is to have an axe to sharpen!

If you first go mine iron ore, then try to forge an axe, and finally cut firewood... you'd probably starve to death!

"I know. I'll just give it a try!" Zhang Xuan smiled slightly and did not explain.

"Well... since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. This is a protective jade talisman I refined. In danger, activate it with true qi, and it will form a defensive light membrane that can withstand a blow from a Pseudo-God realm expert!"

Seeing the other's firm will, Han Jianqiu shook his head helplessly, took out a jade token, and handed it over.

"Thank you..."

Knowing it was a life-saving treasure, Zhang Xuan did not refuse and reached out to take it.

"As for the flying immortal beast you asked about, on Lingyun Mountain, five thousand kilometers away, there are several at the Immortal Lord level, and some at the True Immortal level... The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has sent people several times to tame them but failed. In short... if you really want to go take a look, be careful!"

Han Jianqiu continued to instruct.

Zhang Xuan nodded.

He carefully inquired about the location of the Star Chasing Palace, and the other answered each question.

After learning everything he wanted to know, Zhang Xuan did not stay long and returned to Shan Xiaotian's courtyard.

Bai Ruanqing had already received the notice and returned from Wuhai City.

"Xiaotian, I have accepted Ruanqing as my disciple. From today on, she is your senior sister!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister!" Shan Xiaotian clasped his fists.

"These are your future cultivation techniques and sword arts. If you have questions, ask me, and I will answer them!"

Zhang Xuan flicked his finger, and two jade tokens landed before them.

They contained their future cultivation techniques and directions.

Shan Xiaotian and Bai Ruanqing quickly looked, and the more they read, the more engrossed they became.

The techniques and sword arts recorded inside were too profound; as long as they cultivated earnestly, it was foreseeable that their strength would advance rapidly.

Soon they finished reading and each asked about their doubts.

Zhang Xuan guided them one by one.

"These are the Immortal Origin Pills you will need for future cultivation, two bottles each. I hope that when we meet next, your cultivation will have reached my expectations!"

He entered the Sword Pavilion's Divine Hall and took out two bottles of mid-grade and two bottles of high-grade Immortal Origin Pills, giving them to his two disciples.

After everything was arranged, the sky gradually brightened.

Unknowingly, he had been at Lingyun Sword Pavilion for two days and two nights, not a short time.

However, his cultivation had also advanced from the initial stage of Breaking Void to the peak of True Immortal, and he had comprehended the Sword Intent of the Gods, refined two Immortal Lord peak weapons, and three True Immortal peak Soul-less Golden Men... a considerable gain.

"We will not disappoint the teacher's expectations!"

Knowing that the teacher was about to leave, Bai Ruanqing and Shan Xiaotian's eyes reddened, and they both bowed.

Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

To him, the Upper Firmament was always just a passing place.

What he needed to do was find Luo Ruoxin.

Although these two disciples were his direct disciples, he could not keep them by his side and teach them carefully like Zhao Ya and the others.

As for the future, how far they could go would depend on them.

"Cao Chengli, after I leave, take good care of the young master and young lady. This is your future cultivation technique and pills! Don't keep thinking about women. I hope when we meet next, you will have made progress too, instead of boasting about ten kills or a hundred kills!"

He called over the bandit Cao Chengli.

"Ahem, to be honest... I've already reached a thousand kills!" Cao Chengli scratched his head awkwardly. After a moment, he looked over in confusion: "By the way, young master, what are you now..."

Zhang Xuan's brows jumped, and his face darkened.

This guy really knew how to take advantage. Snorting coldly, Zhang Xuan said, "I heard you've been jumping through doors lately. What kind of behavior is that? If I hear of it again, I'll break your dog legs!"

"Can't jump?"

Cao Chengli was about to cry.

Can't enter with the left foot, can't enter with the right foot, now can't jump... Could it be that I can't go out or come in?

Too lazy to bother with this guy who always brought up the wrong thing, Zhang Xuan gave a few more instructions, left the courtyard, and walked toward the mountain gate.

Just as dawn broke, he had already walked out of the mountain gate and disappeared into the vast wilderness, leaving no trace.

Not long after he disappeared, two old men suddenly appeared behind him, looked at each other, and were full of confusion.

They were Elder He and Elder Qiu Huo.

Although Han Jianqiu had agreed to let Zhang Xuan leave alone, he didn't dare to do so. As soon as he returned, he arranged for these two to follow, secretly protecting him from the Divine Temple's ambush. But who would have thought they lost him as soon as he left the sect...

"Quick, find him..."

They soared into the sky and searched everywhere.

But there was nothing; Zhang Xuan was nowhere to be seen.

Two hours later, the two returned to the Elder Hall with embarrassed faces.

They had lost track of a True Immortal...

They didn't know how to explain to the Sect Leader.

"You couldn't keep up?"

Seeing them return, Han Jianqiu seemed to have expected it and said with a wry smile.

"Yes..."

Elder He and Elder Qiu Huo dared not raise their heads.

"He already guessed you would follow..."

Han Jianqiu said.

"He guessed?"

The two were full of doubt and looked up simultaneously.

"Mm, this is for you..."

Han Jianqiu flicked his finger, and two jade tokens appeared in their palms.

They infused true qi into them, and Zhang Xuan's faint voice sounded: "Don't follow me, Elders. I can protect myself. This is a sword art I created for you based on the flaws in your swordsmanship. Cultivate according to this, and it will deepen your understanding of the sword path and allow you to go further..."

"This..."

They quickly looked into the jade tokens and soon finished reading. Both elders were stunned speechless.

The sword art in the jade token precisely targeted the flaws in their sword techniques. Following this cultivation, their swordsmanship would surely improve! Even their cultivation could advance further!

"How... how did he see that?"

Their eyes widened, and they were speechless.

The flaws in their cultivation were known only to themselves; even their closest relatives didn't know. The other had only sparred with them once and understood clearly, writing it down without error, and even corrected it all, perfectly matching their own cultivation techniques...

How profound an understanding of cultivation must one have to accomplish this?

Techniques and sword moves complemented each other. Changing a single flaw might seem simple, but even a slight deviation could bring greater disaster.

So, although they knew the flaws, they didn't change them—not because they didn't want to, but because they couldn't!

Yet the other had done it easily...

"This... the favor is too great!"

Both of their eyes reddened simultaneously.

They had originally thought to protect him, but not only did he not need it, he gave them such a heavy gift. They felt embarrassed to accept it.

"It's not just you; each of us has one..." Han Jianqiu smiled bitterly, looking outside the hall as if trying to trace the young man's figure, but he could not find it.

He was like a god descending into the world; in a flash, he disappeared again.

Only then did the two notice that the Sect Leader and other elders each had a jade token, all recording their own flaws and methods of correction.

"Cultivate well and don't let down his kindness!"

Han Jianqiu stood up: "He comprehended the Sword Intent of the Gods, saw our flaws at a glance, and helped correct our techniques... I believe that under his leadership, Lingyun Sword Pavilion will go further and further!"

"Indeed!"

Everyone nodded, each filled with excitement.

They had thought that his comprehension of the Sword Intent of the Gods only made him strong personally. They never expected that not only could he cultivate himself, but he could also impart what he understood!

That was terrifying!

A person with high talent who can cultivate is at most a symbol, making others wary... Being able to guide others means he can lead the entire sect to even greater glory!

"I have decided..."

Seeing everyone's expressions, Han Jianqiu smiled faintly.

"Sect Leader, are you... sure?"

Knowing what he was about to do, Elder He looked over in shock.

"Indeed!" Han Jianqiu nodded. "Before, I worried whether he might be too arrogant and needed tempering. But now, seeing him impart his understanding of the sword path to us without reservation... it fully demonstrates his character, beyond doubt!"

With a sigh, Han Jianqiu gently grasped, and a token representing the Sect Leader's identity immediately floated in the air.

Then his deep voice, in an instant, resounded throughout Lingyun Sword Pavilion.

"From today on, Zhang Xuan is the Sect Leader of our Sword Pavilion!"