This white-haired figure has the appearance of a youth, yet everyone senses an air of decay.
After stepping out of the Blood Demon Pool, Qin Yun felt momentarily as if he had lived through an eternity. He glanced at the group of experts from the Demon Sect, and his gaze finally settled on the silver-haired elder at the forefront, respectfully saying:
"Greetings, Grand Elder and fellow Elders!"
The gaze of the Demon Sect’s Grand Elder seemed penetrating as he scrutinized Qin Yun up and down, ultimately revealing a smile of admiration and said:
"Though you borrowed the power of the Sad White Hair Secret Technique, it shows courage, and your direct entry into the Celestial Human Realm within the Blood Demon Pool indicates your compatibility with it. Qin Yun, you may become the Saint Heir of our Holy Sect!"
As the Grand Elder finished, everyone’s gaze shook, and then someone hesitatedly advised:
"Grand Elder, the position of Saint Heir requires careful consideration."
The root cause lies in Qin Yun’s method of breakthrough.
They are no fools, they can all sense that the vitality coursing through Qin Yun’s body is likely less than half that of an average Celestial Human Realm cultivator.
Qin Yun is now around thirty years old.
If, through normal cultivation, he could reach the Celestial Human Realm at this age, no one would oppose him becoming Saint Heir. In fact, the entire Demon Sect would yield to him without reservation, as such talent surpasses all Martial Saints from antiquity, destined to become the strongest and make history.
Qin Yun did not cultivate normally.
In the Blood Demon Pool, he used the Sad White Hair Secret Technique, nearly burning away all his lifespan to achieve such a rapid breakthrough, and almost dying several times, causing quite a stir in the Blood Demon Pool, which attracted such great attention.
Qin Yun is essentially ’over four hundred years old’ now.
Under such circumstances, many naturally dissent.
But Qin Yun’s expression remained calm.
Back then, to secure three years for the True Martial Sect, he proactively applied to enter the Blood Demon Pool, determined to live or die in it, thinking he’d either breakthrough the Celestial Human Realm for more influence or perish within. Unexpectedly, he succeeded, thanks to a Heart Demon Secret Technique he acquired years ago.
Having experienced life and death, he now looks at many things with indifference.
"I wonder how master and the others are doing now..."
This thought crossed Qin Yun’s mind, and then he bowed respectfully to the Grand Elder:
"Thank you for your favor, Grand Elder. Qin Yun merely took advantage to step into the Celestial Being Realm, and I still need time to consolidate. My qualifications are insufficient, and I ask Grand Elder to reconsider about the position of Saint Heir."
The Grand Elder gave Qin Yun a deep look, then finally said:
"In that case, Qin Yun will be one of the three Saint Heir candidates. After earning merits for our Holy Sect, he will formally ascend to Saint Heir. Does anyone have objections?"
He eyed the crowd with a powerful sense of pressure, signifying no compromise.
Everyone unanimously responded affirmatively.
The role of a candidate Saint Heir fell within the accepted baseline.
Seeing this attitude among the crowd.
The Grand Elder felt disappointed.
Over hundreds and thousands of years, many within the Demon Sect also forgot their initial beliefs, starting to form factions for personal gain.
In truth, he valued Qin Yun not for his cultivation but for his compatibility with the Blood Demon Pool.
With Qin Yun’s performance in the Blood Demon Pool, if he were to enter the Celestial Being Perfection Realm, he might have hope to forcibly step into the Martial Saint Realm leveraging the Blood Demon Pool. Such a person not becoming Saint Heir directly would indeed be problematic.
The Grand Elder snorted coldly, turned his sleeve, and left.
The rest just bowed their heads in a respectful farewell.
A moment later, someone approached with a respectful smile:
"Saint Heir Qin, please follow me."
Qin Yun silently nodded and left.
Having spent more than a year in the Blood Demon Pool, now he wished to know what had transpired outside during this time, especially with the True Martial Sect, even though Ghost Mask Vice Sect Leader mentioned three years until its annihilation, who knew if he might change his mind midway.
In principle, after entering the Blood Demon Pool, one should grasp the true meaning of the Demon Sect for its protection and acknowledge the Demon Sect, but Qin Yun didn’t know if it was because of the Heart Demon Secret Technique he acquired in earlier years, but he wasn’t influenced by the Demon Sect’s true meaning.
Others naturally weren’t aware of this.
They watched Qin Yun’s departing figure, their expressions varying.
Some were ready to gamble early, as Qin Yun’s foundation was shallow, but now with the support of the Grand Elder, he might succeed, while others wore dark expressions. Qin Yun’s meteoric rise made the original two candidate Saint Heirs become three, undoubtedly adding a rival.
Qin Yun sat in the study.
Tied bundles of documents lay on the table. Now being one of the three candidate Saint Heirs, his status was far higher than as a Guardian. One command would naturally bring them forth.
He perused the major events of the past year.
Note down those potentially related to himself.
Then, he turned his gaze to the last bundle of documents, those concerning the True Martial Sect.
His heart fluttered, and he gently opened it.
Information flooded his eyes.
Mixed emotions filled Qin Yun’s heart.
"Master... has taken two more disciples?"
He looked at the intelligence shown.
Tenth True Inheritor, Zhuang Chen, former disciple of Divine Sword Sect’s Sect Leader, Divine Sword Old Man.
Eleventh True Inheritor, Li Ling, youngest son of Town North King.
He didn’t know how he felt, finally turning into silent self-mockery:
"Jiu... has also become a senior brother."
He recalled when Ning Qi was first brought up the mountain by Taoist Longshan, back then he also became a senior brother for the first time, feeling genuine excitement, but later, it gradually changed.