lovenovelstory Chapter 63 Half-Step Land Immortal!
Chapter 63 Half-Step Land Immortal!
The seven elders were the first to react.
The First Elder, Mo Wentian, trembled violently, his eyes instantly reddening, and he knelt down with a thud.
"Master!"
The other six elders also knelt down, their voices choked with emotion:
"Greetings, Master!"
On the stage, Jian Lai was so frightened that he jumped up from the "Heavenly Sword Chair" and looked at the legendary old sect master helplessly, not knowing what to do.
Below the stage, Xu Longxiang's pupils shrank as he stared intently at the figure in blue.
Xiao Tiannan...
He really came out of seclusion!
Moreover, judging from this aura and this power... it's definitely not ordinary!
Xu Longxiang could clearly sense that Xiao Tiannan's aura was more powerful and profound than any Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert he had ever seen.
That's beyond what can be described simply as "peak of the Celestial Realm".
That was a state of being... close to the "Tao".
Is it...
Xu Longxiang's heart began to pound.
Could it be that Xiao Tiannan... has broken through?
No, that's not right.
If one were to break through to become a terrestrial immortal, there would surely be extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth, and it would never be so peaceful.
But if it weren't for a breakthrough, how could there have been such an amazing change?
Xu Longxiang suddenly turned his head and looked at Qin Mu on the high platform.
It's him!
Last night Qin Mu went to the Sword Tomb, and today Xiao Tiannan came out of seclusion, and his cultivation level has greatly increased!
There can be no chance that these two things are just a coincidence!
What exactly did Qin Mu do to Xiao Tiannan?
On the high platform, Qin Mu remained seated, his expression calm, as if he were not surprised at all by Xiao Tiannan's appearance.
He simply nodded slightly, as if to say hello.
Xiao Tiannan's gaze first fell on Qin Mu.
A deep sense of awe and gratitude flashed in those clear, baby-like eyes.
He bowed slightly in Qin Mu's direction.
The movement was subtle, but those in the audience who were paying attention could see it clearly.
The old sect leader... is he bowing to His Majesty?
Moreover, that posture was so respectful that it was almost...devout?
A storm of emotions swept through everyone's hearts.
Who is Xiao Tiannan?
The eighth sect leader of the Qinglan Sword Sect, a peak Celestial Realm expert, a being who has one foot in the realm of immortals, a martial arts legend who has been famous for a hundred years!
Such a person should be treated as an equal even when facing the emperor, so why be so respectful?
unless……
A terrible thought surfaced in the minds of many.
Unless His Majesty's strength, or the existence behind him, has reached a level that even Xiao Tiannan cannot help but respect!
After Xiao Tiannan finished his greetings, he turned around and looked at the seven elders kneeling on the ground.
His gaze was calm, yet it carried an indescribable sense of oppression.
"Get up, everyone."
The voice was aged, yet clear and powerful, each word seemingly carrying a unique rhythm that compelled the listener to believe it.
Only then did the seven elders dare to stand up, with their hands at their sides, like disciples listening to instruction.
Xiao Tiannan's gaze finally fell on Jian Lai.
Jian Lai froze, feeling as if the gaze was tangible, seeing right through him from head to toe.
He instinctively wanted to kneel down, but then he heard Xiao Tiannan slowly speak:
"So you are Jianlai?"
"Your disciple Jianlai pays respects to the old sect master!" Jianlai knelt down with a thud, his forehead touching the ground.
Xiao Tiannan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said:
"His Majesty bestowed this name upon you, with profound meaning. Swords come... ten thousand swords come to pay homage, the way of the sword reigns supreme. May you not fail this name, nor fail His Majesty's expectations."
This statement is a clear endorsement.
Jian Lai felt a sense of relief and quickly kowtowed:
"This disciple will certainly do his utmost to live up to His Majesty's bestowed name and the old sect leader's expectations!"
Xiao Tiannan nodded, stopped looking at him, and turned to face the crowd below the stage.
His gaze slowly swept over the thousands of martial arts practitioners in the training ground, finally settling on the disciples of the Sword Sect.
"I, Xiao Tiannan, have been in seclusion for thirty years. Today I emerge from seclusion only to say a few words."
The voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, as if it were whispering right next to them.
The entire room was silent; you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the martial arts legend to continue.
"First," Xiao Tiannan said slowly.
"The position of Sword Sect Master concerns the future of the sect and the prospects of its three thousand disciples. Now that Jian Lai has passed the competition and been appointed by His Majesty, he is rightfully the ninth Sect Master. From this day forward, everyone in the Sword Sect must respect the Sect Master. Anyone who outwardly obeys but inwardly defies him, or harbors disloyal intentions—"
He paused, a glint of sword light flashing in his eyes.
"Treat them as traitors and kill them without exception!"
The last four words, like a thunderclap, carried a chilling killing intent, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.
The seven elders bowed in unison:
"I will humbly obey Master's instructions!"
The thousands of Sword Sect disciples below the stage echoed in unison:
"I will obey the late Master's decree!"
The sound was deafening, and there was no longer the slightest hesitation.
Xiao Tiannan's prestige was supreme within the Sword Sect.
His word carries more weight than His Majesty's decree.
Xu Longxiang watched this scene from below the stage, his face so gloomy it could drip water.
With Xiao Tiannan's intervention, Jian Lai's position was completely secured.
No one dared to question it anymore, and no one dared to oppose it.
Because opposing Jianlai is opposing Xiao Tiannan.
To oppose Xiao Tiannan... in the Qinglan Sword Sect, is to court death.
"Secondly," Xiao Tiannan continued, "the Sword Sect and the Great Qin are bound together by fate, sharing both glory and ruin. Eighty years ago, the Sword Saint Ancestor fought bravely against the Northern Barbarians to protect the land of the Great Qin, sacrificing his life for his country. The Sword Sect will never forget this loyalty and this friendship."
He turned around and bowed again in Qin Mu's direction:
"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, the one to whom Heaven has ordained. The entire Sword Sect shall serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty, assisting you in protecting the Great Qin Empire and safeguarding the people of the Nine Provinces."
These words are a blatant declaration of loyalty.
Below the stage, representatives from various factions looked at each other, deeply shocked.
The Azure Sky Sword Sect... has completely sided with the royal family.
With Xiao Tiannan's words, from now on, the Sword Sect will be the sharpest sword in the hands of the royal family.
Qin Mu nodded slightly in response.
Xiao Tiannan straightened up and his gaze swept across the entire room once more:
"Third, and most importantly."
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold:
"I have been in seclusion for thirty years, and although I have not taken that final step, I have glimpsed some of the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao. Today, I hereby admonish the heroes of the world—"
He slowly raised his right hand.
That hand was withered and thin like an eagle's claw, with bulging veins on the back of its hand.
But as he raised his hand, the clouds above the entire Heavenly Sword Peak began to slowly rotate!
It wasn't being blown by the wind, but rather as if it were being stirred by an invisible giant hand!
The clouds spun, forming a giant vortex.
At the center of the vortex, flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder could be faintly seen.
He casually manipulated the power of heaven and earth!
"Celestial Phenomenon Realm... No, this is no longer the Celestial Phenomenon Realm!" A knowledgeable senior expert in the audience exclaimed in shock, "This is... a half-step immortal! He has already stepped one foot into the realm of terrestrial immortality!"
A near-immortal!
These four words exploded like a bombshell in the crowd!
A terrestrial immortal, who has not appeared in the world for three hundred years.
But being half a god is already the pinnacle of human achievement!
Such beings, looking across the entire land of China, probably number no more than five!
Xiao Tiannan... he actually came to this point!
Xu Longxiang stared intently at Xiao Tiannan's hand and the huge cloud vortex in the sky, his heart churning with turmoil.
Half-immortal...
No wonder its aura was so astonishing!
No wonder it could trigger extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth!
But all of this is inextricably linked to Qin Mu!
Just before last night, Xiao Tiannan was on the verge of death in the Sword Tomb, his lamp running out of oil.
After one night, he not only recovered completely, but his cultivation level also improved, and he stepped into the realm of a half-step immortal!
This is no coincidence!
What methods did Qin Mu use?
Xu Longxiang dared not even think about it.
All he knew was that Qin Mu's strength was probably even more terrifying than he had imagined.
Being able to create a half-step immortal at will... this in itself has already exceeded the scope of "land immortals"!
Xiao Tiannan slowly lowered his hand.
The swirling clouds in the sky gradually dissipated, the thunder faded, and the lightning went out.
Everything returned to calm, as if the astonishing scene had never happened.
But everyone knew it wasn't an illusion.
Xiao Tiannan has truly stepped into the realm that countless martial artists dream of.
"I am not saying this to boast."
Xiao Tiannan's voice returned to calm:
"I just want to tell you all, and the world—"
His gaze, sharp as a sword, swept over everyone in the audience:
"The Sword Sect remains the same. However, some rules need to be changed. From this day forward, the Sword Sect will act according to its own conscience and in accordance with righteousness. If anyone dares to deceive the Sword Sect or insult its disciples—"
He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately:
"No matter how far away they are, they will be punished!"
These four words, like four heavy hammers, struck hard on everyone's hearts.
The entire room fell silent.
No one dared to utter a sound.
Even those usually arrogant and unruly heroes of the martial world lowered their heads at this moment, not daring to meet those eyes that were as clear as a baby's but as sharp as a sword.
After Xiao Tiannan finished speaking, he said no more, turned around and bowed to Qin Mu:
"Your Majesty, I have finished speaking."
Qin Mu nodded slightly:
"The old patriarch is wise and righteous, which greatly pleases me."
Xiao Tiannan straightened up, glanced at Jian Lai again, and said calmly:
"The sect leader is young and inexperienced, and needs the assistance of the elders. Although I have retired, I still reside in the Sword Sect. If there is any important matter, you may come to the Sword Tomb to find me."
These words were both to support Jian Lai and to warn the seven elders.
Don't think you can do whatever you want just because I've stepped down. I'm still watching.
The seven elders immediately bowed:
"I will follow Master's teachings!"
Xiao Tiannan nodded, said no more, and with a flicker of his figure, disappeared from the spot like a ghost.
They come without a trace and go without a trace.
If it weren't for the lingering cloud vortex in the sky and the faint sword intent remaining in the air, everyone would have almost thought that everything just now was an illusion.
But everyone knew it wasn't an illusion.
Xiao Tiannan has indeed emerged from seclusion.
He truly stepped into the realm of a half-immortal.
He actually... publicly supported Jianlai and swore allegiance to His Majesty.
All of this happened in full view of everyone.
There is no room for maneuver.
On the high platform, Jian Lai let out a long sigh of relief, his back already soaked with cold sweat.
With the old sect leader's words, he could finally be considered to have a truly secure position as sect leader.
Below the stage, Xu Longxiang slowly closed his eyes, his heart filled with coldness.
It’s over.
The Azure Sky Sword Sect has completely fallen into Qin Mu's hands.
With Xiao Tiannan, a near-divine being, in charge, and His Majesty supporting him from behind, Jian Lai, this puppet sect leader, will be as stable as Mount Tai.
All his plans and schemes became a joke at this moment.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked at the light green figure on the high platform.
Jiang Qingxue remained standing there, her face pale and her eyes vacant, like a soulless doll.
Xu Longxiang's heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Clear snow...
sorry……
It's my incompetence...
It was me... who couldn't protect you...
He clenched his teeth so tightly that his fingernails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers, staining the bluestone slabs red.
But he couldn't move.
You must not show any abnormality.
He had to endure it.
Endure until... the day you can turn things around.
On the high platform, Qin Mu slowly stood up.
The ceremony should come to an end.
He glanced at Jian Lai and said calmly:
"Sword, come and see what's what."
"Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by your disciple!" Jianlai bowed and replied.
Qin Mu waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below the stage before finally settling on Jiang Qingxue.
"Consort Xue, come back to the capital with me."
Jiang Qingxue's heart tightened, but she still wore a gentle smile on her face as she rose and curtsied, saying, "Your Majesty, I obey your decree."
Qin Mu said no more, turned around and led Su Wanqing and Lu Wanning down from the platform.
Jiang Qingxue followed behind, her steps unsteady.
She knew that this turmoil was far from over.
What awaits her upon returning to the capital?
She hadn't yet had the chance to send the letter hidden in the sock.
Xu Longxiang's side is probably getting impatient.
A thick shadow fell over Jiang Qingxue's heart, heavy with sorrow.
But at this moment, she didn't even dare to turn around and glance at Xu Longxiang's location...