“Very well.” The Rain Hierarch nodded with satisfaction, “Henceforth, you are the seventh Heavens Heir of the Cloudstride Sect.” Throughout the 300-year history of the Cloudstride Sect, only six Heavens Heirs had ever been ordained before Wu Yuan, a testament to their rarity.
“Receive the sword.” The Rain Hierarch waved her hand, and the divine sword soared towards Wu Yuan with a speed that would have left even a second-rate Adept trembling. Wu Yuan caught it firmly.
The Moontide Sword, the strongest divine weapon of the Cloudstride Sect in over a century, represented the sect’s legacy and hope. Receiving this sword meant shouldering the weight of responsibility that came with it. With this act, the ceremony reached its conclusion.
“Heavens Heir,” Lu Feng, the sect leader, bowed slightly.
“Greetings, Heavens Heir!” Inside the grand hall, under the lead of the five hall masters, the assembly of sect elders, division heads, protectorates, and custodians paid their respects. The Savant experts offered a subtle nod of acknowledgment, while the majority bowed deeply.
The status of a Heavens Heir was equivalent to that of the sect leader! Yet, all present in the hall understood that in terms of significance, a Heavens Heir held even greater importance.
As the grand ceremony drew to a close, the hall masters, clan elders, protectorates, and others dispersed. The disciples outside the Cloud Hall followed suit.
At the same time, several disciples headed down the mountain to spread the news to the civil and military officials, disciples, and armies in the three provinces. This was to announce the identity of the Cloudstride Sect’s next sect master, a proclamation that would soon reach the ears of the major powers across the seven continents of the Central Plains in the days to come.
Regardless, the impact would be minimal, for Wu Yuan’s prodigious talent was widely recognized among the various factions, and his somewhat ambiguous connection to Shadow Blade only added to his reputation. It was only natural that he would become a Heavens Heir.
“Wu Yuan, come with us.” The Rain Hierarch commanded, immediately marching off with The Sword Hierarch towards the rear of the grand hall.
Wu Yuan hesitated for a moment before following suit. He reasoned that since the announcement was already made public, it was unlikely that the hierarchs had ulterior motives.
Behind the grand hall stood a modest ancestral shrine.
Tablets? Wu Yuan took in the burning incense and numerous names engraved on the spirit tablets. Ancestor Yun Shan, Ancestor Hong He, Ancestor Fang Xia… In total, there were a good two to three dozen tablets.
These are the names of the Cloudstride Sect’s past sect leaders and Grandmasters. Wu Yuan deduced, immediately understanding the significance of the place.
He turned to look at The Rain Hierarch and Sword Hierarch. The Sword Hierarch quietly moved to one side, while The Rain Hierarch bowed respectfully and meticulously offered incense to each tablet.
After placing the incense, The Rain Hierarch moved to The Sword Hierarch’s side, then turned to Wu Yuan, her voice gentle, “Wu Yuan, come and pay your respects to honor our past ancestors.”
“Understood.” Wu Yuan obediently followed the Rain Hierarch’s actions.
Once they were done, The Rain Hierarch said, “Wu Yuan, with our sect’s ancestors as witnesses, you are now a Heavens Heir. There are some matters of the sect that we should naturally inform you about. Normally, certain information shouldn’t be shared with you at this juncture, but time waits for no one. If we don’t inform you now, I’m afraid there won’t be another opportunity.”
Wu Yuan was taken aback. Won’t be another opportunity?
“The Cloudstride Sect is on the brink of annihilation.”
Just one statement, yet it was like someone dropped a bombshell on him.
“What?!” Wu Yuan involuntarily looked up at The Rain Hierarch. His shock was genuine.
“There’s nothing surprising about this,” The Rain Hierarch said lightly. “Great Jin is breathing down our necks. We’ve enjoyed a ten-year truce, but now that the battles in the Min and Yuan Continents have ceased, it won’t be long before they set their sights on the Jiang Continent. Time is a luxury we can ill afford.”
“I’m growing old. Next year, I’ll be over a hundred, and my combat power will rapidly decline. I won’t be able to hold on for long,” The Rain Hierarch said slowly.
Wu Yuan listened silently.
For a Grandmaster, living to 130 or 140 was a breeze, but once they crossed 100, their combat power started to wane. Even though the process was slow and they could maintain the strength of a Savant expert until their dying breath, this decline in power was irreversible. Old enemies from years past would never let such an opportunity slip by.
For any sect, the presence of a Grandmaster in their prime was a matter of paramount importance. It acted as a deterrent, making other forces think twice before unsheathing their weapons. But without it? Annihilation loomed menacingly close.
“Emperor Jin is ambitious, and he intends to unify the world within his lifetime,” The Rain Hierarch continued. “As early as next year, latest five years from now, Great Jin will launch another offensive east. In terms of military strength, we are far behind. By then, I will be old, and The Sword Hierarch won’t be able to hold the fort alone.”
“Furthermore, given The Sword Hierarch’s temperament, he might not be willing to fight for the sect till the end,” The Rain Hierarch stated bluntly.
The Sword Hierarch, standing nearby, showed no change in expression upon hearing this.
Wu Yuan sighed inwardly.
He finally understood why rumors swirled within the sect, painting The Sword Hierarch as apathetic and indifferent. It wasn’t entirely false.
“Hierarch, once war breaks out, the major factions of the four coastal continents won’t just stand by,” Wu Yuan said.
The four coastal continents referred to the Yan Continent, Wu Continent, Dong Continent, and Min Continent.
“They will naturally lend their support, and so will the Baijiang King,” The Rain Hierarch said softly. “But the premise is that our Cloudstride Sect is powerful enough. What good is backup if we can’t even withstand the first onslaught from Great Jin?”
Wu Yuan fell silent.
Indeed, even as a pawn, one needed to be strong enough to prove valuable.
“Even if we repel the first wave of Great Jin’s attack, if we’re too weak afterward, the four coastal continents may back the Baijiang Kingdom’s rule over our Cloudstride Sect and Yuanhu Province,” The Rain Hierarch sighed. “Then, with the Baijiang King’s authority over eight provinces, he’d be in a better position to help them resist Great Jin’s forces.”
Wu Yuan’s shock deepened as he furrowed his brows. “The subjects of our Cloudstride Sect won’t readily accept the rule of the Baijiang King.”
The Cloudstride Sect and the Baijiang King were both purported successors to the Chu-Jiang Empire. However, in truth, the reputation of the Chu-Jiang Empire had long been tarnished over the span of 600 years and held little sway over the people.
A Grandmaster could form the backbone of a faction. But to truly establish a strong faction, time was needed, along with loyal armies, martial artists, and citizens. Among all virtues, martial might was foremost!
And yet martial strength wasn’t omnipotent. A Land Ranker, or even a Heavenly Ranker, couldn’t possibly kill all dissenting citizens and soldiers.
“They won’t dismantle the banner of our Cloudstride Sect,” The Rain Hierarch understood the situation clearly. “But over time, all power will be seized by the Baijiang King. Moreover, the Baijiang King might try to resurrect the banner of the Chu-Jiang Empire. At that point, what distinction would there be between our Cloudstride Sect surviving or being eradicated?”
Wu Yuan slowly nodded. Becoming a puppet? The Rain Hierarch’s analysis was undeniably sound.
“I was originally hoping to entrust Xu Hui with this matter. His talent is indeed remarkable, and his progression is commendable. But the sect cannot afford to wait any longer.” The Rain Hierarch said in a lowered voice, “Each additional Grandmaster in our ranks will buy us a bit more time. But without a Heavenly Ranker, it will be tough to withstand Great Jin’s military might. Only those in the Heavenly Rankings can fight against other Heavenly Rankers!”
Wu Yuan couldn’t help but nod. From these words alone, he could deduce that there must be a Heavenly Ranker behind Great Jin. The Rain Hierarch had essentially confirmed it.
“Xu Hui represents a glimmer of hope for the sect. But Wu Yuan, you are truly indispensable for the sect’s future,” The Rain Hierarch’s gaze fell on Wu Yuan, filled with hope.
Wu Yuan listened attentively. The future?
“Do you know why Heavens Heirs are so rarely ordained?” The Rain Hierarch softly asked.
“Please enlighten me, Hierarch,” Wu Yuan replied.
“This title signifies more than just reputation and duty,” The Rain Hierarch sighed. “It represents the vast benefits it embodies. Even the sect finds it burdensome, which is why only exceptional individuals are chosen. Of the previous six Heavens Heirs, five became Land Rankers.”
Wu Yuan involuntarily felt moved. Such selectiveness showed how cautious the sect was in choosing their candidates.
“Wu Yuan.” With a wave of her hand, several items materialized on the table beside her: a thick book, a saber, and a silver ring.
A storage artifact? Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.
By this point, if he still failed to recognize that The Rain Hierarch too possessed a storage artifact, it would be an embarrassing display of ignorance.
“You don’t seem the least bit surprised; it appears you already know about the existence of storage artifacts,” The Rain Hierarch remarked, a faint smile on her face.
“I’ve come across references to them in the Grandmaster’s Insights,” Wu Yuan responded.
Indeed, the Grandmaster’s Insights had briefly mentioned them, alluding to some mystical belongings of immortals. However, they never explicitly stated that they were real.
The Rain Hierarch chuckled and shook her head, not pressing the matter further. She then picked up a saber sheathed in a black scabbard.
“This saber is named Sunfury.” The Rain Hierarch held the hilt in her right hand, gently caressing the scabbard with her left. There was a touch of sentimentality and nostalgia in her actions. Then, with a firm grip on the scabbard, she suddenly pulled out the blade.
Boom! The moment the saber left its scabbard, a terrifying saber intent exploded throughout the entire hall like a volcanic eruption. Even with his strong soul, Wu Yuan couldn’t help but feel slightly shaken. It was utterly horrifying!
“What…?” Wu Yuan’s eyes were wide. It was the most powerful saber Wu Yuan had seen to date.