Chu Kuangren had obtained the Opportunity of Fortune within the Sword Gauntlet. The other sword cultivators, on the other hand, took a huge blow to their confidence. Some even lost interest in their training.

It was soul-crus.h.i.+ng.

Why bother training when people like Chu Kuangren existed?

Except for a few people that stayed in Hidden Sword Canyon to observe the sword marks in the ground, most of the people left, including the One Mountain and Two Clans.

“Mister Qian, see you again sometime.”

“Take care on your journey, Brother Chu.”

Qian Fugui laughed out loud. He had interacted with Chu Kuangren a lot the past few days, and while they were not exactly friends, they were at least on good terms with each other.

Watching Chu Kuangren's retreating figure, Qian Fugui smiled. “Coming to Hidden Sword Canyon was a good idea. We've gained some good stuff that's worth quite a bit.”

A green figure appeared behind Qian Fugui. “Boss, did you plan to make friends with Chu Kuangren by following him around the last few days?”

“That goes without saying.”

“Then why didn't you just tell him who you were?”

“Tsk, making friends is all about the heart. How could you not know this?”

The green figure rolled his eyes. “Boss, you know very well why you tried making friends with him. You have your eye on who he is and the potential talent he has, don't you? Saying you're making friends with him is so fake.”

“Shut it. To think you have the guts to talk back to your boss.”

“Yes, yes. My boss is always right.”

The green figure could only go along with Qian Fugui helplessly.

Qian Fugui looked back at Chu Kuangren's retreating figure while he rubbed the white jade ring on his finger with his thumb. “There's an endless amount of investment opportunities in this Era of Great Battles. And this Chu Kuangren will be a great a.s.set for business.”

“We can't go wrong with maintaining a friendly relations.h.i.+p with him.”

“An Emperor's Scripture?”

On the Fairy boat, the Black Heaven's Third Forefather let out a gasp of shock upon hearing that the Opportunity of Fortune in the Sword Gauntlet was an Emperor's Scripture.

Something like that was extremely valuable.

Even Sages would go green with envy.

“Thank goodness you didn't tell them. If not, I bet that those three old fogeys wouldn't hesitate to start an orthodoxy war over it.”

“An Emperor's Scripture is surprising indeed.” The Black Heaven's Third Forefather rejoiced slightly.

“Kuangren, lady luck seems to always be on your side, but an Emperor's Scripture is very valuable. You must never tell anyone. If this gets out, even Black Heaven Sect will have trouble keeping you safe.” The Black Heaven's Third Forefather heavily emphasized his point.

Something stirred in Chu Kuangren when he heard those words.

After all, he had three sage orthodoxies backing him up.

If even they could not guarantee his safety, then just what kind of forces were they up against?

“Kuangren, things in the world aren't as simple as they seem. Sage orthodoxies are not necessarily the most powerful force we know. Many things lurk in the unknown lands, still undiscovered.”

The Black Heaven's Third Forefather said deeply.

“Undiscovered things in the unknown lands…” Chu Kuangren muttered before he nodded. “I understand.”

“Good. Train and attain the Emperor's Scripture well. Fight until the day you get to be an Emperor. Only then can you stand fearlessly before everyone.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Third Forefather.”

Soon enough, the group was back at the Black Heaven Sect.

Honorable Xuan Qi felt pleased knowing that Chu Kuangren had obtained the Opportunity of Fortune within the Sword Gauntlet. “I knew that you could do it, Kuangren.”

“No one else but him could've done it.”

Elder Ruyan smiled as she stood at the side.

“By the way, what was the Opportunity of Fortune?”

Some elders asked curiously.

At that moment, Black Heaven's Third Forefather's voice came from the void. “No one is allowed to ask about the Sword Gauntlet's Opportunity of Fortune!”

Everyone looked at each other pensively.

Meanwhile, Chu Kuangren smiled at them sheepishly.

“Don't worry, Lead Disciple. Since the Sage has spoken, we will obey. We won't ask about it anymore.”

“Hm, it makes sense. It would be bad if the Sword Gauntlet's treasured Opportunity of Fortune attracted unwanted attention. The fewer people know about it, the better.”

The elders expressed their understanding.

“Alright, thank you for your hard work in the Sword Gauntlet, Kuangren. Go back and rest. You still have the Inauguration Ceremony to attend in two weeks.”

“Yes— what?” Chu Kuangren was about to turn around and leave, but the words had him turn back immediately. He asked, “Wait, what Inauguration Ceremony?”

“Of course, the ceremony for you to take over as Sect Leader!”

Only when Chu Kuangren heard the words did he remember. “Honorable Teacher, are you really not going to reconsider? Look at the elders we have. They're all as capable as me. Could you not have chosen one of them?”

“Ah, Lead Disciple, you can't just say that. There's no one else more qualified than you.”

“Exactly. It has to be you.”

“Kuangren, please accept it.”

A few of the elders laughed heartily, and none of them had any objections.

Chu Kuangren felt like crying. Why must they all look up to him so much?

“See? All the elders are in agreement, Kuangren. The t.i.tle of Sect Leader belongs to you alone. You need to accept it since your Honorable Teacher is now a Boundary Sage and needs to retreat to acc.u.mulate wisdom to become a Sage.”

Honorable Xuan Qi patted Chu Kuangren's shoulder. “You don't have to worry about this affecting your cultivation. The elders will help you out with managing things. All you need to do is make decisions for bigger issues.”

“As for other times, you can just become a 'hands-off' Sect Leader and do nothing. Thinking back, that's something I used to do as well.”

As Honorable Xuan Qi spoke of his past experiences, the mouths of the elders who were standing to the side twitched and they really wanted to slap him.

D*mn it, of course it was comfortable for you to do the bare minimum as a Sect Leader!

In the end, they were the ones that ran themselves ragged doing work!

“Okay, Honorable Teacher. I understand.”

Chu Kuangren quickly cut him off after seeing the elders', including the ever beautiful Elder Ruyan's, faces turn as black as coal.

Any longer and his Honorable Teacher would have gotten slapped to death.

“Good, good. Being Sect Leader isn't all too bad!” Honorable Xuan Qi grinned in satisfaction as if he was testing the elders' patience.

“Kuangren, please go on ahead. I'd like to have a little discussion with your Honorable Teacher regarding the ceremony.” Elder Ruyan's smile was sickly sweet.

“Okay,”

Chu Kuangren immediately felt gooseb.u.mps creeping up his skin. He then sent Honorable Xuan Qi a look, praying for him to not say anything else stupid before he turned to leave.

He even kindly closed the palace doors upon leaving.

Soon enough, a shriek came from behind the doors.

“Didn't we already talk about the ceremony? What else— Hey, what are you guys doing? Ow! Why are you hitting me?”

“Hey! What's going on??”

“So… 'hands-off' Sect Leader, huh? I see you speak from experience.”

“Xuan Qi, you *sshole! Do you know how much white hair I've grown dealing with internal affairs? And here you are, without a care in the world!”

“Get him!”

“Hey! Wait, stop!”

“I— Ow! I'm sorry! Great Elder Ruyan, please stop pinching me!”

“Kuangren, save me!”

Outside the palace doors, a chill shot up Chu Kuangren's spine. He faced the doors and bowed as he said, “My deepest apologies for the betrayal, Honorable Teacher, but… every man for himself. I can't help you.”

He sighed before turning tail and bolting out of the area.

When he got back to the Daoist Palace, Lan Yu and Lil Bing were organizing some clothes.

“Oh, what's happening here?”

“Master, welcome back. These are the clothes that the internal affairs office sent over for you to wear during the Inauguration Ceremony.”

Lil Bing walked over with an armful of clothes.

Chu Kuangren took one look and thought, 'Wow, all these clothes were made with high-quality materials. One outfit alone would cost a few hundred thousand soulstones.'