At five o'clock.
Zenith Heaven was already becoming busy.
All the disciples were heading for the altar.
Today, the title of the Eldest Senior Brother would be officially conferred. Both Immediate and Outer Sect disciples were here to witness this historical moment.
The open square in front of the altar was big enough for more than a hundred thousand people. Today, the entire sect would be gathered here.
All the disciples were wearing turquoise-white long robes, looking quite rather decent.
"Is Eldest Senior Brother ascending to the celestial world today?"
"That's for sure!"
"If I can see it with my own eyes, my life will be complete."
"Maybe Eldest Senior Brother doesn't want to ascend. There's still the chance he's going to stay in the sect."
"For what? That's impossible, ascending within three years is a historic thing! If I were Senior Brother Changsheng, I would definitely do it!"
"That's what you think, but Eldest Senior Brother is brilliant. You wouldn't understand him."
All sorts of discussions went on and on. Some disciples believed that Lu Changsheng would ascend to the celestial world today, and some fervently disagreed.
"He won't do it, he's in love with Eldest Senior Sister. He wouldn't leave her just like that."
"That's right! Eldest Senior Brother is infatuated with Eldest Senior Sister," some female cultivators said.
"How would you know?" Some male cultivators asked out of curiosity.
"It's in the book. Good-looking men are always loyal to their love," one of the female disciples answered.
"What book?" The male disciple continued asking.
"Lu Changsheng—Proud Son of Heaven," she answered immediately.
"Written by who?"
"Senior Sister Zi Yun's maidservant."
"…"
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Despite the heated discussion in front of the altar, the Zenith Palace remained rather quiet.
At this time.
In the Zenith Palace.
Lu Changsheng was currently attentively reading a roll of jade.
While twirling his long beard, Perfected Qing Yun looked extremely proud.
After a while, Perfected Qing Yun asked, "Changsheng, what do you think about the lecture?" The pride within his eyes were extremely obvious.
Lu Changsheng, however, didn't answer immediately since he was still reading the lecture prepared by his Master.
Most lectures for similar occasions consisted of a few sections including a self-introduction, resolution declaration, and appeal. That should've been all.
But what Perfected Qing Yun wrote was way too much.
Right from the very beginning, the lecture was all about bragging. According to the script, Lu Changsheng would, as the Eldest Senior Brother of the sect, take Zenith Heaven to new heights, conquer both the east and west, draw a blueprint for dominating the world, and make the sect the most powerful clan in the universe.
This was really way too much.
However, Perfected Qing Yun was very proud of the script.
"Master, this is quite pompous, don't you think?" Lu Changsheng had to say the truth.
"Pompous? Not at all!" Perfected Qing Yun walked closer to Lu Changsheng and said emotionally, "Changsheng, I wrote this when the Sect Master title was conferred on me. But… the lecture was rejected by my Master. It's such a pity! Today I'm giving this lecture to you to fulfill my wish." Perfected Qing Yun was very serious in his response.
However, even as he judged things from Perfected Qing Yun's point of view, Lu Changsheng really couldn't see what was so good about this.
Lu Changsheng rubbed his temples.
He found that he really couldn't do it.
He tried to make some modifications, but he had no idea where to start.
What was wrong with being low-key? Lu Changsheng didn't understand at all.
"Right, right. I understand this isn't your style. But we're already running out of time. The grand ceremony is starting soon. If you can come up with a better lecture, then you can do it; but if you can't, you will stick to my version, does that sound good?" Perfected Qing Yun said.
Lu Changsheng understood his Master's intentions completely.
Perfected Qing Yun's rejected lecture had always been a great regret in his mind, and now, he was putting his hopes on Changsheng.
However, since Perfected Qing Yun knew that Lu Changsheng wouldn't easily agree to it. He showed Changsheng the script at the last minute before the grand ceremony started.
Lu Changsheng frowned as he rubbed his temples again.
This was clearly a trap. Perfected Qing Yun was indeed older and wiser.
But this was okay! Although Lu Changsheng was unable to come up with a brilliant lecture in just a few minutes, he still knew how to say encouraging words.
The wording, of course, wouldn't be as fancy as that of his Master's version.
Lu Changsheng truly believed that his Master's lecture would instantly bring him countless enemies if he decided to read it in public.
"It's seven o'clock now!"
The sound of bells rang out.
The grand ceremony had officially started.
A covered bridge appeared outside the Zenith Palace, connecting the palace to the altar.
"Go Changsheng." Perfected Qing Yun's face had a big smile on it.
He could vividly see the image in his head, countless disciples would become beyond excited because of the script he wrote.
Under Perfected Qing Yun's loving gaze, Lu Changsheng adjusted his clothes and stepped onto the bridge.
"The grand meeting of the Zenith Heaven, the grand ceremony, will now commence!" a loud and clear voice resounded throughout the area.
Heavenly music started playing and countless petals fell from the sky.
On the bridge, Lu Changsheng's heavenly demeanor caught everyone's eyes.
Their faces were filled with both amazement and surprise.
It was the first time that these many disciples had seen Lu Changsheng in person.
The moment Lu Changsheng showed up, all the rumors they heard had become true. No one would ever doubt him again.
He really looked like a celestial deity.
Wearing a cloud-qilin long robe while walking on the covered bridge, embraced by the flowing Qi of Yin and Yang, he looked amazingly attractive and otherworldly.
When Lu Changsheng reached the altar, he stepped off the bridge and lit three sticks of incense. He would have to first worship Heaven and Earth, and then the founder of the sect. These formalities were very complicated.
An hour later, Perfected Qing Yun said to all the disciples,
"I am Perfected Qing Yun, the Sect Master of Zenith Heaven. Today, Lu Changsheng becomes the Eldest Senior Brother of Zenith Heaven, he is the role model for all disciples! He is awarded the first hill, the power of supervising the seven halls, and the Zenith Token Amulet! Lu Changsheng, the Eldest Senior Brother, has the power to command all the disciples in the sect." Perfected Qing Yun's words were loud and clear.
The disciples were stunned at what they heard from the Sect Master's mouth.
An old token amulet appeared in the air and slowly fell into Lu Changsheng's hand. The decision had finally been made.
There were only three Zenith Token Amulets in the entire sect.
One was owned by the Senior Elder Group, one was in the hands of the Sect Master, and the third one was supposed to be owned by the Saint Son of the Zenith Heaven.
An Zenith Token Amulet exerted the highest level of power in the sect.
The token amulet owned by the Senior Elder Group was always saved until they needed it.
The Senior Elders would only use it when both the Sect Master and the Saint Son were either dead or absent.
Now, Lu Changsheng was given the token amulet which was supposed to be owned by the Saint Son.
In other words, when the Sect Master was unavailable, Lu Changsheng would be the one in charge!
His words held the most weight in the sect.
In the history of Zenith Heaven, only the Saint Son could own the token amulet.
The fact that Lu Changsheng had become the owner of the token amulet could prove two things:
First, if Lu Changsheng had no major faults in the future, he would become the Saint Son and the future Sect Master of the sect!
Second, Lu Changsheng had been recognized by all the leaders in the sect!
Otherwise, the Zenith Token Amulet wouldn't have been directly given to him over the grand ceremony!
It could be said that Lu Changsheng had conquered everyone with his appearance!
After Perfected Qing Yun's declaration.
"Respect to Eldest Senior Brother!" At the same time, the hundred thousand disciples bowed deeply to Lu Changsheng together as they exclaimed this.
"Junior Brothers and Sisters!" Lu Changsheng bowed back to them.
Lu Changsheng had now officially become the Eldest Senior Brother of the sect, he possessed the highest position next to the Sect Master.
The way Perfected Qing Yun looked at Lu Changsheng was filled with expectations.
He was waiting for the earthshaking lecture to be voiced out by the latter.