Chapter 78: A Method to Reclaim the Thunder Crystal Mine
The elders looked at each other, each with their own thoughts.
Elder Li was the first to speak, "I agree! Shen Mo should have been established as the Young Sect Master long ago!"
Several other elders who firmly supported Murong Yue also immediately voiced their agreement, "We agree as well!"
Liu Yuanfeng wanted to speak, but Murong Yue interrupted him with a serene smile, "Vice Sect Master Liu, there's no need to oppose just yet. Regarding the matter of the Thunder Crystal Mine, I believe everyone is still without a clear direction."
"Mo'er, share your analysis."
Liu Yuanfeng snorted coldly.
Shen Mo nodded, slightly bowing to the elders before repeating the points he had discussed in the Bamboo Tree Court.
He focused on analyzing the interests of each party and explained why the other sects would not interfere.
After hearing him, the elders were silent for a long time.
They were all Core Formation stage cultivators, while Shen Mo was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Their thinking and wisdom should theoretically surpass that of someone at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Even if Shen Mo had learned this from Murong Yue beforehand, it should have taken him a long time to come up with such an analysis.
They didn't expect Shen Mo to provide such a thorough analysis in such a short time.
Elder Li praised, "Just for Shen Mo's meticulous analysis and wise mind, I have no objections to him becoming the Young Sect Master!"
Other elders nodded in agreement, "Indeed, for Shen Mo to have such insight at the Foundation Establishment stage, his thinking ability will surely surpass ours once he reaches the Core Formation stage. I also support establishing him as the Young Sect Master!"
Murong Yue smiled faintly and looked at Liu Yuanfeng, "Vice Sect Master Liu?"
Liu Yuanfeng coldly replied, "He has only provided analysis without proposing a feasible solution. I still disagree."
Shen Mo glanced at him, "Then does Vice Sect Master Liu have a feasible solution? Please share it with us."
Liu Yuanfeng snorted, "I naturally have a solution!"
He said loudly, "We must avoid conflict! We cannot clash with the Heavy Weapon Sect!"
"The Heavy Weapon Sect is stronger than us. If we clash, we will surely be at a disadvantage, creating a vicious cycle. When the sect war begins, we will become an easy target for other sects."
"Our only option is to escalate the matter to the Xuanjing Five Sects, especially the Divine Sword Sect!"
"The Divine Sword Sect, being the head of the Xuanjing Five Sects, will surely uphold justice for our Qingxuan Sect. The Heavy Weapon Sect will then have to relinquish the mine."
After he finished, several elders nodded slightly, agreeing with this approach.
Fighting involved great risk. It would be better to reason things out.
Shen Mo smiled faintly, "Vice Sect Master Liu's solution seems useful, but in reality, it is not."
Liu Yuanfeng's face darkened, "What did you say?"
Shen Mo refuted on the spot, "I have two rebuttals!"
"First, who says the Divine Sword Sect will uphold justice just because they are the head of the Xuanjing Five Sects?"
"Didn't you see the third round of the Hundred Sect Competition? The Divine Sword Sect's disciple directly handed the jade token to Zhou Qingcang! To do such a thing in full view, can you say it wasn't authorized by the high-ranking members of the Divine Sword Sect?"
"Second, the Heavy Weapon Sect is aligned with the Thunderfire Sect and always follows their orders. Do you think the Divine Sword Sect's orders will work? What if the Thunderfire Sect doesn't comply and tacitly allows the Heavy Weapon Sect to occupy the mine? Will we just wait for them to completely deplete the Thunder Crystal Mine and leave us with an empty one?"
Shen Mo mercilessly criticized, "Vice Sect Master Liu's method seems useful but is actually very harmful to our sect!"
Liu Yuanfeng's eyes widened with anger, "You...!"
The other elders, after listening, also fell into contemplation.
Elder Li and others nodded repeatedly, their gazes toward Shen Mo becoming more approving.
Liu Yuanfeng, extremely furious, laughed coldly, "Fine! Since you refuted me, then present an effective method!"
Shen Mo smiled calmly, "My suggestion is to quickly gather our forces and, while the Heavy Weapon Sect is not yet firmly established, strike swiftly and decisively, driving them out of the Thunder Crystal Mine. Except for the outer sect elder from the Thunderfire Sect, kill everyone else."
"Publicly, we will claim that the Heavy Weapon Sect occupied the Thunder Crystal Mine and held the outer sect elder of the Thunderfire Sect as a hostage. We, the Qingxuan Sect, argued our case and drove out the Heavy Weapon Sect, rescuing the outer sect elder."
"In this way, the Thunderfire Sect will have no choice but to swallow their anger and will have no grounds to express it openly."
Murong Yue's eyes lit up, "Excellent! Well said!"
The other elders couldn't help but applaud.
In this way, even if the Thunderfire Sect felt aggrieved, they would have no grounds to express it openly.
As Shen Mo said, they would indeed have to swallow their pride!
"Vice Sect Master Liu, Shen Mo has already provided an effective suggestion. Do you still oppose it?" Murong Yue coldly asked.
Liu Yuanfeng gritted his teeth, "Yes, I still oppose it. Although there is no explicit rule, traditionally, the Young Sect Master in our Qingxuan Sect has always been at least at the Core Formation stage. Without the Core Formation stage, they cannot command respect."
"This has become an unwritten rule!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall turned cold.
The elders who supported Liu Yuanfeng immediately knew what to say.
"Vice Sect Master Liu is right. Let's wait until Shen Mo condenses his golden core to discuss this matter."
"Shen Mo's talent is indeed extraordinary, but I believe we should wait until he reaches the Core Formation stage before discussing this further."
"I second that."
In the blink of an eye, the supporters and opponents of Shen Mo's appointment were clearly divided.
Including Murong Yue and Liu Yuanfeng, each side had exactly five votes.
Two votes remained, those of Song Chaofeng and an elder who had always supported him.
Even though Song Chaofeng had resigned from his position as the Great Elder to reflect on his mistakes, this elder continued to firmly support him.
It could be said that their votes would ultimately decide whether Shen Mo could be established as the Young Sect Master.
Compared to the tense atmosphere between them, Shen Mo's mood was more indifferent.
The position of Young Sect Master was indeed important.
It offered access to numerous cultivation resources and elevated one's status.
But if Liu Yuanfeng obstructed and Song Chaofeng also disagreed, preventing Murong Yue from appointing him, Shen Mo wouldn't be too disappointed.
Cultivation resources? He could always exploit resources from Xiao Fan, Liu Yunxuan, and others.
At least for now, Xiao Fan still had plenty to exploit.
No need to worry about exhausting those resources.
Status and elevation? That was even less important.
As long as he became powerful enough, he would naturally earn everyone's respect.
Before being accepted as Murong Yue's disciple, Shen Mo had always relied on himself, not on any particular status or position.
Murong Yue turned to Song Chaofeng, "Elder Song, what do you think?"
Not only she, but all the elders in the hall turned their gaze to Song Chaofeng.
It was now five votes to five.
The opinions of Song Chaofeng and the elder supporting him would decide whether Shen Mo would be established as the Young Sect Master.
Under everyone's gaze, Song Chaofeng suddenly bowed to Murong Yue, "I believe Shen Mo should be established as the Young Sect Master."
The elder beside him immediately said, "I agree as well!"
Liu Yuanfeng's eyes narrowed, and he snorted coldly.
Murong Yue nodded in satisfaction, "Good, then with a vote of seven to five, the proposal is passed."
"After this meeting, I will inform the entire sect that Shen Mo is now the Young Sect Master."
Murong Yue said loudly, "As the Young Sect Master suggested, we will devise a plan today to reclaim the Thunder Crystal Mine as soon as possible!"
"Yes!"
"Mo'er, go back and continue your cultivation. Leave this matter to us," Murong Yue said with a smile.
"Yes, Master. I will take my leave now," Shen Mo replied, bowing before leaving.
The grand hall doors opened slightly, and Shen Mo walked out briskly.
The disciples gathered outside made way for him.
Their gazes were filled with even more admiration and reverence.
Before long, a plan to reclaim the Thunder Crystal Mine was finalized inside the hall.
The doors burst open.
Murong Yue and the others hovered in mid-air.
Murong Yue infused her voice with spiritual energy and announced loudly, "Today, I have an important announcement."
"Disciple Shen Mo, with extraordinary talent and remarkable strength, has recently won first place in the Hundred Sect Competition, bringing great honor to our Qingxuan Sect with outstanding achievements!"
"After deliberation with the elders, we have decided to establish Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master!"
"From today onward, all disciples, deacons, and elders must address Shen Mo as the Young Sect Master!"
The disciples widened their eyes in shock.
Some had speculated that after Shen Mo advanced to the Core Formation stage, he would certainly be appointed as the Young Sect Master.
But most had not expected that Shen Mo would be elevated to this high position so quickly!
Zhao Ting and others collected themselves and immediately shouted, "Yes!"
His voice was a signal.
Subsequently, all the disciples present responded in unison.
No one objected to Shen Mo becoming the Young Sect Master!
Zhao Rou's eyes sparkled with admiration, "Senior Brother Shen rose from being an outer sect disciple, step by step becoming an inner sect disciple, a true disciple, and now directly the Young Sect Master. How long has it been?"
Zhao Ting sighed emotionally, "Just under six months."
Luo Shengnan scratched her head, "Many people say Shen Mo has a Heavenly Physique. I think so too. If not, how could he cultivate so quickly and fiercely!"
"Just keep that in mind. Don't speak it out loud. As long as the Sect Master hasn't officially stated it, we shouldn't say it either," Zhao Ting said in a low voice.
"I understand," Luo Shengnan nodded.
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