Reflecting on the past, at the end of the Ancient Underworld Era and the dawn of the Age of Emperors, his soul was trapped within a dark crow. Through countless years of effort, he had temporarily broken free from the control of the Immortal Demon Grotto.
He recalled when he first met Immortal Emperor Ming Ren. Back then, Ming Ren was a young man who had yet to touch upon the Great Dao—a warm-hearted youth with a passion for martial arts!
It was Leon who introduced Ming Ren to the world of cultivators. Alas, in the blink of an eye, millions of years had passed, and those invincible figures of old had vanished into the mists of history.
As Leon's gaze fell upon a charred wooden staff beside the incense burner under the statue, he couldn't help but be surprised. A slight smile curved his lips; after countless ages, he hadn't expected this staff to still be here.
He remembered how he had once beaten those young lads, making them howl in pain. Back then, how spirited and full of vigor they were...
At that moment, the six great elders of the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect filed into the hall. Though advanced in age, their vitality was formidable, their presence sharp and imposing, with treasures radiating brilliance around them.
Despite the sect's decline, it remained an immortal lineage founded by an emperor. If the elders wished to enter the Precious Holy Kingdom and accept titles, they could easily be ennobled as heroes!
The six elders fixed their piercing gazes upon Leon. However, despite their overwhelming aura and sharp stares, Leon remained calm and composed, sitting quietly.
"The Cleansing Incense Ancient Token—where is it?" the Great Elder finally spoke in a cold tone. To the sect, this token was of utmost importance—a relic left by their founder, Immortal Emperor Ming Ren.
Leon slowly opened his palm, revealing an ancient token. When Old Man Three Ghosts had brought him to the town at the foot of the sect's mountain, Leon hadn't expected the old man to immediately dive into the Jade Red Pavilion.
Before leaving, Old Man Three Ghosts had tossed the Cleansing Incense Ancient Token to him. In fact, Leon hadn't anticipated that the old man even possessed such a token.
Back when Immortal Emperor Ming Ren had borne the Heavenly Mandate, though Leon was still a dark crow, Ming Ren had gifted him three Cleansing Incense Ancient Tokens. Later, Leon had given those tokens to others!
Now, after millions of years, seeing this token again stirred deep emotions within Leon. He hadn't needed it back then, yet today, he found himself using it.
The six elders carefully examined the token and finally confirmed its authenticity. They exchanged glances, unable to hide their surprise.
In truth, the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect had long desired to reclaim this token. They had tried various methods to retrieve it from Old Man Three Ghosts, but he knew it was his protective charm and refused to return it. They hadn't expected that today, he would give it to an unknown mortal.
"Where is Old Man Three Ghosts?" the Great Elder asked coldly. He had never looked favorably upon the greedy, gambling, womanizing old man. Even if he truly was the illegitimate son of the previous sect master, the Great Elder still disdained him!
"He went to the Jade Red Pavilion," Leon replied calmly.
At this, the six elders' faces turned awkward. Though they inwardly refused to acknowledge Old Man Three Ghosts as part of the sect, the fact remained that he was. They were well aware of what the Jade Red Pavilion was—the most famous and largest pleasure house within a thousand miles of the mountain!
This wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred. Old Man Three Ghosts had frequented the Jade Red Pavilion many times before. The six elders were particularly vexed, wishing the sect didn't have such a disreputable philanderer!
"What is your request?" another elder asked sternly. They didn't know how Leon had convinced Old Man Three Ghosts to give him the token, but the token before them was genuine.
"I heard that the position of chief disciple in the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect is still vacant. Old Man Three Ghosts highly recommended me for it, so I wish to become the chief disciple," Leon said slowly.
His words immediately darkened the elders' expressions. Since when did a womanizer like Old Man Three Ghosts have the authority to recommend a chief disciple? Moreover, the selection of the chief disciple had always been approached with utmost caution; otherwise, the position wouldn't have remained vacant for so long.
"The position of chief disciple is not a trivial matter!" one elder said coldly.
"I understand," Leon replied calmly. "However, the bearer of the Cleansing Incense Ancient Token is entitled to make one request. This is the rule set by your ancestor, Immortal Emperor Ming Ren."
"The origin of the token in your hand might not be legitimate," the Great Elder retorted icily. The matter of appointing a chief disciple was too significant to treat lightly.
Unfazed, Leon said leisurely, "I understand that you elders may fear I forcibly took the token from Old Man Three Ghosts. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to the Jade Red Pavilion to verify."
At the mention of the Jade Red Pavilion, the six elders' faces darkened again, but they immediately dispatched disciples to investigate.
Soon, the disciples returned, confirming that Leon had indeed received the token willingly from Old Man Three Ghosts. Of course, they omitted the details of the old man's indulgences at the Jade Red Pavilion; otherwise, the elders' expressions would have worsened.
The six elders were extremely reluctant to acknowledge the token in Leon's possession, but they couldn't defy the ancestral rules. Despite its decline, the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect was still an immortal lineage and couldn't afford to lose face.
"Bring the True Image Mirror," the Great Elder commanded coldly, unable to find another solution.
Quickly, disciples brought forth the True Image Mirror and directed it at Leon. Any mortal wishing to join a sect and cultivate had to undergo examination by the sect's True Image Mirror to assess their physique, longevity wheel, and fate palace.
In the mirror, Leon's shadow appeared hazy and flickering, like a candle flame that could extinguish at any moment. Behind his shadow, a faint halo of blood could be seen, and within his forehead, there was a vague light. However, both the blood halo and the light were indistinct.
"Physique: Mortal. Longevity Wheel: Mortal. Fate Palace: Mortal," the disciple reported after examining Leon's attributes.
Everyone possessed a physique, longevity wheel, and fate palace. The physique determined the body's strength, the longevity wheel related to lifespan, and the fate palace influenced one's innate talent.
Seeing that Leon had a mortal physique, mortal longevity wheel, and mortal fate palace left the six elders speechless. Such attributes were commonplace in the mortal world; one could grab a handful of people with these traits at any time!
"The chief disciple of the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect—if not someone with an Emperor Physique or Sacred Physique—should at least have an Innate Physique, as well as corresponding longevity wheel and fate palace. Your qualifications are unsuitable for becoming the chief disciple," the Great Elder stated coldly.
"I know," Leon replied, still unperturbed. "But my condition is to become the chief disciple."
"You—!" His words enraged the other elders. With such attributes, he couldn't even meet the basic requirements to join the sect, let alone become the chief disciple. How could they not be infuriated?
"I believe the descendants of Immortal Emperor Ming Ren wouldn't violate ancestral rules or betray their teacher's legacy," Leon said slowly, spreading his hands to reveal the token. "If this token were to fall into others' hands, the consequences would be unimaginable."
The six elders' faces grew grim. The Great Elder said coldly, "Even so, the chief disciple of the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect must undergo thorough investigation of their background and lineage. Otherwise, it's impossible to appoint you!"
"That's your concern," Leon said calmly, looking at the elders. "Besides, if you think I'm a spy sent by another sect to steal your emperor's inheritance, I don't need to become the chief disciple. With this token, I can directly request your secret manuals. You should know this better than I do! With the token in hand, if I intended to harm the Cleansing Incense Ancient Sect, it wouldn't be difficult."
Leon's words made the elders exchange glances, but they still harbored doubts about him.
"He does have a point," Elder Xiong, one of the six, pondered aloud. "As long as the Cleansing Incense Ancient Token remains outside, it's a potential threat to our sect. We can't refuse the bearer's request. Perhaps it's best to agree."
"Hmph! This matter cannot be treated lightly!" the Great Elder snapped.
"Throughout history, the chief disciple has always been the sect master's personal disciple. Whether or not to proceed, perhaps we should consult the sect master," another elder suggested thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. After all, the chief disciple is the sect master's personal disciple," another elder agreed.
"Send a message to the sect master," the Great Elder finally said after the elders conferred.
The six elders sent word to Sect Master Su Yonghuang, who was away. To their surprise, the sect master quickly replied, agreeing to appoint Leon as the chief disciple.
"The sect master is muddle-headed! Ridiculous!" The Great Elder read the message three times, his dissatisfaction evident.
"Brother Gu, since the sect master has agreed, what more can we say? After all, the chief disciple is the sect master's personal disciple. It's the sect master's decision," Elder Xiong advised.
"The sect master is being foolish," another elder sighed and shook his head.
Elder Xiong gave a wry smile and said, "What else can we do? Recovering the Cleansing Incense Ancient Token is a great merit in itself.