Dunben Hall.

Wei Dao guided a stream of Spiritual Spring water, which spiraled down into the tea furnace. In an instant, the water boiled and poured itself through a small spout into three teacups.

The Spirit Tea leaves were like live fish in the water, tumbling up and down, chasing each other from head to tail. Their fragrance filled the room.

"My two senior brothers, please have some tea."

The dignified Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sect was personally brewing and pouring tea for others. Seated on either side of him were none other than Tan Changkong, the Pill Hall Master, and Luoo Qiuzhen, the Talisman Hall Master.

"Junior Brother Wei, have you really made up your mind to cast off this burden?"

Tan Changkong was even more gaunt than he had been a few years ago, like a flickering candle in the wind, about to be extinguished.

However, the deathly aura on his face had receded. This was clearly related to his success with the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique, which had granted him an extension on his lifespan.

When Wei Dao had first joined the Sect, Tan Changkong was already a Foundation Establishment Elder. With his seniority and experience, he spoke with far fewer reservations.

"Don’t be hasty, Brother Tan. Junior Brother Wei has always been one to act only after careful planning, and his methods are meticulous... We should just listen quietly."

Luoo Qiuzhen was dressed in a purple robe, its chest, back, and sleeves covered in Runes. They appeared chaotic and disorderly, but in reality, they contained the essence of his life’s work in the Talisman Dao.

These two men represented the Alchemy Hall and the Talisman Hall, and they were also Sect Leader Wei Dao’s most powerful supporters.

"I emerged from my last seclusion with some gains and have already glimpsed an opportunity to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection... I plan to spend the next two years tying up loose ends from my tenure, then I will enter seclusion to attempt the breakthrough."

Wei Dao set down his teacup, chose his words carefully, and spoke slowly.

"It’s true! Our Junior Brother the Sect Leader is truly worthy of his Abnormal Spiritual Root. He has far surpassed us old-timers!"

Luoo Qiuzhen’s expression was complex. Every step forward in the Foundation Establishment Stage was a qualitative breakthrough. For Wei Dao to advance to Foundation Establishment Perfection at his age meant the gate to Core Formation was already halfway open for him.

Compared to the Core Formation Path, the position of Sect Leader was certainly not a regrettable loss.

"Alright, since Junior Brother Wei is going to attempt his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Perfection, it’s not appropriate for him to remain entangled in the administrative duties of the Sect Leader. But we must carefully discuss what to do about the vacant position."

At Tan Changkong’s age, he had long given up on any aspirations for the Great Dao. Every extra year he lived was a bonus.

He only wanted to ensure his relatives, descendants, and his own faction were well-settled before he passed away.

"We don’t have any suitable candidates in our pocket. The Law Enforcement Hall is managed so tightly by Liang Yu that not even a drop of water can get in... It’s a pity about Zhou Bai. If he had another thirty years, his age and Cultivation would be perfect."

The actual power of the Qingfeng Sect’s Sect Leader depended mainly on the individual’s prestige and methods. After all, with the Core Formation Ancestors above and the Five Halls managing their own duties below, the role was more about coordination, presiding over the Elder Council, and representing the Sect to the outside world.

Wei Dao possessed such authority because he could unite the majority of the neutral elders. Even the elders from the Law Enforcement Hall’s faction had to admit that during his tenure, the benefits and welfare for everyone in the Sect, from top to bottom, had increased significantly.

The Zhou Bai that Luoo Qiuzhen mentioned was Wei Dao’s second disciple, whom he had raised by his side since childhood.

He was currently at the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm. On a normal day, he would help Wei Dao handle some of the less important miscellaneous affairs. His methods were so adept that many Sect Disciples privately called him the "little Sect Leader."

However, to be considered a candidate for the position of Qingfeng Sect’s Sect Leader, one generally had to meet three criteria.

First, a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. A Cultivation level that was too low would bring shame upon the Sect and be insufficient to command the respect of the other elders.

Second, they must be in the prime of their life. Someone too old wouldn’t even have enough time for their own Cultivation. If they were forced into office, they would constantly be entering seclusion for three years at a time only to work for a month, rendering the position of Sect Leader purely ornamental.

Third, they must be proficient in administrative affairs. Otherwise, a Sect Leader who only knew how to cultivate in isolation and was unskilled in management could set back the welfare and benefits of the Qingfeng Sect’s disciples by a hundred years within a single term.

"If someone from the Law Enforcement Hall takes the Sect Leader position, it would certainly be a headache."

The Law Enforcement Hall already controlled the Qingfeng Sect’s strongest combat forces. Besides the five patrol teams, war assets like Battle Arrays and large Flying Ships were under its command. It also held the authority to investigate illicit activities among Sect Disciples.

If a Sect Leader also came from the Law Enforcement Hall, the Hall would completely dominate the other four Halls, suppressing them to the point where their influence was comparable to the seven minor halls.

Tan Changkong had lived through an era when the Law Enforcement Hall’s faction monopolized the Sect Leader position, and he certainly did not want to return to those days.

Although Alchemists were highly respected and sought after in the Cultivation Realm, without a Sect to back them in collecting Pill Formulas and Alchemy Materials, the efficiency of a lone alchemist was far too slow. They also wouldn’t have enough opportunities to refine pills and build experience.

"The Law Enforcement Hall does have two junior brothers who seem more qualified, but let’s consider another approach... What do you two senior brothers think of Junior Brother Gu?"

Wei Dao’s expression remained unchanged as he dipped his finger in tea and wrote a name on the table.

"Gu Xisheng? How is that feasible? He’s over a hundred years old and still at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. Besides, he’s not one of us. What’s the point of pushing him into power?"

Luoo Qiuzhen frowned. This Gu Xisheng was a neutral elder with no faction backing him, a rather inconspicuous figure among the thirty-plus elders of the Qingfeng Sect.

"Pushing Gu Xisheng to be Sect Leader... that’s interesting. Junior Brother Wei, continue."

Tan Changkong thought for a moment before speaking.

"Senior Brothers, Junior Brother Gu has been in charge of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall for many years, and I have tested his abilities many times. In a thankless place like the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, he has performed excellently in all aspects, whether it’s distributing resources, mediating conflicts, or handling the requests of the various Halls. He is a rare talent in administration. That’s the first point."

Wei Dao held up a second finger and continued.

"Second, it is precisely because Junior Brother Gu is not one of us that he might be able to win votes from the Law Enforcement Hall... If Baii’er and Junior Brother Gu were both to run for Sect Leader, who do you think Senior Brother Liang and his faction would vote for if they had no other choice?"

"Finally, having a weaker Cultivation and no factional support is not necessarily a bad thing. The Five Halls each have their own duties; the Sect Leader only needs to mediate from the center."

Tan Changkong and Luoo Qiuzhen exchanged a look. It seemed there was a lot of room to maneuver.

For the Alchemy Hall and the Talisman Hall, a weak Sect Leader seemed to be more in line with their interests.

Dunben Hall fell silent, with only the sound of water bubbling in the tea furnace remaining.

...

A long list lay on the table, bearing forty to fifty names, along with marks of erasure and addition.

"Nephew Bai, this is the preliminary list. If there’s anyone you’re optimistic about, you can report them to me, and I’ll add them for you."

Peng Chong waved his hand casually. He seemed to have just finished some Artifact Refining, as he was radiating a scorching heat.

The trip to the Inheritance Stele, which happened once every ten years, had a total of fifty slots.

The first time, the Qingfeng Sect had twenty slots, and the fifteen Cultivation Families shared the remaining thirty.

It was decided back then that the five families with the worst inheritance results would be stripped of their eligibility to participate in the next trip to the Inheritance Stele.

However, five more Cultivation Families were later permitted to move into Black Mountain. Perhaps to stabilize morale, Ancestor Yang personally decreed that each of these new families would also be granted two slots.

So, after all that, the number of slots for the Sect remained unchanged this time around.

All Inner Sect Disciples under the age of twenty automatically received a slot. The rest had to be selected from among the Outer Sect Disciples.

After the last trip, almost all of the twenty disciples returned with gains from the inheritance. Those like Su Li and Chen Wei, who triggered phenomena, became the center of attention.

After Bai Zichen joined the Sect, his own gains from beneath the Inheritance Stele were also brought to light.

Everyone knew that the Five Mountains Temple’s Inheritance Stele was a treasure, so the participation slots became highly sought after. A situation like last time, where someone voluntarily withdrew, would never happen again.

According to Peng Chong, ever since they returned from the trip ten years ago, people had been secretly plotting to secure a slot for this time’s Inheritance Stele trip.

With the nine Inner Sect Disciples who met the age requirement being guaranteed slots, there was a great deal of room to maneuver for the remaining selections.