Xiao Ming, do you want to be the headmaster?

Li Changfeng was plunged into extreme self-doubt.

He took on a disciple, and in doing so, lost his position as Sect Leader?

At this moment, Li Changfeng's mind was in turmoil, a myriad of thoughts swirling without any clear direction.

Everyone has selfish motives, and Li Changfeng was no exception. If he had to hand over the position of Sect Leader to Xiao Ming, he was a hundred times unwilling.

Although Xiao Ming was a disciple he highly favored, if his own interests were infringed upon, Li Changfeng instinctively wanted to resist.

However.

This unwillingness and resistance were merely his personal thoughts.

Once Su Tianming and the other elders firmly enforced the sect's regulations, no matter how reluctant he was, he could only obediently hand over the position of Sect Leader.

Ultimately, the problem still lay with the tiangang sword.

Without gaining the tiangang sword's recognition, there was no legitimate authority, and naturally, one could not govern the Spirit Sword Sect.

Similarly.

If he, Li Changfeng, could also subdue the tiangang sword, then no one would dare to question his position as Sect Leader.

All problems would be resolved.

"I refuse to believe I can't get the tiangang sword's recognition!" Li Changfeng gritted his teeth fiercely, then his figure flickered, and he shot towards Xiao Ming in the small courtyard.

In a short while, he arrived in front of Xiao Ming.

"Master?"

Seeing Li Changfeng approach, Xiao Ming slightly cupped his hands in respect.

"Xiao Ming, you've done very well. I didn't expect you to be able to gain the tiangang sword's recognition," Li Changfeng said slowly, his expression complex, "Can you let me see the tiangang sword?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Ming immediately replied, simultaneously tossing the tiangang sword in his hand to Li Changfeng.

Li Changfeng quickly reached out to catch it.

However.

Just as Li Changfeng was about to touch the tiangang sword, the tiangang sword suddenly erupted with a dazzling dark golden sword light. The sword light was incomparably sharp and fiercely struck the unprepared Li Changfeng.

With a "bang"!

Li Changfeng was sent flying a great distance by the sword light automatically unleashed by the tiangang sword!

The powerful force caused Li Changfeng to crash heavily against the courtyard wall, creating a large hole in it!

At this instant, everyone was stunned.

Immediately, everyone realized that the tiangang sword was repelling Li Changfeng!

It wouldn't even let him touch it!

"Cough, cough, cough,"

Li Changfeng climbed out of the rubble of the wall. He looked down and saw that his clothes had been torn, and a blood-red sword mark had appeared on his chest.

The tiangang sword had not exerted its full strength just now; the sword light it unleashed was merely a warning.

Therefore, Li Changfeng was not injured.

However, after what just happened, Li Changfeng had lost a lot of face.

After all, there were still many elders and disciples around, and they were all watching!

Li Changfeng was both ashamed and angry, his face alternating between green and pale, extremely embarrassed.

At the same time, the tiangang sword also flew back into Xiao Ming's hand automatically, becoming extremely docile once more.

Xiao Ming scratched his head, also feeling that the situation was a bit awkward.

Having personally witnessed his master lose face, Xiao Ming didn't know what to say.

At this moment.

Su Tianming stepped forward.

He looked around and said loudly, "All disciples, stop watching and go back immediately! If you dare to linger here any longer, be careful, I'll deal with you!"

Upon hearing this, the many disciples present reacted, and one by one, they quickly left Xiao Ming's small courtyard.

A moment later.

Only Xiao Ming, Li Changfeng, and Su Tianming along with the other elders remained in the small courtyard.

Li Changfeng rubbed his chest in frustration, then said, "All of you, come with me to the Sect Great Hall. I have something to say!"

After he finished speaking.

Li Changfeng flew towards the Sect Great Hall, seething with anger.

Xiao Ming scratched his head again, then, holding the tiangang sword, followed closely behind Su Tianming and the other elders.

One minute later.

Everyone settled into their respective seats in the Sect Great Hall.

Li Changfeng was the first to speak, "Xiao Ming, first of all, this Sect Leader congratulates you on successfully subduing the tiangang sword. Haha, since the disappearance of the founding patriarch, Spirit Sword Emperor, no one has ever been able to gain the tiangang sword's recognition."

"You are the second person, besides Spirit Sword Emperor, to possess the tiangang sword."

Xiao Ming did not speak, because he knew Li Changfeng still had more to say.

Indeed.

Li Changfeng continued, "We are all very curious, with so many elders and disciples in the Spirit Sword Sect, why did the tiangang sword choose you specifically?"

"Can you tell us the reason?"

After he finished speaking.

Everyone in the great hall looked at Xiao Ming in unison.

Xiao Ming pondered for a moment, deciding to tell part of the truth, and slowly said, "Before, this disciple found a secret manual in the back mountain, named Imperial Sky-Shocking Sword Art. It was the inheritance of Spirit Sword Emperor."

"This disciple cultivated the sword art, which is why I was able to receive special treatment from the tiangang sword."

Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng and the others were immediately astonished.

"The back mountain? That place has been searched countless times, how come we didn't find Spirit Sword Emperor's inheritance?" an elder couldn't help but ask.

"That... this disciple is not clear. I was just lucky," Xiao Ming said frankly.

The elders were speechless.

The back mountain, for hundreds of years, had been dug up countless times by countless people, searching everywhere for the inheritance left by Spirit Sword Emperor back then, but all had found nothing.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ming obtained it.

The opportunities in the world are indeed mysterious and wondrous; only those with great fortune can obtain them.

"So you obtained the founding patriarch's inherited sword art," Li Changfeng said faintly, "Although this is unbelievable, it is still within an acceptable range."

He paused.

Li Changfeng then said, "You saw the situation just now. The tiangang sword only recognizes you. No one else, including this Sect Leader, can even touch this sword."

"And regarding the tiangang sword, there is another very important matter, one that even concerns the position of Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Sect. Do you want to hear about it?"

"This disciple is eager to hear the details!" Xiao Ming cupped his hands.

Li Changfeng first sighed, then slowly said, "The tiangang sword is not only a powerful Heavenly-grade sword artifact, but also the symbol of our Spirit Sword Sect, the inherited emblem of the Sect Leader."

"There is a rule in the sect: only by gaining the tiangang sword's recognition can one firmly hold the position of Sect Leader."

"Xiao Ming, now the tiangang sword is yours. Logically speaking, the Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Sect should be you... What are your thoughts?"

Xiao Ming was stunned upon hearing this.

There was such a thing?

Obtaining the tiangang sword meant becoming the Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Sect?

In his astonishment, Xiao Ming suddenly saw the complex expressions on the faces of Li Changfeng and the other elders; they all seemed to have other ideas.

Xiao Ming shivered, instantly calming down.

What Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Sect? This position was a hot potato.

If he really didn't know what was good for him and forcibly took the position of Sect Leader, he might offend a large group of elders. At the very least, his relationship with Li Changfeng would quietly break and be irreparable.

What's more.

Xiao Ming was fully devoted to cultivation and had no interest in the so-called position of Sect Leader.

He only wanted to constantly grow stronger, and he would eventually leave the small Spirit Sword Sect one day. If he really became the Sect Leader, he would instead be tied down to this place.

It wasn't worth it!

"Master is joking. I, Xiao Ming, am young and of limited strength. How can I take on the position of Sect Leader?" Xiao Ming said loudly, "To be able to gain the tiangang sword's recognition, I am already very content."

"As for the position of Sect Leader, I truly dare not assume it."

"Really?" Li Changfeng asked suspiciously.

"Naturally it's true, it couldn't be more true!" Xiao Ming said emphatically.

"Good!" Li Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I am very satisfied that you have such insight!"

"However, your performance is so extraordinary, this master cannot neglect you either."

"This Sect Leader has decided," Li Changfeng looked around and said, "Immediately prepare the Sect Ceremony. I want to confer Xiao Ming as the Vice Sect Leader of the Spirit Sword Sect!"