The Cold and Aloof Palace Master's Daily Demon-Slaying Life

Chapter 104 I Am the Sect Leader

After seeing Jiang Zhoumian and his daughter off, Jiang Shaoling did not immediately return to Taihua Palace.

He stood in the guesthouse courtyard for a while, until his mind was completely calmed down and his face regained the composure and majesty of a sect leader. Only then did he ride his escape light, but instead of flying towards Taihua Peak, he turned towards "Bibo Peak," one of the seventy-two peaks of Taihua Sect, which is known for its beautiful water scenery.

Bibo Peak is the Daoist temple of the Fifth Elder, "Bibo Zhenren," one of the sect's ten elders.

As its name suggests, despite it being winter, one can see a sacred spring, waterfall, and babbling brook on the peak.

The air is rich in moisture, which nourishes the rare flowers and exotic plants to grow exceptionally lush.

The light landed on a wide, cliff-side platform at the summit. On one side of the platform, built against the mountain, stood an elegant pavilion constructed entirely of a pale blue spiritual wood. Wind chimes hung from the eaves, emitting clear and ethereal sounds in the breeze.

This is where Master Bibo usually meditates.

As soon as Jiang Shaoling landed, the pavilion door opened silently.

He straightened his robes and stepped inside.

The interior of the pavilion was simply furnished, with bamboo mats on the floor, a low table, and several cushions.

The walls are adorned with ink paintings of landscapes with a profound artistic conception, and an incense burner in the corner emits a faint, sweet fragrance carrying the scent of water vapor.

A woman stood by the window, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds in the distance.

She looked to be only in her early thirties, wearing a light blue flowing dress with wide sleeves. She had a graceful figure, her hair was loosely styled, and she wore only a jade hairpin.

She was extremely beautiful, with exquisite features and a gentle demeanor that carried a touch of elegance that came with the passage of time.

If one didn't know the details, anyone would think she was Jiang Shaoling's sister, not his mother.

She is none other than the Azure Wave Immortal Jiang Caiwei, the pillar of the Jiang family, the only female cultivator among the ten elders of the Taihua Sect, who has reached the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm and has been cultivating the Kan Water Daoist lineage for nearly a thousand years.

Hearing footsteps, Master Bibo did not turn around, but simply said, "They've arrived."

"Mother." Jiang Shaoling walked up behind her and bowed respectfully.

In front of his mother, he put away his authority as the sect leader and acted more like an ordinary son.

Master Bibo then turned around, his gaze calmly falling on his son's face.

Her eyes were beautiful, yet deep and unfathomable, as if they could see right through people's hearts.

"Your breathing seems a little shallow, and there's a knot of worry between your brows. Have you encountered some trouble?" Master Bibo walked to the low table, gracefully sat down on a futon, and gestured for his son to sit as well.

Jiang Shaoling sat down opposite her and gave a wry smile: "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Mother."

He carefully considered his words, and then recounted in detail how Jiang Zhoumian requested an audience, how he went to Zixu Peak to "test" him, how he was ultimately intimidated by the True Lord's aura and was unable to speak but instead received instruction, and how he returned and angrily rebuked Jiang Zhoumian. He did not conceal anything.

As he spoke, Master Bibo listened quietly, her slender fingers unconsciously caressing a warm, smooth jade bracelet on her wrist, her face showing little change in expression.

Only after Jiang Shaoling finished speaking did she sigh softly, her eyes revealing a complex mix of emotions, but mostly a sense of relief.

"Shaoling, you did the right thing this time." Master Bibo said slowly, his voice clear and melodious. "If you had really brought those favors and connections to Qiu'er, that would have been truly foolish, and you would have disgraced the Jiang family and brought shame to Zixu Peak."

Jiang Shaoling was somewhat surprised. He had thought his mother would feel some regret or blame him for not fighting for the family.

Master Bibo saw through his thoughts and shook his head: "I've watched Qiu'er grow step by step from Qi Refining to where she is today. Her willpower, purity of heart, and vision are far beyond those of ordinary cultivators."

"Her severing ties with the Zuo family is clear proof of this. In her heart, the path to immortality is far more important than the power of a single family. If you were to test her with your family's private interests, you would only be inviting humiliation."

She paused, her tone becoming even more solemn: "Remember, the best relationship between our Jiang family and the True Lord is one of no relationship at all. Maintain distance, hold reverence in your heart, and do your duty."

"If the Jiang family truly faces annihilation, she might step in to protect us out of consideration for me, ensuring the continuation of the Jiang family line. But beyond that, don't expect her to stand up for the Jiang family or guarantee their wealth and prosperity."

"That's impossible, and you should never even dream about it."

Jiang Shaoling remained silent.

His mother's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, bringing him to his senses completely.

Yes, I was blinded by the possibility of being a "True Lord's disciple" or a "Calligraphy Immortal," and forgot what a True Lord is.

That is an existence that has forged an immortal Dao heart through long years and countless calamities, how could it be bound by mere family interests?

"Mother is right. I was just confused for a moment and almost went astray." Jiang Shaoling was convinced.

Master Bibo nodded, picked up the white jade teacup from the low table, took a small sip, and suddenly asked, "The next sect leader election ceremony will be in thirty years, won't it?"

Jiang Shaoling's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded: "Yes."

"Your term as sect leader is coming to an end, so don't try to compete for it anymore." Master Bibo's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination. "Focus on your cultivation, solidify your foundation, and strive to break through to the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm before you turn six hundred. This is the path you should take."

Jiang Shaoling's expression changed slightly.

Stop arguing?

The position of sect leader is held every sixty years, and sect law stipulates that the same person can serve a maximum of five consecutive terms. He is currently serving his fourth term, and theoretically, with proper management, securing another term would not be difficult.

He was used to wielding power, deciding the life and death of trillions of lives with a single word, and allocating vast amounts of resources.

That feeling of wielding great power and looking down on all living beings—how easy would it be for him to relinquish it all in one day?

"Mother, I—" He instinctively tried to explain, to say that he could balance cultivation and government affairs, to say that the Jiang family needed him in this position—

Master Bibo raised his hand to stop him from speaking. His eyes, as clear as a mirror, reflected the reluctance and struggle deep within them.

"Reluctant to relinquish this power?" she asked, her voice still calm but cutting to the heart of the matter. "Shaoling, tell me, what is power?"

Jiang Shaoling was taken aback.

Master Bibo asked and answered himself, his tone carrying a hint of world-weary desolation: "A single word decides the life and death of trillions of lives, a single order allocates trillions of resources, a single thought controls the rise and fall of millions of families—this may seem like power, but in reality, it is nothing more than an illusory bubble, a byproduct attached to 'power'."

She looked at her son with sharp eyes: "In this world, true power always comes from only one thing—that is strength! You are the sect leader today, and your word is law, because you have the Taihua Sect behind you, the sect's rules and regulations, and even more so, me, a Grand Perfection cultivator of the Purple Mansion realm."

"But what if I'm gone? If your cultivation stagnates and you remain stuck at the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm, can you still hold onto your position as sect leader? How long can the Jiang family's 'overwhelming power' last?"