The Hehuan Sect cultivates alchemy; my senior sister helps me refine alchemy throughout the world.

Shen Yifei's heart stirred. "The position of sect leader is naturally extremely prestigious."

Xie Liaochen leaned back in his chair and sighed, "I'm getting old. My cultivation has been stuck at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm for hundreds of years. I have no hope of advancing any further in this lifetime. This time, I've also damaged my vital energy. I'll be lucky if my cultivation doesn't drop further."

"Sect Master, you are in excellent health."

"Don't be so polite with me." Xie Liaochen waved his hand. "I'm telling the truth. Qingyun Sect is neither here nor there in the cultivation world. There are plenty of sects stronger than me, and there are plenty of sects weaker than me. I've held on for so many years, but I can't hold on any longer."

Xie Liaochen looked at him, "Although you are young, you are intelligent and resourceful. Your cultivation has improved rapidly, and your alchemy skills are unparalleled. Most importantly, Qinghe is your wife. I feel at ease passing the sect leadership to you."

"Sect Master, I am only at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and I am not qualified to be the Sect Master."

"Seniority is nothing," Xie Liaochen scoffed. "In the cultivation world, might makes right. You're at the early Nascent Soul stage now, but in two years you'll be at the middle stage, and in a few more years at the peak. By then, who will dare say you lack seniority?"

"This disciple still needs more experience."

"What training? You came back alive from the Hundred Thousand Mountains and dealt with the Demon King. That's enough."

Shen Yifei thought for a moment, "Sect Master, this matter is not urgent, please consider it again."

"I've made up my mind." Xie Lichen stood up. "I'll convene an elders' meeting tomorrow. Go back and prepare."

As Shen Yifei walked back from the main hall, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

I originally thought that I would have to wait a while and use some tricks to force Xie Chen to give up the position of sect leader, but he took the initiative to step down, which saved me a lot of trouble.

If he truly becomes the sect leader of the Qingyun Sect, he will have a sect under his control. Coupled with the Hehuan Sect, the two demon kings of the Ten Thousand Mountains, and the Blood Soul Sect, this force will be considerable.

But they are still far from being able to challenge the Golden Crow Sect, the Ten Thousand Swords Manor, and the Profound Ice Palace.

Any one of those three families could crush the little wealth he has accumulated so far.

Everything needs to be done slowly; there's no need to rush.

First, seize control of the Qingyun Sect, then bring the Hehuan Sect over, and then find an opportunity to annex a few smaller sects. Grow gradually until you're strong enough, then settle accounts with those three sects.

As for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, they've occupied Cangwu Mountain. I wonder what they're up to inside. I'll go there sometime and see if I can find any clues.

Shen Yifei went through all these things in his mind and had a clear idea of ​​what to do. He would go to Tianji Pavilion after he finished dealing with things here.

The next morning, Xie Liaochen convened all the elders in the main hall for a meeting, and also gathered together the heads of each hall and department.

Everyone looked much better than a few days ago, and when they saw Shen Yifei, they all went up to him and greeted him with clasped hands.

Xie Liaochen sat in the sect leader's seat, glanced at everyone, and spoke.

"I've called everyone here today because I have something important to discuss."

The crowd quieted down.

"I am getting old, and my health is not what it used to be. The affairs of the sect are too heavy for me to handle. I have decided to pass the position to Shen Yifei."

The hall was quiet for a couple of moments, then erupted into chaos.

The people below chatted amongst themselves, making the hall quite lively.

Xie Liaochen listened carefully and surprisingly found no objections.

Elder Xu, who oversaw the pill-refining pharmacy, spoke first, "Sect Master is wise. Junior Nephew Shen's pill-refining skills are exceptional, his cultivation is progressing rapidly, and he is a promising young man. I have no objections!"

Elder Xu started the conversation, and a chorus of agreement followed, which put Xie Lichen in an awkward position.

He glanced at Shen Yifei, never expecting that this kid had quietly taken control of the entire sect.

However, this is even better. The sect leader of Qingyun Sect must be someone who is supported by the masses. Otherwise, even if Shen Yifei were to take the position of sect leader, he would not be able to hold it for long.

"Then it's settled." Xie Liaochen made the decision. "The succession ceremony will be held in three days. I will abdicate, and Shen Yifei will succeed me as the sect leader of Qingyun Sect."

Shen Yifei stood in the center of the main hall, cupped his hands and bowed, "This disciple will certainly live up to the sect leader's expectations."

Xie Liaochen waved his hand, "From now on, don't call me Sect Master anymore, call me Father-in-law."

"Thank you, Father-in-law, for your guidance and support!"

Xie Liaochen nodded, his eyes reddening again. He thought of his deceased Daoist partner, Luo Qinghe's mother. If she were still alive, she would be overjoyed to see her son-in-law become the sect leader.

The son-in-law becoming the sect leader might become a tradition of the Qingyun Sect in the future. Once Luo Qinghe comes out of seclusion, we should find a way to get her to have a child as soon as possible so that we can go to a quiet place in the back mountain to see the child and enjoy family life.

In just a short while, Xie Chen had already come up with a name for the child.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The succession ceremony was held in front of the main hall of the Qingyun Sect's main peak. The square was packed with people—elders, deacons, inner disciples, and outer disciples—a vast, bustling crowd.

Xie Liaochen changed into a new Taoist robe, his hair was neatly combed, and his complexion was much better than a few days ago. The medicine Shen Yifei gave him was effective; his backache and leg pain were gone, and he had more energy to walk.

Shen Yifei stood at the bottom of the steps, having also changed into new clothes. He wore a white robe with a dark gold belt around his waist, and his hair was tied up with a jade hairpin. Standing there, he truly exuded the aura of a sect leader.

Liu Mengli commented from inside the cauldron, "Master, you have to admit, you look pretty... well, you know."

"Which one?"

"Looking all human but acting like a dog!"

When the auspicious time arrived, Xie Liaochen stood on the steps, holding the sect leader's seal and the sect token in his hands.

"The Qingyun Sect has been established for 1,637 years, and I am now the ninth generation. Today, I pass on the throne to Shen Yifei. I hope you will abide by the sect rules and bring glory to Qingyun."

Shen Yifei knelt on one knee and accepted the sect leader's seal and token with both hands.

"Your disciple will remember this."

Xie Liaochen helped him up and turned to face the crowd in the square.

"From this day forward, Shen Yifei will be the tenth sect master of the Qingyun Sect."

Xie Liaochen patted Shen Yifei on the shoulder, "Son-in-law, you can take care of the rest."

Xie Liaochen stepped aside, while Shen Yifei stood on the steps and glanced at the people in the square.

Hundreds of people stood in neat rows, all looking at him.

Shen Yifei cleared his throat.

"Everyone, since Sect Leader Xie has passed the position to me, I'd like to say a few words."

He paused.

"First, the benefits for inner disciples will double starting today. Previously, they would receive one pill a year; now they will receive one top-grade pill every six months. As for where the top-grade pills will come from? I know how to refine them!"

A loud buzzing sound erupted from below.

If the top-grade pills could be taken only once every six months, other sects would go crazy.

A disciple from the outer sect mustered his courage and shouted, "Sect Master, where are the outer sect disciples?"

Shen Yifei glanced at him and said, "Outer disciples, cultivate diligently. You'll naturally be rewarded if you advance to the inner sect. Those who don't advance will receive one ordinary pill per year."

Previously, outer disciples were never given pills. Now, they have pills to aid their cultivation, something they never dared to dream of before.

"Secondly, the sect needs to make money. Relying solely on the spirit stones collected from disciples wouldn't be enough to survive. I plan to open a few pill shops in the towns at the foot of the mountain, specializing in top-grade pills. All the spirit stones earned will go to the sect, and everyone will receive a share of the year-end bonus."

Shen Yifei raised his third finger.

"Third, recruit people. The Qingyun Sect currently has only a few hundred people, which is far too few. Large sects need at least a thousand people, and we don't even have a fraction of their numbers. Starting today, send people down the mountain to recruit disciples. Anyone with cultivation talent, as long as their character is good, should be accepted."

Then Shen Yifei announced several reward and punishment policies, which basically meant that hard work in cultivation would be rewarded, while doing things that were detrimental to the sect would be severely punished.

A set of clear-cut rewards and punishments completely revitalized the entire Qingyun Sect.