A wave of searing pain surged through her. Li Ruo gasped sharply, then collapsed onto the ground, clutching her dantian in agony.
Inside her dantian, her original spiritual root was being violently torn out, uprooted by a storm of spiritual energy.
The sensation was like having an organ ripped from her body—so excruciating she couldn't even scream.
Li Ruo's face had gone completely pale. She bit down hard on her lower lip.
"This Spirit-Cleansing Grass is so precious… even Master gave it to me without hesitation. This cleansing must succeed. It has to."
Clenching her teeth, she forced herself upright, crossing her legs and settling into position despite the stabbing pain. Her whole body trembled, veins bulging across her skin, but her resolve never wavered.
Song Wanníng sat quietly at her side, standing guard. She was ready to intervene at the first sign of danger.
Seeing Li Ruo endure like this, Song Wanníng felt a quiet pride grow within her. She hoped for a good outcome, silently cheering the girl on.
…
Two days later, Li Ruo's aura finally stabilized. She let out a long, shaky breath.
By now, her clothes were completely soaked through with sweat and blood. Her hair stuck to her face, and she looked utterly miserable.
But her eyes were shining.
"Master, I did it! I—I'm now dual-rooted! Fire and Wood!"
The tears came almost instantly. She hadn't reached the level of a single-root genius, but a dual-root constitution was still excellent.
And Fire-Wood dual roots? That was perfect for alchemy.
She sobbed with joy. Song Wanníng smiled too, sharing in her happiness.
Perhaps her alchemy arts had finally found a successor.
…
At the main plaza of the Wentian Sect, a crowd of disciples had already gathered.
"Who do you think the next Sect Master will be?"
"Hard to say. The elders have all been secretly competing for it lately. Looks like they each want the position."
"I noticed the Second Elder seemed close with Ancestor Song lately. Think she's got a shot?"
"Who knows? We'll only find out once the Yuányīng Zhēnjūn finish their vote."
In the past, the Sect Master was usually chosen and trained directly by the former one. As long as there were no major problems, the position would pass down smoothly.
But in the case of someone like He Xiao, the sect had to choose all over again.
At first, the Ancestor had considered directly naming the next Sect Master. But with only one Divine Transformation Ancestor left in Wentian Sect, he hesitated. If his choice ended up causing scandal, he'd be blamed.
Better to open the process, let them compete, and choose someone who could actually win the sect's respect.
"Sigh… if only Ancestor Song was willing. She's powerful and everyone respects her. She'd be perfect for the job."
"Right? But she's focused on cultivation. She might ascend soon. Why would she waste time managing sect affairs?"
Without anyone realizing it, Song Wanníng's reputation within the sect had completely turned around. Now when disciples spoke of her, it was only with admiration. The mockery and ridicule of the past had vanished.
On the high platform, Song Wanníng sat and watched the elaborately dressed elders. Her brow lifted ever so slightly.
Especially the Seventh Elder, who had once been as thick as thieves with He Xiao. He was practically glowing today, smug and pleased with himself.
By contrast, He Xiao sat sulking in the corner, his face dark and full of resentment.
Two days earlier, the Seventh Elder had gone around soliciting support from Yuányīng Zhēnjūn who weren't participating in the race, promising them all sorts of favors.
Song Wanníng didn't particularly care who became Sect Master. But there were other members of the Song family still in the sect—she had to consider them.
Her gaze darkened slightly, and a faint smirk touched her lips.
As acting Sect Master, Song Wanníng oversaw the entire election.
The process was standard: each elder gave a speech, talking about the future and painting a grand vision for the sect. Promises, plans, empty words.
Song Wanníng almost fell asleep listening, propping her chin in her palm as the speeches droned on.
Thankfully, He Xiao's ever-changing expressions gave her some entertainment. It made things a little less dull.
Finally, it was time for the most important part: the vote.
The vote was anonymous. Each Yuányīng Zhēnjūn present placed their vote into a sealed box.
Song Wanníng signaled a steward elder to tally the results with the help of a few disciples. Moments later, the final outcome was projected onto the water screen.
When she saw that the Second Elder had only received one vote, Song Wanníng nearly burst out laughing.
The Second Elder shot her a glare. "What's so funny? If they didn't pick me, it's because they've got no eyes."
Her lips tightened. She hadn't been serious about becoming Sect Master, but still, not a single person supported her. It stung.
"I'm laughing because you're just as unpopular as I am."
Song Wanníng grinned wider.
The Second Elder had a similar temperament—blunt, straightforward, not very good at socializing. Of course she didn't win.
It was only natural.
"Hmph! If we're talking about being unpopular, no one can beat you."
She snorted a few times, but the awkwardness faded as they bantered.
Meanwhile, the other elders on the stage didn't look too pleased.
Especially the Seventh Elder. His face had gone pale with a faint tinge of black.
Those people had promised him their votes. And yet the winner… was the Fourth Elder.
The quiet, nearly invisible Fourth Elder.
She was a female cultivator, over two hundred years old. Years ago, she'd been injured, which damaged her foundation and caused her cultivation to stagnate at the early Nascent Soul stage.
No one had expected this "honest nobody" to come out on top.
The Seventh Elder's face twisted with rage. But He Xiao, who had already broken ties with him, simply chuckled coldly.
"Serves you right, for betraying me."
"The results are in. From this day forward, the Fourth Elder, Wu Ying, will serve as Sect Master of Wentian Sect. I will report the outcome to the Ancestor."
Song Wanníng stood and made the announcement. Without even a token word of encouragement, she vanished from the platform.
Wu Ying remained composed. She didn't show anger, and her voice was steady as she gave a brief statement. In the midst of the disciples' cheers and applause, she stepped down.
The other elders, dissatisfied as they were, could only swallow their frustration and leave.
Only He Xiao remained seated in the corner, his eyes filled with venom and hatred.
…
Inside the Sect Master's Hall, Wu Ying held a small porcelain bottle of pills, her emotions running high.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Song. Don't worry, I know what I need to do from now on."
Inside that bottle was her future. Song Wanníng had promised to help refine more pills to heal her old injuries. One day, she might fully recover. There was even hope for ascension.
Such a favor… all she had to do was offer a little support to the Song family disciples during her term. Of course she agreed.
"I'm glad I could help you, Senior Sister Wu."
Song Wanníng's smile carried a deeper meaning as she added:
"From now on, the Song family is your backing. If you need anything, contact my father directly."
She had chosen Wu Ying for this position precisely because she lacked a family background. It was all for the sake of the Song family's rise.