Chapter 57: Sword Tomb
Qin Jincheng just spoke, and the other elders also looked at Chen Changfeng with astonishment.
"Maybe I misheard, should it be four pieces?"
"Four Star Element Fruits, that's already a good achievement!"
"Yes, yes, after all, Su Zhan is only sixteen years old!"
"Su Zhan, at the early stage of the Martial Master Realm, obtained four Star Element Fruits. He can be considered outstanding among the geniuses who entered the Dark Star Forest over the years!"
…
The elders discussed with smiles, clearly satisfied with Su Zhan's result of obtaining four Star Element Fruits.
Although they were all martial artists at the Origin Elixir Realm and believed that their hearing was not a problem, Chen Changfeng's words just now were completely different from what they had expected, so their first reaction was to think that they had misheard.
If it was said that Su Zhan obtained eight or even ten, they might believe it, but forty, that was a result that had never appeared in the more than one hundred years since the opening of the Dark Star Forest!
Moreover, if it was really forty Star Element Fruits, how could he have come back so quickly? The time required for refining is definitely not so short, right?
Thinking like this in their hearts, the look of astonishment on the faces of those elders gradually faded, almost confirming that Chen Changfeng had misspoken or they had misheard.
Upon hearing those words.
The Sect Master, Qin Jincheng, also smiled helplessly, "I must have been overthinking. Forty Star Element Fruits is indeed highly unlikely."
Chen Changfeng glanced at those people with a strange expression on his face, "If it weren't for seeing it with my own eyes, I would have the same thoughts as the Sect Master and the other elders."
"What? Are you implying something, Junior Brother?"
"Sect Master, elders, I know you find it hard to believe, but you didn't mishear!"
Chen Changfeng raised his voice, "Su Zhan, on this journey, refined forty Star Element Fruits, I saw it with my own eyes!"
"Gasp~"
The sound of inhaling cold air resounded.
In the main hall, the elders were all shocked beyond measure. Their eyes widened, and despite Chen Changfeng's certainty, they still couldn't believe it.
"Forty Star Element Fruits! The highest recorded number of Star Element Fruits brought out from the Dark Star Forest was thirteen, right?"
"Su Zhan, what kind of heaven-defying luck does he have to obtain forty Star Element Fruits?"
"Senior Brother Chen, I have a question. How is it possible to refine forty Star Element Fruits in such a short period of time?"
The elders looked at Chen Changfeng with doubt.
"For you and me, it's definitely impossible!"
"But for Su Zhan, it's a natural process, incredibly smooth. He refined forty Star Element Fruits in just five hours!"
Chen Changfeng recalled the scene where Su Zhan's awe-inspiring presence overwhelmed the Fifteen nation's number one genius, Li Changxing. His tone also became somewhat excited, "And after that, he refined a Star God Fruit!"
"On that day, starlight and the sun appeared together, with Su Zhan standing between the eastern and western skies!"
"On that day, the Fifteen nations' number one genius, Li Changxing, prostrated on the ground, trembling!"
"On that day, Su Zhan's divine body ascended further, exuding an unparalleled divine aura!"
Chen Changfeng finished speaking.
The entire hall fell into silence.
No doubts. No debates. Not even praise.
Because everyone was stunned by his words. Their thoughts couldn't even catch up.
The fifteen nations' number one genius prostrated on the ground, Su Zhan's divine body ascended further!
After a few seconds, Qin Jincheng was the first to react. He covered his chest with his hand, allowing the surge of true qi throughout his body to suppress the rapid heartbeat and the tendency for his blood to clot. Only then did he slap the table in front of him.
"Good! Excellent! Hahaha! Our Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect has truly been blessed by the appearances of all the ancestral masters through Su Zhan. My Qin Jincheng's ancestors must have received great blessings!"
Qin Jincheng laughed heartily without any concern. Then, he turned to Chen Changfeng and said, "From now on, there are no forbidden places in the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect for Su Zhan, including the Sword Tomb!"
Elder Miao from the Punishment Hall was surprised in his heart and quickly said, "Sect Master, the Sword Tomb is where the swords of the past Sect Masters are buried, and it contains the lifelong comprehension of swordsmanship from each generation. According to the rules of our ancestors, only the Sect Master is allowed to enter!"
"Yes, although Su Zhan has extraordinary talent, we mustn't violate the rules of our ancestors!"
"Everything else is negotiable, but not this!"
"By doing this, aren't we deviating from the orthodox path?"
"How will the future disciples of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect perceive this? Will they think that we disrespect the spirits of our ancestors?"
The elders hurriedly expressed their concerns.
These elders were all two or three hundred years old, set in their ways, and detested anything that went against the rules of the Sword Sect. In their eyes, it was a major rebellion!
"I see…"
Qin Jincheng frowned, then said, "Then let's pass on the position of Sect Master to Su Zhan! In any case, the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect must spare no effort in providing the best we can for Su Zhan. Otherwise, wouldn't we be letting a genius be obscured by dust? Moreover, I believe that with Su Zhan, the future development of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect will far surpass what it has been before!"
"When I succeeded as the Sect Master, I once vowed to make the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect stronger. But due to my limited talent, I could only go this far. Now that we have a more suitable candidate, why not pass on the position?"
Qin Jincheng laughed nonchalantly, paying no attention to the words of the elders.
The elders were speechless for a moment.
Chen Changfeng sighed, "Sect Master, I understand your feelings, but have you ever considered that Su Zhan might not be interested in taking on the position of Sect Master?"
Not interested in taking on the position of Sect Master…
Qin Jincheng was momentarily stunned, then nodded helplessly.
"I overlooked that. Su Zhan has such exceptional talent that making him the Sect Master would only distract him with various trivial matters and hinder his cultivation. It would be a waste! However, Su Zhan's talent in swordsmanship is unparalleled, but he has limited exposure to sword techniques and insights. If he can comprehend the sword insights of past Sect Masters, he will surely gain a deeper understanding and greatly benefit his future path of swordsmanship!"
Seeing that the elders were about to speak up to stop them, Chen Changfeng had a thought and said, "Elders, since you and the Sect Master have differences in opinion, why not compromise?"
"Tomorrow, let Su Zhan go to the Sword Tomb, and we will witness it with our own eyes. If he can gain the recognition of more than three Sword Spirits of past Sect Masters, then he will be allowed to comprehend the sword insights in the Sword Tomb from then on!"
"Otherwise, the Sword Tomb will still be off-limits to Su Zhan. How about that?"
"This…"
The elders hesitated.
After discussing among themselves, Elder Miao from the Punishment Hall spoke on behalf of the group.
"It's acceptable, but we've had twenty-seven past Sect Masters in the history of the Heavenly Cloud Sword Sect. If Su Zhan wants to break the rules of our ancestors, he must gain the recognition of at least ten of them!"
"Ten or more…" Qin Jincheng frowned.
When he first went to the Sword Tomb, he didn't receive recognition from any Sword Spirits at all. It was only on his second attempt that he gained recognition from the first ancestral spirit and was able to comprehend sword insights. It took him twenty-three years to gain recognition from ten ancestral spirits.
Although Su Zhan had unparalleled talent in swordsmanship, it was impossible for him to gain recognition from ten ancestral spirits on his first attempt.