I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 457: Chapter 440: Swear to Live and Die with the Holy Hall

After feasting, Wang Meng fell right asleep. He had used his Life Wheel this time, focusing on mastering its functions for his much larger plans.

Not only had he saved Zhang Bai, but the experience had also given Wang Meng a practical opportunity to change a person’s fate with his Life Wheel.

The Taiyin Sect was filled with celebration. Now that their great task was accomplished, there was no longer any need to hide the news of Zhang Bai’s injury. With the addition of Zhu Zhun, it was a twofold blessing for the Taiyin Sect.

Wang Meng had been about to leave, but he couldn’t resist the enthusiasm of Mo Chen and the others, so he stayed for another three days. Then, a sudden piece of news arrived, forcing Wang Meng to leave immediately.

Xue Zhongnan was dead!

The Holy Hall Master was dead in battle. How could Wang Meng stay put? He immediately rushed to the Slaughter Space.

There was no particular grief in Snow Moon City. Xue Zhongnan was only the Sect Leader of the Holy Hall, not the City Lord of Snow Moon City. Besides, soldiers come and go, but the barracks remain. Even if Yang Jian himself were to die in battle, only the disciples of his own sect would feel the sorrow.

The Holy Hall’s strength in the Slaughter Space wasn’t considered top-tier, and Xue Zhongnan’s own ranking was quite low. However, he had a good personality and had indeed made many friends.

Li Xiuwen and the others also rushed from the Holy Hall to Snow Moon City. To them, this news was a bolt from the blue. Just as the Holy Hall was thriving and on the verge of reclaiming its former glory, they were hit with this sudden, devastating blow.

Zhao Xinglun, now at the Third Layer of Minor Perfection, was currently the highest-ranking member of the Holy Hall. He was responsible for handling all related matters.

It had happened during an operation. Demon Blade City had suffered great losses last time, and the Puppet Sect, having received support from some unknown power, launched another surprise attack. The losses weren’t significant, but it seemed a targeted death trap had been set—one aimed at a Great Perfection master. As strong as Xue Zhongnan was, he hadn’t expected it.

In battles like these, masters at the Great Perfection level rarely fought to the death unless victory was all but certain. Targeted ambushes like this were even rarer.

It was likely caused by Wang Meng’s previous attack on Demon Blade City. The Puppet Sect had redirected their anger toward the Holy Hall. As for Zhang Mang, he was proud and arrogant. The matter of dealing with Wang Meng had been dropped, partly because his own status was too high—it would be more humiliating to personally deal with a mere disciple. But Xue Zhongnan had to take responsibility for it.

The Puppet Sect was ranked seventeenth; annihilating a sect ranked beyond fiftieth was no big deal. Besides, insiders knew why Zhang Mang had ordered such a deadly strike. If he suffered such a huge loss and didn’t get even, he wouldn’t be able to keep his position as City Lord.

By the time Wang Meng arrived, everyone else was already there. After the formalities, the Holy Hall members used a space in Snow Moon City to discuss what to do next.

The Holy Hall was undoubtedly at a critical juncture. The position of Sect Leader was not an easy one to hold. Internally, they had to deal with the aggressive Ten Thousand Demons Sect. Externally, in the Slaughter Space, having lost a Great Perfection master with no one to replace him, could the Holy Hall even survive there anymore?

If they were forced to move to a smaller city, the Holy Hall’s conditions for survival would plummet.

Regardless of the relationship between Xue Zhongnan and Yang Jian, a city had to maintain a powerful fighting force. Abandoning the Holy Hall and bringing in a stronger sect was the best option facing Yang Jian.

In truth, the Holy Hall hadn’t been strong enough to qualify for entry into Snow Moon City back then. It was only due to a chance acquaintance between Yang Jian and Xue Zhongnan that the Holy Hall had its place today.

But all of that was about to vanish like smoke with Xue Zhongnan’s death. Zhao Xinglun knew this better than anyone.

Internal and external troubles. It was a deadlock.

Zhao Xinglun, Kuchan, Thunderbolt, and the others were all silent. Thunderbolt and the rest had also advanced in recent years. Their collective strength wasn’t too bad, but their deterrent power was far too weak. The loss of a Great Perfection master was an unbearable blow.

Kuchan and Zhao Xinglun were also injured; at the critical moment, they had failed to protect Xue Zhongnan.

After a long silence, Zhao Xinglun finally spoke. "The Sect Leader left a final testament: Wang Meng is to take over the position of Holy Hall Master."

Everyone in the room was surprised, but not overly so by this decision. Given Wang Meng’s status, if he were in one of the Ten Great Sects, he would still only be a disciple. But in the Holy Hall, he had truly reached the very top.

However, the six elders of the Holy Hall found it somewhat hard to accept at first. They had all advanced in recent years, thanks to the significant rise in the Holy Hall’s ranking. But their promotions had come from biding their time, a completely different situation from Wang Meng’s rise.

Wang Meng himself was surprised. ’The Holy Hall Master?’

Back when he was fighting in the streets, he had never even considered such a thing. Just being able to enter the Holy Hall had been his greatest honor.

As soon as Zhao Xinglun spoke, everyone fell silent. Wang Meng knew this wasn’t the time for him to say anything.

This so-called final testament was something that could be mentioned or ignored. The current position of Holy Hall Master was actually a hot potato. One wrong move, and they would be kicked out of Snow Moon City, which could even lead to the Holy Hall’s ultimate decline.

To become the Sect Leader of a sect, one needed to be a Grandmaster, which was the Fourth Layer of Minor Perfection. In a Small Thousand Realm, Zhao Xinglun would be considered a prominent figure. But here, he was still out of his league. With Xue Zhongnan dead, he had keenly felt the change in people’s attitudes over the past few days.

Becoming the Sect Leader would be glorious, but he knew he had neither the ability nor the prestige to keep them here.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Holy Hall has truly reached its most critical moment. The Ten Thousand Demons Sect doesn’t know our situation yet, but they will soon. The first problem before us is how to remain in Snow Moon City. The second problem is how to deal with a potential attack from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. If we get kicked out of Snow Moon City, the second problem becomes a non-issue, because the Ten Thousand Demons Sect will definitely attack us."

Zhao Xinglun said. As a member of the Zhao Family, Zhao Tianlong naturally supported him. The Zhao Family’s influence in the Holy Hall had already grown large, with Zhao Xinglun and Zhao Tianlong at the top and Zhao Lingxuan at a lower level. Unfortunately, this was no longer the era where a monkey could proclaim itself king in a mountain with no tiger.

"Let’s have a vote. Raise your hand if you agree."

Zhao Xinglun said, and was the first to raise his hand. He was based in the Great Yuan Realm and knew more about Wang Meng’s recent accomplishments, especially his relationship with Yang Jian. Perhaps Yang Jian would grant the Holy Hall a place out of consideration for Wang Meng’s potential. Of course, that would only happen if Wang Meng became the Sect Leader.

As Zhao Xinglun raised his hand, he actually felt a pang of bitterness. This position should have been his.

’But there’s no rush,’ he thought. ’As long as we get through this crisis, I can still take back the Sect Leader position with my strength. After all, it’s only a matter of time before I advance to Great Perfection. Wang Meng will have to step aside for a more worthy person then.’

Zhao Xinglun raised his hand. After receiving a look from him, Zhao Tianlong raised his hand as well.

Zhou Luodan and Wu Fatian naturally agreed. Thunderbolt, for his part, felt a bit emotional, but he still raised his hand decisively. The others weighed the situation and ultimately all agreed.

Li Xiuwen had great prestige, but unfortunately, that was only in the Four Directions Small Thousand World. Out here, nobody cared who Li Xiuwen was.

Wang Meng didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t a fool. Aside from Thunderbolt and Zhou Luodan, who genuinely supported him, Zhao Xinglun and the others were likely acting out of necessity. But that was life; you couldn’t expect to be loved by everyone.

Thinking of the bigger picture, he knew the Holy Hall truly needed him to step up at this moment.

"Wang Meng, I’ve watched you grow. I believe you can do this. We will support you with all our strength!" Thunderbolt said. He had already adjusted his mindset and fully understood the situation. This was the time to back Wang Meng completely.

Wang Meng stood up, his expression solemn. "I swear to live or die with the Holy Hall!"