Only I am Venerable

"Father... what is all this?"

Shen Longxing looked at the son who had grown into a man, a gratified smile touching his lips. He had once worried that the Shen Clan’s line would decline with his son’s generation, that they would be replaced by the other Elder factions. Now, it seemed his fears had been unfounded. With Shen Le at the helm, the Thousand Mechanism Sect would only grow stronger!

"It’s nothing. I’m just tired... weary. After all these years, it’s time for me to rest." Shen Longxing looked at Shen Le with a gentle gaze. "I’m leaving you with the task of building a good relationship with Qin Li. Remember this: no matter what happens, you must *never* offend him."

Hearing this, Shen Le couldn’t help but stare blankly at his father. He had never expected to hear such words from him.

Before Shen Le had much time to think, Shen Longxing continued, "Speaking of which, I have one last gift for you before I step down as Sect Leader. Come, lean in."

Shen Longxing whispered a few words in Shen Le’s ear. Shen Le’s expression changed dramatically, and he snarled, "How dare they?"

Shen Longxing let out a cold laugh. "Le’Er, you may be mature, but you still lack a true understanding of the human heart. This world runs on profit. Don’t be fooled by appearances. Everyone seems to revere the major sects, but if you could see what these families and sects do in private, you’d realize things are not what they seem. When there’s a profit to be made, they don’t care if you’re a major power or a minor one—they’d sell out their own mothers. So against a fledgling like Qin Li and a Qin Family they see as weak, is there anything they *wouldn’t* do?"

"But... what makes them so certain the Cui Family’s treasure is in Qin Li’s hands?" Shen Le asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"My boy, your recent guilt over Qin Li has probably kept you from paying much attention to news about the Qin Family, hasn’t it?" Shen Longxing’s eyes snapped open as he rose from his lounge chair. The imposing aura of a leader, cultivated over many years, radiated from him once more.

"The Qin Family... What’s happened to them recently?" Shen Longxing was right. Shen Le truly hadn’t been paying much attention to the Qin Family’s affairs. Between being a newlywed and feeling guilty about Qin Li, he had spent all his time doting on Leng Fangfei, rarely concerning himself with the outside world.

"The Qin Family’s power has soared recently. The personal strength of their most talented younger members has been increasing at a startling rate. At the same time, their wealth has multiplied many times over!"

"But didn’t the Qin Family... acquire several mortal kingdoms and Spirit Stone Veins from the Wang Family?"

"You fool!" Shen Longxing looked at his son, disappointed he wasn’t living up to his potential. "Spirit Stones are a non-renewable resource! They wouldn’t sell whatever they mine! And as for those mortal kingdoms, the Qin Family just took control. There’s no way they could have profited so much in such a short period!"

Shen Le looked at his father and murmured, "Don’t tell me... the Cui Family’s fortune really is in the Qin Family’s hands?"

Shen Longxing nodded slightly. "If not in their hands, then whose?" he said calmly. "It couldn’t have just grown wings and flown away, could it? Le’Er, I’m entrusting this matter to you. How you choose to handle it is entirely up to you. Since I’ve decided to let go, I will do so completely. Tomorrow... I will announce my abdication and enter seclusion in the cliffs of the rear mountain. In the future, do not disturb me unless it’s a matter of great importance."

...

Overnight, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Mechanism Sect suddenly announced his abdication. The Young Sect Leader, Shen Le, a Celestial Integration Realm master, ascended to the Sect Leader’s throne despite his youth. The day after Shen Le’s ascension, the former Sect Leader, Shen Longxing, quietly went into seclusion to cultivate.

The ascension of the new Sect Leader sent waves of celebration throughout the Thousand Mechanism Sect.

However, while some celebrated this development, others were filled with worry.

Shen Longxing had been a Venerable-level expert when he served as Sect Leader. Furthermore, the Thousand Mechanism Sect was presided over by its ancestor, Shen Chong, a master of the Shattered Void realm. Because of this, none of the various factions dared to dissent, and all respected Shen Longxing as their leader.

But rumors were spreading that Shen Chong had been gravely injured during his battle with the Cui Family’s experts. It was said that even if he recovered, his strength would never return to its former peak and might even decline significantly. Some even whispered that the ancestor, Shen Chong, had already perished.

Of course, most people dismissed these rumors. At least for now, no one dared to openly oppose Shen Le.

But not opposing him openly didn’t mean they would willingly accept the leadership of someone so young. A certain amount of feigned compliance was to be expected.

The Thousand Mechanism Sect was composed of four major factions.

The most powerful, of course, was the Shen Clan, who had founded the sect in the first place.

When the Thousand Mechanism Sect was founded, it had four Grand Elders. One died in battle, and his descendants lacked strength, so their line gradually fell into decline. This left three major Elder clans: Sun, Li, and Huo.

Today, the most powerful living members of these three factions were the three Supreme Elders: Earth Venerable Sun Zhong, Human Venerable Li Tai, and Human Venerable Huo Feng.

These three Supreme Elders were all currently in seclusion. Even when the Cui Family had caused a scene at Shen Le’s wedding, the three had merely shown up to stabilize the situation, barely taking any action themselves.

As long as Shen Chong was around, these three Supreme Elders kept a low profile, terrified of arousing his suspicion or ill will.

However, Shen Chong was now seriously injured, and there had been no news from him since he entered seclusion. The three Supreme Elders all suspected he had suffered a devastating blow and would be unable to recover for decades, at least.

Thus, the ambition that had been stirring restlessly within their hearts for countless years finally began to sprout.

Because Earth Venerable Sun Zhong was the strongest and the most level-headed, both Li Tai and Huo Feng deferred to him as their leader. While Shen Longxing ran the Thousand Mechanism Sect, these three Supreme Elders never interfered, remaining in seclusion day in and day out.

But now, for some unknown reason, Shen Longxing had suddenly retired!

After their descendants reported this news, the three of them finally sat down together.

"Sect Leader Shen Longxing was doing a perfectly fine job. Why would he suddenly decide to pass the position to that snot-nosed brat Shen Le?" Huo Feng’s personality was as fiery as his name, and he had an explosive temper.

"I think it’s because our Thousand Mechanism Sect suffered enormous losses while besieging the Cui Family but gained very little. That must be what made him want to step down." Li Tai’s face was sallow, as if he were malnourished. However, with the sharp glint that occasionally flashed in his eyes and the surging waves of Primordial Power emanating from his body, no one would dare underestimate the withered old man.

"Hmph, I get angry just thinking about it! It was Shen Longxing who swore up and down that we’d gain immense benefits from destroying the Cui Family! Twenty or thirty of my descendants died in that battle, and what benefits did we see? Not a damned thing! Son of a bitch!" Huo Feng said furiously. "If it weren’t for the ancestor, we would have called a meeting to impeach him long ago. Who knew he’d be so quick to run away!"

Sun Zhong gave a faint smile. "It was indeed Shen Longxing’s mistake, but we all agreed to it at the time. Therefore, we bear some responsibility as well. Let’s not speak of it again. The matter we must now discuss is how to oust that boy, Shen Le."

"How else? We make him commit an unforgivable mistake! If the Sect suffers a catastrophic loss, can he possibly remain as Sect Leader? Even if the ancestor emerges completely unharmed, he’d have nothing to say!" Li Tai said with a sinister laugh.

"Exactly. That’s the way." Sun Zhong nodded in approval and looked at Li Tai. "I wonder, Elder Li, have you devised a good plan?"

Li Tai smiled. "Elder Sun, you’re being disingenuous. You’ve clearly already thought of something, so why ask me?"

Watching the two of them trade cryptic remarks, Huo Feng grew impatient. "Stop beating around the bush, you two! If you have something to say, just spit it out!"

Li Tai glanced at Sun Zhong and said coolly, "The Young Sect Leader—no, the *Sect Leader*—couldn’t wait to overturn his father’s policies the moment he took power. He’s demanding that the Thousand Mechanism Sect befriend the Qin Family and get on good terms with Qin Li, just like before! But the situation on Profound Island is volatile right now. Many families and sects are eager to make a move against the Qin Family. And our dear Sect Leader actually wants to send men to be stationed in Fengsha City to help them. Isn’t this... a golden opportunity?"

Huo Feng stammered, "But if those people see our Thousand Mechanism Sect arriving, they’ll give us a wide berth. How will that give the boy Shen Le an opportunity to make a mistake?"

Li Tai and Sun Zhong exchanged a smile, each seeing exactly what he wanted in the other’s eyes.

Never mind whether those families and sects—some of which included members from other major powers—would truly be intimidated by the Thousand Mechanism Sect’s name. Even if Shen Le didn’t make a mistake, they would... *make* him make one.

...

With the destruction of the Cui Family, the New Qin Empire—once a formidable power—began its own irreversible decline.

And the fall of one empire heralds the rise of another.

With the fall of the New Qin Empire, the Five Nations Alliance finally disintegrated. In truth, it is always this way between nations: interests are paramount.

In terms of power, the Silo Kingdom was slightly stronger, and its commander was brilliant. However, thanks to Qin Li and a few others, the Cyan Dragon Kingdom had produced many new Earth Level and Celestial Level masters in recent years. Thus, among the Five Nations, these two kingdoms were now the strongest.

Having been allies for years, the Five Nations remained at peace for the time being. After carving up the New Qin Empire’s territory, each was busy focusing on its own development.

But the might of the Silo Kingdom and the Cyan Dragon Kingdom grew by the day. It was likely that the flames of war would be rekindled in a matter of decades, if not sooner.

As Qin Li and his two companions traveled home, they heard news of these events. Both Qin Li and Leng Yao couldn’t help but sigh. The world had changed so much in so little time.

With the collapse of the New Qin Empire, Bing Mengyun had also vanished without a trace. Qin Li no longer felt the same hatred for her as he once had; after all, she had helped his fiancée, Shiyu.

Thinking of Shangguan Shiyu, Qin Li’s heart began to burn with anticipation. He suddenly realized something. ’I’ve been in this world for over seven years, and I’ve been as celibate as a monk...’ Yet somehow, so many people still thought of him as a notorious womanizer.

’This is just outrageous!’

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