"Grand Elder!?"

Seeing this scene, Li Yun’s eyes widened instantly as astonishment filled his face.

"This... what exactly is going on?"

Elder Feiyu slowly straightened his body before smiling faintly.

"During the time you were inheriting the Dragon Emperor’s Legacy, I had already transmitted all the news regarding the events here back to the sect."

"After discussions between the Sect Master and the various elders, a final decision was made."

"You, Li Yun, have officially been promoted to the position of Grand Elder of our Martial Ascension Gate."

"From this day onward, your status within the sect shall stand equal to that of the Sect Master himself."

The moment those words entered his ears, Li Yun hurriedly shook his head without hesitation.

"No! Absolutely not!"

Li Yun immediately looked toward Elder Feiyu with a bitter smile.

"Elder Feiyu, I am merely a junior of the younger generation. What qualifications or ability do I possibly have to hold such an important position as Grand Elder?"

"Please ask the Sect Master and the elders to withdraw this decision."

To countless disciples of the Martial Ascension Gate, the position of Grand Elder would undoubtedly be an irresistible temptation.

However, Li Yun himself held very little interest in such a title.

Although possessing a high position within the sect meant wielding enormous authority and influence, it also meant carrying tremendous responsibilities.

Li Yun had always been accustomed to acting freely on his own.

How could someone like him willingly allow himself to become bound by the countless obligations attached to the position of Grand Elder?

Furthermore, there was another extremely important reason.

By claiming first place in the Prodigy Supreme Battle and obtaining the title of Heavenly Pride Supreme, Li Yun had also become the undisputed champion of the Hidden Dragon Tournament.

According to the established rules, achieving such results granted him the qualifications necessary to participate in the Grand Martial Assembly held by the Four Great Holy Lands of the Eastern Martial Domain.

From what Li Yun understood, the envoys from the Eastern Martial Domain should already be traveling toward the Southern Martial Domain.

In other words, it would not be long before Li Yun departed from the Southern Martial Domain entirely and journeyed toward the far broader world of the Eastern Martial Domain.

Seeing Li Yun’s reaction, Elder Feiyu appeared completely unsurprised.

It was almost as though he had already anticipated Li Yun’s refusal beforehand.

A faint smile appeared on Elder Feiyu’s face as he slowly said,

"Li Yun, there is no need to reject it so quickly."

"The Sect Master and the elders already understood long ago that a monstrous genius like you would never truly care about a mere position such as Grand Elder."

"Your future belongs to a much broader world." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Therefore, although you now hold the title of Grand Elder and enjoy the authority and status that comes with it, you are not required to shoulder any responsibilities within the sect."

Hearing this explanation, Li Yun was slightly stunned.

Enjoying supreme status and authority without needing to bear any obligations was naturally an extremely favorable arrangement.

However, after thinking about it carefully, Li Yun quickly understood the true intentions behind the Martial Ascension Gate’s decision.

Who was Li Yun now?

He was the acknowledged number one genius of the younger generation within the Southern Martial Domain.

He was the Heavenly Pride Supreme.

More importantly, he possessed terrifying potential and had an extremely high chance of eventually becoming a world-shaking powerhouse comparable to the Dragon Emperor himself.

Such a heaven-defying figure could never possibly remain confined within a single Martial Ascension Gate forever.

Since they could not bind Li Yun to the sect, the Martial Ascension Gate naturally chose another method.

They wanted to firmly tie the sect itself to Li Yun instead.

As long as Li Yun retained even the slightest connection and sense of belonging toward the Martial Ascension Gate, then once he truly rose to the peak in the future, the benefits returned to the sect would far surpass the value of a mere Grand Elder position countless times over.

"Alright."

Li Yun fell silent for a brief moment before finally nodding in agreement.

There were two main reasons behind his decision.

The first reason was because he had originally risen from the Martial Ascension Gate itself.

No matter how great his achievements became in the future, Li Yun was not the type of person who would forget his origins simply because he had gained power and fame. One should always remember the source of their growth and remain grateful to those who once supported them.

Such a principle was deeply rooted within Li Yun’s character.

The second reason was even more important.

Although Li Yun would eventually leave the Southern Martial Domain and head toward the far greater world of the Eastern Martial Domain, his family would still remain here.

If he possessed the identity of Grand Elder of the Martial Ascension Gate, then the sect would undoubtedly protect his family with everything it had.

With the Martial Ascension Gate standing behind them, Li Yun would no longer need to worry about his family’s safety in the future.

Only then could he truly venture into the outside world without any lingering concerns.

"Haha, good! Very good!"

Seeing Li Yun finally agree, Elder Feiyu immediately revealed a satisfied smile.

"Enough time has already been wasted here," Elder Feiyu continued. "We should return to the sect as soon as possible."

"The Martial Ascension Gate is likely already preparing for your promotion ceremony as Grand Elder."

"The ceremony should officially take place about one month from now, and since you are the central figure of the event, you absolutely must attend."

As he spoke, Elder Feiyu looked at Li Yun with a meaningful smile.

"So during this period, you had better not run around recklessly. Otherwise, it will become troublesome if nobody can find you when the ceremony begins."

Hearing this, Li Yun could only reveal a helpless smile before nodding.

"I understand."

Once the conversation ended, Elder Feiyu waved his sleeve lightly.

Whoosh!!

Silver radiance immediately surged through the air.

Moments later, a massive silver ship appeared within the void.

The enormous ship floated steadily in the sky while emitting powerful fluctuations. Its body shone with metallic brilliance, giving it an imposing and majestic appearance.

Under Elder Feiyu’s guidance, all of the Martial Ascension Gate experts and disciples quickly boarded the silver ship.

After everyone had entered, Elder Feiyu waved his sleeve once again.

Boom!!

The silver ship instantly erupted forward at astonishing speed.

It transformed into a streak of silver light that tore violently through the heavens while releasing deep sonic booms throughout the air.

Its speed was so fast that mountains, rivers, and clouds became nothing more than blurry shadows flashing past beneath them.

In only the time it took for a single incense stick to burn, the group had already returned to the Martial Ascension Gate.