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Ninth Transformation Love Gu.
Zhao Lianyun didn't recognize this Gu Insect, but that didn't stop her from sensing how extraordinary it was.
Because in her field of vision, this Gu Insect seemed to have become the center of heaven and earth, of the entire universe. Radiance poured from every part of its body, and the whole creature blazed like the most magnificent flame in all the world. Every truth, every thing in existence seemed to bow before it, to revolve around it.
"Is this... a miracle?" Tears streamed down Zhao Lianyun's face as a final thought surfaced in her mind.
Then she collapsed, unconscious on the spot.
Spirit Affinity Hall was shaken!
Love Gu was the guardian Immortal Gu of Spirit Affinity Hall.
It had flown out of its habitat of its own accord and come to Zhao Lianyun's side. More crucially, even after she lost consciousness, it didn't fly away — it stayed perched on her shoulder.
That night, Spirit Affinity Hall recalled every Gu Immortal in the sect for an emergency meeting about this earth-shaking matter.
The Supreme Grand Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder, Feng Jiuge, Fairy Bai Qing, Xu Hao, Li Junying, and others — heroes gathered, immortal qi soaring. It was the most complete attendance of Gu Immortals that Spirit Affinity Hall had seen in centuries.
"Everyone, we all know the sect's rules. Now that Love Gu has recognized Zhao Lianyun, she is our sect's current Fairy!" Xu Hao spoke. His face was expressionless, but his tone betrayed a hint of wild joy.
Back when he had guided Zhao Lianyun, it was merely a scheme against Feng Jinhuang — to damage her reputation and elevate Zhao Lianyun. A small trick.
He never expected that Zhao Lianyun would be so stubborn, still kneeling and refusing to rise, clinging to it with such tenacity.
Xu Hao found this quite vexing.
He had cultivated Zhao Lianyun as a chess piece to use against Feng Jinhuang. His true target was Feng Jinhuang's father — Feng Jiuge.
In the martial world, there are always internal and external struggles.
When an organization grows large, factions naturally form within.
Currently, the Feng faction, led by Feng Jiuge, held the greatest power within Spirit Affinity Hall.
Xu Hao, Li Junying, and the others had been suppressed by the Feng faction to the point of barely being able to breathe. Fortunately, Spirit Affinity Hall's two Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal Supreme Elders were fair and impartial, looking at the big picture of the sect as a whole. This was what kept Xu Hao and Li Junying from being pushed out of Spirit Affinity Hall's power center by the Feng faction.
Zhao Lianyun kneeling to beg Feng Jinhuang — most outsiders could only see the surface. Only a few understood that this was merely a manifestation of the political struggle within Spirit Affinity Hall.
Though Zhao Lianyun was merely a mortal, ever since she inherited Daotian's true teachings, she genuinely had the qualifications and credentials to compete with Feng Jinhuang for the position of Fairy of Spirit Affinity Hall.
Xu Hao treated Zhao Lianyun as a weapon of struggle in his hands, a chess piece.
Originally, Xu Hao had been considering whether he should stop Zhao Lianyun from kneeling any further. In his view, this political show had already served its purpose. Her continued kneeling was simply foolish — she wouldn't gain anything more from it.
But a few hours ago, when Xu Hao heard that Love Gu had actually appeared of its own accord and settled on Zhao Lianyun, he was stunned.
After the initial shock came wild elation!
He keenly realized that this was a gift dropped straight from the heavens. The gift was so extravagant that he nearly fainted from happiness.
This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity.
He had to seize this chance and elevate Zhao Lianyun to the position of Fairy of Spirit Affinity Hall!
And building on that, to counterattack the "Feng faction" — this would be an unprecedented opportunity for him, Xu Hao, within the sect! If he seized this opportunity, his career within the sect would be transformed beyond recognition.
Xu Hao had no doubt about this.
So he was the first to step forward and firmly support Zhao Lianyun's ascension as the current Fairy of Spirit Affinity Hall!
He continued: "Our sect's rules are stated plainly. The selection of each generation's Fairy follows three criteria: first, the will of the people; second, aptitude; and third, the preference of the upper echelons."
Meaning: first, gauge the sentiments of the entire sect; then assess the candidate's aptitude and talent; and finally, crucially, which candidate the senior Gu Immortals favor.
Xu Hao continued to speak with conviction: "As for the will of the people, though Zhao Lianyun is an Otherworldly Demon, she is loyal and righteous. To save her beloved, she humbled herself to kneel before her rival. Everyone in the sect knows her character. As for aptitude and talent — aptitude doesn't really matter. With willingness, one can enhance a mortal's cultivation potential. And as for her talent, I believe everyone here knows of her experiences in the Northern Plains. She is among the elite. Finally, regarding our preferences. I very much recognize Zhao Lianyun, and I declare here that I fully support her becoming our Fairy."
"I second this." No sooner had Xu Hao finished than Li Junying voiced her agreement.
She was Xu Hao's wife, and they always moved together. This was not surprising.
But the scene that followed was somewhat shocking to the others.
"I agree with Xu Hao's view."
"I also endorse Xu Hao's words."
"If even Love Gu has recognized Zhao Lianyun, what more is there for me to say?"