Chapter 4039: From Fake Junior Elder To Real Interim Peak Head?

The journey that should have been orderly turned into a bizarre procession led by high Elder Shatter Peak barreling through the corridors while Zhenyu casually walked behind him. Somehow, despite walking, Zhenyu kept pace effortlessly.

A short while later, they emerged from the prison complex and the Wild Peak members waiting outside immediately noticed them.

High Elder Palm Saber’s expression brightened. "High Elder Shatter Peak!"

Several other elders stood as well, while the disciples accompanying them began murmuring excitedly. Seeing High Elder Shatter Peak walking freely was already enough to improve their mood considerably.

Then they noticed his expression and the excitement faded slightly. High Elder Shatter Peak looked terrifyingly calm. He stopped before the gathered members of the Wild Peak and looked across them.

"My fellow elders and disciples," he said.

Everyone fell silent.

"Just a few moments ago, I put forth my vote to appoint Senior Mengli Zhenyu as Interim Peak Head of the Wild Peak until Peak Head Mountain Roar returns."

Daoist Bone Ruler arrived just in time to hear the declaration and his face changed.

High Elder Shatter Peak continued before he could interfere. "Are any of you opposed?"

High Elder Palm Saber stared at him, then he looked toward Zhenyu. The other Wild Peak elders did the same. The disciples exchanged bewildered glances. Even Lin Mu was curious about what they would say.

A Junior Elder from over a hundred thousand years ago had suddenly returned. His identity had yet to receive complete official verification. His supposed cultivation level was unknown. He had appeared from the Mad Demon Depths, fought the Head of the Law Division, and immediately inserted himself into the Wild Peak’s greatest ongoing conflict.

By the standards of any ordinary sect faction, appointing such a person as Interim Peak Head would be insanity. Unfortunately for Daoist Bone Ruler, this was the Wild Peak.

Palm Saber suddenly smiled.

"Opposed?" He laughed. "Why would we be opposed?"

Another High Elder stepped forward.

"I agree."

"So do I."

"Agreed."

"Senior Zhenyu has already acted for the sake of our Wild Peak despite only having returned today. What objection could we have?"

One of the younger elders grinned. "Anyone who can beat Daoist Bone Ruler immediately after escaping from the Mad Demon Depths is qualified enough for me."

Daoist Bone Ruler’s face darkened. ’There was no need to include that part.’

The disciples began getting excited. They had already heard stories about Zhenyu’s return. Most of those stories had grown considerably more exaggerated during the short time since the events occurred.

According to one version, Zhenyu had punched through the entire Mad Demon Depths with a single fist, defeated Daoist Bone Ruler in three moves, and threatened to drag the Heavenly Stream Immortal back by his beard if the sect refused to recognize him.

The last part had absolutely never happened. Yet several disciples believed it.

High Elder Palm Saber clasped his hands. "I, High Elder Palm Saber, support the appointment."

More voices followed.

"Agreed!"

"I support it!"

"So do I!"

Within seconds, practically every Wild Peak elder present had given their approval.

High Elder Shatter Peak nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

Daoist Bone Ruler stepped forward. "Wait. There must first be an official nomination, followed by confirmation of eligibility, registration with the Administrative Division, approval from the relevant sect council, and then..."

"Then Senior Mengli Zhenyu is hereby the Interim Peak Head of our Wild Peak," High Elder Shatter Peak declared.

Cheers immediately erupted from several disciples. "INTERIM PEAK HEAD ZHENYU!"

"Welcome, Peak Head!"

"Wild Peak finally has someone in charge!"

Zhenyu stood there with his hands behind his back, looking rather pleased with the entire development.

Daoist Bone Ruler stared in disbelief. "You cannot simply declare it!"

High Elder Palm Saber looked at him. "Why?"

"Because there are procedures!" Daoist Bone Ruler retorted.

High Elder Shatter Peak frowned. "We voted."

"That was not an official vote!"

"Everyone agreed."

"Agreement alone does not complete the appointment!"

High Elder Palm Saber scratched his beard. "Sounds complete to me."

Several Wild Peak elders nodded.

Daoist Bone Ruler felt a vein pulsing on his forehead. "The sect has laws!"

"And the Wild Peak has its own internal hierarchy," High Elder Shatter Peak replied. "Peak Head Mountain Roar is absent. Senior Zhenyu has the greatest seniority. The High Elders present have accepted him. The elders have accepted him. The disciples have accepted him."

He pointed toward Zhenyu. "Interim Peak Head."

Then he folded his arms as if the matter had been resolved beyond all dispute. Daoist Bone Ruler’s mouth opened but nothing came out. He looked toward High Elder Palm Saber, hoping that perhaps one person among them retained some understanding of administrative procedure.

High Elder Palm Saber smiled and cupped his hands toward Zhenyu. "Greetings, Interim Peak Head."

Daoist Bone Ruler looked toward the other elders. "Greetings, Interim Peak Head!"

Then the disciples joined them. "Greetings, Interim Peak Head!"

The collective voices echoed throughout the Law Division grounds. Lin Mu almost lost control of his expression. He had entered the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect pretending to be Little Bull.

Then Little Bull had been imprisoned.

He had escaped, adopted the identity of an ancient Junior Elder, blasted his way out of the Mad Demon Depths, fought a Transcendent Immortal, walked into the Void, returned to the Wild Peak, uncovered Taegong’s conspiracy, and freed Shatter Peak.

And somehow, somewhere along that increasingly absurd chain of events, he had become Interim Peak Head.

’How did things get here?’ Lin Mu wondered.

Xukong’s amused voice immediately appeared within his mind. "You wanted to sell the identity."

Lin Mu remained silent.

"Oh, he certainly sold it, for sure. " Lin Mo joined in after a long silence.

Meanwhile, Daoist Bone Ruler stood amid the cheering Wild Peak cultivators, feeling as though he were the only sane person remaining in the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect.

His mind screamed the same words repeatedly. ’That’s not how this works.’

The cheering continued. ’That’s not how any of this works!’

Yet when he looked at Zhenyu standing proudly before the Wild Peak cultivators and saw how readily every one of them had accepted the ancient elder, Daoist Bone Ruler realized something deeply troubling.

Trying to explain proper administrative procedure to the Wild Peak might actually be harder than fighting Zhenyu again. And after today’s experience, Daoist Bone Ruler would rather face another Dual Disaster.