Half an hour later, the horsetail whisk loosened, and Zhang Bin fell out from within it.
The next part of the ritual was Zhang Bin's succession as Sect Leader, a matter that was announced by Li Taiqing. Of course, this had all been pre-arranged with Zhang Bin. The given reason was that the Taiqing Sect's many Elders all needed to enter seclusion to break through their bottlenecks and thus had no time to manage the sect's affairs. Therefore, Zhang Bin would take on the role of Sect Leader, while Li Taiqing would serve as an Elder. The two of them would be responsible for all matters concerning the sect.
What followed was another flurry of activity and another complex ceremony. Zhang Bin took his seat on the rosewood chair below the hall's dais, accepting the prostrations of all the disciples.
"We pay homage to the Ancestral Master! We pay homage to the Sect Leader!" all the disciples yelled frantically.
