Chapter 517: Forcing the Emperor

From the moment Prince Huoye arrived until he was seated, Yun Waitian personally greeted and guided him, completely bypassing Yun Qinghong. During this time, Prince Huoye did not even glance in Yun Qinghong's direction, as if he entirely disregarded the true patriarch of the Yun family.

The time had come. Yun Waitian leaped onto the Sacred Cloud Platform, faced the Ancestor Tablet, and declared loudly, "Today marks the grand event of our Yun family's full clan competition. The reason for holding this competition, I believe, is already known to all present. In another month, it will be the Little Demon Empress's centennial ceremony, a major event for the entire Illusory Demon Realm. As one of the twelve Guardian Families that have protected the Demon King's Royal Family for generations, our Yun family will also attend this grand ceremony. It will be a royal banquet, with guests from all directions. Although our Yun family is not the main focus, according to the custom of past ceremonies, we will showcase the glory of our Yun family to the Little Demon Empress and to all the heroes of the realm at that time."

"Therefore, to uphold our family's prestige, only the most outstanding individuals of their age group are qualified to attend the ceremony. Those who attend will represent our Yun family's strength in their respective age categories… especially the younger generation. The weak are not qualified to disgrace themselves at the ceremony; that would only bring shame to our Yun family!"

Regardless of the place, the strength of the younger generation is always what various powers value most. While a power's current strength is fixed, it is the younger generation that determines future changes!

"This full clan competition will be the most direct and fair way to determine the outstanding individuals in each age group, making it clear who wins, who loses, who is strong, and who is weak…"

"Alright, no need for extra words. Let's get straight to the point." Grand Elder Yunhe suddenly spoke, stopping Yun Waitian.

Prince Huoye's presence had made Yun Waitian cautious with every word. When Grand Elder Yunhe suddenly spoke, Yun Waitian seemed to sigh in relief. He nodded towards the three Grand Elders, then abruptly cut short his previous speech and continued, "Since that is the case, I will not say anything more. However…" He changed his tone, stating seriously, "Before the full clan competition, there is a major matter concerning our clan's future that needs to be decided here. Our Elder Council began discussing this matter several months ago."

"Oh? A major matter concerning your clan's future? What could it be?" Helyan Peng asked, his eyes narrowed with interest.

As Yun Waitian spoke these words, many in the audience immediately held their breath, their gazes, both overt and subtle, shifting towards Yun Qinghong's location. Almost everyone present knew what "major matter" Yun Waitian was referring to, and this day had finally arrived.

Yun Waitian's gaze swept across the crowd, then settled on Yun Qinghong's position. He said with a solemn expression, "Our Yun family has prospered for ten thousand years and held immense prestige. However, the calamity a century ago caused eleven of our Yun family's strongest pillars to crumble overnight, instantly plummeting our overall strength. Over the past century, we have borne the burden of guilt, and the development of our younger generation has been severely hampered. Twenty-two years ago, the Patriarch's profound strength was crippled, further increasing the burden our Yun family carries."

"Currently, the world knows that our Yun family is rapidly declining, and the Patriarch is completely disabled and lacking in strength. If this continues, our Yun family might truly lose the qualification to remain among the twelve Guardian Families. Therefore, selecting a suitable new patriarch to lead the Yun family and revitalize our Yun clan has become the paramount task that our entire family must undertake…"

"Wait!"

Before Yun Waitian could finish, a low roar unceremoniously interrupted him. Mu Yubai stood up, his face grim, and asked, "Elect a new patriarch? Yun Waitian, what do you mean? Are you trying to force Yun Qinghong to abdicate?"

No one was surprised that Mu Yubai stepped forward. Yun Waitian's expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Young Patriarch Mu, you exaggerate. How dare we use the word 'force' with the Patriarch. However, the Patriarch is physically disabled and severely lacking in energy, stamina, and mental effort. I believe Young Patriarch Mu cannot deny this. And now, at this critical juncture for our Yun family's survival, how can we place the heavy burden of revitalizing the clan on a Patriarch who has no remaining strength? Therefore, for the sake of the entire clan, and also for the Patriarch's health and safety, it is time for our Yun family to change its patriarch."

Mu Yubai was, after all, the future patriarch of the Mu family. The Yun family was currently weak, and no Guardian Family wanted to offend him. Thus, despite Mu Yubai's rudeness, Yun Waitian's words remained calm and cautious.

Mu Yubai, however, scoffed, "Your Yun family has changed sixty or seventy patriarchs over the past ten thousand years, but every single patriarch has been from your Yun family's patriarch lineage…" Mu Yubai pointed at the Yun family's Ancestor Tablet and continued, "Beneath your Yun family's Ancestor Tablet sleep the heroic souls of the patriarch's lineage! Yun Waitian, tell me, who else in the entire Yun family, besides Yun Qinghong, is a descendant of the patriarch's lineage? Don't you dare tell me you're planning to force Yun Qinghong out and then find someone outside the patriarch's lineage to be the new patriarch… Ha! If I'm not mistaken, ten thousand years ago, your Yun clan was merely a barbarian tribe in the northern frontiers. It was the ancestor of the patriarch's lineage who created the Purple Cloud Art, led your entire clan out of the northern frontiers, and from then on shook the world, becoming one of the top twelve Guardian Families! All subsequent patriarchs have been direct descendants of this lineage, without exception! Without the leadership of their lineage, your entire clan would probably still be struggling in some remote place! Now, although Yun Qinghong is crippled, he is not dead; he is still very young! Yet you want to force him to relinquish the patriarch's position… Aren't you afraid that after you pass on, you won't have the face to meet your ancestors!?"

Mu Yubai's words were merciless, effectively scolding everyone in the Yun family except Yun Qinghong. Although Yun Waitian tried his best to endure, his face flushed slightly. At this moment, Helyan Peng loudly declared, "Mu Yubai, I'm not criticizing you, but what you just said is ridiculously unbearable. The Yun clan belongs to all Yun family members. Who stipulated that only Yun Qinghong's lineage must be the patriarch? Even if the Yun family truly has such a tradition, ha… Yun Qinghong is utterly useless. Letting him continue as patriarch would only allow the world to keep ridiculing them, and the Yun family would sooner or later be completely ruined. Furthermore, it seems the Yun family now has no one else from the patriarch's lineage besides Yun Qinghong… Oh, as for Yun Qinghong's son, hehe… Does that mean if Yun Qinghong dies, the Yun family can never have a patriarch again? Or do you wish to see the Yun family let a savage from the Profound Sky Continent…"

"Shut up!" Mu Yubai roared, preventing Helyan Peng from finishing his sentence. He said with a grim face, "This is a Yun family matter! The Yun family patriarch is my Mu family's son-in-law, so I have the right to intervene, but it's not your place, Helyan Peng, to butt in! If you dare to utter one more word I don't like, believe it or not, I'll make you kneel and roll out of here!"

Mu Yubai's temperament was righteous and fierce; he never suppressed his emotions, and his words were always backed by action. Even though his opponent was from the currently strongest Helyan clan, his words remained unyielding, leaving no room for politeness or compromise. In terms of strength, Helyan Peng was certainly no match for Mu Yubai, but he showed no sign of fear. Instead, he sneered, "Mu Yubai, don't think I'm afraid of you. If we really fight, who ends up kneeling might still be uncertain!"

"You're asking for death!"

Helyan Peng's words undoubtedly ignited Mu Yubai's fury. And Mu Yubai was just looking for an opportunity to create chaos. With a furious roar, profound energy burst forth from his entire body, and a thick, icy chain shot into the sky…

"Enough, both of you. This is the Yun family assembly, not a place for you two outsiders to quarrel, and certainly not to fight."

The voice was calm as water, yet carried an irresistible pressure. As Prince Huoye spoke, Venerable Yan Long, who was beside him, moved his eyes. A yellow light shot out from them, colliding with Mu Yubai's icy chain. With a soft sound, the icy chain dissipated in mid-air.

With Prince Huoye's intervention, Mu Yubai could no longer act. He gave Helyan Peng a cold glare, then returned to Yun Qinghong's side, his gaze fixed back on Yun Waitian.

"Brother, you were too impulsive," Mu Yurou said with a mixture of concern and chiding.

"Hehe, although Yubai can be impulsive, he's not reckless," Yun Qinghong said with a mysterious smile.

"Indeed, my brother-in-law understands me best, hehe," Mu Yubai chuckled.

"Uh, did Uncle Mu intentionally get angry just now?" Yun Xiao whispered to Yun Che, hearing their words.

"Yes," Yun Che nodded. "The more impulsive and agitated Senior Mu acts, the more normal they will find it… It seems Senior Mu is also testing something."

"Testing something? Testing what?" Yun Xiao was completely bewildered.

Yun Che glanced sideways at Prince Huoye, who wore a faint smile, and whispered, "The answer should be clear soon. Yun Xiao, no matter what happens later, don't be surprised."

"Ah? Oh…" Yun Xiao became even more confused.

"Patriarch Yun," Prince Huoye spoke again, this time addressing Yun Qinghong directly. In terms of seniority, Prince Huoye was Yun Qinghong's junior, so addressing him as "Patriarch Yun" was fine. However, his tone clearly lacked any respect, as Yun Qinghong was now completely crippled: "From this king's humble perspective, given your physical condition, you are indeed no longer suitable to lead the vast Yun clan. This king highly agrees with what Elder Yun Waitian said: choosing a new patriarch to lead the Yun family would be beneficial for both the Yun clan and for Patriarch Yun. What is your opinion, Patriarch Yun?"

"Alas," Grand Elder Yunhe sighed faintly. "For ten thousand years, the Yun family has been led by the patriarch's lineage, but given the Yun family's current situation, a change in leadership is an unavoidable measure."

Grand Elder Yunxi said, "Qinghong, you truly should rest properly now."

Grand Elder Yunjiang said, "It's not that we wish this, but your body and abilities are truly no longer capable of bearing the heavy burden of the family."

With the Grand Elders speaking and even Prince Huoye supporting the change of the Yun family patriarch, the change in leadership seemed set in stone. Everyone watched Yun Qinghong's reaction, but found his expression completely calm. He showed no sign of disappointment, not even a sigh. He slowly said, "Since the Grand Elders and His Highness Prince Huoye say so, I, Yun Qinghong, naturally have no objection. As the elders have been discussing the matter of replacing the patriarch for several months, I presume the candidate for the new patriarch has already been decided. Please inform me; if it is someone trustworthy who can command respect, I, Yun Qinghong, will gladly step down."

"Hmph! Does that even need asking?" Mu Yubai sneered, "Of course it's Grand Elder Yun Waitian, who went to such great lengths to organize this so-called clan competition, which is truly a veiled coup!"

"The matter of changing the patriarch was not my sole suggestion, but the decision of the entire Elder Council," Yun Waitian said without changing his expression. "How can I, Yun Waitian, be worthy? I would never dare to covet the position of patriarch!"