Chapter 971: Qingyun Sect Patriarch

Qingyun Sect.

Liu Wenchen and the elders of the Nine Peaks gathered in the Main Peak Hall. Everyone was an old acquaintance; the only new face was Nie Yunxi, the new elder of Heavenly Sword Peak. At the third level of Core Formation, she had taken over Li Qingfeng's elder position, now bearing the responsibility for the rise and fall of her peak.

However, today, the sect master and elders were merely observers and witnesses. The ten Grand Elders gathered here were to collectively decide on an important matter.

Zhuang Yuanyin's face was flushed with health; thanks to the Rank Three spiritual pill personally refined by the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets, his old injuries had healed considerably. Now, the news that Jiang Fan was about to undergo tribulation made him look even better, full of vigor and high spirits.

“Cough, cough, everyone, you've all received the news,” he announced. “Jiang Fan, a disciple of my Main Peak, will undergo tribulation in the Northern Lands on the tenth day of the first month. This is indeed great news.”

Watching his gleeful expression, Shi Kaitian rolled his eyes. “This old geezer was more tolerable when he was sickly!”

Huang Zhantian bared his large yellow teeth in a grin: “Looking so rosy, it must be a final burst of energy before the end, right?”

Qin Wangchuan's remarks were even more venomous: “When it's time for the feast, there must be eighteen tables!”

Far from stopping Zhuang Yuanyin from showing off, the envious and hateful gazes only made him more smug. “Grand Elders of the various peaks, our Main Peak has produced a disciple who will undergo tribulation. You all need to work harder.”

Huang Zhantian couldn't listen anymore and snorted, “Get to the point!”

Only then did Zhuang Yuanyin clear his throat, regain a serious demeanor, and say with a stern expression: “Everyone, regarding the item passed down by our Ancestral Master, I believe it has found its destined owner. The Ancestral Master once said that this item could only be passed to a disciple who is a true dragon. It requires the unanimous vote of all ten Grand Elders of each generation to be passed on. Now, I wish to pass it to Jiang Fan. I wonder if the Grand Elders agree.”

Huang Zhantian raised his hand without hesitation and said, “I agree! As early as when this boy cultivated the 'Sword Heart Engraving,' I discovered his unparalleled comprehension, and at that time, I decided to cast my vote for him.”

Zheng Qiushuang nodded and said, “I also agree to pass it to him.”

Shi Kaitian snorted, “If not him, then who?”

Qin Wangchuan tossed the braid hanging over her chest and said fiercely, “Everyone vote for Jiang Fan. If anyone doesn't, I'll deal with them!”

The rest of the Grand Elders raised their hands one after another. Only when it came to the Grand Elder of Reincarnation Peak did he not immediately vote, but instead looked towards Feng Guzen. “Guzen, what do you say?”

Several Grand Elders frowned. In fact, Qingyun Sect had produced two "true dragons" over the years. One was Jiang Fan, who was truly deserving and made them proud. Before him, there was another, named Nangong Liuyun, a prodigy whose talent surpassed even Yun Tianzhou. He had become a disciple of Feng Guzen.

Later, having achieved some success in his studies, he felt there was nothing more to learn in Qingyun Sect, so he crossed the vast sea to Taicang Great State. Before leaving, he left his younger sister to the care of Qingyun Sect, promising to return and repay their kindness once he achieved greater mastery. Eight years had passed in a flash, and they had always hoped for his return. But there had been no news of him. Until they unexpectedly learned that he was now a disciple of a Soul Transformation Realm expert, they understood why he hadn't returned. He was now a renowned disciple of a Soul Transformation Venerable in Taicang Great State. His origin from a declining small sect was a label he wished to shed. They had not bothered him over the years.

Only Feng Guzen still held out hope for this disciple. Now, with the vote, he was probably still thinking of that disciple who never returned, wanting to save the ancestral item for him, right? Moreover, Feng Guzen had always been at odds with the Main Peak. He would be even less willing to let a disciple from the Main Peak benefit.

Feng Guzen had kept his eyes closed. Hearing this, he slowly opened them, and said calmly, “Master, what is there to ask? Of course, I vote for Jiang Fan.”

Everyone was stunned. They hadn't expected Feng Guzen to make such a decision. As if sensing what everyone was thinking, a look of relief appeared on Feng Guzen's face: “One who shows no concern for Qingyun Sect. One who, out of anger over Elder Li Qingfeng's death, annihilated the entire Giant Sect. Which one is more qualified to receive the Ancestral Master's item? Does it even need to be said?”

Li Qingfeng's death had a profound impact on him as well. After that incident, he rarely argued with the elders of other peaks over resources; he had become much more detached from fame and gain. Now, he showed even greater understanding of righteousness. Everyone present looked at Feng Guzen with renewed respect. The Grand Elder who was once annoying, even making people grit their teeth in anger, had changed.

Zhuang Yuanyin nodded and announced loudly, “Good! Since everyone has no objections, then the Ancestral Master's legacy item will be inherited by Jiang Fan! On the tenth day of the first month, we will all gather in the Northern Lands!”

East Sea.

Beneath the surging waves, Yizhu Demon Empress sat upon a towering red coral, her pink long dress gently swaying with the current, clinging to her body and highlighting her graceful and lithe figure. On her exquisitely beautiful face, her lovely eyes gazed at a group of fish demons rebuilding the East Sea Imperial Palace, lost in thought.

“Mother, are you thinking about Uncle Jiang?”

The sudden voice made her quickly snap out of her thoughts. She truly was thinking about Jiang Fan. She had heard some news about Jiang Fan; it seemed he had encountered something very sad, and she couldn't help but worry. Teased by the Second Prince, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed and annoyed: “I told you not to mention him! Haven't you caused enough misunderstandings for me?”

The Second Prince chuckled, “It's not that I want to mention him. It's a letter from the mainland demon race, about Uncle Jiang...” He hadn't finished speaking.

His hand suddenly felt empty; the Yizhu Demon Empress had snatched the letter and quickly unfolded it to read. Her beautiful eyes immediately filled with intense joy: “My sworn brother is about to undergo tribulation! The tenth day of the first month, in the Northern Lands of the demon race!”

The Second Prince, hearing this, slapped his thigh: “Oh! Mother! How good would it have been if you had listened to me back then? If you had married Uncle Jiang, wouldn't our East Sea now have two Nascent Soul cultivators? Ignoring your son's advice leads to immediate regrets!”

Yizhu Demon Empress's delicate eyebrows instantly shot up in anger. She took off her shoe and chased him, hitting him: “You wretched thing! How dare you spout nonsense!”

The Second Prince ran while saying, “I'm not talking nonsense! I heard from the South Sea people that Uncle Jiang was almost captured by the South Sea Demon Empress! If you don't fight for Uncle Jiang, others naturally will.”

South Sea.

Jiumeng Demon Empress finished handling the last memorial of the day. She stretched languidly, her smooth, silky long dress outlining her perfect figure. Her long, straight, and slender legs were incredibly fair.

Suddenly, she sneezed without warning. “Is someone thinking of me? Is it Jiang Fan? He wouldn't be thinking of me. It must be me thinking of him, right?”

Gazing at the faintly glowing luminous pearl on the table, she recalled the scene of their parting. She instinctively pursed her red lips, as if savoring the fleeting farewell. “I can't think of him anymore. He and I are merely passersby in each other's lives. He is the unexpected heavy rain, and I am the rainbow after the rain. We only brushed past each other the moment the torrential rain stopped, and then there will be no more intersection...”

Knock, knock—

A knock sounded at the door, and an excited royal elder said, “Jiang Fan is here to see you.”

She stood up in a panic, her slender jade legs bumping the desk, causing it to shake. The teacup overturned, spilling water all over the table.

Jiang... Jiang Fan is here?