Chapter 35

PS: I humbly request your support and votes! I bow and beg...

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After Ximen Yanyan finished speaking, the hall fell into a dead silence. No one responded, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on the face of the Grand Elder.

Grand Elder Yang Yan, the elder brother of the previous Yunxiao City Lord Yang Lie, was ninety-five years old. At this moment, he had his eyes closed and his head lowered, as if he were asleep, showing no intention of speaking.

Suddenly, a middle-aged elder stood up and said, "I have a few words to say and a few questions to ask."

Ximen Yanyan replied, "Uncle Tang Bozhao, please go ahead."

This person had the same status as Ximen Wuyuan, both being sons-in-law of Yunxiao City. His wife was the daughter of Yang Lie’s other elder brother, so Ximen Yanyan called him her uncle. He ranked fifth in the Elder Council.

Tang Bozhao looked at Yang Dingtian and asked, "May I ask, what is your cultivation level?"

"Just past the启蒙期 (Enlightenment Stage)," Yang Dingtian replied.

"What?" Tang Bozhao exclaimed in shock, his face showing disbelief. "Just past the Enlightenment Stage? A person who has just passed the Enlightenment Stage is to become the new Yunxiao City Lord?"

"Under the leadership of Lord Ximen, our Yunxiao City has expanded its territory by a thousand miles through iron and blood, subjugating countless sects and forces. Because of Lord Ximen’s invincibility, our Yunxiao City has expanded its territory from less than a hundred miles to a thousand miles in just twenty years. In these twenty years, we have killed countless people and made countless enemies. When Lord Ximen was around, no one dared to challenge our Yunxiao City. However, now that Lord Ximen is gone, our Yunxiao City is in its most dangerous time."

"How many forces in this thousand-mile territory have deep-seated grudges against our Yunxiao City? How many forces are only outwardly submissive but inwardly full of hatred? If we show any weakness, these people will pounce and wipe out Yunxiao City. At such a time, are we to let a person who has just passed the Enlightenment Stage become the new Yunxiao City Lord?" Tang Bozhao said coldly. "Is this because you think our Yunxiao City is not dying fast enough?"

"Therefore, I firmly oppose Yang Dingtian becoming the successor to the Yunxiao City Lord," Tang Bozhao said resolutely.

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

...

Among the eight elders present, only two did not agree. Yanyan’s mother, who was in deep sorrow, sat there like a lifeless body, her soul having left with her husband.

Ximen Lie sat there in silence. The Grand Elder still had his head lowered and his eyes closed, as if he were asleep. Yanyan had no right to vote.

The other who did not agree was Ximen Ju, the city’s chief manager and Ximen Wuyuan’s second adopted son, who held the most power and was the most favored by Ximen Wuyuan.

When Yanyan saw that Ximen Ju did not raise his hand, a glimmer of relief flashed in her eyes. At least, her father’s beloved and trusted adopted son was still loyal.

Ximen Yanyan stared coldly at Tang Bozhao and said, "Do you intend to defy my father’s command?"

Tang Bozhao slowly replied, "May I ask, what evidence do you have that the City Lord designated Yang Dingtian as the successor to the Yunxiao City Lord? Has anyone else heard or seen this?"

At this moment, Ximen Yan slowly walked in, bowed to the elders, and said, "I was outside the door at the time, but I did not hear or see anything."

Tang Bozhao nodded and said, "Thank you for your testimony. You may leave."

Ximen Yan sneered at Yang Dingtian and then walked out.

Ximen Yanyan’s face turned pale, and she forced a cold smile. "Is it not enough that my father betrothed me to Yang Dingtian? Is it not enough that my husband can become the successor to the Yunxiao City Lord?"

Tang Bozhao said, "Who knows if you had a secret affair with him before, and that’s why you are plotting for him to become the Yunxiao City Lord?"

Ximen Yanyan’s body trembled, and a mouthful of blood almost burst out, but she forced it back.

Tang Bozhao continued, "Without the consent of your parents, a private marriage is invalid. Therefore, your marriage to Yang Dingtian does not count. As the daughter of the City Lord, you should have a better destiny and make greater contributions to Yunxiao City."

Yanyan’s expression changed, and she asked, "What do you mean?"

Tang Bozhao said, "Not long ago, the Qin family from the northwest sent a messenger, wanting to form an alliance with our Yunxiao City and make Miss Yanyan the young lady of the Qin family. In the past, our Yunxiao City might have ignored such a request. But now, we need a powerful ally to ensure the safety of Yunxiao City, as we have no Grand Master-level experts besides the City Lord."

It seemed that the Qin family from the northwest had already learned the truth about Ximen Wuyuan.

Ximen Yanyan could no longer hold back the blood, which overflowed from the corner of her mouth. She never imagined that these people not only wanted to strip Yang Dingtian of his position as the successor to the City Lord but also wanted to give her as a gift to the Qin family from the northwest.

"Uncle," Yanyan’s mother suddenly spoke, "My husband just... Are you Yang family so eager to rebel?"

Grand Elder Yang Yan opened his cloudy eyes and slowly said, "Lady Ximen, don’t forget that you are also a member of the Yang family."

Ximen Lady shook her head and said, "No, I am a member of the Ximen family, not the Yang family."

"Hmph, women are so ungrateful," another elder said angrily as he stood up. "Even if you, Yang Pei, are a member of the Ximen family, Yunxiao City has always belonged to the Yang family. It was only temporarily entrusted to Ximen Wuyuan. Now that Ximen Wuyuan is gone, Yunxiao City naturally belongs to the Yang family."

Ximen Lady Yang Pei’s eyes turned cold, and she said slowly, "Unfortunately, the Yang family has no one left except a few old men."

"Isn’t that because your man exterminated my Yang family?" the elder said furiously.

Ximen Lady said sternly, "Second Uncle, don’t forget. It was your Yang family who resented my husband for becoming the City Lord, colluded with external enemies, killed my father, and tried to kill our family to seize the City Lord’s position. Even so, my husband only killed the main culprits and spared most of their lives, merely driving them away."

"Furthermore, Second Uncle, you married your daughter to the Qin family as a secondary wife, trying to gain strong support. Now you want to give my daughter as a gift to the Qin family? That’s only if I’m dead first," Ximen Lady said coldly. "My husband betrothed Yanyan to Yang Dingtian, so Yang Dingtian is the new City Lord."

Then, Yang Pei suddenly drew her sword and said coldly, "Whoever opposes me, ask my sword first."

Ximen Lady was indeed a fiery-tempered woman.

"Hmph, then I will teach you a lesson, young one," the Second Elder said coldly, leaping up to charge at Yang Pei.

"Wait!" Yang Dingtian said.

The Second Elder said coldly, "What right do you have to speak here?"

Yang Dingtian said, "I know that with my current cultivation level, becoming the successor to Yunxiao City is a laughingstock. Not only will the elders not agree, but the disciples of Yunxiao City will not agree either."

Ximen Yanyan glared at him and said, "Yang Dingtian, what are you talking about?"

Yang Dingtian continued, "I remember that when City Lord Yang Lie designated his son-in-law Ximen Wuyuan as the new successor to Yunxiao City, it caused dissatisfaction among the Elder Council, especially among the Yang family. After City Lord Yang Lie’s death, Yunxiao City had no new City Lord for over a year. To quell the anger, Uncle Ximen Wuyuan proposed a grand martial competition to decide the new City Lord, allowing all nineteenth-generation disciples to participate."

Indeed, even though Ximen Wuyuan was designated as the successor by Yang Lie, he ultimately ascended to the position of City Lord by winning the grand martial competition.

Yang Dingtian continued, "Therefore, I propose that the new City Lord of Yunxiao City be decided by a grand martial competition. Whoever wins the competition will become the new City Lord. What do you think?"

After Yang Dingtian finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

A few minutes later, Grand Elder Yang Yan said, "When do you think the grand martial competition should be held?"

"Right," Tang Bozhao said coldly. "We can’t wait five or ten years. Yunxiao City can’t be without a leader for that long."

"In two years," Yang Dingtian said. "I once promised Ximen Yan that I would fight him in two years. If I lose, I will give up the position of successor and be expelled from Yunxiao City. So, let’s combine it with the grand martial competition."

"Two years is too long," Grand Elder Yang Yan said. "The position of City Lord cannot be vacant for that long. The grand martial competition must be held by next winter at the latest."

"No," Yang Pei said. "One and a half years is too short. It’s absolutely not acceptable."

The longer the grand martial competition was postponed, the more advantageous it would be for Yang Dingtian.

Yang Yan said calmly, "You oppose it? Fine, let’s vote. Those who agree to hold the grand martial competition on December 29th next winter, raise your hands."

Several elders immediately raised their hands.

It was still six to two. In the Elder Council vote, Yang Dingtian’s side was clearly at a disadvantage.

"The vote is passed," Yang Yan said calmly. "Yang Pei, Ximen Lie, will you abide by the Elder Council’s decision? If not, you will be expelled from the Elder Council!"

Yang Pei and Ximen Lie exchanged glances, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded. "We agree. The grand martial competition will be held on December 29th next year."

"Very well, then it’s settled. The meeting is adjourned," Yang Yan said, then got up and walked out with his cane.

After a few steps, Grand Elder Yang Yan said to Yang Dingtian, "Thank you for your suggestion, which solved a major problem for Yunxiao City. However, you cannot participate in the grand martial competition because you are not a disciple of Yunxiao City."

"What?" Yang Dingtian exclaimed in shock.

Ximen Yanyan and Ximen Lie’s faces also changed abruptly.

Grand Elder Yang Yan smiled and said, "Because you are not a disciple of Yunxiao City."

Yang Dingtian felt a chill in his heart. He thought Yang Yan was somewhat respected, but he never expected him to be so shameless.

Suppressing his anger, Yang Dingtian said coldly, "I am Ximen Yanyan’s husband and the son-in-law of the City Lord. How am I not a disciple of Yunxiao City? How can I not participate in the grand martial competition as the successor to the City Lord next year?"

Grand Elder