Struggle for Power

After several twists and turns, Wang Daoyuan finally returned to Jade Spring Peak three days later.

He did not return to his own cave dwelling. Instead, he headed straight for the Executive Hall by Jade Dragon Spring to report the details of this journey to Great Elder Wang Zhiren.

Previously, a small number of Rogue Cultivators who had taken part in the demon beast extermination had already returned, bringing news that the battle situation was unfavorable.

Yet not a single one of the Wang Clan Patriarch's party that had joined the demon beast extermination had returned. The elders remaining behind were all anxious as cats on a hot tin roof. When they saw Wang Daoyuan return, Wang Zhiren was overjoyed and immediately summoned the Lineage elders for a meeting to put everyone's minds at ease.

After all, both the Wang Clan Patriarch and the designated Patriarch Successor had been part of this expedition. If something happened to them, a struggle for power and position within the Lineage would be unavoidable.

Before long, all the Wang Clan elders still on Jade Spring Peak hurried to the council hall. The Wang Clan had ten elders in total. Two were outside, their fates unknown; Ninth Granduncle Wang Shoude was stationed at Qingli Market; and seven elders remained on Jade Spring Peak to handle the daily affairs.

As soon as the elders arrived, they surrounded Wang Daoyuan and bombarded him with questions. Once everyone had assembled, Wang Zhiren said, "Silence. Everyone is here now. Let Daoyuan explain what exactly happened first."

Wang Daoyuan briefly described the conflict outside Golden Goose City when they entered the city, as well as how the Qi Refining cultivators escaped. Then he said solemnly, "The Netherworld Sect elder ordered the Qi Refining cultivators to withdraw, while the Foundation Establishment Cultivators held back the Spirit Insects. Before we withdrew, the Patriarch made it clear that if he could not return, Twelfth Uncle Wang Shouye was to inherit the position of Patriarch. If Twelfth Uncle could not return either, then Third Brother Wang Daochang was to inherit the position."

The elders did not doubt Wang Daoyuan's account. Wang Shouye was the Lineage's designated successor, and Wang Daochang had repeatedly been praised by the Patriarch for his steady temperament. He had the makings of a Patriarch. Everything Wang Daoyuan said was reasonable and proper, without the slightest flaw.

Still, believing something in one's heart and admitting it aloud were two different matters. Though there were no flaws in Wang Daoyuan's words, they were ultimately nothing but empty words, with neither witnesses nor physical evidence.

At that moment, a middle-aged elder spoke. "Does Daoyuan have any proof of these words?"

This middle-aged elder was named Wang Shoufeng. He ranked sixth among the Shou generation. His aptitude was excellent, second only to Wang Shouye among his peers, and he was twenty years older than Wang Shouye.

Before Wang Shouye began cultivating, Wang Shoufeng had always been one of the Lineage's key prospects. He had a strong chance of becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the future and inheriting the position of Patriarch.

However, Wang Shouye had burst onto the scene. His aptitude was the best the Wang Clan had seen since its ancestor, utterly crushing Wang Shoufeng.

Afterward, Wang Shouye's cultivation advanced at breakneck speed, and he actually reached the Qi Refining Peak before Wang Shoufeng. Moreover, Wang Shouye was broad-minded and never sought personal gain, giving him great prestige within the Lineage. Wang Shoufeng, on the other hand, was too selfish and far from upright in his conduct. He was not a qualified successor.

Once Wang Shouye reached the Qi Refining Peak, he was designated as the Patriarch Successor. When the Lineage eventually smashed pots and sold iron to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, it would naturally be given to him.

Wang Shoufeng had always borne a grudge against Wang Shouye, believing that Wang Shouye had stolen what rightfully belonged to him.

Now that Wang Shouye's life and death were unknown outside, Wang Shoufeng saw an opportunity. He wanted to seize back what had originally belonged to him.

Although Wang Shoufeng's question was one whose answer everyone already knew, and everyone believed Wang Daoyuan was telling the truth, Wang Daoyuan truly had no evidence to offer.

"Since there is no proof, there is no way to verify whether this is true or false. Then how should we decide who becomes Patriarch?"

Wang Daoyuan sank into thought. The Patriarch had not left anything behind when he said those words. Sixth Uncle was clearly unwilling to acknowledge them. He wanted to seize power and become Patriarch. Wang Daoyuan was not an elder and held no real authority, so he had no right to speak on this matter.

Left with no other choice, he could only resort to a delaying tactic. "When the Patriarch said this, all ten of us were present. Since I managed to escape back, the other clansmen may not necessarily have been unable to escape as well.

If anyone else returns, let him relay the Patriarch's words. If his account does not differ from mine, that will prove it is true. What do the elders think?"

Afraid that Wang Shoufeng would stir up more trouble, Wang Zhiren quickly said, "Daoyuan's words are reasonable. We will wait until the next clansman returns before making a decision."

Besides the Great Elder, three other elders voiced their agreement, giving them the numerical advantage.

Wang Shoufeng had no excuse to oppose this and agreed with Wang Daoyuan as well. "Daoyuan's words are reasonable. But a family cannot go a single day without a head. Before then, someone must act in the Patriarch's stead."

Two elders echoed Wang Shoufeng's words.

Wang Daoyuan thought to himself, Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Even the Lineage is not a harmonious whole. They have already split into two factions. If the Lineage grows stronger in the future, who knows what it might turn into.

With the Patriarch present, no one dared make trouble. Now that the Patriarch had gone out and had yet to return, the Great Elder could not suppress them. These three elders had immediately jumped out to cause a ruckus.

Yet Wang Daoyuan had no solution either. Whether in seniority, strength, or actual authority, he had no standing to voice an opinion. He could only watch helplessly.

Suddenly, an overbearing aura pressed down upon them, leaving everyone somewhat short of breath. Then an aged yet imposing voice rang out. "How about this old man acting in the Patriarch's stead?"

The voice felt both familiar and unfamiliar to Wang Daoyuan. It was undoubtedly his great-grandfather, Wang Jize. What felt unfamiliar was that Wang Jize had always spoken with warmth and kindness. Wang Daoyuan had never realized that the old man possessed such a domineering side.

Wang Jize had always remained in the Scripture Repository and never involved himself in the Lineage's affairs. Everyone had forgotten that the Lineage still had such a Supreme Elder.

Wang Jize, his beard and hair white as snow, stepped through the doors of the council hall. His once-hunched back had become as straight and unyielding as an ancient pine.

"As the Supreme Elder, I will act in the Patriarch's stead. Do any of you have objections?"

Great Elder Wang Zhiren and the other four were overjoyed and repeatedly declared that they had none. Though Wang Shoufeng and the other three were deeply displeased, they did not dare raise any objections.

The position of Supreme Elder was generally held by an elder of the Patriarch's generation, and that person's cultivation also had to be sufficiently high. His status was no lower than the Patriarch's, perhaps even higher, though he normally did not manage affairs and held no actual authority.

However, the Supreme Elder possessed one great power: the power to depose and appoint Patriarchs. With the Patriarch absent and yet to return, it was perfectly reasonable for the Supreme Elder to temporarily act in the Patriarch's stead.

Wang Daoyuan was not qualified to express his views before the elders. That was the Lineage's rule. Before the Supreme Elder, the elders likewise had no right to object. That too was the rule.

Watching Wang Shoufeng and the other three get stifled, Wang Daoyuan felt utterly delighted. Though he was not familiar with this Sixth Uncle, Wang Shoufeng was still fighting for power and profit at a moment when the Lineage stood at the brink of survival. If such a man who sacrificed the public good for private interests became Patriarch, the Lineage would soon be finished.

"Since none of you have objections, this old man will issue orders. From this day onward, Zhiren will handle all Lineage affairs with full authority. At a time when the Lineage faces a crisis of life and death, Shoufeng still harbors selfish motives. Strip him of his position as elder and have him shut himself away at home to reflect on his errors. Without an order from this old man or the Patriarch, he is not to leave.

The remaining elders are to guard the Lineage's foundations well. Prepare for the worst. This old man will personally make a trip to Qingli Market and bring Daochang back. If Zhian and Shouye both fail to return, Daochang will take over as Patriarch.

Should anyone again disregard the Lineage's survival for personal gain, they will be punished without mercy."

Everyone answered in unison, "Yes."