You Are Not Worthy of Being Clan Head

The Seventh Elder shook his head and sighed. "Clan Head, how are you going to answer to our ancestors for the situation we're in now?"

The First Elder, Third Elder, and Seventh Elder had always been the most dissatisfied with Wang Yan's actions. Thus, at the family meeting, they immediately questioned him.

Seeing the First Elder and the other two being so disrespectful to the clan head, the Ninth Elder angrily snapped, "First Elder, how can you speak to the clan head like that?! The clan head shed blood for the Wang Family back then. Without him, how could the Wang Family have today's prosperity?"

The Second Elder, Wang Yan's trusted confidant, stroked his beard and chimed in, "The clan head did it for the good of our Wang Family as well. Back then, the Second Prince held the greatest power. The clan head's choice was not wrong. If the Second Prince became Crown Prince, our Wang Family would surely become a new top-tier family of the Sun and Moon Empire."

Another elder immediately added, "What use is there in questioning the clan head now? What happened has already happened. What we should be thinking about is how to solve it!"

Elder Wang Yuan said, "Elders, stop arguing. Arguing won't solve anything. Let's discuss this properly and work it out!"

The elders who supported Wang Yan, those who opposed him, and those trying to mediate all descended into a heated argument.

For a time, the entire hall buzzed incessantly, like hundreds of flies droning about chaotically.

Wang Yan sat at the head of the hall, watching the elders argue below him. His aged face remained utterly calm.

His gaze was as tranquil as water, betraying no emotion, as though he did not care in the slightest about the objections of the First Elder and the others.

In truth, that was indeed the case, because Wang Yan was currently planning how to assassinate Crown Prince Xu Tianran.

As long as Xu Tianran died, every problem would be solved. Then, the Second Prince would become Crown Prince and ascend the throne, he himself would break through to become a Titled Douluo, and under his leadership, the Wang Family would reach new heights.

If the assassination failed, then everything would be over. Everyone would die, and there would be nothing left to discuss.

Wang Yan had no intention of telling the family members that he planned to assassinate Crown Prince Xu Tianran.

In Wang Yan's eyes, the fewer people who knew about assassinating the Crown Prince, the better. If too many people knew, word might inevitably leak out.

If Xu Tianran learned beforehand that someone intended to assassinate him and made preparations, the difficulty of the assassination would undoubtedly rise by several levels. Killing Xu Tianran then would be far more difficult.

Moreover, assassination valued quality over quantity. Too many people would make them easy to discover. At that point, it would no longer be an assassination, but an open frontal assault.

And could a frontal assault succeed? Obviously not. If they caused too much of a commotion, the Soul Engineer Legion and Ninth Level Soul Engineers would discover them in no time. Then, death would be inevitable.

Furthermore, the more people involved, the harder it would be to flee and conceal their tracks.

Back when Wang Yan and several others had discussed the matter at the Second Prince's residence, they had decided that the number of assassins could absolutely not exceed five.

They had also already drawn up the list of assassins. Every one of them was a powerhouse among Soul Douluos.

All they needed was to confirm Xu Tianran's itinerary, find a sparsely populated location, set up an ambush in advance, and then strike.

Just as Wang Yan was lost in thought, the Wang Family elders' argument grew increasingly fierce.

The noise was so great that even Wang Yan could not help frowning.

Wang Yan spoke. "Silence!"

The moment Wang Yan finished speaking, most of the elders in the hall immediately stopped arguing.

Clearly, Wang Yan had been clan head for decades and had long established his authority. Even though he had made a grave mistake in judgment, most of the elders still did not dare defy his orders.

Only the First Elder, who had broken through to the Soul Douluo realm a year ago, continued speaking.

The First Elder snorted coldly. "Clan Head, you haven't said a word since the beginning. It seems you know just how wrong your decision back then was.

"Clan Head, you're getting old. You should retire and enjoy your remaining years as soon as possible. You are no longer suited to be the Wang Family's clan head. Hand the position over to the younger generation."

Strength was clearly the source of one's courage. After breaking through to the Soul Douluo realm, the First Elder no longer feared Wang Yan, the clan head who stood at the same level as him.

After all, Wang Yan was old. If they truly fought, the First Elder believed that even if he was not Wang Yan's match, the gap would not be great.

Upon hearing the First Elder's words, a trace of chill appeared on Wang Yan's previously impassive face.

He had served as the Wang Family's clan head for so many years, always having the final say. Yet now, someone actually dared to defy him so openly. This was utter rebellion.

Wang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and asked the First Elder, "First Elder, are you saying that I, Wang Yan, am unfit to be clan head?"

The surrounding elders did not even dare breathe loudly.

The First Elder was completely unafraid and directly fired back, "Wang Yan, I admit that you used to be a qualified clan head. But now, you are not worthy!"

Wang Yan laughed in extreme anger. "Good, good, good! Very good!"

As soon as he spoke, eight Soul Rings emerged around Wang Yan, and a savage-looking Soul Tool Armor appeared over his body.

Several Soul Rings lit up at once. Wang Yan threw a punch, and although the First Elder summoned both his martial soul and Soul Tools and fought with all his strength, he was still unable to contend against him.

After three moves, the First Elder was blasted out of the Ancestral Hall. His chest caved in beneath the blow, and he coughed up blood before passing out on the spot.

For a moment, all the elders widened their eyes and stared at Wang Yan in disbelief. "That power... could it be a Ninth Level Soul Tool?!

"No, that's not right. It's still a little short..."

Wang Yan looked at the elders and said in a deep voice, "As long as I remain, the Wang Family will not fall. If anyone else has objections to me as clan head, speak up!"

The elders looked at one another. In the end, the meeting concluded amid a suffocating atmosphere, and each elder left the Ancestral Hall with their own thoughts.

As the elders departed, the entire Ancestral Hall fell silent, leaving only the crackling of whale oil incense candles burning and the occasional faint sound of wind.

Wang Yan remained there alone, quietly gazing at the ancestral tablets within the Ancestral Hall.

After a long while, Wang Yan muttered, "I, Wang Yan, have no regrets."

By the time Wang Chen returned home, it was already night.

A full moon hung high in the sky, the stars glittered brightly, and silver moonlight spilled across the earth.

The moment Wang Chen arrived home, his parents, who had not seen their son in a long time, began lecturing him.

Wang's Father and Wang's Mother had no idea of Wang Chen's current strength or influence. Seeing him return, their eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Chen'er, you child, you've been away from home for so long without even sending word that you were safe."

Wang's Mother's eyes were full of worry and affection. She held Wang Chen's hand and examined him repeatedly, as though trying to make sure he had not been injured.

Wang's Father said from the side, "Son, Xu Tianran is the Crown Prince now. Stop running around everywhere."

Wang Chen quietly listened to his parents' nagging, warmth rising in his heart. He knew that they must have worried greatly while he had been away.

Wang Chen smiled and reassured them, "Dad, Mom, don't worry. Aren't I fine? I've also made quite a few friends out there. I'll take good care of myself."

Wang Chen quickly calmed his parents, and then the family of three enjoyed a rare and happy reunion dinner.

Time passed in a flash, and the next day arrived.

After visiting Elder Wang Yuan that morning, Wang Chen learned what had happened at the family meeting the night before.

He was dumbfounded. Seriously? That old bastard Wang Yan, who already had one foot in the grave, was actually this strong?