Wayfarer

Chapter 700: Status Conferred

Atop Taiyi Peak, the six Mountain Lords in attendance were divided into two factions. Four supported the Demon Child as Mountain Lord, and two did not.

The situation quickly grew more complex.

As the Taiyi bell continued to toll, more cultivators arrived. The remaining Mountain Lords, however, didn't appear in person. They only sent their representatives, who weren't qualified to discuss the nomination of the Demon Child.

"The hierarch has arrived!" a voice suddenly shouted.

A group of Yuqing disciples were flying toward Taiyi Peak, a middle-aged man in purple robes at their lead. He held a horsetail whisk in hand and had a natural air of authority and grace about him, even without unleashing his aura.

"We greet the Yuqing hierarch!" All the Yuqing disciples bowed.

The middle-aged man was none other than the Yuqing hierarch Shi Tianbei.

Shi Tianbei turned to the gathered crowd. "The tolling of the Taiyi bell signals that a major event will take place. What is the nature of this event?"

The Demon Child stepped forward. "Hierarch, I am the Demon Child, a holy child of Yuqing. Sage Green Lotus conspired against me, and I was barely able to defeat him in self-defense. I have just returned to the sect, only to be slandered and maligned by some Yuqing disciples. I ask for your support in enforcing sect law. Can ordinary disciples of the Yuqing holy land so casually denigrate me?"

Everyone turned toward the Demon Child in astonishment.

When had the Demon Child learned to speak like that? He was taking advantage of his status to make life difficult for ordinary disciples!

If any of them were to speak out publicly against the Demon Child now, they would surely be punished by sect law.

A few disciples of Taiyi Peak had been hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to report their misgivings to the Yuqing Hierarch, but how were they supposed to do so now? The Demon Child had done so first, and his actions were just according to sect law. They fell silent, knowing that they would only be disadvantaged by speaking up now. No one wanted to end up like the two unconscious disciples from before.

Shi Tianbei and the Mountain Lords all eyed Xiao Nanfeng.

One Mountain Lord demanded, "Xiao Nanfeng, you're the one who taught the Demon Child to say all this, aren't you? Do you treat him as your puppet? Are you trying to take over the Yuqing holy land?"

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "Hardly, Mountain Lord. I'm only a guest that the Demon Child has invited. His cultivation is extraordinary. How could I have made him into a puppet? If you don't believe me, Mountain Lords, feel free to examine him and see if I've laid a curse or anything of the sort on him."

The Demon Child himself cried out, "How dare you criticize my guest? Why does it matter to you how I talk? You'd accuse me of being controlled? Come examine my body, then! If you can't, I'll beat you up myself!"

The Mountain Lord grimaced. What was there to examine? Everyone knew full well that the Demon Child certainly wasn't being controlled. However, it was clear that Xiao Nanfeng had undue influence in teaching him how to act, making him particularly annoying to deal with.

Shi Tianbei frowned. "Demon Child, I will investigate the disciples that are besmirching your name. However, my question is why the Taiyi bell is ringing. What's going on?"

"Hierarch, the Taiyi Peak is now without a Mountain Lord. I am the foremost successor to that position, and I ask for your and the other Mountain Lords' support."

One Mountain Lord stepped forward. "Hierarch, the Demon Child is indeed the foremost successor to be the next Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."

"Hierarch, the Demon Child can take on that role."

"The Demon Child is the rightful successor."

"We Mountain Lords support nominating the Demon Child as the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."

Three Mountain Lords stepped forward to pledge their agreement.

Shi Tianbei frowned. "The position of Mountain Lord is monumentous. How can we decide on one this readily? We'll need to think more carefully about this. Don't make a fuss about it today."

The Demon Child frowned, but Xiao Nanfeng sent him a mental transmission to calm down.

Just then, loud laughter suddenly came from afar. "Hierarch, the representatives of all twelve peaks of Yuqing are present, as are you. We're already treating this matter with due diligence. Is there any need to tarry? Could there be secret plans in motion?"

Everyone turned to see Yang Chuan heading over, waving a white paper fan as he did so. He looked particularly carefree and relaxed.

"We greet the Mountain Lord of Yujiang!" chorused countless Yuqing disciples.

Yang Chuan smiled and nodded. He flew up to Taiyi Peak and looked toward Shi Tianbei.

"I greet the Yuqing hierarch." Yang Chuan sketched a brief bow.

Shi Tianbei frowned. "Mountain Lord Yang, what do you want?"

"Nothing, Hierarch. As a Yuqing disciple, I have the duty to uphold Yuqing's laws. I saw the situation at Taiyi Peak earlier. Perhaps you see farther than I do, but the Yuqing laws must be upheld. The selection of a Mountain Lord should be in accordance with those laws," Yang Chuan said firmly, even as he smiled.

Many were astonished. Yang Chuan seemed to be going against the Yuqing hierarch. Of course, some people had been informed of what was going to happen beforehand.

"The Yuqing laws, you say? Very well." Shi Tianbei smiled.

"First, the nomination of a new Mountain Lord requires a nominee, who has to secure the recommendation of half the disciples of Taiyi Peak. The Demon Child is an exception, considering that he's a holy child of the peak and is thus inherently a nominee. Isn't that so?" Yang Chuan began.

"Indeed."

"Next, at least half the Mountain Lords in attendance must approve of this nominee, followed by the hierarch."

One Mountain Lord objected. "Some Mountain Lords aren't present. What do we do about them?"

"Only six Mountain Lords need to agree, so it doesn't matter if the remaining six are all absent. As for me, I intend to uphold the sect laws and support the nomination of the Demon Child as the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."

"I support the nomination."

"I approve."

"I'm in support."

"Me too!"

The four Mountain Lords from before immediately agreed with Yang Chuan.

"What do you think, everyone?" Yang Chuan asked.

Shi Tianbei frowned. He didn't speak. He glanced at another Mountain Lord, who turned to Yang Chuan. "Mountain Lord Yang, only five Mountain Lords are in support of the Demon Child at the moment. I'm afraid that's insufficient."

"Another Mountain Lord should be back soon enough. Let's wait a little longer," Yang Chuan said.

Everyone was confused, even Shi Tianbei.

With Yang Chuan present, the stalemate between the original six Mountain Lords had been broken. Xiao Nanfeng could tell that Yang Chuan had paid no small price to have the four Mountain Lords support the Demon Child in this venture.

However, not only did Yang Chuan need to secure half the Mountain Lords' approval, Shi Tianbei himself would have to approve as well. How was Yang Chuan going to gain Shi Tianbei's approval?

Could the final Mountain Lord Yang Chuan was waiting for be able to change Shi Tianbei's mind? Who was it?

Just as everyone was getting impatient, loud cries could be heard from afar.

"Mountain Lord Xia is back!" someone suddenly shouted.

"Xia Xingchen's back?" The Mountain Lords' eyes lit up in surprise.

"Xia Xingchen?" Shi Tianbei was taken aback as well.

Even Xiao Nanfeng was surprised. What was Yu'er's father doing here? Wasn't he supposed to be guarding Yu'er? Or could she already have returned, too?

Light flashed by as Xia Xingchen descended on Taiyi Peak.

"Apologies for the bother to have you return, Mountain Lord Xia," Yang chuan said.

The implication was that Yang Chuan had specifically sent for Xia Xingchen, whom no one had been able to contact to date. How had Yang Chuan done it?

Xia Xingchen glanced around him and gave Xiao Nanfeng an odd look when he noticed him.

"Mountain Lord Xia, have you been there?" Shi Tianbei asked expectantly.

Many Yuqing disciples didn't know what the Yuqing hierarch was talking about, but all the Mountain Lords did. The greatest secret of the Yuqing holy land, the purple moon illusory realm, had been activated. Xia Yu'er was the first to enter, and Xia Xingchen had been guarding his daughter. It was likely that he too had ventured within the purple moon illusory realm.

"Hierarch, Mountain Lords, let's discuss that somewhere quiet later," Xia Xingchen replied, bowing.

"Very well!" Shi Tianbei said.

The other Mountain Lords nodded in anticipation.

"Mountain Lord Xia, I've conveyed the situation regarding the Demon Child to you. Are you in support of the Demon Child being the Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak?" Yang Chuan asked.

Xia Xingchen glanced at the Demon Child and ultimately nodded. "I've learned of what's going on. Sage Green Lotus deserved to die for willfully ignoring Yuqing laws. The Demon Child is innocent, and indeed the foremost successor to the position. I am in support."

"Very good. In that case, we have a quorum. The nomination of the Demon Child now passes to the hierarch. Hierarch, what do you think?"

Shi Tianbei frowned, not expecting that Yang Chuan would have convinced five Mountain Lords on behalf of the Demon Child. Why was he trying so hard?

"The Demon Child is ultimately too young," Shi Tianbei replied, frowning.

Xia Xingchen shook his head. "Hierarch, when you sought to marry my daughter into the Southeastern Aquatic Palace, you claimed that age was immaterial to holy children and maidens the moment that status was conferred on them, that their role was to serve the Yuqing holy land in whatever capacity applicable."

Shi Tianbei narrowed his eyes. He knew that Xia Xingchen was still upset about his arrangements regarding Xia Yu'er's marriage. He had said that age was no obstacle.

He already had someone in mind for managing Taiyi Peak, but Yang Chuan and Xia Xingchen both seemed intent on protecting the Demon Child. This was troublesome—he might be able to ignore Yang Chuan's request, but he had to care about Xia Xingchen's attitude. After all, the latter had critical information about the purple moon illusory realm. If he were to go against law and custom now, would Xia Xingchen do the same and report nothing of value about the purple moon illusory realm to him?

In order to learn everything he could about the purple moon illusory realm, Shi Tianbei could only nod. "Since there are six Mountain Lords in agreement, I too shall approve. I hereby declare the Demon Child the new Mountain Lord of Taiyi Peak."