The very next day after Huang Cixi's visit to her rival, Huang Si got notified that most operations against her had stopped. In fact, even some competitors that had been helped against her own shops had extended their help to those very same shops. Apparently, they wanted to form commercial relationships. If Huang Si were to disagree, she would probably alienate her contacts in those establishments. After all, they had been struggling against the competition and the proposals they had received were all very balanced and beneficial to all. But Huang Si knew that those proposals were just a way for Huang Cixi to show her that a mutually beneficial situation was better than a competition for the matriarch position.
And in the very same week, she learned about capital movements toward the Subei Province. The funds weren't very important and were presented as a way to relieve the soldiers garrisoned on the border. But Huang Si clearly understood what they meant. Either she could follow her former rival's example and have a prosper future as a first elder or she could keep being stubborn and she would have to fight over the Subei Province's mines. Of course, if Huang Cixi were to obtain those mines, or just the majority of them, she would be able to become the next matriarch easily. However, to do so without being too conspicuous would take some time. And no matter how careful they were, if both sisters were to fight over that province, it would end up being revealed to all one way or the other.
Huang Si did not sleep for more than ten days straight. She even skipped all her meals. For an early Mortal Warrior, this wasn't a problem at all. But this showed how much she had to consider her situation. Deep down she didn't want to admit her defeat in front of this young girl who was almost fifteen years her junior.
Weighing all her alternatives, she finally let out a sigh in front of the worried Cai Ying.
"Contact the elders supporting me. Tell them that I will drop out of the competition. From now on, they are free to support Huang Cixi. However, add that I will soon apply to become an elder. It shouldn't take me twenty years to become a Spirit Warrior, especially if I consume some high-level pills. Then, I will need their support. But don't say anything about Elder Huang Jian. Make sure that Elder Huang Xi is the first one you talk to and that all the other elders know of it. And also give her this letter."
Huang Si gave a small letter with her seal on it. The content was encrypted. But in substance, she explained that Elder Huang Jian was soon going to retire and she wanted her to take his place as the first elder. Among her supporters, Huang Xi was the one she trusted the most for this task. She knew that she wouldn't try to stay first elder after her own ascension to the rank of elder. Huang Xi had no grand ambition but she was competent and had a very good reputation, albeit a bit plain.
"What about Huang Cixi?"
"Hmph. No need to tell her anything, she'll know the moment you go visit Elder Huang Xi."
Now that her decision had been made, Huang Si's tension disappeared and she went to bed in the middle of the day. Sleeping was not as essential to Mortal Warriors as it was to mere mortals or even Mortal cultivators. It could even be replaced by meditation for the most part, although a little bit of sleep was always vital. Apart from that, it still felt quite good, especially after a tensed period like the one Huang Si had endured.
As a first elder, she would have a bit less influence, but paradoxically more freedom. Governor Leng would not be as intransigent on her business. It was his duty to control the Huang family so that it didn't grow too powerful. Although the elders were part of the Huang family, they had more leeway since their own assets were technically separate from the main branch's. The matriarch could not mobilize all their assets as easily as she could use the resources officially belonging to her family. This system was very useful to make sure that the family could prosper without worrying the Imperial City. Separating their assets showed that they did not intend to compete against the crown.
Also her personal life could be more loose. Huang Si had nothing in particular to hide, but as a young woman, she still wanted to have a bit of fun here and there. Being a matriarch would diminish what she could do with her free time and her own money.
In the end, she had decided to trade power and prestige for freedom and money.
-
Huang Cixi knew almost instantly that her offer had been accepted when Cai Ying was seen entering Elder Huang Xi's chambers. Immediately, she sent word to Ye Zhiyun and Hall Master Fang. Everything she had invested to fight against Huang Si had come from the Xiliang Mines. Hall Master Fang had even added a bit of his own funds as he saw that her plans were very interesting, especially in the Subei Province. Now, she gave them the order to work harmoniously with her senior sister. This would reduce the pressure on the mines and the profits could increase swiftly through many alliances.
Also, her investments in the Subei Province stayed minimal and they had to never clash with Huang Si's. No matter how much the young woman had invested, Huang Cixi knew that there were venues she had had to let go. The Huang family would control all the hidden ores of the military province. As the next matriarch, trying and almost taking over a province could be seen as an act of defiance against the Imperial City. But Huang Cixi's ambitions were broader than just the seat of the matriarch.
Speaking of the matriarch, Huang Cixi visited her a few days after her affairs were settled. All the elders were now, openly or not, supporting her as the next matriarch. As such, the young woman had been summoned by Matriarch Huang Yufeng.
"In a month, you've become the only viable candidate to my succession. That is impressive. Moreover, both your blood and your attainment in 'Nine Chambers of Life Fire' are unheard of in the younger generation. In fact, even in my generation, there was no such talent among our family. I imagine that the True Fiery Fenghuang's will spoke to you..."
"Indeed, Matriarch. I cannot repeat everything he told me as you know. But he did speak, and I was able to understand his speech. He was the one who helped me condense my third True Fiery Drop."
"That's what I thought. It's such a pity that this will is too weak to remember all her time with Ancestral Matriarch Huang Baifeng. We have lost way too much to the ages... Even our blood cultivation method is incomplete. I will tell you the truth. Condensing the nine True Fiery Drops is just the second layer of the method. The first one is awaking one's blood essence and condensing the first True Fiery Drop. But once the second layer is achieved, there is at least one more layer. Even I don't know what it is about. Many records were destroyed in the wars against the demons."
Huang Cixi was not too surprised that the Huang family had lost a lot of their knowledge. However, the fact that their blood cultivation was incomplete did surprise her. Among all the documents, this method was the most important thing. The Huang family would rather watch all their properties burn than to sacrifice this piece of knowledge. And yet, it had been lost during the wars. Huang Cixi imagine the destructions this war should have unleashed for such a result to happen.
"Tell me. Are you sure you want to become the next matriarch? I reckon that Huang Si would be a good choice. Most cultivators value their freedom more than their influence. As a matriarch, you will have many duties. Of course, you'll probably be the most powerful woman in the entire kingdom. But is it what you truly wish?"
"Matriarch. I will be candid with you. The position of matriarch is just one step in my ambitions. My march to power will not stop with this sole step."
The matriarch did not show any surprise. All her spiritual senses were now focused around her and Huang Cixi, to make sure that no one could listen to them. If someone else had overheard them, this could be construed as a conspiracy against the Emperor. Huang Cixi saw the tension in the old woman's eyes but did not flinch.
"Matriarch, the Emperor is more than 1,500 years old. Even if he were to reach the Sage realm, his lifespan would not extend, not unless he crossed two more entire realms. I do not believe for one second that, no matter how talented or powerful he is, the Emperor could achieve that miracle. Thus, our Hongchen Kingdom will need a new Emperor in the next five or six centuries. If I am the matriarch of the Huang family, I will have a real chance of becoming the next Emperor."
Looking deep into Huang Cixi's eyes, the matriarch saw that her resolve was firm. No matter what she would say, the girl's mind could not be changed. An even deeper respect for this junior was born in the old woman.
"Xixi, what you speak of is not impossible. But as the matriarch of the Huang family, many of the other noble families will oppose you. Yes, we are powerful, but the Imperial City made sure that we could never threaten their own power. Even though it is said that competence is the only factor to decide on the next emperor, this is not entirely accurate. Although competence is essential, there must also be a balance between the major powers of our kingdom. Maintaining the unity of the human race is even more important than anything else. To achieve your ambitions, simply becoming the matriarch will not be enough.
"But let me ask you. Why do you wish to rule the Hongchen Kingdom?"
"Matriarch. I was raised in Yinmen City. I saw with my very eyes the state of our population. Of course, much is attributed to the Forsaken Dao Era, but that is wrong. This lacking era is just a good excuse to hide the truth. Our kingdom is slowly falling. If the demons do not destroy us first, we will do that ourself. Our human race could be so much more. Everywhere I looked, I saw potential. Many economic ventures have not been explored as old ideas still dominate. Many lands have not been developed to their full potential.
"The last generations could count on their powerful cultivations and they didn't need to worry about those mundane affairs. But we do! The Emperor should not be concerned with just the cultivators. We need to help the mortals as well. Living thousands of years can make one forget that those tiny mortals are the backbone of our kingdom. Without them, there is no prosperity, no future. Although I could have some of my ideas recognized as a matriarch, only as the Emperor may I truly reshape our Hongchen Kingdom and help mankind soar toward the future.
"Under the illusion of unity, we are so divided that only the threat of the demons keep us together. We need to change, to adapt to those new times. If we were truly united, I am sure that we could have eliminated the threat of the demons a long time ago."
In Huang Cixi's words, the matriarch felt a fire and a youthful determination that resonated with her old heart.
"Xixi. Your ideas and your desires are laudable. I do not know whether I will be able to live long enough to see them bear fruit, probably not. But I will accept you as my rightful successor. The elders will not oppose my decision since you've gained almost all of them to your cause. There is just the problem of your grandfather. He won't be able to remain the family head. But until I die and you take my place, he will do. I do not think many would oppose that given how competent he turned out to be."
After less than two months, Huang Cixi was now officially the next matriarch of the Huang family. In her heart, she wished for her father to see that. Hopefully his soul was still waiting for his next reincarnation and had seen his daughter exceed all his dreams.
"Matriarch. Now that this is decided, I would like to ask for a favor."
"Ask away."
"I wish to enter the Gate of Heaven and Hell."
"What?! Are you sure about this?"
The matriarch was expecting Huang Cixi to ask for this, but not so soon. To become the true matriarch of the Huang family, passing through this test was necessary. And only the current matriarch knew where it was. In case something were to happen to her, she had hidden this secret. Several elders would have to assemble parts of her will to find its precise location but the secret would not be forgotten.
This Gate of Heaven and Hell was a literal gate deep underground. According to the legends, it had been built by Ancestral Matriarch Huang Baifeng just before she ascended and left the Piaolu planet forever. What exactly happened in that gate was unknown but it was dangerous. When someone challenged that gate, they could gain a great amount of power. However, were they to fail, they would simply die.
The number of matriarch candidates who had died was still in single digits. Indeed, the Huang family only allowed a candidate to go to the Gate of Heaven and Hell when they were sure that she would survive.
Matriarch Huang Yufeng was still a bit hesitant. But she knew what the test of the Gate of Heaven and Hell was. After thinking about it and examining Huang Cixi with her spiritual senses, she established that she had indeed the ability to pass the test. The result would not be dependent on one's cultivation of any kind. The gate was testing one's character and potential. Those were not things one could easily improve.
"Fine. I will allow it. Passing the Gate of Heaven and Hell can take several years. When will you depart?"
"Matriarch, I am ready! Show me the way and I'll go right away."
Huang Cixi had the imprint of the True Fiery Fenghuang's will. So she had no doubt about this test. If the will of such a legendary beast had acknowledged her, so would the gate.