The majestic hall was abuzz with the cream of the city's elite, comprising numerous esteemed elders and highly skilled masters. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as they awaited the arrival of the event's main protagonists.
Seated on one side of the hall was Yao Ning, the middle-aged representative of the Evil Spirit Demon Sect, seated alongside other members of Madam Meng Du's faction. Beside them sat Vice Leader Yu of the Dragon Circle Association, a stunning beauty in her mid-age.
Other top-notch masters from various factions were also in attendance, each exuding an aura of quiet confidence. Lady Leng Yi's faction was represented by elites from the Golden Pagoda Sect and the Fallen Divine Sect, and others.
Meanwhile, factions like the Divine Flower Sect, which maintained a neutral stance, were seated in the middle section of the hall.
As the attendees waited for the main event to commence, a tall, powerful middle-aged man clad in an azure robe strode into the hall. He was flanked by two breathtakingly beautiful women, each a paragon of elegance and refinement.
On his left stood Madam Meng Du, whose beauty rivaled that of a supreme enchantress. On his right stood Lady Leng Yi, whose gentle and caring demeanor only added to her captivating beauty. Both women were renowned for their stunning looks, which were said to be rare even in heaven and earth.
As the trio entered, the assembly rose from their seats to greet them. Only when the three dignitaries had taken their seats did the attendees return to their own seats, eager to witness the events that would unfold.
Patriarch Long raised his hands in greeting, his booming laughter filling the hall "Hahah, greetings to everyone!"
The assembly echoed his greeting, their voices rising in a harmonious chorus.
Patriarch Long's expression turned sincere as he began to speak "First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for gathering at my humble residence at a moment's notice."
The attendees nodded in acknowledgment, their faces filled with respect.
Patriarch Long's smile returned, and he continued, "As you are all aware, the purpose of this gathering is to determine the succession of the seat of authority."
His laughter boomed through the hall once more, giving the impression that the outcome was of little consequence to him.
"According to our family's rules, the seat of authority should be succeeded by my eldest son," he began, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "But..." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, scrutinizing the reactions of the attendees, particularly those of his wives.
A sly smile spread across his face as he continued, "Since internal conflicts have arisen within our own family, we cannot adhere to the family rules. Instead, we must resort to the most basic law of the jungle."
His smile grew stronger, his eyes glinting with a fierce light.
"The one who can prove themselves to be a great leader shall be the next Patriarch," he declared, his voice filled with conviction. He nodded, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat.
Patriarch Long raised his hands in greeting, his booming laughter filling the hall. "Hahah, greetings to everyone!"
The assembly echoed his greeting, their voices rising in a harmonious chorus.
Patriarch Long's expression turned sincere as he began to speak. "First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for gathering at my humble residence at a moment's notice."
The attendees nodded in acknowledgment, their faces filled with respect.
Patriarch Long's smile returned, and he continued, "As you are all aware, the purpose of this gathering is to determine the succession of the seat of authority."
His laughter boomed through the hall once more, giving the impression that the outcome was of little consequence to him.
"According to our family's rules, the seat of authority should be succeeded by my eldest son," he began, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "But..." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, scrutinizing the reactions of the attendees, particularly those of his wives.
A sly smile spread across his face as he continued, "Since internal conflicts have arisen within our own family, we cannot adhere to the family rules. Instead, we must resort to the most basic law of the jungle."
His smile grew stronger, his eyes glinting with a fierce light.
"The one who can prove themselves to be a great leader shall be the next Patriarch," he declared, his voice filled with conviction. He nodded, a low chuckle rumbling in his throat.
Yao Ning turned to face Patriarch Long, his ferocious voice dripping with malice and sinister energy. "But Patriarch Long, how will you decide who the great leader is?"
Patriarch Long chuckled once more, his eyes glinting with amusement. "The one who possesses the qualities of a leader shall naturally be the one I deem worthy of succeeding me."
Yao Ning nodded, his sharp, dangerous eyes glinting with a cold light. "Hm... But we all know that when it comes to leadership, how can our faction lord be inferior to anyone?"
Patriarch Long's expression turned intrigued, and he asked with feigned amazement, "Oh, why do you say so?"
The attention of the entire assembly shifted to Yao Ning, eager to hear his reasoning behind such a bold claim.
A sinister smile spread across Yao Ning's face. "He has been managing the Sword Legion for ten years and has experience commanding battalions and military armies for fifteen years. With his extensive military experience, it's only natural that he would not be inferior to anyone."
Patriarch Long's expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded slowly. "Hm..." When he heard Yao Ning's valid reason, he couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in his words.
Long Tian's lifetime of military experience gave him a significant advantage in leadership over Long Yang, making it difficult for Patriarch Long to deny Yao Ning's claim.
Vice Leader Yu of the Dragon Circle Association nodded in agreement with Yao Ning's assertion. She decided to speak on behalf of her faction lord, her elegant voice carrying across the hall.
"I concur with Brother Yao Ning's claim and agree that our faction lord is, in no way, inferior to any war veteran present. As one of the Seven Young Warlords, he is, in fact, considered to be among the top tier."
Golden Pagoda Sect's Elder Tong snorted, his wrinkled face a picture of disdain. "Just because he has some military achievements, it doesn't automatically grant him the right to be called a talent for leadership."
Elder Tong turned to face Patriarch Long, his eyes gleaming with a hint of challenge. "If we're going to mention military achievements, why not also consider Dao Achievements?"
"Our faction lord may not be as renowned as Young Lord Tian in terms of military prowess," Elder Tong continued, "but surely everyone here must agree that Young Lord Yang surpasses Young Lord Tian in terms of Dao Achievement."
Elder Tong's expression turned thoughtful. "While Dao Achievement may not be directly related to leadership, if utilized correctly, it can provide significant support for our faction lord to lead the family."
A hint of a smile played on Elder Tong's lips. "To achieve Dao is to demonstrate one's innate talent. If not now, then perhaps in the future, Young Lord Yang will become a master of leadership and commanding power."
Just as the debate was intensifying, a young guard burst into the hall, rushing towards Patriarch Long with an urgent expression. Breathless and trembling with trepidation, he delivered the devastating news.
"Patriarch, Third Young Lord... Third Young Lord is found dead in his residence!!"
The moment Patriarch Long received the news, his eyes widened in shock, and his aura violently erupted from his body. The sheer intensity of his aura sent the surrounding elites tumbling to their knees, forced to kneel down in submission.
The unrestrained aura was so potent that no one present could endure it, and they were forced to cough up blood. The ground itself began to show signs of shattering, the pressure emanating from Patriarch Long's aura far from ordinary.
The hall, once filled with the sound of debate and discussion, was now silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the patriarch and the gasps of the struggling elites.
Without hesitation, Patriarch Long swiftly charged towards his third son's residence, his urgency and distress palpable.
The attendees, witnessing the patriarch's haste, promptly followed him, their faces filled with concern and curiosity. The entire assembly trailed behind Patriarch Long, eager to learn more about the sudden and tragic turn of events.
*******
Inside the luxurious residence of Long Ma, a lifeless body lay on the floor, devoid of any vitality. Beside him, Long Tian sat in a chair, his face etched with distress, agony, and grief. He massaged his temples, gritted his teeth, and occasionally rubbed his eyes to hold back tears.
As Patriarch Long arrived at the scene, he was met with the gruesome sight of his third son's lifeless body. His face contorted in rage, and he thundered, "Who did this!! Who killed my son!!"
The deafening roar shook Long Tian out of his stupor. He turned to face his father, his head bowed in sorrow.
Patriarch Long's eyes turned crimson with rage, his aura flaring wildly as he turned to face Long Tian. "Who did this?!" he bellowed.
Long Tian shook his head, his voice laced with sadness. "I... don't know."
He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly. "The moment I arrived here, he was... lying on the floor, lifeless. I swear... the one who did this will have to pay for it!!"
Before Patriarch Long could inquire further, a heart-wrenching cry pierced the air. "Little Ma!! My Little Ma!!"
The group turned to see Madam Meng Du, overcome with grief and agony, tears streaming down her face as she rushed towards her dead son.
She fell to her knees, embracing Long Ma's lifeless body, and wailed, "My little child, my baby, you can't leave me, my son!!"
Witnessing his first wife's distress, Patriarch Long felt a deep sense of guilt, sorrow, and hatred. His mind racing, he wondered, "Who could be bold enough to kill my son?"
A sudden, unsettling thought crossed his mind: Could it be his second wife and her faction behind this?
He couldn't believe that his second wife would go to such extremes as to kill his third son. The mere thought sent his heart icy cold, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
"I know it was you who killed my son!!" Madam Meng Du, blinded by her sorrow, pointed an accusing finger at Lady Leng Yi, who stood nearby.
Lady Leng Yi appeared surprised, yet not entirely caught off guard. She had anticipated that fingers would be pointed at her, given her affiliation with the opposing faction.
Although she was innocent of the crime, she chose to remain silent, opting not to clear up the misunderstanding. Instead, she smiled to herself, seemingly entertained by the unfolding drama.
In her mind, the scene resembled a free spectacle, with the group behaving like clowns. Her only regret was the lack of popcorn to complement the show.
Madam Meng Du's anguished voice echoed through the hall as she begged Lady Leng Yi, "Return my son to me!! Give my son back!!" Her words, though impossible to fulfill, poured out of her like a desperate prayer.
Lady Leng Yi's demeanor, however, remained elegant and composed, her charming smile and noble aura only serving to exacerbate Madam Meng Du's pain and anguish. It was clear that Lady Leng Yi had no intention of showing sympathy.
Despite her calm exterior, Lady Leng Yi was aware that the murder of Long Ma had been a calculated move. The killer must have considered the consequences, including the weakening of Patriarch Long's favor towards her.
Madam Meng Du's grief boiled over into rage as she stood up, her eyes blazing with a dangerous glare. "Leng Yi, since you dare kill my son, why don't you admit it?!"
Lady Leng Yi's smile never wavered as she retorted, her voice gentle but her words chilling. "If I had killed him, do you believe that I would not have turned him into meat paste and fed him to the street dogs?"
The crowd was stunned into silence. Despite Lady Leng Yi's serene and lovely appearance, her words were those of a ruthless and calculating individual. Even the trio from the Sunburn Sect looked on in shock, taken aback by the terrifying statement uttered by the gentle-looking lady.
Madam Meng Du's entire body trembled with rage, her finger pointing at Lady Leng Yi as if it might ignite with flames of hatred. She was incredulous, unable to believe the sheer audacity and insanity of the woman before her.
Lady Leng Yi, however, seemed utterly nonchalant. She began to yawn, clapped her hands together, and gazed out at the stunned crowd. "Okay, okay, everyone, the show is over. You can all return to whatever useless nonsense you were busy with."
The crowd was left aghast, unsure whether to laugh or cry. They were bewildered by Lady Leng Yi's casual attitude, and her apparent insanity only added to their confusion.
Patriarch Long, too, was trembling with uncontrollable rage as he witnessed Lady Leng Yi's demeanor. His anger was palpable, and the air seemed to vibrate with his unspoken fury.
Lady Leng Yi turned to Madam Meng Du, her gentle eyes locking onto the other woman's dangerous gaze.
"As for you, Madam Meng," she said, her voice dripping with condescension, "just because you didn't have the upper hand against me and my son in this struggle doesn't mean you should kill your own son. Sigh... Such hopeless people."
With a deep sigh, Lady Leng Yi turned and walked away, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. Her nonchalant departure only added to the sense of bewilderment, leaving everyone wondering, "The fuck is wrong with this woman ?"