The next day, Bai Jue stayed in the White Crane clan and summoned all the elders to select a new clan leader.
The elders supported his decision. They'd long known Bai Jue was the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord's designated successor, so ever since he'd started following her, they'd kept a low profile and quietly groomed the next clan head.
Now that Bai Jue had broken through to the eighth stage, becoming the strongest in the beast clans apart from the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord, it was natural for him to hand over the position.
The White Crane clan had always been reclusive, focusing more on cultivation than worldly struggles. Their chosen successor was Bai Yu, a sixth-stage cultivator.
Bai Yu's build resembled Bai Jue's, but his temper was far more volatile, unlike the usually calm White Crane clan members. Still, his cultivation and combat strength were undeniable, so the elders had poured their efforts into training him.
When Bai Jue handed him a vivid crimson feather shaped like a phoenix tail, the symbol of the clan head, Bai Yu froze. He had no idea how he'd suddenly become the next clan leader.
Bai Yu's features were rugged, with thick brows, a tall nose bridge, and sharp, defined lines. Compared to Bai Jue's refined demeanor, his style was wilder, though the contrast only highlighted their differences.
"Weren't we supposed to spar? How'd I suddenly become clan leader?"
Bai Jue smiled faintly and glanced at the six elders. One of them coughed softly before explaining, "Bai Yu, you've completed the clan leader's trial and stand unmatched among your peers. That makes you the best candidate for the position."
"You told me there'd be rewards for finishing those tasks, that's the only reason I went!"
Frowning, Bai Yu looked down at the blood-red phoenix feather in his hand, realizing he'd been tricked by the elders.
"Yes, and the reward is becoming clan leader. Plenty of people would kill for this chance."
The elder who spoke first stroked his snowy white beard, grinning as he said it.
"Bai Yu, from today on, you'll shoulder the responsibility of leading the White Crane clan. We hope you'll guide our people onto a path of glory."
After offering the formal words, Bai Jue chuckled, patted Bai Yu's shoulder, and added, "The elders are here, so just focus on your strengths. Help the younger generation grow stronger, and put everything else aside for now. If you run into anything you don't understand, you can come to me. I've got high hopes for you."
Knowing the decision was final, Bai Yu stopped struggling. He put away the phoenix feather and bowed respectfully."Please guide me well, Bai Jue Zūnshàng."
And so, the handover ended smoothly, without any bloody infighting.
Of course, the elders still asked the clan members if anyone objected. They said anyone who disagreed could challenge Bai Yu directly. He narrowed his eyes, waiting for someone to step forward.
But no one did. Everyone agreed he was the only choice. After the unanimous vote, Bai Yu officially assumed the role. His first task was taking over the clan affairs from Bai Jue.
By the time he left Bai Jue's residence, his eyes looked like mosquito coils, full of dread for the future.
Bai Jue then visited the elders, pressuring them to properly guide Bai Yu so he wouldn't make irreparable mistakes. After all, Bai Jue would be summoned by the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord the next day to handle piled-up matters and wouldn't have time to keep an eye on the clan.
The six elders promised to do their best, so he finally left.
The following day, when Bai Jue entered the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord's cave, he saw the purple jade table in the corner covered with jade slips, beast hides, and bamboo slips, scattered across both the tabletop and the floor. His veins bulged with frustration. Pressing his forehead, he shot a sharp glare at her.
The Nine-Tailed Demon Lord sipped happily from her cup of fine wine, the same bottle Bai Jue had gifted her yesterday. She squinted her fox-like eyes in contentment before saying, "Don't look at me like that. This is your trial as the next beast lord. I left it all for you on purpose. Otherwise, how else would I test you?"
Bai Jue instantly knew she was making excuses to dump everything on him.
With a sigh, he accepted his fate and began dealing with the mountain of accumulated work.
Artifact Sect
Qi Hong returned to the sect and immediately headed to the inner treasury with his materials list, searching for ingredients to forge. Even though Jian Dan had warned him it was impossible to recreate what they'd made before, he refused to give up without trying.
Sure enough, even the sect's treasury couldn't provide everything he needed. Frustrated, Qi Hong went to see his master, Qi Pei Zhēnzūn, hoping he might find the missing materials in his private stash. He also had to tell his master about what had happened in the Rubik's Cube Realm. That trial realm had felt far too real. Even thinking about it now left him uneasy.
Purple Sky Sect
In the forbidden grounds, the spatial rift loomed, unchanged in size, neither expanding nor shrinking. Yet Zi Qing Zhēnzūn could sense the space around it growing more turbulent than before, which made her frown deeply.
Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong had led their teams inside three years ago. To this day, no word had returned, nor had they.
"Zhēnzūn, should we keep waiting?"
The sect master asked softly, knowing something was wrong. Zi Qing Zhēnzūn had been checking this rift too often lately, and he too had noticed the strange fluctuations.
"Fewer things have been falling out of the rift lately."
That one sentence was enough to make the sect master's heart sink.
"Zhēnzūn, is the rift about to close?"
"Perhaps."
"But the others never came back. We even sent in two teams. Shouldn't we inform the other sects?"
"Of course. Since this investigation was initiated by Purple Sky Sect, and no one's returned, we must give everyone an explanation."
"I'll notify the other sects at once."
"Not yet. Wait until I confirm the space fluctuations have changed, then you can send word."
"Yes!"
Heavenly Demon Palace
This time, Jian Dan truly calmed her mind. After another half a month of cultivation, she smoothed out her demonic qi, nurtured her Mó Yuè Zhǎn, then lifted her restrictions and walked out of seclusion.
She checked on Xiao Yue first. The little one was still asleep, but his aura was steadily rising.
Setting a ward at her cave entrance, she stepped outside.
Her four attendants hurried to greet her, following as she walked to the peach blossom tree.
"Did anything happen while I was in seclusion?"
"Reporting to Zūnshàng, only a few invitations arrived."
"Have the sect representatives who attended the succession ceremony already left?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, Jian Dan lifted her gaze. A streak of light descended, and Mo Yi landed before them. He grinned as he strolled over.
"Senior Sister Mo Yue, I'm here to take you to the Black Robe Guard."
"Afraid I'll get lost?"
"Hehe, Chief Mo Zhang asked me to come along too. I figured today was the day you'd emerge from seclusion, so I came to fetch you."
"Fine, let's go."
This time Jian Dan didn't bring anyone else. She followed Mo Yi straight to the Black Robe Guard's base.