Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Dealing with the Wei Family's Patriarch (1)
In the grand hallway, an elderly man proposed, "Lord, it would be beneficial if you permitted Miss Yao Lian, the wife of Young Master Liu Wei, to take part in the trial of the immortal phoenix." Various individuals in robes surrounded him, all of them maintaining a tense air as they awaited judgment.
The atmosphere was thick with pressure; their bodies vibrated in harmony with the pulsating air, resulting in a discernible haze. At the forefront of the thrones, a regal figure sat with closed eyes, contemplating the elder's suggestion from the Wei family.
"Don't we all know, Elder, that Yao Lian is exploiting her husband's declining status and even stooping so low as to poison him?" One of the older gentlemen, sitting cross-legged with his chin resting on his hand, cast a glance toward the previous speaker who had made such a claim, as most of the elders were already aware of Yao Lian's attempts to secretly boost her power by acquiring poisons from the black market.
However, the majority of the elders gathered here were on her side, making it exceedingly difficult to voice any dissent.
"How dare you speak ill of a person who has given so much to the Wei family? Choose your words carefully, Elder!" Another elder, sitting opposite the one who had just spoken, tried to intervene, his fingers digging into the armrest as he glared at the older man for disparaging Yao Lian.
"Don't pretend we're unaware of that duplicitous woman!" With this, the opposing side spoke up as a man rose from his seat, clearly ready to confront others in battle, determined to demonstrate how these individuals, who were double his side's numbers, had chosen the side of an outsider instead of supporting the young master of the Wei family.
"Watch your language! Third Elder!" The utterance of such sacrilegious words against the woman they had pledged their allegiance to created a suffocating pressure that enveloped the entire hall, aimed directly at the group of a few elders who dared to do this.
But those few were clearly unfazed by their numbers, which were now glaring at most of those seated on the other side with fierce intensity.
Within the grand hall of the Wei family's main palace, the conversation had split into two factions: a small group advocating for Young Master Liu Wei, while the larger contingent backed Yao Lian, Liu Wei's wife.
As the trials of the immortal phoenix approached, the elders were allocated time to choose a representative to enter the competition. Following the selection of candidates, only two positions remained for Liu Wei's participation.
Unfortunately, it soon became obvious that he lacked the ability to move, making his entry into the trial impossible. This circumstance caused a rift among the assembly in the hall, where the majority voiced their preference for Yao Lian instead of Liu Wei in the upcoming trial.
'So that's her game,' mused the man sitting at the head of the table, a slight smile forming on his face as he observed the name echoing in the hall. That name, belonging to someone outside the Wei family and of a lesser status, should never have been mentioned at all.
It was evident that Yao Lian had played her cards wisely to secure her place within the Trial of the Immortal Phoenix, revealing how Liu Wei's grip on power had gradually begun to fade.
The man erupted into laughter, "HAHAHA... Truly entertaining! Is this a gathering of the Lian family or the Wei?" His voice echoed through the hallway, accompanied by a chilling wave of pressure that surged from his body, as his internal energy effortlessly subdued any lingering energy in the vicinity.
This display unveiled his nascent soul level strength, causing the very walls of the hall to tremble, leaving everyone on edge as their gazes shifted towards the patriarch of the Wei family.
"P-Patriarch, please calm down; we sincerely apologize." The onlookers, realizing they had upset the most formidable figure in the room, stood motionless, merely feeling the oppressive tension that caused beads of sweat to form on their foreheads.
The cracks appearing on the floor and walls mirrored their anxiety about offending this man, who, despite his age, remained on an entirely different level.
"Y-yes, we sincerely apologize," stammered the majority of elders aligned with Yao Lian, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. A sense of suffocation engulfed a few as the mounting pressure dawned on them, making them realize their grave misstep.
They bowed deeply in apology, their eyes quivering with fear, acutely aware that this could culminate in their death today.
It was clear that the brunt of the pressure was aimed squarely at them, illustrating unmistakably that the Patriarch was not backing Yao Lian, and his dissatisfaction with these elders was palpable.
"Apologizing for backing someone outside the Wei Family? It seems the Elders of the Wei Family are attempting to instigate a rebellion," commented the man at the head of the table, the patriarch of the Wei family. His cold, piercing gaze locked onto those who had just supported Yao Lian.
An immense internal energy radiated from him, filling the room with a suffocating pressure that threatened to shatter the very foundations of the hall, which trembled violently under the weight of his fury directed at the elders, who could so easily abandon their loyalties.
'?!'
"No! Patriarch, our loyalty lies with the Wei family, and we could never stoop to such depths!" All of the elders who had recently sided with Yao Lian felt their hearts drop as they realized that the Patriarch was clearly determined to seize this chance to eliminate them, denouncing them for their rebellion against the Wei Family.
The worst-case scenario involved the Ancestor himself stepping in to dispose of them, making it unthinkable to oppose the Patriarch. Their only option was to attempt to calm the Patriarch's fury.
"Loyalty? All I see is each of you vying for the positions that should solely belong to the Wei Family," the armrest of the patriarch's chair splintered under the mounting pressure, sending a shiver through the elders as they realized they had unwittingly offended the Wei family patriarch by mentioning Yao Lian's name.
"P-please, show mercy..." All they could offer was their apologies, fully aware that despite their seniority, they were expendable. If the patriarch decided to eliminate a handful of them, it was likely that others would flip their loyalty. They were desperate not to be among those destined to perish today. Thus, fear was palpable among them.
"Mercy? You should have considered this before mentioning the name of someone outside the Wei family. It is an unspoken rule that only those with the Wei bloodline are permitted to represent us in the Trials," the Patriarch declared, his voice echoing with authority.
The ground beneath him shattered instantly, sending dust particles swirling into the air, a clear sign of his immense displeasure with those who dared to undermine his authority by playing political games and suggesting a name that did not belong.
They thought their actions could elevate them above him, the head of the Wei family, but they were gravely mistaken.
"Oh, so the Wei family doesn't allow outsiders to participate as their representative?"
Suddenly, a voice echoed within the hall as an orange glow began to form at the center. This glow fragmented the surrounding internal energy, making way for a dense mana that was intensely concentrated. The ether gradually took shape in the center, slowly unveiling a black-robed man, his fabric fluttering elegantly.
The robe was adorned with orange stripes and intricate black floral designs, creating a stunning visual as his deep amber pupils peered from behind a black masquerade mask, his intense gaze fixed on the Patriarch of the Wei family as he proclaimed, "It appears that the Wei family needs to go through a few changes."
[ Fuck 'em, Host ^_^ ]
'....'