283: polar

The Sword Domain is divided into two poles, supporting both Heaven and Earth.

Star Mist hangs over the world, while sword forging stands upon the peaks.

In the southern part of the Sword Domain, a land of extreme cold perpetually covered in ice and snow, the Heavenly Forging Peaks rise to the sky.

Above the main peak.

A magnificent hall, like a palace carved from ice and snow, bore the three characters 'Hall of Utmost Sincerity' written above its entrance.

Inside the Hall of Utmost Sincerity.

On both sides and at the head of the hall were rows of tall, transparent ice-sculpted seats, upon which sat numerous Cultivators dressed in various attires, some elderly, some with profound cultivation.

In the center of the grand hall, a girl of about ten stood quietly, her clear eyes showing neither sorrow nor joy, her black hair casually tied behind her head.

The girl wore a white and blue ruqun dress, elegant, pure, and serene.

Within this grand hall, under the gaze of various powerful individuals, she showed no panic, possessing a maturity far beyond her peers.

"Jiang Ningchan, of the Ning generation, the 108th branch of the Jiang Family, by unanimous decision of the Elder Council, you are hereby appointed as the Saintess of the Jiang Clan, and in eight years, you shall formally wield the Mo Han Divine Sword, becoming the next Sword Wielder of our Jiang Clan. Do you have any objections?"

In the center of the front row of tall seats, a majestic figure rose, standing at that supreme position, looking down upon the quietly waiting girl below, proclaiming an edict that seemed to be delivered by a deity.

The expressions of the important figures on the seats on both sides and at the head of the hall showed no change, though what they thought in their hearts was unknown. Only one thing could be confirmed: they seemed to harbor no covetousness for the positions of Saintess and Sword Wielder.

"Ning Chan..."

The girl's gaze wavered slightly, but she did not object, just as she was about to accept.

Outside the grand hall.

A group of people burst in.

The leader was a senile old man with white hair and beard, devoid of any Aura, like a Mortal without cultivation.

Behind the old man were men and women, all looking worriedly at the girl in the middle.

"Great-Grandfather, Thirteenth Uncle..."

Jiang Ningchan looked at the newcomers, murmuring in her heart, her eyes subtly shimmering with crystal tears.

"Clan Chief, this old man has never asked anything of the Clan in his life, but today, for the sake of my lifelong toil for the Family, may I ask the Clan to retract its decision?"

The old man strode forward, bowing his straight back towards the high platform above.

Behind the old man, the entire group did the same.

"Alas~"

The Cultivators on the high seats on both sides, witnessing this scene, seemed to let out inaudible sighs.

Their expressions were complex.

"Jiang Fengyang, do you intend to presume upon your contributions to the Family to defy the Elder Council's resolution, or even violate the Family's ancestral teachings? Do you know what consequences this will entail?"

Above the high platform, the Jiang Clan Chief had not yet spoken.

An Elder seated beside the main seat sneered and continued to speak.

"To violate ancestral teachings and defy the Elder Council is tantamount to betraying the Clan, and shall be met with extreme punishment. Do you wish to drag all those of your lineage to their deaths?"

As these words were spoken.

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

The Cultivators behind the old man were about to continue their protest.

"Ning Chan accepts the decree, with no objections."

Jiang Ningchan's heart grew cold, and she quickly knelt down, speaking anxiously, not wanting to implicate her entire branch Clan members because of herself.

The old man, Jiang Fengyang, remained bowed, motionless, but his Aura, though without cultivation, which had allowed him to stand steadfast, seemed to slowly dissipate.

After a moment of silence.

The Jiang Clan Chief, holding the golden decree, slowly spoke:

"The Elder Council's decision cannot be changed."

As these words were spoken.

Jiang Fengyang's body swayed, almost falling to the ground, saved only by the quick reflexes of the group behind him who supported him.

"You may disperse."

A streak of light landed in front of Jiang Ningchan, and the Jiang Clan Chief spoke.

No one in the hall moved.

Only Jiang Ningchan took the golden decree and stood up, helping the old man to his feet, and the group headed out of the hall.

Their retreating figures were like the falling snow, bleak and sorrowful.

"Hmph, who among those present hasn't made contributions to the Family? To dare to threaten the Family with merits is utterly absurd."

The Elder who had spoken earlier said with disdain.

However, the crowd in the hall remained silent, no one responding... Luo Prefecture, within the territory of the Qingyang Zhou Family, under the jurisdiction of Xuanhua Prefecture.

Below Qingyang Peak, in a farmland outside the Mortal settlement.

A fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth with a delicate face, a cheerful smile, and a touch of scholarly air was performing Spells in the field.

"Minor Spiritual Rain Spell."

The youth formed hand seals, and the Qi of his Qi Refining second layer cultivation circulated through his Meridians, condensing into the Spell.

As the Spell was cast, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky, irrigating this somewhat dry farmland and moistening the slightly yellowed seedlings in the soil.

"Hoo~"

Having summoned the spiritual rain, the youth sighed in relief, quite satisfied.

At this moment, a middle-aged couple waiting outside the farmland repeatedly bowed and thanked the youth.

"Thank you, Immortal..."

"Thank you..."

The youth quickly waved his hand, smiling shyly, and with a slight display of Qi, he fled the place as if escaping, despite the couple's attempts to detain him.

Only when he was a little further away did the youth relax.

"Brother Yu, I knew you'd be here."

Just then, from a nearby large tree.

A younger boy leaped down from a branch, landing steadily not far in front of Zhou Xiangyu.

"Xiao Xu, you startled me."

Zhou Xiangyu playfully slapped the newcomer, calming himself from the recent fright.

"Hehe~"

Zhou Xiangxu smiled slyly, a hint of pride on his face.

"Why are you here?"

"To find you, of course~"

"Then how did you know I was here?"

"I guessed."

The two exchanged questions and answers, heading in the direction of Qingyang Peak.

"Brother Yu, do you know what they're saying about you behind your back?"

Zhou Xiangxu hesitated, but then spoke to Zhou Xiangyu with a slightly serious tone.

"What are they saying?"

Zhou Xiangyu didn't take it to heart.

"Zhou Xiangxuan and the others are saying that Brother Yu, you're just grandstanding, that you often help Mortals just to get the attention of the Family Elders and gain benefits."

"Some even say that Brother Yu, you're just showing off in front of Mortals; anyway, what they're saying is really unpleasant."

Zhou Xiangxu's face was filled with indignation.

"Haha~"

Zhou Xiangyu laughed freely, seemingly not bothered at all.

"Brother Yu, aren't you angry?"

Zhou Xiangxu noticed that Zhou Xiangyu didn't seem to care and asked curiously.

"What's there to be angry about?"

"I'm not doing it for them, but for here."

Zhou Xiangyu said, pointing to his left chest, his smile bright.

"As for what they say, let them say it."

Zhou Xiangyu put down his hand and looked into the distance.

"Here..."

Zhou Xiangxu looked at his left chest, lost in thought.

"Moreover, the Clan Records state that after our ancestor established the foundation, the number of Mortals under his rule increased year by year, which sufficiently demonstrates the Clan's tolerant attitude towards Mortals."

"I act according to Clan rules, so I naturally have a clear conscience."

Seeing Zhou Xiangxu somewhat moved, Zhou Xiangyu thought for a moment and added more to his thoughts.