At first, as the only newly promoted elder, Fang Yuan drew much attention and held strong momentum. But by admitting his mistake, he effectively destroyed his political prospects and gave up any claim to the spoils the other elders would divide.
Immediately, the others saw him as far less of a threat.
Their looks showed the pressure he once caused them had greatly eased.
At this time, clan leader Gu Yue Bo sighed, "Since Fang Yuan himself admitted to it, as clan leader, I have to punish you for the act of running away from battle. According to the clan ancestor's rules, runaways will be stripped of their clan elder status, but the final result shall be decided by me and the other clan elders. We'll decide on your punishment after a discussion. But regardless of the result, I hope you can accept it."
Fang Yuan nodded silently, appearing resigned to fate.
Gu Yue Yao Ji had severed her arm to survive—decisive and ruthless.
Fang Yuan was no different, but he sacrificed even more by giving up his elder position.
"Letting go and taking hold—this is life. Being a clan elder only mattered because it helped my cultivation. To chase immortality, I stepped onto the demonic path and would even give up my life. What status could I possibly cling to? Clan elder? Hmph…" Fang Yuan felt no regret or irritation.
This was the smartest choice.
Though punishment was inevitable, it would be kept light.
With so few elders remaining, his Rank three strength was too valuable. The clan leader had to discipline him but also rely on him to keep the village stable, forcing some compromise.
To the other elders, Fang Yuan was no longer a rival. Since he had stepped out of the struggle, they had no reason to provoke him. Forcing him to retaliate would only bring trouble on themselves.
"However, even if I let go of my elder status, this Gu Yue Mo Chen will drag me back into it." Fang Yuan's gaze rested on Gu Yue Mo Chen for a moment before he closed his eyes.
And just as Fang Yuan had anticipated, Gu Yue Mo Chen suddenly said, "Everyone, I have something to say." His expression was pale from dragging his injured body to the banquet. He did not drink wine, only sipped tea.
But what he said next, shocked people to death, "There's something I have to be honest about. Elder Fang Yuan did not manage to enter the battlefield, and that was due to me."
"What?"
At once, the other clan elders were shocked.
"Oh, what do you mean?" Gu Yue Bo asked.
Fang Yuan sent a glance over also.
Gu Yue Mo Chen sighed, "To speak the truth, my granddaughter Gu Yue Mo Yan had fallen deep in love with elder Fang Yuan. Before this, she had come to beg me, kneeling on the ground and crying, not willing to see Fang Yuan die on the battlefield. I only have one granddaughter, thus out of selfishness, I kept Fang Yuan in my estate and knocked him out. It was only until we chased the lightning crown wolf that I let him out. Thus, everything was due to me, it is my fault. It has nothing to do with Fang Yuan."
"What?"
"Oh, is that really it?"
The clan elders were suspicious.
Gu Yue Mo Chen's words were quite a stretch; it was rather unbelievable.
"Love and relationship among youngsters is common," Gu Yue Bo nodded, staring at Fang Yuan with deep meaning, wanting to find out some clues from his expression.
But Fang Yuan lowered his gaze calmly. There was nothing worth noticing.
The clan leader looked disappointed.
The other elders traded puzzled looks, unable to see why Gu Yue Mo Chen defended Fang Yuan.
By speaking up for him, Mo Chen had damaged his own reputation and destroyed his political future.
Gu Yue Mo Chen continued, "In order to protect my reputation, elder Fang Yuan willingly let himself suffer the injustice. But I have already erred once, how can I make a mistake once more? This is the truth. As for the punishment, I implore lord clan leader to consider. I admit my mistake and as with the rules, if my clan elder status is to be stripped, I have no objections."
Clan leader quickly waved his hand, saying, "Elder Mo Chen has worked hard all these years. What you did was understandable, humans are not grass or wood, how can we not have feelings? Now that our clan is greatly weakened, we need loyal and strong elders like you. But this is still your own selfishness, thus the punishment still needs to be decided. We have an important guest today, let's not talk about this now. Come, brother Tie, I and the clan elders shall offer you a toast!"
Saying so, Gu Yue Bo stood up.
The other clan elders stood up as well, raising their cups.
"Everyone is too kind. I still have to trouble you all later, I hope I can seek your understanding." Tie Xue Leng did not put on airs, standing up and drinking his wine.
In the Mo faction courtyard, lush plants surrounded an artificial mountain with a clear spring.
The moon hung high above like a silver plate.
The banquet had ended long ago.
Fang Yuan sat in the cool pavilion, listening to the water as he set down his teacup, his face calm.
Across from him sat Gu Yue Mo Chen, who had invited him here after the feast to talk.
"Come, have another cup of tea, this bamboo leaf clear water tea is good in eliminating hangovers." Gu Yue Mo Chen laughed, pouring personally into Fang Yuan's cup.
Fang Yuan's expression was calm, and on seeing the cup being filled again, he said, "Indeed a good cure for hangovers."
As he spoke, he glanced outside the pavilion.
The pale moonlight bathed the grounds in a gentle glow.
The pavilion looked serene under the moon, but shifting shadows in the wind hinted at how the Mo faction courtyard had fallen from prosperity into decline.
During the banquet, Fang Yuan had already understood Gu Yue Mo Chen's intention.
The Mo faction had no heir left.
With Gu Yue Mo Bei's death, their line lost its successor.
Though he had a sister, Mo Yan, clan tradition always favored males. Assets could only pass to a male heir.
Even if Mo Yan reached Rank three and became an elder, her wealth would belong to her alone. Once she married, her assets would transfer to her husband's name.
Without an heir, the faction's influence would vanish, and no one would join them.
The Mo faction was already on the brink of collapse.
Yet there was still a faint chance of survival.
This hope rested on Mo Yan.
Though a woman, she could marry.
If her husband joined the Mo faction as a son-in-law, he could inherit and carry on the line.
Seeing that Fang Yuan had no inclination to mention it, Gu Yue Mo Chen scolded this crafty lad internally, but had to speak, "I wonder what elder Fang Yuan thinks of my Mo faction?"
A heavy grief weighed on him.
Since his injury, his cultivation had fallen to Rank two with no hope of regaining Rank three.
He could only use his Gu worm to hide his true aura, but eventually, the truth would come out.
His only heir was dead, and without Rank three strength, he would lose his elder position. He needed someone strong enough to keep the faction standing.
Once, he had power and status, so the Mo faction controlled a large share of resources. Now, with the clan reshuffling, he no longer sought more—just holding on to what remained would be victory enough.
After much thought, he saw Fang Yuan as the best choice.
Sunset clouds faded as a cool wind swept through, and the jade disc turned quietly in the Milky Way.
Bai Ning Bing stood by the window, staring at the night sky.
A bright moon hung overhead. Now and then, distant wolf howls broke the stillness, casting a somber note over the quiet scene.
In the study, the Bai clan leader sat to the side, looking dazed.
Moments earlier, Bai Ning Bing had revealed the truth about the Northern Dark Ice Soul physique.
"Northern Dark Ice Soul….ten absolute aptitudes…." The Bai clan leader mumbled constantly.
"I have already sensed that my end is nearing, my aperture is gradually unable to endure the burden. These past few years, I've truly caused you much problems!" Bai Ning Bing softly sighed.
He had found his path and was no longer perplexed by life and death.
"How could this happen? You were clearly A grade with 99% primeval essence when your aptitude was tested. It absolutely wasn't the Northern Dark Ice Soul." The Bai clan leader was still refusing to accept it.
"It was indeed so. But one day when I was cultivating, my aptitude suddenly advanced. I checked the ancient scrolls and records in the clan and found some information on this; every 99% A grade aptitude has the possibility of advancing to ten absolute aptitudes while cultivating," Bai Ning Bing said.
"All ten defy the heavens, and the heavens can't tolerate them. Even Ren Zu's ten children didn't have a good end. Sigh, is there really no way to salvage it?" Bai clan leader felt pity and regret when he looked at the beautiful boy in front of him.
"There are no ways to evade my impending doom, but there are some ways to delay it. However, all these methods need many years to prepare, which I don't have." Bai Ning Bing said all this and gave a light laugh, as if the one being discussed about was not him, but some irrelevant outsider.
"Don't worry. Who doesn't die? True immortality doesn't exist! As long as we live our life interestingly, it is enough." He was instead consoling the clan leader.
"I cannot accept this! I absolutely cannot! Damn it, my Bai clan has been suppressed by the Gu Yue clan for centuries, we finally found hope but it ends up like this! No, there is still hope!" Bai clan leader's voice got louder and louder till suddenly, his expression turned firm as if he had decided on something.
"Follow me, I will bring you to a place…." He stood up and said.