Chapter 622: The Dust Settles and the Young Patriarch
"From here on out, Branch Head Wu Chang, you should consider your vote very carefully…"
Lin Langtian's fingers tapped lightly on the table as he looked toward the red-robed beauty in the corner, his tone calm.
Hearing this, Wu Chang bit gently on her alluring red lips, a hint of hesitation appearing in her charming eyes.
Only after Lin Langtian's reminder did she recall that Wu Xiu was not the type to suffer losses. Within the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan, no one had ever truly taken advantage of him.
No matter how honeyed his words sounded now, once he truly became patriarch, whether he would honor his promise—or secretly harbor a grudge against the Moon Branch—was another matter entirely.
"Branch Head Wu Chang, don't listen to his nonsense. I, Wu Xiu, always keep my word. So long as you vote for me as the next clan leader, never mind Forest Abyss Mountain—half the resources of my Forest Branch will be gifted to your Moon Branch."
Wu Xiu's face was grim as he threw a cold glance at Lin Langtian, then hurriedly turned back to Wu Chang.
But when she heard him further "sweeten the deal," even offering half his branch's resources, Wu Chang's expression did not brighten; instead, it grew heavier.
Those resources would not be easily taken. In her eyes, this was a scorching hot potato—accepting them would only earn her the Forest Branch's jealousy and hatred. The Moon Branch would find it impossible to advance in the clan.
Clearly, Wu Xiu had never harbored good intentions; it was a classic case of trying to reap where he had not sown.
Still, she didn't reject him outright. Instead, she turned to Lin Langtian and Wu Xuan, smiling lightly.
"If I support the Wind Branch, what benefit would there be to the Moon Branch?"
At this, Wu Xuan frowned slightly. The Wind Branch had declined over the years; they possessed little worth offering. Compared to Forest Abyss Mountain, they had nothing on the same level to give, not even among their lesser resources.
He was just about to grit his teeth and offer whatever he could scrape together when Lin Langtian simply smiled and said:
"No benefit."
"What?"
Wu Chang stared at him, thinking she'd misheard. But within moments, her face darkened.
"Elder Lin, do you take my Moon Branch for beggars, that you'd dismiss us with a wave of your hand?"
She had no illusions about Wu Xiu, but Lin Langtian's ironclad stinginess, not even plucking a single hair, seemed even more infuriating.
Over by the Forest and Fire seats, Wu Xiu's grim expression brightened at once. He hadn't expected the Kunpeng Law Enforcement Elder to be so "tight-fisted."
Surely this would push the Moon Branch into his camp.
He sneered inwardly. Youths were still too naive—if nothing else, he could have at least lied first and reneged later.
Yet his delight was cut short when Lin Langtian continued:
"Branch Head Wu Chang, if you only seek immediate benefits, then I will disappoint you.
"But if you wish to see the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan regain its former glory, then this vote must go to Jinwu."
"Him?" Wu Chang's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced doubtfully at Jinwu.
"Yes. Jinwu bears the Nine-Evil Black Gold Crow bloodline. Surely, Branch Head Wu Chang understands what that means. If he can be allowed to grow, it won't be long before he might lead the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan back to the heights of antiquity—perhaps even reclaiming a place among the hegemons.
"When that time comes, will there still be a shortage of resources? I can promise you this much: Jinwu will not act as Branch Head Wu Xiu has, hoarding everything for one branch alone. Instead, he will maintain fairness and protect the interests of all branches.
"If that happens, then as long as the Moon Branch contributes, it will receive its share. Compared to such long-term gain, isn't a bit of short-lived profit rather… insignificant?"
Wu Chang fell silent, her gaze thoughtful.
If Jinwu truly could restore the clan to hegemon status while safeguarding the branches' interests, then this would be a boon not only to the entire Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan but also to her Moon Branch.
After all, a minor branch of a royal clan and a minor branch of a hegemon clan lived in two entirely different worlds.
"Branch Head Wu Chang, that Lin Jinwu is just a green kid. Do you truly believe he can lead us back to hegemon status? Even with that bloodline, the future is uncertain."
Wu Xiu's voice cut in coldly.
He hadn't expected Lin Langtian to be so quick-tongued. Worse, Wu Chang seemed to be wavering.
Lin Langtian, however, did not interrupt him and said nothing further. Instead, he watched Wu Chang quietly.
If she could become a branch head as a woman in such a rigid clan, she was surely no short-sighted fool.
Time ticked by—three long minutes of silence.
Then Wu Chang finally looked up. Her lips moved slightly as a glint of wisdom flickered in her eyes. Under the tense stares of everyone present, she spoke in her charming, delicate voice:
"The Moon Branch supports Lin Jinwu of the Wind Branch as the next patriarch."
"What?!"
Wu Xiu, Wu Yan, and the elites of the Forest and Fire branches paled. Wu Xiu's face twisted with barely suppressed fury.
"Wu Chang, it seems you truly intend to stand against my Forest Branch," Wu Xiu said with icy eyes.
Having failed to sway her, he now dropped all pretense and went straight for threats: compared to the formidable Forest Branch, the fledgling Moon Branch was negligible.
"Wu Xiu, are you trying to rebel? Since our clan's founding, every vote in the elders' council has been sacred and independent. Your coercion breaks the rules!"
Wu Xuan rose sharply, glaring at Wu Xiu. With the Moon Branch now their ally, he would not stand idle.
Wu Chang's eyes flashed dangerously. "Branch Head Wu Xiu, the Moon Branch may be small, but we are not to be bullied. Try to stomp us, and even if the Forest Branch is a tiger, this old lady will still break off one of your fangs."
Lin Langtian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. He hadn't expected such a sultry woman to possess such fiery resolve.
When he turned to look at her, Wu Chang met his gaze and gave him a knowing smile.
In her mind, she had chosen Jinwu not only for his bloodline but also for Lin Langtian.
Back at the Branch Battle, Lin Langtian had stepped forth as the Wind Branch's reinforcement. His overwhelming strength and monstrous talent crushed both Wu Xiu and Wu Yan at once—a stunning display.
Now, after a simple trip to the Kunpeng Clan, he had returned as their Law Enforcement Elder, with pure, noble Kunpeng bloodline flowing within him.
Taken together, these facts told Wu Chang that Lin Langtian was anything but ordinary. As long as he did not fall, he would surely become one of Tianxuan Continent's peak powers.
Standing alongside Jinwu, Lin Langtian's presence weighed heavily on her mental scales. Combined with Jinwu's Nine-Evil Black Gold Crow bloodline, the choice was clear.
Across the hall, realization dawned on Wu Xiu and Wu Yan.
The Moon Branch had cast its lot with Jinwu. With fists clenched and rage like a volcano in his chest, Wu Xiu forced himself to stay calm.
He sneered. "Even with the Moon Branch's vote, your Wind Branch only has seven. We have seven as well. I propose we postpone the election."
"I agree," Wu Yan added immediately.
If a decision couldn't be made, then there would be no decision.
They had no doubt Lin Langtian would not stay in the clan forever. Once he left, Jinwu's advantage would vanish.
Wu Xuan's face darkened. He'd reached the same realization. Without Lin Langtian, the Wind Branch would struggle to keep the Forest and Fire branches in check.
Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed slightly in thought. He too could not remain in the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan forever—he had more pressing matters elsewhere.
If he didn't secure Jinwu's position now, the Forest and Fire branches might cause more trouble later.
Just then, a faint, elderly cough sounded through the hall.
Everyone turned to see Great Elder Wu Qian slowly open his age-clouded eyes.
"Great Elder…"
They were momentarily stunned. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, their faces grew tense.
They had all forgotten that the Great Elder still held a vote—two votes, in fact.
By clan tradition, the Great Elder held two votes in the elders' council, reflecting his weight in clan affairs.
"Great Elder, there are currently seven votes for Branch Head Wu Xiu and seven votes for Lin Jinwu—though one of those comes from Elder Lin, an outsider. With both sides tied, we ask that you make the final decision," Wu Yan said, his eyes narrowing.
His words held a subtle barb—they still questioned the legitimacy of Lin Langtian's vote.
Wu Qian nodded slightly. Instead of answering, he turned toward Lin Langtian and smiled.
"Young friend Langtian, congratulations on becoming the Kunpeng Law Enforcement Elder. To reach such heights at your age truly invites envy."
"Hehe, you flatter me, Great Elder," Lin Langtian said with a faint smile, still unsure of Wu Qian's stance.
"Young friend, while you hold high office among the Kunpeng, our Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan has never allowed outsiders to vote in an elders' council. Therefore, your vote cannot be counted. I hope you can understand."
Lin Langtian stiffened for a moment as his expression shifted, but seeing the sincerity in Wu Qian's gaze, he could only smile wryly and nod.
"No problem. I was being presumptuous."
He knew that if he insisted on wielding his authority like a cudgel, even if he forced a decision in his favor, it would only incite resentment and hatred toward himself and Jinwu.
After a moment of thought, he agreed to withdraw his vote.
Wu Xiu and Wu Yan's faces brightened instantly. With Lin Langtian's vote struck, they held the lead again—and from the Great Elder's tone, it didn't sound like he favored the Wind Branch.
With all this combined, Wu Xiu's odds of seizing the patriarchal seat seemed very high.
But the words that followed from Wu Qian struck them like lightning.
"This old man supports Jinwu as the patriarch of the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan.
"However, given Jinwu's age and lack of prestige, I suggest that he first serve as Young Patriarch. Once he breaks through to the Rotary Realm, he will then formally assume the role of clan leader."
His aged voice echoed through the hall as his clouded eyes swept over everyone.
"What!?"
The Forest and Fire elders turned ashen. None had expected that, after nullifying Lin Langtian's vote, the first move from the Great Elder would be to make Jinwu the Young Patriarch.
Though the title was "young" clan leader, Jinwu was already at the peak of the Death Profound Realm, only a step from the Rotary Realm.
For most, that step was like a great chasm—but for someone with the Nine-Evil Black Gold Crow bloodline, it was far less daunting.
In other words, Jinwu would likely become the official patriarch in the near future.
Wu Xiu and Wu Yan both wanted to protest, but when they saw the Great Elder's lion-like gaze beneath his aged facade, the words died in their throats.
They knew his temper well: though age had mellowed his involvement in daily affairs, anyone daring to touch his reverse scale would face the wrath of a Samsara-level powerhouse.
Reluctantly, they swallowed their objections.
They had rejoiced when Lin Langtian's vote was voided—only for Wu Qian's two votes to push Jinwu ahead again, and this time as Young Patriarch.
With the Great Elder's decree, the situation was essentially decided.
Jinwu's ascension as Young Patriarch of the Seven-Evil Black Gold Crow Clan was, at last, set in stone…
(END CHAPTER)
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