Chapter 663

Chapter 663: Successor

Translator: Irene_ Editor: X, TYZ

Inside the Lotus Command Hall, the air was frozen .

Everyone present seemed to be strangled by a pair of invisible hands and were unable to move . The intimidating and heavy power suffocated them as sweat rolled down their pale cheeks . It was so quiet inside that even a pin drop would clearly be heard .

Everyone looked frightened, especially Quan Weide . He did not know that the contents of his earlier report had angered the Grandmaster .

The Grandmaster was the god of the Jadeite Forest . His will was the will of the Jadeite Forest . Any anger from him was sufficient for blood to flow like a river . They hadn’t seen the Grandmaster’s wrath . To them he was like a god in the sky, overlooking all worldly affairs .

Quan Weide’s thighs were trembling and his feet gave out, but he couldn’t move because the surrounding pressure had confined him, causing him to remain in this position like a statue . He wanted to open his mouth to beg for mercy, but no voice came out .

Only Yu Mingqiu and Lu Chen understood why Dai Gang was this angry .

Yu Mingqiu’s mind buzzed and blanked . He was stunned by this unexpected truth and found it hard to remain calm .

Ye Baiyi… Ye Baiyi was actually their senior?

Yu Mingqiu found it absolutely ridiculous .

That’s right, preposterous!

Ye Baiyi had been the division leader of the Icy Flames Division for so many years, while Yu Mingqiu was the vice division leader of the Death Grass Division . While they weren’t considered well acquainted, they had met quite a number of times . Ye Baiyi had never shown any signs at all . Furthermore, Icy Flame was a fire elemental combat division!

Teacher’s first disciple was actually a fire elementalist? How illogical!

In the past Yu Mingqiu had felt that Ye Baiyi was extremely enigmatic . Ye Baiyi had a mysterious history and all Yu Mingqiu knew was that he was a new citizen who gradually became the representative of the new citizens . Ye Baiyi’s journey of progress was rather legendary . He had started from the bottom and became famous through the Battle of The Dawn, eventually replacing Le Buleng as the division leader of the Icy Flames Division .

Nevertheless, no one would’ve thought that he would defect to the Holy Emperor and become the number one traitor in the Avalon of Five Elements . The Holy Emperor’s reward for him shocked the world . Even before serving, Ye Baiyi had been granted the title of “War God” and was the overall commander of the army . The Holy Emperor had also specially constructed War God Palace for him, which only the third palace after the Beast Venom Temple and the Cold Palace .

Ye Baiyi did not let the Holy Emperor down as he reformed the military tactics of the blood elementalist combat division and established the six god divisions . From then on, between the God Nation and the Avalon of Five Elements, the former started gaining the upper hand and became increasingly dominant and superior over time .

If he wasn’t aware that Ye Baiyi was his senior, Yu Mingqiu would feel that he was a mysterious and complex person who was difficult to read .

If Ye Baiyi was really his senior, all the things he had done would become even more illogical!

Teacher was on par with the Holy Emperor so, as a disciple, why would Ye Baiyi surrender to the latter?

Unless… unless it was a feigned surrender?

This idea popped up, snapping Yu Mingqiu out of his thoughts . Thinking about how Teacher had been so worried and concerned about Ye Baiyi, his idea seemed very possible . However, he quickly had his doubts . When Ye Baiyi was still in the Avalon of Five Elements, he had still hidden this relationship along with Teacher .

Why did they conceal their real relationship?

Yu Mingqiu felt his heart turn cold . His face was rather pale, and he dared not proceed down this train of thought .

Beside him, Lu Chen was deep in his own thoughts, his face similarly pale-looking .

Before they could sort out their thoughts, a gush of domineering and vast energy waves came through from overhead . It was so intense that even the heavily guarded hall felt like a hot desert as heat waves continued rolling in .

Yu Mingqiu and Lu Chen raised their heads at the same time and looked toward the dome . Their faces changed .

The same name leapt into their minds .

Le Buleng!

Rumble .

Heavy thunder sounded from the faraway horizon, yet the sky was clear and cloudless . Where was it coming from?

Outside the hall gate, the sunlight burned even more fiercely, causing the temperature to spike . Moisture evaporated as the trees dried up rapidly . The interior of the cold and quiet hall was like a different world from the outside, where a deathly pale and blazing sun hung in the sky .

A faint sigh broke the silence, and the invisible shackles vanished . The frozen air within the hall started circulating once again, as if time had just frozen for a brief moment .

Sweat stained everybody’s garments and even the floor, proving that what happened wasn’t an illusion .

Thump . A sudden sound startled them .

It turned out to be Quan Weide, who had gone weak in his limbs, lost his balance, and fallen onto the lotus leaf .

No one laughed at him, however, since they probably would’ve fared worse if they were in his position .

Dai Gang’s expression returned to normal; the familiar smile and spring-like aura had returned . Still, having witnessed the bitingly wintry and bone-piercing aura, fear followed them like a shadow, and no one dared to relax or be careless .

They stood respectfully with their heads lowered, trembled in fear, and did not dare to make any sound . The blood within their bodies was flowing slowly, preventing them from quickly regaining their body heat .

Dai Gang smiled and spoke gently, “I need to address a matter first . “

Everybody kneeled down immediately . “We await your orders!”

While trembling uncontrollably, Quan Weidie stumbled onto his knees .

As if narrating a story, Dai Gang started, “I’ve made a promise to Le Buleng . As long as he challenges me, I shall accept . Actually, it does not have that much to do with this battle, but there are certain things that I wish to arrange as soon as possible, and now’s the chance, so I shall say my piece . I’m embarrassed to say that while everyone in the Jadeite Forest regards me as the leader, I’ve done very little . Instead, it is you all who have been working diligently while spilling blood, sweat, and tears . As they say, when a teacher is in trouble, his disciple will carry on his work . I’m not going to make it, so the affairs of the Jadeite Forest will be handed over to Mingqiu . Mingqiu is young and not as experienced, so please, everybody, spend more effort helping him like how you’ve helped me . “

Everyone had long predicted that this assembly was for a big announcement . Nevertheless, this explosive news still left them dumbstruck .

Grandmaster was at his peak, which would predictably last for a few more decades, so why was he arranging for a successor so soon?

As for Le Buleng, no one paid too much attention . While he was known as the third strongest person in the world, it was obvious that his abilities were far behind those of the top two . Perhaps he could create some trouble for Dai Gang, but only the Holy Emperor could really challenge Dai Gang .

Furthermore, Dai Gang chose the second and not the first prince .

Lu Chen looked pleased, patting Yu Mingqiu’s shoulder encouragingly and feeling happy for his junior . He was relieved . He had no interest in power . These trifling matters were no different from poison . However, as the senior disciple, the pressure was ultimately on him . Now that he could finally do what he liked, he was beyond happy .

The master of the Lu family, Lu Zhian, didn’t look too good, however .

Dai Gang had no son, so logically speaking, as the senior, Lu Chen was more likely to become his successor . Unexpectedly, Grandmaster did not act according to convention and chose Yu Mingqiu instead .

Even though he, himself, knew that Chen’er was overly-simple and an unsuitable candidate, seeing the throne slip away just like that made him feel terrible .

Lu Zhian was a calm person after all . He stepped out and said, “Don’t worry, Grandmaster . We will certainly assist the second lord as best as we can . We will do anything!”

The rest responded in the same manner, hurriedly declaring their devotion .

Yu Mingqiu was rather shocked, and his mind was in a mess . He had still been thinking about Senior Ye Baiyi’s secrets when Teacher pointed him out . He was caught completely off guard .

When he finally processed what had just happened, he prepared to refuse .

As the vice leader of the Deathgrass Division, he had chosen to enter the Wilderness alone because he was unable to accept the Jadeite Forest’s secession . Although he had returned, this issue continued to affect him . The Jadeite Forest’s extravagant atmosphere was the complete opposite of the arduous and torturous years that he had spent in the Wilderness, and this truly made him feel bad .

Dai Gang smiled and did not let Yu Mingqiu speak . “I heard that Xiao Qiu’s been interested in embroidery lately and running to Mingxiu’s workshop every day . Xiao Qiu isn’t young anymore, and his parents aren’t around anymore . As his teacher, I’ve decided to propose marriage with the Lu family . Mingxiu and Xiao Qiu are childhood friends, and now that they’re both Masters, it can be said that they’re an ideal couple . What do you say, Master Lu?”

Yu Mingqiu’s mind went blank .

He stopped listening at this point and threw whatever he had wanted to say to the back of his mind . Only endless joy filled his heart .

Lu Zhian hadn’t expected Grandmaster to propose marriage either, but he quickly responded with a face full of joy . Yu Mingqiu was the future master of the Jadeite Forest, so this marriage would be extremely beneficial for the Lu family . Plus, as Grandmaster had mentioned, Mingqiu and Mingxiu had been friends since childhood and he had always been devoted to her . They were really a good match .

Moved, he answered, “Great, great, great! It’s our family’s honor . Xiao Qiu grew up under your watch and you regard him as your own son . This marriage is more than anything I can ever ask for!”

An enormous amount of pleasant surprise crashed and swallowed Yu Mingqiu up like a tsunami .

His yearning and adoration transformed into indescribable joy that filled every corner of his heart . He wanted to scream . He wanted to run over to the workshop . He wanted to confess!

He wanted to cut open his chest and let Mingxiu see that his heart was beating for her . He wanted to tell her that he was willing to do anything for her, be it treading on fire or climbing mountains made of knives .

He wished morning would come soon so he could see Mingxiu the moment she opened her eyes . He could look at her sleeping like a child and watch her face as it was lit up by a wisp of sunlight that shone through the windows . He couldn’t wait to wake up beside her . He could tuck her locks of hair behind her ears and greet her when she woke up .

Ahhhhhh, he was too happy . What to do, what to do . Too, too, too happy!

Seeing a foolish grin taking over Yu Mingqiu’s usually smart-looking and alert face made Dai Gang smile for a second .

He then raised his head, his abstruse and sharp gaze seemingly piercing through the domed roof made out of translucent jade and landing upon the boundless sky .

At that location, there was a tenacious looking figure .

“Dismissed . “

Before his voice finished fading, the seat of honor was already empty .