"Thank you all for coming to the Heavenly Demon Palace for this grand ceremony, and please, bear witness."
The cultivator presiding over the succession ceremony spoke in a clear, carrying voice. Immediately after, Mo Su, the next Palace Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, stepped inside. His face was solemn as he walked steadily into the hall. Every step was firm and powerful, naturally drawing everyone's attention.
The Palace Master's ceremonial robe was deep black with dark patterns, outlined with broad purple trims along the collar, sleeves, and hem, clearly distinguishing him from ordinary disciples.
The succession itself was simple yet grand. Mo Su first bowed three times before the portrait of the first Tian Mo Zhēnzūn, honoring the sect's founding Ancestor.
Then, he received the Palace Master's token from Mo Lie's hands. The token was crafted from obsidian, with the Heavenly Demon Palace's main hall engraved in the center. Nine purple gems were inlaid around it, and the back bore the three characters of "Heavenly Demon Palace."
Mo Su forced a drop of his blood essence from his forehead and let it fall onto the token. As the blood seeped in, the token glowed with a dark luster, releasing a vast pressure that enveloped him.
The token split cleanly in half. One piece sank into his body, while the other hovered in the air, radiating thick demonic qi. With a simple motion of his hand, the second half fell obediently into his palm, and he solemnly fastened it at his waist.
Mo Lie, the former Palace Master, stepped forward with a bright smile, delivering a rousing retirement speech and offering heartfelt blessings to his successor.
Mo Su gave a deep bow and replied with the shortest speech of the day. "I'll definitely lead the Heavenly Demon Palace to glory."
The presiding cultivator's mouth twitched. That had to be the shortest succession speech in history.
Afterward came congratulations and gifts from the gathered sects. Mo Su accepted them politely and steadily, though his gaze kept drifting toward Jian Feng.
Jian Feng stood behind Jian Xu, calm and restrained. Following Mo Yue Zūnshàng's instructions, he took out their sect's gift from his storage ring and handed it over without fuss.
Mo Su didn't refuse. He accepted the gift, taking the chance to openly study Jian Feng.
Meanwhile, the Unity-stage cultivator from the Tang family had his eyes locked on Jian Dan the entire time, his expression shifting unpredictably. His gaze was so blatant it was impossible to miss, but she couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention.
"You two stay and help Mo Su with the aftermath. I'm heading back to Mo Yan Peak."
Jian Dan spoke softly to Mo Yi and Mo Qi once the Tang cultivator's eyes fell on her for the third time. She hugged a drowsy Xiao Yue, turned, and vanished from the hall, leaving the Tang cultivator frozen in frustration. The opportunity slipped through his fingers.
Mo Lie had intended to introduce Mo Yue to the other Demon Gate cultivators, but with one turn, she was gone. All he could do was shake his head helplessly. Honestly, they were all far too good at avoiding trouble.
Back on Mo Yan Peak, Jian Dan stroked Xiao Yue. Over the past two days, the little wolf cub had seemed a little off, uncharacteristically listless and sleeping too much. Maybe the recent events had hit him harder than expected. Sweeping her spiritual sense over him, she found he was already fast asleep. Yesterday he'd been clamoring to see the succession ceremony, yet he'd spent the entire time curled in her arms, half-dozing. What a wasted trip.
She sent a thread of spiritual energy into his body to gently guide and harmonize it. Xiao Yue stirred, cracked an eyelid, saw it was her, then promptly closed his eyes and drifted deeper into sleep.
Jian Dan carried him into the special cave dwelling she'd prepared, laid down restrictive wards, then turned to Chun Yu. "Xiao Yue seems to be advancing. Don't let anyone disturb him. And if the beast clan comes by while I'm gone, don't let them anywhere near his cave."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
The four attendants bowed deeply.
"Zūnshàng, a Tang family cultivator requests an audience."
Gong Yi stepped forward and saluted.
"Tch, like a shadow that won't go away. Let them in."
Jian Dan left the cave, sealed it with another restriction, then sat beneath a peach blossom tree, waiting.
Before long, Tang Chang arrived with another Tang family cultivator, this one at Nascent Soul stage. Both bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Mo Yue Zūnshàng."
"Yes. Why have you come?"
Jian Dan gave them a single glance before turning her eyes away, idly turning the round fan in her hand.
Tang Chang hadn't expected her to cut straight to the point. After a pause, he finally spoke with caution. "Our Ancestor Tang Yi disappeared some time ago and hasn't returned."
"What's that got to do with me?" Jian Dan's smile was languid, her tone amused.
"Please don't be angry, Zūnshàng. Ancestor Tang Yi vanished while pursuing the Desert Yellow Sands Map, the same immortal artifact you took." Tang Chang bit back his frustration, keeping his tone deferential.
"Yes, I took it, because you used the Desert Yellow Sands Map to ambush me. If I hadn't escaped quickly, I'd have been swallowed as its nourishment." Her words were blunt, her enchanting eyes flashing with icy light as she stared them down.
Tang Chang's heart lurched. She'd already seen through his disguise.
"Enough. Your little tricks aren't worth anything. Don't stand here making fools of yourselves. The Desert Yellow Sands Map never belonged to your Tang family, and you can't control it anyway. Otherwise, I wouldn't even be here right now."
"You don't have the right to hand it over to the Jian family either!"
The Nascent Soul cultivator beside Tang Chang couldn't hold his tongue. His face instantly went pale, realizing his mistake. Tang Chang's expression also changed—this was bad.
Jian Dan's gaze turned glacial, sharp enough to cut. She lightly touched the tear-mole at the corner of her eye, then curved her lips into a dangerous smile. Her voice dripped with venom. "You two should count yourselves lucky. Today's the Heavenly Demon Palace's succession ceremony. On a day like this, blood really shouldn't be spilled."
The words fell, and with a casual wave of her fan, the two were gone.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves standing at the foot of Mo Yan Peak. Tang Chang's instincts screamed danger. He immediately grabbed the other cultivator and fled toward the Palace's gates, abandoning even the small exchange meet scheduled for the next day.
Watching the two flee like their tails were on fire, Gong Yi's fierce face didn't twitch. He only bowed and asked coldly, "Zūnshàng, should I have the Black Robed Guards deal with them?"
"No need."
Jian Dan waved her fan dismissively. Tang Chang had once used the Desert Yellow Sands Map to try to kill her. She hadn't even gotten the chance to settle that debt, and now he'd jumped right into her hands. No way she was letting him slip away.
Gong Yi obeyed her orders and didn't act on his own.
Meanwhile, Mo Su, guided by his master Mo Lie, had exchanged greetings with all the guests before retiring to a side hall to rest. Mo Yi and Mo Qi helped him handle many matters along the way.
Later, Mo Yi sat at a jade table, holding a message jade slip. He finished reading and burst out laughing. "The Tang family really kicked an iron plate this time!"
"They went to see Mo Yue?" Mo Qi's voice was amused.
"Yep! They didn't even last fifteen minutes before Mo Yue tossed them off the mountain. Tang Chang grabbed his man and bolted right after."
"Tsk, tsk. They must've said something she hated. Afraid of retaliation, so they ran straight off."
"Probably. Who knows what the Tang family's thinking, targeting Mo Yue like this?"
Mo Yi snorted.
"Why else? Her rise is blocking their path, that's all."