"Everything is as Daoist Brother Tianci said!"

Seeing this, Master Tianci nodded satisfactorily and then turned his gaze to Zhou Xun, saying:

"Younger Brother Zhou, having left the Central Province yet returning to the Eastern Wilderness, I suppose you plan to cultivate here until you reach the peak of Core Formation, and then head to the Central Province to form your Nascent Soul!"

"Indeed, with my current Core Formation Stage cultivation, it’s truly not safe in the Central Province. It’s better to cultivate to the peak here first before venturing out!"

Zhou Xun did not shy away from expressing his thoughts.

"Your plan is wise, Younger Brother. For those like us, cultivating steadily without seeking unnecessary risks is more important than anything!"

As the master of Tianhan City, Master Tianci had seen many so-called exceptional geniuses, many of whom didn’t know when to restrain themselves and ended up perishing prematurely.

"If that’s the case, from today onwards, Tianhan City is yours!" Master Tianci said calmly.

"Daoist Brother, this..."

Though Zhou Xun had speculated about this, when the moment truly arrived, he was still somewhat shocked.

Tianhan City was not to be compared with White Cloud Immortal City or Juntian City.

It was the largest city in the Eastern Wilderness, with a heritage spanning tens of thousands of years, its value being self-evident.

The treasures in Tianhan City’s secret vault alone would make even a Nascent Soul cultivator green with envy.

"Now that I have hopes of further progress, I naturally have no intention of staying in Tianhan City any longer, so I leave it in your hands!"

Master Tianci said, patting the storage bag at his waist. With a flash of light, a pitch-black token fell into his hand.

With a slight probe of his divine sense, he erased his unique divine sense mark from it, then placed it before Zhou Xun, saying:

"This is the core token of our Tianhan City’s Mountain Protection Array, and from today on, I entrust it to you!"

He then looked towards Master Nanyue and Master Dan Ding:

"Junior Brother Qu, Junior Brother Lv, I know neither of you have any intent of leaving the Eastern Wilderness, so in the future, you’ll need to assist Younger Brother Zhou in managing our Tianhan City well!"

After all, the two had been in Tianhan City for several centuries, and suddenly entrusting the entire Immortal City’s authority to Zhou Xun, who had been here for only a few decades,

might inevitably lead to some unfavorable thoughts.

Fortunately, Master Nanyue had a close relationship with Zhou Xun,

but Master Dan Ding didn’t have such a deep relationship with Zhou Xun, and coupled with his identity as a Tier Three High-Grade Alchemist, with a vast network,

any ill intentions from him could spell immeasurable disaster for Tianhan City.

Looking at Master Tianci, Master Dan Ding, Qu Yongshou, replied unwaveringly:

"Rest assured, Daoist Brother Tianci. We all know of Younger Brother Zhou’s capabilities. With him leading Tianhan City, it will surely uphold its prestigious reputation."

"I, Qu Yongshou, am willing to follow!"

Seeing this, Master Tianci looked over at Master Nanyue:

Master Nanyue cupped his hands and said,

"Henghua feels the same!"

Only then did Master Tianci nod in relief, with a hint of depth in his words:

"For this departure, I will leave a Tier Four Human Puppet with Younger Brother Zhou. With this puppet here, any upheaval can hopefully be resolved swiftly!"

Master Dan Ding thought Master Tianci referred to the puppet he held, unaware that Tianhan City actually possessed three Tier Four Human Puppets.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun was deeply moved.

Master Tianci had truly cleared all obstacles for his succession.

"Since Daoist Brother Tianci has decided to entrust Tianhan City to Younger Brother Zhou, why not announce it to the world and hold a public succession?"

Master Iron Mountain couldn’t help but suggest.

"But..."

Master Tianci hesitated, looking at Zhou Xun beside him,

Considering having Zhou Xun take over at this time was a bit like pushing him onto the stage; if the succession were publicly announced, with Zhou Xun’s current Early-Stage Core Formation cultivation,

he would inevitably face considerable challenges, causing Master Tianci some unease.

In such a scenario, both internal dissent within Tianhan City and external adversarial forces would not sit idly by.

Hearing this, with the token in hand, Zhou Xun smiled slightly and said:

"Rest assured, Daoist Brother. I am a Half-Step Golden Core cultivator and have a Tier Four Human Puppet here. I am eager to meet the heroes of the world!"

His mana and divine sense now rivaled that of an ordinary Late-Stage Core Formation cultivator, aside from Master Tianci before him,

there was truly nothing in the Eastern Wilderness he feared.

Seeing the calmness in Zhou Xun’s eyes, Master Tianci immediately realized this younger brother was not as simple as he had thought.

So he nodded slightly,

"In that case, the grand ceremony for the appointment of the new Grand Elder of Tianhan City shall be set three months from now!"

...

Before long, news began to spread throughout the entire Immortal City that Master Tianci would soon be stepping down as the Grand Elder of Tianhan City, and a new Grand Elder would take over in three months. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Countless people began speculating about who Master Tianci’s successor might be.

"Naturally, it’s Master Iron Mountain,"

"Master Iron Mountain is one of the only two Late-Stage Core Formation cultivators in our Tianhan City; who else could take the Grand Elder’s position?"

This statement garnered quite a bit of support.

"I disagree. I think the successor is Master Dan Ding!"

"Elder Qu is a Tier Three High-Grade Alchemist, with extensive connections, and countless Core Formation Masters owe him favors,"

"Plus, he already holds the position of Second Elder, so with Master Tianci stepping down, his smooth succession is only natural!"

This opinion had the most supporters, as alchemists were touted as the foremost of a hundred cultivation skills, especially a Tier Three High-Grade Alchemy Master,

of whom there were only two in the entire Eastern Wilderness.

In terms of status, he was in no way inferior to an ordinary Peak Core Formation cultivator and perhaps subtly surpassed that. His assuming the role would ensure a smooth transition period for Tianhan City.

There was also a theory that the successor was Master Tianci’s third disciple—Master Qianchuan.

This individual had remarkable talent, though not as heaven-defying as Master Tianci, he had Fire Attribute Spiritual Root at seventy percent, a solid Earth Spirit Root cultivator,

and had even condensed a High-Grade True Pill.

It’s said that back then, he almost formed a Half-Step Golden Core.

Now, at merely a hundred and forty years old, he’s already at the Peak of Early-Stage Core Formation cultivation.

He had a high probability of advancing to Late-Stage Core Formation in the future.

Unfortunately, Master Tianci was stepping down too early, otherwise, he would undoubtedly be the uncontested next Grand Elder of Tianhan City.

At this moment, Master Qianchuan sat in his cave mansion, his face full of gloom,

surrounded by fragments of various shattered vessels.

Unlike outsiders, he understood his master very well.

If he had another fifty years and could advance to Middle-Stage Core Formation, perhaps he could have vied for the position of Grand Elder,

but now, being only at Early-Stage Core Formation, it was naturally beyond his reach.

"Master, oh Master, why do you have to step down so soon!"

His clenched fists showed popping veins, and his eyes were full of reluctance.

Why couldn’t he be given a little more time?

He was, after all, his direct disciple, and as a fellow Fire Attribute cultivator, he practiced Master Tianci’s lifebound cultivation technique.

"No, I will not resign to fate like this!"

Master Qianchuan seemed to have made some decision, then took out a peculiar talisman, whispered a few words, and then sent it out.

At the same time, the news of Master Tianci’s resignation began to spread to other parts of the Eastern Wilderness.