Besides Tianhan City, Zhao Country also has six major sects: Celestial Star Sect, Taihe Sect, Fengyang Sect, Divine Night Sect, Jade Spring Valley, and Cyan Leaf Castle!

Among them, Tianhan City maintains friendly relations with Jade Spring Valley and Cyan Leaf Castle,

while the other four sects are led by Celestial Star Sect.

Being one of Zhao Country’s significant powers, the succession of Tianhan City’s master could greatly impact the entire Zhao Country’s situation.

Therefore, this news was quickly sent to these six major sects.

Among them, Celestial Star Sect, as the number one sect in Zhao Country and the foremost sect in the Eastern Wilderness, naturally pays more attention to their longtime rival Tianhan City.

After all, since Tianhan City’s existence, it has always been suppressing their Celestial Star Sect,

Master Tianci also suppressed the Grand Elder of Celestial Star Sect, Master Xingyue, for several hundred years.

...

On this day, outside Celestial Star Sect,

three beams of Spirit Light rapidly approached and finally landed in front of a cave mansion on the sect’s main peak.

These three were the Grand Elders of Taihe Sect, Fengyang Sect, and Divine Night Sect, here to discuss matters regarding Tianhan City.

Inside Master Xingyue’s cave mansion,

four figures sat facing each other.

One was a venerable elder with white beard and hair, looking youthful despite it, exuding an aura of immortality and wisdom, none other than the Grand Elder of Celestial Star Sect, Master Xingyue at Peak Core Formation,

Facing him was an elder wearing a High Crown, with a gaunt face and pronounced cheekbones, known as Master Taifeng, with Late-Stage Core Formation cultivation.

The other two were Master Feng Ji of Fengyang Sect and Master Qianye of Divine Night Sect, both at the Peak of Middle-Stage Core Formation.

"Daoist Brother Xingyue, with Old Man Tianci stepping down from the position of Grand Elder, could he be intending to sit and die?"

Frowning with the intelligence in hand, Master Taifeng said.

"Considering the time, it seems likely. With this succession, who will take over his position?"

Master Qianye, a scrawny old man,

chuckled dryly, his face dark and wrinkled, looking somewhat eerie.

"Hmph, we’ve been suppressed by Old Man Tianci for hundreds of years, if he truly passes, it’s finally our time to emerge!"

Master Feng Ji sneered sinisterly, a hint of ruthlessness revealing on his fair face.

Apparently, he has been oppressed by Master Tianci quite harshly over the years.

Upon hearing this, Master Xingyue’s face slightly changed, back then he and Master Tianci were both known as Zhao Country’s two great talents,

but since they both reached Core Formation, he has always been overshadowed by Master Tianci, with numerous confrontations resulting in his disadvantage.

Despite his best efforts, he never managed to probe Master Tianci’s depths.

This has been his long-standing shame.

"If this is indeed the case, it’s our great chance to suppress or even overthrow Tianhan City!"

Master Xingyue’s eyes flashed brilliantly.

"Rest assured, Daoist Brother, beneath Old Man Tianci, there’s only Master Qianchuan barely qualified to inherit his mantle,"

"Yet this person is only at the Peak of Early-Stage Core Formation now,"

"If Old Man Tianci truly aims to support him, how could Old Dan Ding accept it, how could Jade Spring Valley and Cyan Leaf Castle comply?"

"With subordinates divided, Tianhan City’s millennia-old foundation might crumble!"

Master Qianye analyzed, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes as he spoke.

Tianhan City’s opulence is well-known; leveraging the fame of the Eastern Wilderness’s foremost Immortal City, it has acquired massive cultivation resources,

should they be utilized by him, he might also have a chance to advance to the late stage.

As the saying goes, when a whale falls, all things thrive, this is the principle.

"Master Qianchuan?" Hearing this name, Master Taifeng chuckled softly,

"The successor this time certainly won’t be this person?"

"Why?" The others were puzzled!

"Take a look at this!" Speaking, Master Taifeng took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, flickering with Mana at his fingertips,

then a beam of Spirit Light shot out, striking the talisman, a young man’s voice emerged:

"Daoist Friend Taifeng, I agree to cooperate, but after the deed, half of Tianhan City’s treasures must be set aside for me!"

"For this matter, an oath bound by Heart Demon must be made!"

Upon hearing this, Master Qianye was furious,

"Who is this, audacious enough to demand half of Tianhan City’s treasures, and has us make an oath bound by Heart Demon!"

"This person is Old Man Tianci’s treasured disciple—Master Qianchuan!" Master Taifeng stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"What, it turns out to be this person!" Master Feng Ji and Master Qianye were shocked, then delighted.

"Daoist Brother Taifeng has great methods to make this person turn coat!"

"Given his relationship with Master Tianci, if our sect’s secret technique ’Soul-Devouring Guide’ is employed to ambush Old Man Tianci at close range,"

"Thus Tianhan City would be leaderless, we could seize the moment and strike, Tianhan City might fall through a single battle!"

"This is a golden opportunity!"

"Indeed, a mere half of the treasures are naturally not a problem!"

"Besides, Master Qianchuan, just a small Peak Early-Stage Core Formation fellow, what right does he have to take away so many treasures!"

Master Qianye laughed sinisterly.

"If that’s the case, I’ll send a reply to that junior Qianchuan!" The matter of collaborating with Master Qianchuan was quickly agreed upon by the group.

Seven days later, in a secluded valley a hundred thousand miles from Tianhan City, Master Qianchuan and a few others alongside Master Xingyue collectively made an oath bound by Heart Demon to deal with Tianhan City together.

...

Due to Zhou Xun’s notable position in Tianhan City, Wangchuan Lake also had a liaison point established there.

Thus, the news of the impending change of leadership in Tianhan City promptly reached Wangchuan Lake.

Weih Qiuxin, as the Chief Steward, was the first to learn of this intelligence.

Knowing the gravity of the news, she immediately went to Lake Heart Island, intending to report this information to Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun had previously gone out secretly, so his disciples all believed he was still cultivating privately on Lake Heart Island.

Upon explaining her intent, Song Yiqing immediately understood the significance of the matter, after some thought, ultimately disclosed Zhou Xun’s departure to Weih Qiuxin.

"With the Island Master absent, what are we to do!" Weih Qiuxin momentarily lost her counsel.

"Why not gather Jingsong, You Shan, and others, and invite Senior Brother Huai’an and Senior Sister Pan’er here to discuss how to respond!"

Song Yiqing quickly decided,

Zhou Xun had said that during his absence, all affairs of Wangchuan Lake were to be managed by Xing Huai’an.

"That’s fine!"

Soon, in the meeting hall,

Song Yiqing, Weih Qiuxin, Xing Huai’an, Yuan Pan’er, and Zhou Xun’s five disciples were all gathered together.

Quickly, Weih Qiuxin presented Tianhan City’s intelligence for everyone to review.

"Master Tianci is actually stepping down!"

Xing Huai’an and Yuan Pan’er, having lived in Tianhan City for many years, naturally understood the importance of Master Tianci to Tianhan City.

As for Lv Jingsong and the others, they were less aware; their presence was meant to prevent Xing Huai’an from dominating the discussion.

At this point, Zhou Jingsong, as Zhou Xun’s leading disciple, spoke up:

"In Master Tianci’s opinion, what should our Wangchuan Lake do in response?"

They were aware of Zhou Xun’s close relationship with Tianhan City.

Having personally relayed messages in the past, Xing Huai’an, who knew more of the inside story, contemplated for a while before slowly speaking: