At that moment, a delighted Tang Feng turned to the elders of the Tang Family Castle and said, "Elders, now my nephew, Yi Xiaoyao, can rightfully take his place as the Fortress Master, can he not?"
The elders had witnessed the entire process. From his victory over Tang Ruoxue to the three sect elders vying for him, everything indicated that Yi Xiaoyao’s potential far surpassed Tang Ruoxue’s.
After exchanging glances, they all nodded in agreement.
"In that case, in accordance with the late Fortress Master’s will, Yi Xiaoyao shall be appointed as the new Fortress Master!"
In an instant, applause thundered through the area. Even those who were dissatisfied dared not voice their objections.
Yi Xiaoyao smiled faintly. He had finally proven himself to everyone and reclaimed what was rightfully his!
At this moment, Yi Xiaoyao was dazzlingly radiant, a stark contrast to the dejected Tang Ruoxue standing to the side.
Suddenly, a few shy voices spoke up beside Yi Xiaoyao. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on becoming the Fortress Master!"
"Senior Brother?"
Yi Xiaoyao was taken aback. He turned to find that the three young women who had been following Mei Han were now gathering around him.
These three young women were all incredibly beautiful, the daughters of other prominent families. Not one of them was inferior to Tang Ruoxue; in fact, they were even more stunning.
"That’s right! If you join our Cloud Transformation Sect, you’ll be our Senior Brother from now on!" one of the young women giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.
They immediately grabbed his arms, their six delicate, jade-like hands pulling him along as he was compelled to walk toward Mei Han.
"Ladies, what are you doing?"
Yi Xiaoyao said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Casting flirtatious glances at him, the three young women said, "Senior Brother, you were so amazing just now! You defeated that venomous woman, Tang Ruoxue, so easily. We junior sisters admire you so much!"
The young women’s voices weren’t loud, but everyone nearby heard them. The young men in the crowd were so envious they were practically drooling.
In their eyes, Yi Xiaoyao had won fame, fortune, and the attention of beautiful women all in a single battle.
When Tang Ruoxue heard the three young women call her a venomous woman and saw Yi Xiaoyao surrounded by a flock of beauties, her expression turned utterly foul, and a storm of conflicting emotions brewed in her heart.
Tang Ruoxue looked at Yi Xiaoyao, only to find that he didn’t even spare her a single glance as he walked past.
This utter disdain seemed to be telling Tang Ruoxue that abandoning Yi Xiaoyao was the most foolish thing she had ever done in her life.
Even without her, Tang Ruoxue, there would still be countless young women more beautiful, more talented, and of higher status than her chasing after Yi Xiaoyao.
Because Yi Xiaoyao was still that peerless genius; it was Tang Ruoxue who had been shortsighted.
Jealousy, envy, regret... all these emotions erupted within Tang Ruoxue’s heart.
"Yi Xiaoyao!"
Tang Ruoxue shouted, "Three days from now, Young Master Jin, Jin Lingfeng, will come to marry me! You’re nothing compared to him. Even if you can defeat me, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll never be worthy of me!"
After saying her piece, Tang Ruoxue burst into cathartic laughter. She might have lost the position of Fortress Master, but she still had the backing of the Jin Family.
Hearing this, the crowd once again erupted in murmurs.
"That bitch! Whether he’s worthy or not isn’t for her to decide!"
"Exactly. That bitch really thinks she’s hot stuff."
"To think the Young Master of the Jin Family is actually going to marry Tang Ruoxue. I feel sorry for that Jin Lingfeng."
Yi Xiaoyao heard Tang Ruoxue’s words but paid them no mind, not even bothering to acknowledge her.
"Senior Brother, don’t pay attention to that crazy woman. Master told us to bring you over," the three beautiful young women said, pulling Yi Xiaoyao in front of Mei Han.
Seeing Yi Xiaoyao walk toward her, Mei Han nodded at her three female disciples with satisfaction.
"Yi Xiaoyao, have you made up your mind now?"
Yi Xiaoyao immediately bowed and declared, "I, Yi Xiaoyao, am willing to take Elder Mei as my master and join the Cloud Transformation Sect!"
"Hmph!" Xu Jin and Elder Ge both grunted in disappointment and dissatisfaction.
"Thank you both, Seniors, for your high regard. I am truly sorry," Yi Xiaoyao said apologetically to the two of them.
Xu Jin and Elder Ge maintained their stern expressions, but in reality, they both understood Yi Xiaoyao’s choice. ’This boy is not only exceptionally talented but also humble and courteous,’ they thought. ’He’s in a different league from Tang Ruoxue. What a true pity.’
Outwardly, however, they said with deliberate scorn, "To think a dignified man would be swayed by the allure of beautiful women!"
Yi Xiaoyao could only give a wry smile. His decision to take Mei Han as his master had nothing to do with the three stunning young women; he had wanted to enter the number one sect, the Cloud Transformation Sect, all along.
However, Yi Xiaoyao didn’t want to explain too much, as he did feel a little guilty toward the two of them.
Mei Han was in an excellent mood. She smiled and said, "Good. Since you are willing, I will fulfill my earlier promise. First, I’ll give you a high-grade, Yellow-rank Swordsmanship manual. As for the other, I will give it to you after you’ve formally entered the sect and become my disciple."
With that, under the envious gazes of everyone present, Yi Xiaoyao accepted the precious Swordsmanship manual with a fervent look in his eyes.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Yi Xiaoyao hurriedly bowed in thanks. Since he hadn’t formally become her disciple yet, addressing her as "Senior" was perfectly appropriate.
Mei Han nodded and added, "Although you are now the Fortress Master of the Tang Family Castle, you are in the prime of your youth for cultivation. You must come with me to the Cloud Transformation Sect to train. Once your cultivation is successful, you can return to your duties as Fortress Master."
At this, the Tang Family elders beside them spoke up. "Elder Mei, the Fortress Master has just taken his position, and there are many affairs to hand over. Could you perhaps allow him a few days before he leaves for the Cloud Transformation Sect?"
"Hmm, very well. As it happens, I was planning to visit the other families in Hunting City to recruit more disciples. I’ll come back for him in a few days," Mei Han agreed.
And so, after the Tang Family elders completed the remaining ceremonial procedures, the Tang Clan Members who had gathered there also began to disperse.
"Father." Tang Ruoxue walked over to Tang Long, her expression complex. The two of them looked utterly out of place in the crowd.
Tang Long frowned and was silent for a moment before saying, "We can no longer stay in the Tang Family Castle. Go and inform the Jin Family now. When the time comes, I’ll move into their home with you."
Tang Ruoxue looked at her father. She had previously planned to merge the Tang Family Castle into the Jin Family after becoming Fortress Master. But now, not only had she lost that right, but both her and her father’s reputations within the castle were in tatters. Their only choice was to leave the Tang Family Castle in disgrace and move in with the Jin Family.
At this thought, Tang Ruoxue clenched her fists and vowed internally, ’The Jin Family is several times more powerful than the Tang Family Castle. Once I marry into their family, I will have my revenge on Yi Xiaoyao and this entire Tang Family Castle!’
Today should have been Tang Ruoxue’s most glorious day, yet no one could have expected that she would be cast down from the highest peak into a bottomless abyss.
And Yi Xiaoyao, the one who had brought this great humiliation upon her, had become the most dazzling star of the day.
The succession ceremony was over, but the events of this day would become a story the Tang Clan Members would tell for years to come.
「Half a day later.」
Yi Xiaoyao, along with the Tang Family Castle elders, finished handling the various miscellaneous matters from the ceremony. Mei Han and the other two sect elders had also departed.
Just then, the old steward ran over and said to Yi Xiaoyao and the elders, "Fortress Master, Elders, the Young Master of the Jin Family is here. He says he wants to see the Fortress Master."
"The Young Master of the Jin Family? The Jin Lingfeng that Tang Ruoxue mentioned?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tang Ruoxue had claimed that Yi Xiaoyao was far inferior to Jin Lingfeng. Although Yi Xiaoyao hadn’t reacted at the time, he had taken note of her words.
The elders all frowned. One of them said, "Fortress Master, the Jin Family is the number one family in our Hunting City. This visit from their Young Master is most likely related to Tang Ruoxue."
Hearing this, Yi Xiaoyao’s brows furrowed slightly.
He remembered clearly how Tang Ruoxue had said Jin Lingfeng was far stronger than him.
According to Tang Ruoxue, Jin Lingfeng was supposed to arrive in three days to marry her. But now, only half a day later, he had suddenly appeared at the Tang Family Castle and asked for Yi Xiaoyao by name. He clearly hadn’t come to exchange pleasantries.