bdsm-fiction Chapter 50 Dao Alliance Leader
Chapter 50 Dao Alliance Leader
Chapter 50 Dao Alliance Leader
Proud to come to the country.
This place is shrouded in mist and clouds all year round, with ethereal mountains and abundant spiritual energy that surpasses all others in this world. Yet it is also mysterious and transcendent, making it difficult for ordinary beings to find its trace. Even powerful demons and top human families can only hear of its name but rarely discover its true nature.
Deep within the clouds and mist, in a naturally formed cave dwelling imbued with Daoist charm, there were no ornate decorations, only a stone table and benches, simple and natural. The gaze that had pierced through the void and landed on the southern border earlier originated from this place.
The cave was silent, with only the faint sound of clouds shifting and changing.
After a long while, a voice rang out leisurely, its tone calm, yet carrying a kind of indifference that had witnessed countless years and looked down upon the changes of the world, and a trace of—extremely faint interest.
"It's only been a mere thousand years—"
The voice paused, as if recalling a comparison.
"Among the human race, such an interesting variable has emerged."
Let's keep an eye on it.
The moment the words left his mouth, the naturally flowing clouds inside the cave paused slightly.
A point of pure, exquisite golden light, imbued with indescribable spiritual energy and majesty, quietly emerged from nothingness and hovered in the center of the cave. The golden light slowly stretched and changed, finally taking the shape of a golden hair, no more than an inch long, yet its entire body seemed to be forged from the finest divine metal, flowing with faint Dao patterns!
The fine hairs floated silently, their Dao patterns flickering on and off, as if they contained a miniature universe within them.
The next moment, it trembled slightly.
"Buzz—"
A faint, almost imperceptible hum, yet reaching the very level of the laws, resounded outwards.
Suddenly, the golden hairs burst forth with a radiance more brilliant than the core of the sun, yet without being dazzling! Within the light, the hairs rapidly stretched, changed, and expanded!
As light and shadow shifted, the blurry yet imposing silhouette of a figure rapidly emerged and solidified in the golden light!
The figure was tall and imposing, clad in a gilded armor with an ancient and unique design, its lines flowing and sharp. The natural patterns on the armor subtly reflected the movement of the stars in the heavens. In his hand he held a weapon that was neither a staff nor a spear, its entire body a dark gold...
The long weapon, with its two ends bound together in a perfectly natural way, stands quietly, yet it exudes a hidden, untamed fighting spirit that seems to want to pierce the sky and sweep across the eight wastelands; on the sides of the helmet plume, two long, majestic feathers hang down naturally, fluttering slightly in the wind, adding a touch of otherworldly agility and majesty.
His face was shrouded in a faint golden halo, making it difficult to see clearly. Only his eyes, when they opened and closed, shone with golden light like lightning, as if they could pierce through the netherworld and see through time and space.
This is not a physical body, but rather a wisp of divine thought, a trace of origin, manifested through that mysterious hair—an external avatar!
The avatar solidified, tilting its head slightly as if receiving the unseen thoughts of its true self. Then, it nodded gently.
Without uttering any further words, he simply uttered two clear words: "Go."
Having said that, the golden figure took a step forward, seemingly oblivious to the cave's stone walls, and passed straight through them. The figure paused briefly atop the towering sea of clouds outside the cave entrance, glancing down at the rolling clouds and the vast, faintly visible land below.
The next moment—
"call out!!!"
A flash of golden light, its speed beyond description! As if completely freed from the constraints of space, it transformed into a thin golden line that cleaved the sky and ignored distance, disappearing in an instant beyond the heavy cloud and mist restrictions of Aolai Kingdom, disappearing into the vast and boundless sky, and speeding towards the southern border where the aura had come from and aroused the slight interest of the main body.
The sea of clouds churned, and the cave returned to silence.
Only the lingering echo of that phrase, "interesting variables," seemed to still faintly reverberate in the mist.
At Shenhuo Mountain Villa, the dust has gradually settled, leaving only the newly formed "Great Extinction Mountain" standing majestically, exuding a breathtakingly silent and oppressive aura.
Zhou Yi stood suspended in mid-air, his black robes swaying slightly in the mountain breeze. He calmly swept his gaze over the spectators, some near and some far, their expressions varied, and his voice clearly echoed throughout the surrounding area: "Gentlemen."
Just two words silenced all the whispers and drew countless eyes in awe.
"From this day forward, the sacred volcano stands solemnly."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of certainty.
"Dongfang Huaizhu, the eldest daughter of Dongfang Guyue, is the new second-generation head of the manor, in charge of the divine fire and revitalizing the family."
""
He paused briefly, then continued, "I am now the Sword-Holding Elder of the Manor."
Upon hearing this, everyone understood that the position of "Sword-wielding Elder" was probably more of a deterrent and symbol, representing that this newly promoted "Lord of the Southern Territory" and even the future possible leader of the Dao Alliance would be the strongest backing of Shenhuo Mountain Manor.
"There is another matter," Zhou Yi said, turning his gaze to Wang Quan Baye and Dongfang Huaizhu beside him, his tone softening slightly, "Three days from now is an auspicious day. At that time, Dongfang Huaizhu, the master of Shenhuo Mountain Manor, and Wang Quan Baye, the head of the Wang Quan family, will hold their wedding ceremony here."
He looked around at everyone and said, "At that time, I would like to ask all of you fellow Daoists to take the time to attend the ceremony."
As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of voices immediately rose up in agreement, their tone respectful and even somewhat obsequious: "Senior Zhou, rest assured! We will definitely come to congratulate the Master on his wedding and witness this grand occasion!"
"I'll definitely be there! I'll definitely be there!"
"Congratulations to Master Dongfang and Patriarch Wangquan on their eternal union!"
Regardless of their inner thoughts, none of those present dared to disobey Zhou Yi, who had just displayed the might of an "emperor" and effortlessly suppressed a powerful enemy. As long as they weren't asked to become enemies with this ruthless star, they would probably readily agree to whatever he said.
"Senior Brother Zhou, the position of Manor Lord should—" Dongfang Huaizhu stepped forward, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, instinctively wanting to decline. She knew that without Zhou Yi, not only would they not be able to regain control of the manor, but the lives of the two sisters would also be in danger. It seemed that, both morally and logically, the position of Manor Lord should belong to Zhou Yi.
However, before she could finish speaking, Zhou Yi raised his hand to stop her.
"This matter needs no further discussion; it's settled here." His tone was gentle, yet carried an unyielding resolve.
He had his own considerations. His future focus would undoubtedly be on integrating and leading the entire Qi Dao Alliance, and even addressing a broader situation, rather than being confined to a corner of the Southern Territory or a single family. The position of Master of Shenhuo Mountain Manor had become a constraint for him. The title of Sword-Holding Elder both indicated his stance and allowed him sufficient detachment.
Seeing that Dongfang Huaizhu still hesitated, he said slowly, "If you find the affairs too heavy, you can temporarily keep the title. When Qin Lan comes of age and is capable enough to take on the responsibility, then you can hand over the manor to her to manage."
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Huaizhu couldn't help but turn her head to look at her younger sister, Qin Lan, who was blinking her big, bewildered eyes beside her. A picture of the little girl wearing the manor lord's crown and handling manor affairs with an air of seriousness immediately flashed through her mind—
She immediately shook her head, dispelling the "terrible" image, and said with a helpless yet firm tone, "Fine, I'll do the hard work."
In his heart, however, he had already begun to plan: perhaps in a few years, he could find a good husband for Qin Lan, or entrust the manor to Qin Lan's offspring. Right, that young man from the Yang family, Mu Mie, seemed quite good; he'd heard he'd even received Zhou Shixiong's true teachings, making him Zhou Shixiong's first disciple? Zhou Shixiong's judgment could never be wrong—
Upon hearing this, Wang Quanba Ye revealed a wry smile, as if he had already foreseen the "busy" life of the couple living separately and each in charge of a major power after marrying "Master Dongfang".
"You two can discuss and arrange the details of the wedding ceremony with your families," Zhou Yi instructed Dongfang Huaizhu one last time. "However, from now on, Shenhuo Mountain Manor should change its ways and no longer open its gates to the public indiscriminately accepting disciples. Only those with excellent character and aptitude should be selected as a few personal disciples to be carefully taught. This time—you must keep your eyes open."
His words implied that Dongfang Guyue was too lenient in the past, accepting almost anyone who came, which resulted in a mixed bag of disciples who lacked loyalty and a sense of belonging. Ultimately, after his death, no one dared to speak up for the old master, which was one of the reasons why the manor quickly fell into Jin Renfeng's hands.
Dongfang Huaizhu's expression turned solemn, and he nodded earnestly: "I will keep your teachings in mind, Senior Brother. I will strictly manage the monastery and prefer quality over quantity."
All matters here are settled, and the dust has settled. There is no longer any need for Zhou Yi to linger here.
He then gave a few brief instructions to Yang Yifang, Yang Yan, Mu Mie, and others. In particular, he told Yang Yan that he had decided to formally accept Mu Mie as his first disciple.
Yang Yan readily agreed, his eyes filled with satisfaction and pride. Yang Yifang stroked his beard and said that he would definitely choose an auspicious day to invite many guests and friends to hold a grand apprenticeship ceremony for Mu Mie.
However, in Zhou Yi's heart, back when they parted ways in Nantian City and he handed the scroll of "The Nourishing Qi Classic" to Mu Mie, this resolute and clear-minded young man had already become his disciple. At that time, however, he never expected that he would actually survive such a desperate situation and have the day to personally teach him.
Having finished explaining, Zhou Yi said no more.
He took one last look at the newly erected "Great Silent Mountain," his gaze sweeping over the revitalized Divine Mountain Villa, and passing over the old friends and onlookers with their varied expressions.
Immediately, with a slight movement, it transformed into a faint stream of dark light, quietly heading north and disappearing into the southern horizon.
Central Plains, the headquarters of the Qi Dao Alliance.
Having witnessed the earth-shattering battle in the Southern Territory, Zhou Yi, the Lone Peak Swordsman, and his status as the "Lord of the Southern Territory," have spread throughout the world like a hurricane. The major families of the Dao Alliance are all well-informed and adept at assessing situations; how could they possibly be unaware of the times?
Almost simultaneously with Zhou Yi's departure from the Southern Territory and his journey north, the Dao Alliance quickly reached a consensus and convened a new "Martial Arts Tournament" with extraordinary efficiency—ostensibly a public selection of a new leader, but in reality, everyone knew it was merely the most respectable stepping stone laid out for the person who was about to arrive.
The conditions for becoming the leader of the Qi Dao Alliance have been simple to the point of being barbaric, yet direct to the point of being irrefutable: the one who can suppress all the experts of the Dao Alliance with his own strength, and whose edge no one dares to challenge, is the leader.
This election for the leader of the alliance was arguably the fastest and least suspenseful in the history of the Dao Alliance. As soon as Zhou Yi arrived at the main altar, he was invited to the Sword Debate Platform, which symbolized the highest right to challenge. He simply stood with his hands behind his back, his black robes billowing in the wind, his gaze calmly sweeping over the dark mass of representatives from various powerful families and senior experts below the platform.
The audience was silent.
No one went on stage.
No one dared to accept the challenge.
No one dared to meet that calm gaze for long.
After a moment of silence, someone took the lead, and a deafening roar of "Welcome, Alliance Leader!" resounded through the sky.
Zhou Yi didn't even make a move, yet he was directly elected as the new leader of the Yi Qi Dao Alliance with undisputed absolute power.
Most aristocratic families are well aware that in the presence of such figures, any unnecessary probing or pretension is foolish, and that readily acknowledging reality is the wise course of action.
However, there are always some people—whether they are conservative, driven by self-interest, or simply unable to recognize the situation, let alone themselves.
Inside the majestic main hall of the Yi Qi Dao Alliance, bells and chimes resounded in unison, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Surrounded by numerous family heads and high-ranking members of the Dao Alliance, Zhou Yi slowly walked towards the main seat in the center of the hall. Steward Fei held a simple and heavy black iron token in both hands, engraved with the Dao Alliance emblem and complex runes. It was the token representing the highest authority of the One Qi Dao Alliance—the Alliance Leader's Token.
"Please accept the order, Alliance Leader!" Butler Fei's voice boomed as he bowed and raised the token high above his head.
Inside the hall, everyone, whether sincere or not, bowed in unison, offering congratulatory greetings: "Congratulations, Alliance Leader Zhou!"
"The Dao Alliance is fortunate to have its leader guide it!"
"I am willing to follow the Alliance Leader and restore the prestige of the Dao Alliance!"
The atmosphere was enthusiastic, as if everyone was united in purpose.
Just then—
"Wait a minute!"
A cold, sharp voice, completely out of place with the atmosphere, abruptly pierced through the sounds of congratulations in the hall.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw three figures appear at the palace gate. The leader was dressed in tight-fitting black clothing, with a thin face and sharp eyes like a hawk. At his waist hung a uniquely styled sword with a scabbard inlaid with dark gold patterns. Behind him were two attendants, one fat and one thin, also dressed in black, with solemn expressions.
Ignoring the various gazes cast upon him from across the hall, the man in black strode steadily into the hall. He stopped a few feet away from Zhou Yi, gave a slight bow, but his tone lacked respect: "Alliance Leader Zhou, congratulations on your election. However—it is my duty, and I fear I must disturb you for a moment."
The hall fell silent instantly, as countless pairs of eyes scanned back and forth between the uninvited guest and Zhou Yi with suspicion and uncertainty.
Zhou Yi took the Alliance Leader's token from Butler Fei, but didn't immediately acknowledge the newcomer. Instead, he played with the token with interest for a moment before looking up and asking in a calm tone, "Who are you?"
"I am Xiao Wancheng, the Obsidian Inspector from the Xiao family." The man in black, Xiao Wancheng, announced his name clearly, emphasizing the words "Inspector."
The Obsidian Inspectorate is an independent and powerful oversight body within the One Qi Alliance, specializing in investigating cultivators' misconduct and collusion with demons. It is known for its harsh and inhumane style, and the Xiao family is the core family that has been in charge of this organization for generations.
"Oh—" Zhou Yi drawled, his gaze lingering on Xiao Wancheng's face for a moment before he nodded, as if suddenly realizing something. "So it was you."
He certainly knew this person. More precisely, he knew about this person's old feud with the Yang family.
It was this Xiao Wancheng who, at Yang Yan's wedding to the ordinary mining team leader (Mu Mie's father), publicly accused Yang's son-in-law of "secretly trading with the demon race and releasing demons."
At that time and even now, the relationship between humans and demons is extremely tense, and any suspicion of involvement with the demon race is deadly. Although Mu Mie's father may have released a kind demon who had not harmed anyone and was even quite weak out of pity, the nature of the matter changed drastically under the deliberate exaggeration and exploitation by the Xiao family's inspector.
The Xiao family inspectors had clearly planned this all along, secretly investigating for a long time. They deliberately chose to launch their attack at the Yang family wedding, a occasion attended by many figures from the Dao Alliance, aiming to maximize the impact. Their goal was never to uphold justice, but rather to use torture to force Mu Mie's father to implicate the Yang family, thus solidifying the charge that "the Yang family instigated the demons," and ultimately bringing down the then-powerful Daoist Heavenly Eye Yang family.
In the end, Mu Mie's father was tortured to death by the Censorate, but he never uttered a word of false accusation against the Yang family. Afterwards, the monster that had been released broke into the Censorate alone, repeatedly shouting "My benefactor is innocent." It did not harm a single person along the way, nor did it resist. It was just trying to prove something in this resolute way, and was eventually stabbed to death by a hail of swords inside the mansion. This incident once caused quite a stir, but it was deliberately downplayed over time.
Given Zhou Yi's friendship with Yang Yan and his master-disciple relationship with Mu Mie, he didn't even have time to cause trouble for the other party.
Unexpectedly, at his inauguration ceremony as leader of the alliance today, this Xiao Wancheng actually jumped out on his own.
"Yes—" he understood. The Xiao family had controlled the oversight agency for many years and were well-informed. How could they not know about his relationship with the Yang family? They probably anticipated that he would not let them have an easy time after he took power, so they decided to strike first, taking advantage of his unstable position and using the name of "oversight" to give him a hard time. Perhaps they could even turn the tables if they could find a loophole?
interesting.
The air inside the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point due to this sudden confrontation.
"Obsidian Inspector," Zhou Yi's gaze swept calmly over Xiao Wancheng, his voice not loud, but clearly echoing in the silent hall, "From this day forward, you are no longer one."
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