CHAPTER 2090: CHAPTER 2088: YOU FORCED MY HAND

Fen Jizhi stood up and said, "If we follow the rules, the Second Elder should only be promoted to the position of Great Elder. Now, we are choosing a Clan Leader, and the rules are not set this way. Moreover, the Second Elder’s family had such a significant betrayal; they dared to take the Barrier Jade Pendant and almost caused the Great Elder’s death. Shouldn’t this matter be thoroughly investigated?"

"Nonsense! Are you implying that I orchestrated it?" The Second Elder jumped up in anger.

Fen Jizhi was unafraid and continued, "Since this is a public election for the Clan Leader, everyone should speak freely. Why can’t I speak? Or is it that the Second Elder feels guilty?"

"You have no respect for your elders!" The Second Elder said furiously, "Don’t think that just because you’ve been to the trial center once, you’ve forgotten who you are. No matter what, you’re just a junior. Are you also coveting the position of Clan Leader?"

Fen Jizhi said calmly, "Wanting to be a Clan Leader is entirely normal. Among everyone present here, at least half want to become the Clan Leader, right? But we all know our situation and are willing to choose the truly suitable person as the Clan Leader. So, I just said, I recommend the Eighth Elder."

Bai Ruozhu sat back down, pondering over Fen Jizhi’s actions.

He should be representing the intentions of the Fen Family, but at this time, the Fen Family didn’t want to directly confront the Second Elder. Or perhaps the elders of the Fen Family, for the sake of face, didn’t want to have a direct falling out with the Second Elder, so they let the young Fen Jizhi speak. Young people, bold and hot-blooded, even if they speak rashly, it’s only natural.

Moreover, today is a day when everyone can speak freely. If the Second Elder clashes with Fen Jizhi, it would make him seem petty and calculating against a junior.

Soon, someone else stood up, also recommending the Second Elder. Even a fool could see what this meant. Now, it became very clear who was siding with the Second Elder.

Bai Ruozhu pulled up the corner of his mouth and whispered to his second brother beside him, "The Second Elder is mad with his desire to be the Clan Leader. He’s too impatient."

"He even uses his own granddaughter, what do you think?" Bai Zepei chuckled lightly. He would not sympathize with Fo Lanying.

At this moment, more people began voicing their support for the Second Elder, but Xin Sheng stood up loudly and said, "No matter who becomes the Clan Leader, it cannot be the Second Elder!"

"What do you mean, Xin Sheng? That issue was Du Fei’s doing and has nothing to do with the Second Elder. Don’t cause trouble!" The Ninth Elder hurriedly said.

Xin Sheng, however, ignored him and continued, "My wife and child are already deceased, and I am now in such a state - it’s miserable enough. Yet the Second Elder, for personal grievances, used me to poison the Bai siblings, almost turning me into a fool. How can such a selfish person become the Clan Leader?"

"Don’t shift all the blame onto Du Fei. Without your orders, how would Du Fei dare? You used my guilt towards my son to scheme against me. How could you?" Xin Sheng said, starting to cry, "I thought I had found the killer who poisoned Sisi and thought I could finally face Sisi and his mother. But in the end, I was deceived. I am unwilling!"

"It was Du Fei who bore a grudge for Lan Ying losing to Bai Ruozhu, that’s why he did such a thing. I’ve already had my son divorce that demon woman; you shouldn’t place the blame on me," Second Elder said.

Xin Sheng cried heartbroken, like a man completely desperate, helplessly shouting. Many people beside him had red-rimmed eyes watching him.

"Don’t make yourself seem so innocent. If you were a fair and impartial person, when your granddaughter competes head-to-head with Bai Ruozhu, why lend Fo Lanying a Mechanical Beast to help her cheat and win? During the competition, you intentionally advised Fo Lanying on how to find her hidden opponent. After Fo Lanying lost the competition, you went to Bai Ruozhu and accused him of stealing your black meteoric iron."

Xin Sheng said with extreme agitation, his face turning red, "If you can’t be fair and just in these small matters, even exploiting your status to oppress people, how can you be trusted as the Clan Leader?"

Many people nodded in agreement. The Second Elder’s behavior recently had indeed been too arrogant.

The Great Elder stood up, "Second Elder, withdraw from the Clan Leader selection and go back to quietly reflect on yourself and calm your mind."

Upon hearing this, the Second Elder got angry, "Great Elder, didn’t you say you would no longer concern yourself with clan matters? How can you show favoritism towards the Eighth Elder like this? You yourself are a criminal; by what right do you disqualify me from becoming Clan Leader with one sentence?"

"Bold! Even if the Great Elder has stepped down, you have no right to speak to him like that!" The Third Elder slapped the armrest of a chair beside him, breaking it off.

The Great Elder sighed, "I have not yet stepped down; this counts as my last decision in office. What does everyone think?"

Given the Great Elder’s prestige, many people expressed willingness to listen to him.

The Second Elder’s face turned ashen, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. He suddenly made a strange gesture with his hand, and in the next instant, he and the Ninth Elder swiftly moved. One went to ambush the Eighth Elder, while the other went to seize the Great Elder.

"Audacious!" Elder Su was hit by the Second Elder, spitting out blood as he tried to attack, but he found that the Ninth Elder had already grabbed the Great Elder by the throat. Other elders wanted to take action but found themselves forcibly halted.

"Second Elder, what are you doing?" People below shouted, while some jumped up intending to fight the Second Elder to the death.

The Third Elder squinted his eyes, "With the barrier down, even if you seize the Great Elder, you cannot escape, not with so many eyes on you from the clan; you will gain no benefits."

"You all forced me!" The Second Elder gritted his teeth and said, looking towards the Great Elder, "I’ve worked so hard for the clan all these years, mastering Mechanical Techniques among the best. Why can’t I be the Clan Leader? With one word, you want to change everything, suddenly calling for a re-election, isn’t that just to prevent me from becoming the Great Elder?"

"You’ve been blinded by power. If you become the Clan Leader, you will only become the next Xia Rong." The Great Elder, with difficulty due to the Ninth Elder’s grip, said.

Xia Rong was the previous Clan Leader, who exploited the clan’s power for his personal gain, causing the Jiuli Clan to almost fall into ruin.

"Let go of the Great Elder; we will not allow someone like you become the Clan Leader!" Someone below led the shout.

The Second Elder glared fiercely, "Those who want to live better keep quiet!"

As he spoke, he made another gesture, suddenly the sound of swords being drawn rang out, and blades were placed against the necks of those beside them.

Bai Ruozhu quickly scanned the scene; the Second Elder’s followers were more than half, and they were well-prepared, subduing a large number of clansmen in a single breath.

Tears flowed from the corners of the Great Elder’s eyes, "At this time, when we are not guarding against the Quanrong Clan, we wage an internal war; is the Jiuli Clan really doomed?"

The subdued Jiuli members were all furious. Yes, at such a critical time, the Second Elder was inciting internal strife; the Jiuli could no longer bear this!