Southern Border.
Shangliang Mountain.
The white sun hung high, its light splendid. Shangliang Mountain was teeming with people, the sound of voices boiling over.
The figure of Shang Bulì, a Peak Stage Fourth Transformation Gu Master, appeared at the summit, immediately attracting the attention of almost everyone present.
Even though Shang Bulì was seasoned and experienced, at this moment, his heart was somewhat anxious.
This was because the moment was the grand ceremony of the Merchant Clan, of immense significance. Moreover, the various forces present included representatives from superpowers like the Tie, Yi, Wu, and Hou families of the Southern Border, as well as famous and ambitious figures from the Demonic Path and independent cultivators. It could be called an elite gathering of the Southern Border's Gu Master world, shining like a constellation.
The Merchant Clan differed from other superpowers because of its Martial Arena policy. The arenas of other Righteous Path superpowers were for internal family use, but the Merchant Clan's arena could also attract outside Demonic Path and independent Gu Masters.
The Merchant Clan was based on commerce, with Shangliang Mountain as its headquarters, where everything was open for negotiation. It was the greatest hub connecting the Righteous Path, Demonic Path, and independent cultivators.
This was not only true in the Gu Master world, but also in the Gu Immortal world.
The Merchant Clan's Gu Immortals often served as intermediaries for trade between the Righteous and Demonic Paths.
Seeing Shang Bulì appear, countless Gu Masters on Shangliang Mountain realized that the clan's grand ceremony was about to begin.
The entire mountain fell silent, which only increased the pressure on Shang Bulì.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, raised his head and began to chant aloud: "The Merchant Clan Patriarch Succession Ceremony, begins!"
The next moment, magnificent and stirring music resounded. Countless colorful birds flew in all directions, and dots of golden flowers fell from the sky, creating a splendid and glorious scene.
From within Shangliang Mountain, a slender white rainbow light path extended outward.
A woman, dressed in magnificent ceremonial attire, walked step by step upon the white rainbow light path, appearing in everyone's view.
Her black hair draped over her shoulders, fine and dark. Her eyebrows were like faint willow leaves in misty smoke. Her eyes were like clear moonlight on waves. Her skin was like pure white snow. Her hair was arranged in a high, elegant bun, and she wore her splendid gown, making a slow and graceful entrance.
It was Shang Xinci.
For a moment, countless Gu Masters on the mountain unconsciously held their breath.
"So beautiful!"
"This is the Merchant Clan's next patriarch?"
"This woman is so gentle and beautiful, simply a fairy-like figure. What is her background?"
The crowd buzzed with discussion, but these noisy voices were drowned out by the magnificent and loud ceremonial music.
As for the various VIP platforms on the mountain peaks, the powerful figures from superpowers, or from the Demonic Path and independent cultivators, also watched Shang Xinci's slow entrance, communicating secretly through voice transmission.
"This woman is Shang Yanfei's illegitimate daughter. Her own reputation is insignificant, her aptitude is poor, and her cultivation is weak. Who would have thought that in the end, it would be her who ascended to the position of Merchant Clan Patriarch! Fate is a playful thing, how sigh-worthy."
"The battle at Yitian Mountain cost countless heroes and champions their lives. Every force in the Southern Border, big and small, is in turmoil. The situation is being reshuffled. And the battlefield ruins at Yitian Mountain have become the Southern Border's greatest enigma."
…
Shang Xinci walked step by step upon the white rainbow light path.
Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, her robes fluttered gracefully. She ascended calmly, leaving the summit of Shangliang Mountain and walking straight towards the high sky.
In the air, auspicious clouds gathered, and countless rays of splendor converged to form a throne.
Everyone looked up in awe, and in that moment, Shang Xinci's presence was unmatched.
"Today's Southern Border Gu Master world... you are the only protagonist," Shang Qingqing murmured. As a female Gu Immortal ancestor of the Merchant Clan, she was the one who had fully supported Shang Xinci to ascend to the position of patriarch.
To prevent any troublemakers from disrupting the ceremony, Shang Qingqing had long since concealed her presence, secretly suppressing the situation.
"After the battle at Yitian Mountain, the Southern Border has plunged into the most turbulent chaos in centuries. Can this woman truly lead the Merchant Clan to stand firm, and even expand its territories?" Shang Tanmo asked.
He appeared as a young man, dressed in blue robes, with a slender build. At this moment, his gaze fixed on Shang Xinci was filled with deep skepticism and scrutiny.
Shang Qingqing chuckled. "Every generation of patriarch is tempered through experience. Moreover, what I value most in Shang Xinci is not her ability, but her heart and magnanimity. These character strengths grant her an ineffable charisma that is unique in today's mortal world. Look at the peak, how her subordinates are moved to tears—their loyalty and devotion to Shang Xinci are plain to see. Yet in reality, these subordinates of hers came from diverse and complex backgrounds, but now their hearts are united as one."
"Oh?" Shang Tanmo's heart stirred upon hearing this, realizing that Shang Qingqing's choice of this woman as the Merchant Clan patriarch was not merely due to her character, but had involved careful consideration and evaluation.
He followed Shang Qingqing's cue, his gaze piercing downwards.
"To think that the young miss would one day become the patriarch of the Merchant Clan. *Sob*... Young miss, we have finally made it through!" Xiao Die wept with joy. She was Shang Xinci's confidant maid, having been inseparable from her since their time at the Zhang family. She had followed the merchant caravan all the way to the Merchant Clan City, sharing hardships along the way, and her loyalty was absolute.
"Master, if you have knowledge within the Gate of Life and Death, you must be very pleased. Young miss is completely different from your other children. She will surely bring a different future to the Merchant Clan." The maid Xiao Lan's eyes reddened. She was an orphan, taken in by Shang Yanfei at a young age. Due to her competence, Shang Yanfei had assigned her to Shang Xinci. Now that Shang Yanfei had perished at Yitian Mountain, her loyalty to him had been entirely transferred to Shang Xinci.
Zhou Quan remained silent.
He had once been the patriarch of the Zhou family, a man of proud and noble character. After the destruction of his family, he had fallen on hard times, running a shop in the Merchant Clan's inner city to make a living. Later, he had been forcibly compelled by Fang Yuan to submit under Shang Xinci's banner.
Seeing Shang Xinci slowly sit upon the cloud throne, Zhou Quan's gaze grew distant for a moment.
In that instant, he suddenly thought of Fang Yuan, a complex smile playing at the corner of his lips: "Black and White Fiends, should I thank you two? Now that the young miss has become the Merchant Clan patriarch, there is even hope for the revival of my Zhou family!"
But then, Zhou Quan's thoughts shifted again: "No, the matter of reviving the family must be set aside for now. Although the young miss has ascended to the patriarch's position, she faces internal troubles and external threats, a difficult situation. How could I leave her now, at the very moment she needs her subordinates' assistance and support the most?"
Zhou Quan had not been overwhelmed by the grand spectacle around him.
He first scanned the figures of Shang Bulì and Wan Qianshan in the distance.
When Shang Yanfei served as the Merchant Clan patriarch, he had five capable subordinates, known as the Merchant Clan's Five Great Pillars. After the battle at Yitian Mountain, only two of the five remained: Shang Bulì and Wan Qianshan.
The former controlled the Merchant Clan's slave trade, while the latter was responsible for the development of resources across the clan's various mountains—mines, medicinal herbs, hunting, and so on.
One bore the surname Shang, representing the forces of the Merchant Clan's main family. The other bore the surname Wan, an elder from an outside family, representing the interests of the Merchant Clan's Gu Masters from external families.
"With these two powerful figures, the young miss's position within the Merchant Clan is truly that of a weak ruler over strong ministers. It's even possible that the two might join forces to marginalize her, turning her into a puppet patriarch. After all, her status cannot fully win the support of all the Merchant Clan members; she is, after all, the illegitimate daughter of the previous patriarch."
"Her internal situation is worrisome. Externally, the currents surge with hidden dangers, and crises abound. The battle at Yitian Mountain killed too many leaders and champions. Everything is being reshuffled, and all masterless resources require fresh contests and struggles! The people and resources available to the young miss are truly scarce, far inferior to those of her several brothers and sisters. Let alone dealing with external clan affairs?"