At the beginning of the meeting, several Elders took turns reporting on matters such as Family industries and the allocation of cultivation resources. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, and the atmosphere was relatively peaceful.
Ling Feng, dressed in black martial attire, sat in a middle position. Although he was an outsider, as an S-rank talent, his status was not bad and he had the right to speak. He sat with a straight back, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the main seat.
Once the reports concluded, Hun Qianxue invited everyone to share their opinions.
When a brief silence fell over the hall, Ling Feng took a deep breath. His voice rang out clearly, breaking the stillness:
"Patriarch, Elders, this Disciple has a matter I would like to report to you all."
As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of everyone in the hall instantly converged on Ling Feng, some with surprise and others with a hint of amusement.
Hun Cangfeng sat to one side, picking up his teacup and taking a light sip. A faint, imperceptible smile flashed in the depths of his eyes as he watched the situation unfold.
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen sat beside Hun Cangfeng with a calm expression, but he secretly gave Ling Feng an encouraging look.
Hun Qianxue raised his eyes, his tone indifferent:
"Speak."
Having received permission, Ling Feng's spirits rose and his confidence grew. Every word he spoke was clear:
"Patriarch, this Disciple implores the Patriarch to re-evaluate Han Xuanji's S-rank talent title!
This person is merely an outsider Cultivator with not a single achievement to his name. Simply because of his relationship with Young Miss Qianling, the Patriarch broke protocol to name him S-rank and grant him top-tier resources. This is truly a case of his status exceeding his merit!"
As his voice fell, a slight commotion immediately rippled through the hall, and many people began to whisper amongst themselves.
Ling Feng continued:
"The S-rank talents of the Hun Family represent the Family's prestige. They should be individuals of extraordinary talent and formidable strength. However, Han Xuanji does not live up to his reputation. Such an exceptional evaluation will not only discourage the many geniuses within the clan but also make the outside world mock our Hun Family for having no real talent. I ask the Patriarch to think twice and revoke Han Xuanji's S-rank title!"
Ling Feng's words were powerful and resonant. His expression was full of indignation and resentment, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Meanwhile, as the person being impeached, Han Xuanji was not present. According to the rules, clan members in seclusion could choose not to attend; in fact, many people eligible to participate often did not show up.
Not everyone was keen on power struggles; many were focused solely on their cultivation.
Before Hun Qianxue could speak, an Elder dressed in a brocade robe on one side of the hall was the first to chime in, his tone carrying both agreement and doubt:
"What young friend Ling says is reasonable.
Patriarch, it is not that we are questioning your decision, but Han Xuanji is an outsider after all, and his origins are unknown. To name him S-rank based on a few words alone is perhaps a bit too arbitrary.
The Hun Family is full of talent, and many clan children who have cultivated diligently have failed to be rated S-rank. This approach is indeed likely to cause controversy."
This Elder was one who was on good terms with Third Young Master Hun Qianchen. By speaking up now, he was publicly siding with Ling Feng and pointing out that Hun Qianxue's decision was flawed.
With him taking the lead, several other Elders from Third Young Master Hun Qianchen's faction spoke up one after another. They all stated that Han Xuanji's S-rank title was undeserved and implored Hun Qianxue to re-evaluate. Though their words were measured, they were laced with challenges to Hun Qianxue's decision.
Hun Qianxue sat in the main seat, his face remaining calm. He showed no intention of defending himself, his gaze merely sweeping slowly over the Elders who were voicing their doubts.
Just then, several neutral Elders glanced at each other and slowly began to speak.
These Elders were long-standing experts of the Hun Family who did not belong to any faction. However, they had been secretly courted by Third Young Master Hun Qianchen and Hun Cangfeng previously, receiving many benefits and promising to help impeach Han Xuanji during the meeting.
One white-haired Elder rose slowly, his tone moderate and impartial:
"What everyone has said is not without reason. Han Xuanji is a newcomer, and receiving an S-rank title so soon is indeed open to debate; it will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among the clan's children.
However, this matter was ultimately the Patriarch's personal decision. It is not appropriate for us to interfere too much. It is better to let the Patriarch decide."
The other courted neutral Elders also chimed in with similar statements. None of them explicitly opposed Hun Qianxue, nor did they firmly stand with Ling Feng and Third Young Master Hun Qianchen. They simply handed the power of decision back to Hun Qianxue.
As soon as these words came out, Third Young Master Hun Qianchen's face darkened instantly, and he felt a secret surge of rage.
He had spent a great deal of effort to win over these neutral Elders, giving away many cultivation resources. They had clearly agreed to support him fully at the meeting, but at the critical moment, these people were being vague and playing it safe, failing to fulfill their promises at all.
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen clenched his fists, a flash of displeasure and coldness appearing in his eyes as he shot a secret glare at those neutral Elders.
These fellows spoke so eloquently when receiving gifts, yet they retreated when the time came to act...
Hun Cangfeng also frowned slightly. Although he had anticipated this possibility, he was still somewhat displeased.
However, his expression remained calm without showing much emotion. He just calculated secretly that it seemed these neutrals were unreliable after all. If he wanted to suppress Hun Qianxue, he would have to rely on his own strength.
The hall fell into silence once more. All eyes were focused on Hun Qianxue in the main seat, waiting for his final decision.
...
On the other side, Han Xuanji had no idea he was being impeached or that his S-rank talent title seemed to be on shaky ground.
However, he wasn't worried in the slightest, because the System had finally sent a message.
[System Upgrade Successful]
[All functions upgraded. The Sign In function can now be used normally on the Eternal Continent and in the Hongmeng Sea. (Note: Due to the Host's cultivation level, you can currently only Sign In at Eleven-Star Sign-In Locations and below. This restriction will be lifted once the Host reaches the Eternal Saint Realm.)]
[Simulation function upgraded and can be used normally. (Note: Due to the Host's cultivation level, you can only simulate existences below the Eternal Saint level. This restriction will be lifted once the Host reaches the Eternal Saint Realm.)]
[Concealment function: Can shield against the prying eyes of existences below the Eternal Saint Lord Realm.]
[Investigation function: Can investigate the Karma of existences below the Eternal Saint Lord Realm.]
The System upgrade was a success!
Han Xuanji took a look and was instantly overjoyed.
All functions could now be used normally, and both the Concealment and Investigation functions had been upgraded. This was excellent news. The only things worth pondering were the Sign In and Simulation functions, which seemed to be limited by his cultivation.
"But it's enough for now. Anyway, the restrictions will be unlocked as soon as I reach the Eternal Saint Realm."
With the System in hand, Han Xuanji's confidence soared. With this, wouldn't reaching the Eternal Saint Realm be a breeze?
In any case, he just needed to keep a low profile.
"I just need to research whether these Sign In and Simulation functions are different from before."
Han Xuanji silently questioned the System.
This time, the System answered quite generously. As expected, whether it was Sign In or Simulation, there were indeed some differences from before.