Chapter 469: Number 0 Succession Sequence
Yang Jian was so excited he was nearly incoherent, his face flushed red. He couldn't even be bothered to preside over the clan assembly!
Even the life-or-death matter of avenging Old Jiu had to take a backseat for the time being!
After all, the Merak King Body was the top priority for the Jinling Yang Family!
With a flash, Yang Jian rushed out of the ancestral hall, striding purposefully toward the Buddhist Hall.
Ever since her husband's passing, the Matriarch had sequestered herself in the Buddhist Hall, living a life of vegetarianism and prayer, never once stepping outside.
But now, Yang Jian had found the key to luring the Matriarch out of the Buddhist Hall.
The members of the Yang Family quickly brought Yang Qiuyu along and hurried after Yang Jian.
The Yang Family members were suddenly much warmer toward Yang Qiuyu. After all, she could potentially become the next Matriarch of the Jinling Yang Family!
This was especially true for Yang Haotian's brothers, whose gazes were intensely fervent.
With their status and position, it wasn't as if they hadn't seen their fair share of beautiful women.
But this was the legendary Merak King Body, after all!
According to Yang Family legend, the Merak King Body could drastically improve the Cultivation talent of the family's direct bloodline!
Never mind that Yang Qiuyu was a beauty; even if she were a sow, they would still have to put her on a pedestal!
If they could win Yang Qiuyu's favor, their own accomplishments would surely surpass those of the late Old Master!
They might even have the chance to defeat the Old Dragon King and become the next Enlightened One!
The most talented of them, Yang Haoyu, made the first move. In a domineering tone, he said, "Qiuyu, I'm Yang Haoyu, Haotian's older brother from the same mother. I'm the Third in the Yang Family. From now on, you're under my protection!"
Yang Qiuyu cautiously turned to look at Yang Haoyu, and her eyes immediately lit up.
He bore a passing resemblance to Yang Haotian, especially around the eyes, but Yang Haoyu's features were much more defined.
Moreover, he projected a much stronger air of authority.
The emptiness that had filled her heart since losing Yang Haotian was instantly filled.
Yang Qiuyu curtsied gracefully. "Greetings, Third Brother! Please, you must avenge Haotian! You absolutely must not let Cheng Yuan off easy!"
"Don't worry. Haotian was my own brother. I will certainly avenge him!"
By the time he finished speaking, they had arrived at the Buddhist Hall.
Yang Jian walked to the entrance of the Buddhist Hall, bowed slightly, and clasped his hands. "Sister-in-law, I've come to see you. Please open the door!"
A voice that was not old, but rather rich and resonant, came from within.
"Ah Jian, I have told you many times. Your elder brother is gone, and I no longer have any attachments to this world. Unless the Yang Family is facing annihilation, I wish to live out the rest of my days accompanied by the green lamp and ancient Buddha. Go now. Do not disturb me again."
A well-concealed flicker of pain flashed in Yang Jian's eyes.
'Why?'
'Why?'
'My talent was so much greater than my elder brother's!'
'So why did she choose him all those years ago?'
'Even after he died, she still refuses to spare me a single glance!'
But he quickly regained his composure. The corners of his mouth lifted into a subtle, pleasing arc.
"Sister-in-law, care to make a wager? I bet you will step out of this Buddhist Hall."
"And the stakes?"
Yang Jian got straight to the point. "In ancient times, a younger brother could inherit everything from his elder brother—including his widow. Sister-in-law, you know how I feel about you."
Yang Qiuyu was utterly flabbergasted. 'This is wild!'
'You great families sure know how to keep things interesting!'
'If that's how it is, does that mean I could also...'
Yang Qiuyu subconsciously glanced at Yang Haoyu.
The other members of the Yang Family, however, remained calm. After all, the rivalry between the two masters in their youth was no secret; everyone in the family knew.
Besides, if the Matriarch and the Second Master were to get together...
...their combined power might even rival that of the Old Dragon King!
It would be a great boon for the Jinling Yang Family.
The Matriarch's voice was calm. "Ah Jian, I will take your bet. I know my own mind better than anyone, and I will not be leaving this Buddhist Hall. You have no chance of winning."
"Excellent! It's a deal! Qiuyu, come here! Greet the Matriarch."
Yang Jian turned his head, beckoning to Yang Qiuyu with a very gentle wave.
Yang Qiuyu hurried forward and bowed respectfully toward the Buddhist Hall. "Qiuyu pays her respects to the Matriarch. May you enjoy boundless fortune and excellent health!"
The Matriarch's voice drifted from within the hall. "Ah Jian, is this the source of your confidence? This young girl has a kind face, and I find her agreeable. But I will not take a single step out of this Buddhist Hall for her."
A triumphant, conspiratorial smile spread across Yang Jian's face. "Qiuyu, tell the Matriarch what kind of constitution you have."
"Reporting to the Matriarch, I have the Merak King Body."
'Merak King Body?!'
An astonishingly powerful aura suddenly erupted from within the Buddhist Hall!
CREAK!
The door to the Buddhist Hall, sealed for decades, swung open. A woman emerged, appearing to be only in her forties or fifties—a mature beauty who still possessed a captivating charm.
The eyes of the younger Yang Family members lit up!
'The Matriarch is truly worthy of her Merak King Body! To be nearly eighty years old and still possess such peerless elegance!'
Yang Jian trembled with excitement. 'Twenty years... Twenty years have passed, and time hasn't left a single mark on her!'
'But I... I've grown old.'
'Am I even worthy of her now?'
Yang Jian's mood suddenly plummeted.
With a flicker of movement, the Matriarch appeared before Yang Qiuyu in an instant. She grabbed the girl's wrist, her face alight with excitement as she checked her pulse.
"Excellent! Wonderful! It truly is the Merak King Body!"
After a good ten seconds, the Matriarch finally released Yang Qiuyu, her gaze fixed intently on the girl. "Qiuyu, which branch of the family are you from? Why have you never come to pay your respects?"
"Forgive me, Matriarch. I am from a collateral branch of the Yang Family. I was not qualified to pay you respects before."
An expression of understanding dawned on the Matriarch's face. "Qiuyu, there is a thread of fate between us. Are you willing to accept me as your master?"
THUD! Yang Qiuyu dropped to her knees and kowtowed forcefully to the Matriarch.
"I, Qiuyu, pay my respects to my honored Master!"
A genuine smile appeared on the Matriarch's face. She warmly helped Yang Qiuyu to her feet, growing fonder of the girl with every glance.
"Congratulations, Matriarch, on accepting such a fine disciple!"
The Yang Family members behind them shouted their congratulations in unison.
The Matriarch slowly turned, her warm smile replaced by an expression of sheer authority. "I declare that from this moment forward, Qiuyu is inducted into the Jinling Yang Family's line of succession! Her designation will be Number Zero! Are there any objections?"
'Number Zero?'
Everyone gasped. This meant she would be raised as the family's foremost genius!
But no one objected. Instead, the entire Yang Family roared in unison.
"We have no objections!"
"We support the Matriarch's decision!"
"The Merak King Body is worthy of the Number Zero designation!"
The Matriarch nodded, satisfied.
"Three days from now is an auspicious date. I will send out formal invitations! In three days, we will officially hold the disciple-acceptance ceremony! I want the entire Ancient Martial Realm to know that the Jinling Yang Family has produced a second Merak King Body!!"
"The Matriarch is wise!!"
Amid the cheers of the Yang Family, Yang Qiuyu asked cautiously, "Honored Master, may this disciple invite a guest to attend the ceremony?"
The Matriarch looked at Yang Qiuyu with a doting gaze. "Of course. And who is this esteemed guest you wish to invite?"
"The Chairman of Yuanxi Pharmaceutical—Cheng Yuan."