Chapter 141: The Unscrupulous Master

"What?! Grand Elder, what are you saying? This young person? How can this be? I believe you understand as well that the successor to the Grand Elder must be a top-tier genius within the Phoenix clan. And who is she, pray tell? I admit her bearing is indeed extraordinary, and perhaps she possesses a certain level of strength, but is she even a member of our Phoenix clan?"

An elder stepped forward with a sullen expression, pointing at Yin Su and letting out a string of complaints.

Yin Su looked coldly at the white-haired old man without a word. She figured that since Feng Yi had brought this up, she must have prepared for it thoroughly. It was best for her not to insert herself unnecessarily for now and simply wait for Feng Yi's next move.

Sure enough, others soon began to question Feng Yi's decision. More and more voices chimed in. Each had their own reasons, resolute and unyielding, as if they would strike if Feng Yi insisted on this choice!

Watching the old men below chatter endlessly and argue over one another, Feng Yi frowned and shouted sternly, "All of you, be quiet! Remember who the Grand Elder is! My authority here is supreme, and none of you had better dare to stir up trouble with what I wish to decide! Who says Yin Su is not a member of the Phoenix clan? Yin Su, let them open their eyes and take a good look!"

Hearing Feng Yi's words, Yin Su nodded and smiled at her. The next second, the purest aura of power belonging to the Phoenix clan permeated the entire ancestral hall. And the one who released this power was none other than Yin Su—the very person those elders claimed most likely had no ties to the Phoenix clan!

Dumbfounded? Shocked? Or rubbing their eyes in utter disbelief at the sight before them!

They were the elders of the Phoenix clan! Which of the geniuses within the clan was not a primary focus of cultivation, personally trained and nurtured by them? How could there possibly be an unknown descendant of the Phoenix clan with such terrifying talent and such a pure aura!

An aura could not be faked, especially one of such unmatched purity. Even among their several elders,恐怕 not one could rival the purity of Yin Su's aura!

Now, the expressions of those elders looked utterly ridiculous—self-righteous, yet showing nothing more than short-sighted ignorance. They should have known that there is always someone better, and heaven beyond the heavens!

Observing the stunned expressions of the elders, Feng Yi smiled slightly. They were merely clowns performing on a stage! She would surely kick these people out of the Elder Council one by one!

"Since Miss Yin Su meets all the requirements, it is not our place to continue obstructing her. However, I believe the Grand Elder also understands the unique nature of our clan's Grand Elder successor, and knows that selecting a successor must undergo multiple rounds of testing. Therefore, we acknowledge Yin Su as a candidate for the successor of the Grand Elder! Not the successor herself!"

Before anyone else could react, an elder stepped forward, offering a respectful smile to Feng Yi, followed by an apologetic smile to Yin Su, as if apologizing for their earlier denial of Yin Su's clan membership.

Yin Su committed this person to memory. He was the only one who had reacted quickly, and his words left no room for refusal. After all, she was merely an outsider who had suddenly appeared halfway through; for him to grant recognition already was quite satisfactory!

Feng Yi remained silent, merely gazing at the elder who had stepped forward. She had known all along that making Yin Su her successor would no simple task. No matter what, the traditions of the Phoenix clan would not change easily, and the position of Grand Elder's successor was not something one could attain without effort!

Stared at by the Grand Elder in silence, the elder who had taken the lead felt a trace of trepidation. If the Grand Elder refused to heed his suggestion and stubbornly insisted on her own way, things would not go well for him...

Just as he was about to backtrack, Feng Yi suddenly withdrew her gaze and spoke softly, "Let it be so! There is one more matter: I need to leave for half a year. During the coming six months, I expect you all to properly manage the clan's affairs. Furthermore, summon back all the elders from the generation that once followed me—from now on, there shall be two Elder Councils! I trust you understand what follows."

"May I ask when the Grand Elder departs? Is there anything we need to prepare for you?"

"Three days from now. You need not concern yourselves with the rest." Feng Yi waved her hand, signaling for them to withdraw.

When only Yin Su and Feng Yi remained in the grand hall, Yin Su walked up to Feng Yi, her demeanor casual and her tone relaxed as she asked, "Grandma Feng Yi, why did you suddenly think of making me your successor?"

"You don't want to?"

"It's not that. It's just that my past self spent far too long burdened with power, and now I rather enjoy the ease of being by myself. Besides, managing the entire Phoenix clan later on sounds dreadfully busy." Yin Su shook her head.

"Are you so certain you will be chosen? I can tell you quite clearly that the strength of a Grand Elder successor candidate is not to be underestimated!" Feng Yi turned to look at the portraits of the other Grand Elders hanging in the ancestral hall and smiled.

"Does Grandma Feng Yi doubt my strength? I am truly heartbroken! Well, Grandma Feng Yi still hasn't answered my question. Why did you suddenly want me to inherit your position?"

"I decided long ago that this position belongs to you." Feng Yi's lingering voice slowly drifted over.

Yin Su stared at Feng Yi's retreating back in disbelief...

...

"Old man Beggar Chicken, how much longer do you intend to keep me by your side? It has already been a month or two! If you don't let me go soon, I'll just leave on my own!" Gu Shenyu's voice sounded somewhat weary and listless.

The white-haired old man known as Beggar Chicken turned around to look at the dejected young man trailing not far behind him, a sneaky smile crossing his face. He stretched out his hand to calculate the days and figured it was just about time. With a loud roar, he shouted, "Hurry up, you brat! I just calculated—if you follow my arrangements, in five days we can set out to find your friend!"

"What?!" Gu Shenyu abruptly lifted his head, letting out an involuntary cry of surprise! After all this time, the old man was finally willing to relent! It hadn't been easy!

"What do you mean, 'what'? Hurry up, brat! If you fall behind, I'll delay it, and you won't get any food tonight!" the Beggar Chicken old man grumbled ahead of him.

The next second, Gu Shenyu's figure appeared right beside the old man. Flashing a row of neat, white teeth, he curried favor with a smile, "Grandpa is the best! I will certainly follow your arrangements! A man's stomach is like a fortress—food is fuel, after all, you can't starve me! By the way, Grandpa, will there be beggar's chicken for dinner tonight?"

Seeing Gu Shenyu catch up to him almost in a single breath, the Beggar Chicken old man shook his head with a smile. So that dejected look earlier had all been an act! It seemed the invisible training of the past two months had already yielded results. Not bad, not bad. In three days, he could go and show off in front of those old fellows! Let's see who dares say he couldn't take on a good disciple!

He raised a hand intending to rap Gu Shenyu on the head, but Gu Shenyu clutched his head with both hands and jumped aside a step ahead, darting forward and sticking out his tongue. "You use the exact same trick every time. If I still couldn't dodge it, I'd have to be a complete fool."

The old man helplessly withdrew his hand. Just as Gu Shenyu let out a sigh of relief, the old man instantaneously shifted right in front of him, reaching out to give Gu Shenyu's head a pair of solid thwacks.

"Ow, ow, it hurts! That's attempted murder of your own disciple! Grandpa! Master! How could you hit so hard!" Gu Shenyu leaped away, clutching his head with both hands, rubbing the spot and frowning with a gloomy expression.

Yet his dear Beggar Chicken old man-cum-master merely hummed twice, put his hands behind his back, and strolled off leisurely, completely ignoring him...

Gu Shenyu stared at such an unprincipled master, his face falling into a deep scowl of utter misery. Could he request a change of masters, please?!