Wang Ming stepped into the grand entrance of the clan hall. At the gate, he crossed paths with two other youths, both of similar rank, each flanked by their personal guards. The three locked eyes for a brief moment, their gazes cold and unreadable. Not a single word was exchanged. Their expressions remained calm, each unwilling to break the silence first.
Moments later, a clan representative approached, his face impassive, and silently gestured for them to follow. Their guards remained behind, shadows cast against the flickering torchlight, as the three stepped into the imposing hall.
Inside, the air was thick with the solemn aura of power. The clan leader sat upon the central throne, his eyes sharp, his aura oppressive. Around him, the clan elders occupied their positions, their faces masked with indifferent calm, yet their eyes brimming with silent scrutiny.
As the three entered, they bowed deeply to the clan leader and the assembled elders before standing straight, their backs stiff, their gazes forward.
The clan leader's gaze swept over the trio, his sharp eyes lingering on Wang Ming for a heartbeat longer than the others. His deep, gravelly voice echoed through the hall,
"You three performed well in the test. It has been seven years since a Rank Three talent emerged in our clan, and now, three appear at once. It is a stroke of fortune for our clan."
He stroked his long, graying beard, his eyes narrowing slightly as if contemplating their worth.
"As a reward, you may each choose a free formation from the clan storage. The Sixth Elder will escort you. Remember, do not disappoint me in the future."
Wang Shui and Wang Mei, standing beside Wang Ming, immediately bowed, their eyes flashing with excitement. For them, this was an opportunity to cement their position within the clan's power structure, a critical step towards their ambitions.
However, Wang Ming's thoughts were calm quietly thinking about the hidden schemes.
"He has made his first move," Wang Ming mused, his eyes remaining calm, yet the corner of his mouth twitched with a hint of mockery. "That old fox... He deliberately chose the Sixth Elder to guide us, forcing me into a delicate position."
He recalled the undercurrents that had shaped the clan's history in his past life.
"On the surface, the elders respect the clan leader, but the truth is far more complex. The clan leader's lifespan is nearing its end, and the factions are already moving in the shadows, each eyeing the throne. The First Elder, a peak Rank Three formation apprentice, is but a step away from Rank Four. Behind him stands the Supreme Elder, a Rank Five giant, currently in deep hibernation. He awakens once every decade, and six years ago, he personally declared the First Elder as the next clan leader."
Wang Ming's eyes flickered with a cold, knowing light.
"The clan leader, lacking powerful backers, naturally sides with the Second Elder and the neutral faction, a collection of those without deep backgrounds. The clan leader deliberately chose the Sixth Elder, a staunch member of this faction, to monitor me .The clan leader wants to bind me to his side, but by doing so, he exposes me to the eyes of those who support the First Elder."
His thoughts turned darker, a faint smirk creeping onto his lips.
"They know this is a trap, yet they cannot ignore it. They will not allow me to grow unchecked, nor can they openly oppose me without revealing their intentions. Their situation forces them to act, even if it means falling into the clan leader's scheme."
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Wang Ming's expression remained calm as he knew that he cannot grow without entering these faction wars. These schemes are like chess as long as one side doesn't go for a chaotic line which disturb the balance of the game, one can never win the game. It will in the end result in draw if none of the sides decide to end the stalemate situation.