Chapter 274 The New Leader Of Yuan Clan

Yuan Menzi is the son of the late Leon Empire's prince, Shi Le, and the clan's former heiress, Yuan Xuefen.

Both of them passed away when he was young, although at different times.

Yuan Menzi didn't have any memories of his father as he was assassinated by his own royal bodyguard, nearly three decades ago. So, he was mostly raised by his mother who was ousted by the clan on the grounds that she conceived a male child who lacks compassion for everyone but his mother. People termed him as a devil spawn because of his abnormal left eye, his behavior, and the rising natural calamities over the region.

If only the seventh prince of the Leon Empire was alive, Yuan Menzi and his mother's lives would have been easier.

Unfortunately, Emperor Shi refused to accept her as his daughter-in-law as the prince never asked for his consent beforehand. After all, falling in love with Yuan Xuefen and then marrying her, all of this happened during one of his trips.

The clan leader, Yuan Weishi, kept the both of them far away from the clan matters, sending them to the southern Yuan province where the dungeon breaks were quite frequent.

On the night of the 12th birthday of Yuan Menzi, he gets abducted by some adventurers. His mother chased after them and somehow ended up in the Dungeon of Baltrow. Whether it is a beast that killed her or whether it is one of the adventurers, no one knows the truth to date.

The pain caused by his mother's death only increased his powers tremendously. However, Yuan Menzi cannot abandon his post as the clan elders forcefully made him take a soul oath in the name of the heavens that he would continue to guard the dungeon just like his mother did.

Of course, in return, they made him the governor of the southern Yuan after he turned 18. And just three years later, the invincible dungeon was cleared, and he became free.

Upon returning to the clan with far greater strength than the clan's grand elders combined, he usurped his uncle's position and became the new Patriarch of the Yuan Clan.

Of course, he never planned on staying there for a long time. Hence, following his wishes, the clan never made an official announcement about the change of the regime.

Back to the present, as Yuan Menzi called for a clan meeting, the grand elders and the elders including the former Patriarch gathered at the Heaven Pavilion.

Upon taking their seats, the elders silently stared at the young man and waited until he speaks of the matter.

Yuan Menzi then glanced at the former Patriarch, "What are you waiting for, uncle? Tell them."

"Ah, Yes." Yuan Weishi rose to his feet like an ordinary elder and took out a scroll before reading it aloud.

It was an invitation letter from the Wuji sect for the annual summit. However, instead of asking the clan to send a representative, the Wuji sect stressed that the three grand elders alongside the Patriarch of the clan need to be attended together.

In fact, to show their seriousness, the letter even mentioned that an esteemed expert like Dai Long, the leader of the Mt. Hua sect was also attending the summit.

Some of the elders turned serious, all of sudden.

Looking at everyone's expression, Yuan Menzi asked, "Uncle, what's the matter?"

Instead of the former Patriarch, a grand elder named Yuan Peng, who is also Yuan Menzi's grand uncle, answered him, "I think they might have invited us to talk about the seed of fire. After all, it is almost the time of its birth."

"Seed of Fire?" Yuan Menzi furrowed his brows as he stared at his grand uncle.

He was aware of the story behind those elemental seeds but didn't know that seed of fire is going to be born. He then asked with clear displeasure written on his face, "If that's the case, why haven't I informed, yet?"

As everyone else stiffened for a moment and held down their breaths, not intending to invite trouble onto themselves by answering him, Yuan Weishi, the former clan head replied, "The clan had long decided to stay away from this matter. Legendary realm experts from all parts of the world will be claiming the fire seed. Involving in such a matter will only bring destruction to our clan."

"Even then, you should have told me," said Yuan Menzi, making his uncle nervous.

It was then a middle-aged-looking woman who rose to her feet and supported Yuan Weishi, "If we had to inform you every little thing that we have decided, it will take years. So, Lord Yuan wasn't at wrong, here."

"Ms. Kang," The young man took a glance at her and asked, "Did I give you permission to talk?"

While his tone appeared to be very calm, for the female elder, it appeared like a death sentence. Yuan Weishi immediately tried to protect her by making a request, "She's your aunt, Lord Menzi. I hope you consider your familial relation and forgive her."

In response, Yuan Menzi let out a scoff, "Just like how you practically exiled my mother?"

As Yuan Weishi couldn't defend himself against that accusation, Yuan Menzi raised his eye patch, revealing a glowing scarlet pupil.

"No, don't…" Yuan Weishi tried to stop him but it was already too late. Kang Ah, who is the wife of the former Patriarch, let out a painful scream as she grabbed her head.

"Please stop it. I'm begging you…" The woman fell to her knees, apologizing to her nephew and pleading with him to show mercy upon her.

No one knows what kind of mental attack Kang Ah was facing, but the elders couldn't help but remember that night when two of the grand elders and former Patriarch Yuan Weishi acted the same.

Feeling that his aunt learned her lesson, Yuan Menzi covered his eyes with the special patch, ending the illusion technique upon the target, and stated, "I don't care how the clan was run before me. As long as I'm acting as the Patriarch, no funny business, understand?"

"Calm down, Lord Yuan. Acting on unnecessary things will only waste your time," The third grand elder, Cao Lin, who is the mother of Yuan Weishi and maternal grandfather of Yuan Menzi, opened up her mouth. Unlike others, she wasn't afraid of her grandson.

In fact, she was the very reason the other grand elders didn't involve the Imperial family in their clan affairs. She was also the one behind Yuan Menzi's appointment as the governor of Southern Province. And she was also the only one who convinced the young man to not take any lives of the clansmen and become the clan leader, instead. She didn't even try to fight him like the other grand elders.

As this position will make his work easier, Yuan Menzi also agreed with her, although putting a condition that he will run the clan in his own method.

Upon hearing her words, Yuan Menzi got back to the topic as if nothing happened earlier.

"Okay, you can state your opinions on whether we should attend the summit or not. The seed of fire doesn't interest me. If you convince me to go and it turns out that the fire seed is their main agenda, then, the ones who were responsible for wasting my time will face consequences. Please keep that in mind before speaking out."

,m Because of Yuan Menzi's early warning, no elder dared to risk it and face the punishment. Meanwhile, their powerlessness only increased their hatred toward him.

Seeing that no one is raising their hand, Yuan Menzi let out a smile, "okay, we'll follow the majority. We'll not attend the summit as we are busy with internal matters of the clan. Next…"

The grand elders were stumped by his methods of an impudent monarch but they didn't state their opinion either.

Grand Elder, Cao Lin then spoke, "A firearms exhibition is going to be conducted at the Imperial City on the upcoming Monday. We haven't received an official invitation but I heard that it is open to all the public."

"A firearms exhibition?" Yuan Menzi looked at her curiously. This is the first time he even heard of the word, Firearms.

However, before he asked her, another grand elder, who was silent until now, mustered up his courage and opinioned, "Lady Cao, it belonged to Lu Zhen. He is an enemy of noble clans and Crown Prince also detests him very much. If we go there, then, we would have to answer the Empress. Even if she's your younger sister, I don't think she will be pleased by it."

"Lu Zhen?" The young man suddenly remembered the guy he was supposed to visit but couldn't meet him until now. "Grand Elder Cao, tell me more about this Lu Zhen and the firearms exhibition."