The Jin Family is located directly west of the Refining Spirit Sect. The Winged Vehicle flew at high speed, arriving after more than an hour.
The Winged Vehicle didn't land, but Qian Duoduo saw over a hundred people standing in front of the Jin Family castle. They were divided into two groups: one with nearly a hundred people, and another with twenty to thirty.
"This is the Grand Elder, the Second Elder, the Third Elder, the Fourth Elder, the Fifth Elder…" After getting out of the vehicle, Jin Yongqiang introduced them one by one. Those Elders nodded reservedly towards Qian Duoduo. Some of these Elders were at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, some at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, and others at the Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight. The person who claimed to be his second uncle at the sect store was also among them.
Qian Duoduo kept his lips tightly sealed, showing no reaction. In Jin Buhuan's memory, there wasn't much record of the Jin Family members. The Jin Family's Elders had nothing to do with him. Qian Duoduo had no interest in interacting with them. Qian Duoduo's failure to return the greeting probably made them curse him inwardly.
"Those are also members of the Jin Family," Jin Yongqiang pointed to the smaller group of people standing further away.
These should be the collateral branches of the Jin Family. Qian Duoduo nodded to them. Among them, there might be Jin Buhuan's direct relatives. Qian Duoduo didn't recognize them, but he had to pretend as if he did.
They entered the castle and sat down in the main hall. Jin Yongqiang sat in the center, Qian Duoduo sat on his left, and the seven Elders sat on his right. The others stood below.
Jin Yongqiang glanced at the Purple Gold coin on Qian Duoduo's collar and began, "Jin Buhuan, our Jin Family's Xiong Jun, everyone knows him. This time, Bu Huan has been appointed Purple-Gold Disciple by the sect. Everyone, what position should we give him in the Jin Family?"
Qian Duoduo leaned back, deciding not to speak for now, to see what these people were truly thinking.
"Bu Huan's talent is extraordinary; at the age of thirteen, he already has a Condensing Qi Stage Level Seven cultivation. I think he should enter the Jin Family's decision-making body and be given the title of Honorary Elder," the Seventh Elder, with very high cheekbones, who sat at the very end, was the first to speak.
"Indeed. Among the Bu-generation, Honorary Elder is already the highest status," the Sixth Elder, who sat next to her, echoed.
"I don't think that's appropriate. An Honorary Elder has advisory power but no voting rights. He should be directly appointed as an Elder, the Eighth Elder," the Grand Elder said to Jin Yongqiang with a stern face and a serious tone.
Jin Yongqiang, who had been smiling, clapped his hands on the armrests of his chair, nodded, and turned to Qian Duoduo, "Bu Huan, what do you think?"
Qian Duoduo pursed his lips and looked at the silent collateral branches. At first, they were expressionless, but upon hearing "Eighth Elder," they began to exchange glances.
"Eighth Elder…" Seeing Qian Duoduo remain silent, Jin Yongqiang slapped the armrest heavily. "Eighth Elder is not as good as Grand Elder."
He looked at the Grand Elder, who was sitting in the first position on his right.
The Grand Elder trembled. He understood the Clan Chief's meaning. He wanted Qian Duoduo to directly become the Grand Elder, not the Eighth Elder, who would be at the bottom of the list.
"Right. Nephew Bu Huan is so outstanding, how can he be ranked last? He should be ranked first, as the Grand Elder," the Grand Elder said loudly.
The Jin Family members standing below immediately began to whisper among themselves.
The Grand Elder was willing to give up the position of Grand Elder; this was something they hadn't expected.
However, since the Grand Elder agreed, the other six Elders couldn't object and could only start nodding.
The standing Jin Family members began to look at Qian Duoduo with awe. The Grand Elder, that was a position with real power, capable of influencing their destinies.
Qian Duoduo remained calm, looking at Jin Buhuan inside the Golden Toad, thinking to himself: If you were sitting here, what would you do? Would you accept, object, or…
Jin Yongqiang's left hand reached over and rested on Qian Duoduo's left hand. "What do you think, Bu Huan? If you have no objections, I'll announce it."
Qian Duoduo shook his head.
Neither Qian Duoduo nor Jin Buhuan was familiar with Jin Yongqiang and these Elders, nor did they have any affection for them. A Grand Elder position that fell from the sky couldn't be a good thing.
"Disagree?" Jin Yongqiang's left hand retracted, asking in great surprise.
Qian Duoduo nodded.
"There's another position, more suitable than Grand Elder!" Suddenly, someone shouted from the crowd below in the hall.
Hearing this, the Grand Elder's face immediately changed. He stood up and looked towards the direction of the voice.
But the person who shouted hid in the crowd, and everyone in the crowd avoided his gaze, so the Grand Elder couldn't find the person who had shouted.
"Haha," Jin Yongqiang clapped his hands on the armrest. "Let's discuss it again."
"Young Clan Chief!" Another voice rang out.
Qian Duoduo recognized it; it came from the Jin Family's collateral branch again.
"Young Clan Chief…" The people below in the hall began to discuss, and many even nodded.
The smile on Jin Yongqiang's face disappeared. He turned to the Grand Elder and said, "Grand Elder, someone suggested that Bu Huan be the Young Clan Chief. What do you think?"
The Grand Elder's face looked like he was crying, and he blinked his eyes several times forcefully. "Young Clan Chief? Ah, Young Clan Chief? I have no objection. But the Young Clan Chief requires a Ninth Level of Qi Condensation. Bu Huan is indeed outstanding, but his cultivation level…"
"Cultivation level? I heard that at the beginning of the year, Bu Huan was still at the Ninth Level, then he became Level Zero, and now he's at Level Seven," Jin Yongqiang's eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze like needles, piercing the Grand Elder.
"Clan Chief, the current Young Clan Chief is Jin Buque. He hasn't done anything wrong, to suddenly replace him…" The Second Elder, who was next to the Grand Elder, spoke up.
Jin Yongqiang frowned, and the Second Elder immediately shut his mouth.
"The Young Clan Chief is the future Clan Chief. This position must be filled by the right person," the Seventh Elder said indifferently.
Jin Yongqiang closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again. "Jin Buhuan and Jin Buque, who is more suitable? Who can give the Jin Family a better future?"
In the hall, his voice echoed.
Sweat dripped from the Grand Elder's forehead.
Why was he so nervous? Qian Duoduo quickly understood after a brief read of Jin Buhuan's memory: he was Jin Buque's father! He was Jin Yongqiang's eldest son. Jin Buque was his eldest son, and Jin Yongqiang's eldest grandson.
However, the current situation was that the Clan Chief wanted to replace his own eldest grandson. Regardless of the reasons, this Clan Chief's boldness was impressive!
The seven Elders lowered their heads, none daring to look at Jin Yongqiang, fearing he might suddenly ask them a question.
"Jin Buhuan!" The shouting voice emerged again.
The Grand Elder squirmed a few times in his seat, not daring to turn his head to see who it was.
"I think so too," Jin Yongqiang took over the shouter's words. "Jin Buhuan is more suitable to be the Young Clan Chief than Jin Buque."
He stood up, "Anyone with objections can speak up. The Jin Family belongs to everyone. If you have a valid point, I will listen."
In the hall, there was a complete silence.
"Hmm?" Jin Yongqiang raised his chin, looking at the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder shifted his butt in the chair, closed his eyes, and nodded.
As he nodded, the remaining Elders also began to peck like chickens.
"I object!" Qian Duoduo raised his right hand. If he didn't speak up now, this so-called Young Clan Chief hat would be forced upon his head. "I came here this time to see my mother. I—I am not interested in any position here."
The Grand Elder's head shot up, his face unable to conceal his wild joy. The other Elders looked at Jin Yongqiang in confusion.
Jin Yongqiang was stunned. He stared at Qian Duoduo's face, trying to understand what Qian Duoduo was thinking.
Qian Duoduo's thoughts were simple. He acknowledged Jin Buhuan's mother, but not anything of the Jin Family. From beginning to end, Jin Yongqiang was eyeing his Purple-Gold Disciple status, which could make the Jin Family a Purple Gold Family, bringing endless benefits.
Standing up, Qian Duoduo walked to the group of collateral Jin Family members. "Where is my mother? Take me to see her."
