Soul Land V: Rebirth of Tang San

The princess spoke faintly, "When you rejected the inheritance rights of my child, did you ever consider the sorrow in a mother's heart? Without my support, how could you have been worthy enough to ascend to the patriarch's position? Yet for one human woman, you would plunge our race into a state where even the successor cannot be of pure blood. How can you face our ancestors with such disgrace?"

As she spoke, the princess's right hand made a gesture in the air, and a silver wand materialized in her grasp. The silver wand was exceptionally dazzling, adorned with a silver Peacock's head on top, and behind the head, strand by strand, silver plumes fanned out, forming the shape of a peacock's tail in full display.

"In the name of the Peacock Demon Clan's Great Elder, I propose the Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage to the inheritor of the patriarch," she said as she held the wand aloft.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Upon seeing the wand, all present from the Peacock Demon Clan, including the Great Peacock Demon King, slightly bowed their heads in respect.

This wand, a legacy from the Great Peacock Demon Emperor, was once a divine tool and also represented her. Although the Great Peacock Demon Emperor did not pass the patriarch's position to her direct descendants, she left behind this wand. In recognition of her past contributions to the Peacock Demon Clan, even if not as patriarch, her descendants always served as the Great Elder and wielded this wand. It inherently had the purpose of balancing the power of the patriarch.

This generation's Great Elder had become the wife of the patriarch, and her early consolidation of power had allowed the then Peacock Great Demon King to spread his wings freely, ushering in a flourishing era for the Peacock Demon Clan.

The princess did not exaggerate; without her support, it would not have been easy for the Peacock Great Demon King to become patriarh.

Looking at the wand, the Peacock Great Demon King's eyes betrayed a complexity of emotions. He sighed softly and asked, "Must it be this way?"

The princess's eyes were defiant, "It must be this way. If the Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage proves me wrong, I am willing to resign as the Great Elder and accept any punishment. If I am right, however, someone else must be chosen for the patriarch's role."

The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her, his voice suddenly much softer, "Over the years, I have indeed wronged you in many ways. But since the day the Crystal Phoenix presented a great threat, I had to make some decisions. And there are things I could not tell you. If I tell you now that, from the beginning to the end, the one I loved the most has always been you, would you believe me?"

Her gaze cold, the princess replied, "Patriarch, this is our race's most important succession ceremony; spare me the lies you don't even believe yourself. You love me? If you did, how could you have focused all your efforts on that woman? And let her daughter be the heir of our race? If you truly loved me, you should have put all your effort into nurturing our child, instead of letting things be and concentrating on a hybrid mongrel. My mind is made up; the Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage must be held, unless she voluntarily gives up her right to succeed as patriarch."

"I accept the Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage!" Pretty Girl said coldly.

The Peacock Great Demon King did not look at Pretty Girl; his gaze remained fixed on the princess. His eyes shimmered with complex hues as he sighed deeply, "These years, it is I who have owed you a great deal, and I'm afraid I no longer have time to repay it. Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage, since it is your decision, then, so be it!"

Having spoken, his expression returned to one of authority as he cast an imperious glance over all the onlookers and declared, "The Ceremonial Rite of the Hundred Birds Homage is our race's ultimate test of the patriarch. Within three days, any clansman may issue a challenge to the inheritor of the patriarch, and on the premise of equal Cultivation base, the inheritor must accept all challenges until there are no more challengers. There shall be an interval of one feather's time between each battle."

Regarding the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage," many foreign races do not understand its significance. This is the highest level of affirmation and recognition of a patriarch within the Peacock Demon Clan, or one might say, among all bird demon races.

The succession of a race is of the utmost importance. When there is a lack of unity within the clan, there are various methods to make a decision.

"Hundred Birds Paying Homage" is one of the most rigorous methods. Only an Elder level member can initiate it. Regardless of the outcome of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage," the Elder who initiated it must endure severe punishment by the clan. If "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" proves that the patriarch's successor is indeed unworthy of inheritance, the punishment will be lighter, at most resulting in a demotion in the Elder rankings. However, if "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" proves that the patriarch's successor is qualified to inherit the position, then the punishment of the Elder who proposed it will be decided by the new patriarch. Even the death penalty is a possibility.

Therefore, "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" almost never occurs without absolute certainty, as one's life is literally on the line.

The three consecutive days of challenges that "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" entails are also extremely rigorous for the patriarch. The Monsters always respect strength; it is the fundamental requirement for a patriarch. "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" entails challenges from a hundred challengers. Although the actual number may not strictly be one hundred, multiple consecutive battles are inevitable.

The term "one feather's time" refers to the time it takes for a precious feather plucked from the challenger to burn to ash after their defeat. The duration of the burning varies depending on one's cultivation base, approximately between ten to twenty minutes. This means that Pretty Girl must face challenges relentlessly for three days and nights without sleep after accepting the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage" challenge.

Of course, it is not always the successor who must face the challenges personally; their supporters can also take up the challenge. However, if a supporter loses, they are executed immediately, as this is considered a desecration of the "Hundred Birds Paying Homage."

This type of challenge is extremely brutal. Those daring to risk their lives for the patriarch's heir by taking the challenger's place must be utterly loyal to the heir because failure means certain death. This also indirectly proves how much power the patriarch's heir actually controls.

The Peacock Demon King stepped aside two paces to the right and pointed towards the high platform with his right hand, "This is where the 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage' challenge will take place. The timer starts now. Challengers may come forth at any time. From here on, it's all yours." He said the last sentence to Pretty Girl, then, the next moment, his body shimmered with silver light, and in an instant, he was down below the platform beside the princess, who held the Silver Scepter.

The princess, looking at her husband who was close at hand, had a flicker of defiance in her eyes, but it quickly returned to normal.

Standing atop the high platform, Pretty Girl moved forward two steps to the center, the exact spot where the Peacock Demon King had been standing. With a calm gaze, she looked down at the Peacock Demon Clan below and said indifferently, "My 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage' is not limited to our own race; any resident of Jiali City may issue a challenge to me. I am the Demon King!" As she spoke, silver light burst from her eyes, and a golden crown with platinum brilliance slowly emerged above her head.

"A Golden Crowned Demon King?" Wang Han almost blurted out, his voice filled with shock.

When a Monster breaks through to Godhood, they become a Demon King Level powerhouse. Further ascension would make them a Great Demon King, and then a Great Demon Emperor. These are the three God Rank stages.

However, not all Demon Kings are equal. Just as Pretty Girl once had the Peacock Golden Crown below God Rank, possessing the Peacock Golden Crown within the Peacock Demon Clan signifies the possession of the purest and most controllable bloodline power. This is why the Peacock Demon King could designate her as his successor despite her Human Bloodline—because the Peacock Demon Clan's bloodline is exceptionally pure.