Waking up as Feng Yuemei in the world of Mo Dao Zu Shi was not on her to-do list. Neither was dodging deadly cultivators, navigating sect politics, or trying to prevent major character deaths with nothing but half-remembered plot points and sheer st...
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Lan Xichen stood at the edge of the Cloud Recesses, gazing down at the mist-covered path winding up the mountain. Soon, cultivators from every major sect would arrive for the lectures, an event he had been anticipating for months. It was an opportunity to meet peers from across the cultivation world, to exchange ideas, and to observe how different sects approached the path of cultivation. But beyond that, it was also a reminder of the weight he now carried-the responsibility of being the heir to the Lan Sect.
At nineteen, he was only just beginning to take on the duties expected of him. It was a late start by most standards. Many sect heirs began their training in governance and diplomacy as early as fifteen, shadowing their elders, sitting in on sect meetings, and making their first decisions under careful guidance. But nothing in the leadership of the Lan Sect could be called normal.
His father, the sect leader in name, had long since withdrawn from the world, locked away in seclusion. Yet, despite his absence, no formal transition of power had ever occurred. His uncle, Lan Qiren, had been acting as the de facto sect leader for years, guiding the sect with a steady, disciplined hand. And yet, he had never been officially promoted. The title of Sect Leader Lan still belonged to his father, Qingheng-Jun, frozen in time along with the circumstances of his retreat.
It would have been simple enough to name a new leader-if the stories about his mother were true. If the elders truly believed her to be as terrible as they claimed, they could have bypassed both him and his younger brother, Wangji. His uncle had the qualifications, the respect of the sect, and the unwavering discipline expected of a leader. He could have taken the position permanently, making his family the main branch of the Lan Clan.
But his uncle had chosen a different path.
He had never married, had no children to inherit his position. Instead, he had dedicated himself entirely to scholarship, upholding the strict teachings of the Lan Sect, and raising his brother's children as best as he could. He had never once sought power for himself, only carrying the burden of leadership until Xichen was ready to take it.
And now, that time was drawing near.
His uncle had already hinted at his plans-to gradually transfer authority to Xichen by the time he turned twenty-one, easing him into the role until he could fully take over. Then, Lan Qiren would return to his rightful place as the Grandmaster of Gusu, stepping back from governance and immersing himself once more in the pursuit of knowledge.
Xichen sighed, running a hand over the pristine fabric of his robes. The thought of becoming a sect leader filled him with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. He would be trained, but there was always a lingering doubt-would he be able to lead with the same wisdom and discipline as his uncle? Would he be able to guide the Lan Sect through the complexities of the cultivation world?
The arrival of the visiting cultivators would be his first true test.
When his uncle handed him the task of organizing the upcoming lectures, he accepted it with enthusiasm. It was an opportunity to prove himself, to engage with cultivators from other sects, and to set a precedent for future events under his leadership.
