Ma Hezi smiled. "Wanliang, Senior Brother Lei is scolding you for your own good. Go on and thank him."
Ma Wanliang hurriedly bowed. "I thank you for your teachings, Ancestral Master."
Thunderbolt couldn’t be bothered with such a sycophant. "Zhou Feng, you get lost, too. The very sight of you pisses off!"
This statent, however, contained less genuine anger. It was clear Thunderbolt was also displeased with Zhou Feng for overstepping his bounds.
"Heh heh, Senior Brother Lei, we were just waiting for you. Now that everyone’s here, we can get down to business."
Li Xiuwen interjected. Clearly, there was no need to dwell on such things and ruin the atmosphere.
"Spit it out. You all go first. When you’re done, I have sothing to say too!" said Thunderbolt.
"Heh heh, Senior Brother Lei, this matter is actually for you to decide. It’s regarding a disciple from your Thunderlight Hall, Wang ng."
Ma Hezi said imdiately, cutting in before Zhou Luodan could speak.
The mont those words were out, Zhou Feng’s expression changed. ’Fucking treacherous!’ He had instantly frad the issue as an internal matter for Thunderlight Hall.
"Oh, so it’s about that kid, Wang ng. Alright, then. Spit it out. What do you want?"
Thunderbolt’s expression didn’t change, but the calr he appeared, the more it suggested a storm of rage was building inside him.
Li Xiuwen glanced at Zhou Luodan. With Ma Hezi having frad it this way, it was no longer appropriate for Zhou Luodan to be the one to speak.
"This is what happened," Li Xiuwen began, taking the lead. "Recently, Wang ng created a new Alchemy thod, the Five Elents Deficiency. Zhou Feng verified this thod and used it to create a new Fire Attribute Ergency Pill. This is a trendous contribution not only to our Holy Hall, but also to the battlefields of the Great Yuan Realm. Thus, we are proposing that Wang ng be made an Elder."
"My point is that the boy is truly exceptional. With proper guidance, he is bound for greatness. Whether he becos a Pill Cultivator is irrelevant; at the very least, he can serve as a role model for the other disciples."
Zhou Luodan said quietly, a little irritated herself. ’The matter should be simple, yet it’s beco so complicated now that it’s reached this table.’
"Senior Sister Zhou, he’s just a child. A fine sword’s edge is honed through hardship. Aren’t we stunting his growth by promoting him too soon?" Ma Hezi imdiately countered.
"Stunting his growth, my ass!" Wu Fatian couldn’t stop himself from cursing. "When Ma Wanliang beca an Elder, how co you weren’t worried about stunting his growth? What damn contribution did that kid ever make!"
"Brother Wu, watch your words! Wanliang improved the Beast Taming Technique!" Ma Hezi’s face turned grim as he imdiately retorted.
Zhou Feng jumped in again, agitated. "Ancestral Masters, I deserve no credit in this matter; I was rely assisting. I don’t want anything for myself. But the Holy Hall has always been clear about its rewards and punishnts. If we fail to reward rit this ti, wouldn’t that dishearten the disciples?"
"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Luodan shot Zhou Feng a harsh glare. ’This idiot has no talent for negotiation.’ But her own temper was flaring. By now, the words had been said, and Zhou Feng had made his position clear. He was willing to give up the resources he was owed for his contribution just to ensure Wang ng was made an Elder.
Zhou Luodan’s scolding was also a form of protection for Zhou Feng. By reprimanding him herself, she prevented others from doing so, since he was, after all, a mber of the Zhou Family.
"Brothers, Wang ng is a disciple of Thunderlight Hall, so Senior Brother Lei has the most authority to decide this. I know I may be overstepping my bounds by saying this, but I must speak. Wang ng’s power may not be there yet, but when it cos to his contributions, he is the real deal—better than quite a few people here!"
Zhou Luodan was normally gentle, so for her to speak so decisively and with such a pointed remark was extrely rare. She was clearly incensed.
"Arguing is just a waste of ti. Let’s just vote on it and be done!" Wu Fatian said at once.
Li Xiuwen nodded. "At its core, this is a simple matter. Let’s not blow it out of proportion. We’ll vote now. Who is in favor?"
"I’m in favor," Zhou Luodan said.
"I’m in favor as well," Wu Fatian added.
Then, silence. Zhao Tianlong and Ma Hezi remained perfectly still, clearly having no intention of voting. This was no longer just about whether Wang ng would beco an Elder. It was a demonstration of their factions’ power within the Holy Hall—a matter of who truly called the shots.
"In principle, I approve."
Seeing that no one else was voting, Li Xiuwen nodded and stated his own position.
Zhao Tianlong and Ma Hezi were a little surprised. Li Xiuwen rarely took a stance so early on matters like this; he usually waited for others to show their hands first.
Zhou Luodan couldn’t help but sigh. ’Still falling short at the final hurdle.’ Wu Fatian had good intentions, but his aggressive support would only make Thunderbolt more likely to object.
If the vote was split, the matter would have to be shelved. The only other option would be to let the Sect Leader decide, but there was no need to disturb his cultivation over such a trivial issue.
Thunderbolt stood up, and all eyes turned to him. "What you all ca to discuss is related to what I have to say. Let’s address it all at once. Take a look. What is this?"
With a wave of Thunderbolt’s hand, a basin appeared on the table.
All eyes focused on the basin. Zhou Feng and Ma Wanliang, not being experts in forging, couldn’t see anything special about it. But for those at the Ancestral Master level, regardless of their specialization, their understanding of fundantal principles was far superior. All paths ultimately lead to the sa destination.
"This is..." The first to react was Zhao Tianlong, as his specialty, Artifact Refining, shared many principles with forging.
"This is a new forging technique—Creation from Nothingness!
SLAP—
"What a magnificent ’Creation from Nothingness’! Congratulations, Senior Brother Lei, on your breakthrough. Your success is a success for the entire Holy Hall."
Li Xiuwen stood as he spoke, showing Thunderbolt imnse respect. Though technically a junior brother, Li Xiuwen was the head of the Six Ancestors. Outside the Sect, everyone knew of the Holy Hall’s Killing God, Li Xiuwen.
The other Ancestral Masters nodded in agreent. Wu Fatian, however, still looked unconvinced. He sized Thunderbolt up and down and couldn’t help but snipe, "How did an old fossil like you suddenly have a breakthrough? The heavens must be fucking blind."
Thunderbolt shot Wu Fatian a vicious glare. "You... you bastard! I guess even a fool’s thousand guesses can hit the mark once. You’re right, I didn’t co up with this."
Thunderbolt was exasperated. ’Son of a bitch,’ he thought, ’I can’t even refute him.’
"Huh? If it wasn’t you, then who was it?" Wu Fatian himself was taken aback. He had only been taking a habitual jab at him.
The hall instantly fell silent.
"Don’t tell ... it was Wang ng?" Zhao Tianlong couldn’t help but ask.
"Haha! It really was the kid, Wang ng! And here I was, wondering why you were all bickering over such a trivial matter. It’s just an Elder position. We don’t even know if he wants it or not!"
Thunderbolt declared, "I approve. On the condition that he’s willing."
Ma Wanliang wanted to die. ’This world has lost its mind! You have to ask a disciple if he’s willing to be an Elder? Fuck ! When I was trying to beco an Elder, my family had to put in so much effort and pull so many strings to make it happen. And now they’re fucking begging soone to take the job!’
"Haha, Thunder Old Ghost, in all these years, this is the first ti I’ve ever found you agreeable!"
"Wu the Kid, you’re not so bad, just a little stupid is all. Wang ng is a disciple of my Thunderlight Hall. Why would I be angry that you’re putting in so much effort for him? I’m thrilled! Haha, only an idiot would take our squabbling seriously."
Thunderbolt’s words left Wu Fatian utterly speechless. He stared at Thunderbolt for a long mont, unable to utter a single word.
"Alright, Senior Brother Lei, Brother Wu. This is a happy outco for everyone, so you two can stop bickering for today," Zhou Luodan said with a laugh.
Zhou Feng was so happy he could barely stop himself from clapping.
Zhao Tianlong said with a smile, giving Ma Hezi a way out of the situation. "It would truly be unjustifiable not to reward a talent like this. Junior Brother Ma, your wish to temper him ca from a place of good intentions, but as things stand, I believe we should all agree. Becoming an Elder is an honor, but it is also a responsibility."
Ma Hezi was no fool. Seeing that the outco was set, he imdiately changed his tune. "I was only thinking of his well-being. The young and vigorous can easily beco arrogant. But since it has co to this, let’s settle the matter."
Everyone imdiately shifted their focus back to the new forging technique, Creation from Nothingness. This would not only be useful for forging but would also be a great boon to Artifact Refining.
Zhou Luodan called Zhou Feng over. "Didn’t you tell he was just ssing around and trying things out?"
Zhou Feng was exasperated. "But that’s really what he said! He seed so casual about it. This..."
’Now this is a big problem.’ There was no way Thunderbolt would let Wang ng go, and from the look on Zhao Tianlong’s face, he was tempted as well.
Zhou Luodan felt a headache coming on. ’What on earth is this kid trying to do?!’
Zhou Qian’s expression was relatively calm, but everyone else’s was grim.
"How is he? How is he?" Zhang Xiaojiang asked impatiently, the mont Hu Jing finished her examination.
Hu Jing shook her head. "He just took a Heart-Protecting Pill, but there’s definitely a strand of evil energy hiding in Brother Zhou’s Sea of Fate that I can’t expel. It won’t be life-threatening for now..."
Zhou Qian smiled. "That old fiend said I have a year. No need to worry."
"We should go back and let my master take a look. Her skills are far greater than mine,"
Hu Jing said.
Zhou Qian shrugged nonchalantly. "I’ve still got a year. It makes no difference if we go back sooner or later. I’d say that Wan Gu Master is pretty pathetic. It’s most likely a bluff. What kind of advanced Pill could he possibly refine? If he were really that capable, he wouldn’t be hiding here launching sneak attacks."
Zhou Qian made it sound easy, but the others were extrely worried. They had wanted him to return with Ma Tian’Er’s group, but he had refused.
This Secret Realm was a perfect place for cultivation. Getting here wasn’t easy. A month of practice here was worth several months outside, and the gains in comprehension were imasurable. The abundant Elental Power allowed a Cultivator to beco more keenly attuned to their Cultivation Technique.
It was no wonder the Demon Cultivation Disciples had such terrible foundations yet such high levels of Elental Power. It was a complete waste of such a perfect environnt.
"...Why doesn’t anyone search him? We might find an antidote," Wang ng suddenly said.
Everyone froze. Then Zhang Xiaopang shot up, dragged the Demon’s body over, and began patting it down all over. A mont later, a pile of items lay on the ground.
"Damn, this Demon was loaded!"
Wan Gu Master’s Qiankun Bag contained quite a lot: Talismans, Magical Bamboo Slips, and a pile of various bottles and jars.
Among the items were Blood Soul Pills and Soul Refining Pills. Many Demon Cultivation Sects produced Soul Refining Pills—it was a generic na, and the actual effects varied. Given Wan Gu Master’s level, the Soul Refining Pills he created were likely nothing special.
"I found it! The formula for the antidote is here!" shouted Fu Yi, one of the Lingyin Four Tigers.
Hu Jing hurried over, took it, and compared it to the bamboo slip for the Soul Refining Pill. "Looks right. Based on the principles of counteracting dicinal properties, this should be genuine."
Zhou Qian couldn’t help but let out a huge sigh of relief. "Hell yeah! I knew I was too lucky to die this easily!"
"That Wan Gu Master really was an idiot, carrying everything on his person."
"When you cultivate such a vile technique, you’re an enemy of the world. The only person he could trust was himself. He just never expected he’d run into us."
(Welco to claim Skeleton’s "Great God’s Light." God said, "Let there be light." ^_^)
(To be continued. If you like this work, please co to Qidian to vote with recomndation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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