Chapter 56: Dust Settles

On the fighting platform.

Zhang Yang gritted his teeth, struggling to hold on.

“How strong is Zhao Wei?”

He had fought Zhao Wei before, but now Zhao Wei’s strength had increased by more than forty percent—fierce to an absurd degree.

No need to wonder.

He must have gained some incredible opportunity.

Finally!

Zhang Yang was finally caught off-guard by Zhao Wei, forced wide open by a slash, then kicked off the platform.

“Good.”

Tang Sheng nodded in satisfaction.

Zhao Wei, barely over thirty, already possesses such power—he may one day break through to the Willow Vein realm.

“This man deserves more cultivation.”

He said to the man beside him.

Dao Xiong nodded; he understood that with Tang Sheng’s words, Zhao Wei was virtually guaranteed the top spot as deputy chief of the Qinghe branch.

Tang Sheng, a steady and powerful figure, spoke only what would come true.

“Youth is wonderful.”

There is no such thing as late-blooming talent in this world.

Those who bloom late merely took the wrong path early on, or had their talent buried; even if they later catch up, they can never reach their original potential.

He started with the spear, then switched to the dao—only then did he achieve what he has today.

But had he begun with the dao from the start, his achievements might have been even greater.

“The past cannot be reclaimed.”

Dao Xiong gazed at Zhao Wei, radiant and triumphant on the platform, filled with emotion.

At that moment, Tang Sheng turned to the three from Huaqing Sect.

“Three honored envoys, among these branch members, are there any you find worthy?”

Han Qin understood perfectly—Tang Sheng was urging them to confirm the candidates for the Huaqing Sect trial.

After all, rankings were merely references; the final decision rested entirely with Huaqing Sect.

And Han Qin and the other two now represented Huaqing Sect.

He could only turn to Jiang Yan.

Zhu Yue did the same.

Of the three, only Jiang Yan had the authority to decide on such a major matter as admission slots.

Jiang Yan paused, then spoke slowly: “Deputy Alliance Master Tang, your alliance has many experts. I’ll choose two on behalf of my father—please forgive any unfairness.”

“To be chosen by such a noble person is their fortune; how could there be unfairness?”

Tang Sheng smiled warmly.

Like a kind elder.

He did so because he knew the father of this woman was Jiang Baichuan.

In fact, he had come specifically to meet Jiang Baichuan.

If he could establish a connection with that Sword Immortal of the East River, many matters for the Heaven and Earth Alliance would become far smoother.

Jiang Yan took a prewritten slip from her sleeve and handed it to Tang Sheng.

Tang Sheng pinched the slip between two fingers, smiled slightly, and announced loudly:

“The candidates selected for the Huaqing Sect admission trial are:”

He deliberately stretched out his voice.

Li Rui muttered under his breath.

This Deputy Alliance Master would make a perfect host.

“Zhao Wei!”

When Tang Sheng finally uttered the first name, Zhao Wei’s face broke into a victor’s grin—he was unquestionably the ultimate winner of this branch trial.

“The other is:”

Li Rui suddenly understood why so many people hated cliffhangers.

Everyone held their breath.

Especially the younger disciples.

Tang Sheng’s gaze settled on one man in the crowd: “Liu Tong!”

Liu Tong’s head exploded with noise.

This was more thrilling than rolling triple sixes in gambling.

He felt a roaring in his ears, then stared in disbelief at his friend beside him: “Did Master Tang mean me?”

“You lucky bastard.”

Several friends shook Liu Tong back and forth; it took him a long while to come to his senses.

“I can enter the Huaqing Sect admission trial!”

A grin crept uncontrollably onto his lips.

Liang He and Zhou Shulin gazed from afar at Liu Tong, filled with envy.

Even just the right to enter the trial was enough to make others jealous.

The Huaqing Sect trial slots were confirmed.

The branch competition was over.

Next came the inevitable division of spoils.

Two days later.

“Damn it, Zhao’s got control of the Discipline Hall, the Martial and Literary Hall, and the Medicine Hall—all at once. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.”

Wu Tu cursed.

Earlier that morning, the appointments had been announced.

Zhao Wei, as expected, seized full power.

Not only did he retain control of the Discipline Hall, but now he also commanded the Martial and Literary Hall and the Medicine Hall—his authority rivaled only that of Dao Xiong.

In contrast, Zhang Yang looked pitiful.

He was left with only the Introduction Hall and the Tianyi Hall—two posts with little profit.

Ge Hong rose unexpectedly, taking charge of the Loyalty and Righteousness Hall and several other venues.

The veteran deputy chief, Qian Cai, was assigned the Transmission Hall and a few other venues.

The worst off was Zhou Rui, now a powerless senior elder—essentially a deluxe version of the Tianyi Hall chief.

Wu Tu looked at Li Rui: “Brother Li, if I were you, I’d at least grab the Loyalty and Righteousness Hall chief position.”

The Loyalty and Righteousness Hall controlled personnel assignments.

Its power far exceeded that of the Tianyi Hall.

Li Rui chuckled, saying nothing.

There’s an old saying in Qinghe: having someone behind you makes it easier to hold office.

Zhang Yang is now a clay Buddha crossing a river—his earlier promise of a senior position in the Martial and Literary Hall was clearly out of the question.

Li Rui, close to Zhang Yang and Wu Tu, would never be welcomed even if he took another hall chief position—he’d face constant obstacles. Better to stay in the Tianyi Hall and keep things simple.

Besides, he hadn’t come away empty-handed.

“Brother Li, next time we go to the black market, give me at least a twenty percent discount—fair enough?”

Wu Tu grinned again.

He was an old hand—he could see right through Li Rui’s move of retreating to advance.

Better to rake in profits at the black market and stay far from trouble than to become a humiliated hall chief.

He asked himself: if he were in Li Rui’s position, could he handle it so gracefully and effectively?

Li Rui shrugged: “I’m just a gatekeeper collecting fees.”

Wu Tu rolled his eyes.

He’d grown up in Qinghe’s underworld—he knew the black market’s secrets; the profits were thick enough to choke on.

Of all the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s enterprises, the black market was by far the most profitable.

Dao Xiong had paid a heavy price to wrest this lucrative prize from the Blood Tiger Gang.

Li Rui knew this well.

Tianyi Hall chief plus black market overseer—that was the optimal arrangement.

Dao Xiong had his own scales.

To gain more, one must pay a corresponding price—and Dao Xiong might not even grant it.

This kind of psychological maneuvering between people demanded perfect timing.

Li Rui had spent decades as a coachman.

He’d seen every kind of human face and understood their hidden motives better than anyone.

In truth, it boiled down to three words—“Don’t be greedy.”

Simple to say, but only two or three people in the world can truly do it.

Li Rui now lacked neither talent nor cultivation techniques; what he lacked only were elixirs, and the best choice was naturally to become the head of the elixir hall.

But the deputy leader in charge of the elixir hall was Zhao Wei; even if he truly became the hall’s head, he would likely gain little advantage.

It would be better to settle for the next best option: the black market.

As far as he knew, there were many small vendors in the black market selling elixirs privately.

The quality was guaranteed, and the prices were reasonable.

An excellent choice.

(End of Chapter)