Chapter 725: Appointment! Deputy Director of Mo Ben Branch!

Welcome everyone to the 189th Director's Meeting of Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion.

Over the past year, our Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion has added 35 new branches domestically.

We've added 46 overseas branches, and furthermore, we've welcomed four new Eighth-Stage Grand Masters...

The director's meeting began promptly, hosted by Assistant Director Liu Wei.

Like the annual meetings of large corporations, it opened with a review of Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's achievements over the past year.

Paired with the holographic projections on the podium, all data appeared highly transparent.

"Four new Eighth-Stage Grand Masters in just one year? So many?"

Xu Jingming was surprised.

He had just glanced around—the Eighth-Stage Grand Masters wearing Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion uniforms numbered only 23.

If we kept adding this many Eighth-Stage Grand Masters each year, even accounting for those absent, there shouldn't be so few.

"Though we've welcomed many new Grand Masters, we also lose at least one each year.

Sometimes, three or four Eighth-Stage Grand Masters die."

Su Qingli whispered beside him.

Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion isn't a charity; to obtain combat techniques or resources, you must undertake missions.

Even Eighth-Stage Grand Masters aren't exempt.

These missions take place in wilderness zones or frontline battlefields.

The danger level is never low.

"How many Eighth-Stage Grand Masters do we have now?" Xu Jingming asked curiously.

"Thirty-nine in total: twenty-six domestically, thirteen overseas," Su Qingli replied.

"Thirty-nine..." Xu Jingming silently marveled.

One Eighth-Stage Grand Master represents a powerful force.

Thirty-nine together form an absolutely terrifying power.

This is the deep foundation Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion has accumulated over nearly two centuries.

Even among today's Ninth-Stage councilors of Great Xia, some likely emerged from Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion.

Time flew swiftly; Liu Wei spent an hour summarizing Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's overall situation last year.

Overall, it was a picture of prosperity and vigorous progress.

"Next is the appointment and reassignment of positions across our branches. Let us invite Director Su to preside."

Liu Wei stepped down from the podium, making way for Su Qingli.

At the mention of appointments, every director and deputy director on the seats perked up.

Thunderous applause erupted; dozens of gazes—respectful, reverent—locked onto Su Qingli on the podium.

"Last year, though we welcomed many new members,

we also lost many who died in service, leaving vacancies.

Some positions are currently held temporarily by acting officers; others remain unfilled.

These will be formally appointed during this director's meeting."

Su Qingli's clear voice echoed throughout the hall.

Most Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion positions are filled immediately upon vacancy.

But key roles—director, deputy director—are usually held temporarily by acting officers.

Only after a probationary period are they formally appointed at the director's meeting.

"First, domestic branches of Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion.

Li Yang, director of the Beishan City branch in Jiangnan Province, has passed probation and is hereby formally appointed director.

Director of Qingjing City branch..."

As each appointment was announced, some faces lit up with joy.

Of course, not everyone passed evaluation.

Those who failed probation as acting directors or deputy directors wore expressions of deep disappointment.

"Next, appointments for our overseas branches."

Ten minutes later, domestic appointments were complete; Su Qingli continued:

"We have twenty-one overseas branches; eleven require position adjustments.

We begin with the Mo Ben branch in Oceania."

The Mo Ben branch in Oceania is the most important of all Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's overseas branches.

Besides Ling Shuang, it hosts five Eighth-Stage Grand Masters; its director, Liu Shan, is an Eighth-Stage Peak Grand Master.

Su Qingli mentioning Mo Ben first was expected.

What surprised everyone was that Mo Ben appeared to be undergoing a leadership change.

"Mo Ben? Isn't Liu Shan in charge there?"

"Mo Ben already has two Eighth-Stage Grand Master deputy directors—could they be adding a third?"

"Likely. Ling Shuang went there; this new appointment must be for her."

"..."

Everyone knew Ling Shuang had been sent to the Mo Ben branch in Oceania.

But Liu Shan was under Hu Jinyu's faction—no one expected him to yield power to Ling Shuang.

"Here it comes."

Liu Shan took a deep breath, preparing to recommend Ling Shuang as deputy director.

"Here it comes," Xu Jingming smiled.

"Regarding Mo Ben branch appointments: Director Liu Shan is hereby removed from his position and demoted to deputy director.

The directorship is assigned to Ling Shuang; former Tianjiao Training Camp student Xu Jingming is appointed deputy director."

Su Qingli's clear voice echoed through the hall, silencing the room into deathly stillness.

But the silence lasted less than a second before erupting into chaos.

"What? Liu Shan was removed?"

"Ling Shuang as director, Xu Jingming as deputy director? They've seized control of Mo Ben branch in one move!"

"Liu Shan didn't commit any offense—removing him like this seems unjust!"

"..."

After Xu Jingming displayed astonishing strength outside the meeting building,

some had speculated he'd receive an appointment during this meeting.

Many guessed he'd start as a senior director.

No one expected him to be named deputy director right away.

And not just any deputy director—but at Mo Ben, one of Lei Ting Martial Arts Pavilion's most critical branches!

"Huh?!"

Liu Shan snapped his head up, disbelief etched on his face.

Hu Jinyu's expression darkened—he now realized they'd all been fooled by Ling Shuang.

"We were careless. Didn't expect Ling Shuang's earlier demands were just a decoy..."

Hu Jinyu's eyes flickered, but he hadn't given up.

Liu Shan had made mistakes, yes—but to remove him on that basis alone was naive.

"The reason for removing former director Liu Shan will be revealed in the following video."

Su Qingli's cold voice rang out.

Behind her, countless pale blue virtual beams projected into a screen, beginning to play the video.