Chapter 774: Resource Allocation

At the Green Nether Training Ground, in the main building.

When Li Luo arrived at the council hall, he saw two figures seated at the head—precisely the Second Hall Master of the Green Nether Court, Zhong Zhong Yushi, and the Third Hall Master, Li Li Rouyun.

When Zhong Zhong Yushi saw Li Luo, his expression was rather calm; instead, he nodded at Li Luo in greeting.

Although Li Luo was merely a minor Banner Head, and by status and rank he had absolutely no right to warrant such treatment from a Second Hall Master who governed the Green Nether Court, who could blame Zhong Zhong Yushi when Li Luo was rather special...

Grand Elder's grandson, and the son of the First Hall Master, Li Taixuan.

That was already a top-tier status template within the Dragon Fang Lineage. If placed in an ordinary Wang Chao, Li Luo would be the most favored Eastern Palace Grandson.

If not for the fact that they also had some backing, Zhong Zhong Yushi truly wouldn't want any conflict with Li Luo.

Li Li Rouyun beside him showed Li Luo a gentle smile. Over this past month, she had also been keeping an eye on Li Luo's performance in the Green Nether Banner, and the latter had thoroughly established his footing here.

"Greetings, Second Hall Master, Aunt Yun." Li Luo cupped his fists toward the two.

Behind him, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi, Li Shi, and Mu Bi bowed respectfully. After all, in their eyes, the two Hall Masters before them were truly the upper echelons of the Green Nether Court—high-ranking and powerful, whose every word could affect their fates.

Li Luo looked around the hall, then spotted Zhong Ling, expressionless, along with the Banner Heads of the other three divisions, all already present.

So he said no more and found a seat.

"Ahem."

Seeing everyone had arrived, Zhong Zhong Yushi gave a light cough and, without wasting words, said directly: "The reason the Second Hall Master and I have come, you all already know. One is to review the Green Nether Banner's recent results, and the other is to distribute this month's resources to the Banner."

"The Court will hand over this batch of resources shortly. You Banner Heads, handle the transfer properly."

At the same time, Zhong Zhong Yushi looked at Li Luo again and said with a warm smile: "The Fifth Division led by Banner Head Li Luo has achieved remarkable results recently. I hope you keep up the good work."

Li Luo gave a slight smile and said: "Second Hall Master is too kind. This is all the credit of the Fifth Division's members. If not for them, we couldn't have achieved such results."

"So here, on behalf of our Fifth Division's fifteen hundred banner members, I'd like to make a request to the Second Hall Master."

Zhong Zhong Yushi's eyelid twitched at the words, but he still said with a smile: "Please, go ahead."

Li Luo glanced at Zhong Ling, whose expression was growing increasingly sullen, and said lightly: "I hope that starting this month, the Fifth Division's resource allocation returns to the usual twenty percent."

Behind Li Luo, Zhao Zhao Yanzhi gazed at his back with admiring eyes. The Banner Head truly had presence—even making a request was this domineering.

One must know that in the past they had made such requests too, but under Zhong Zhong Yushi's flat gaze, they had ultimately had to back down.

Zhong Zhong Yushi still wore a smile. Listening to Li Luo's words, he said: "The Fifth Division's results are impressive, and indeed this kind of allocation would be the fairest. However, this matter concerns the First Division, so we should also hear the First Division's opinion."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling raised his eyelids and said: "The Fifth Division's results over the past month are indeed not bad. However, according to the Banner's rules, resource allocation is fixed every half year. So if Banner Head Li Luo truly has this idea, then bring it up again four months from now."

Li Luo smiled and said: "Cultivation resources relate to the Banner members' cultivation speed. Delaying by four months is unreasonable by any measure."

"A month ago, the Green Nether Banner's progress was entirely provided by the First Division. Now the Fifth Division has only had one month of performance—does Banner Head Li Luo truly feel the Fifth Division's contributions have already surpassed the First Division?" Zhong Ling's words also grew sharp.

"I'm merely speaking to the facts. The extra ten percent the First Division has been holding was originally the Fifth Division's. Now it's simply returning to its rightful owner." Li Luo said.

Between their words, the clash had already taken on a confrontational air. The Banner Heads of the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions all stared at their own noses, keeping their thoughts to themselves, completely uninvolved in the dispute between the two sides.

After all, neither of these two was easy to provoke. Zhong Ling had considerable seniority within the Green Nether Banner, and with the backing of Second Hall Master Zhong Zhong Yushi, they had always been meek and submissive toward Zhong Ling in the past. Li Luo was even fiercer—though he'd only just arrived at the Green Nether Banner a month ago, when it came to background, even Zhong Zhong Yushi had to be polite to him on the surface.

With these two sides now in conflict, it was best for them to be like clay statues and stay out of it.

"Between Banner Divisions, results are the standard. Back then, the First Division held thirty percent because it was the Green Nether Banner's spearhead, needing to open up the Evil Demon Cave. Now that the Fifth Division has caught up, enjoying a fair resource split is only proper." At this moment, Third Hall Master Li Li Rouyun spoke slowly.

"What the Third Hall Master says also has some merit. Since strength has been shown, enjoying more resources is reasonable." Zhong Zhong Yushi stroked his beard and suddenly smiled: "How about this—since the Fifth Division has performed outstandingly and brought greater benefits to the Green Nether Banner, let's shave off a little from the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions to supplement the Fifth Division."

Hearing his words, the Banner Heads of the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions, who had been like clay statues, had their expressions turn somewhat unnatural. After all, the Fifth Division's resource share had been swallowed by the First Division—they hadn't gotten a drop of oil. Now they were being asked to supplement the Fifth Division—why should it come out of their three Divisions' share?

If this got out, the several thousand banner members of their three Divisions would likely be furious.

However, such grievances could only be kept inside. Voicing them now would mean defying Zhong Zhong Yushi, so the three exchanged glances and all stayed silent.

Li Li Rouyun's willow brows knit slightly. She gave Li Luo a warning look, signaling him not to be led into Zhong Zhong Yushi's trap.

This fellow appeared to be fighting for resources for the Fifth Division, but was actually trying to make the other three Divisions develop a grudge against Li Luo and the Fifth Division.

Fortunately, Li Luo wasn't taken in. He smiled and shook his head, saying: "The other three Divisions also need to cultivate. They only took the resources that belonged to them, and our Fifth Division only wants to take back what belongs to us—we don't want to be greedy."

The three Banner Heads, hearing this, immediately cast grateful looks toward Li Luo.

Zhong Zhong Yushi's expression didn't change. He smiled and said: "If that's the case, then Banner Head Li Luo may need to wait a little longer."

"Because according to the rules, resource allocation within the Green Nether Banner is fixed every half year. This rule was originally set by the Grand Elder himself. If Banner Head Li

Luo feels it needs to be changed, why not go find the Grand Elder? If the Grand Elder personally orders it, then changing this rule would be no problem."

He gave Li Luo a chuckle and said: "Given the Grand Elder's fondness for Banner Head Li Luo, I imagine this should be a trivial matter."

This Zhong Zhong Yushi was truly cunning and sly. His words didn't refuse Li Luo's proposal, but instead tossed the problem onto Li Li Jingzhe.

And Li Luo naturally couldn't really go to Li Li Jingzhe personally over such a trivial matter. Not only would it make him seem incompetent, but if word got out, he'd earn a reputation for being ineffective and only able to use his status to cut in line.

Li Luo's expression was calm. He suddenly said: "I recall that when the Grand Banner Head ascends, they can reset the Banner's resource allocation?"

Zhong Zhong Yushi's eyes shifted slightly. He smiled and said: "There is such a rule."

"However, the Green Nether Banner's Grand Banner Head election is still two months away, isn't it? If Banner Head Li Luo is interested, you might as well wait a bit longer."

Li Luo said lightly: "No need to wait another two months. As long as the five Banner Heads agree, the Grand Banner Head contest can be moved up."

"Moved up?" Zhong Zhong Yushi was momentarily stunned. This Li Luo was being rather arrogant. He was currently only at the Evil Palace realm strength. His recent achievements in the Evil Demon Cave were only because he had mastered the Nine-Turn Dragon Breath Evil Refining Art and the Nine-Turn Art. But the Grand Banner Head contest compares true personal strength—and Zhong Ling was at the Golden Evil Body realm.

The gap between the two sides was considerable. Yet now, Li Luo not only didn't try to delay the time, he wanted to move it up?

Wasn't this inviting humiliation?

Had his recent achievements made him so arrogant?

"How much earlier does Banner Head Li Luo want to move it up?" Zhong Zhong Yushi asked, his expression unchanging.

"Move it up by one month." Li Luo said. He truly had no interest in playing Zhong Ling's petty scheming games here. Better to settle it early and get the Green Nether Banner under his control, to prevent this fellow from making the First Division drift away from him, Li Luo.

"Zhong Ling, what do you think?" Zhong Zhong Yushi asked Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling only just now came back to his senses from Li Luo's earlier words. The corner of his mouth twitched, then he forcibly suppressed the wild joy surging deep in his eyes and said with a faint smile: "Since Banner Head Li Luo is so confident, I'll naturally oblige him."

He had originally been feeling increasingly threatened by Li Luo's recent performance. If he really let things continue like this, Zhong Ling felt that two months from now, the Grand Banner Head contest might not be the sure thing for him.

So now Li Luo actually wanted to move it up by a month—this was simply an unexpected blessing for him!

If he could secure the position of Grand Banner Head sooner, he would finally be able to set his mind at ease.

Then Zhong Zhong Yushi asked the other three Banner Heads for their opinions. They naturally looked indifferent, after all they all understood that the position of Grand Banner Head had nothing to do with them.

Thus, in the end, Zhong Zhong Yushi made the final call.

"The contest for the Grand Banner Head of the Qingming Banner will be set for one month from now."

When Zhong Zhong Yushi said this, Li Luo seemed to see the corner of his mouth finally twitch upward, unable to hold back any longer.