Chapter 75, the discarded draft of the Overlord Spear arc, has been moved forward and is awaiting rewriting...
[Please do not subscribe to this draft. The Overlord Spear arc has been moved forward. Content starting from Chapter 16 (the free chapter) has been revised, and most of the issues raised in the comments section have been addressed. The order of subsequent chapters will be adjusted, but rest assured, the story will not be abandoned. The story will be made even more exciting. All purchased paid chapters are still available; your money won't be wasted. Blackwood Cliff content will be placed in the second part, along with the Full Moon, New Moon, Peerless Twins, and Phoenix Dance arcs.]
The one speaking was Jia Bu, an elder of the Azure Dragon Hall.
He had a sallow complexion, dragon-shaped eyebrows, and triangular eyes. He was skilled in using a pair of judge's pens and was known as "Yellow-faced Venerable".
"Hey old man, who gives you the right to lecture me! The Azure Dragon Hall is ranked before the White Tiger Hall, yet you still didn't become an enforcement elder, did you?"
Shangguan Yun, his face grim, slapped away Jia Bu's hand that was slapping him, "You're always holding back your nonsense, aren't you ashamed? What do I have to be ashamed of!"
One of them stole his position as an enforcement elder, and the other stole his position as an elder of the Azure Dragon Hall. These two are evenly matched, and neither of them is more virtuous than the other.
He was at odds with You Mingjiang, and his grudge against Jia Bu ran even deeper.
When the Grand Master Ren was in power, the positions of the elders of each hall were yet to be determined. The Wind and Thunder Hall and the Vermilion Bird Hall were sure to be chosen, while only the Azure Dragon Hall was worth competing for.
The Azure Dragon Hall is the head of all the halls, and Shangguan Yun and Jia Bu are evenly matched, regarding each other as formidable rivals.
Shangguan Yun believed that he had more seniority than Jia Bu, and that Jia Bu only won because of his deep scheming.
If it weren't for this guy saying he'd let things take their course and not hurt the harmony, but secretly he'd somehow managed to curry favor with Leader Ren and the Holy Maiden!
He's made it impossible for himself to perform!
Otherwise, the position of Elder of the Azure Dragon Hall would have been his long ago.
During the struggle for the Azure Dragon Hall, the leader of the sect favored Jia Bu. Later, when the leader of the Eastern sect seized power, he still favored Jia Bu.
He was resentful, and even when working with Jabu, he would often find fault with him, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Jabu knew his stubborn temper had flared up again, and he cursed under his breath, "Idiot." He forced a smile, tugging at the corners of his mouth.
You Mingjiang had a good impression of Jia Bu.
Compared to the impetuous Shangguan Yun, Jia Bu was much more adept at navigating social situations. After she established the Weicheng branch, he even specially sent a congratulatory gift—a rare and valuable copy of the ancient book "Qianjin Fang" (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold).
This impeccably amiable style was not only found in him, but also in Elder Qu Yang, who was skilled in music. Qu Yang presented him with a Yixing purple clay teapot and the finest Junshan Silver Needle tea.
She knew that these people's kindness was not pure, but it was commendable that they did not bully the weak.
As the ancients said, "Leave some goodwill when you leave, so that you can meet again when you return."
You Mingjiang chuckled lightly, "Elder Jia, I'll remember your kindness. But..."
He started to speak, then abruptly stopped, swallowing the rest of his words.
Jabu sighed, understanding dawning on him.
They can even solve the predicament of a besieged city, so why should they swallow their pride in front of a mere White Tiger Hall elder?
.
You Mingjiang doesn't have that many twists and turns.
She also wanted to understand the combat strength of the experts at Blackwood Cliff and see where her current martial arts level stood on Blackwood Cliff.
You Mingjiang raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Shangguan Yun's starting stance, but...
Judging from his posture, he's planning to kill her with a powerful elbow strike to the heart!
Then she doesn't need to be polite!
Just as the arrow was about to be released, the palace guards and the purple-robed attendants suddenly bowed and chanted in unison, "Welcome, Master!"
Who would dare to disturb the holy presence of the cult leader?
A lump of anger stuck in his throat. Shangguan Yun ground his back teeth and glared fiercely at You Mingjiang.
But seeing that You Mingjiang was acting as if nothing had happened, he had no choice but to keep quiet for now and bow along with everyone else.
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In a short while, the hall was filled with the sounds of blessings and praises.
"The Sun Moon Cult will last for a thousand years, and the Eastern Leader will unify the martial world!"
While You Mingjiang was singing "yes," she was also stealing glances at him.
Wearing a bright red brocade robe with a round neck, a single-tailed leather belt, and black boots, Dongfang Bai, who commands the entire Sun Moon Sect and intimidates the Five Mountains Sword Sect, exudes an extremely strong sense of oppression.
The light inside the hall was still somewhat dim.
With a flick of his sleeve, bright flames shot up around the hall, illuminating the entire hall.
Dongfang Bai strolled to the ivory mat and sat down casually: "Sit down."
"Thank you, Master." The elders obeyed and took their seats.
Looking around, Dongfang Bai spotted You Mingjiang. "Mingjiang," he beckoned to her, "come here."
The stone steps in front of the leader's throne were like a ladder to heaven. She climbed them, and the elders were all watching her with a mixture of envy and disdain, as if she were sitting on pins and needles.
Ignoring their thoughts, You Mingjiang walked leisurely to the leader, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Eastern Leader."
Dongfang Bai helped her up, his tone full of concern: "You've had a long and tiring journey, thank you for your hard work."
"I was busy with the affairs of the Dangerous City branch and missed the enthronement ceremony of the Eastern Cult Leader, but I will definitely attend this Dragon Boat Festival banquet. I am grateful that the Eastern Cult Leader still remembers me." You Mingjiang smiled sweetly, which made anyone who saw her happy.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the scratch on her cheek. Remembering the report from the purple-robed attendant, Dongfang Bai's face darkened, and he gave Shangguan Yun a cold, indifferent look.
Unaware of when he had offended the cult leader, Shangguan Yun's face turned pale for a moment. After some self-reflection, he decided that no matter what, he should never show off again.
You Mingjiang chuckled to himself, and immediately received a glare from him.
Dongfang Bai reached out and poked her head with his index finger, making her head throb little by little.
"You're no pushover either! He's the type to explode at the slightest provocation, didn't you fan the flames?"
“Ming Jiang knows she was wrong.” She bowed her head respectfully. “It’s just that I’m an amateur, not as experienced as the elders, and I’ve even seen the demeanor of the Great Master Ren.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell into complete silence.
The elders were drenched in cold sweat, wishing they could tear her mouth apart.
"Oh? Seniority..." Dongfang Bai smiled insincerely, raising his eyebrows high, "but that doesn't necessarily mean he's more loyal than you."
This is a trusted confidant whom he has personally promoted. Why should he be treated as inferior?
In front of all the elders in the hall, Dongfang Bai said:
"...Without you, there would be no peace at Blackwood Cliff. I'm giving you a gift as a token of my gratitude."
She smiled, her eyes crinkling: "I dare not refuse the gift from the Master."
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In front of her, Dongfang Bai opened his right hand and directly pulled a bright ruby ring from his index finger.
Dongfang Bai took her hand, put the ruby ring on her right index finger, and praised, "It's really beautiful."
"This is……"
You Mingjiang flipped her wrist, examining the ring carefully. Even someone who knew nothing about gemstones could tell how valuable this ruby ring was: "Master, is this really for me?"
This is a token of authority for successive religious leaders!
After confirming countless times, the elders looked at each other, completely baffled as to what was going on.
"Your fingers are long and slender; a ruby would suit you perfectly."
Dongfang Bai smiled and reached out to pat her shoulder reassuringly, "If I don't give it to you, who else can I give it to?"
You Mingjiang: "..."
That's going too far!
What kind of medicine is Dongfang Bai selling in his gourd?
.
Her intuition is very sharp.
Dongfang Bai did indeed have ulterior motives.
He came up with a brilliant idea last night: to promote You Mingjiang to be the Left Envoy of Light!
Since Ren Yingying has become the Holy Maiden, You Mingjiang will become the Left Envoy of Light. In this way, he can restrain Ren Woxing, and You Mingjiang can restrain Ren Woxing's daughter. Isn't that interesting?
Thinking of this, the Eastern Cult Leader clapped his hands twice.
"Slap slap—"
The elders looked up at him, awaiting the leader's instructions.
"I have summoned you all because there is an important matter that I must announce," Dongfang Bo paused, glancing at You Mingjiang, who was looking down at her ring, "From this day forward, the position of Left Envoy of Light will be held by You Mingjiang, with a rank equivalent to that of Vice Leader."
My mind went blank for a moment.
You Mingjiang raised her head and stared at Dongfang Bai in astonishment.
The Left Envoy of Light was to Dongfang Bai what the Commander of the Palace Guards was to Zhao Kuangyin…
The future position of successor to the teaching profession was given to her so easily?
Not only her, but all the elders of Chengde Hall looked horrified.
"Master, please reconsider!" Elder Tong Baixiong of the Wind and Thunder Hall jumped out to dissuade him, "You Mingjiang's background is unknown, and he has no qualifications to back him up. How can he win the hearts of the people?"
The elders all urged, "Master, please reconsider!"
Dongfang Bai just stared at You Mingjiang: "What do you say?"
"Ming Jiang is willing to share the burden for the leader."
Yu Mingjiang belatedly realized that this was the position of Left Envoy of Light, and it was better for her to get it than for anyone else. She decided to seize it first!
All the elders noticed something amiss; the way the sect leader spoke to You Mingjiang sounded like an elder doting on a younger member of the family.
The leader's attitude is the weathervane of Blackwood Cliff.
Tong Baixiong's eyelids twitched, and he reluctantly suppressed his temper, bowing and stepping aside.
"Master, please forgive me, but You Mingjiang is the least experienced among all the elders, and she was once a traitor to the Azure Dragon Society! Once someone betrays us, they will betray us again! The Left Envoy of Light cannot be allowed to do so lightly, and she should not be given the same position as the Vice Master. If she develops disloyal intentions, wouldn't she be in danger of usurping the throne?"
"Our Sun Moon Cult is in imminent danger, Master!"
A sharp-looking old man with a long beard and a white robe stepped forward from the crowd. He had a cloth wrapped around his forehead, and his eyes showed signs of fatigue, but he managed to muster his energy to discuss matters.
The Right Envoy of Light asked Xiang Wentian.
This man is no ordinary person. His reputation in the martial arts world is no less than that of Ren Woxing. He is known as "Heavenly King Laozi," which is enough to reveal his temperament and ability.
The Right Envoy possessed exceptional martial arts skills, but he was constantly plagued by migraines. Each attack was life-threatening, and even Ping Yizhi could not cure him. He could only relieve the pain with acupuncture. After each attack, a bandage would be wrapped around his forehead, and he would use this as an excuse to avoid participating in teaching affairs.
You Mingjiang lightly twirled her fingers, her neatly trimmed nails gleaming pinkish-white. She lifted her eyelids, glanced at Xiang Wentian, and said calmly:
"That's unfair, Right Envoy. I have the mind of a child, but doesn't Miss Ren also have the mind of a child?"
.
Upon hearing this, Xiang Wentian was terrified.
"She lives a secluded life in Luoyang, never leaving her home. Could she possibly have more experience in the martial world than I, a mere itinerant doctor? That seems rather illogical. The Right Envoy keeps saying that the Left Envoy cannot grant my request, so who can he grant it to? This is quite unusual. Does granting it to Miss Ren guarantee that she will have no ulterior motives?"
Xiang Wentian immediately wanted to refute.
Unfortunately, You Mingjiang was unwilling to give up this opportunity to him.
When arguing, who will engage in a back-and-forth debate?
Of course, whoever overwhelms the other with their aura is the final winner!
She turned to the side and cupped her hands in a gesture of respect to Dongfang Bai: "When Leader Ren was in power, he repeatedly attacked the Five Mountains Sword Sects, intending to annihilate them all. With Ren Yingying following Leader Ren, was the Sun Moon Divine Sect ever in imminent danger?"
"After the Eastern Leader succeeded to the throne, the Sun Moon Sect rarely clashed with the Five Mountains Sword Sect, allowing it to recuperate and build up its strength. I, You Mingjiang, followed the Eastern Leader, just like Ren Yingying. How come in your mouth, the Sun Moon Sect is on the verge of collapse?"
Xiang Wentian glared angrily: "You've made this up out of thin air!"
"Right Envoy, don't be in such a hurry. Why are you so anxious about something that's made up out of nothing?" You Mingjiang smiled mischievously, slightly raising his chin and looking at him sideways.
Every word is piercing to the heart!
Every sentence tugged at Ren Yingying's sleeve, deliberately pushing the boundaries of the Eastern Cult Leader's boundaries.
No matter who tries to refute it, they cannot escape the suspicion of the Eastern Cult Leader.
Tong Baixiong patted his chest in relief. Luckily, he hadn't had a direct conflict with You Mingjiang. He glanced at Shangguan Yun with pity, and Shangguan Yun's face was indeed deathly pale.
.
The elders exchanged glances and shook their heads.
The person who poses the greatest threat to Dongfang Bai within the entire Sun Moon Cult is Ren Yingying, the daughter of the Grand Master Ren.
If Dongfang Bai hadn't usurped the throne, Ren Yingying's ascension to the position of sect leader would have been a foregone conclusion.
Therefore, after Dongfang Bai became the leader of the sect, although he appointed Ren Yingying as the Holy Maiden, Ren Yingying lived in seclusion in Luoyang and rarely set foot in Blackwood Cliff in order to avoid suspicion.
As the tiger cubs grew up day by day, the pressure on the tiger king gradually increased, especially after Yang Lianting noticed Ren Yingying's relationship with Xiang Wentian. The seemingly calm Blackwood Cliff had long since become the eye of the storm.
Dongfang Bai hatched a wicked plan: "leader against leader, heir against heir," intending to use You Mingjiang as a shield.
You Mingjiang didn't mind.
Having fallen twice, I no longer blindly believe in the power of others.
She curled her lips into a smile, amusedly enjoying the shock and anger on Xiang Wentian's face. But the most urgent matter was to deal with the one who was jumping around too high.
His gaze swept over the silent elders, and Dongfang Bai sneered, then pointed at one of them: "Jia Bu, tell me your thoughts."
Jia Bu cupped his hands and said, "Ranking people by seniority is an insult to the selection of talent. Loyalty has nothing to do with seniority. If you say she has little seniority, then there is still Xiang Youshi. As a senior member of the sect, he can't just be a figurehead."
Xiang Wentian glared at Jia Bu. This man was always a two-faced person, but today he wasn't playing the good guy anymore.
"To openly fawn over a junior is truly shameless. Do you think there aren't enough parasites in Blackwood Cliff?" Xiang Wentian retorted mercilessly.
Jia Bu was no pushover either, and immediately retorted: "What is a bookworm? It is the one who ruined the future of Blackwood Cliff with their own prejudices who is a bookworm."
They went back and forth, their words escalating into a heated argument in front of everyone:
"The cult leader has discerning eyes" "The cult leader was deceived by treacherous people"
"You're abusing your seniority," "You're greedy for credit and starting trouble."
"It's none of the business of outsiders to offer advice," and "It's become a laughingstock in the underworld."
"Your words are golden, Master!" "It's too late, Master!"
...
The two argued heatedly, their faces turning red, and the scene became chaotic.
"It's so lively," You Mingjiang secretly applauded in her heart.
"Step back!" Dongfang Bai said coldly, dismissing the two who were facing off.
He bent his index finger and tapped it three times on the table. The sound was soft, but the effect was very intimidating. His gaze swept over each face, and his tone was full of disappointment. "All of you here are the elites of Blackwood Cliff. Is there not a single one of you who can share my burden?"
Qin Weibang, who had been relatively low-profile, suddenly stepped forward: "Master, please allow me to report that, according to rumors in the martial world, the Jade Staff is the token of the leader of the Western Demonic Sect. Whoever wields the Jade Staff can command the Western Demonic Sect. If we could obtain this item, unifying the area beyond the Great Wall would not be impossible. Since the sect still has doubts about the elder's abilities, let's give her a six-month period. If she can find it, she will be the best candidate for the Left Envoy of Light. If not, she can simply remain as her Enforcement Elder."
Staring at Qin Weibang with amusement, Dongfang Bai raised an eyebrow: "Alright, as you say!"
Without allowing anyone to argue, he threw a black wooden token at You Mingjiang, "If you can get the green jade magic wand, you will be the Left Envoy of Light!"
"Your subordinate respectfully obeys the order." You Mingjiang bowed and saluted as he received the Blackwood Token. "Your Excellency is wise."
"...The leader is wise!" Xiang Wentian stiffened his neck, straightened his back, and gave You Mingjiang a cold look.
A new emperor brings a new court. Blackwood Cliff is no longer the Blackwood Cliff under the rule of the current leader. The Eastern Leader does not trust him. He is now just a powerless Right Envoy. Even such a sycophantic person dares to be disrespectful and disobedient to him.
That's good. I hope she lives to see the day she becomes the Left Envoy of Light!
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Author's Note: [Let me see] Thank you to all the little angels for the nutrient solution:
[Heart] "Quiet" irrigates +4 nutrient solution, "Crane Nine Clears to Go Ashore" irrigates +5 nutrient solution, "Clustered Fragrance of Cold Buds" irrigates +22 nutrient solution, "Flowing Clouds Have Faded" irrigates +31 nutrient solution, "Drunk, I'll Kick My Head Like a Ball :p" irrigates +10 nutrient solution [Heart]
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