Chapter 353: Settled

The moment those words were spoken, the elders, peak masters, and lineage leaders who were already privy to the situation barely reacted.

The others, however, all wore the same stunned expression.

Send Yao Guang to the eastern domain? To Shen Junyan's territory? How can you even give an order like that?

As for Perfected Lord Chi Yun, who had been quietly backing Shen Junyan, he rose directly to his feet. "Absolutely not!"

He spoke directly, "Deputy Sect Master Shen has not committed any wrongdoing. For the sect master to simply strip away the authority he holds over an entire domain in this manner goes against all established rules."

Then, he seemed to catch himself being too blunt and added, "Furthermore, leaving a Void-Refining Realm combatant to sit idle would be a tremendous waste, especially one as promising and gifted as our deputy sect master."

"Supreme Elder Chi Yun, please calm yourself. I have important plans for Deputy Sect Master Shen." Zong Wenxian was not surprised to see the supreme elder rise in opposition. "The southern domain has been under my direct administration for many years now, but as sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect, I have many matters demanding my attention. Splitting my focus to oversee the southern domain as well has become increasingly untenable. Beyond that, there are those within the sect who, I fear, cannot resist letting their tongues wag..."

As he said this, he glanced toward where the two Void-Piercing Realm cultivators, Ling Ruogu and Chi Yu, were seated.

With the grip he held over the sect's internal affairs, a simple investigation would have been more than enough to uncover whoever had been spreading rumors behind the scenes.

Yet the two of them, having already made up their minds to throw their lot in with Yaoguang and having even quietly packed away their most valuable family assets, felt no particular fear in that moment.

Great rewards come with great risks.

If they intended to grow and flourish under Yaoguang's domain, they would need to demonstrate their worth.

Still... Zong Wenxian is actually assigning Yaoguang to the eastern domain? And sending Shen Junyan to the southern domain? What is he playing at?

Not only did the two of them think so, many of the other elders couldn't make sense of Zong Wenxian's move either.

Some, of course, had already guessed it: this was the sect master's way of making life difficult for both deputy sect masters at once.

On one hand, it was a warning to Deputy Sect Master Shen, who had been getting a little too comfortable lately, cutting him off before he could entrench himself any further in the eastern domain.

On the other hand, it would also serve to check Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang's growing influence.

And if it happened to set the two deputy sect masters at each other's throats, so much the better.

"This is unacceptable!" Perfected Lord Chi Yun had seen through Zong Wenxian's intentions and raised his objection again. "The eastern domain has always been under Deputy Sect Master Shen's management. He knows that territory inside and out. Pulling him away now would only risk having the fiend disaster already ravaging the domain go completely out of control. The damage to our outer sphere of influence alone would be incalculable."

He pressed on quickly. "And when a deputy sect master is stationed in a given domain, he is expected to develop it patiently and to demonstrate his philosophy and capabilities through results. Transferring Deputy Sect Master Shen out halfway through undermines that entirely. If this becomes a precedent, heh... No deputy sect master will ever be able to prove himself against the sect master's standard again."

His argument drew considerable agreement from the assembled crowd.

The supreme elder backing the western domain's deputy sect master nodded along. "Handing a domain to a deputy sect master to administer and develop is precisely the proving ground where he is meant to demonstrate his abilities. Reshaping and growing a territory is not something achieved overnight. This course of action would render meaningless all the time and effort the deputy sect master has already invested. On those grounds, transferring Deputy Sect Master Shen to the southern domain is simply not appropriate."

"Please, supreme elders, there is no need for alarm. I have Deputy Sect Master Shen's best interests in mind. The truth of the matter is that he has clearly lost his grip on the eastern domain's situation. The tribute resources coming in have been declining year after year. Last period, Deputy Sect Master Shen was barely able to gather a little over eight hundred million. Is the next period going to be seven hundred million? And the one after that, six hundred million? When circumstances have reached this point, change is a necessity."

Zong Wenxian let his gaze sweep across the room. "Surely none of you wish to see the sect's revenue dragged down by his inability to hold the domain together, only to spend the next several decades, or even centuries, tightening our belts?"

When their interests were brought up, many of the elders who had been content to watch from the sidelines began to stir in their seats.

Yuan Miaoyi, Xiang Zhenlong, and others among Zong Wenxian's staunchest supporters were the first to speak. "It is true that a deputy sect master must be given sufficient authority over his domain and the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities through that administration. However, if the domain continues to deteriorate to the point where it affects the sect's overall revenue, then we have a responsibility to intervene and cut our losses."

"Exactly. If Deputy Sect Master Shen lacks the ability, then someone more capable should take his place. The eastern domain may be under his administration, but that does not give him the right to run it into the ground. One incompetent general can doom an entire army. Are we really willing to wait until the fiend disaster has completely consumed the eastern domain before we act?"

"I believe the sect master makes a sound point. The issue is not that we are unwilling to let Deputy Sect Master Shen control a domain. It is that he clearly does not have what it takes. Under these circumstances, transferring him to the stabler southern domain is actually the sect master looking out for him. Deputy Sect Master Shen ought to be grateful."

The elders, peak masters, and lineage leaders each made their views known in turn.

But those who spoke up were almost entirely from the four lineages, clearly following Zong Wenxian's lead.

"It is just a fiend disaster. With sufficient support from the sect, it can be dealt with easily enough. I believe the shortfalls in tribute are a temporary matter and will be made up in full before long." Perfected Lord Chi Yun held firm.

"Before long, but how long exactly? There ought to be a specific timeframe," Zong Wenxian said and cast a glance in Yaoguang's direction. "We can hardly expect Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang to wait indefinitely."

The moment Perfected Lord Chi Yun heard that, he understood what Zong Wenxian was truly after.

He was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

After a brief pause for thought, Chi Yun found himself tempted to fall back on the old saying, "Better others die than I die," and simply play along with Zong Wenxian to drag the matter out.

But however long that could last, the more pressing issue was that doing so would amount to yielding to Zong Wenxian.

On top of that, it would mean making an enemy of Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang.

The costs outweighed the benefits.

Zong Wenxian had already brought the matter out into the open. He would find a pretext to resolve it sooner or later. Holding out for the sake of a hundred or two hundred million Pure Yang Grand Pills per period, and for a handful of transactions that might not even happen again, was simply not worth it.

He said plainly, "Wiping out the fiend disaster entirely will take some time. However, simply containing it should still be well within Deputy Sect Master Shen's capabilities. On that basis, I believe he will be able to deliver the full tribute in the next period."

"The next period..." Zong Wenxian held Perfected Lord Chi Yun's gaze for a long moment before finally breaking into a measured smile. "The next period it is, then."

He continued directly. "If Deputy Sect Master Shen fails to deliver the full tribute by then, Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang will proceed to the eastern domain to take command. In the meantime, we—"

Before Zong Wenxian could finish, a streak of golden light appeared without warning in the middle of the ceremonial grounds.

The moment they saw it, people throughout the hall rose to their feet. "Golden Book Venerable."

Some bowed from a distance in reverent greeting. "We pay our respects, Venerable."

Even Zong Wenxian looked momentarily thrown when the golden light appeared. How has someone managed to bring out the Golden Book Venerable?

It was an unspoken rule that the struggles between the various factions in the sect were not to reach the Golden Book Venerable or the Dao Lord.

If every petty dispute sent someone running to disturb them, the Golden Book Venerable and the Dao Lord might begin to wonder whether this generation was simply too incompetent to manage its own affairs and start considering a replacement.

If it came to that, no one at this table would have anything left to play for.

After a good while, the sect master finally collected himself and said hurriedly, "Venerable, what brings you here?"

It was only at this moment that Yaoguang, the man at the center of all this yet somehow nearly reduced to a bystander, stepped forward. "Oh, doesn't a newly promoted deputy sect master need to be re-registered in the Great Dao Golden Book? I simply invited the Golden Book Venerable over to help update the record."

Zong Wenxian managed to squeeze out a smile. "I could have updated that sort of thing for you myself. There was no need to trouble the Venerable."

"Is that so? It is just that I have been at the Void-Refining Realm for quite some time now, and my volume of the Great Dao Golden Book still has not changed. I thought you might have forgotten, considering how much you have on your plate. After all, you are not only managing the sect's affairs but also overseeing everything in the southern domain. Truly exhausting work..."

Yaoguang paused as though something had just occurred to him, then shifted course. "Oh, that's right. What was it you were just saying? I should wait until Deputy Sect Master Shen's eastern domain opens up before I go there to take command, and in the meantime simply remain at the sect until a vacancy among the four domains becomes available?"

Zong Wenxian glanced at the Golden Book Venerable, then back at Yaoguang, who was playing the fool with practiced innocence. He cursed inwardly through gritted teeth. Fuck!

But he kept a smile on his face. "Of course not. Every deputy sect master of the Heavenly Dao Sect is an exceptional talent, and even a single wasted day would be a tremendous loss. What I meant was that, in the meantime, you should head to the southern domain to take charge and oversee its development."

"And if Deputy Sect Master Shen's situation in the eastern domain becomes unmanageable, would I then be transferred there as well? I just want to be clear on whether you intend to move me to the eastern domain, then to the southern domain, then back to the eastern domain again. All that shuffling back and forth would make it rather difficult for me to get anything done, or to demonstrate my abilities to the sect," Yaoguang asked with a look of genuine puzzlement.

The Golden Book Venerable's gaze fell squarely on Zong Wenxian at those words.

By the sect's rules, if a deputy sect master demonstrated sufficient administrative ability during his tenure, developing his domain to a standard comparable to the central domain, he would be eligible to succeed the incumbent sect master upon breaking through to the Void-Shattering Realm.

True disciple to young sect master, young sect master to deputy sect master, deputy sect master to sect master.

The fairness and integrity of these four tiers of advancement were what ensured the Heavenly Dao Sect's enduring strength across the ages.

Every one of these stipulations was written into the Great Dao Golden Book.

Feeling the Golden Book Venerable's gaze upon him, Zong Wenxian cursed silently without end, though his expression remained all smiles. "Of course not. Transferring a deputy sect master away from his domain requires him to commit a grave offense and have his position unanimously revoked by the Supreme Elder Council. So long as you administer the southern domain diligently, no order to transfer you will ever be issued."

"That puts my mind at ease, then." Yaoguang turned to the Golden Book Venerable and produced his volume without ceremony. "I appreciate your assistance in updating the record, Venerable."

The Golden Book Venerable glanced at Yaoguang, took the volume, and completed the update without delay.

"I remember you," the Golden Book Venerable said, returning the volume to him. "Your cultivation has advanced quickly. I look forward to the day you reach the Void-Shattering Realm."

"I will not disappoint you, Venerable." Yaoguang offered a slight bow.

The Golden Book Venerable gave a nod, and in the next moment dissolved into a streak of golden light and was gone.

Only after the Golden Book Venerable's departure did Yaoguang let his gaze drift across the room, taking in the expressions of those assembled, and in particular the stiff, frozen smile plastered across Zong Wenxian's face.

"Come, come, the banquet is not over yet. Sect Master, everyone, allow me to offer you all a toast." He raised his hand toward the crowd with a grin. "Let the music resume."