As Protector Yuan’s words fell, the smell of gunpowder on the Bagua Platform clearly grew stronger. Yang Qianhuan was just about to step forward and launch a denunciation when, beneath his hood, his head suddenly tilted slightly as he looked towards the imperial city.
Song Qing and the others made the same movement.
Two figures tore through the air with a whistling wind and landed on the Sitianjian’s Bagua Platform.
The person on the left wore an azure robe embroidered with cloud patterns, cowhide boots on his feet, fine jade hanging at his waist, the pendants chiming softly. His features were handsome and his bearing extraordinary. The one on the right wore a bright yellow informal robe, dressed as a man, with clear, peerless beauty tempered by authority.
Xu Qi’an and Huaiqing had come to take charge of the overall situation (watch the show).
The moment the pair arrived together, the white-robed Arcanists immediately became lively and began chattering among themselves.
“Her Majesty and Young Master Xu are here. Brilliant, someone’s finally come to take charge.”
The white-robed Arcanists behind Sun Xuanji said happily.
“Hmph, Silver Gong Xu is a talent of our alchemy field. He’ll definitely support Senior Brother Song in taking the Jianzheng’s position.”
The alchemists were brimming with confidence.
“Silver Gong Xu has an ambiguous relationship with our Senior Sister Zhong. Who the Jianzheng’s position belongs to hardly needs saying.”
The supporters clustered around Zhong Li said.
Some also let out sighs of relief.
“Silver Gong Xu’s finally here. We don’t need to be on tenterhooks anymore.”
After all, in a gathering of this scale, inviting Senior Sister Zhong to attend was an extremely risky move. At any moment, it might turn into a mass trampling incident, a collective Sitianjian Arcanist jumping-from-buildings incident, a meteor smashing into the Bagua Platform incident…
“Damn it, Silver Gong Xu’s always been stealing our Senior Brother Yang’s opportunities. He definitely won’t tolerate his great enemy taking the Jianzheng’s seat.”
Yang Qianhuan’s lackeys had inherited his “hatred” of Xu Qi’an.
Oi, oi, who has an ambiguous relationship with Zhong Li? That’s slandering my innocence out of thin air… Xu Qi’an swept his gaze over the white-robed Arcanists, then paused for a moment on the timid little boys and youths behind Chu Caiwei, thinking that Caiwei had finally taken on disciples too.
He pressed a hand down, and the hubbub around him subsided.
“Didn’t I already say that the Jianzheng’s position is of great importance? Her Majesty needs to think it over carefully before making a decision. You lot needn’t be so anxious,” Xu Qi’an said soothingly.
Yang Qianhuan gave a cough and slowly said:
“If Heaven birthed not I, Yang Qianhuan!”
The white-robed Arcanists behind him said in unison:
“The Great Feng would be like night that never ends.”
Once the slogan was finished, Yang Qianhuan said:
“A country cannot go one day without its ruler, and the Sitianjian cannot go without a Jianzheng. We know Her Majesty finds it hard to decide, so we’ll make up Her Majesty’s mind for her.”
Xu Qi’an reminded them:
“Don’t forget, the Jianzheng isn’t dead yet!”
What answered him was the silence of the white-robed Arcanists. They either pretended not to hear, or pretended to admire the scenery in all directions.
Good grief, even I feel the Jianzheng’s life isn’t worth living… Xu Qi’an stopped bringing up the matter and turned to look at Huaiqing instead.
The Great Feng’s number one iron lady gave a faint nod.
Xu Qi’an immediately said:
“What exactly do you want to do?”
He had worked it out. Among the Jianzheng’s disciples, none of them would submit to any of the others. In the past, with the Master of Heaven’s Mandate keeping them in check, they could more or less live in peace.
Now the Jianzheng had been taken off by Desolation on a tour round the world. No one knew when he would return, or whether he would return at all.
Without the Jianzheng suppressing them, the Arcanist factions inside the Sitianjian had begun fighting among themselves.
Song Qing said coolly:
“We plan to choose someone of high prestige and virtue today to succeed to the Jianzheng’s position. Young Master Xu, Your Majesty, you’ll have to preside fairly over this matter.”
All the white-robed Arcanists looked over. In their eyes, Silver Gong Xu was a person of high prestige and virtue, so having him choose the Jianzheng was the most reasonable and most convincing method.
Provided, of course, that Silver Gong Xu chose the senior brother or senior sister they supported.
Huaiqing sent a voice transmission:
“The Sitianjian’s Arcanists are split into major factions. None of them accepts the others. At this rate, they won’t pick a result in a monkey’s age. No matter who becomes Jianzheng, someone will refuse to accept it. Do you have any ideas?”
The female Emperor wore the look of, “This matter runs too deep, we can’t get a grip on it, so we’ll leave it to you.”
As for the Sitianjian, Huaiqing truly felt a great headache over them, because this lot were unlike the officials of court. The latter could be negotiated with, compromised with, or threatened.
Arcanists did not respond to any of that.
The Emperor’s authority could make them respect you, but it could not make them obey you.
To be fair, she would definitely have chosen her close friend Chu Caiwei. But from the perspective of an Emperor, she also felt Sun Xuanji would be more beneficial to the bigger picture.
Yet no matter whom she chose, the others would not yield.
“I do have an idea. We can give it a try,” Xu Qi’an replied by voice transmission.
Huaiqing’s eyes brightened slightly, and she waited in silence.
Xu Qi’an looked around at everyone and said:
“Just now, Senior Brother Song also said that the Jianzheng’s position should be held by someone of high prestige and virtue. So what does high prestige and virtue mean? In my humble opinion, the person everyone puts forward is the one who commands the people’s wishes, and that is what high prestige and virtue means.”
Isn’t that just nonsense? If we can choose one, why would we need you… the Arcanists muttered inwardly.
Huaiqing frowned slightly. By saying this, Xu Qi’an had indeed kicked the hot potato back to the Sitianjian, but the problem itself had not been solved.
“Calm, everyone!”
Xu Qi’an said with a smile:
“Anyone who wants to succeed to the Jianzheng’s position can step forward and try to persuade their senior and junior brothers, winning support for themselves. Whoever gets the highest number of votes becomes the next Jianzheng. That way, everyone can stop arguing.”
At this, the Arcanists’ expressions lifted.
They understood what Xu Qi’an meant. To break the deadlock, they could win people over, pulling the senior and junior brothers of the other camps over to become their own supporters.
Then they could compete and choose the one with the greatest popularity to become the Jianzheng.
But then they felt it was a bit childish, because it was too utilitarian. What if, for the sake of short-term gain, they chose a Jianzheng and later regretted it?
When that time came, a disturbance like today’s would break out again.
What the Arcanists could think of, Huaiqing naturally thought of too, but she did not comment and simply waited for what came next.
Xu Qi’an went on:
“But there must be a time limit. The chosen Jianzheng may only serve for three years. Three years shall be one term. Once the time is up, everyone puts forward candidates again and chooses a new Jianzheng.”
At once, the Arcanists’ last worry was resolved.
Xu Qi’an’s proposal won unanimous approval.
Then let Senior Brother Sun set the example… Seeing that no one objected, Xu Qi’an immediately said:
“Forgive my bluntless, as the Jianzheng’s second disciple, and the Sitianjian’s only beyond-mortal expert at present, whether in cultivation or status, Sun Xuanji is the best successor to the Jianzheng’s position.
“Senior Brother Sun, come out and say a few words.”
After saying this, he received Protector Yuan’s voice transmission:
“What should I do?”
Having no experience whatsoever in this sort of matter, Senior Brother Sun did not know how to begin for the moment.
Bypassing Protector Yuan, Xu Qi’an directly sent a voice transmission to Sun Xuanji:
“Just make promises to the junior brothers as much as you like. Move them, and make them support you.”
For example, free medical care, lower tax standards, the Sitianjian covering children’s education… he added in his heart for his own amusement.
Sun Xuanji nodded and strode out with Protector Yuan. The latter first stared at Senior Brother Sun for a moment and nodded, then swept his gaze around everyone and shouted:
“I promise that, so long as everyone supports me in becoming Jianzheng, I will lead them to glory, and I will never disgrace the reputation of Arcanists, nor disgrace Teacher Jianzheng’s reputation.”
With that, Protector Yuan stepped back.
That’s it?! Xu Qi’an’s heart turned cold.
The white-robed Arcanists all fell silent, and the atmosphere became rather awkward.
Xu Qi’an took a deep breath and, following the order of seniority, said:
“Next, Senior Brother Yang, please speak.”
One of the Arcanists behind Yang Qianhuan stepped forward, cupped his hands towards Xu Qi’an and Huaiqing, and said blandly:
“In my humble opinion, for the position of the Jianzheng, not only must one be a person of high virtue and prestige, one must also possess the bearing and demeanour of our teacher, the Jianzheng. First…”
At this point, he turned round and presented the back of his head to the crowd, then said coolly:
“One must learn to turn one’s back on all living beings!
“Although Senior Brother Sun is a beyond-mortal expert, whether in looks, height, or temperament, he’s far too ordinary. I personally think he doesn’t fit the image of the Jianzheng.”
So this means that Senior Brother Sun is ugly, does it? Are they choosing a Jianzheng or holding a beauty pageant… Xu Qi’an swept his gaze over the Arcanists and found them all wearing expressions of agreement. Even the Arcanists standing behind Sun Xuanji looked ashamed.
It was as if they were saying: Senior Brother Sun looked so ordinary, yet was so confident. As his supporters, we deeply apologise!
Xu Qi’an then looked at the expressionless Sun Xuanji and thought, this was when Protector Yuan was needed to show off a bit.
Unfortunately, Protector Yuan had learned from past mistakes. He forced himself not to look at Sun Xuanji, so that he wouldn’t lose control and read minds.
The white-robed Arcanist continued, “Now look at our Senior Brother Yang. He has thoroughly inherited teacher Jianzheng’s true style. This bearing, this image, he is truly the only suitable candidate for the position of Jianzheng.”
Yang Qianhuan stood with his hands behind his back, motionless and imposing.
“Senior brothers and junior brothers, you must all vote for Senior Brother Yang.”
Having said his piece, the white-robed Arcanist, evidently quite pleased with his performance, stepped back.
Don’t just focus on acting flashy, where’s your empty promise? Xu Qi’an’s mind was full of complaints.
Next, Song Qing stepped forward. This master of time management, this ruler of dark circles, slowly swept his gaze across the assembled Arcanists and declared loudly:
“I, Song, promise all my senior and junior brothers this, if you choose me as Jianzheng, then I shall ensure that all of you have inexhaustible silver for your alchemical experiments. None of you will ever need to worry about money again. All revenue of the Sitianjian shall be devoted to alchemical experiments.”
After speaking, Song Qing looked at the white-robed Arcanists with complete confidence.
With conditions so generous, with rewards so tempting, who could possibly resist such a lure?
As long as one was an Arcanist, one ought to know whom to choose as Jianzheng.
Clap clap clap… The alchemists applauded excitedly, feeling that Senior Brother Song was electricity, was light, was the one and only legend.
Brimming with satisfaction, Song Qing returned to his seat.
Xu Qi’an then looked towards Zhong Li.
With her hair hanging loose, her bright eyes peeped at Xu Qi’an through the disorderly strands, and she said softly:
“I abstain…”
Abstaining’s for the best. If you became the Jianzheng, the Sitianjian might well be struck from the records of the Great Feng the very next day. Cause of removal: meteor strike, no Sitianjian Arcanists survived… Xu Qi’an shook his head.
Next, he looked at Chu Caiwei and her underage supporters.
The little ones had clearly never seen such a scene before, and seemed somewhat timid and frightened.
“Junior Sister Caiwei, is there anything you’d like to say to everyone?” Xu Qi’an asked.
Chu Caiwei’s apricot eyes turned, and with her hands on her hips, she shouted:
“If everyone chooses me as Jianzheng, I’ll take the silver from the Sitianjian treasury and treat everyone to lavish meals every day, until we’ve eaten all the delicacies of the Central Plains!”
Song Qing and Yang Qianhuan gave mocking laughs.
Sun Xuanji and Zhong Li shook their heads slightly.
The assembled Arcanists burst into laughter.
The child soldiers behind Chu Caiwei flushed red in the face and lowered their heads in shame.
“Right, now we’ll begin the vote. Everyone write down the Jianzheng you have in mind on a slip of paper, and Her Majesty and I will tally them.”
Xu Qi’an just wanted to get this farce over with as quickly as possible.
…
In the deep sea, an enormous monster “glided” silently onwards. It was like a lifeless corpse, requiring no strokes to swim, as the currents automatically carried it forward.
“The Warlock God?”
The Jianzheng laughed:
“Judging by history, He only rose after the Daoist Venerable disappeared. Why are you asking this?”
Desolation floated there quietly, its voice entering directly into the long horn:
“He reminds me of someone, a very interesting little fellow. Back then, a human slave raised by ‘Diviner’. ‘Diviner’ wiped out his clan, killed his father, violated his mother and sisters, yet alone among them refused to kill him, tormenting and humiliating him daily for amusement.
“That fellow ‘Diviner’, even among gods and demons, counted as a real oddball. Nothing He did would surprise me. It was probably because the years were too long, and He was simply too bored.
“But only later did I learn that ‘Diviner’ had passed on the inheritance of divination to that fellow. Mm, the very existence of the gatekeeper was divined by ‘Diviner’.”
The Jianzheng said:
“You suspect the Warlock God was that human slave?”
Desolation replied in an indifferent tone:
“Otherwise, the divination of the Warlock system couldn’t possibly be so powerful. But the Warlock God could also be a descendant of that human slave. Who knows? Back then he was just a nobody. I wouldn’t pay attention to an ant.”
The Jianzheng teased:
“And yet, after endless ages, that ant grew into your greatest rival. In that case, the Warlock God is actually even more ancient than the Daoist Venerable, just not as exceptionally gifted.”
The lifespans of beyond-mortal beings were long. The Warlock God being a beyond-mortal expert from the Daoist Venerable’s era was hardly something strange.
After a long silence, the man and the god-demon said nothing more.
The Jianzheng suddenly drew in a sharp breath.
“What is it?” Desolation asked.
“I was just thinking, if I absolutely had to pick one comparatively reliable disciple to take the seat of Jianzheng, it actually would be her…” the Jianzheng said in a complicated tone.
…
The Capital city.
On the Bagua Platform of the Sitianjian, Xu Qi’an unfolded the final slip of paper and announced:
“Yang Qianhuan’s total votes, forty. Song Qing’s total votes, fifty-five. Sun Xuanji’s total votes, forty-eight. Zhong Li’s total votes, thirty. Chu Caiwei’s total votes, one hundred and twenty-three.
“The third-generation Jianzheng shall be Chu Caiwei. Everyone, applaud!”
On the Bagua Platform, there was utter silence.
Song Qing’s eyes went blank as he sat there in a daze.
Zhong Li lifted her head in astonishment and looked towards Chu Caiwei on the other side.
Sun Xuanji remained silent, without the slightest expression.
Yang Qianhuan was like a statue, utterly motionless.
Huaiqing too was rather surprised. She had never expected that the one to become Jianzheng among the Jianzheng’s disciples would be Chu Caiwei, the weakest of them all.
Chu Caiwei looked utterly bewildered, thinking, so I’m really so respected in the Sitianjian, so sought after?
How come I don’t know that myself?
So it really is her… Xu Qi’an sighed. In truth, he’d already guessed it.
Huaiqing seemed thoughtful. Seeing his expression, she transmitted her voice:
“You guessed it?”
Xu Qi’an replied irritably by voice transmission:
“This bunch of idiots, apart from Caiwei, none of them actually listened to a word I said.”
When you’re running for president, no, for leader, the most important thing is to sell a pie in the sky.
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