Xu Jinsong slowly nodded, "Is the offer you made back then still valid, Manager Su?"
He didn't wish to get involved with the Chamber of Commerce initially, but last night's humiliation was just too much. There was no way he could accept it. That said, he didn't have the guts to go against Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei either. He simply wasn't confident at all that he'd be able to beat them. But then how could he not take revenge for his severed arm?!
Su Yanran said solemnly, "From what I know, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei seem to have already become the Hall Masters of Suppressing Second Hall and Suppressing Third Hall respectively. Forgive me for being blunt, but they are no longer people that you can control, Advisor Xu."
"But Miao Yi is still here!" Xu Jinsong announced.
"This…" Su Yanran was a little hesitant. Twenty to thirty years had already passed since then, and the person who originally sent her the request was already dead. Su Yanran wasn't sure if that person's descendants would be willing to carry on with the plan or not. After some thought, she said, "Can I think it over for a bit? I will give you an answer in a few days!"
"Then I shall wait for the news, Manager Su!" Xu Jinsong stood up and excused himself. Feeling a little guilty deep down, he didn't dare to stay in this place for too long...
The time for the next annual tributes soon came to pass, and as always, Wen Fang brought gifts over to Raincloud Manor. At the same time, she also let Miao Yi in on some good news, "Big Brother! I'm going to be promoted again! The Chamber of Commerce is preparing to transfer me over to a major city with a population of five million people to be Manager, and they want to know if I'm willing to go. What do you think?"
"Oh!" As he walked down the flower garden with hands behind his back, Miao Yi smiled and said, "Looks like I really have to congratulate you then." After a slight pause, he continued, "You should go to either Zhao Fei's or Sikong Wuwei's place. At least you'll have someone to look after you. Of course, this is just my suggestion. You can decide for yourself which is the best option for you. You don't need my opinion for matters like this."
"It's a given that little sisters should listen to their big brother's opinion." As she walked beside him, Wen Fang smiled cheerfully and said, "Since that's how you feel about it, I'll do as you say and go to Manor Head Zhao's Suppressing Second City! Big Brother, take your time and walk. I'll go look for Qian'Er and Xue'Er."
Truth be told, Wen Fang didn't really need Miao Yi's opinion at all. It wasn't as if the local powerhouses had any sway on the Chamber of Commerce anyway, as both sides practiced non-interference in each other's business. Moreover, Wen Fang had long decided to go to either Zhao Fei's or Sikong Wuwei's place as well. She had to follow her major clients after all. However, she was worried that Miao Yi would overthink things. After all, out of the three men that had come here, two were already Hall Masters, while Miao Yi himself was still standing in the same spot. Wen Fang couldn't imagine what Miao Yi must be feeling right now. All she knew was that if she suddenly left without saying a word, it could be very hurtful to him. However, the only reason why she had worked so hard in the first place was precisely so that she could be promoted.
She was very torn by this matter. However, she really didn't want to miss this chance. In the end, she made up her mind to come here to talk things out and save Miao Yi some face.
As he went on with his leisurely walk, Miao Yi turned back to look at Wen Fang's silhouette, then shook his head and smiled wryly. He didn't know if he was overthinking things, but it seemed like all the people around him were being extremely cautious with their words when speaking to him as of late, as though they were afraid he would misunderstand them. Did he seem so narrow-minded that he couldn't bear to see someone else being promoted? He knew full well where his limits lay. How could he possibly be promoted to a Hall Master with his cultivation? Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei were already extremely lucky to become Hall Masters with their Red Lotus First Grade cultivations. A Hall Master that was under the Red Lotus realm had never even been heard of before...
After all the Mountains under him had finished handing over their annual tributes, Miao Yi and his two aides immediately left for Suppressing Tenth Hall. They made no stops along the way, as there would be no one else accompanying them this time around.
Miao Yi visited the Hall Master on his own and handed over the annual tribute. Then, once it was time for all the Manor Heads to gather around, he proceeded into the main assembly hall along with everyone else, where he quietly stood at the back of the crowd on his own.
Even though him, Zhao Fei, and Sikong Wuwei have always done this in the years past, and evidently he was doing the same thing now, but in everyone else's eyes, Miao Yi was finally cowering away and no longer daring to stir up any trouble. After all, the other two had already left to a much higher position, and could no longer interfere in Suppressing Tenth Hall's affairs.
However, the scene that everyone eagerly anticipated did not occur. The three Advisors didn't do anything that would trigger Miao Yi. They didn't even mention anything about Raincloud Manor. This caused the rest of the Manor Heads to be secretly astonished. Those three Advisors were not the forgiving type.
However, Miao Yi knew the reason why. Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei had already sent him a message and told him that they had given a warning to those three bastards. They also told him to let them know if there was any trouble, and they would immediately rush over!
As the handover of the annual tribute drew to a close, the Manor Heads all returned to their respective territories. After which, Shen Huaixin immediately departed to Traversing Water Palace to hand over Suppressing Tenth Hall's share of the annual tribute.
In Traversing Water Palace, he bumped into Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei. It was inevitable for both parties to greet one another. And as he was meeting the Palace Lord, Shen Huaixin felt a little bit restless as the original Hall Masters for Suppressing Second Hall and Suppressing Third Hall had already been transferred away. He had heard that they were shipped off to the Overlord so that their positions could be taken up by Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei.
Over the past few years, all those in Traversing Water Palace that had a higher cultivation than Tao Qingli were transferred away by Granny Tao, one after the other. There was no helping it. Granny Tao simply carried that much influence! She was even able to use the power of seniority to slot people into the Overlord's office! First, it was the other two Purple Lotus Advisors of Traversing Water Palace, followed by a few others, and now the two Hall Masters for Suppressing Second and Third Hall.
Shen Huaixin's cultivation was higher than Tao Qingli's as well. He couldn't help wondering when it would be his turn to be transferred away. However, there was still the even more powerful guy from Suppressing First Hall. As long as he played his cards right, he should be able to stay in the clear for the time being.
No one was willing to be transferred away to foreign territory, as it was impossible to wield their current authority once they were under another person's roof. The only jobs they would be entitled to do was keep to the side and stay out of trouble. It was easy to imagine what kind of treatment they would receive then.
After the handover of the annual tribute was completed, the Hall Masters all accompanied Granny Tao on her journey to the capital city, much like how the stars stayed beside the moon.
Whilst in the capital city, the two newly promoted Hall Masters, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei, naturally needed to acquaint themselves with the other Hall Masters. They also bumped into Gu Sanzheng, Tan Lao, and Ye Xin.
In the first place, those three already wielded a high amount of prestige within the three major sects, and they were able to obtain a large number of cultivation resources on top of that. Even though they had offered most of those resources up to their respective sects, the remainder was still enough for the three of them to achieve a breakthrough. Thus, they had broken through to the Red Lotus realm a little bit earlier than Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei and were promoted to Hall Masters before the two as well.
The Gu Sanzheng trio couldn't help secretly asking about Miao Yi's situation. They couldn't help feeling a tinge of sorrow after hearing what happened. Out of the six of them that returned to the Fifth Earthly Branch from the Sea of Constellations Subjugation Crusade, Miao Yi was the only one still shackled to the earth. And yet, he was also the one who contributed the most in the entire Subjugation Crusade.
None of them could understand why Miao Yi had proclaimed himself as Yan Beihong back in the Subjugation Crusade. Through their own channels within the three major sects, Gu Sanzheng and the others had secretly heard that the Realm Beyond Heaven looked upon 'Yan Beihong' quite highly after the Subjugation Crusade. It seemed Fairy Yue Yao had put in quite a few good words for the guy in front of the Celestial Sage, and Gu Sanzheng and the others also heard that the Celestial Sage had this to say about 'Yan Beihong' before the entire Realm Beyond Heaven: 'He has a bright future to look forward to!'
When they heard this, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei were utterly lost for words. With the Celestial Sage looking upon 'Yan Beihong' so favorably, and given what she had to say about him, there might have been a chance for 'Yan Beihong' to be promoted as an exception to the rule. After all, he had been a major help to the Realm Beyond Heaven in their achievements during the Subjugation Crusade, allowing them to pull far ahead of the other five Sages' camps. No matter how they chose to reward him, it would not have been over the top. At the very least, in the future, whoever had any ideas towards Miao Yi would have to consider the Realm Beyond Heaven as well.
Now that Miao Yi had missed such an opportunity, not only was there no telling when he would be able to break through to the Red Lotus realm, there might not even be a position of authority for him after breaking through. His otherwise bright future could have been ruined because of this. The five of them felt great pity for Miao Yi. Why did he have to put himself through such difficulty?
Within the capital city, after the handover of the annual tribute was completed, Granny Tao didn't go along with the other Hall Masters back to Traversing Water Palace. She had them all return to their respective domains first, while Tao Qingli and her proceeded to the Realm Beyond Heaven to visit the Celestial Sage Mu Fanjun.
As soon as Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei returned, they headed straight for Raincloud Manor and told Miao Yi that they had bumped into Gu Sanzheng and the others in the capital city.
Upon hearing that the three of them had also broken through to the Red Lotus realm and became Hall Masters, Miao Yi stood by the window of Raincloud Pavilion with hands behind his back, gazing into the vast, serene lake as he smiled and said, "It's too bad I can't congratulate them due to my relationship with the three major sects."
"They don't need your congratulations. It's better for you to worry about yourself," Sikong Wuwei said snidely.
"With you two Hall Masters behind my back, what do I possibly have to worry about?" Miao Yi joked.
However, similar to how one couldn't reliably predict the fickleness of weather, so too was man's destiny prone to unforeseeable situations. There were times when even the two Hall Masters could not protect him. After Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei left, Miao Yi received a decree from Tao Qingli, commanding him to go to Traversing Water Palace in secret and demanding his discretion.
Although Miao Yi was a little perplexed, he still decided to ride alone to Traversing Water Palace after making the necessary arrangements.
There were no paths leading up to the lofty Traversing Water Palace sitting at the peak of the mountain, so Miao Yi had to climb his way up as quickly as he could.
When he saw Tao Qingli, he realized that he wasn't the only one who was summoned. For each of the Halls under Traversing Water Palace, a single person was called over. These people were all the more capable Manor Heads within their respective Halls.
When all ten Manor Heads had arrived, they were brought together to the rear palace to meet Palace Lord Granny Tao.
"We respectfully greet the Palace Lord!" The ten of them stood in a straight line and greeted.
"At ease!" Granny Tao raised her arm, palm faced down, then said to Tao Qingli, "Tell them!"
Tao Qingli nodded, then faced the ten Manor Heads and said, "The ten of you are the most capable candidates among your respective Halls. The reason why you were called over this time is because we will be sending you to Flowing Clouds Dune Sea on a secret mission. This mission comes from the Realm Beyond Heaven, and it is handed down by the Celestial Sage herself. If you can complete it successfully, you will be heavily rewarded!"
"Flowing Clouds Dune Sea?" The crowd was shocked. 'They want us to go to that Flowing Clouds Dune Sea? That place is filled with all sorts of dangerous characters and has no rules to speak of. In fact, utter chaos reigns throughout the entire area. It wouldn't be wrong to say that it's a place that's forsaken by the rest of the cultivation realm. Even a place like the Sea of Constellations is only dangerous to cultivators from the other five nations. It's still heaven to those Yao cultivators at least. However, Flowing Clouds Dune Sea is a perilous place to any cultivator no matter the country.'
Someone immediately cupped their fists and asked, "May I be so bold as to ask, Advisor, what sort of mission is it that requires us to head to Flowing Clouds Dune Sea?"
Tao Qingli replied with her own question, "Flowing Clouds Dune Sea used to be a completely desolate area. Do you know how it became the chaotic place that it is today, where all sorts of dangerous characters lurk around?"
Somebody answered, "The rumors say that many years ago, a large ship filled with treasure suddenly appeared out of nowhere, drifting through the dark waters of Flowing Clouds Dune Sea. Apparently, the ship itself had come from the Higher Realm, filled with treasures from said dimension. And every time it appears, the entire cultivation realm is sure to be thrown into an uproar. However, it's nigh impossible to track this ship. It would randomly show itself at times, then disappear just as sporadically. Hence, it came to be known as the Netherdragon Ship. As time passed, more and more people continued to travel into Flowing Clouds Dune Sea in search of treasure, which gradually turned it into a lawless place where dragons and fishes swim side by side."
As the conversation led up to here, someone else suddenly asked, "Advisor, could our mission have something to do with the Netherdragon Ship?"
Miao Yi had very limited knowledge on Flowing Clouds Dune Sea, and simply listened on in confusion as he thought to himself, 'You're kidding me, right? It was so hard for me to come back alive from the Subjugation Crusade. I haven't even had that many years of peace. And now you want to send me to that wretched Flowing Clouds Dune Sea? Do you really have to mess with me like this? Don't tell me the capable candidates are only good for doing the most dangerous things? Then how the hell are we supposed to live?'