Chapter 128: The Elder Council’s Vote

A procession of transcendent warriors approached, exchanging a few words with Dongbo Xueying.

Not for any other reason—just to get acquainted, to become familiar faces!

Dongbo Xueying showed no arrogance at all, instead smiling and greeting each transcendent warmly. Respect is mutual; by giving others face, one naturally earns it in return. Moreover, Dongbo Xueying had never been cold by nature. Even toward Si An, the master of the Longshan Pavilion in Yishui City, he had never acted condescendingly, despite his superior strength.

“Xueying, you’ve become famous in one fell swoop! Winning nine matches in the Transcendent Life-and-Death Battles—truly impressive! Come on, let’s celebrate tonight!” Chi Qiu Bai looked at Dongbo Xueying with a gleam of joy in his eyes. His cultivation and vision were both high; from the “Water-Fire DragonDragon Slaughter,” he had sensed that Dongbo Xueying likely had the potential to one day grasp the “Essence of Water and Fire.”

With another powerful ally joining Anyang Province, Chi Qiu Bai was genuinely delighted.

“Exactly, let’s celebrate—but it should be Brother Xueying footing the bill. He just raked in a fortune—over five thousand jin of Yuan Stones! I’m envious!” Peng Shan, the Demon Blade Knight, chimed in.

“Five thousand jin! I’ve cultivated for five hundred years and haven’t even scraped together a thousand jin of Yuan Stones!”

“You only won two matches back then—how can you compare with Brother Xueying?”

“I don’t ask for much. If I can just get a thousand jin of Yuan Stones, I’d be satisfied.”

“Hey, Ling Shu, you’re quiet over there!”

“Didn’t she win a few hundred jin of Yuan Stones betting on Xueying?”

Wu Kui, Dong Yu, Ba Ming, Zong Tu, and others bantered among themselves. They were all Skyfaring Transcendents—earning a thousand contribution points was extremely difficult for them. They envied Dongbo Xueying’s acquisition of over five thousand points, but all acknowledged that he had earned it with his own strength—thus, they could only admire and respect him.

“Paying for a meal is a small matter. Let’s go!” Dongbo Xueying was very generous. His communication ring had just received a message from the Xihuo Palace, informing him that he had earned 5,110 contribution points for winning nine consecutive matches.

Instantly, the group of Transcendents soared into the sky.

Like the others, they flew directly out of the gates of the Hall of Life and Death. Below, countless mortals slowly made their way out, following the orderly procession.

Outside the Hall of Life and Death, a group of Named Rank knights and mages stood among the crowd, including Yu Jingqiu.

“Look, there’s Dongbo Xueying!” One of the Named Rank knights immediately spotted Dongbo Xueying flying among the Transcendents.

Yu Jingqiu quickly looked up.

She saw him—the black-robed Dongbo Xueying, laughing and chatting with Chi Qiu Bai, Cheng Lingshu, and others as they soared into the sky.

“I’m in the crowd, while he flies above. Two different worlds. He probably didn’t even see me,” Yu Jingqiu felt a slight pang in her heart.

“But I will become a Transcendent too,” she thought, eyes gleaming with determination.

She had been very young when she reached the Named Rank, and she was a mage! Mages ascended to the Named Rank through deep study and analysis of the natural world, so she too was highly regarded and expected to ascend to Transcendence. Many Named Rank warriors flocked around her, praising her. Her future was bright, and she was beautiful—many among the Named Rank pursued her.

“Dongbo Xueying, wait for me. When I become a Transcendent, I’ll stand before you again,” Yu Jingqiu smiled to herself. She harbored a subtle affection for Dongbo Xueying, but their time together had been brief. Her heart was mostly set on magical research.

……

That same day.

Dongbo Xueying and his companions rented out the entire third floor of a tavern, indulging in a grand celebration. Some of Chi Qiu Bai’s close Transcendent friends also joined, such as the “Zuoqiu Knight” Tan Shi. Nearly twenty Transcendents gathered together. With their long lifespans, it was perfectly normal for them to celebrate for three to five days straight.

Dancers twirled gracefully, and musicians were rotated in shifts. Servants poured wine for the Transcendents, serving delicacies so rare that a single plate could be worth a first-tier alchemical weapon!

When it came to indulgence and luxury, Xiadu City, as a gathering place for Transcendents, offered the finest pleasures the Xia Clan could provide—provided one was willing to pay.

Dongbo Xueying had been in Xiadu City for half a year and understood the general prices. This extravagant celebration would probably cost over ten million gold coins—equivalent to about a dozen contribution points. But for Dongbo Xueying, who had just earned over five thousand points, it was truly nothing.

……

As night fell.

Dongbo Xueying and his companions continued celebrating, while in a “Council Hall” within the Xihuo Palace.

A massive circular stone table stood in the chamber.

Around it were huge stone chairs, each emitting strange fluctuations that resonated with the table. Even a Saint-level expert would feel oppressed and struggle to breathe normally in this place.

At this moment—

Each chair was occupied by a presence of extraordinary aura, including Master Heshan, Master Sikong Yang, Master Bucheng, and also Cao Qing. However, Old Lady Ye was absent.

To be a Xia Clan Elder required one to be a Demi-God. Even the Demi-Gods from the “Earth Temple” and “Blood Blade Tavern” were not qualified, as those two factions were loyal to the Divine Emperor and bound by strict rules. Other Transcendent organizations, however, were loyal to the Xia Clan.

“Fifteen Elders, all gathered,” said an elder with black hair seated at the table, his presence subtly warping the surrounding space. “This meeting was proposed by Elder Cao Qing.”

“Indeed,” Cao Qing nodded slightly.

The black-haired elder said, “Elder Cao Qing, please speak.”

Though not among the top ten Demi-Gods, this elder held a unique status as the current Palace Master of the Xihuo Palace. He was absolutely loyal to the Xia Clan, and within the Xihuo World, he was invincible.

“Elder Cao Qing proposed this meeting because of Dongbo Xueying,” the elder continued.

Cao Qing, with his wrinkled face, smiled like a blooming flower. “You’ve all seen Dongbo Xueying’s talent and strength. At such a young age, he’s already begun to fuse the mysteries of water and fire. Such talent gives him a real chance at mastering the ‘Essence of Water and Fire.'”

“I propose we add him to the ‘Candidate Elder’ list and begin cultivating him!” Cao Qing declared.

“I disagree!” a grizzled elder seated elsewhere, emanating a chilling aura, spoke coldly. “The ‘Essence of Water and Fire’ is only a fourth-tier essence. Those who make it onto the Candidate Elder list are usually expected to grasp third-tier essences, or even aspire to second-tier! Dongbo Xueying still falls short, doesn’t he?”

Essences were ranked into nine tiers.

The higher the tier, the greater the gap between them.

First-tier essences were legendary—like the “Mystic Void Essence” and the “Temporal Essence.”

Second-tier essences were also legendary, such as the “Spatial Essence,” the “Yin-Yang Essence,” and even the “Temporal Stasis.”

Third-tier essences were weaker by comparison.

As the tiers descended, the differences narrowed.

The gap between ninth and eighth tiers was small, as both were relatively low-level. But the gap between second and third tiers was vast, and the difference between third and fourth tiers was also significant.

“He may have a chance at mastering the Water and Fire Essence, and could even advance further—perhaps grasping the higher Yin-Yang Essence!” Cao Qing countered.

“Hmph, advancing further? That’s too uncertain. He might even regress, ending up with the Ice-Fire Essence,” the elder with the chilling aura scoffed.

“Enough, Elder Dongguo, I know your stance. You may remain silent now,” Cao Qing snapped, his forehead veins bulging.

The elder with the chilling aura merely chuckled but said nothing more. After all, Cao Qing was the eldest among them, ranked among the top ten Demi-Gods, and wielded the Thunder God Essence. He had a fiery temper—there was no need to provoke him directly.

“What do the other Elders think?” Cao Qing turned to the others, simultaneously sending a private message to Master Heshan. “Brother He, lend a hand!”

“I support Elder Cao Qing’s proposal,” Master Heshan smiled.

As the acknowledged strongest among all, his words carried weight, and the other Elders turned their attention.

“Take Chi Qiu Bai, for example. He was quite ordinary among the Skyfaring Transcendents, yet he eventually grasped the Spatial Severance Essence from the Essence of the Ten Thousand Winds!” Master Heshan continued. “If Dongbo Xueying can already grasp a fourth-tier essence, who’s to say he won’t ascend even higher in the future?”

“Elder Heshan, that’s not certain. Just because Chi Qiu Bai is strong doesn’t mean Dongbo Xueying will be too.”

“But he’s young!”

Master Heshan emphasized, “Don’t forget his age! Youth means potential! If he were over a hundred and had just begun fusing the Water-Fire mysteries, I might consider it decent but wouldn’t support his inclusion as a Candidate Elder. But he’s only twenty-nine years old—far too young!”

Several Demi-Gods in the chamber nodded slightly.

“Elder Cao Qing, do you have anything more to add?” the black-haired elder asked.

“Just one more thing,” Cao Qing said. “Winning nine matches in the Transcendent Life-and-Death Battles at such a young age also proves his combat prowess. I’m an old man nearing death, but I propose this in hopes of cultivating yet another powerful force for our Xia Clan.” He concluded, “That’s all I have to say.”

The black-haired elder nodded slightly. “Then let’s proceed with the vote.”

“Agreed.”

“Disagreed.”

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

One by one, the Elders voiced their decisions. Being added to the Candidate Elder list was no ordinary matter—merely having potential for a fourth-tier essence was usually insufficient.

“I also agree. Thus, among the fifteen Elders, nine agree, six oppose. The majority supports Dongbo Xueying’s inclusion on the Candidate Elder list,” the black-haired elder announced.