NOVPUB"Martial Uncle Ma, Martial Uncle Qi, Martial Uncle Cui…"
Upon seeing several familiar faces, Wang Ba hastily greeted them.
The group was engrossed in conversation and, hearing the sound of Wang Ba’s voice, they abruptly stopped and turned to look at him.
These individuals all had a relatively close relationship with Wang Ba, who, upon his arrival, brought smiles to their faces.
They each called out to Wang Ba.
Wang Ba took the opportunity to walk up to them and said with a smile, "It seems the disciple has interrupted several Martial Uncles’ discussion."
"No interruption at all. We were just chatting about who has a better chance at the position of Vice Hall Master, me or your Martial Uncle Ma," Qi Rulian said, without beating around the bush.
That was just his nature.
Ma Shengxu and Cui Daqi both seemed a bit helpless at these words.
Ma Shengxu shook his head:
"Don’t listen to his nonsense. We were mainly talking about the Tribulation Crossing Raft."
Wang Ba’s curiosity was piqued:
"Tribulation Crossing Raft?"
"Yes, Sect Master Shao and the great elder are personally overseeing its construction. I’ve heard it’s making rapid progress. In another twenty or thirty years, it might well be completed," Cui Daqi took over the conversation.
"Twenty or thirty years?"
Wang Ba nodded upon hearing this, acknowledging that the time frame was indeed not long. He said curiously:
"The Tribulation Crossing Raft will soon be completed, but I wonder what the situation is now with the great flood..."
"What else can the situation be? I’ve heard that the coast of the West Sea has already been raised three times, and more cultivators have been coming from the Three Continents. Cultivators from the Longevity Sect, Youxian Temple, the Qin Family, and within our own sect, including those who have attained Immortal Ascension, have all gone there to preside. The fighting on the side of the West Sea Country is quite fierce... Me and big drinker He are almost too busy to manage."
Cui Daqi ranted bitterly.
As the Minister of the Spirit Food Department, with the frequent conflicts in the West Sea Country, the demand for spirit food had significantly increased, and naturally, the sect placed more demands on his duties.
Thus, his recent pressures had been substantial.
Listening to Cui Daqi’s complaints, Wang Ba felt quite ashamed.
As Vice Minister, he was almost a hands-off manager, having spent very little time actually in the Spirit Food Department.
Fortunately, Ma Shengxu spoke up, giving him an out:
"This sect’s gathering, aside from the position of Earth Hall Deputy Master, will probably focus on the matter of the sect’s relocation... With that in mind, the duties of the Earth Hall Deputy Master may be even greater than before."
However, Qi Rulian was nonchalant:
"If it’s going to be that much trouble, I just won’t take the position."
"Why bother if I can’t grab some cultivation resources and disturb my Dao-heart in the process?"
"Heh, it’s like you think you could get the position if you wanted it," Ma Shengxu immediately retorted.
Though the ministers of the twenty-five departments may not all be good friends, they were quite familiar with each other.
A little banter was not taken seriously by anyone.
Qi Rulian just scoffed casually:
"I just want to know, in our Five Elements Division, who can beat me in magical combat?"
"What good does being able to fight magically do? This is about being the Deputy Master of the Earth Hall, not the Tianyuan Hall," a woman’s voice chimed in.
Wang Ba looked towards the source of the voice and a smile immediately spread across his face as he slightly raised his hand:
"Wang Ba pays respects to Minister Luo."
"The Right Enforcer is too formal. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Right Enforcer. Do you still have stock of the ’Youth Jade Liquid’?"
The newcomer was Minister Luo Yanshuang of the Pearl Department, dressed in a Daoist robe, modest and lean, yet her complexion was vibrant and spirited.
Seeing Wang Ba, her eyes brightened, and she couldn’t help but enquire.
"The ingredients are not yet complete. Once they are, Wang Ba will surely present them with both hands right away," Wang Ba said, showing a trace of embarrassment.
The so-called ’Youth Jade Liquid’ was actually the essence of a Class III Phoenix-feathered Chicken, albeit under a different name.
The Phoenix-feathered Chicken production had gradually scaled up, but since Wang Ba had been away and not focused on processing, he indeed didn’t have any on hand.
Though Luo Yanshuang was somewhat disappointed, she didn’t show it, merely saying with a smile:
"Then I’ll be waiting for the good news from the Right Enforcer."
Seeing the person who had mocked him was Luo Yanshuang, Qi Rulian had little room to react.
He simply snorted.
Soon, other department ministers who Wang Ba was somewhat familiar with began to arrive.
Seeing Wang Ba, they also warmly approached him.
Although Wang Ba was not adept at delicate social navigation, among these ministers, he was still quite popular.
He greeted each minister, ensuring that no one felt left out.
Even Chen Huaixuan, the minister of the Poison Department with whom he had some friction previously, subtly nodded at Wang Ba when they met.
Wang Ba nodded back with a smile.
Of course, in addition to these ministers, he also saw some of the long-standing enforcers from within the Earth Hall.
"Eh, Master Qu has come too?"
Wang Ba spotted a familiar figure clad in an ocher cloak descending from the sky, expressing some surprise.
Cui Daqi explained softly:
"The Mountain Lord of Four Mountains is indeed a strong contender for the position of deputy master of three halls. The late Tianyuan Hall’s former deputy master, Guan Ao, was also the Mountain Lord of Taiyang Mountain. However, the situation of the Master of Shaoyin Mountain is somewhat special, managing punishments and rewards, answering both to the Rende Hall and directly to the Sect Master. Typically, they do not hold the post of vice hall master concurrently but relinquish the position of Master of Shaoyin Mountain to become a deputy hall master. For instance, the previous Mountain Lord Lu proceeded in this manner."
After thinking, he added,
"Of course, that’s the usual practice. There have been exceptions where one held both positions."
Wang Ba understood.
At that moment, Master Qu Shentong, the Master of Shaoyin Mountain, descended directly.
Oddly, no one around him seemed to approach.
Wang Ba felt a slight puzzlement in his heart.
However, as soon as Qu Shentong saw Wang Ba, his eyes lit up, and he was about to raise his hand in greeting when he suddenly seemed to remember something. His expression stalled, and the hand he was lifting lowered again.
