NOVPUBEveryone’s face was filled with shock.
Even Xun FuJun furrowed his brows slightly and, looking towards Fei Hua, said solemnly,
"Hall Master Fei, what is the meaning of this?"
Fei Hua, however, was completely unfazed and said,
"Although I am not in the Diwu Hall, any changes in the position within the hall must go through my Rende Hall. In recent years, such a large change in positions, throughout all the sects, only Wang Ba alone became the Vice Minister of the Spirit Food Department in just thirty or forty years as a Golden Core Craftsman, leaping from a Deacon to a Vice Minister, and even serving as vice minister for two departments, while also being the Right Enforcer of the Diwu Hall."
"To hold such a high position with the cultivation base of an early-stage Golden Core, one must indeed have exceptional abilities."
"To juggle these three positions with ease, it seems as Elder Du said, managing a hall is like cooking a delicacy."
"And now, with the great relocation of our sect imminent, we should not stick to one pattern. The capable should take precedence."
"Of course, perhaps my words are somewhat biased, and for this matter, we still need to ask Master Xi. He is in charge of the Diwu Hall, so he must be clear about the situation."
Xi Kui glanced at Fei Hua and then, without changing his expression, turned to Song Dongyang, who had been staying out of the matter.
"Dongyang, you speak. You have worked with Wang Ba for many years and should be clear on this."
Song Dongyang was actually quite calm.
After all, he had already made all the preparations for his Immortal Ascension, so who became the Deputy Hall Master was not important to him at the moment.
However, since Wang Ba was the subject of inquiry, Song Dongyang became serious,
"Reporting to the Sect Master and the Hall Masters, in order to supply the construction of the Tribulation Crossing Raft to the best of our ability, I conducted an overhaul of the entire Diwu Hall, and this process was mainly completed by the Right Enforcer and his team."
"Besides that, the Right Enforcer also innovated the storage system of the twenty-five departments and parts of the production processes, which led to an overall efficiency increase of nearly fifty percent in the production of various resources in the twenty-five departments. Some departments even doubled their productivity."
"Diwu Hall was able to supply the construction of the Tribulation Crossing Raft smoothly, and Wang Ba indeed played an indispensable role."
"An increase of nearly fifty percent?"
The numbers mentioned by Song Dongyang immediately made many people show surprise on their faces.
All the ministers in the Diwu Hall had interacted with Wang Ba and were not surprised, but cultivators from outside the Diwu Hall looked at Wang Ba with astonishment.
Even Fei Hua, who had earlier proposed him for the Deputy Hall Master, looked at Wang Ba with eyes full of surprise.
It was also easy to recognize him. Among the few Golden Core Craftsmen in the hall, he had the lowest cultivation base, only at the early stage of Golden Core.
Wang Ba could only offer a wry smile and salute in response.
However, Song Dongyang did not stop there but said with a sigh,
"Beyond these, previously I was ordered to head to the Chen State to receive the relics of the fallen Qi Dynasty. Along the way, we encountered an ambush by an Evil God, and it was the Right Enforcer who came to our rescue... I have already reported this matter to the Hall Masters, and the Enforcers who experienced this with me also know of this."
"The Right Enforcer is both learned and martial, and although he is only a Golden Core, he can fight on par with those at the early stage of Nascent Soul. If he were to serve as the Deputy Hall Master of Diwu Hall, I also feel it might be feasible."
Listening to Song Dongyang’s words, Xun FuJun slightly narrowed his eyes, his gaze settling on Wang Ba.
Wang Ba felt as though he was on pins and needles.
But his face was filled with the utmost respect.
Xun FuJun suddenly spoke,
"Wang Ba... what are your thoughts on this?"
Wang Ba quickly said,
"Disciple’s strength is meager, and I am unsuitable for such a heavy responsibility."
Fei Hua suddenly spoke again,
"The strength of the candidate is of secondary importance for the moment. The urgent task is to choose someone who can get Diwu Hall up and running. Ma Shengxu, Qi Rulian, and Qian Chun have served the Diwu Hall for a long time. Zhou Tianqi and Wang Ba can also be considered. Let’s all here cast a vote, and once selected, the Sect Master can make the final decision. Sect Master, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Xun FuJun looked intently at Fei Hua and then nodded,
"Very well."
"However... there’s one more person we need to add."
Fei Hua was startled, then said,
"It’s up to the Sect Master to decide."
Xun FuJun did not hesitate, his eyes turning to someone, a hint of a smile appearing on his otherwise cold face,
"Come up here as well."
The crowd involuntarily followed Xun FuJun’s gaze, then froze in surprise.
"Is it really him?"
When Wang Ba saw the figure of the man, he too was taken aback.
"Martial Uncle Qu?"
The person Xun FuJun had singled out was none other than Qu Shentong, the Master of Shaoyin Mountain!
Qu Shentong was singled out and also showed a look of astonishment on his face.
After hesitating, he yet gave a slight bow:
"Yes, second elder."
Upon hearing this address, the entire hall fell silent.
However, as if Xun FuJun hadn’t heard anything, he calmly announced:
"Is there anyone else who wishes to compete?"
"If not, then let us begin."
"One person, one vote, choose one out of these six."
Cultivators have always been quick to act and make decisions swiftly.
Fei Hua flicked his sleeve, and over a hundred slips of paper fell into the hands of the cultivators.
After a few breaths, these slips of paper had returned to the front of Fei Hua.
Fei Hua merely glanced at them, then said:
"Qi Rulian, nineteen votes."
Upon hearing this, Qi Rulian’s expression grew somewhat solemn.
Currently, there were one hundred and twelve people inside the Pure Yang Palace.
Excluding the six competition for the position of Earth Hall Deputy Master, there were one hundred and six people.
At nineteen votes, less than one fifth, the possibility of winning first place had already diminished greatly.
"Qian Chun, eight votes."
The slightly aged enforcer Qian Chun’s eyes dimmed a little.
He had reached the end of his lifespan, and this competition for the position of Earth Hall Deputy Master was for his final sprint.
But it seemed there was no hope left.
Fei Hua continued.
"Ma Shengxu… thirty-five votes!"
Whoa!
Instantly, a tumultuous noise arose in the hall.
Such a number of votes was evidently leading by a wide margin.
"Zhou Tianqi…"
Fei Hua glanced at Zhou Tianqi, then said:
"Three votes."
Zhou Tianqi’s face showed awkwardness, as compared to Ma Shengxu’s thirty-five votes, these three were embarrassingly few.
"Wang Ba…"
Fei Hua looked at the slips of paper in front of him, and soon his brow furrowed.
Yet Wang Ba was quite composed.
Although he had been pushed onto the spot, he really hadn’t entertained the idea of becoming the Earth Hall Deputy Master.
This position wasn’t so simple, only seemingly glamorous.
With so many Nascent Soul cultivators below him, how would they truly listen to a Golden Core like him?
If he really got the position of Deputy Master, and all the people below disregarded his commands, it would be him who ended up embarrassed.
Therefore, he preferred one of his familiar Martial Uncles to get the position, preferably Martial Uncle Ma.
At this moment, it seemed Fei Hua finally confirmed the number of votes in his hand and said:
"...Wang Ba, thirty-six votes."
"Qu Shentong…"
However, no one listened for Qu Shentong’s number of votes anymore.
Inside the Pure Yang Palace, everyone turned their eyes toward Wang Ba, full of astonishment.
Wang Ba himself was just as stunned on the spot.
What was happening?
Had these thirty-six people gone mad?
