Chapter 96: The Dispute Over the Valley Master

  ……

  The reason is naturally the vacant position of the valley master.

  Where there are people, there is struggle. How can the position of the Lord of Changchun Valley, a sacred place, be any exception? With such status, even the Emperor of the Great Wind Nation must show respect and courtesy.

  From this, a fierce struggle is inevitable. Even if it's just a small meeting, it's all tense and full of gunpowder smell.

  This is just the beginning of a core meeting, and it has already become popular.

  "Slap!"

  The elder Gǔ Dé slammed his hand on the table, stood up with a fierce momentum, and scolded Lǐ Zhúfán, who was also an elder and the master of Yù Liàng Pavilion, pointing at his nose:

  "Being a member of the Li family, although the old Valley Master has passed away, her personally taught disciples are still around. It's not your turn to comment on the position of the Valley Master."

  "Elder, please don't get agitated. Please sit down and let's talk this through." Li Zhufan, on the other hand, looked like a refined gentleman, stroking his beard as he calmly advised.

  For many years, he had been waiting for the old valley master to die. With the support of his Yu Liang Pavilion and the powerful forces behind him, Li Zhufan finally saw a glimmer of hope in becoming the new valley master.

  Some people strongly opposed it, which was expected.

  Chen Mo sat quietly like a well-behaved child behind his master, Mu Lingwei. However, in his heart, he sneered coldly: "These dignified elders are not few in number who covet the position of Valley Master."

  Sunlight shines through the window gap, just wrapping Mu Lingwei in it. Looking over, she seems to be sitting quietly like a fairy, quiet and elegant, without disturbing the dust.

  "Elder Gu, let's put out the fire first. After all, a country can't be without a ruler for a day, and our Spring Valley has been without a valley master for a year now. The top priority is indeed to elect a new valley master." Gu Yue Xiao began to act as a mediator.

  "Hmph." Gu Rui De looked at Li Zhu Fan with disdain, then slowly sat down: "Even if we were to choose a Valley Master, it should be Mu Ling Wei, Elder Mu."

  "If it were before Old Valley Master's passing, I would have supported her will. But now..." Li Zhufan shrugged and smiled blandly: "It's actually Elder Gu who has the highest seniority and qualifications. If you take over as Valley Master, I, Li Zhufan, won't raise any objections."

  The people around nodded in agreement, and some of the core disciples remained silent.

  It's hard to gauge people's hearts, Chen Mo scanned the room in a circle, each person had a different expression, and an undercurrent was surging throughout the entire room.

  Chen Mo had a good impression of this stubborn old man, and if he became the Valley Master, it would be fine. Of course, in his heart, he still hoped that his master would become the Valley Master instead.

  "Hehe, I'm just an old bone. Even if I became the Valley Master, how many years could I do it? I just don't want the peaceful Longchun Valley to be messed up by others." Gu Ruidi was already old in age, but his mind was clear and transparent. The various forces within Longchun Valley were openly and secretly vying with each other, if not controlled, the originally peaceful valley would become a place of mutual deception and anxiety.

  It will even become a place for the four major forces, including the royal family, to compete with each other.

  After finishing speaking, Gu Rui De looked around at everyone present. Except for Chen Mo, he had watched everyone else grow up, so the good and bad qualities of each person were clear to him.

  The atmosphere gradually became oppressive and gloomy. With cold eyes looking on, many people hated the old bones that had been buried halfway in the yellow earth to the bone.

  "Elder Gu, Changchun Valley has always emphasized that capable people should live here, all for the good of Changchun Valley. You can't speak so harshly." Mediator Fan Yingguang Elder chimed in.

  Fan Yingguang is already in his 70s and is highly respected in the Changchun Valley, but he has always been at odds with Gu Ruidi.

  "In terms of cultivation, Mu Lingwei is a senior with an innate eight-stage foundation. In terms of ability, she's the only fifth-grade pharmacist; who can compare to her?" Gu Ruidi was full of fiery energy.

  "Elder Gu, your words are not quite right. Mu Elder's strength is indeed strong, but she has a calm and gentle nature, and does not like worldly affairs. The position of Valley Master requires the responsibility of inheritance and development." Fan Yingguang said slowly.

  At one time, it brought in quite a few echoes of approval.

  Chen Mo stole a glance at his master, Mu Lingwei, and saw that she was still silent, sitting elegantly in a corner, her white clothes and face as pure as the snow lotus on Mount Tian, icy and jade-like, untainted by worldly dust.

  She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, a master is indeed a master, and she really has the demeanor of an immortal maiden.

  "Then according to your Honorable Elders' intention, how should we elect the Valley Master?" Gu Yue Xiao's face was solemn as he said.

  "We, the Longchun Valley, are famous for our alchemy. But what's most important in this sacred place is education. One can tell a master's abilities by looking at their disciples. So, let's have the disciples compete in alchemy, and whoever refines the highest quality elixir wins. What do you all think?" Li Zhufan finally got to the point.

  "No way, your disciples have been practicing medicine with you since they were young. Chen Mo followed Mu Lingwei for how long?" Gu Rui De almost slapped the table and jumped up again.

  Although Mu Lingwei was silent and speechless, she also understood in her heart. As for the position of Valley Master, she didn't care much about it herself.

  "What's your opinion, Mu Shi Mei?" Gu Yue Xiao Guo proposed this and thought it wasn't bad. His disciple Lin Jun Qian was skilled in alchemy, and among his peers, no one could surpass him.

  "I have no opinion." Mu Lingwei sat up straight, her small mouth slightly closed, and her gentle voice was like a refreshing breeze: "I will send Chen Mo to participate."

  Chen Mo was speechless for a moment. Was this Master's increased trust in his own abilities, or did he know that he wasn't a match for others and had given up?

  "A group of despicable and shameless people, Changchun Valley will perish in your hands!" Gu Rui De roared with anger, jumped up suddenly, then turned and left.

  In the space of a few breaths, the atmosphere in the house became extremely awkward. Fan Yingguang hastily stood up and said: "Since Elder Mu has no objections, let's use the disciples to compete. Half a month later, we'll start selecting the finalists."

  ……

  After dispersing the meeting, the master and apprentice returned to Youhuang Xiaozhu.

  The water flows gently, the birds sing and the flowers are fragrant, it's like a paradise on earth. No need to bother with mundane things, Mulan has a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, and her autumn-water-like eyes curve into a crescent moon shape, looking extremely beautiful.

  "Master, you really believe I can get the first place in alchemy?" Chen Mo muttered, expressing his concerns: "I heard that Jiang Chen and Lin Junxian are both very formidable."

  Especially Jiang Chen, who schemed against himself in the Demon Swamp Rainforest and ended up losing everything. He hated himself to the bone, and today at the meeting, Chen Mo felt him glancing at himself repeatedly.

  Thick and heavy, all hostility and animosity.

  "Hehe." Mulan smiled softly, seemingly unfazed, with a gentle and beautiful smile spreading across her pale face.

  In the secluded little building, Mulan Wei was like a lively and elegant fairy, with every move of her hands and feet having a flowing spirit, and a smile that made people feel refreshed and invigorated.

  Chen Mo had already guessed Mulingwei's thoughts. For a woman who yearned for freedom and was indifferent to worldly affairs, the struggles for power and intrigue were too far away.

  Indeed, Master is not confident in himself, but rather lets himself go through the motions.

  "Master, don't you want to be the Valley Master at all?" Chen Mo was depressed for a moment. If she became the Valley Master, it would certainly be very beneficial to herself. However, this was not what he cared about most. If Jiang Chen's master Li Zhufan were to become the Valley Master, that would be troublesome.

  Mulingwei's neck slightly turned, she pursed her small mouth, and her eyes gazed at the mountains and water, as if she hadn't heard Chen Mo's words.

  "Master, under the governance of our ancestors, Changchun Valley has prospered. If the position of valley master falls into the hands of those with ulterior motives, what consequences will there be? Elder Gu's support for you is selfless and solely for the benefit of Changchun Valley."

  Chen Mo spoke with a bitter and anxious tone. Wiping away his sweat, he tried to persuade others to change their minds, which was truly not an easy task.

  Muling's eyes drooped slightly, as if she was deep in thought.

  "Master's ancestors have spared no effort to cultivate you, isn't it to let you lead Changchun Valley to prosperity?" Chen Mo said gently: "Is it just for the sake of a clear ear root that you want to disappoint her old man's kindness?"

  Upon hearing this, Mù Líng's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a flush of red spread across her face. She had followed her master since childhood, learning through verbal teachings and personal guidance, surpassing even the love of parents...

  At this thought, a hint of worry appeared in Mulingwei's clear eyes.

  "Master, do you want to see the Longchun Valley go astray and become someone else's pawn? Seeing the sacred place that our ancestors worked hard to build, destroyed in an instant, and reduced to a running dog?" Chen Mo said in a low voice: "I believe that with your wisdom, you must have seen that behind each of the great elders, there is a powerful force secretly supporting them."

  Chen Mo was also worried, after all, it wasn't easy to have Longchun Valley as a backing. If Longchun Valley were really controlled by a powerful force like Xuanyuan Sect in secret, he would be left with no place to stand.

  Mu Lingwei's eyes finally changed, and she said softly: "Chen Mo, the alchemy competition, you must get first place."

  Chen Mo saw that his master had finally changed his mind, and with joy in his heart, a thread of worry emerged. He wanted to compete with those who had been practicing alchemy since childhood, but if he didn't take an unconventional approach, the chances of winning were extremely low.

  "In that case, we can only take a detour." A solemn expression hung on Chen Mo's face as he thoughtfully said: "I've heard that there is a type of Resurrection Pill, a fourth-grade spiritual medicine with quite decent effects. Among spiritual medicines of the same grade, it's considered one of the best."

  "Huán Hún Dān?" Mù Líng Wēi muttered in surprise: "This elixir has the effect of reviving the dead and turning white bones into flesh. If you can refine it, victory is indeed within sight. However, there are two problems. Firstly, this elixir is relatively obscure, because both the main and auxiliary materials are difficult to find, requiring a four-leafed Corpse Demon Mushroom and a fourth-grade Corpse Core. Secondly, even if you can find the materials, with your ability..."

  "Master, I was training near the Demon Swamp Rainforest a few days ago and caught a glimpse of the Dead City from afar. The aura of the Corpse Demons is very dense within the city, perhaps we can find the materials we need there. As for refining the elixir, I will definitely work hard."

  Mu Lingwei pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly and said: "Then let's do our best and leave the rest to fate. Once you pass the preliminary round and enter the final, we'll set off immediately for the Dead City. Whether we succeed or not, it's all up to heaven." She spoke in a gentle, ethereal tone, her competitive spirit not too strong even at this point.

  Chen Mo's silence was met with a faint sense of melancholy.

  "In half a month, it's the preliminary round. During this time, you must work hard to refine your skills." Mulan Wei's beautiful eyes lightly closed, and she said calmly: "Since you want to compete for first place, if you can't even pass the preliminary round..."

  Chen Mo felt a chill in his heart and realized he had thought wrongly, so he hastily nodded in agreement.

  ……