"I have plenty of days left, of course. As for you... heh heh, your brow is dark. You don’t have much time left."

Wu Dao sneered, then turned and walked away, not bothering to waste any more words on the old fossil.

Compared to a war of words,

he much preferred taking real action.

Ten thousand insults couldn’t compare to the satisfaction of personally crushing an enemy’s skull.

’Elder Qin has only undergone a Second Rebirth, and his inner qi and blood have long since decayed. He’s a shadow of his former prime.’

’If he’d just quietly waited for death, that would’ve been one thing.’

’But no, he had to jump out and make his presence felt.’

’In that case, I’ll just have to send him off ahead of schedule.’

However,

’this matter can’t be rushed.’

’At the very least, I can’t do it in front of everyone.’

’Once the Hero Assembly is over...’

’...I’ll plot a way to have a nice, long "discussion" with that old bastard about whose days are truly numbered!’

After Wu Dao had walked some distance,

Elder Qin wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth, his gaze turning utterly sinister.

"You reckless fool! Thinking that reaching Cocoon-Breaking makes you untouchable? If you’d just had the sense to back down, I would’ve let it go.

But no, you just had to push your luck over a moment of pride!"

He stoppered his wine gourd.

Elder Qin waved over a trusted disciple and said in a cold voice, "Inform the Grand Elder. If this man gets one of the spots, he must be sent to Tan City!

Also,

put Chun’Er on the same platform as him. I intend to collect some interest first!"

For this Hero Assembly,

Qi Canghai, as the Hall Master, only cared about how many people joined the White Whale Martial Arts Hall. Personnel appointments were handled by the Grand Elder.

Of course,

if Qi Canghai had a different opinion, the Elder Council wouldn’t dare to overstep its bounds.

Although the two factions kept each other in check within the White Whale Martial Arts Hall,

the reality was that Qi Canghai’s word was what truly mattered. After all, he was the only Innate master in the White Whale Martial Arts Hall.

However,

Elder Qin believed that Qi Canghai wouldn’t fall out with the Elder Council prematurely over a single person in the Cocoon-Breaking Realm.

After all,

the Elder Council was composed of old veterans from the original Giant Whale Sect. They were the very roots of the White Whale Martial Arts Hall, having contributed greatly to its founding. Their merits and hard work were undeniable.

For all these years,

Qi Canghai had always turned a blind eye to the Elder Council’s actions. This was not only because the Council was deeply rooted and influential, but also because he was unwilling to be branded an ungrateful man who forgets his roots and burns his bridges.

The members of the Elder Council were well aware of this weakness, which was why they had grown so arrogant and unscrupulous over the years, flaunting their past achievements. On several occasions, they had nearly crossed Qi Canghai’s bottom line.

’Tan City?’

The trusted disciple’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this. He knew that the man from just now had offended Elder Qin.

’That place, Tan City...’

’...it’s been anything but peaceful lately.’

Of course, this lack of peace wasn’t due to human troubles. After all, with the White Whale Martial Arts Hall’s reputation, no one would dare to cause problems.

It referred to certain... non-human calamities!

The reason the position of Hall Master in Tan County was vacant was rumored to be related to this very issue.

The previous Hall Master, the Scribe, and several Instructors all vanished into thin air!

No one has seen them, living or dead.

After the White Whale Martial Arts Hall investigated for half a month and lost several more masters, the case was, for some unknown reason, hastily closed and ruled a "disappearance."

’But a Cocoon-Breaking Realm master...’

’...and several in the Divine Power Realm... ’

’...disappearing without a trace, for no rhyme or reason?’

’Is that even possible?’

’Most likely, the higher-ups at the White Whale Martial Arts Hall already knew something, but for some unknown reason, they chose to let the matter go cold.’

Because of this,

the Tan City region had become a place of ill omen within the White Whale Martial Arts Hall. Several groups of people sent to take over as Hall Master had all weaseled out of it with various excuses.

Under these circumstances,

to specifically name Wu Dao for the Tan City post...

...anyone with eyes could see this was a deliberate act of retaliation.

However,

this was a struggle between the higher-ups. Those below just had to follow orders; they didn’t dare to comment on it.

"I understand!"

After cupping his fist, the trusted disciple entered the doorway and hurried toward the back of the reception hall behind the training ground.

"Tsk. So impatient?"

Wu Dao was sitting in the reception hall with the eight other Pojian Masters, enjoying tea and snacks.

When he noticed the meaningful look the disciple gave him as he passed, he couldn’t help but grind his teeth. He sneered internally, already considering Elder Qin a dead man.

"Fellow Daoists," the woman began, "the Hero Assembly starts in an hour. We’re all just sitting around bored, so why don’t we get to know each other? Once we join the sect, we can look out for one another."

During the quiet wait,

the only woman among the nine masters suddenly stood up and cupped her fist. She had a graceful figure that was also voluptuous, with a Soft Steel Whip coiled around her waist. She exuded the aura of an Iron Maiden.

Her face, however, wasn’t quite as lovely.

A large scar ran across a face that would have otherwise been considered dashingly charismatic, likely from a past injury.

In response to the woman’s friendly overture,

most of the others kept their eyes to themselves, ignoring her completely.

’Nothing’s set in stone yet.’

’In a little while, we might be facing each other with weapons drawn, maybe even fighting to the death. What’s the point of making friends?’

But there was an exception.

"Tsk, I have long heard of the Iron Maiden, Zhou Yue. Seeing you today, you are indeed as valiant and heroic as they say. A woman who puts men to shame."

Across from Wu Dao, a young master with effeminate features, a touch of nobility, and a pair of long, slender hands sheathed in sharp, greenish-gold claws clapped his hands and sighed in admiration.

His fox-like eyes roamed over Zhou Yue’s explosive figure, a flicker of lechery, almost too quick to notice, in their depths.

"Heh heh, you praise me too much, Young Master Qin."

Zhou Yue gave a dry laugh. It seemed this young man was not to be trifled with. She pretended not to notice his covetous gaze.

"Ah, Miss Zhou, you are too modest. You’ve slain countless evils with your Wind-breaking Whip Technique. Who in all of Guangqing Prefecture doesn’t know of your deeds? Unlike some people..."

At this point,

Young Master Qin’s tone suddenly shifted, and he cast a deliberate, sidelong glance at Wu Dao. "...people who are just fishing for fame. Killing a few rats and daring to call themselves a great hero. Have they no shame?"

’Fishing for fame...’

As soon as the words left his mouth, the smell of gunpowder filled the air.

Everyone present was sharp as a tack.

From that brief comment, coupled with Young Master Qin’s glance, they naturally knew who he was talking about. For a moment, their gazes toward Wu Dao grew somewhat distant.

They wondered how this Skull Shattering Hand had offended Young Master Qin to provoke such an undisguised attack.

Wu Dao’s perception was incredibly sharp.

He could naturally sense the coldness in that nuisance Young Master Qin’s eyes.

’The old one has a death wish.’

’And the young one is just as brainless, begging for an early grave!’

As for Young Master Qin’s taunts and insults,

he couldn’t even be bothered to look at him. He just silently added another name to his mental list and ignored the dog’s barking.

An hour passed in a flash.

When the bell in the Martial Arts Training Ground rang out again, the Hero Assembly officially began. The clamor of excited voices could already be heard from other areas.

Since there were only three open spots for County-level Hall Masters but nine participants at the Cocoon-Breaking Realm, the White Whale Martial Arts Hall decided the matchups by drawing lots.

They were divided into groups of three.

This meant that a Pojian Master would have to defeat two other competitors to emerge victorious.

Of course,

for the sake of fairness, there would be a rest period in between.

As for those who were eliminated,

although they couldn’t become a Hall Master, the White Whale Martial Arts Hall would still offer them a handsome sum to become Honored Guests. It was a no-lose proposition.

Unsurprisingly,

thanks to the Elder Council’s intervention,

Wu Dao and Young Master Qin, the elder’s grandson, were assigned to the same platform.

"’A great hero,’ Pfft."

Before entering the Martial Arts Arena, Young Master Qin looked Wu Dao up and down, shook his head, and let out a derisive snort.

CRUNCH...

The iron lot tag in his palm groaned, spitting sparks as he crushed it into a twisted ball of metal.

Wu Dao watched Young Master Qin’s retreating back, dropped the mangled iron from his hand, and split his mouth into a massive grin. It revealed two rows of savage, Black Gold shark-like teeth. A very... benevolent smile.