Chapter 151: Different

Chapter 151: Different

Having been reprimanded, Chairman Liu Xuanfeng wore a grim expression as he sat in the business car returning to the martial society.

The others, understandably, remained silent. The atmosphere in the car was extremely heavy.

After a while, Liu Xuanfeng finally turned his gaze to Lu Changkong and slowly exhaled. "Changkong, you know the Prince's stance. It's not that I don't want to give you a chance, but your performance has been too disappointing."

"I understand," Lu Changkong responded with a hint of sorrow.

"You're also quite old now and can't devote as much time and energy into managing the affairs of the various states in your jurisdiction. I understand. You should take some time to rest for a while."

"I'll submit my resignation...."

When Lu Changkong said this, he appeared as though he had aged significantly.

As a Martial Saint with a forged Martial Will, he could directly assume the position of an executive. However...

An executive and a deputy chairman were still one level apart. For middle-aged and elderly Martial Saints having been in office for around fifty years, bridging this gap was quite challenging.

He had hoped to stay in this position and, in the future, possibly succeed Liu Xuanfeng and become the chairman of the martial association. But now...

Prince Su Mai, a prominent figure in the Guardian Hall responsible for overseeing the martial arts community, had personally spoken. With that, he could no longer remain in this position no matter what.

Liu Xuanfeng nodded. "That's for the best."

He glanced at Lu Changkong. Lu Changkong had been a victim of his own misjudgement. If he hadn't pushed Lin Yuzhi into position, and if Lin Yuzhi hadn't caused such severe problems in Jiang Province, he wouldn't have ended up in a situation where even his position as chairman was jeopardized.

But now that Lin Yuzhi was dead, there was no point in attacking him posthumously. At most, he could target Lin Yuzhi's protégé, Lin Yuchi, to exact some measure of revenge.

"Someone must assume Changkong's responsibilities," Liuxuan Feng said, glancing at Zhuo Chengyu. "Right now, the most important thing is to return to Jiang Province as soon as possible and invite Grandmaster Li to the capital city.

"Once he joins our Taibai team, we will depart for the Tianyuan Dynasty to compete in the World's Top Martial Competition. Therefore, Executive Zhuo, you will take over Chairman Lu's duties and ensure this task is completed promptly. Is that clear?"

Despite already anticipating it to some extent, Zhuo Chengyu could not hide his surprise when Liuxuan Feng personally promised him the role of martial association deputy chairman, taking over from Lu Changkong.

Struggling to contain his excitement, he responded earnestly, "Rest assured, Chairman. I will personally travel to Jiang Province, work with the current chairman, Lian Hongchen, and do everything possible to invite Grandmaster Li to the capital city."

Liuxuan Feng nodded slightly. After a moment, he added, "I'll come with you."

Lu Changkong, Zhuo Chengyu, and Ding Aojun were all taken aback. "Chairman!?"

Though Liuxuan Feng might appear to lack authority due to Prince Su Mai's reprimands, in reality, he had surpassed the ten-levels official hierarchy system and entered the ranks of Taibai's administrative officials. This placed him among the nation's top leaders.

His departure from the capital would have a significant impact on any region he visited. Typically, this would require advance notice to local authorities to clear the streets, manage traffic, and prepare for his arrival. Yet, for the sake of Li Pin, he was willing to go personally....

I remember Lian Hongchen mentioned that Li Pin plans to practice a sword technique to deal with ferocious beasts... He chose the highly renowned Infinite Sword Technique, known for its speed, sharpness, and countless variations. But of all the materials available, his sword is forged from the Eight Desolate Stone... Zhuo Chengyu thought.

Swords forged from the Eight Desolate Stone were typically heavy. Compared to lighter swords, which emphasized nimble sword techniques, the heavier swords were ideal for dealing with tough-skinned ferocious beasts. However, a lighter sword would conserve the user's stamina and allow for sustained bursts of power.

Last year, Zhuo Chengyu forged a new astral equipment from Lingfeng Crystal. It weighed twenty jin, or ten kilograms, but felt remarkably light in practice due to the Lingfeng Crystal's inherent lightness. Despite its weight, it could deliver heavy blows while placing less strain on the users compared to swords that weigh a few jin.

With this in mind, he made a decision.

***

Liu Xuanfeng and Zhuo Chengyu acted swiftly. By the next day, they had already set off for Jiang Province.

Apart from Lian Hongchen and a handful of high-ranking officials within the martial society, they hadn't informed anyone locally.

***

At the time when the prominent figures from the capital city, Liu Xuanfeng and Zhuo Chengyu arrived with lavish gifts, Li Pin was at the Astral Hall.

"Grandmaster Li, are you really resigning from your position as an instructor at the Astral Hall?"

The one speaking to Li Pin was not Zhou Xiuyuan, but the vice hall master in charge of the personnel department, Su Yongsheng.

With Xiang Tianxing, the Warden of the Guardian Hall, also doubling as the Hall Master, Su Yongsheng, being a member of the royal family's side branch, effectively held the highest authority in the Astral Hall.

"Three days ago, we held a hall meeting and decided to offer you a permanent position in the Astral Hall. We would like to appoint you directly to the position of senior instructor. If you have any additional requests, please don't hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to accommodate them," Su Yongsheng offered sincerely.

Senior instructors were entitled to use astral equipment three times a month and enjoyed a salary, benefits, and perks comparable to those of level-three, or even level-two officials.

Zhou Xiuyuan, standing nearby, also urged, "Grandmaster Li, your combat training course is currently one of the most popular at the Astral Hall. Every time the registration opens, it fills up within a minute. Everyone has great trust and anticipation for your teaching."

"Thank you for your kindness, but as you may have heard, I've signed up for the World's Top Martial Competition. For the next month or two, I need to focus entirely on preparing for it, and I simply won't have time to teach."

Su Yongsheng laughed. "Hahaha, that's easy. We understand that you are competing for the honor of both Jiang Province and the entire Taibai Kingdom. For the next month or two, feel free to focus on your preparation. Rest assured, the Astral Hall will not bother you about your teaching duties."

"My teaching methods are actually quite simple," Li Pin remarked honestly.

"But among all the instructors in the Astral Hall, you are the only one who have been able to pull off these methods effectively," Su Yongsheng responded earnestly. "We sincerely hope you will continue to serve at the Astral Hall."

Li Pin pondered for a moment but did not give a definite answer. "Let's wait until the World's Top Martial Competition is over. I will inform you of my decision by then, Hall Master Su."

The Astral Hall's students were indeed quite impressive. With hardly any opponents left in Jiang Province, these students were the only ones he could engage in real combat with.

Of course, this was before he manifested his Martial Will and became a Martial Saint. If he could reach the Martial Saint realm after the competition, these students would no longer be a match for him.

Therefore, whether or not he stayed at the Astral Hall would depend on his progress after the competition.