Chapter 4868 — The Contest for Captain

"Not exactly. By convention, the alliance chairman here is appointed from the Academy Alliance over in the Mystic-Rank sea region. He seldom shows himself, and he has never once made a move in public, so no one really knows his true strength." The Morning Star Libation paused, and seeing the curiosity written across every face, he went on with another revelation: "But one thing is certain—the chairman's strength is definitely above the Mountain-Opening stage, most likely a peerless expert of the Earth-Splitting stage, and it is not even impossible that he has reached the Sea-Rending stage. I hear he will be presiding over this trial in person, so you will all have a chance to feel it for yourselves."

The Earth-Splitting stage! Perhaps even the Sea-Rending stage!

The crowd was indeed struck dumb. It stood to reason, of course—as chairman of the alliance, he had to stand above all the academy principals, or how could he command their respect?

Even so, suddenly hearing of such a mighty being still shook them to the core. Even Wei Zhao, who had witnessed top-tier monsters like the Five-Poison Flood Dragon and the giant electric eel, was no exception. Those creatures, after all, were things of the past—the giant electric eel was dead, and the Five-Poison Flood Dragon's fate was unknown.

Only this legendary chairman was a living, breathing existence, a proper human cultivator at that, and one they might well be about to meet!

Only such a comparison could truly set the heart surging beyond all restraint, because Wei Zhao could never become the next giant electric eel or Five-Poison Flood Dragon—but to one day become a titan of the Earth-Splitting or even Sea-Rending stage like the chairman was no idle fantasy!

"Very well. You all know the rules by now. Until you receive word from me, do not leave the ship on your own, or you will bear the consequences." With that warning, the Morning Star Libation flickered and vanished from the treasure ship. As the academy's delegation leader, he needed to go on ahead and handle the necessary formalities for everyone.

Wei Zhao shook his head in some helplessness and craned his neck toward Morning Pride and Soaring Cloud Academy, but the distance was too great and too many warships and treasure ships lay in between; he could not make out anything on their decks at all. Being able to see the banners flying atop their masts was already the limit.

The other academies' disciples, meanwhile, passed the time as they pleased—some kept watch, others sat in meditation. At a moment like this, though, no one was in any mood for quiet cultivation; adjusting one's frame of mind was what mattered most, and so they all stayed on deck. They could not leave the ship, but at least this way they could get a foretaste of Thunder Plain Island's environment and atmosphere.

Just then Bao Zuoliang suddenly stepped forward and called out loudly to the crowd: "Everyone, gather round! I have a proposal!"

"What proposal does Young Master Bao have?" The others drifted over at once. The fellow was, after all, the son of City Lord Bao Fala, so everyone was inclined to give him some face.

"You all heard what was said just now. The competition on the Overlord's Road is brutally fierce. Even if we no longer see wipeouts at the drop of a hat as in the old days, friction between disciples of different academies is inevitable. If the lot of us fail to stick together and each fights alone, you can all imagine how that will end without me spelling it out, surely?" Bao Zuoliang said, sweeping his gaze over them.

Every face changed at once. If the other academies also fought individually, that would be one thing—but if they banded together, then any of these people who met them alone would be bound to suffer badly. Competition within an academy was already savage enough; how much worse between academies? Savage hardly described it—only cruel would do.

"So Young Master Bao means we act as a group?" the others said, exchanging uncertain glances.

They were all Morning Star Academy disciples, and banding together was not unacceptable in itself. The problem was, who would be in charge when the time came? Everyone present was proud and high-spirited, and many harbored old grudges against one another, each eyeing the next with distaste. Without a strong central figure, forget fighting other academies—these very people would tear themselves apart in internal strife.

"Exactly. To advance and retreat as one, we must elect a captain here and now, and he will lead our Morning Star squad. All our actions must follow the captain's orders!" Bao Zuoliang declared at once, while deliberately drawing himself up and planting himself squarely in the middle of the crowd. His intent was plain—all this talk had but one purpose: to make himself that captain!

A collective silence fell. They stared at one another, and no one said a word. Bao Zuoliang's reasoning was sound enough—the Morning Star squad did need a temporary captain—but that did not mean they were willing to step aside for him.

As Bao Zuoliang himself had said, all actions would follow the commander's orders. The value of that temporary captaincy was easy to imagine; once on the Overlord's Road, it would invisibly confer an enormous advantage. So even though Bao Zuoliang's background made them wary, it was not enough to make them bow their heads and call him lord. No one wanted to give up such a golden opportunity.

"The captain must be someone who commands everyone's respect. Given Young Master Bao's background and strength, I say he is the fittest to lead our Morning Star squad—who would dare object!" Su Kesheng sprang forward decisively. Bao Zuoliang could hardly nominate himself outright—that would be far too shameless—so the words had to come from the mouth of this loyal follower.

At those words, strange expressions crept over every face. Of the thirty-odd people present, few if any were truly convinced. But Bao Zuoliang's background and strength were not to be underestimated, and anyone who wished to stand up and oppose him in public would first have to weigh the consequences very carefully indeed.

Still, their own lack of nerve to compete with Bao Zuoliang did not mean no one else had any. When it came down to it, there was no shortage of figures present who could overshadow Bao Zuoliang—at the very least, Wang Xinyan, one of the Three Fairies, was qualified.

The world of cultivation had always revered the strong. Wang Xinyan had not been at the academy many years, but her overwhelming strength was plain for all to see; in several academy grand tournaments she had been invincible among her peers. Now she had reached Nascent Soul Great Perfection, and of everyone present, Bao Zuoliang included, probably not one could match her.

And when it came to popularity, Wang Xinyan was if anything above Bao Zuoliang rather than below; more than a few disciples present secretly adored this Fairy of the Three. The only fault to be picked was this: she was a woman.

This was not the matriarchal society of the Western Isles; in the end, it was still the men who had the final say. Even if Wang Xinyan, one of the Three Fairies, stepped forward to command them, it would always feel a little odd—and if word got out, the other academies would likely laugh. Where would these grown men hide their faces then?

Just then a disciple of peculiar appearance suddenly bounded out. He had a shock of striking red hair, and his features bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Lu Dachang. At the sight, Wei Zhao muttered inwardly: Little Lu? (To be continued)