Chapter 4135 — Contesting the Deputy Island Lord
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
That was simply how things stood. Of the top-tier figures currently visible on the Central Island, at least seven in ten could claim study experience on the East Island. To gain the chance to go to the East Island therefore meant soaring to glory from that day forth—a stroke of fortune beyond the wildest dreams of every cultivator.
And recently, the Cultivator Academy had been stirred by stirring news: their senior libationer, Nantian Jiguang, had successfully broken through to the realm of Nascent Soul perfection and advanced to become one of the few Profound Ascension cultivators on the Central Island!
A Profound Ascension expert—on Cloud Terrace Island, that was already standing at the very pinnacle of existence. Otherwise, back in the day, they would never have let Di Xingdao, who had only reached Nascent Soul perfection, take the seat of Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island.
Of course, Di Xingdao possessed the power to slay foes above his level, and could not be measured by common standards—but that only went to show how precious a Profound Ascension expert was.
The rallying power and influence of any single Profound Ascension expert were absolutely extraordinary. And in recent years, as the Cultivator Academy's standing on the Central Island climbed ever higher, its voice had naturally grown as well. The call to select a representative from its ranks to become Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island had lately been rising with the tide.
By happy coincidence, Di Xingdao's long years of absence had left exactly one Deputy Island Lord's seat vacant—a perfect opening for the Cultivator Academy to march into the Central Island's top circle of power.
Originally, the Academy Head was the ideal representative; in both strength and status, he was wholly deserving of the Deputy Island Lord's seat. Yet the man shared the temperament of the Pill God Zhang Lifeng—forever showing his head but never his tail. He was neither suited to the post nor interested in it.
Apart from him, looking across the whole Cultivator Academy, only two others were qualified: one was the Executive Vice Head, Lang Qiufeng; the other was Nantian Jiguang, who had just been appointed Vice Head on the strength of his recent breakthrough to Profound Ascension.
Among the rest there were Profound Ascension experts too, but to represent the Cultivator Academy as Deputy Island Lord of the Central Island required unmatched influence and connections—mere strength was not enough.
As for the two front-runners, Lang Qiufeng and Nantian Jiguang: the former was stronger, but he was a thoroughgoing pedant and martial fool with not a shred of political cunning, far less adept at scheming than Nantian Jiguang. Barring accidents, it was the newly ascended Profound Ascension expert Nantian Jiguang whose odds of victory ran a notch higher!
In a secret chamber within the Cultivator Academy's core residence, two men sat facing each other, passing cups back and forth, chatting and laughing with gusto.
Both were familiar faces to Wei Zhao. One was Nantian Jiguang, the Libationer Nantian who had once descended into the mortal world; the other was none other than Si Haitao, who had recently become the North Island steward of the Central Chamber of Commerce.
"Congratulations, congratulations, old friend Nantian! This time you've not only risen another level in strength but also gotten your wish and taken the Vice Head's seat—a double blessing indeed! Come, come, let me drink first in your honor!" Si Haitao raised his cup, his face wreathed in smiles.
"Haha, Steward Si is too kind. If not for your Central Chamber of Commerce providing me with millions of spirit jades to buy up those academy votes, even if I could have taken this Vice Head's seat, it would never have been so quick, much less so smooth. So this cup should be mine to raise to you, in gratitude!" Nantian Jiguang laughed, brimming with smug delight, clinked cups with Si Haitao, and drained his in one go.