Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 271 Debate

"this…..."

Several elderly men who coveted the position of deputy head of the Internal Affairs Hall wanted to say something, but dared not utter a word due to Ao Yang's imposing presence.

"Since everyone has no objections, then it's settled. Han Yi will serve as the deputy head of the Internal Affairs Hall, handling and being responsible for its affairs," Ao Yang said, squinting his eyes.

"This is somewhat inappropriate, isn't it?" At this moment, Elder Li Chengfeng, sitting on a chair on the stage, said calmly with his head lowered.

"What's wrong with it?" Huang Ze frowned and looked at Li Chengfeng, displeased.

He knew that Li Chengfeng didn't get along with him or Han Yi and might object, so he had been observing Li Chengfeng's words and actions to respond immediately. Li Chengfeng was also dressed in black, his face gloomy, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

He glanced at Huang Ze, then looked at Han Yi, and said with a forced smile, "Han Yi, although he has made contributions, according to his experience, he only saved those dozen or so disciples. The resolution of the black market matter also ended with the destruction of the black market."

Moreover, his cultivation level is only at the Blood Refining stage. The Internal Affairs Hall manages a considerable number of people and businesses; to hand it over to a young man with little experience like this—what will the other elders in the sect think? To receive such a large reward for such meager contributions and weak strength is against the rules.”

"The truth behind the black market fire is something we both know. It's not that simple. Even if it were you or me in that situation, this would be the best outcome we could hope for. This is the best possible result!" Huang Ze sneered.

He was furious. This old bastard Li Chengfeng always caused trouble at times like this. The black market was on fire, and the strange realm had appeared. The middle and lower-level managers in the audience didn't know, but did this old bastard not know the dangers involved?

He himself had personally experienced how dangerous the Ghost Realm was. Even if it was just an unformed Ghost Realm, just look at the injuries on Han Yi's body...

And based on deductions and analyses from other outer disciples, it was determined that there were malevolent entities within, such as possessing spirits, vengeful souls, and other strange and malevolent spirits...

Even for a martial artist like him who has reached the Qi Refining stage, it's hard to say whether he could withstand these things and survive.

It is clear that the perilous situation Han Yi was in at the time could not be summed up by a simple "set a fire" statement; he could fully imagine it.

Therefore, after confirming that Han Yi was indeed without fault and had simply accidentally broken the core of the Ghost Domain with the Yangyan Arrow, this achievement was something that even the head of the hall could have done, let alone the deputy hall master.

However, he couldn't reveal these reasons openly. After all, there were so many mid- to low-level leaders sitting below the stage, and the truth about the destruction of the black market was that it was attacked by the Chiba Faction.

Li Chengfeng said calmly, "But the key is that I wasn't in the black market that day. If I had encountered this situation, what I would have done would have depended on the specific circumstances."

According to sect rules, one must have at least the strength of a martial arts master to serve as a deputy hall master. Now, let's be objective. Han Yi is only at the Blood Refining stage, so serving as a deputy hall master is indeed against the rules. I am just an elder in charge of law enforcement within the sect, and I am standing up to speak a fair word for the elders of the sect.

Why should so many veterans who have risked their lives for the sect for so many years be less valued than a mere youth who has only recently become an inner disciple?

As soon as he finished speaking, many of the middle and lower-level leaders in the audience nodded in approval.

Li Chengfeng's words struck a chord with them. Yes, Han Yi was just a young man not even twenty years old. All he had done was rescue a dozen or so disciples from the black market. He hadn't even captured a single spy from the Qianye Sect and had been injured. He hadn't even managed to protect the black market. It was hardly a merit. In terms of seniority, strength, and contribution, none of them were inferior to Han Yi.

"You!" Huang Ze glanced at the expressions of the crowd below the stage, slammed his hand heavily on the armrest of his chair, and showed his anger.

He felt extremely aggrieved. Li Chengfeng's words were extremely clever, every sentence was true, and only part of the truth was revealed. But it sounded as if Han Yi had no merit, and had only escaped hastily and survived by chance.

However, Han Yi's contributions were clearly not limited to this, but he could not reveal the truth in order to keep it a secret. Li Chengfeng also knew about this, but he seized on this point and did not let it go, just to weaken Han Yi's role.

"Old scoundrel Li, what do you mean? Appointing Han Yi as the deputy head of the Internal Affairs Hall is the sect leader's order. What, do you have a problem with the sect leader's order? Is that what you mean?" Huang Ze said solemnly, his hands resting on the armrests.

Li Chengfeng calmly said, "I didn't mean anything by it, nor am I questioning the sect leader's order. It's just that as an elder who manages the sect's rules and regulations, I have the right to speak out and intervene in any matter that is not in accordance with the rules."

"Alright, alright, you two stop arguing. You're both getting on in years, it's making you a laughingstock." Ao Yang couldn't stand it anymore and impatiently stopped them.

He hadn't expected that simply increasing the rewards slightly, with the intention of compensating Han Yi, would cause such a huge backlash within the sect.

However, he could understand the argument between Li Chengfeng and Huang Ze. The inner and outer halls of the Crimson Flame Sect were not on good terms and often had conflicts. It was normal for them to sabotage each other.

Of course, this discord was intentional on his part. If all the halls within the sect were united as one, then he, as the sect leader, would be in danger!

He rubbed his slightly aching forehead, turned to Han Yi who was standing in the corner, and asked, "Han Yi, no matter what, you have undoubtedly made a great contribution in this black market incident. Just tell me what you want to do."

Immediately, all eyes in the hall focused on Han Yi, who had remained silent.

Han Yi was taken aback when he heard this, but then he realized that Ao Yang was unable to handle the matter and had passed the buck to him.

If Aoyang disregards the objections of Li Chengfeng and many mid-to-low-level leaders and directly promotes him to the position of deputy head of the Internal Affairs Hall, it will undoubtedly greatly undermine everyone's confidence, raise doubts about the sect's promotion system, and consequently damage Aoyang's reputation among them.

But if Aoyang were to comply with Li Chengfeng's wishes, that wouldn't work either.

As the sect leader, although he didn't possess the absolute power of an emperor's word, his promises were still law and not open to questioning. He had just said he would promote him to deputy hall master, but then immediately denied it. Clearly, this behavior was a slap in the face and would further diminish his prestige.

Therefore, since Aoyang couldn't handle the matter well, he passed this thorny problem on to him.

Han Yi's mind raced, and he instantly understood what Ao Yang meant. A slight bitter smile appeared on his lips.

Aoyang didn't want to speak, so the responsibility was passed on to him. This way, he would be the one to make the final choice, and any objections from others would be irrelevant to Aoyang...

But how exactly should we choose?

Han Yi kept thinking to himself, "Deputy Hall Master, the title sounds good. His status and position have been greatly improved. He can basically be regarded as half of the sect's high-level members. If he can demonstrate the strength of a Martial Master in a few years, he can use this as a springboard to be promoted to the full position and take over the responsibilities of Elder Huang Ze. Becoming a high-level member is only natural."

However, although the affairs of the Internal Affairs Hall were not as complicated as those of the External Affairs Hall, there were still many personnel, material, and miscellaneous matters to be handled every day.

Especially given that Tian Jing basically doesn't handle things, there's no doubt that Huang Ze will entrust these daily little matters to him in the future.

His busy life from now on is predictable, and the time he can dedicate to cultivation will likely be greatly reduced.

'Thinking about it this way, being a nominal deputy hall master seems to do more harm than good?'

A thought flashed through Han Yi's mind: no matter what, this world is still one where martial arts strength reigns supreme. As long as you are strong enough, you can get anything.

Just like when he encountered the Ghost Realm in the black market, if he hadn't cultivated to the level of a Master of Internal Strength early on, he might have already been successfully attacked by Danyangzi and turned into a corpse in the Ghost Realm. He wouldn't even be able to come out alive, let alone choose to become the Deputy Head of the Internal Affairs Hall.

Moreover, even if he becomes the deputy hall master, so what? What difference would there be between him and an inner disciple?

Above the deputy hall master are hall masters, elders, deputy sect masters, and sect masters. The deputy hall master is essentially a high-level employee, with no choice but to obey orders from above.

In his previous life, he was a white-collar worker who spent his days and years in a cubicle building, pretending to be a high-level white-collar worker, but in reality, he was just a keyboard-wielding laborer. What difference is there between this deputy hall master and his previous life?

If he were to be reborn, would he have to return to his previous aimless and miserable working life, where he was constantly working overtime and being harassed by his boss?

However, the position of deputy hall master is a coveted goal for many within the sect, and a direct and blunt refusal would likely only raise more suspicion...

It seems that this is the only way...

Thinking of this, a glint of light flashed in Han Yi's eyes, and he made a decision.

He paused for a moment and said, "Reporting to the sect leader, I have an idea."

"Oh, tell me about it." Ao Yang, a little curious, touched his shiny bald head and said, "Speak boldly, as long as it's reasonable, I'll agree."

Han Yi said, "Sect Master, I think Elder Li Chengfeng's words... are reasonable!"

"Huh?" Huang Ze was startled. He immediately wanted to get up and touch Han Yi's head to see if he had a fever and why he would agree to the suggestion made by that old scoundrel Li Chengfeng.

"..." Li Chengfeng was also somewhat taken aback. How could he not know the contributions Han Yi had made? Based on his contributions, he was more than qualified to serve as a deputy hall master.

However, he just couldn't stand Han Yi. Han Yi was basically his dog, yet he tried to break free from his control and actually succeeded.

He had considered killing them, but his planned attacks either mysteriously disappeared or inexplicably failed. Later, with Bai Sanren's protection, he found it even harder to act, and he thought the matter was over. Unexpectedly, this humble peasant, who had originally struggled to make a living, rose step by step from an outer disciple to an inner disciple, and then from an inner disciple to a deputy hall master…

The once insignificant nobody now seems poised to catch up with him...

Recalling Han Yi's experiences and the details of his interactions with him, Li Chengfeng couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. This man's ability to rise from nothing to become a Blood Refining stage disciple was something he had never seen before. His perseverance, his low-key personality, and his outstanding talent were all rare in his life.

Such a dangerous person, if we can't win him over to our side... then we can only let him die!

A hint of murderous intent flashed in Li Chengfeng's eyes.

He suddenly spoke in a deep, somber voice, "Since you think I'm right, then you should immediately refuse the position of deputy hall master. Why not come to our External Affairs Hall, hone your skills for a few more years? You're currently in the late stage of Blood Refinement; perhaps you'll become a Qi Refining Martial Master by then, and then take on the position of deputy hall master. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" "Elder Li's kindness is appreciated..." Han Yi grinned, but then his tone shifted, "But what I said makes sense, only partially..."

In the spacious hall, hundreds of eyes were fixed on Han Yi, but he seemed oblivious, his expression calm as he spoke eloquently: "The position of Vice Hall Master is one of high rank and great responsibility, something everyone in the sect desires, and I am no exception..."

He paused, then continued, "Yi, it's true that you started training too early, and coupled with insufficient strength, you certainly can't command respect. Your position is illegitimate, making it difficult for you to take on the role of deputy hall master..."

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement. Han Yi's words were impartial and extremely pertinent. He recognized his own shortcomings right from the start, which greatly improved the people's initial negative feelings towards him.

“But I am indeed not strong enough to convince the masses, so…” Han Yi looked up and looked at Ao Yang with some difficulty.

"Hmm?" Ao Yang looked at Han Yi with interest, and waved his hand, "Just say what you want to say, we're all on the same side."

“So…” Han Yi’s expression was somewhat excited. He left his seat, stood up, and said loudly, “I would like to ask the sect leader to temporarily retain my position as deputy hall master, and make a final decision after one year!”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned, not understanding what he meant.

But immediately, some people jumped out to object.

"Keep your position for a year, and then we'll make a decision?" Li Chengfeng said coldly from the side. "Kid, do you think this is child's play? There's never been such a thing since ancient times. A position is a position because you have responsibilities. Holding your position for a year is no different from receiving a salary without working."

"Besides, even if I give you a year, what then? Do you think you can break through your meridians and enter the realm of internal energy?"

"Whether it succeeds or not, what does it have to do with you?" Han Yi finally snapped, directly confronting Li Chengfeng. He and Li Chengfeng were always eager to see each other destroyed. Especially since the beginning of the morning meeting today, that old dog Li Chengfeng had been barking and constantly finding fault to obstruct them, which was really annoying.

If it weren't for the fact that the sect leader and so many other people were watching over us...

He would have slapped him to death long ago!