All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes
Chapter 415 - 58: Hosting, Beheading, Taking in as a Dog (2/3)

Chapter 415: Chapter 58: Hosting, Beheading, Taking in as a Dog (2/3)

Meanwhile.

First Middle School’s lounge.

Qiu Zhen Society internal meeting.

The Qiu Zhen Society was initially an internal discussion group at First Middle School, founded by students from major families who enjoyed magical combat. They would regularly duel at the school’s martial arts arena, consolidate their experience in magical combat, and delve into the details of their Daoist Foundation. Their motto was "The more one argues, the clearer things become. The more one fights, the stronger one becomes" and "Combat brings reality, battle brings truth." It was a very traditional cultivation group.

Since the founders had successively become True Persons of the Purple Mansion, and some even advanced to become Golden Core True Persons or True Lords who validated their Daoist Profession, the society they established gradually evolved into a student organization at First Middle School that represented the magical combat lineage. Generally speaking, if a student at First Middle School wanted to participate in various external competitive events, they had to join the Qiu Zhen Society to access the school’s resources.

The president of the Qiu Zhen Society, Yan Chengju, was currently frowning deeply, looking at the other nine students in front of him.

He was large and stocky, exerting an oppressive presence even while sitting, but his temperament was not that of a wild beast like a bear or a lion; rather, he resembled a towering mountain, an unyielding rock pillar.

He surveyed the nine present, who all simultaneously lowered their heads, not daring to meet Yan Chengju’s gaze. He snorted coldly, "Allowing an outsider to reach the top eight has already lost us much face at First Middle School."

"Little Chen’s case is different, as it was a decision made internally. He was to display his skills and then voluntarily withdraw, to avoid internal conflict and to maintain unity... But Dou, what happened with you?"

Yan Chengju looked towards Dou, who had bandages around his chest and a somewhat tanned face, causing the latter to shiver and stand up to explain, "Captain! The Nian Quan’s techniques were indeed formidable. My ’Green Jade Fortitude Skills’ can handle most skills and regular weapons, but it simply couldn’t counter Sword Intent."

"Although I lost, I made sure to give Nian Quan a harsh lesson; he will definitely have to forfeit!"

"Losing is a mistake, no matter how much you explain," Yan Chengju said sternly. "Dou, I will apply for a grant later to treat your injuries, but for now, please leave."

With those words, he effectively asked Dou to leave the core circle of the Qiu Zhen Society—Dou’s face first turned deathly pale, then flushed red, but ultimately, he staggered out of the meeting room without saying anything.

Yan Chengju withdrew his gaze from the departing Dou and looked at the other members who showed no objection. His mouth curved into a satisfied smile, "Let’s consider Nian Quan a potential Sword Immortal. Give him some respect and let him stay in the top eight."

"Without such a talent to showcase, our school’s reputation wouldn’t be regarded highly."

Standing up, Yan Chengju, with his hands behind his back, approached the Water Mirror and unfolded an elimination chart, beginning to arrange the upcoming rankings, "The day after tomorrow’s double-elimination match, Nian Quan will likely forfeit. Yu Guan, in the winner’s group, you might have a chance for a bye, but you should also prepare. I’ve heard that Sword Cultivators are tough, they might compete even when injured."

"When the time comes, show him some regard. It’s best if you can graciously ask him to step down. But if he persists..."

Yan Chengju turned around, giving a meaningful look, and the thin-looking Yu Guan nodded, "I understand. I’ll teach him a ’memorable’ lesson."

"Your ’Summoning Skills’ create the simplest accidents," Yan Chengju nodded with satisfaction. "Thinking he is a Heavenly Spiritual Root and a genius, does he think he can ignore the rules? Orphans should be taught a few harsh lessons."

"Next, for the winner’s group, Little Sui, you will win..."

Yan Chengju began arranging the rankings for all First Middle School students. Of course, he was first, but he arranged the others fairly too. After all, they sparred daily within the Qiu Zhen Society, and he was well aware of everyone’s hidden strengths and breakthroughs.

A few students ranked differently than they had anticipated, yet none doubted him. Instead, they looked at their opponents in surprise—was this fellow hiding his abilities all this time?

The students who were pointed out as winners also looked at Yan Chengju with surprise and admiration, as they had indeed made progress recently. They hadn’t re-ranked due to not dueling with others during the competition, yet Yan Chengju could see it all; nothing could be hidden from him.

He truly deserved to be the president of the Qiu Zhen Society this session!

"That’s basically it. Dismissed."

After ranking the members, Yan Chengju also arranged the details of their magical combat to prevent these young cultivators from getting overly excited and unable to display their true abilities, which might appear ungraceful and cause accidents.

"The president has worked hard!"

After finishing all this, all the students left one by one, and Yan Chengju remained in the conference room, closing his eyes in deep thought.

"Come in."

After a while, someone knocked on the door. Yan Chengju opened his eyes and called out, and as the door cracked open, the earlier Dou student quietly entered.

"President, I..."

He hesitated and began speaking with a hint of grievance, but Yan Chengju raised his hand to silence him before speaking, "I’m sorry, Dou Yue. But without rules, we can’t form a circle; you lost, and I have no reason to protect you."

The robust young cultivator stepped forward, patted Dou Yue on the shoulder, and earnestly said, "Nian Quan is indeed tough to deal with; even I would probably only be able to dodge his Sword Intent. And yet, you managed to withstand a strike and smartly burst out to injure him... You are our hero."

"Don’t worry, whatever the cost of your treatment in Good Deeds, the Qiu Zhen Society’s fund will cover it all."

Yan Chengju took full responsibility, and he also took out a small jade bottle from his bosom, "Here is a bottle of ’Jade Nourishing Dew’, which is most suitable for your Green Jade Fortitude Skills, consider it a personal compensation from me."

"You don’t need to worry, I have seen your strength, and after some time, I will reinstate you—alas, it’s just your bad luck to have encountered that Nian Quan, otherwise, in my view, you would have been a strong contender for the top spots."

Initially, Dou Yue remained silent, but after seeing the bottle of Jade Nourishing Dew, he was visibly moved, and after hearing Yan Chengju’s recognition and promise to bring him back into the core circle, he burst into tears of gratitude, "President! It’s my fault! I lost and failed our Qiu Zhen Society and the reputation of First Middle School!"

"I lost, and indeed deserve the punishment! Isn’t our Qiu Zhen Society about gaining truth through combat? This time, I indeed felt that I have many shortcomings... I, I will definitely cultivate seriously!"

"Well said, well said..."

Yan Chengju smiled and patted his back, "In a few days, I will be hosting a private gathering. Come join us."

"Me?" Under Dou Yue’s incredulous gaze, Yan Chengju nodded naturally, then encouraged him a few more times, and they left the conference room together.

Ha, I should really thank that Nian Quan. Walking on the road, Yan Chengju thought to himself: "This Dou Yue always acts like a block of wood; without someone defeating him and crushing his pride, it truly would not have been easy to recruit him."

"Though the resources of Qiu Zhen Society are excellent, they are not mine forever... Such talent must be drawn to my side."

Just then, he happened to pass by the seclusion area of Third Middle School. Yan Chengju glanced toward Nian Quan’s seclusion room and chuckled lightly, "He’s also quite a talent... It’s just unfortunate that he stands in my way."

"If he’s wise and chooses to forfeit, it might not be impossible to recruit him as a house guest... This kind of poor boy, might be easy to win over. Let Yu Guan severely injure him, then I graciously treat him, and throw in some money to win his loyalty."