Urban Extraordinary Immortal Doctor
Chapter 1166: Elder of Tribute

Chapter 1166: Chapter 1166: Elder of Tribute

However, although he could not recruit Fang Bai as a disciple of Green Bamboo Stronghold, with the relationship of Su Linglong, Stronghold Head Gu felt that there was still some hope in asking Fang Bai to take up the position of Elder of Tribute.

Stronghold Head Gu had already made up his mind; he sought an opportunity to speak with Su Linglong, and, no matter what, he had to persuade her to convince Fang Bai to agree to become the Elder of Tribute of Green Bamboo Stronghold.

Although Stronghold Head Gu was unable to gauge the depth of Fang Bai’s strength, judged solely by the way Fang Bai had just overpowered Elder Qi in terms of aura, it was clear that his strength was not much weaker than his own. With Fang Bai’s addition, Green Bamboo Stronghold would surely enhance its prowess significantly, no longer needing to fear Swiftwind Valley, its most formidable opponent.

Seeing the way Fang Bai and Su Linglong’s eyes met with deep affection and tender love, Stronghold Head Gu’s heart stirred, and he realized that Su Linglong held an extremely important place in Fang Bai’s heart; he thought perhaps he and Fang Bai could find common ground on the matter of Su Linglong’s injury.

"Linglong’s injury was caused by the disciples of Swiftwind Valley, but unfortunately, our Green Bamboo Stronghold’s overall strength is inferior to Swiftwind Valley. We desire to seek revenge for Linglong, yet we are powerless to do so. Alas..."

As Stronghold Head Gu sighed deeply toward the end, he was closely observing Fang Bai’s reaction.

However, to Stronghold Head Gu’s disappointment, Fang Bai did not react with the thunderous rage he had expected, nor did he immediately express an intense desire to avenge Su Linglong. Instead, a hint of chill could be seen in Fang Bai’s eyes.

Having lived tens of thousands of years in his two lifetimes, what kind of people had Fang Bai not seen? What sort of experiences had he not been through? He saw through Stronghold Head Gu’s little ploy at a glance and said indifferently, "If Stronghold Head Gu truly wishes to join forces with me against Swiftwind Valley, just speak frankly. There’s no need to beat around the bush."

Stronghold Head Gu was taken aback. Gazing into Fang Bai’s sharp eyes that were as piercing as lightning, he felt as if all of his thoughts were laid bare, involuntarily feeling incredibly embarrassed, and with a dry laugh said, "Brother Fang, I sincerely hope you can take up the position of Elder of Tribute at Green Bamboo Stronghold. Then together, we can jointly attack Swiftwind Valley and seek justice for Linglong!"

"Brother Fang, Stronghold Head Gu has always been generous and righteous. As an Elder of Tribute of Green Bamboo Stronghold, I dare not guarantee anything else, but in terms of supply of cultivation resources, he will definitely not shortchange you," Wu De added in favor of Stronghold Head Gu, fulfilling the duty of an Elder of Tribute to "take money from others and solve problems for them."

What Wu De said was indeed true. A sect like Green Bamboo Stronghold, a second-tier sect, had a much richer foundation than a third-tier sect like Dragon Tiger Palace, and they could provide abundant resources for Fang Bai’s cultivation.

However, Wu De did not know that Fang Bai had an extraordinary physique, and the martial arts techniques he practiced were profound; with each cultivation session, the quantity of cultivation resources he required was several times more than that of other martial artists of the same realm, and low-grade cultivation resources were already of little effect on him.

Therefore, while the cultivation resources of Green Bamboo Stronghold were considerable and could temporarily support Fang Bai’s cultivation, with the rapid increase in Fang Bai’s strength, even if Green Bamboo Stronghold were to dedicate all its efforts, it would probably still be unable to keep up with Fang Bai’s cultivation pace.

Listening to Wu De speaking in favor of Green Bamboo Stronghold, Stronghold Head Gu was heartened but worried that this still wouldn’t move Fang Bai. Thus, he turned to Su Linglong, who was beside Fang Bai, and repeatedly gestured with his eyes, signaling her to offer some good words as well.

Su Linglong blinked her beautiful eyes and glanced at Fang Bai, but she did not speak. She thought to herself that Brother Fang was a man of strong convictions. If he did not wish to join Green Bamboo Stronghold, no one could persuade him; and if he was willing, why would he need any persuasion?

"In light of Linglong and Wu De’s goodwill, I accept the position of Elder of Tribute at Green Bamboo Stronghold."

Gu Li’s subtle maneuvers certainly did not escape Fang Bai’s notice. Considering that Su Linglong had faced difficulties in both life and surroundings after arriving in the True Martial Realm, and how Green Bamboo Stronghold had taken her in and cared for her, Fang Bai felt a fondness for Green Bamboo Stronghold as well. Although he was aware that Gu Li’s invitation for him to become the Elder of Tribute was mostly for the stronghold’s own benefits, after some consideration, he still agreed.

Fang Bai accepted Gu Li’s invitation for three main reasons:

First, Green Bamboo Stronghold is a top-tier, second-grade great sect of the Tiansheng Continent, which would allow him to utilize its vast network of resources to seek information about his scattered relatives and friends in the True Martial Realm, a far better approach than aimlessly searching alone.

Second, Fang Bai had devoted himself to cultivation in the bamboo building for over a month, rapidly depleting his cultivation resources. He felt that the cultivation resources he brought from Dragon Tiger Palace’s Underground Palace would not last long, and becoming the Elder of Tribute of Green Bamboo Stronghold would at least ensure that he wouldn’t have to search for new cultivation resources immediately when his own were exhausted.

Third, Su Linglong is his confidante and Wu De is his friend. As Elder of Tribute of Green Bamboo Stronghold, their treatment within the stronghold would certainly improve significantly, which would be beneficial to their cultivation.

"Haha, Brother Fang, I’m so glad you’ve agreed! With you as our Elder of Tribute, it would be difficult for Green Bamboo Stronghold not to prosper! What’s Swiftwind Valley or Falcon Mountain? They are nothing compared to us; how could they even be mentioned in the same breath? Soon, Green Bamboo Stronghold will dominate the Tiansheng Continent, reigning supreme!"

Wu De, seeing that Fang Bai was willing to join Green Bamboo Stronghold and had even considered his face, couldn’t help but beam with pride, looking at the stronghold’s upper echelons with his chest puffed out, thinking to himself that if it weren’t for the weight of his words, perhaps Fang Bai wouldn’t have agreed to join Green Bamboo Stronghold.

Seeing Fang Bai nod in agreement to become the Elder of Tribute, the high-ranking members of Green Bamboo Stronghold were overjoyed.

For them, Fang Bai’s willingness to stay meant that Su Linglong could cultivate in peace. And the Martial Dao Geniuses Zhuge Lian, Linghu Qian Jiao, and Linghu Bai Mei, who were closely related to Fang Bai, would certainly also stay at Green Bamboo Stronghold. This made Gu Li feel he had the opportunity to persuade them to join as well.

That day, Gu Li gathered all the disciples of Green Bamboo Stronghold and held a brief ceremony to formally accept Fang Bai as the Elder of Tribute.

When Fang Bai was announced as the Elder of Tribute, Gu Li observed shock and dissent in the eyes of the disciples, knowing this was due to Fang Bai’s youthful appearance and previously unknown reputation on the True Yuan Continent. He specially mentioned Fang Bai’s feats, such as having slain Elder Qiu Heming of Swiftwind Valley, Stewards He Yushu and He Lin Feng, and Direct Disciples Feng Shijun and Feng Shijie.

Elder Qiu Heming of Swiftwind Valley was a mid-tier Cosmic Level practitioner, famous throughout the True Martial Realm, and a name known to all disciples of Green Bamboo Stronghold; He Yushu and He Lin Feng were early-stage Cosmic Level practitioners; although Feng Shijun and Feng Shijie were relatively weaker, they were still practitioners of Vast Level Perfection.

When the disciples of Green Bamboo Stronghold heard that Fang Bai had single-handedly killed these five members of Swiftwind Valley, there was an uproar of astonishment.

Had this been said by anyone else, the disciples of Green Bamboo Stronghold would not have believed it, but coming from Gu Li himself, no one doubted it.

This Fang Bai, it turns out, is so powerful!

He is fully qualified and capable of undertaking the role of Elder of Tribute at Green Bamboo Stronghold!