The Spirit Pagoda Meeting is held once a year, and only those who can attend can be considered the true upper echelon of the Spirit Pagoda.
This is not some open gathering, but a small-scale deliberation with strictly limited attendance.
The Tower Master, Vice Tower Masters, thirty-six councilors, and the four Spirit Envoys—only those who form the core decision-making body of the Spirit Pagoda are qualified to attend.
The meeting is held in the conference room on the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
Although the Spirit Pagoda Meeting is of high prestige, not everyone attends every year.
For example, Vice Tower Master Zhang Geyang, who is far away in the Star Luo Empire, often misses it due to the distance.
Or, for instance, some Branch Pagoda masters may ask for leave if they have urgent business to attend to.
However, the situation for this meeting is vastly different from previous years.
Because Qiangu Dongfeng and Leng Yaozhu both have their own agendas and are planning to push for what they want at this meeting, the attendance is rarely complete.
Even Vice Tower Master Zhang Geyang, who is stationed in Star Luo year-round and rarely returns to the headquarters, has made a special trip back this time.
Among the thirty-six councilors, the Qian Gu Family holds eleven seats.
Eleven seats mean eleven votes.
In the Spirit Pagoda's decision-making mechanism, every single vote carries real weight.
The meeting proceeded according to tradition, with Qiangu Dongfeng, as Tower Master, sitting at the head of the long table, presiding over the proceedings.
The first major part was not much different from previous years: the annual reports of each Branch Pagoda, statistical data on Spirit Soul production, the expansion progress of the Spirit Pagoda across the continent, and the summary of financial income and expenses...
One routine agenda item after another was reviewed, discussed, and voted upon, proceeding with such stability that it was almost dull.
Until the routine procedures were all completed, Qiangu Dongfeng raised his gaze and swept his eyes across everyone present.
He cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice was unhurried, yet it caused the atmosphere of the entire conference hall to freeze.
"I have a proposal."
"One of the four Spirit Envoy positions is currently vacant. As Tower Master, I will recommend the worthy without avoiding my own kin."
"I propose Qiangu Zhangting to succeed as the new Spirit Envoy."
Once these words were spoken, the conference room fell instantly silent.
Everyone's gaze converged on Qiangu Dongfeng simultaneously, and then shifted to Leng Yaozhu.
Regardless of whether Qiangu Dongfeng's words were motivated by public interest or personal gain, the fact that Qiangu Zhangting is his grandson is something that cannot be overlooked.
However, rather than questioning Qiangu Dongfeng, everyone was more interested in Leng Yaozhu's reaction.
The conflict between these two Vice Tower Masters and the Tower Master is no longer a secret within the Spirit Pagoda.
Ever since the scene Leng Yaozhu caused in Qiangu Dongfeng's office, the rift between them has been completely laid out in the open.
Now that Qiangu Dongfeng has made the first move, how Leng Yaozhu will respond has become the drama everyone wants to see.
Leng Yaozhu certainly did not disappoint. Her tone was steady but carried an unyielding edge: "The position of Spirit Envoy is not for just anyone to sit in. Since there are strict conditions set, they must be followed. I recall that Qiangu Zhangting is not yet a Titled Douluo, right?"
Among the appointment standards for the four Spirit Envoys of the Spirit Pagoda, there is a strict rule: to serve as a Spirit Envoy, one requires at least the cultivation level of a Titled Douluo.
Although Qiangu Zhangting has good talent, everyone present knows that he is still some distance away from that threshold.
Leng Yaozhu's objection was reasonable and well-founded.
However, there was not a trace of panic on Qiangu Dongfeng's face. Instead, he smiled slightly, as if he had long expected Leng Yaozhu to bring this up.
"Vice Tower Master Leng, you are unaware," he said unhurriedly, "The Old Tower Master came out of seclusion not long ago. Under his personal guidance, Zhangting just achieved a Breakthrough to Titled Douluo a few days ago."
The moment these words fell, Leng Yaozhu's brows furrowed. She truly did not know about this.
She did not immediately respond, and whispers began to arise in the conference room.
These people were no longer concerned with when Qiangu Zhangting achieved his Breakthrough to Titled Douluo; the advancement of a younger generation member was not worth such attention from these high-level figures.
What truly shook everyone to their core were the five words Qiangu Dongfeng had casually dropped.
The Old Tower Master has come out of seclusion!
The previous Spirit Pagoda Tower Master, Old Tower Master Qiangu Dieting, is a powerhouse of the Quasi-God level.
Currently, within the entire Spirit Pagoda, he is recognized as the strongest combatant, and no one can shake his position.
Even if such an existence is not present here, his opinion and attitude remain a force that cannot be ignored.
Now that he has come out of seclusion and personally guided Qiangu Zhangting, what does this mean?
Does it mean that Qiangu Zhangting's succession to the position of Spirit Envoy has likely received the Old Tower Master's approval?
Everyone present had to re-evaluate the situation in their minds.
Leng Yaozhu took in everyone's expressions, and sneered inwardly.
Those flickering, exchanged, and unspoken gazes... she saw them clearly.
After Qiangu Dongfeng played the card of the Old Tower Master coming out of seclusion, the wind in the conference room visibly shifted.
Many people's expressions had already softened, and they were even secretly calculating which side to take when it came time to vote.
The eleven seats of the Qian Gu Family were already stable, and now with the Old Tower Master's name to back it up, Qiangu Zhangting's succession as Spirit Envoy seemed almost a certainty to them.
Unfortunately, they were rejoicing too soon.
Leng Yaozhu raised her eyes, meeting Qiangu Dongfeng's face, which wore a composed smile, and spoke unhurriedly: "Since the Tower Master has said that one should recommend the worthy without avoiding kin, then I recommend my Disciple, Huo Yuhao, to become the new Spirit Envoy."
The entire conference room fell silent for another moment.
In the silence of this moment, everyone's faces seemed to carry astonishment and confusion.
In their view, Leng Yaozhu's words were likely spoken out of desperation because she was cornered by Qiangu Dongfeng; it was an impulsive statement made in anger, without any thought.
Vice Tower Master Zhang Geyang is a core figure of the Qian Gu faction, and he was the first to speak, breaking the silence.
Zhang Geyang's tone carried a hint of undisguised sarcasm: "Vice Tower Master Leng, you were just emphasizing the rules. Huo Yuhao is currently only at the seven-ring cultivation level; he isn't even a Spirit Douluo. Your proposal is a bit ridiculous."
His words drew a few low chuckles of agreement, clearly reflecting the same thoughts.
Leng Yaozhu did not even spare these people a glance. She simply turned her head, glanced coldly at Zhang Geyang, and retorted in an unhurried tone: "I naturally know the rules, and it is precisely because I know them that I dare to make this proposal."
She paused, then continued: "The strict conditions for becoming a Spirit Envoy, apart from having the cultivation level of a Titled Douluo, include another clause: those who have made significant contributions to the Spirit Pagoda can also be promoted by exception."
"This clause is written in Article 3, Section 7 of the Spirit Pagoda's bylaws. Vice Tower Master Zhang, you surely haven't forgotten, have you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Geyang narrowed his eyes slightly and did not immediately respond.
He certainly remembered that additional clause, but he had never taken it seriously.
The standard for so-called "significant contributions" is vague, and very few people can truly reach that threshold.
He was silent for a moment, then spoke again: "Then, Vice Tower Master Leng, why don't you tell us what significant contribution your precious Disciple has made to the Spirit Pagoda? The reputation of being the number one Genius doesn't count."
This sentence carried a clear sense of provocation, and the sarcasm in his tone was almost overflowing.
Leng Yaozhu merely gave a soft snort: "That is exactly what I am about to say next."
Qiangu Dongfeng's body, which had been leaning against the back of his chair, straightened slightly. He looked at Leng Yaozhu's composed face, and the smile in his eyes unknowingly faded a little.
Based on his understanding of Leng Yaozhu, she is not the type of person who would rashly make a move without being certain of her ground.
Since she dared to say these words in front of everyone, it meant that she had already made full preparations.
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.