Chapter 727: New Alchemy Guild Faction!
Da Bei had been appointed by the guild as Cai Jing’s supervisor.
When such massive progress was made, Magician Da Bei should have reported it.
But now, when Cai Jing publicly declared it, everyone knew.
Without a doubt, Magician Da Bei gravely neglected his duty, he must have joined Cai Jing and gotten bribed by the latter.
In short, he would be held accountable for this matter!
Magician Da Bei naturally sensed many gazing at him with ill intent, his heart filled with agony, but on the surface, he was calm and collected.
He walked out of the audience seating to the judging panel, and shouted, “As one of the participants in this, I personally experienced the entire excavation process, I can prove Elder Jiu Jin’s contribution was great and gave us a crucial enlightenment.”
When Magician Da Bei made this statement, he made clear he completely stood on Cai Jing’s side.
Contrary to belief, those words caused much of the countless malcontent gazes to dwindle.
Many people narrowed their eyes, staring at Cai Jing, Jiu Jin, and Da Bei standing near the judging panel, looking cautious.
Without a doubt, these three had at least reached a mutual alliance. From now on, these fellows would advance and retreat together in the Alchemy Guild for a long time.
Jiu Jin gave a look of thanks to Da Bei, he deliberated for a time, then publicly expressed that he was very honored that he could help Cai Jing. More importantly, he had a differing opinion on Hua Ni’s reassignment of him, and he wanted to report it to the Alchemy Guild President.
Cai Jing stated at once that he happened to have the time, so it would be better if they went together.
Undoubtably, bringing this accomplishment along would give Jiu Jin a platform to pressure the president.
Everyone’s expression changed again.
The ambience in the arena also became stifling.
Some politically savvy alchemists realized at the same time: a brand new faction was being born before their eyes!
Neither of the gold level magicians Jiu Jin or Da Bei had outstanding talent. Honestly speaking, many master alchemists on the same level looked down upon them, believing they were toadying too much for personal gain. But in the end, they were guild elders who had operated for many years, their accumulated contacts couldn’t be despised.
If the two united, they would be a threat, and they couldn’t compete openly against truly powerful elders like Hua Ni.
This was the world of the strong, and these two weren’t strong. Their alchemy didn’t make much contribution either and many of their contacts were transient.
The key was Cai Jing.
The core of this faction was undoubtedly Magician Cai Jing.
Cai Jing was outstanding in battle and alchemy mastery; thus the masses had to concede.
His greatest regret was that he was an outsider. He just joined the Alchemy Guild and wanted to gain the others’ trust and genuine acceptance, that needed time and opportunity.
But in the wake of these three allying, Cai Jing could borrow Jiu Jin’s and Da Bei’s networks, and his regret was already resolved to a degree!
Most of all, he acquired another of Great Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong’s inheritance. The latter was a grand legend level, and this was the second time Magician Cai Jing had opened his secret door. Apart from what this contribution represented, Cai Jing’s inheritance excavation strength had won greater popular approval.
Cai Jing had fully established himself!
With him and the other two combined, others were forced to face them squarely.
Many people were secretly praising Cai Jing’s brilliant skill in roping in Elder Jiu Jin.
By contrast, Elder Hua Ni had actively pushed away Jiu Jin, a truly faulty move.
Many people, even the gold level magicians, were not in the know. Hua Ni thought about fighting for Jiu Jin; however, she knew that Jiu Jin would always be under the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ thumb due to blackmail. So long as this evidence existed, she could never hope Jiu Jin would truly convert to her side. She would be unable to really trust Jiu Jin.
Hua Ni had no choice but to do this.
“This time, I’ve lost all face. You’ll all pay for this!” Hua Ni vowed in her thoughts, knowing she had no choice as she fumed with rage, “Everyone, leave. Right now is the Warm Snow Cup Grand Contest, now is not the setting to flaunt your contributions.”
“Regardless of what you think of your position Jiu Jin, or your contribution this time Cai Jing, it will be given to the Lord President to decide.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it.”
After saying that, Hua Ni’s expression inevitably withered with depression.
When everyone heard what she said, they all believed she had publicly admitted defeat.
“Then we’ll take our leave.” Cai Jing smiled, gave a magician’s courtesy, and calmly left with the posture of a winner.
Elder Jiu Jin and Da Bei followed close behind him.
His flaunting of his contribution and opposition to Hua Ni was all part of his collaboration agreement with the snow elf youngster.
He had accomplished everything that was agreed upon. Naturally, he left the dueling arena without a second thought.
“Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps…”
Before leaving, he swept his eyes across the audience seating but didn’t see Long Fu.
After leaving the dueling arena, Cai Jing was still deep in thought.
“After this incident, I have become completely antithetical to Hua Ni.”
“What is the arms merchant behind the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps planning?”
“Helping us will help them disrupt the Alchemy Guild’s willpower for hostilities.”
“It doesn’t matter, this is quite beneficial to me, isn’t that so?”
The reason why Cai Jing joined the Alchemy Guild was merely because it made inheritance excavation more convenient, he didn’t have many aspirations to curry favor. Although his bloodline had reached its limits, his individual strength still had plenty of room to grow.
The reason rested with that his main combat strength was from various magic plants.
Perhaps in the future he would change and become like Jiu Jin and Da Bei, but for now, he wasn’t thinking about doing so.
“The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ backer’s method was brilliant.” Cai Jing’s eyes flashed, mulling over that shocking day.
Up until now, he was still unable to understand how the grafted plant the snow elf returned with, one obviously from his own hands, had lasted for so long. He had an outrageous answer that met the inheritance secret door’s criterion.
One must know that on Flower Skirt Island, he had spent a long time on countless attempts before he was able to obtain a finished product, He also had to use a large amount of magic medicine to maintain temporary stability, and through a dangerous path, he was barely able to meet the standard that would open the secret door.
By contrast, the grafted plant the snow elf youngster made was stable beyond imagination, it simply looked like an original lifeform.
Cai Jing spared no effort and was barely able to pass, while the snow elf youngster obviously had energy left over.
The contrast between the two was too distinct!
That undoubtedly stimulated Cai Jing’s curiosity. He longed to learn about the alchemy technology the snow elf youngster used.
If he could, he would be far more certain he could continue to excavate Great Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong’s inheritance.
Not just that, he also could use this alchemy technology in his magic plant cultivation and improve his strength by a wide margin!
There was nothing that could be done, the young man had enticed him too much!
As for Da Bei and Zhong Bei, apart from the allure of benefits, they chose to stand by Cai Jing because they were painfully forced into doing so.
Da Bei neglecting his duty like this was something he couldn’t explain to the president, he would certainly be blamed, and if it was severe enough, he’d be fired from his position as elder.
Even if he still retained his position of elder, what was the point if he would have been kicked to the boonies like Jiu Jin and disparaged from the capital?
On the one side there were massive benefits, on the other there was censure and punishment. Da Bei clenched his teeth and simply decided to rely on Cai Jing’s new mountain top.
“What are you all staring at, continue the competition!” Hua Ni frostily shouted, her expression ice cold.
She cursed secretly, “Just wait Cai Jing, do you really think you can succeed?”
“You know nothing of the kingdom’s high level politics.”
You think the president will concede? He’ll stand by and watch as you establish your faction?”
“You are too naïve! Hehe.”
Before Cai Jing returned to the Alchemy Guild headquarters, the event in the dueling arena had already been collected and summarized into a report that was delivered to the Alchemy Guild President.
The president felt his head aching.
As the Ice Sculpture Kingdom’s Alchemy Guild President, he was a high ranking figure and a core member of the entire kingdom’s authority.
As a high ranking figure, he needed to be impartial and maintain the balance between all sides, he had to reward merit and punish negligence.
But if he only accomplished impartiality, he would never become the king’s confidant, be assigned as intermediary, and be in charge of the construction of the Millenium Dragon Formation.
The president knew in his mind: what high ranking people really needed to do was to protect themselves and the benefits of a particular crowd! The mount potion profits were quite considerable, and the Alchemy Guild had to value it. Therefore, they had to take control of it.
He wasn’t the only one approving of and supporting Hua Ni’s actions, the Ice Sculpture King was too.
“But I didn’t expect Cai Jing would emerge as a new force to be reckoned with, and form a brief alliance with Jiu Jin and Da Bei.”
“Fortunately, Shuang Lian is still trapped in Tranquil Hill. If she used the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps as a bridge to unite with Cai Jing, then that would be terrible.”
Shuang Lian with her magician tower was aptly named a genuinely powerful cohort leader. Compared to her, Cai Jing’s foundation was superficial.
The Alchemy Guild President was at first, unaware of Shuang Lian’s situation.
But due to the royal family learning he was utilizing the guild’s valuable strength to look for clues so he could search and rescue Shuang Lian, the king personally summoned him.
“Jiu Jin and Da Bei are traitors that cannot be indulged.”
“Cai Jing’s contribution needs to be rewarded, but I absolutely cannot give up on holding Jiu Jin and Da Bei accountable because of it.”
“But doing that will enormously damage my country and my authority as president.”
The president carefully pondered and quickly thought of a plan to resolve this.
It was not necessary to hold them accountable at the moment.
First he would reward Cai Jing, then give him some fake clues to Great Master Fan Sheng Za Zhong’s inheritance, keeping him far from the capital, and at best, getting him away from Ice Sculpture Island!
“Let Cai Jing take Jiu Jin and Dai Bei with him, what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over.”
“Without them, who does the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps have in the Alchemy Guild?”
Just as he felt proud of himself, an urgent report came in and was delivered to the president’s hands.
“What?!” The Alchemy President jumped from his seat and onto his feet.
“Long Fu, Long Fu has done what?!”
In a split second, this high level figure’s calm had completely vanished, and his stratagem had turned into a corny joke.
Dueling Divine Domain.
The dragonman youngster had already arrived, and at this moment, he was standing on the summit of Tranquil Hill, looking in all directions and seeing the vast earth wherever his eyes went.
Honey Snow Tower’s outline was especially towering and conspicuous in the flat ground
Standing next to him, Gu Dong had an iron expression.