The Unintentional Humblebrag Was the Deadliest

The banquet ended, but the snow continued to fall.

After the Vast Heaven Sect had eaten and drunk their fill, they returned to their respective palaces, and the most talked-about topic was still Chu Xinghe.

"I thought Senior Brother Xinghe would be angry when he was chosen as the most disliked person."

"Bullshit... I told you it would be fine if we chose it! Who is Senior Brother Xinghe? Do you think he would get angry if we made such a small joke to him?"

"Exactly... that's petty of you. Senior Brother Xinghe is undoubtedly the most disliked person!"

"Junior brothers, you don't know, in previous years, whoever was chosen was basically doomed. But look at Senior Brother Xinghe's demeanor today... even the sect leader and elders are laughing so hard they can't stand up straight."

"If you ask me, Senior Brother Xinghe's vote for the most promising disciple is truly amazing! Even with the Grand Elder abstaining, Senior Brother Xinghe still managed to get eighteen votes! He's the first person in history to do so!"

"That's true, but to be honest, that Chu Cheng is really infuriating!"

"Can't you not spoil the fun at this time?"

Outside the gate, shrouded in wind and snow, Chu Cheng lay on the bed, pulling the blanket tighter around him.

Hmph! It's just a New Year's banquet, isn't it?

I, Chu Cheng, would never deign to give a second glance!

Sitting on the very edge as an outer disciple? Is that a place for someone of my status, Chu Cheng?

I, Chu Cheng, shall live as a hero, and even in death, I shall be a ghost of valor!

That chief position is the one befitting my status, Chu Cheng. What is Chu Xinghe anyway?

At next year's New Year's banquet, I, Chu Cheng, will make sure the entire Vast Heaven Sect knows who is the most outstanding person in the Vast Heaven Sect!

After all, how can you see a rainbow without going through wind and rain? No one can succeed easily!

"Bang..." Just as Chu Cheng was imagining a rainbow in the sky, the door was kicked open.

"Chu Cheng, you scoundrel! You're utterly unworthy of being called a human being!" A drunken Liu Bo led a group of intoxicated outer disciples into the room.

Soon... a rainbow appeared. After Liu Bo's punch, Chu Cheng saw rainbows floating everywhere...

No one knows how long the beating lasted; the wind and snow just intensified...

Chu Xinghe returned to the Spirit Crane Palace with the Grand Elder. On the way, the Grand Elder, whose face was flushed from drinking, still tried to persuade Chu Xinghe.

"Xinghe, don't be sad because of Chu Cheng. No one can be liked by everyone; after all, some of them aren't even human."

"If it weren't for you today, I would have expelled him from the sect!"

After seeing off the Grand Elder, Chu Xinghe returned to his room. Senior Brother Feng Fei had been forced to drink alcohol earlier that day and had to be carried back; he was fast asleep by now.

Without saying a word, Chu Xinghe went to bed.

Chu Xinghe slept soundly Wumeng, and was woken up early the next morning by his Senior Brother Shen Chun.

"Quickly, quickly... Junior Brother Xinghe, the Sect Master has ordered you to attend the Deacon Assembly!"

"Huh?" Chu Xinghe got out of bed and remembered that the sect leader had mentioned that all the deacons of the Vast Heaven Sect who were away had returned and were going to report on the year's development and hear the sect leaders' plans and requirements for the Future year.

I almost forgot about that.

Without even having breakfast, Chu Xinghe rushed to the Haotian Palace.

When Chu Xinghe stepped into the Haotian Grand Hall, the elders of each palace and the stewards who had rushed back from outside had already taken their seats.

Upon seeing Chu Xinghe enter, the elders smiled, while a group of deacons nodded in agreement, with several of the younger deacons even instinctively standing up from their seats.

"Xinghe, find a seat and listen in." The sect leader said, and Chu Xinghe quickly nodded and found a seat on the side.

The group of deacons understood the situation from the sect leader's attitude.

As stewards, they are said to hold a position Elder Yu in the sect and wield immense power outside, but that is merely a title.

Deacons are always just deacons; they're there to do the work, but they're far inferior to true elders.

Although the deacons had heard so much about Chu Xinghe's deeds over the past year that they were practically tired of it, they were still shocked when they witnessed it all with their own eyes at yesterday's New Year's banquet.

It was at that moment that they realized they had underestimated the importance of Chu Xinghe's name within the Vast Heaven Sect.

This council assembly has been attended by direct disciples before, and those direct disciples were all the sect leader's direct disciples, who later became the next sect leader.

Chu Xinghe, under the guise of being the Grand Elder's personal disciple, was attending the Deacon Assembly as an observer—truly unprecedented.

The deacon assembly began, and the deacons from each side started reporting on their work over the past year.

These contents are basically the sect's top secrets, including the sect's various incomes, competition for various resources, territorial planning, and even the development of the sect's hidden agents in various parties.

To put it simply, Chu Xinghe was starting to panic after hearing all this. If any foolish core disciple were to barge in and overhear even a single word of it, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Grand Elder would smash them to dust with a single palm strike.

The sect leader would also remind Chu Xinghe from time to time to concentrate and listen and learn carefully!

After hearing about the developments of the past year, Chu Xinghe realized just how many unknown secrets the Vast Heaven Sect held, and how many unimaginable resources it possessed.

Then came the planning for the Future. Listening to the suggestions from the elders and sect leader regarding the Future development of the stewards, Chu Xinghe really wanted to speak up.

What about continuing to expand territory... what about planting hidden cards... what about plundering resources... Chu Xinghe was getting anxious listening to all this!

Sect Master! In my opinion, all this is unnecessary. Our Vast Heaven Sect is already invincible in the world. The stewards have worked hard all year. Why don't we just relax next year?

But Chu Xinghe dared not say these words, nor was he qualified to speak them.

It's so frustrating to be able to hear but not speak!

Finally, the steward in charge of the disciple selection reported on the outstanding talents selected from all sides from last year to the present. These were the disciples who would go through the second round of selection to enter the Vast Heaven Sect.

After the steward finished speaking, the sect leader said, "Regarding the selection of disciples for the second level of Haotian City, elders, please take a rest and let Xinghe broaden his horizons, how about that?"

"Sect Master... Xinghe is still too inexperienced, but there's no harm in giving him a try."

As soon as the Grand Elder said this, the other elders nodded in agreement.

The Grand Elder is right. Although Xinghe is still relatively inexperienced, his abilities are beyond question!

This child's every move is unconventional, yet every single one of them is a sure win.

Entrusting such an important task to this child is definitely the right thing to do. Even if something goes wrong, it's still a good opportunity to give the child some experience!

The elders unanimously approved that Chu Xinghe would be in charge of the second round of selection for this year's disciples.

The steward in charge of selecting disciples was shocked. This was a matter concerning the Future succession of the sect. In the past, elders were always sent to the selection, but this time it was entrusted to Chu Xinghe. It seems we underestimated Chu Xinghe's status.

Chu Xinghe, whose head was spinning from listening to all sorts of secrets all morning, burst into tears when he heard this part!

Sect Master... Elders... Don't worry... Leave this to me, it's guaranteed to be a success!

Do you know what the "loser" style is?

The Vast Heaven Sect's useless disciples becoming gods rests on my shoulders, Chu Xinghe!

"This disciple will do his utmost." Chu Xinghe rose to accept the order.

"Xinghe, there's no need to feel pressured. Just do what you think is right, and the sect will give you its full support." The Grand Elder's meaning was quite clear.

Let's build it!

Go ahead and cause trouble! The sect will cover for you; don't worry, we won't interrupt you because of your bizarre actions.

Good heavens, Chu Xinghe felt as if the Grand Elder was radiating light!

Given how much the Grand Elder trusts me, I'd be embarrassed if I didn't choose the best underdog this time!

The success of the Ouyang Lineage taught Chu Xinghe that one should not deny oneself because of a little setback.

As long as you persist in courting death, you'll eventually discover a lucky star like the Ouyang Lineage.

The council meeting ended, and not long after Chu Xinghe left the Haotian Grand Hall, Deacon Yang approached him.

Deacon Yang is the deacon in charge of the first round of selection for disciples.

"Disciple Chu Xinghe greets Deacon Yang."

"Oh, Xinghe, there's no need for such formalities with me. I come from the Spirit Crane Palace and was promoted by the Grand Elder. Now that I'm fortunate enough to be a steward, I've never forgotten the Grand Elder's kindness. So, Xinghe, if you ever need anything in the Future, just say the word, and I, Old Yang, will definitely take care of it properly for you."

Goodness... they're starting to pledge their loyalty now?

If I told you that all your future disciples would be chosen to be "useless," would you be absolutely sure of success?

"Deacon Yang, Xinghe is young and inexperienced. He needs your guidance on such an important matter as selecting disciples."

"Oh dear... Xinghe, you're mistaken Old Yang. Although I am indeed a steward, the sect leader has ordered that you be in charge of the second round of selections. I can only assist you, Xinghe. How could I be offering any guidance?"

Pretty!

Chu Xinghe was extremely satisfied with this Deacon Yang.

I was worried this guy might cause trouble later, but is Deacon Yang really that sensible?

If the Vast Heaven Sect had a few more Deacon Yang, how could the sect not perish!

"Thank you, Deacon Yang."

"Alright, Xinghe, next I will have disciples from all over the world who have passed the preliminary selection come to Haotian City at the designated time. We'll be waiting for you to come for the second round of selection."

After bidding Deacon Yang, Chu Xinghe hummed a little tune as he left Haotian Palace.

Today is a good day; all my wishes will come true...

What? This song is unlucky?

Hmph! I'm in charge of recruiting disciples for the sect. If I let a bunch of good-for-nothings into the sect, it'll be a disaster. How can I possibly lose to them?!

After the New Year holiday ended, Qin Xiangqian came to say goodbye to Chu Xinghe.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, please visit Spirit City more often when you have time." Qin Xiangqian said with anticipation.

Senior Brother Xinghe came once last year, and I became the vice president. If he comes again, won't I become the president? And if he comes a few more times, is it possible for me to become the first outer disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect to become a steward—an inspiring story?

With this in mind, Qin Xiangqian was filled with anticipation for the Future.

But Chu Xinghe wasn't looking forward to it at all... going to Spirit City anyway?

Are you kidding me? I get a headache just hearing the name Spirit City now. You, Qin Xiangqian, are no longer the number one lucky general in my eyes!

After seeing off the eager-looking Qin Xiangqian, Tieniu arrived.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, I'm going to Spirit City too. I'll miss you!"

"Your senior brother will also miss you, Tieniu." Chu Xinghe hugged Tieniu's heavy body.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, don't worry, I will continue to work hard this year. I will try my best to achieve a 100% stone-producing rate. I will also teach those good-for-nothing disciples I took in properly. If they can't even achieve a 70% stone-producing rate, I will kick them out. What's the point of keeping them if they can't even do something this easy?"

The most deadly of all is the invisible Versailles!

A 70% success rate in finding stones? In the Shi Clan, that's considered an elder. Tieniu, have you even considered the Shi Clan's feelings?

"Also, Senior Brother Xinghe, I've been doing some research lately, and I think a 100% stone-drop rate isn't the ultimate goal. If we could develop a completely new stone-dissolving technique, maybe we could even surpass a 100% drop rate!"

Chu Xinghe: "???"

What the hell are you talking to me about...?

Tieniu also left, his eyes filled with tears as he went, shouting all the way, "If I, Tieniu, don't break the 100% stone drop rate, I'm not worthy of being human! I, Tieniu, swear to protect my Senior Brother Xinghe!"

Finally, the two most troublesome people left...

But the more I thought about what they said, the more upset I became... Could they be serious?