Most Observant of Rules

Chen Mobai was a man who always clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment.

Back when he was Qi Refining, if E Yun hadn't intervened and killed the group of South Mountain Bandits, Chen Mobai probably wouldn't have been able to join the Divine Wood Sect so easily.

After joining the sect, E Yun took good care of him, and Chen Mobai kept these kindnesses firmly in his heart.

When the two were both at the Foundation Establishment, they were separated by two different countries and could not offer each other much help.

Now that Chen Mobai Core Formation, he feels he can repay E Yun's kindness.

"If you want to become the Sect Leader, I will do everything in my power to help you."

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, E Yun felt an unprecedented surge of emotion welling up from the bottom of her heart.

In the heartless and ungrateful Eastern Wasteland, E Yun felt incredibly lucky to have met someone as loyal and righteous as Chen Mobai.

Chen Mobai: "I've already asked Hong He. He's aiming for a higher realm and doesn't want to take up his cultivation time by becoming the Sect Leader before his cultivation hits a bottleneck."

As the most recognized genius in the Divine Wood Sect, second only to Chen Mobai in talent, Hong He's goal was simply to Core Formation. Therefore, when Chen Mobai asked, he clearly expressed his meaning.

Chen Mobai: "Zhou Wangshen is different. He is determined to get the Sect Master Position. With Senior Brother Zhou's face, I can't say much."

Upon hearing this, E Yun's face lit up slightly. "In other words, I only have one opponent."

Chen Mobai shook his head at this. "Although Hong He himself has no interest in the Sect Master Position, as the direct disciple of Senior Brother Fu, the people of the Punishment Hall will support him to compete for the Sect Master Position, and he cannot refuse."

Hong He was able to cultivate to such a level not only because of his outstanding talent, but also because of the great help he received from the Punishment Hall.

Even if Hong He himself doesn't want to, this group of people will push him out to compete for the Sect Master Position for their own benefit.

The situation is now very clear.

The Divine Wood Hall, the Punishment Hall, Reward Hall each support one person, intending to promote their own to become the Sect Leader after Chu Zuoshu steps down.

Among them, Chen Mobai, as Core Formation Cultivator, although he now wields immense power, still needs to consider the situation of Zhou Shengqing and Fu Zongjue, who are in seclusion.

Although Chen Mobai was confident that as long as he took a firm stance, he could definitely push E Yun to the Sect Master Position.

However, this would sow the seeds of internal rifts and could even trigger a rebellious mentality among the more extreme members of the other two factions. In the event of setbacks in Outside the Heavens wars, this could become the cause of internal strife and disaster.

"Of the three, you have the least chance of taking the position, Hong He has the greatest chance. However, Zhou Wangshen has made numerous military achievements over the past ten years, making him the most meritorious among the Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the sect. He also has the support of the most powerful Divine Wood Hall and the Zhou Family, so he can rival Hong He."

In comparison, although E Yun's years of guarding some markets in Yun Country and Cloud Dream Marsh have led to an increasing harvest of Spirit Stone resources for the sect in these areas, it is still far inferior to that of Hong He and Zhou Wangshen.

"Actually, I realized this before and applied to the sect to go to the front line, but unfortunately I never received a transfer order from the sect."

When E Yun got to this point, his face was also gloomy.

He was not conscripted in the three wars recently launched by the Divine Wood Sect, but it was the same for Hong He as well.

The reason for this is obvious if you think about it.

The Zhou Family must have pulled some strings, putting their priority for being conscripted last.

However, at that time, Hong He and E Yun were only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment. On that kind of battlefield, whether or not they were there would indeed not determine the outcome. Therefore, the upper echelons of the Divine Wood Sect, including Chu Zuoshu, pretended not to know about the Zhou Family's arrangement.

"I can't blame them for acting within the rules. In this election for the sect Sect Leader of the Divine Wood Sect, I will only help you within the sect's rules, and I will not break the rules for you, because the consequences would be too great."

Chen Mobai will not forget his ideals and will gradually improve the Eastern Wasteland with the rules of the Immortal Sect, turning it into the Minor Immortal Sect.

The core of the Immortal Sect is a tight legal network.

E Yun: "Then how should I compete with my two senior brothers?"

Chen Mobai: "I've thought and thought, but I still can't think of a way to elevate you to the same level as them in a short period of time."

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, E Yun couldn't help but give a bitter smile, feeling that she had no hope.

"So I've decided to delay you for another twenty years. If twenty years isn't enough, then sixty years, a hundred years, until your cultivation and achievements are on par with or even surpass those of Zhou Wangshen of the Hong He."

Just as E Yun raised his glass with a regretful expression, preparing to drown his sorrows in alcohol, Chen Mobai's words made him pause in surprise.

What does this mean?

The Zhou Family.

Although Zhou Shengqing's family has always kept a low profile, they are the undisputed number one family in the Divine Wood Sect.

Besides the five Foundation Establishment in the family itself, at least half of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Three Halls Twelve Departments have received favors from Zhou Shengqing or the Zhou Family.

These people then extended their influence outwards, creating a dense network of connections that encompassed almost the entire Divine Wood Sect.

Just by considering that both Meng Hong and Chu Zuoshu, the two successive Sect Leader of the Divine Wood Sect, were disciples of Zhou Shengqing, one can imagine just how powerful the Zhou Family was.

It is precisely for this reason that Zhou Wangshen has always been full of confidence in becoming the Divine Wood Sect Leader.

So what if Hong He's cultivation level is higher? His contributions to the sect are meager, and he cannot compare to the one who risked his life in the Yan Kingdom.

Although the news of Chu Zuoshu's resignation came too suddenly, the Zhou Family still managed to formulate a series of plans for Zhou Wangshen to compete for the Sect Leader in the shortest possible time.

The only variable in this plan is the Core Formation Ancestor.

Given Zhou Shengqing's seclusion, if Fu Zongjue and Chen Mobai don't agree, even if all Three Halls Twelve Departments support Zhou Wangshen, he will find it difficult to rightfully become the Sect Leader.

"Will Old Ancestor Fu personally intervene for the sake of his disciple?"

Zhou Junzhi, Foundation Establishment from the Zhou Family, said with some concern.

"No, as long as we don't go too far and win the election fairly, Old Ancestor Fu won't lose face for the sake of Hong He."

Although Core Formation Cultivator wield immense power within a sect, the Divine Wood Sect possesses three Core Formation cultivators. Fu Zongjue is not yet a man of absolute authority, and given the prevailing circumstances, he certainly wouldn't risk his reputation for a mere sect Sect Master Position.

The Great Elder of the Zhou Family, Zhou Junxian, had a clear understanding of Fu Zongjue, because he and Fu Zongjue famous. Unfortunately, he failed to Core Formation and was left with only a crippled body, while Fu Zongjue broke through the Tribulation Pass.

The two were considered to have the best relationship as fellow disciples, and his analysis of Fu Zongjue was met with nods of agreement from everyone.

"And what about Old Ancestor Chen?"

The Zhou Family didn't know much about this newly promoted Core Formation Ancestor of the Divine Wood Sect. Although they had heard of his reputation as a peerless sword genius, they felt that if he wanted to Core Formation, he would have to wait in line until after Chu Zuoshu.

The Zhou Family still has plenty of time to get along well with him.

Who would have thought that in just over twenty years, before the Zhou Family's Foundation Establishment had even turned their attention to Chen Mobai, the latter suddenly went out and successfully Core Formation.

That's so fast!

"When I was in the Yan Kingdom, I followed Old Ancestor Chen through life and death several times, so I know him quite well. Old Ancestor Chen values rules the most. When marching and deploying troops, if anyone violates his orders, they will be executed without mercy. So as long as we follow the rules, he might even support me to become the Sect Leader."

Zhou Wangshen spoke up. As the youngest Foundation Establishment in the Zhou Family and the only direct Direct Lineage with the potential to Core Formation, his words carried weight second only to the Great Elder.

"If that's the case, that would be best."

The other Foundation Establishment in the Zhou Family nodded in agreement, feeling that it was a sure thing that Zhou Wangshen would become the Sect Leader.

Time quickly came to the day of the sect conference.

Apart from the upper echelons of the Three Halls Twelve Departments, all the Foundation Establishment Cultivator who remained at Giant Wood Ridge, except those in seclusion, were summoned by the Sect Leader's decree.

Forty-two Foundation Establishment Cultivator sat solemnly and respectfully behind their respective desks, waiting for the event.

After Chu Zuoshu Sect Leader, finished bowing towards the three Longevity Wood, everyone stood up and shouted along with him.

"Welcome to the arrival of our Ancestor!"

Two vast beams of spiritual light shone from two of the Longevity Wood, soaring into the sky in a very short time, approaching from afar, and landing above the Divine Wood Hall before rushing straight into the hall.

As the light faded, a handsome young man and a refined young boy emerged.

It was Fu Zongjue and Chen Mobai! "Greetings, Ancestor!"

Faced with the grand gesture of the forty-two Foundation Establishment Cultivator below, Chen Mobai gestured to Fu Zongjue invite him. The latter did not stand on ceremony and asked Chu Zuoshu to begin today's sect assembly.

"Due to the great war between our sect and the Yan Kingdom, our treasury is empty of Spirit Stone, and budgets for all departments need to be cut..."

"The Alchemy Department is preparing to refine Yao Beast Foundation Establishment Pill. Many Auxiliary Medicine need to be purchased from the major families of the Eastern Wasteland. If the budget is cut, the pills cannot be refined. Cutting other departments is fine, but the Alchemy Department cannot be cut..."

"For the past twenty years, our Spiritual Plant Department has responded to Old Ancestor Chen's call to reclaim wasteland and plant Spirit Rice. Now, the manpower to take care of the medicinal and Spirit Field is far from enough. We need to use a lot of Spirit Stone to hire sect disciples to take care of the Spirit Plant. If the budget is cut, wouldn't that jeopardize Old Ancestor Chen's overall Spirit Rice project? Absolutely not..."

"The Puppet Department is repairing Old Ancestor Fu's Purple Sun Puppet..."

"Spirit Beast Department..."

"Body Refining Department..."

At the sect's general meeting, Luo Xueer, the Deputy Hall Master hall master of the Reward Hall who was in charge of the sect's Spirit Stone pouch, was the first to step forward and, based on her report to Chen Mobai the previous night, proposed an internal cost-cutting plan.

But as soon as she finished speaking, she was met with resistance from almost all departments.

Moreover, the reasons given were either for the sake of the sect's overall interests or involved the two patriarchs mentioned above.

The implication was that they shouldn't be targeted.

"Please, esteemed elders, understand that the sect's treasury only has enough Spirit Stone to distribute for six months. It is estimated that it will take three and a half years of deficit to recover from the losses in commerce and mining and achieve a balance between income and expenditure."

Logically speaking, a proposal that is collectively opposed by all departments should simply be rejected, but Luo Xueer persisted and brought it up to the two Core Formation Ancestors.

In order to restrain the power of the Three Halls Twelve Departments, rejected proposals could be reported to the Ancestor.

But since the founding of the Divine Wood Sect, no one has ever done this.

Everyone tacitly kept things under control so as not to trouble the Core Formation Ancestor.

Luo Xueer's actions now show that the Spirit Stone in the Reward Hall are indeed exhausted, and she has no other choice.

"Besides Spirit Stone, what other resources are plentiful in a sect?"

Chen Mobai, who was seated on the right side of the head of the table, asked a question.

Luo Xueer: "Thanks to Old Ancestor Chen's grand plan for Spirit Rice, the warehouse is now full of all kinds of Spirit Rice."

Chen Mobai: "Add a clause to the sect rules: if one receives Spirit Rice instead of the annual Spirit Stone stipend, one-tenth of that will be added as compensation."

This statement was unanimously approved by everyone.

Chu Zuoshu, who had received Chen Mobai's instruction, set an example as the Chu Zuoshu Sect Leader by giving up his entire year's Sect Leader salary to help the sect overcome its difficulties.

As soon as he said that, everyone below stared at him. If looks could kill, Chu Zuoshu would probably have been seen right through.

"This disciple is also willing to give up this year's Spirit Stone."

The second one to speak was the Zhou Wangshen.

Then the Foundation Establishment from the Zhou Family followed suit, their expressions excited, saying that not only one year, but the next three years would be no problem.

The other Foundation Establishment Cultivator finally understood why they had been summoned, but at this point, they could only express their helplessness.

After this round of statements, only six of the forty-two Foundation Establishment in the Divine Wood Hall remained unmoved, pretending not to hear.

Chen Mobai and Fu Zongjue exchanged a glance, nodded, and said, "My fellow disciples have risked their lives for the sect, how can we let you spend more money? Let's write an IOU for the Spirit Stone first, and we'll exchange them when the sect recovers."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the six Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had not spoken changed slightly.

But before he could even defend himself, Chu Zuoshu had already announced his intention to step down Sect Leader.

"This disciple wishes to attempt to break through to the Core Formation Core Formation; I humbly request the two patriarchs' permission."

The reason for the resignation of the Acting Sect Master of the Divine Wood Sect is this, and it is precisely for this reason that Foundation Establishment Cultivator aiming for Core Formation all think about becoming sect Sect Leader.

"Can!"

Fu Zongjue nodded.

"Reporting to the two patriarchs, after I step down, the sect cannot be without a leader for even a day. The young and promising Zhou Wangshen, Xiao Kingdom Guardian, has made outstanding contributions and can succeed me as the sect Sect Leader!"

As Zhou Shengqing's disciple, Chu Zuoshu still intended to repay the Zhou Family's favor at the last moment by recommending Zhou Wangshen to become the Sect Leader.

As soon as he said this, more than half of the Foundation Establishment in the Divine Wood Hall, along with the Zhou Family and the Alchemy Department, supported Zhou Wangshen.

Upon seeing this scene, Quan Shanlin, the Deputy Hall Master the Punishment Hall who had originally intended to recommend Hong He to compete with Zhou Wangshen, couldn't help but sigh, feeling that the situation was hopeless.

"Junior Nephew Zhou is still too young. I think there is someone more suitable to become the sect Sect Leader under the current circumstances."

Suddenly, Chen Mobai spoke.

Upon Fu Zongjue's expression changed slightly. As he pondered whether to stop Chen Mobai from forcing his way in, the latter stood up and walked to the position of Sect Leader.