"Hm?" Gong Yuan paused in surprise. "You want to go through the special envoy to overturn the Training Institute's decision?"
"That's right," Fang Qianyuan said.
"To tell you the truth, the special envoy's words carry considerable weight. After all, he was sent by the higher-ups. Though his authority falls short of our Institute Master's, his connections, resources, and the circles he moves in far surpass ours. We elders, and even the Institute Master, rely on him for a great many things."
"He once served as an elder at another Training Institute, so he is our senior. He also taught an outstanding disciple who has already advanced to Earth Rank and is rapidly rising to fame. Who knows? In the future, that disciple may become a great master renowned throughout the world. Wouldn't you say someone like that has a powerful voice?"
Gong Yuan looked at Fang Qianyuan with a rather odd expression.
"But... you have no ties to the special envoy. Why would he help you?"
Fang Qianyuan said calmly, "Because he represents the higher-ups. He can help whoever he wants. He doesn't have to listen to the Training Institute!"
"In fact, even the Institute Master and the elders have no reason to suppress me. They should still be neutral. If they see me fighting hard for this, I imagine they'll reconsider."
"You mean...?" Gong Yuan paused again, then grasped his meaning. "Well, you little rascal! You really have found a route that might work!"
At that thought, he grew excited too. "This approach may not work, and it carries no small risk, but who cares about all that now? At this point, we can only treat a dead horse as though it were still alive."
In truth, Gong Yuan had nearly given up on helping Fang Qianyuan, but this reminder rekindled his hope.
Fang Qianyuan was right. Whatever the Training Institute decided, it still depended on whether the higher-ups agreed.
Normally, under the rules, the higher-ups would not reject their decision without reason. But if matters reached an impasse and something good turned bad, wouldn't that defeat their original purpose?
Gong Yuan even agreed with Fang Qianyuan's thinking and began considering how to "persuade" the Institute Master and the other elders.
Although this approach might lead to trouble down the road, they could no longer afford to worry about that, not with a spirit creature and his future at stake.
Once he obtained the spirit creature and strengthened himself, what would he have to fear?
Shrinking back and failing to fight for what he deserved would only make it harder to accomplish anything great.
Gong Yuan simply took Fang Qianyuan there at once.
The special envoy was at the Heaven and Earth Institute at the time, accompanied by the Training Institute's master and elders as they discussed matters concerning the sect and its various Training Institutes.
Gong Yuan brought Fang Qianyuan inside, and the first thing Fang Qianyuan saw was a thin old man in blue robes, hale and alert.
In all fairness, the man had little imposing presence, and even his cultivation appeared to be only at the Ninth Transformation. Yet the Training Institute's master and elders treated him with great respect, their expressions even betraying a faint desire to curry favor.
As Gong Yuan had said earlier, they valued not merely his position, but also the confidence that came from having taught a renowned master and maintaining a close relationship with him.
Fang Qianyuan noticed that Ye Tianming had come too. He stood before Ye Li in the row of elders' seats. When Fang Qianyuan entered, he glanced over, then quickly looked away.
"Gong Yuan, you're here. Is this young man the Fang Qianyuan you mentioned earlier?"
The old man gave Gong Yuan a slight nod without rising, greeting him where he sat before turning his gaze toward Fang Qianyuan.
Gong Yuan cupped his hands in salute, then gestured to Fang Qianyuan.
Fang Qianyuan bowed. "Greetings, Special Envoy."
The old man smiled. "So young, indeed. I heard you advanced to the Fourth Transformation in such a short time. You certainly deserve to be called a genius."
"You flatter me, Special Envoy." Fang Qianyuan did not know why he had brought this up, so he did not pursue the subject and merely answered cautiously.
"Elder Yuan, didn't you want to summon him to ask about the merit assessment?" someone quietly reminded him.
"Oh, yes. Fang Qianyuan, I had someone bring you here because I wanted to hear your opinion as the person concerned. We intend to submit your case to the sect for recognition of a third-class great merit. Do you have any objections?" the old man promptly asked.
This was originally meant to be a mere formality. If Fang Qianyuan accepted the Training Institute's decision and said he had no objections, the matter would be settled.
The elders and Institute Master had expected him to do just that. Instead, Fang Qianyuan raised his head, straightened his chest, and declared in a strong, clear voice, "Of course I object! My achievement deserves at least a second-class great merit. Why should it be downgraded to third-class?"
"Oh?" The old man was immediately taken aback.
The Institute Master and the Training Institute's elders were stunned as well.
A flash of anger crossed Ye Li's face. He rebuked him, "Insolence! Is the assessment of merit something you have any right to meddle in? You think it deserves 'at least' that much just because you say so? What do you take this place for?"
"Elder Ye, I was merely answering truthfully. Wasn't it His Excellency the Special Envoy who asked me?" Fang Qianyuan turned and replied coldly.
"You..." A harsh gleam flashed in Ye Li's eyes. But with the special envoy and the other elders present, there was nothing he could do to Fang Qianyuan. He could only snort and shut his mouth.
He suddenly realized that this was a dispute over tangible interests, not something that could be resolved with a few evasive words and a little intimidation.
If Fang Qianyuan truly were that sort of disciple, he could never have charged alone into a crowd of enemies and taken the initiative to attack.
"Now, now, Elder Ye. You should hear what he has to say. Why get so worked up?" A curious light flickered in the old man's eyes, and his gaze took on a more intriguing quality as he looked at Fang Qianyuan. "Well then, Fang Qianyuan, is that truly what you think? You believe you deserve a second-class great merit rather than a third-class one?"
"That's right." Fang Qianyuan had already said it aloud. Naturally, he would not take it back now.
"Then suppose the Training Institute still submits your case as third-class. What do you intend to do?" For reasons unknown, the old man asked with keen interest.
"The sect has its own rules. This disciple would have no choice but to argue his case on their merits. I trust the sect wouldn't forbid a disciple from fighting for what he deserves?" Fang Qianyuan replied.
As soon as he said this, the faces of the Institute Master and every Training Institute elder present darkened.
"Hahahaha! Interesting, very interesting! Institute Master Wei Ruwei, just look at how you've handled this. You haven't even settled matters with your own disciple, yet you intend to submit the case like this?" The old man burst out laughing.
"We failed to consider the matter thoroughly. We have made fools of ourselves before you, Elder Yuan," the Institute Master said shamefacedly.
"You lot... tsk, tsk. Never mind. Just this once, let this old Yuan throw his seniority around and decide the matter for you. I've read the dossier, and there are no issues with the disciples' statements. All things considered, Fang Qianyuan does deserve a second-class great merit. Simply submit his case together with Ye Tianming's. Good things come in pairs, after all. There's no need to insist on making one second-class and the other third-class, as though our sect begrudged even this paltry bit of merit."
At his words, everyone's anger turned to joy, and they hurried to praise him. "A wise judgment, Elder Yuan!"
They had originally chosen a cautious approach because they feared the sect would not allow them to submit too many claims. They had never expected the special envoy, Elder Yuan, to show such generosity and resolve their dilemma in one stroke.
Truly, man's plans could not compare with Heaven's.