That very night, Chen Ming settled in on Jade Wave Island.
Elder Meng acted with remarkable efficiency, summoning all cultivators at the Golden Core Stage or above and the heads of every department on Jade Wave Island to an emergency meeting in the Council Hall that same night. When he announced the decision to appoint Chen Ming as acting Island Master, the hall erupted in an uproar.
Some voiced their objections on the spot.
The fiercest opposition came from a guest elder named Liu Chong, a cultivator at the middle Golden Core stage. He had lived on Jade Wave Island for over twenty years and considered himself the most senior figure beneath the Island Master. He sprang to his feet, slammed his palm onto the table, and glared at Chen Ming. "Absurd!" he roared. "Since its founding, Jade Wave Island has never had an outsider serve as acting Island Master! Elder Meng, what is the meaning of this? Have all the men on Jade Wave Island died out, leaving us needing an outsider to run our affairs?"
Elder Meng's expression darkened. He was about to rebuke him when Chen Ming raised a hand to stop him.
Chen Ming regarded Liu Chong calmly, his tone unhurried. "I understand how you feel, Elder Liu. Jade Wave Island is the fruit of Island Lord Lu's life's work. Everyone here has followed him for years. It is only natural that you would not want an outsider meddling in the island's affairs."
He paused, then changed tack. "But I would like to ask you something, Elder Liu-if I did not take over as acting Island Master and you did instead, could you guarantee that Jade Wave Island would remain free of trouble in the days ahead? Could you guarantee that Tianxing City would not exploit