Immortal Martial Emperor

"Still no? Why?"

Xu Wudi stared at Lantian Dou in astonishment.

Xu Wanrong, Xu Rongchang, and Master Hu were also stunned, looking at Lantian Dou in disbelief.

Only Hong Yu merely furrowed his brow, saying nothing.

The moment he spoke, the vast banquet hall erupted in an uproar. This was completely beyond everyone's expectations!

When Hong Yu had revealed his strength as a Fifth-grade Alchemist Spiritual Craftsman, more than half of the experts in the hall had already concluded that Chengyun Long would be unable to stop Hong Yu from joining the Spiritual Craftsman Guild.

After that, it was Lantian Dou who had intervened and proposed an Artifact Refining examination, which led to the subsequent test.

When Hong Yu successfully refined the Fifth-Grade Primordial Weapon Long Whip, nearly everyone in the hall believed his entry into the Spiritual Craftsman Guild was a foregone conclusion.

And yet...

Lantian Dou was now saying no again?

No one knew what this old man, who had been in charge of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild for decades, was planning.

Of course, while some were baffled, others were incredibly happy and excited upon hearing Lantian Dou's words.

If not for the fear of making a bad impression, they would have started dancing with joy!

Chengyun Long was the most ecstatic of them all.

Before, in the Spiritual Craftsman Guild, Master Hu didn't meddle in affairs, so besides the Chairman, he was the most respected.

If Hong Yu joined as an Elder, with his status as a dual-specialty Fifth-Grade Spiritual Craftsman, his standing might even rival Lantian Dou's.

If that happened, Chengyun Long's own status and position would plummet by several notches!

If, at the beginning, Chengyun Long was only dealing with Hong Yu because Cheng Zhen and Tang Zhan asked him to, now, it came from the bottom of his heart. For his own benefit, he was determined to suppress Hong Yu and prevent him from entering the Spiritual Craftsman Guild.

"Chairman, you..." Master Hu frowned at Lantian Dou.

Before he could finish, Chengyun Long cut him off with a laugh. "Elder Hu, the Chairman has always had his own way of doing things. Since he has decided, he naturally has his reasons. I think we should still defer to the Chairman's decision!"

"You..."

Master Hu glared at Chengyun Long.

However, Chengyun Long paid his anger no mind. He turned to Hong Yu, a mocking and gloating look on his face, and said indifferently, "Hong Yu, I have to admit you are indeed astonishingly talented. But since our Chairman has said you cannot join the Spiritual Craftsman Guild, I advise you to leave quietly on your own!"

"That's right, Hong Yu, you should just leave!"

"Otherwise, if you make us throw you out, you'll be the one who's embarrassed!"

Tang Zhan and Cheng Zhen also let out long sighs of relief.

After seeing that Hong Yu was a Fifth-Grade Spiritual Craftsman specializing in both the Alchemy Dao and the Artifact Dao, a chill had run down their spines.

If a Demon Fiend like him were to become an Elder of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild and then help the Xu Family, many of their schemes would likely go down the drain!

Faced with their taunts, Hong Yu remained expressionless, his calm eyes fixed on Lantian Dou on the high platform.

Suddenly...

Hong Yu smiled faintly. "Chairman Lan, thank you for your promotion!"

Lantian Dou's blue-glowing eyes shifted slightly, revealing a hint of approval.

He was about to speak, but Chengyun Long sneered coldly, "Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu, have you lost your mind? The Chairman already said he won't let you become an Elder, and you're still thanking him for a promotion? You're hilarious!"

Hong Yu glanced at him. '...' 'This idiot!'

Lantian Dou coughed lightly, his voice calm yet imposing. "Elder Cheng, you did just say that we should defer to my decision, did you not?"

"But of course! Chairman, you are the pillar of our Ice Kingdom's Spiritual Craftsman Guild. Your words are the Holy Words that guide us toward a brighter and more glorious future!" Chengyun Long laid on the flattery, his face a mask of sycophancy.

Everyone understood that the Overlord of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild was still Lantian Dou!

No one could shake his position!

Lantian Dou nodded, calmly sweeping his gaze over the crowd. "In that case, does everyone trust my judgment?"

"The Chairman's brilliant reputation is unparalleled!"

"We will naturally abide by the Chairman's arrangements!"

All the Elders of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild immediately expressed their stance.

It was a unanimous landslide, completely without suspense!

Lantian Dou nodded in satisfaction, then said, "Since that is the case, then I shall announce what is on my mind!"

Everyone sat up straight, listening quietly to Lantian Dou's words.

Xu Wudi's beautiful eyes flashed with anger, her pretty face sullen. If Xu Wanrong hadn't been holding her back, the girl's fiery temper would have long since exploded, and she'd be confronting Lantian Dou.

Beside them, Xu Rongchang looked helpless, secretly preparing to restrain his lawless daughter at any moment.

Lantian Dou was no ordinary person. If Xu Wudi were to offend him, the Xu Family could truly forget about surviving in the Ice Kingdom!

"Ahem..."

Lantian Dou coughed lightly, then said impassively, "Hong Yu, you are not a citizen of the Ice Kingdom. Therefore, you cannot become an Elder of our Ice Kingdom's Spiritual Craftsman Guild..."

"Haha, did you hear that, Hong Yu? You aren't qualified to be an Elder in my Guild!" Chengyun Long's face was filled with excitement and glee. "I knew all along you couldn't become an Elder. If you could, I'd eat every table in this hall!"

However...

He had just finished speaking when Lantian Dou coughed again and said calmly, "However!"

However!

Just one word, followed by a perfectly timed pause.

But that pause made the wildly laughing Chengyun Long's heart seize up.

It was like a duck, happily playing by the river, suddenly feeling a hand grab its neck, and a voice saying, "This duck is so fat, for dinner tonight, how about..." before stopping at the most crucial moment.

'How about what?'

'Am I about to get screwed? Or steamed? Or braised?'

Chengyun Long's neck stiffened as he looked toward Lantian Dou, his pupils constricting as his heart hammered in his chest. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.

Lantian Dou didn't even glance at him. Instead, he smiled at Hong Yu and continued, "The position of Elder does indeed require a citizen of the Ice Kingdom. However, the Spiritual Craftsman Guild was founded to serve all Spiritual Craftsmen under heaven. Therefore, the Spiritual Craftsman Association has certain regulations. Besides Elder and Chairman, there is another position that can be offered to citizens of other kingdoms!"

"What position is there besides Chairman and Elder?"

"Could it be an ordinary Steward? A Steward doesn't have much power!"

'Steward, it has to be Steward!' Chengyun Long gulped, praying desperately.

Unfortunately...

The heavens did not grant his wish!

Lantian Dou smiled faintly, a gentle expression appearing on his aged face. "Hong Yu, on behalf of the Chairman of the Ice Kingdom's Spiritual Craftsman Guild, I, Lantian Dou, invite you to serve as the Honorary Vice Chairman of our Spiritual Craftsman Guild. I wonder, are you willing?"

"..."

Silence!

The entire banquet hall was unnaturally quiet, so silent you could hear a pin drop. Only the sound of faint gasps could be heard.

But this silence was quickly broken!

BOOM!

"Holy shit, Honorary Vice Chairman? That's a Vice Chairman! That's way more badass than an Elder!"

"Motherfucker, I told you! That Hong Yu has a heroic bearing and refined features! He's a dragon among men, just as I expected!"

"Bullshit, I'm the one who said that! You just said Hong Yu looked shifty and villainous..."

"Fuck you, how could I ever say something like that? Th-that kind of insult against Vice Chairman Hong could only be spoken by a brainless idiot. Do I look brainless to you?"

"Huh? You do seem to have some brains. Then the brainless ones must be Chengyun Long and his cronies..."

The entire banquet hall was in a tumultuous uproar.

Chengyun Long's face twitched uncontrollably. He stood stiff as a board, his eyes filled with bewilderment and despair.

'It's over. It's all over!'

At this moment, Chengyun Long was filled with immense regret.

'If I had known, I wouldn't have tried to stop Hong Yu from becoming an Elder! No matter how amazing he was, he would have just been replacing the Ninth Elder, still ranked below me, the Second Elder!'

But now...

'An Honorary Vice Chairman!'

'That's a position on par with Chairman Lantian Dou! An incredible existence with the qualification and power to kick me out of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild!'

Tang Zhan and Cheng Zhen were also utterly devastated. They looked at each other, their eyes full of horror and bitterness. "If you don't court death, you won't die. Is this us reaping what we sowed?"

Tang Zhan said bitterly, "This isn't reaping what we sowed. This is digging our own graves!"

Honorary Vice Chairman of the Spiritual Craftsman Guild, coupled with Hong Yu's strength as a Tier Five Spiritual Craftsman specializing in both the Alchemy Dao and Artifact Dao... he was now destined to be a figure who could command the wind and rain in the entire Ice Kingdom. What was even more frustrating was that they themselves had personally set the trap, step by step pushing this formidable enemy to his current position.

It really was just like the old saying—if you don't court death, you won't die!

Compared to the depression and distress of the Cheng and Tang Families, the Xu Family's side was a scene of celebration.

Xu Wudi was dancing for joy, her uninhibited nature on full display!

Xu Wanrong and Xu Rongchang looked at each other, both seeing the ecstatic joy in the other's eyes. With Hong Yu's help, the Xu Family should be able to weather this crisis for now.

Lantian Dou raised a hand to quiet the crowd. Once they had settled, he looked at Hong Yu with a smile. "Master Hong Yu, are you willing to serve as the Vice Chairman of the Ice Kingdom's Spiritual Craftsman Guild?"

Everyone held their breath and looked at Hong Yu.

Hong Yu smiled faintly. "Chairman Lan, your kind offer is difficult to refuse. It would be disrespectful of me not to accept!"

"Hahaha, Vice Chairman Hong, congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Vice Chairman Hong! I am the Chairman of the Snow Leopard Commerce Association. I look forward to your guidance!"

"Vice Chairman Hong, I am the commander of the Royal City Guard. Please look after me in the future!"

"Vice Chairman Hong, my Yihong Courtyard is the greatest treasure trove for men in Frozen City! Next time you visit, I'll be sure to have the best girls ready for you!"

"Vice Chairman Hong..."

One after another, the powerful experts offered their earnest congratulations, currying favor with Hong Yu.

The experts from the Tang and Cheng Families all had extremely ugly expressions, finding themselves ostracized. Chengyun Long, in particular, felt he had lost face completely and tried to sneak away through the crowd.

Spotting the furtive figure in the crowd, Hong Yu revealed a playful smile. Feigning surprise, he called out, "Oh my, there must be over a thousand tables here. I seem to recall someone saying they were going to eat them all? How come I don't see him anymore?"

In the crowd, Chengyun Long's figure froze...