Chapter 4988 — A Bit of a Surprise

"Quite so. After all, the Heavenly Dao Walker has only just left. If we were to hand his Vice Island Lord seat to someone else right now, it would likely draw criticism—but if it is merely an acting Vice Island Lord, then it is entirely reasonable." Wu Miao stroked his long beard with one hand, full of confidence. "You are the Vice Chancellor of the Cultivator Academy, and last time you competed for the Vice Island Lord position against the Heavenly Dao Walker. You are the best candidate for acting Vice Island Lord. I believe that once I put the proposal forward, the others in the Island Lord's Pavilion will raise no objections. Among them, only Chu Wentian is on somewhat close terms with the Heavenly Dao Walker, but once a man is gone, his tea goes cold. I trust he will not be so foolish as to oppose me."

"Mm, I have also had people look into it privately. Chu Wentian and the Heavenly Dao Walker only appear to be on good terms; the two are not truly close. He is, after all, a man who moves in circles of power—he would not offend you, the Standing Vice Island Lord, for the sake of a Heavenly Dao Walker who has gone off to the Eastern Continent. Unless his brain has water in it." Nan Tian Jiguang nodded again and again.

"The others are nothing to worry about. The only one who might possibly object to this matter is that acting Island Lord. Given his strength and background, if he were to say one word against it, Brother Nan Tian, I fear even I would be powerless to help." Wu Miao frowned.

"An acting Island Lord is not the real Island Lord after all. And he has only just arrived—in terms of real authority, I doubt he has more than you, the Standing Vice Island Lord. Does he truly wield such influence?" Zheng Dongsheng could not help asking in puzzlement.

"Master Zheng, you do not know. Though that man is only acting Island Lord, both his strength and his background are extraordinary. We vice island lords can only bow and submit in his presence. To put it bluntly, the position of Central Island Lord seems to us a post of great weight and power, but that man may not truly hold it in his heart. This time he has merely come out to discharge his duties and go through the motions. If you truly expected him to settle down and serve as Central Island Lord for a few decades or a century, I suspect he would not even agree." Wu Miao smiled bitterly.

"Could he be someone from one of those top-tier clans?" Zheng Dongsheng was startled at the words.

"Quite so—and moreover, someone from the Central Island Elders' Council! But we dare not inquire too closely into the specifics. He does indeed have a top-tier clan background—otherwise, how could the position of acting Island Lord have been assigned to him directly, without even giving us a chance to discuss it?" Wu Miao shook his head.

As Standing Vice Island Lord, he had originally been the one with the best chance of becoming acting Island Lord. In the end, he had never expected such a ruthless figure to drop out of the sky, leaving several vice island lords, Wu Miao included, without even the opportunity to maneuver. They could only obey meekly.

"In that case, it really comes down to luck. Since he is a figure from a top-tier clan, even I may not be able to get a word in." Zheng Dongsheng shook his head and sighed. Never mind him, the second alchemist of Morning Star Academy—even Qing Danzi, the chief alchemist, would not catch the eye of a top-tier clan.

"What is to be done, then?" Nan Tian Jiguang's heart sank. This opportunity was exceedingly rare. He had to seize the Vice Island Lord seat while the Heavenly Dao Walker was away—otherwise, once the Heavenly Dao Walker returned, there would again be nothing for him. That was why he was determined to have it, and why he had lowered himself so far as to flatter and curry favor with Wu Miao.

"Brother Nan Tian, there is really no need for such worry. I merely said it was a possibility—but in fact, that possibility is not great. That lofty acting Island Lord came to take up his post alone, without bringing any trusted retainers. He should have no interest in the Vice Island Lord seat. And considering all aspects, Brother Nan Tian, you are the most suitable candidate. He has no reason to object. So this acting Vice Island Lord post is nine parts out of ten yours." Wu Miao smiled.

Once he had raised Nan Tian Jiguang to the position, he would have one more of his own people in the Island Lord's Pavilion, and naturally a greater say. After that, if he cleared out the remaining forces of the Heavenly Dao Walker, the Island Lord's Pavilion would be dominated by him alone—apart from that lofty acting Island Lord above. And should another opportune moment arise, he might even begin to entertain thoughts of the Island Lord seat itself!

"Haha, this is truly a fine thing. First an acting Vice Island Lord—and after a few months, the word 'acting' can be dropped. It seems we may address him in advance as Vice Island Lord Nan Tian." Zheng Dongsheng laughed.

"Many thanks to Master Zheng and Vice Island Lord Wu for your patronage. I am endlessly grateful and will never forget it." Nan Tian Jiguang was overjoyed. He had been somewhat uncertain at heart, but now, hearing Wu Miao's declaration and analysis, he was instantly set at ease.

"Brother Nan Tian, from now on we are all our own people. Among our own, there is no need for such pleasantries. So long as we cooperate in good faith, the Central Island will one day be ours." Wu Miao was full of ambition.

"Good! Vice Island Lord Wu is indeed a man about to make a bid for the Giant Head realm—such breadth of mind and boldness are truly uncommon!" Zheng Dongsheng offered a word of praise, then said: "But the able should bear the burden. You cannot attend only to Vice Chancellor Nan Tian's affairs—the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion here still needs you to deal with it."

"That is easily done. It is only the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion—bringing it down is a matter of a single word. However..." Wu Miao paused abruptly here.

"However what?" Tong Yangxi hurriedly asked.

"I have heard that the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion has some connection with the Elixir Hall. I wonder if it is true, Vice Hall Master Zheng?" Wu Miao looked toward Zheng Dongjue, who had kept his mouth shut.

Since arriving, Zheng Dongjue had exchanged greetings with the others at the start and then not said a single word—whether because of a matter of stance, or out of a deliberate air of profundity, no one could tell.

Seeing Wu Miao's question, Zheng Dongjue finally nodded and said: "There is indeed such a matter. Tian Chan of the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion is a disciple of my Elixir Hall. Not only that, she is my granddaughter-in-law—only my grandson died young, so the relationship has grown somewhat distant."

A silence fell over the group at these words. Tong Yangxi in particular was deeply embarrassed. The several of them had actually discussed dealing with his granddaughter-in-law right in front of Zheng Dongjue. It was truly speechless and shameful—no wonder Zheng Dongjue had kept silent all this while.

"Do not misunderstand, everyone. I am in fact not opposed to your dealings with the Heavenly Elixir Pavilion. Though Tian Chan is a granddaughter-in-law of my Zheng family, she has been entangled with Wei Zhao and has not kept to a wife's proper conduct. She should have been taught a lesson long ago. It is only that I, as an elder, have never found it convenient to step forward myself." Zheng Dongjue clarified at once.