Shivering Mind

Chapter 65

Chapter 65

“This huge lake is over ten li wide, and this ship itself already takes up a tenth of the area. Just maneuvering it will run the danger of colliding into the reefs in shallow waters. What’s the point of sailing it?”

It was also Lu Sheng’s first time seeing such an enormous ship, which was perhaps even larger than an aircraft carrier. In his free time, he had calculated that the ‘li’ measurement people in this period often used was roughly the distance of six hundred meters or so. As for what Elder Wang said, the width of this ship itself was already over six hundred meters–it was truly gigantic.

“Actually, this was not built to be used as a ship in the first place. Rather, it’s constructed as a water fortress,” Chen Ying laughed.

“Let’s go, the people inside have already come out to receive us.”

Sect members lined the path that joined the huge ship and the dock, keeping close watch. They were divided into two rows; a swordsman stood guard at short intervals.

Presently, there were already over ten men and women who had gathered near the sloping stairs to the boat. They were all looking in this direction.

Chen Ying laughed loudly and led the group towards the other party.

“Greetings, Sect Master Chen,” the group of them duly greeted. “Sect Master has been waiting for a long while.”

Chen Ying didn’t delay any further. Leading Lu Sheng and the rest in a single file, they quickly ascended the sloping stairs, crossed the path guarded by the sect members and arrived aboard the deck. Then, they walked into the main hall of the ship.

The main hall looked somewhat similar to a shrine. At the highest point sat a sickly-looking old man with grizzled white hair.

This old man was dressed in black-and-red athletic robes from top to toe and wore a dark-golden glove on his right hand. Although he seemed frail, he still carried a highly imposing and formidable air about him. His eyes were like a tiger’s, radiant and sharp. One look into them revealed the vigor and strength of his inner Qi.

As soon as Lu Sheng entered, he could feel at least five lines of sight immediately converging onto him.

Actually, there were quite a few others who were also in the main hall looking at him. However, their mental energy was incomparably beneath these five people.

These five lines of sight were exceptionally penetrating, and made one feel that their gazes caused the skin on one’s body to have a tingling and numbing sensation akin to the pricking of needles. Clearly, these were all famed experts who had attained extraordinary achievements in both inner and outer force cultivation.

Similarly, Lu Sheng no longer concealed the brilliance in his own eyes as he returned each and every one of those gazes.

Inwardly, he was rather excited to be able to see so many experts of the same rank as him all at once. Logically speaking, he was at Spirit Focus, and so were the other five. If they were to battle, it still depended on their movement techniques, strength, experience as well as tactics before it would be clear who would come out on top.

Almost as if sensing the eagerness and excitement to battle in Lu Sheng’s gaze, three of the five lines of sight instantly disappeared in a swish. Three people quickly lowered their heads as they avoided his gaze. A hardcore battle addict was the most troublesome in any sect.

Previously, one of the Deputy Sect Masters had just such a personality. He would run around to battle and exchange blows with experts all day long, causing much unspoken misery for members of the Sect. The last thing they expected was the appearance of another fella with the signs of being a hardcore battle addict.

Of the five experts, two of them were Sect Master Hong Mingzi and Deputy Sect Master Gongsun Zhanglan. The other three were all External Affairs Emissaries; they were also the ones who had swiftly avoided Lu Sheng’s gaze.

After Lu Sheng sent out his gaze, three of them disappeared in a heartbeat. That caused him to be rather annoyed. However, it didn’t matter–there were still the other two.

He gazed straight at the one seated highest–Sect Master Hong Mingzi.

“Indeed–a hero’s posture; a dragon among men!” Hong Mingzi’s voice sounded somewhat frail as he exclaimed smilingly, but it still carried great vigor and energy in it.

“The reason why Crimson Whale Sect has been able to lord over the North with unwavering clout is only because of fine young men like Junior Brother Lu here, who have constantly added new blood to our ranks.”

“Everyone here has now seen him. So, what are your views?” Deputy Sect Master Chen Ying also went up ahead to take his seat. Someone also approached Lu Sheng to direct him to a seat by the side.

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It was deathly still in the main hall. Other than the five experts, there were also eight others by the sides. These were the various Elders and Internal Affairs Emissaries of the Crimson Whale Sect. Presently, none of them spoke as the battle of gazes went on.

The scintillating gaze that shone off from Lu Sheng’s eyes earlier had already clearly demonstrated that he was likewise a cultivator of both the inner and outer forces. It wasn’t clear whether he was of Spirit Focus; however, even if he were just an Intent Proficiency expert, no one was willing to offend him, nor did they find it necessary to do so as they had no bone to pick with him.

“Since there aren’t any objections, then it’s decided. Brother Lu Sheng will be appointed as the Sixth External Affairs Emissary of the Crimson Whale Sect and take over the men and territory which were under Wu San. Everyone agrees, yes?” Sect Master Hong Mingzi said smilingly.

“That’s not very appropriate, is it?” Deputy Sect Master Gongsun Zhanglan’s brows furrowed as he muttered.

“What’s not appropriate about that?” Chen Ying looked at him. He knew that the other party had intended to let his own niece, Gongsun Jing, take over Wu San’s men and territory. It was thus within expectations that he would voice his dissent now.

Gongsun Zhanglan was a gloomy-looking middle-aged man. He wore black overall robes with both his hands tucked into his sleeves.

He glanced at Chen Ying. Plastering a phony smile onto his face that did not reach his eyes, he said, “Although Brother Lu Sheng’s strength is exceptional, that only represents his personal strength. But if we’re talking about management skills, you need more than just spunk for that.

Although Wu San has passed away, there were plenty of men and assets under his command. How will the rest of the elders feel about just handing all these over on a silver platter to some newbie who has just joined the Sect? This is too generous a gift for someone who has yet to offer the slightest contribution. That’s not the standard practice.”

“We all know how Wu San died. Now, there are those who want to acquire his men and assets, yet no one dares to take up that most dangerous matter. There’s no free lunch in this world; you can’t just want the benefits but not accept the risk. Sect Master Gongsun, your niece Gongsun Jing may be exceptionally brilliant and among the cream of the crop in terms of intellect. However, if she wants the position left behind by Wu San, why don’t we have her take up that case as well?” Chen Ying chuckled coldly as he asked.

“I didn’t say anything about Little Jing. I was just speaking up for the Elders in the Sect as a Deputy Sect Master in charge of law enforcement. Don’t tell me that many Elders who have toiled selflessly for the sect cannot even compare to a newly-joined sect member?” Gongsun Zhanglan spoke calmly.

Chen Ying laughed coldly, “Well then, what do you mean? Even if you didn’t have that in mind, to suddenly jump out at this juncture would give others that impression.”

“I don’t care whether others will misunderstand. As Deputy Sect Master in charge of managing law and order in the sect, it is my prerogative to point it out if I see anything that violates the rules,” Gongsun Zhanglan was composed as he replied.

The two of them sparred back and forth, neither convinced by the other’s arguments. However, Lu Sheng was growing impatient as he looked on from the side.

“What’s there to quarrel about? Whoever’s not convinced can just duel with me,” smacking his lips, he rose and spoke.

His gaze ran across a few of the strongest people present.

“We’re pugilists in the pugilistic world. Whoever’s fist is stronger shall have the right to speak!” Lu Sheng began to warm up his fists.

Gongsun Zhanglan was stunned. He looked at Lu Sheng, whose eyes bore into his, sending a chill down his spine. He composed himself.

“We’re all brothers of the same sect, how can we go about killing each other flippantly? If word of this got out…”

“This is but an internal exchange. Come, don’t stand on ceremony. I’m just standing right here; whoever’s not convinced, let’s exchange some moves,” Lu Sheng could feel his blood boiling and growing wild inside him.

He had rather taken a fancy to fighting recently. The time when he had fought the ghost on the pleasure boat to the death had filled him with an intense sensation of his own existence.

That feeling had caused his Qi and blood to surge and his spirits to lift. Added to the thrill of a near-death experience, it caused him to be somewhat entranced.

“Brother Lu, you might have misunderstood. It’s not that I’m against you taking over Wu San’s responsibilities…” Gongsun Zhanglan’s face twitched.

“No problem. Come on, just one match,” Lu Sheng stared fixedly at him, his eyes sparkling. He believed that this guy would surely put up a good fight.

“Brother Lu, you really are…”

“Come on, come on, just one match.”