Chapter 134 (2): What’s the Meaning of This?

"It's very simple," Dong Changfeng replied. "If they dare to criticize a demon for killing innocents, then the demon will kill them as well, whereas good people generally have many more qualms and much more restraint. They don't care about what impact their words have as long as they have a good story to tell. For example, the leader of the Mountain Moving Sect can go around and brag about how he managed to save his sect by standing in your way.

"These people say different things to different people. If you were from the Church of the Self-Righteous, you can be certain that he wouldn't dare to utter even a single word! These people want to enhance their own reputations, but are too afraid to challenge those who deserve to be challenged, so they can only pick on those who they know wouldn't hurt them. It's as simple as that."

"That makes sense, but I still don't feel good about it," Bu Chou grumbled.

"You'll just have to get used to it," Dong Changfeng sighed. "Either you ignore these people, or you follow your heart and silence the people who dare to talk down to you. Eventually, you'll earn yourself a reputation as someone who doesn't tolerate such nonsense, and no one will dare to speak down to you ever again."

"I can't do that," Bu Chou chuckled. "Master Nine will have me skinned alive! I suppose I just have to embrace my role as a bit of an anti-hero. I've fought for the sake of the continent my entire life, and I've never been obsessed with going down in the history books as a hero. Even the Guardians need an enforcer, so why not let it be me?"

***

Fang Che was in a very good mood as he arrived at the Hall of Protectionists.

Over the past few days, he had been constantly drinking and sparring with Feng Xing.

Feng Xing had even bestowed upon him a set of Heaven Bearing Saber Techniques, and that was precisely what he needed.

These saber techniques weren't as destructive as the Heaven Loathe Saber Techniques, but they were more technical and refined, and they were signature saber techniques of Feng Du.

Fang Che felt like he had won the lottery!

These saber techniques were something that he could truly study and practice for the rest of his life.

As soon as he arrived at the Hall of Protectionists, he was informed that a meeting was being held.

Hall Master Song Yidao was seated at the head of the conference table as he declared, "I have something very important to share with you all. I have just received word that Chief Strategist Dongfang wants to select some representatives to fight in a series of friendly matches against the young prodigies of the Church of the Self-Righteous on behalf of the Protectionists and the Guardians.

"There is no shortage of bright prospects on both sides, but which side has the superior battery of young talent? The higher-ups of both sides have decided that there's only one way to find out. However, seeing as these are only friendly matches, the battles will not be to the death, and a decisive outcome will suffice."

Everyone immediately erupted into chatter at this rather bizarre arrangement.

Friendly matches against the Church of the Self-Righteous? Since when had the Guardians and the Church of the Self-Righteous become so chummy with one another?

"Deputy Pope Yan Nan of the Church of the Self-Righteous was the one who proposed these friendly matches, and clearly, his objective is to dent the morale of the Guardians," Song Yidao continued. "The Church of the Self-Righteous has only just founded its first nation, so it's eager to bolster its reputation and set an example.

"Don't be fooled by the monicker of 'friendly matches!' There are some very sinister ulterior motives at play behind the scenes! It may sound like these are just low-stakes, glorified sparring matches, but in reality, the stakes are higher than ever! From this day forth, we will begin carrying out a continent-wide selection process, and Master Nine has explicitly mandated that defeat is not an option!

"Every single one of us has to take part in the selection trials. Of course, there's a very good chance that none of us will be selected, but we have to give it our all! For the sake of the honor of the Guardians, we must fight! Having said that, there are some stipulations to these friendly matches, the most important of one of which is that they'll be limited to Warlords, Kings, and Emperors, and all representatives from both sides must fall somewhere between fifteen to thirty years of age.

"Our southeast had been given three spots, and those three spots will be contested by all of the seventeen southeastern prefectures, as well as the southeastern headquarters and all of the major southeastern warrior academies. Furthermore, the three that are selected are not guaranteed to be able to take part in the friendly matches. Instead, they will be sent to the Guardian headquarters for a final round of selection, and only those who come out on top from that final round will be able to represent the Guardians!

"The three spots will be reserved for the top finisher in each of the Warlord, King, and Emperor tiers, so competition is going to be extremely fierce! Each of our Halls of Protectionists can only send one person per tier to take part in the selection trials. We may not have any suitable candidates in the Emperor and King tiers, but I'm confident that Chief Administrator Fang will be a dominant force among the Warlords!

"Fang Che, you have been selected to take part in the Warlord tier selection trials on behalf of our White Cloud Prefecture Hall of Protectionists! Do not let us down!"

Song Yidao was brimming with confidence.

He had full confidence in Fang Che's abilities, and he was certain that Fang Che would be able to crush all of his Warlord competitors!

"I... I'm afraid I can't, Hall Master Song," Fang Che said with an awkward expression.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Why not?" Song Yidao asked in a furious voice. "Do you not want to represent the Guardians? Do you not want to fight for our continent?!"

"I... I recently made a breakthrough to the King tier..."

Song Yidao's furious expression instantly stiffened, and he felt as if something had gotten lodged in his throat.

He had a full furious tirade prepared in his mind, yet it had all gotten stuck in his throat, and his thoughts had been reduced to a jumbled mess.

"How?! How did you make a breakthrough so quickly?!"

In a fit of fury, Song Yidao jumped down from the stage, then strode over to Fang Che and grabbed him by the wrist to examine his cultivation base.

His fury quickly turned to despair as he discovered that Fang Che had been telling the truth, and everyone could see him progress through the five stages of grief in real time.

The White Cloud Prefecture Hall of Protectionists had no Emperors below thirty years of age. There were a few Kings in their twenties, but all of them were rather mediocre in combat prowess. Hence, Fang Che had been his only hope, but that had also been dashed.

"What do we do?" he murmured to himself in despair. "Are we just not going to send anyone?"

The Kings who were in their twenties lowered their heads in shame.

They knew that even though they fit the criteria to take part in the selection trials, they would only be making fools out of themselves.

They weren't even a match for Fang Che back when he was only a Warlord, so how could they possibly stack up against the finest Kings the continent had to offer?

Right as Song Yidao was about to enter a state of depression, one of the Kings present suddenly said, "Hall Master Song, I think Chief Administrator Fang possesses the power to take part in the King tier selection trials!"

"He's only a first-rank King! How could he possibly keep up with everyone else?"

"I am a fourth-rank King, yet I was no match for Chief Administrator Fang even back when he was only an eighth-rank Warlord. Now that he's reached the King tier, I don't think even a ninth-rank King would be able to get the best of him!"

"But all those taking place in the selection trials are prodigies among Kings! You can't compare them with the average King!"

"I think that's beside the point, Hall Master Song. The problem that we're currently facing is that we have no suitable candidates to put forward for any of the three tiers. If Chief Administrator Fang takes part in the King tier selection trials, the reputation of our Hall of Protectionists will still remain intact even if he loses, seeing as he's only a first-rank King. Surely there's no shame for him in losing to a bunch of prodigious eighth and ninth-rank Kings, right? At the very least, our Hall of Protectionists won't be humiliated."

A contemplative look appeared on Song Yidao's face.

He had to admit that the proposal made sense.

Any other candidates that they sent to the selection trials would only be completely embarrassed, so unless Fang Che took part in the King tier selection trials, they may as well not put forward any candidates at all.

However, if they were to do that, then the reputation of the White Cloud Prefecture Hall of Protectionists would be swept to the ground, and as the hall master, he would be made a laughingstock for all of his peers and superiors.

Thus, after some consideration, Song Yidao quickly decided, "Chief Administrator Fang, you will be representing our White Cloud Prefecture Hall of Protectionists in the King tier selection trials!"

Fang Che had no choice but to comply, and he was praying that Night Demon wouldn't be selected to represent the enemy. Otherwise, there would be a clash of engagements for him, and he would truly be placed at a difficult crossroads.

"When are the selection trials taking place, Hall Master?"

"The selection trials at the southeastern headquarters will be held in ten days, and ten days after that will be the selection trials at the Guardian headquarters." "Alright."

Song Yidao wanted to make a rousing speech and offer some words of encouragement to Fang Che, but found himself lacking in conviction, so in the end, he merely called for the meeting to be adjourned.