Chapter 225: What Are “One-Vote Affirmative” and “One-Vote Veto” Power?!
This session of the Taoist Conference proceeded with surprisingly smooth sailing.
Many issues raised during the conference were all given reasonable solutions.
Of course, these so-called reasonable solutions were all based on Zhang Yangqing’s opinion.
At first, everyone was still expressing their own views and opinions.
Later on, after raising questions, everyone would just look directly at Zhang Yangqing.
No matter how slow the attending sect leaders were, they understood that their opinions didn’t matter much; Zhang Yangqing was the one with both the one-vote affirmative and one-veto powers.
Even if everyone present objected, as long as Zhang Yangqing agreed, it would pass.
So, in the end, everyone simply stopped speaking and waited for Zhang Yangqing to speak alone.
Unconsciously, Zhang Yangqing had already established his position at this Taoist Conference.
Previous Taoist Conferences needed to last until evening to conclude.
This one was completely resolved in less than two hours.
All thanks to Zhang Yangqing’s judgment and analysis alone.
Since it was over, Zhang Yangqing bid farewell to those present first.
Those familiar with Zhang Yangqing know he’s not one for trouble.
If he stayed here, these sect leaders would undoubtedly keep trying to get close to him.
Having talked for half a day at this conference, Zhang Yangqing was feeling a bit thirsty. Now that the Taoist Conference had ended, he decisively chose to leave.
Even though Abbot Qingxu wanted to keep him for dinner, he politely declined.
He had thought the onlookers outside would have left, given the hot weather and it being high noon.
Who knew that while the sect leaders were gone, the disciples from various major sects who hadn’t yet gotten a photo with Zhang Yangqing were still there, waiting.
In this scorching hot summer, these guys had stood for several hours in front of the main hall of Wudang Mountain.
Just to wait for Zhang Yangqing to come out, to be able to speak a word with him—they felt it would be worth standing for a whole day.
Some disciples were even parched and drenched in sweat, yet they endured the blazing sun outside.
Faced with his enthusiastic fans, Zhang Yangqing had no choice but to step forward and greet a few.
Those who got a group photo were naturally extremely excited, feeling that standing there for hours was worth it!
They looked down on those who couldn’t bear the heat and went down the mountain; wouldn’t those who left cry when they saw the photos later?
But Zhang Yangqing hadn’t chatted with these enthusiastic fans for long when he heard a thud.
It seemed someone had fallen to the ground. The sound was faint, but it couldn’t escape Zhang Yangqing’s ears.
Zhang Yangqing parted the crowd and saw someone lying face down on the bluestone slabs, unable to move.
So, Zhang Yangqing asked the enthusiastic fans to step aside so he could see what happened.
When he helped the fallen person up, he learned that this person was also a fan of his, but an ordinary person.
To catch a glimpse of him, they had climbed Wudang Mountain and stood for hours under the scorching sun. Their water bottle had been empty long ago.
Many martial artists present could probably stand until evening without issue, but as an ordinary person, standing until now had already caused dehydration; their lips were dry and cracked.
If not replenished with water in time, problems could likely occur.
Zhang Yangqing happened to have some water on him—the spiritual spring water from the well at Longhu Mountain.
“No need, Heavenly Master Zhang, I’ll just go down the mountain to buy a bottle of water.”
Seeing Heavenly Master Zhang about to take something out for him, this fan seemed overwhelmed with surprise.
“With your current strength, you can’t climb down. If you don’t mind, drink this first.”
With that, he took out a personal water bottle from his Taoist robe.
Calling it a water bottle, it was actually just a plastic mineral water bottle with the label torn off.
It looked a bit old, even somewhat shabby.
This surprised the disciples from various sects nearby. How could the esteemed Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain use such a bottle for water?
According to everyone’s understanding, someone of Heavenly Master Zhang’s stature should at least use exquisite tea ware, or at the very least, some high-quality precious gourd, right?
If such a water bottle were thrown on the roadside, they would even disdain stepping on it as dirty.
But soon, they understood!
Heavenly Master Zhang must have his profound reason for doing this.
Our inability to comprehend it is due to our lack of insight.
Those with better insight had already grasped the meaning of “the great Tao is supremely simple, and without desires, one is unyielding” from Zhang Yangqing’s bottle, even looking down on those around who hadn’t realized it.
Zhang Yangqing, of course, didn’t know these people had so much internal drama. He just couldn’t be bothered with those tea sets—it’s just drinking water, why make it so complicated?
He was traveling in casual attire this time. For convenience, he casually took this bottle when coming down the mountain; it didn’t attract attention.
Having this ordinary fan open his own empty water bottle, Zhang Yangqing poured the water from his bottle into it.
This was nectar bestowed by Heavenly Master Zhang. The fan trembled as he received it with both hands and drank it all in one go.
Next, a miraculous scene occurred.
The fan’s dry, cracked lips gradually became moist and full.
His face, tanned and peeling from the sun, also gained a rosy glow.
His weak, cloudy eyes began to look spirited and sharp.
It was as if the whole person had been reborn.
From a listless person, in an instant, they became energetic.
They even managed to spring up with a kip-up, as if their physical fitness had improved considerably.
This miraculous scene made many people rub their eyes, unable to believe what was happening.
Normally, recovering from dehydration requires a period of recuperation, and some more severe cases need to see a doctor.
Who would have thought Heavenly Master Zhang could solve it just by giving him some water to drink?
If not seen with their own eyes, those around would have thought this was a plant hired by Zhang Yangqing.
While everyone marveled at the fan’s rapid recovery, they also speculated about what exactly Heavenly Master Zhang had given him to drink.
After all, anything Heavenly Master Zhang offered definitely wouldn’t be ordinary.
If it were truly some celestial nectar or divine liquor, shouldn’t it be contained in something like a purple vine gourd or a white jade purity vase?
At the very least, it should be in a container that looks somewhat impressive, right?
Water poured from this torn-label mineral water bottle was actually this miraculous?
Many knowledgeable disciples seemed to realize something—this wasn’t ordinary water; this was Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid!
They also lamented how rich Longhu Mountain’s resources were, to waste Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid like this!
You must know, in this world, cultivation materials are scarce. Most sects have fewer than a hundred disciples precisely due to lack of resources.
Many disciples from ordinary sects can’t obtain much resources in a week and need to find them themselves outside.
This is also why, at the Taoist Conference, many sect leaders didn’t support establishing a Taoist Academy—they were reluctant to part with resources.
Now, Zhang Yangqing gave an ordinary person so much Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid to drink. How could they not envy him?
If Zhang Yangqing’s bottle hadn’t been empty, they undoubtedly would have knelt and begged for some.
But they were mistaken about something. In Zhang Yangqing’s eyes, wasn’t this just well water from the backyard of Longhu Mountain?
Having cultivated to this level, drinking this didn’t have much effect on him anymore. He only carried it because he found the water sweet and refreshing. He really didn’t pay it much mind.
Yet, what Zhang Yangqing drank casually to quench his thirst was already Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid, worth tens of thousands in gold and hard to obtain in the cultivation world!
The dehydrated fan on-site had been rescued, and disciples from other sects had also taken group photos.
Zhang Yangqing then took Xiao Xuan down the mountain. On the way down, he casually tossed that shabby plastic bottle into a trash can.
According to the recollections of Wudang Mountain’s patrolling disciples, it was precisely because of Zhang Yangqing’s casual toss that a bloody brawl broke out near Wudang Mountain!
Hundreds of disciples fought fiercely, with over a hundred sects participating.
Actually, many disciples on-site had been coveting Zhang Yangqing’s shabby, empty plastic bottle.
Like elderly folks at a sports field eyeing discarded cans, they were eagerly watching.
But since Zhang Yangqing was holding it, they naturally felt embarrassed to ask for it.
However, once Zhang Yangqing threw it into the trash can, it meant he no longer wanted it, so they didn’t hold back.
This was a bottle that had contained Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid. Perhaps mixing it with water to drink would still have miraculous effects.
Coincidentally, it wasn’t just one or two people who thought of this; a small group did.
So, these guys immediately made their move, instantly smashing Wudang Mountain’s trash can to pieces.
Those disciples who were still confused, seeing them fighting over an empty bottle, quickly caught on.
Rolling up their sleeves, they charged in to snatch it. When treasure is right before your eyes, not grabbing it would be a huge loss, right?
At first, they were talking about fellow sect camaraderie, about visiting each other when possible. Now, they were fighting over an empty bottle.
Some even fought until they saw red, starting to disregard friend or foe.
“I am the head disciple of Qingyun Mountain. How about everyone lets me have the bottle? Consider it making a friend!”
“To hell with you! What’s so great about being Qingyun Mountain’s head disciple? I’m the next sect leader of Tianlu Sect! And who the hell wants to be friends with you!”
“Everyone, stop fighting. We’re fellow cultivators, why resort to violence? I think this mineral water bottle can be entrusted to me for safekeeping, and then we can take turns using it. How about that?”
“I don’t mind taking turns, but I have to use it first. Then you all queue up.”
“Oh ho, you have quite an arrogant tone. Who put you in charge? You can’t even beat me.”
“Are you kidding? I can’t beat you? You probably don’t know how much strength I’ve been hiding. Take this!”
“Fine, fine. You all aren’t holding back anymore, huh? Then I won’t either. The profound arts I’ve hidden for fifteen years—today is the day I suppress all of you!”
What started as a matter concerning a bottle later escalated into a matter of face.
Those who could endure standing under the blazing sun until this point naturally had some skills.
Since they had all started fighting, no one wanted to lose!
They wanted both face and the bottle!
The fight on-site was so intense. Someone would just grab the bottle and try to leave, only to be kicked flying by someone else. Before others could snatch it, they’d be punched down by someone charging from behind.
Everyone was a trained martial artist, relying on their youth and vigor.
Many disciples who had been hiding their strength also revealed their true capabilities.
Soon, the less skilled disciples were defeated.
Those who remained fighting towards the end were all talented disciples from major sects, the outstanding ones of their generation.
But these less skilled disciples weren’t willing to give up either, so they started calling for reinforcements.
“Master, where are you? If you’re not far, come back quickly. There’s no time to explain. If you don’t come, Heavenly Master Zhang’s treasure will be taken by other sects.”
“Martial Uncle, I’ve been beaten up in front of Wudang Mountain’s main hall. Who did it isn’t the point. The point is you need to come quickly. There’s a treasure here. What treasure? Whatever treasure it is, just come and snatch it first!”
After all, everyone had seniors. Operating on the principle of “if I can’t have it, none of you will either,” many sect seniors were inexplicably drawn into the chaotic fight.
The area near Wudang Mountain became an uncontrollable mess.
Finally, a bewildered Abbot Qingxu arrived with his people and managed to stop the melee.
Abbot Qingxu was also speechless. Over a bottle? Was it really worth it for you all?
But upon hearing it was a bottle discarded by Heavenly Master Zhang, he thought it made sense.
After all, during the Taoist Conference, he had personally seen Zhang Yangqing drinking Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid like water.
And if he wasn’t mistaken, it seemed to be from this very shabby plastic bottle.
Upon learning it was a bottle that had contained Body-Tempering Spiritual Liquid, no sect was willing to back down.
Moreover, obtaining Heavenly Master Zhang’s ‘treasure’ would be an honor for these smaller sects.
Having no other choice, Abbot Qingxu could only use the plastic bottle to mix a large bucket of water.
Only after every major sect received a bottle did they leave satisfied.
While these people were fighting over an empty bottle, Zhang Yangqing had already returned to Longhu Mountain.
This round of the Strange Tale World had completely ended, and he had obtained new resources.
Zhang Yangqing had unlocked all events mentioned in the rules and intelligence, so he unsurprisingly received an SSSSS rating.
Gregori’s performance towards the end with the dead rat was indeed somewhat lacking, but his overall performance was still good. He also completed hidden tasks, so he received an SSSS rating.
Although this rating was within reason, upon receiving it, it caused a sensation throughout the Church.
Because among his personal rewards, there were actually cultivation resources—a holy spring with a fixed daily yield, somewhat similar to the well water in Longhu Mountain’s backyard, though his yield was lower since it was obtained from an SSSS rating.
Since they were all part of the same organization, Gregori mentioned this matter at the Church’s high-level meeting.
Not only was the Pope somewhat surprised, but the other Cardinals and Holy Knights couldn’t sit still either.
“My God, it’s actually cultivation resources. Does this mean the Dragon Country’s Heavenly Master has already obtained many cultivation resources?”
“Now I understand. No wonder intelligence said Longhu Mountain has been continuously recruiting. I didn’t understand why they needed so many people. It turns out they have the resources.”
“That damn guy! So he’s been quietly making a fortune all along, not leaking any news!”
“We’ve suffered a huge loss! Had we known there were such good things, we should have signed up to participate from the beginning!”
Now, the Church finally understood why the Dragon Country’s Heavenly Master tirelessly entered the Strange Tale World every day.
If they had known earlier that clearing the Strange Tale World could yield this, not to mention the Church, probably other supernatural forces would have sent their top experts, right?
However, since the Dragon Country side didn’t mention it, they naturally weren’t foolish enough to publicize it everywhere.
Now, many countries with major supernatural forces are observing.
The Church side also wants to emulate Longhu Mountain in quietly making a fortune.
But coincidentally, the Pyramid Country’s Chosen One, Rahman, was also an SSSS-level clearer, and he obtained resources too!
