Chapter 434: Chapter 261: President of the Whig Society? (Part 2)
"With that last Power Mountain Seal, you could have shifted your aim at any moment. Even a third of an inch more, and I would have slammed right into the vortex of energy it created. You held back. If you hadn’t, I’d be dead right now."
Fang Zhen nodded slightly.
He wasn’t entirely sure of the specifics of West’s power, but he was certainly very different from any opponent he had faced before.
The very fact that West had managed to leave two phantom images within his precognitive senses was telling enough. He had never encountered anything like it.
Besides, the man was highly perceptive. To an untrained eye, Fang Zhen’s Fourth-stage Power Mountain Seal would seem merely powerful. But for someone like West, whose own strength was approaching that level, he could truly appreciate the technique’s might and significance.
West had already composed himself, his expression returning to normal. He looked at Fang Zhen and said seriously:
"Your power is beyond my imagination. I initially thought the lavish praise in Gwendolyn’s letter was an exaggeration. Although she rarely embellishes things, I still had my doubts. But now..."
West glanced aside at the hole pierced through the Tree of Blessings. "You truly possess this strength. Gwendolyn hasn’t even uncovered all of your hidden cards. You are fully qualified to stand on the same level as the highest-ranking members of our Whig Society."
"In terms of power, you’ve earned that right."
Fang Zhen nodded. ’So this counts as an official endorsement from the Whig Society,’ he thought.
But Fang Zhen still wasn’t sure what had happened during their fight.
He thought for a moment, then asked, "A moment ago, besides trying to close in with your sword, were you also about to activate your Alien Sword? To use the tough filaments inside to turn it into a long whip and attack me?"
At these words, West looked shocked again. "How did you know?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize something. A look of astonishment crossed his face, as if he wanted to say more but held back, uncertain.
"He already has one foot in the Extraordinary Realm, West. Your loss was no fluke. It was a matter of strength, not luck." A measured, calm voice spoke up beside Fang Zhen.
Fang Zhen’s eyebrow twitched. He only just now noticed someone had appeared, though he didn’t know when.
Fang Zhen was slightly taken aback. ’This person is no ordinary man.’
Even though he had been focused on his duel with West, for someone to approach silently to within ten meters of him, given his current level of awareness, was an incredibly difficult feat—a testament to their power.
’In the entire Whig Society,’ Fang Zhen mused, ’there’s likely only one person with that kind of power.’
Upon hearing the voice, West’s expression immediately turned deferential. He lowered his proud head slightly and bowed to the newcomer.
"President. You’ve come."
Fang Zhen looked over and saw a man of about fifty walking out from the building behind them.
The man had a sturdy build, and his features were resolute and serious. His thick, salt-and-pepper hair was tied back in a ponytail. He had a strong, square-jawed face that gave him a dignified and authoritative air.
Seeing him, the crowd that had gathered to watch the duel between Fang Zhen and the Vice President spontaneously cast looks of admiration his way, bowing as they said, "President."
Fang Zhen felt the shift in the atmosphere and knew this newcomer was the President of the Whig Society.
It was clear he was deeply respected, that the people supported him from the heart.
Even the impassive West, who usually seemed so calculating and inscrutable, showed considerable deference to the man with the salt-and-pepper ponytail.
The man walked toward Fang Zhen, stopping about two meters away. His gaze fell upon the large hole that had been blasted through the Tree of Blessings.
After a moment’s observation, the man said, "That is the Fourth-stage Power Mountain Seal. Within the entire Whig Society, only a handful of people have mastered a Fourth-stage Curse Seal, and Gwendolyn is not among them."
"For you to be able to use the Fourth-stage Power Mountain Seal, it’s most likely that you comprehended it yourself from the basic Curse Seal."
After speaking, the President’s eyes fell on Fang Zhen. "Ranger Fang Zhen. Your origins are as mysterious as they say. And your strength... is indeed extraordinary. Unfathomable."
"You flatter me."
Fang Zhen said, "I merely found a few shortcuts. It’s not the same as those who reached this level of strength step by painstaking step."
The man with the salt-and-pepper ponytail shook his head. "On the battlefield, no one cares how you acquired your power. As long as you achieve the same results, you are considered to possess the same strength. It makes no difference whether it was gained through opportunism or steady accumulation. All that matters is the reality of the outcome."
Fang Zhen listened, sensing the conviction in the Whig Society President’s words.
’Those are words with real weight behind them.’ He felt he had an intuitive grasp of the President’s character.
This was a true pragmatist—not in the petty, self-serving way of some city folk, but in the sense of being grounded, practical, and results-oriented.
"I am Alexander, President of the Whig Society," he said. "It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am quite curious about your strength. Perhaps we could have a brief exchange? Please don’t take offense."
Fang Zhen nodded slightly.
He assumed Alexander would need to arm himself for another duel, but instead, Alexander simply took a step forward, closing the distance between them to a mere sixty or seventy centimeters.
