Chapter 257 Chapter 257 – Vote of the Grand Elders
"All right then. Before we vote, does anyone have anything to add or ask?"
At that moment, many different elders stood up. The first one to talk was the representative of the Han clan who hurried to take the chance to push Ken to his death.
"Elder Murdo, I believe we should not be entangled in a war against a top 5 sect. Even if we make them pay, it wouldn't change the fact we might take damage beyond repair, sending us out of the top 20 sects of the continent. We can claim benefits and compensation and give them to the Sue clan for their loss."
He talked with a righteous tone, almost making everyone think that he had the best interest of the sect in his mind.
"Vlad Han! You think I don't know that my nephew made your clan lose some face and you're trying to get back at him? Maybe I should learn from his example and kill some of your lousy family in a duel too."
Fernando didn't remain quiet at the aggression and made sure to explain to everyone present the situation between Ken and the Han clan, making Vlad's point somewhat invalid and motivated by selfish reasons and petty revenge.
Not all the elders knew about it; they had more important things to do than listen to news about quarrels between the young generation of the elite clans.
"Enough, we understand the gist of the situation. Elder Fernando, does it mean you're standing by your nephew's side and want to protect him?" Supreme Elder Murdo stopped the argument before it escalated.
"Exactly."
"Good, Elder Typhon, I see you stand by Disciple Ken's side. Does it mean you're related?" He turned to Typhon next who was one of the elders that stood up when he asked if anyone wanted to add anything.
"Yes, Elder Murdo. He is my student, I teach him weekly lessons in Alchemy. He is extremely talented in the field and has already submitted two theories that have been learned by all elders in the division. He is a priceless treasure to our division who could propel our sect in the science of Alchemy to new heights we did not dare dream of."
"Surely you exaggerate the boy's achievements?" Murdo asked dubiously.
"I don't. Brothers from the Alchemy division. I know we have our disagreements, but you all agree with me this time. We can't give him up, his findings have already offered us with enough research materials for the next century. Who knows what else we might gain in the future?"
Normally, Typhon Aspis was met with difficulties and suppression from the rest of the grand elders of the Alchemy division for being part of an elite clan. The division used to be elite-free, but Typhon's great-grandfather broke the silent agreement and started his own elite clan when he reached the seventh rank as an alchemist.
"I agree. Ken Sue is a valuable asset to our sect. I suspect that the Four Seasons Sect have heard of his merits and simply eyed him in their greed," another elder from the Alchemy division spoke up for Ken with a sigh. She would pay her whole savings to get a commoner version of Ken, but unfortunately, there wasn't such a person for sale.
"I concur."
"I concur."
All grand elders spoke up for Ken. While they were only a single division, they had a great influence on the sect when all of them stood together to achieve a common goal.
"What are you all talking about? We won't have any Alchemy division to research his theories when the Four Seasons Sect burn us to the ground!" Vlad argued with anger.
"You're just a dog that would roll over at anyone's command. We are not afraid of them, and if we show a strong front, they won't sacrifice that much for a fourth-stage cultivator!" Fernando replied.
"I said enough. So far the Sue clan and the Alchemy division support saving Ken. Anyone else?"
"I also vote for saving Ken Sue. He had submitted new approaches to Formation Mastery and has given us enough research materials for quite some time as well. He is a genius with no second, and losing him would be a great setback to the sect as a whole."
This time, Supreme Elder Zadkiel stood up and voiced his opinion. Ken's hard work at acquiring allies now proved itself as so many elders took his side and refused to surrender him to his enemies.
"Formation Mastery? As in he is both a formation master and an alchemist as a teenager?"
"He is only nine, Elder Murdo." Fernando gave the news with a smug face.
"I could sense a bit of Runic Qi, but I thought I was confusing it somehow. What are your respective ranks in these fields, Disciple Ken?"
"I'm a fourth-rank alchemist and a fourth-rank formation master."
"I see. You are the best of your generation in strength, Alchemy, and Formation Mastery. It's impressive indeed. Does the rest of the Formation Mastery stand by Elder Zadkiel's opinion?"
"I concur."
"I concur."
The Geller clan had a strong grasp over the Formation Mastery division and the Runology division, so all elders present from both divisions readily agreed without needing any further persuasion. Since they truly agreed and their leaders wanted them to agree, they did not have any reason to refute Zadkiel's words.
"I see. Anyone else?"
"After hearing the elders' arguments, I also support keeping Ken Sue safe for the benefit of our sect. If their words are true, we might be only second to the Infinite Wisdom Sect in Alchemy and Formation Mastery in a few thousand years."
Ken looked at the man who spoke up for him. He was the only grand elder of a smaller elite clan, and Ken recognized him as the father of one of Henry's young-master followers.
'Henry's hard work is bearing fruit,' Ken mused to himself as he saw a few others stand up and agree with the man's opinion.
"I disagree. I share Elder Vlad's view on the topic. If we are attacked by the Four Seasons Sect, we will lose everything. It's too risky. In fact, Ken Sue's talent and prospects only increase the chances that they see him as worthy of their losses in their attempt to capture him."
"Elder Maisie, would you go as far as dragging the whole sect down just so an elite family would not get more influence in the sect?" Fernando said with a mocking tone. Maisie was an elder hailing from a common background, and she was known for her fierce attempts to suppress the elite clan's influence at every chance.
"I agree with Elder Maisie. It's too risky."
"I concur."
A few more elders from Maisie's faction in the sect agreed with him, and soon Ken found himself in a peril. Out of the 41 elders in the meeting, 21 had already voted against him, while 18 voted for him. There was one elder who did not speak yet, and Elder Murdo himself.
"Elder Zion, what do you think?" Murdo asked the man who sat by his side on the small stage.
'It's him…' Ken thought in relief when he heard the man's name.
"Ken Sue not only is a talented young man who can propel our sect forward, but he is of a virtuous personality. In my absence, I heard he had taken a mission to defend the Soft Feather City from a beast tide and had gone out of his way to do everything in his capability to save the common locals. I vote to keep him safe, and I hope he will never lose his virtues in the future."
Zion Sinclair, the supreme elder born in the Soft Feather City. Ken had taken the mission to defend that city from a beast tide only to gain his support at this very moment, and it paid off.
"With these many reasons to keep Ken within our sect, I believe it's the right choice myself." Elder Murdo finally said his own opinion. He was still unsure what to decide before Elder Zion spoke, but hearing the elder's opinion of Ken's character was the icing on the cake, prompting him to ultimately support Ken himself.
There was a reason why Murdo and Zion spoke last. One was the leader of the meeting, and the other was one of the strongest supreme elders of the sect, which gave them a lot of influence. If they spoke first, they'd tilt everyone's opinions before they could form them.
"I did not know about Young Ken Sue's righteous personality. Elder Zion has opened my eyes, and I would like to change my vote to support Ken."
"The supreme elders have enlightened me…"
A few others stood up and changed their decisions, supporting Ken. Maisie's and Vlad's smug faces instantly turned sour at the unexpected development. At the end, 31 elders chose to stand by Ken's side.
"I conclude the meeting. The decision was made to support Ken Sue, and we all will show a united front when facing our enemies despite our disagreements. Remember, when there are external enemies, we must unite to remain at the top. Do not disclose any information that might harm the sect's interests, or else you will be declared traitors and be hunted down by the sect."
"Yes, Elder Murdo." Everyone cupped their fists and bowed. Murdo's last warning was meant for those who lost the vote, telling them not to be smart-asses that undermine the sect covertly.
Everyone who participated in the meeting stepped outside to meet with the waiting cultivators.
"Elder Angus, we apologize, but we must decline your request to surrender Ken Sue. While his outer description might fit, we believe it must be ill rumors spread by our enemies. Otherwise, how would a disciple of our sect stand a chance against the top disciples of the Four Seasons Sect, and how would they enter your territory?"
"Murdo, are you trying to play smart with me? We know he was there." Angus, the leader of the visitors from the Four Seasons Sect spoke coldly.
"But Angus, wasn't the Devil's Heir from the Divine Sword Sect? Are you implying one of their most promising disciples went rogue and joined a sect out of the top 5?" A certain troublemaker popped out of nowhere, and everyone recognized him as Elmer, an elder from the Serene Lotus Sect.
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