Chapter 896 Stick and Carro (2/2)

Hence, they could only cast pleading gazes towards Lu Xiao, who had not spoken since the beginning.

Upon sensing their gazes, Lu Xiao raised his pale face and indifferently said, “You’re the chief pavilion master and have the authority to do anything in the four pavilions. However, things have been this way in the Fire Pavilion for a long time, and your actions will make the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples unhappy. If this matter escalates, you’ll have to resolve it on your own.”

Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan’s eyes. He could tell that Lu Xiao was not opposing him. Instead, Lu Xiao seemed to be conceding some ground.

Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others grew even more anxious. They wanted to speak out, but Lu Xiao weakly closed his eyes.

Zhou Yuan indifferently said, “Since I raised this matter, I will take responsibility for the consequences.

“The Fire Pavilion members I’ve nominated may challenge any of the current deputy pavilion masters and commanders from the Fire Pavilion over the next ten days. Whoever wins will have the right to assume the loser’s position.”

He had slightly changed Yi Qiushui’s original plan at the last moment because allowing the upper echelons of the Fire Pavilion to be challenged would create a bigger divide between the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples and non–Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples. As the chief pavilion master, he would not let the Fire Pavilion unite against him.

After dealing with the Fire Pavilion, he cast his eyes towards Han Yuan.

Han Yuan’s heart trembled under his gaze.

Sure enough, Zhou Yuan began to nominate members from the Mountain Pavilion. However, the number of nominees was fewer than those of the Fire Pavilion. Zhou Yuan considered this a small punishment for Han Yuan for being an opportunist.

Even so, this was a substantial blow to both the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion. A commotion engulfed the entire discussion hall. If not for fear of Zhou Yuan, the place would have already fallen into chaos.

Zhou Yuan’s bold and decisive actions could be said to be rather ruthless.

However, it was also difficult to resolve the resulting commotion.

As such, Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others secretly sneered inside. If Zhou Yuan could not bring a proper end to this commotion, he would have failed his duty as the chief pavilion master!

Fortunately, Zhou Yuan only took such actions towards the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion, leaving the Forest Pavilion and Wind Pavilion alone. This prevented a mutiny from occurring.

Zhou Yuan’s expression remained composed as he gazed at the crowd and slowly said, “Besides this matter, there is something else I have to announce. From today onwards, the price of the four mother runes will be lowered by 30%. What’s more, high-grade mother runes will now be sold to the other three pavilions.”

The noisy hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at each other, unable to conceal the shock in their eyes. Lowering the price of the four mother runes was excellent news for all four pavilions. It was hard to believe that Zhou Yuan would willingly yield such profits.

In the face of such temptation, even some of the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples from the Fire Pavilion began to hesitate.

They clung to their positions as deputy pavilion masters and commanders in order to obtain more cultivation resources. Lowering the prices of the four mother runes was akin to giving them resources from another direction. For a time, they felt as if the changes he suggested were not that unacceptable.

Only Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and a few others did not waver as much. They did not care about such cultivation resources—only face and authority.

But they were ultimately the minority.

Hence, Zhou Yuan’s second announcement stabilized the situation in the discussion hall, causing the earlier chaos to slowly recede. One could easily imagine the giant commotion the news would cause once it spread back to the four pavilions. When that happened, over 80% of the members would endorse Zhou Yuan as the new chief pavilion master.

Lu Xiao, pale-faced, stood up. He glanced at Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others panicking and said, “It’s already over, so stop trying to cause trouble. Otherwise, even I will be powerless if he finds an excuse to kick you guys out of the four pavilions.”

After finishing, he headed towards the exit.

Zhou Yuan’s stick-and-carrot was enough to subdue the four pavilions.