Chapter 0817: Pre-arrangement
When Li Qingfeng ended his sentence, the well-lit inner hall came to a silence and every Banner Leader looked towards him.
"What'd you want to say?" Lu Qingmei from the Dragon's Scale Lineage said bluntly as she stared at Li Qingfeng calmly.
Li Qingfeng gave a slight smile as he replied, "This opening of the Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool is a bit different. As it's taking place during the Respected Elder's birthday, many distinguished guests will be watching our battle closely. As such, I suggest that we fight by all means but do not overdo it. Simply said, we will still try our best but restrain ourselves a little to put up a nice performance for the birthday celebration."
Hearing this, the other Banner Leaders frowned a little. Did he mean to use the Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool battle as an avenue of entertainment for the birthday celebration?
"To prevent the battle from becoming too bloody, I propose that we fix the results of the battle beforehand. In that case, we can trade blows without going overboard and still have a conclusion for the battle," Li Qingfeng continued.
As soon as he finished this, the eyes of the other Banner Leaders froze. So, this was his real motive.
To fix the results beforehand and give the audience a spectacular exhibition match.
However, Li Luo frowned when he heard the suggestion. This might not be a good thing for him. After all, the Green Nether Banner was not the top few amongst the Twenty Banners despite their stellar progress recently. In other words, he might not even get anything if the results were arranged beforehand.
Moreover, he had been working hard and preparing for so long in order to use the Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool to fill up his three resonant palaces.
If the results were prearranged, what would be left for him?
"How will we arrange it?" Deng Fengxian of the Dragon's Fang Lineage cut in at this point.
Everyone listened attentively too. After all, this was the most important part.
Li Qingfeng pondered for two seconds before he revealed a warm smile and gently explained, "The Dragon's Blood Lineage will take two of the Coiling Dragon Pillars, and they'll be one gold and one silver. The remaining four Coiling Dragon Pillars will be shared equally among the other four lineages, one pillar each."
When he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the inner hall turned tense instantly. He had given the largest piece of cake to himself as soon as he opened his mouth. Furthermore, it was the best piece of the cake too.
Yet they were not totally surprised by it. Ultimately, the Dragon's Blood Lineage was the strongest among them.
It was just an extremely blunt and unpleasant way to propose this to them.
"Guys, don't think that I am being greedy or arrogant with my words. If we fight it out normally, I believe I will still stand the highest chance of obtaining the golden dragon pillar. I may have suggested fixing the results, but it's actually just pre-arranging the results of the normal fights in advance so that we won't go overboard during the clash and make a joke of ourselves in front of others," Li Qingfeng explained with a sincere face. However, the air of confidence and dominance around him still remained. This self-confidence was brought to him by his own power as well as the strong foundation of the Gold Blood Banner.
As the strongest Banner Leader among the Twenty Banners, the golden dragon pillar was indeed his in a certain sense.
Furthermore, the Violet Blood Banner led by Li Hongli was ranked third, just behind Lu Qingmei.
All in all, the Dragon's Blood Lineage was indeed a fearsome force that stood a high chance to secure two of the pillars even if they fought it out normally.
At this moment, the inner hall fell dead silent. Although they knew what Li Qingfeng had said was indeed true, this kind of prearrangement would make them appear kind of weak.
After all, competition was part of the journey of cultivation. If they lost the courage to compete and fight for what they wanted, they would eventually lose their edge and become unexceptional.
It was just that the almighty Li Qingfeng, aspiring leader of the Twenty Banners, had spoken now. Who would dare to oppose him?
They still had to give him this face in the end, right?
"What bullshit."
Li Luo sneered in his heart. The Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool was only going to open tomorrow because of Li Jingzhe, who had gone back on his word for Li Luo even though he was the Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Fang Lineage. If the Coiling Dragon Pillars fell into Li Qingfeng's hands now just because of a prearrangement, wouldn't it be a total waste of the Respected Elder's efforts?
As such, Li Luo was determined to get at least one of the Coiling Dragon Pillars. Not to mention Li Qingfeng, he would not back down even if the Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Blood Lineage had spoken!
With that in mind, Li Luo was about to step up.
However, someone else stepped up before he could. A figure with short and tidy hair, coupled with an oval face like a goose egg, was now emitting cold air.
It was none other than Lu Qingmei.
"Banner Leader Li Qingfeng, I disagree with your proposal. The Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool was created in order to train us. In the past, everyone relied on their own strength to get the pillars. Isn't fixing the result breaking the rules? You said that you're afraid juniors like us will make a joke of ourselves in front of others during tomorrow's birthday celebration. However, a fight with predetermined results will definitely be lacking in drive and killing intent. If this were seen by other capable individuals, they would surely say our generation is weak and incompetent." Lu Qingmei's cold voice echoed in the inner hall as the other Banner Leaders watched.
Li Qingfeng was slightly taken aback too. He had not expected Lu Qingmei to reject his suggestion so strongly.
Hearing her words, Li Luo could not help but heave a sigh of relief deep in his heart. At this point, he stood up from the crowd and replied with a smile, "I also feel that it is better to fight it out normally. Since Banner Leader Li Qingfeng is so confident that the results will be the same either way, there isn't really a need for us to make arrangements before the battle."
The others turned their gazes towards Li Luo in surprise. None of them had expected him to stand up and object too.
"Banner Leader Li Luo, what do the six Coiling Dragon Pillars have to do with you?" Li Hongli asked with a slight sneer on her red lips.
Li Luo gave her a stare before he calmly replied, "Sorry, but I have my eyes set on at least one of the six Coiling Dragon Pillars."
Li Hongli could not help but laugh out loud in response. "And you’re going to take it with your Greater Fiend Palace strength?"
Li Luo raised his eyelids and said, "Originally, the Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool would have only opened up in two or three years. It was the Dragon's Fang Lineage's Respected Elder who changed the opening date to tomorrow. I am sure you all have heard about this, yes? That is to say, the Respected Elder wants me to compete for it. Since he has commanded it, I, his grandson, will have to go all out. And I absolutely must get a Coiling Dragon Pillar."
Hearing his words, there were many strange reactions on the faces of the other Banner Leaders. At first, they were also surprised at the sudden opening of the Mystical Yellow Dragonbreath Pool. They had heard rumors that it was because of a change in decision from the Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Fang Lineage. As it turned out, the change in decision was all due to Li Luo.
In other words, this rare opportunity had been presented to them thanks to Li Luo?
Beneath the bright light, Li Hongli's delicate and beautiful face turned a little cloudy. The Lineage Chief of the Dragon's Fang Lineage was really kind to Li Luo. Despite his status, he would even change his decision just for Li Luo.
On the other hand, Li Qingfeng kept his composure. He had already known about this secret for a long time due to his background. Yet he had some strange emotions stirring deep in his heart. Although both Li Luo and him were from direct bloodlines, their statuses in the eyes of their respective Lineage Chiefs were evidently different.
The care and concern that the Dragon's Fang Lineage's Lineage Chief showed Li Luo far exceeded what the Dragon's Blood Lineage's Lineage Chief felt for Li Qingfeng.
"It's true that we have gotten this precious opportunity all thanks to you, Banner Leader Li Luo. In that case, I am fine with handing over one of the six Coiling Dragon Pillars to him," Li Qingfeng said gently.
Many of the Banner Leaders changed their faces as soon as they heard this.
Hearing this, Li Luo responded with a smile, "There is no need to give it to me specially. I am still lacking in strength and will just give it my all to fight for it. If I fail to obtain it, it will just show that I'm lacking in strength. No one's to blame for it."
Although it may seem like a good suggestion to hand him one of the Coiling Dragon Pillars directly, Li Qingfeng had no kind intentions at all. This would have brought more enemies to Li Luo instead.
"Then I wish you, Banner Leader Li Luo, all the best. May your wish come true." Li Qingfeng laughed coldly.
It seemed like there was no hope for furthering today's agenda anymore after the interruption from Lu Qingmei and Li Luo. However, Li Qingfeng had not shown any signs of frustration.
"Initially, I had kind intentions for everyone to take things easily. Since some of you have objected to my kind intentions, let's forget about it." Li Qingfeng laughed it off nonchalantly.
Many of the Banner Leaders stood up at this point and started chatting to ease the atmosphere.
As for Lu Qingmei, she turned around and left the hall immediately.
Li Luo was not interested in staying either. Although Li Qingfeng did not show it, he must have been enraged when his plan was foiled by Lu Qingmei and Li Luo. As such, Li Luo did not intend to waste any more energy here.
He greeted Li Fengyi and Li Jingtao before the trio headed out of the hall too.
Just as he left the big hall, Banner Leader Li Qingfeng, who had been gaily chatting with the other Banner Leaders, caught a glimpse of them out of the corner of his eye, and his smile vanished from his face.