Silence pervaded the great hall. Apart from the five top masters, eight other people present were all Crimson Whale Society elders and home envoys. Currently, everyone exchanged looks without speaking up.

The brilliance within Lusheng's earlier gaze already evidently displayed strength on par as dual cultivators. Unsure if condensation realm but even just mastery realm shouldn't provoke unnecessary offense from everyone without prior conflicts.

"Since no objections, it's confirmed then. Brother Lu shall serve as our sixth foreign envoy taking charge of Wu San's former territory. No disagreements right?" Gang leader Hong Mingzi laughed.

"This might be inappropriate," deputy gang leader Gongsun Zhanglan indifferently said lowering his brows.

"How so?" Chen Ying looked his way. He knew the other wanted his niece Gongsun Jing taking over Wu San's territory. Voicing disagreement now was normal.

Gongsun Zhanglan was a gloomy middle-aged man dressed in black with both hands inserted into his sleeves.

He glanced at Chen Ying and insincerely smiled. "Although extraordinarily mighty, that just represents personal strength. Truly managing influence isn't something depending solely on personal valor.

Wu San might be dead but forces and industries under him aren't few. Handing them entirely to a new recruit, what would other elders think? Unaccomplished yet granted such fortune. Violates customs."

Chen Ying sneered. "Everyone clearly knows how Wu San died. Now people desire his inheritance yet no one dares touching the danger. Seeking only benefits while evading risks can't happen."

"Although your niece boasts impressive talents with wisdom beyond peers, if desiring Wu San's vacancy, why not take over that incidental trouble as well?"

"I never mentioned little Jing. Merely speaking justice as the disciplinary deputy chief for our elders. Why should they dedicate years of life and death for the gang yet remain inferior to a new recruit?" Gongsun Zhanglan indifferently said.

Chen Ying sneered again. "Then what's your implication? Suddenly jumping out now likely hints certain intentions even if none meant. Creating misunderstandings or not isn't my concern. As the deputy chief governing laws and disciplines, I reserve rights voicing out all inappropriate matters."

Neither conceded. Yet Lusheng grew somewhat impatient watching everything. "What's there to dispute over? Whoever disagrees can come fight me." He licked his lips and stood up.

His sight wandered between the strongest experts. "Jianghu matters for jianghu people. Fists decide words!" Lusheng started loosening up his fists.

Gongsun Zhanglan froze up watching him. Feeling somewhat chilled by that gaze. He focused his mind and calmly said, "We're brothers of the same gang. Where's the rationale behind outright brawling and killing? Such news spreading outside would be..."

"It's called internal exchange. Come now, no need holding back! Whoever disagrees can communicate with me!" Lusheng felt his blood faintly boil with excitement.

He enjoyed battle more and more after that flower boat struggle. Truly experiencing his intense vitality then and sensing his spirit sublimating while teetering on the edge of life and death seemed somewhat addictive now.

"Seems Brother Lu misunderstood. I didn't oppose you taking over Wu San's..." Gongsun Zhanglan's facial flesh twitched.

"No problems. Come on, let's have a round!" Lusheng's eyes shone finding his mark. He felt this guy was surely durable enough.

"Brother Lu, I think you're really..."

"Just one bout. I'll take it as deserved if beaten to death!" Thick killing intent slowly permeated out from Lusheng.

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Gongsun Zhanglan didn't speak staring at him. Seemingly realizing underestimation towards this newest member's arrogance. The other clearly cared nothing about offending people, doing as he pleased without apprehension.

"Looks like little brother truly wants exchanging pointers with me..." Slivers of killing intent finally surfaced within Gongsun Zhanglan's eyes. Almost acting to directly beat this newcomer to death.

But he knew the old chief and Chen Ying were present. Even if he wanted to attack, things wouldn't be easy.

"Alright, enough." As expected, the old chief spoke up smilingly, "We'll do as planned. What Brother Zhanglan said also makes sense. Unaccomplished yet already managing such vast industry does feel inappropriate. We can start by handing over parts first. Complete transfer after resolving that incident. May I know Brother Lu's thoughts on this?"

Everyone's sights gathered onto Lusheng awaiting his answer.

"Wu San's territory has some trouble right? Can you elaborate on that?" Unable to fight, Lusheng's bloodlust gradually faded. Slightly disappointed but not rushed. Plenty of experts around for a match anytime.

"Wu San was the former foreign envoy. His territory contained a vital iron mine for us. Problems happened at that mine. He vanished under mysterious circumstances while investigating, only discovered dead afterwards in a forest near the mines," Chen Ying answered.

Lusheng carefully considered before asking, "What was Wu San's level of cultivation?"

"Mastery realm peak touching insight. Exceptionally slippery from his Wind Willow Leaf Blade," Chen Ying earnestly said. "During actual combat, likely top ten in the gang."

"Top ten?" Lusheng narrowed his eyes sweeping the assorted masters present. He could discern from their genuine qi which were on the same level as him through exchanged looks.

From prior sensing, six people here dual cultivated at his condensation realm tier. Being labelled top ten in the entire gang meant Wu San was likely the peak among other mastery realm experts.

"How about it? Confident in taking over now?" Gongsun Zhanglan chuckled.

Lusheng felt somewhat unhappy. This guy constantly made things difficult finding all kinds of faults. Neither sensible nor reasonable continuously obstructing him from assuming what Wu San left behind. Likely other intentions at play.

Lusheng innately embraced boldness and carefulness.

Just like at Red Mansion previously. Outwardly eating and drinking merrily with companions yet wariness never left his mind. Even carefully observing the other two tasting food first vigilant of poisoning before eating his share.

If completely unguarded, he wouldn't have secretly brought a blade for fun times right? How many people did things this way?

If not for previously encountering that bizarre flower boat, Lusheng wouldn't have turned relatively prudent. Which ultimately proved correct in the end.

Now towards the trouble that even killed a mastery realm master, his response wasn't blind acceptance. Instead carefully clarifying Wu San's actual strength first.

"What business is it of yours whether I'm confident or not?" Since the other insisted making things difficult, Lusheng also didn't bother staying polite, directly firing back.

Gongsun Zhanglan choked up. His complexion turning ugly for a time before swiftly settling down. Only coldly laughing at Lusheng without another word.

The great hall already carried hushed whispers between elders gathered closely conversing softly. Although voices were light, not entirely indistinct.

Elder Ouyang Chengzhi and another black veiled middle-aged woman whispered a few sentences. Slight hints of dismay towards Elder Wang.

As home envoy, Elder Wang greatly valued Lusheng. Now seeing Gongsun obstructing, Elder Wang's face also flushed red. Stopped from standing multiple times by the friend at his side.

"Elder Wang's hereditary Soul Breaking Palm actually cultivated tremendously wrongly by an outsider showing that Lusheng's talents are frighteningly rare. He must've urgently contacted his elder brother by now. While Gongsun acts without worry relying on someone, unafraid of offense. But if Wang Yuanshan arrives, things would get lively." Elder Ouyang softly said.

"Wang Yuanshan?" The woman seemed shocked, "The reputed Nine Ways Sword Palm Wang Yuanshan?"

"Precisely. An extraordinary figure... If he truly comes..." Elder Ouyang didn't continue. She guessed the reasons for those envoys dodging Lusheng all stemmed from Elder Wang likely spreading news of him throughout the upper ranks given his talkative nature.

At the great hall, Lusheng also broadly asked about Wu San's affairs gaining rough comprehension over causes and effects behind everything.

It was very simple.

A vital iron mine for the gang had problems at a village beside it.

That's fine if it was just the village. But en route to the iron mine, they must pass through that village.

After several miners continuously disappeared along the way, immense attention was provoked from the gang. People were dispatched for inquiries but these investigators also vanished.

Only then did the gang define matters as a dark calamity leaving resolution to the foreign envoys.

The reason these envoys willingly handled such dangerous affairs was due to the generous benefits.

Authority and benefits for foreign envoys even exceeded the gang leader's. Moreover, the role rotated yearly denying monopoly by any single person. Yearly shifts.

Most top brass took turns serving to reap advantages before passing it on. Wu San was the same, barely starting his rotation before this happened. Cautiously bringing five mastery realm experts for investigations after understanding the danger.

Yet Wu San disappeared. His team also all missing, only to later have his corpse discovered at a small forest...