Chapter 895: Fire Pavilion Internal Conflict

When the final results of the Four Pavilions' high-level meeting were announced, all four pavilions predictably erupted in excitement.

Except for a few very unhappy disciples from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, almost everyone else was overjoyed. No one had expected that the first thing Zhou Yuan would do after becoming the Chief Pavilion Master was to lower the price of the Four-Mother Runes.

This effectively eased their problem of insufficient Origin Reversion Coins from another angle.

Such a substantive action was more effective than any comforting words.

As the news spread, even the Fire Pavilion, which had initially been most opposed to Zhou Yuan, instantly fractured. Some Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples tried their best to incite rebellion, but they were met with indifference from the majority of Fire Pavilion members.

This was especially true for the Fire Pavilion members nominated by Zhou Yuan to compete for the positions of Deputy Pavilion Master and Commander.

They already possessed considerable strength but, not being Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, they had always been suppressed by Lu Xiao and other Heavenly Spirit Sect members, making it difficult for them to rise.

Now, with Zhou Yuan's promotion to Chief Pavilion Master, he had directly broken Lu Xiao's suppression, offering them a fair chance to compete with the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples!

Although they knew this was merely a tactic by Zhou Yuan to divide the Fire Pavilion, they were willing to take the dangerous bait. After all, no one wanted to be constantly suppressed by Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples who were weaker than themselves.

In places like the Four Pavilions, one had to contend for more resources. Previously, they couldn't challenge the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, but now it was different. With Zhou Yuan, the Chief Pavilion Master, paving the way, they naturally chose to follow without hesitation.

Consequently, within just one day, the Fire Pavilion, once grand and the strongest among the four, descended into internal strife!

The Fire Pavilion members nominated by Zhou Yuan began successively challenging the current Deputy Pavilion Masters and Commanders. Their challenges received strong support from numerous non-Heavenly Spirit Sect members within the Fire Pavilion.

After all, Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples were a minority in the Fire Pavilion; the majority were powerful Divine Dwelling experts from various factions.

Therefore, their momentum was stronger!

In this new competition, in less than a day, a major reshuffle began among the Fire Pavilion's high-ranking officials.

Of the eight Deputy Pavilion Masters, seven were from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and three of them were directly unseated!

Of the twenty-three Commanders from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, fifteen were unseated!

On this day, the Fire Pavilion was almost in a state of revelry. With each defeat of a Heavenly Spirit Sect official, the cheers grew more fervent, and Zhou Yuan's support within the Fire Pavilion became even stronger!

Fire Pavilion, Pavilion Master's Residence.

Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian frantically sought out Lu Xiao. "Senior Brother Lu Xiao," Zuo Ya urgently pleaded, "if you don't intervene, how will our Heavenly Spirit Sect maintain control of the Fire Pavilion?!"

Zuo Ya looked somewhat disheveled and exasperated. Her strength was not the greatest among the seven Deputy Pavilion Masters, so she had faced a challenge and ultimately lost. This meant she had to relinquish her position as Deputy Pavilion Master!

She found this utterly unacceptable!

In the past, how would those scoundrels dare to covet her position?!

Lu Xiao, his face pale, calmly said, "Then what do you want me to do? Do you think if I step in now and tell them to stop, they will actually stop?"

Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian both froze. They understood that the source of all this was Zhou Yuan, but he was now the Chief Pavilion Master, superior to Lu Xiao, who was powerless to resist.

Zuo Ya gritted her teeth. "Then we'll report it to the elders in the sect! We'll take it to the Sect Master!"

Lu Xiao countered, "These actions are all within the Chief Pavilion Master's authority. If we take it to the Sect Master, can he simply dismiss Zhou Yuan? If it were that easy, would we have needed to scheme for so long to get me to compete for the Chief Pavilion Master position?"

"Taking it up like this will only make the Sect Master think we're incompetent, and it won't achieve anything else."

"Then what are we supposed to do?!" Zuo Ya burst out, almost hysterical. She had been on the verge of losing her mind lately. Her bet with Yi Qiushui had already caused her to lose face entirely within the Heavenly Abyss Territory, and her family had rebuked her considerably. Now, having lost even her position as Deputy Pavilion Master of the Fire Pavilion, she couldn't imagine how much more ridicule she would face.

Lu Xiao looked at her calmly. "There's nothing to be done. Everything is decided by strength. As Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, you inherently have more advantages than others. In the past, I did my best to provide you with more resources. But now, if you can't even hold onto this position, who is to blame?"

"I've said before, you need to change your mindset. The Four Pavilions now are not the same as before."

"That Zhou Yuan is no pushover, but as long as we don't deliberately provoke him, he won't bother us. His goal is the Nine Regions Grand Meeting, and he'll need our strength then, so he won't go too far."

"Before, you thought you could do as you pleased because I was here, but now I must tell you, I can no longer cover for you in this situation."

Gazing at Lu Xiao, whose expression was calm, as if he had lost his former sharpness and pride, Zuo Ya bit her lip tightly. She knew everything Lu Xiao said was true, but she still felt a sense of disappointment.

"Senior Brother Lu Xiao, you've changed!" After uttering these words, she turned and ran out.

Zhu Lian sighed helplessly and followed her.

Watching them leave, Lu Xiao sat down on a chair, his expression somewhat deflated. Just as Zuo Ya had said, this defeat by Zhou Yuan had shattered all his former sharpness.

As for Zhou Yuan, he should have harbored resentment, but he ultimately found he didn't feel much. He knew deep down that if Zhou Yuan hadn't dispersed the Nine-Headed Python bloodline within him at the last moment, he would have by now transformed into an irrational snake demon.

The mere thought of that outcome sent shivers down his spine.

So, strictly speaking, he probably owed Zhou Yuan thanks.

Lu Xiao exhaled deeply. He could sense that Zhou Yuan seemed to be aiming for the Nine Regions Grand Meeting. This person's ambition was greater than he had imagined.

However...

The Nine Regions Grand Meeting wouldn't be easy. The prodigious talents and monstrous geniuses there could sometimes make one feel despair.

He, Lu Xiao, didn't even qualify to contend with those monsters.

Lu Xiao closed his eyes and murmured to himself.

"Zhou Yuan... your ambition is vast. I'm eager to see what kind of achievements these Four Pavilions can make under your leadership at the Nine Regions Grand Meeting."

"But if you suffer too humiliating a defeat, don't blame me for adding insult to injury."