Chapter 273: No Gesture of Respect Is Too Much for Him
Shen Mo looked at the Seventh Elder.
The Seventh Elder was pointing at him, glaring with anger.
The Third Elder frowned and stepped between Shen Mo and the Seventh Elder.
In a deep voice, he said, "Seventh Elder, Shen Mo saved all the elders present. He is a great benefactor of the Jade Cauldron Sect. You shouldn't speak this way."
The Seventh Elder replied coldly, "I don't care about the others. I just want to know why you ordered the fire beasts to devour Liu Ruyun."
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "It seems the Seventh Elder is getting old; your thinking isn't as sharp as it used to be."
The Seventh Elder's face twisted in anger. "What did you say, boy?!"
Shen Mo replied calmly, "Even if we had captured Liu Ruyun alive, the State Governor's Office would never admit any connection to her."
"Her family would be massacred immediately to sever any ties."
"What's the point of keeping someone like that alive? To waste rice?"
The Seventh Elder's eyes widened in fury. He pointed at Shen Mo's nose and roared, "You…!"
The Third Elder sighed and grabbed the Seventh Elder's arm, forcibly pulling it down.
"That's enough, enough. Shen Mo is right. That Governor Yu is a cunning old fox. Unless there's irrefutable evidence, there's no way you'll make him acknowledge anything."
"This matter is settled."
"In any case, Shen Mo saved all the elders here and performed an extraordinary service."
"Neither you, I, nor anyone else has the right to criticize Shen Mo."
The Seventh Elder snorted coldly and turned his head away.
The Third Elder patted Shen Mo's shoulder, his expression filled with gratitude. "Good lad, it's a blessing to have you here."
"We were delayed by a large group of fire beasts. Even though we rushed here as fast as we could, we were prepared for the worst."
"But I never imagined—never imagined—that you would give us such a pleasant surprise, Shen Mo."
Shen Mo cupped his hands. "It was my duty."
"Good, good! I like your attitude, hahaha!" The Third Elder laughed heartily, his face beaming with delight.
After a brief pause, he added, "The Fire Pill Palace will reopen in four days. I suggest we don't wander around anymore and head straight to the entrance."
The other elders nodded in agreement.
This experience had left them with a psychological shadow.
Even if the Third Elder hadn't suggested it, none of them would have wanted to linger any longer.
All they wanted now was to leave the Fire Pill Palace and relax their weary minds and bodies.
Four Days Later
At the entrance of the Fire Pill Palace.
The Great Elder and the stationed palace guardian elder, Liu Qiang, had been waiting there for some time.
Boom!
The heavy gates of the Fire Pill Palace rumbled open.
One by one, tired and battered figures emerged.
When the Great Elder saw that nearly everyone was injured, exhausted, and their numbers had significantly dwindled, his heart sank.
He rushed forward to inquire.
The Third Elder and the Seventh Elder exchanged a glance.
The Seventh Elder remained silent.
The Third Elder recounted everything that had happened in the Fire Pill Palace, sparing no detail.
He concluded with high praise for Shen Mo.
The Great Elder's eyes flashed with palpable fury.
"The State Governor's Office…!"
He took several deep breaths to calm himself, then quickly walked over to Shen Mo, scrutinizing the young man intently.
The incident in Bloodvine Valley had already made him take note of Shen Mo.
But this time, Shen Mo had once again played a pivotal role.
"Elder Shen, well done!"
"On behalf of the sect, I thank you!"
He then bowed deeply to Shen Mo.
The gesture shocked all the elders present.
The dignified Great Elder, master of the Discipline Hall, was bowing to a young elder who wasn't even thirty years old.
It was utterly unexpected.
"Great Elder, there's no need for this," the Seventh Elder said, frowning.
But the Great Elder shook his head. "Shen Mo saved so many elders here. He didn't just save lives; he saved the future of the sect."
"No Gesture of Respect Is Too Much for Him."
The Seventh Elder fell silent immediately.
"Let's go, Elder Shen. You are the great hero of our sect!"
The Great Elder beamed as he pulled Shen Mo by the arm and walked at the front.
The Third and Seventh Elders followed closely behind, with Lu Dongxuan, Ye Yan, Yang Wenyuan, and the others trailing after them.
Together, they returned to the Jade Cauldron Sect's main gate.
Jade Cauldron Sect's Council Hall
After listening to the Great Elder's report, Sect Master Li Zhendao and the gathered elders' expressions shifted several times.
Li Zhendao quickly approached Shen Mo, bowing deeply with sincerity.
Shen Mo hurriedly stepped forward to support him.
Li Zhendao said solemnly, "Elder Shen, your contributions to the sect this time are immense. It is only fitting that I bow to you."
Shen Mo's actions had saved over twenty Nascent Soul elders.
These were no ordinary elders.
Each was of the Three-Cauldron or Four-Cauldron rank, the backbone of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
If these individuals had all perished, the sect would have been left without capable personnel.
Worse yet, it would have led to a devastating generational gap in the near future, leaving the Jade Cauldron Sect vulnerable for years to come.
Shen Mo's efforts were tantamount to saving the sect's future.
Elder Wan Mushun chuckled. "Sect Master, shouldn't Elder Shen be promoted and rewarded with something nice?"
Li Zhendao nodded repeatedly. "That's only proper. Our sect has never been stingy in rewarding merit."
After a brief moment of thought, he declared, "I propose that Elder Shen be directly promoted to the rank of Four-Cauldron Elder for his extraordinary service!"
"In addition, he will be awarded 15 Class-B contributions."
"What Elder Shen wishes to exchange for using these contributions is entirely up to him."
Li Zhendao smiled warmly. "Elder Shen, what do you think of this arrangement?"
Shen Mo's heart stirred slightly.
Fifteen Class-B contributions—Li Zhendao was indeed generous.
Most Four-Cauldron elders probably hadn't accumulated 15 Class-B contributions in their lifetimes.
To put it into perspective, 15 Class-B contributions were roughly equivalent to 200 Class-C contributions.
After all, exchanging lower-grade contributions for higher-grade ones typically required a premium.
With these contributions, Shen Mo could purchase treasures unavailable within the Jade Cauldron Sect, such as spiritual artifacts from the Shangqing Sect, elixirs from the Danhe Sect, or spirit beasts from the State Governor's Office.
These were their respective specialties, and such items could only be purchased with Class-B contributions.
Even with an abundance of Class-C contributions, they would still be inaccessible.
However, before Shen Mo could speak, Yang Qiye stood up.
"Sect Master, I object."
"Shen Mo has indeed made great contributions, but promoting him from a Three-Cauldron Elder to a Four-Cauldron Elder is already a significant reward."
"To further grant him 15 Class-B contributions is excessive."
"Bear in mind, many Four-Cauldron Elders haven't accumulated 15 Class-B contributions in their lifetimes."
"Your actions, Sect Master, risk creating discord among the elders."
Wan Mushun smiled faintly. "Oh? Then what do you suggest, Elder Yang?"
Yang Qiye raised three fingers. "Three Class-B contributions. No more."
The Fifth Elder and Eighth Elder stood up in immediate opposition.
"That's far too little!"
"Shen Mo's contributions are monumental. Awarding only three Class-B contributions would be disheartening. If word of this spreads, what will the Shangqing Sect and Danhe Sect think of us?"
"Furthermore…" The Fifth Elder sneered. "Second Elder, it was you who advocated for abandoning our beast-taming industry and purchasing all spirit beast and monster materials from the State Governor's Office."
"And now look what's happened. The State Governor's Office had already planted a spy in our ranks, aiming to kill all the elders who entered the Fire Pill Palace this time."
"Now, you want to reduce Shen Mo's reward? Elder Yang, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
"Are you the Jade Cauldron Sect's Second Elder, or are you working for the State Governor's Office?"
The entire council hall fell silent, the atmosphere turning icy.
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