Elder Fu Junrang said, "Sect Leader, all the elders of the Purple Golden Cave should be present. Shouldn't we discuss this after we gather everyone?"
"That's right!" Yin Yide and the others agreed.
Gong Lince understood what they meant. The elders who were in charge of the prefectures outside were his people. In other words, all the prefectures were under his control. If he could make one of them advance to the Sage Realm, he would be short of a person to oversee the prefectures. So, he would have to choose one of them.
However, this was something he didn't want to see. It would divide his power. He said indifferently, "One of the three days has passed. I'm afraid it'll be too late to send a message for them to come and discuss this."
Yuan An said, "Sect Leader, I suggest that we listen to the elders' opinions on this matter. We might as well invite them here. As long as we decide on the candidates in time, even if the elders who are out of the prefecture are chosen, it won't be a problem for them to go to the Saint State."
Fu Junrang nodded. "I think it's possible."
Gong Lince glanced at them. How could he not know what they were thinking? They wanted to use their masters to pressure him.
Then again, if these people didn't have masters behind them, he would have cleaned up the meeting hall and replaced them with his own people.
However, the sect rules set by the founder were to prevent people from acting arbitrarily. To some extent, it was also a restriction on the power of the sect leader.
At this time, Gong Lince directly brought up the sect rules. "According to the sect rules, those who have been promoted to Grand Supreme Elder can no longer enter the meeting hall to participate in the sect's decisions."
Yin Yide said, "It's not a decision. It's okay to listen to the opinions of the older generation."
Everyone had figured out the intentions of the Nine Saints by now. So, it didn't matter whether they could achieve the Nine Saints' goal in the end if they went to the Sage Domain. In fact, they might not be able to escape the calamity in the end. This kind of matter was much more dangerous than the Secret Territory of Heaven Capital.
If they went, they would end up dead. No one was willing to go.
Gong Lince said, "There's no need to go through so much trouble. You said you were in trouble. Even if the other elders came, there would be chaos in the prefectures. There would be difficulties and they would need to guard the prefectures. They wouldn't be able to get away. If this goes on, there won't be any results. "
"I've already said that the matter of the Saint State must be resolved today. In order to avoid people saying that I am biased, I will be impartial. The selection of the candidates will be decided by drawing lots. Whoever draws the right number will be the winner. This method is fair and just, and we'll leave it to fate. I'm sure the elders won't be able to raise any objections. "
"Drawing lots?" Everyone muttered and looked at each other in dismay.
Mo Lingxue asked, "How do we draw lots?"
Gong Lince's gaze swept across the five elders present. He suddenly tilted his head and said, "Get the bamboo tube and five chopsticks."
"Yes!" The disciple in the corner acknowledged the order and left.
A moment later, the disciple returned with the bamboo tube and chopsticks. Gong Lince didn't take them, instead he lifted his chin and gestured, "Let the elders examine them."
The disciple retreated and brought the items to the crowd.
The elders were a little unwilling, but Gong Lince had already put it this way and brought out this seemingly fair and reasonable method. If anyone still disagreed, it would be too obvious that they didn't want to go to the Saint State.
One by one, they could only reach out to examine the items. Since they had already examined them, they naturally had to examine them carefully. Some hoped to see some markings or hoped to remember the minute differences on the chopsticks so that they could make a choice when they drew lots.
Unexpectedly, when the bamboo tube and chopsticks were in Gong Lince's hands, he flipped the bamboo tube upside down and stuck it in his palm. Pa! A chopstick was stuck upside down at the bottom of the bamboo tube.
Pa! He reached out to take a chopstick from the disciple's hand and stuck it in again.
Five chopsticks were inserted into the bottom of the bamboo tube. Gong Lince showed them to everyone. Then, he turned around with his back facing the crowd. With a 'kacha' sound, he turned around again. A broken chopstick appeared in Gong Lince's other hand. He said in a deep voice, "Five chopsticks. If one of them is broken, the one who draws the shortest one will lead the team to the sage territory to take over the position of Elder Niu's supervisor!"
The crowd was silent. Those who remembered the minute markings on the chopsticks were a little dumbfounded. They didn't expect the method of drawing to be like this.
Five chopsticks were half stuck in the bamboo tube. It was useless to remember the minute markings. Even if the five chopsticks were inserted at different heights, no one would be able to see any clues. Who would know which chopstick was broken in the bamboo tube.
"When drawing, no one is allowed to use any techniques to investigate. Everyone will supervise together! Who's first? "Gong Lince asked lightly.
In the end, no one said anything for a while. Gong Lince said slowly, "Since no one responded, I can only call the roll. Yan Li, you go first."
"Yes!" Yan Li responded and walked over. He was very calm, thinking that his Sect Leader Senior would have a way to guide him in drawing.
"Wait!" Yin Yide suddenly said, "Sect Leader, I'm a little older. Let me go first."
The others looked at each other and understood his intention to go first. There was only one broken chopstick. The earlier one drew, the more likely it was to miss.
Of course, there was a possibility that the first person to draw would be the first one to draw. Once it was drawn, there was no need for the rest.
Gong Lince said, "Alright! I've decided on this matter. We'll draw based on age. "
Yin Yide cupped his hands and went forward to touch the bamboo tube. However, he was hesitant as he didn't know which chopstick to draw. His hand moved around the chopsticks and everyone's gaze followed his movements.
"Elder Yin, is it so difficult for you to bear responsibility for the sect?" Gong Lince suddenly asked.
Yin Yide clenched his teeth and grabbed a chopstick. He suddenly pulled it out and looked at it anxiously. In the end, he realized that it was a perfectly intact chopstick. He immediately calmed down and showed it to Gong Lince first, then turned around and showed it to everyone else. He was extremely happy, but on the surface, he calmly retreated.
The next oldest person was Yuan An. After he went forward to draw, he was glad that it was also a perfectly intact chopstick.
The next oldest person was Fu Junrang, who also drew a good chopstick. He quietly retreated to the side.
There were only two chopsticks left. The remaining two people were a little nervous. Even Yan Li was a little nervous. This meant that the probability was getting smaller and smaller.
However, Yan Li was slightly better than Mo Lingxue. He believed that Gong Lince had a way to side with him.
Yan Li was about to step forward to draw when Mo Lingxue suddenly said, "Isn't it unfair for me to draw based on age? I'm the last."
Gong Lince swept a cold glance at the others and asked, "Does everyone feel that it's unfair?"
Fu Junrang said, "If you feel that it's unfair, why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Yuan An also said, "Elder Mo, this is where you're wrong."
How could they let things go wrong after drawing a safe chopstick? Naturally, they all praised it for being fair. Yan Li hadn't drawn yet but he was on Gong Lince's side. Naturally, he wouldn't say anything wrong.
Mo Lingxue argued with the others.
The situation was one-sided. Gong Lince no longer paid attention to Mo Lingxue and said to Yan Li, "Draw!"
Yan Li went forward to observe his senior brother's expression. Who knew that Gong Lince would close his eyes in order to show fairness.
Yan Li was a little dumbfounded. What made him even more dumbfounded was that after he bit the bullet and drew a chopstick, the quarreling in the hall instantly quieted down. Everyone's gazes were fixated on the chopstick in his hand. It was a broken chopstick.
Yan Li's old face twitched.
Gong Lince opened his eyes and gestured with the bamboo tube in his hand. "Elder Mo!"
Mo Lingxue immediately walked forward and pulled out the last chopstick. It was indeed the one that was intact. She was overjoyed and retreated with shame.
Only Yan Li was still standing beside Gong Lince in a daze.
Gong Lince stared at him. "Elder Yan, the heavy responsibility of the sect shall be borne by you!"
Fu Junrang, who was holding a chopstick, suddenly cupped his hands and shouted, "Sect Master is strict and fair!"
The lucky survivors immediately responded in unison, "Sect Master is strict and fair!"
"This matter is decided. All of you can leave first!" Gong Lince waved his hand.
Everyone knew that he had to appease Yan Li at this moment. They said respectfully in unison, "Yes, Sect Master!" Then, they left one after another. Before they left, they all cast sympathetic looks at the dumbfounded Yan Li.
At the same time, they were also very surprised. They didn't expect Gong Lince to be impartial this time. He did it so well that no one could say anything.
Gong Lince also waved his hand to signal the disciples in the hall to leave.
When only the two of them were left in the hall, Gong Lince sighed. "Junior Brother, you've wronged me this time."
Yan Li said sorrowfully, "Sect Master Senior Brother, you asked me to go to the Heaven Capital Mystic Realm. For the sake of the big picture, I braced myself and went. Why me again this time?"
Gong Lince: "This is decided by drawing lots."
Yan Li: "Can't Senior Brother give me a hint?"
Gong Lince was furious. "Nonsense! What hint? There are so many people watching, how can I give you a hint? Do you think everyone is blind? "
Yan Li: "Then you can at least inform me beforehand. Can't you be biased towards Junior Brother? We are fellow disciples of the same master! "
Gong Lince said forcefully, "Biased? Aren't I being biased? The four of them drew four out of five, and you drew one out of five. Which side has a higher chance of winning? I'm already being biased towards you by using this method. Not only am I your Senior Brother, but I'm also the Sect Master of Zijin Cave. How can I be biased towards you? " Then, his tone softened. "Junior Brother, you even got drawn this way. By the ancestors, you can only say that you're unlucky!"
Yan Li was in a daze, but he also understood that this was the case. The other side couldn't even draw four out of five, but he could draw one out of five. In terms of probability, he had an absolute chance of winning. Senior Martial Brother was indeed very biased towards him by coming up with this method, but his luck was a little too bad.
He put on a long face. "Senior Brother, Niu Youdao is such a cunning person. Even he lost his life. How can I survive if I go?"
Gong Lince was angry again. "Then what do you want me to do? Everyone saw the result of drawing lots in public. Do you want me, the dignified Sect Master, to go back on my words? This matter is already set in stone in the Conference Hall. If I am unfair, how can I explain it? They will immediately find the Grand Supreme Elders to uphold justice. At that time, not only will you have to go, but I will also be disgraced. In the future, they will always talk about this matter. How can I manage the sect's affairs in the future? Who will listen to me? Do you want the Zijin Cave to fall apart? Junior Brother, it's not easy to be a Sect Master. At this time, even you won't help me. Who will? "
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