Chapter 97

When that abrupt voice rang out, the many Phase Refinement Masters in the crowd were taken aback. Immediately after, an impatient person directly shouted, "Who? How dare you speak with such arrogance!"

Amidst the angry rebukes, gazes were cast in the direction of the voice, and their clamor gradually quieted down.

For they saw a silver-gray-haired youth standing behind them, looking at them with a faint smile.

Beside the youth stood Jiang Qing'e, her slender figure and exquisite face radiating a cold light as she stared at them.

When they saw Jiang Qing'e, they immediately recognized the identity of the silver-haired youth. Their expressions became somewhat complex. Although they had spoken rashly in anger, no one dared to maintain their previous bravado in front of this young lord.

"Have you not greeted the young lord and the young lady yet?!" Elder Zheng Ping angrily rebuked at this moment.

The many Phase Refinement Masters hesitated for a moment, then a few scattered voices sounded, "Greetings, young lord, young lady."

Pang Qianshi also looked at Li Luo with some surprise. A long time ago, when the Luo Lan Manor headquarters was still in Nanfeng City, he had actually seen Li Luo, but back then, the latter was too young. Now, upon seeing him again, the features of Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan were evident in his face.

Elder Zheng Ping squeezed through the crowd, bowed to Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e, and then frowned, saying, "Young lord, what did you just say?"

Li Luo smiled, "I said, since the position of the Xi Yang House President is vacant, I will temporarily take on this role."

Elder Zheng Ping was taken aback, somewhat stunned, and said, "This..."

He wanted to say that this seemed to be against the rules, but Li Luo was the young lord, and clearly had the authority to break some rules.

The Phase Refinement Masters of the Xi Yang House also exchanged glances, instinctively wanting to oppose, but constrained by Li Luo's status, they were momentarily at a loss for words.

At this moment, Pang Qianshi smiled slightly and said, "Young lord, with your noble status, there's no need for you to take on the role of a president. These positions, insignificant in your eyes, are something we have to strive for a long time to achieve."

"Your sudden interest in occupying this position might seem a bit unfair to those of us who have worked hard for the Xi Yang House for many years, don't you think?"

Pang Qianshi's words revealed his cunning. Each sentence seemed to stand on the side of the Phase Refinement Masters of the Xi Yang House, while subtly trying to incite conflict between the two sides.

His words indeed had an effect, and some Phase Refinement Masters already showed signs of discontent, ready to act.

Li Luo's gaze lingered on Pang Qianshi for a few moments. This old fox was indeed more difficult to deal with than Zhuang Yi.

"I am also a Phase Refinement Master. Although I am only a Second Rank, I cannot compare to all of you, but I believe the role of the president is not just about refining spirit water and strange light. It's about whether one has the ability to make the Xi Yang House stronger," Li Luo said with a faint smile.

"Do you all know the situation of the Xi Yang House branch in Tian Shu County? In the past, it made a profit of about 100,000 gold per year, but with my assistance, this year's profit will reach 300,000 gold, tripling the amount."

"And as far as I know, the annual profit of the Xi Yang House headquarters is only around one million gold, right?"

Li Luo's calm voice gradually calmed the commotion in the crowd. Some Phase Refinement Masters looked doubtful, knowing the situation of the Xi Yang House branch in Tian Shu County, but a branch achieving a profit of 300,000 gold in a year? That was nearly a third of the headquarters' profit!

At this moment, Yan Lingqing stepped forward and said, "The situation of the Tian Shu County branch is indeed as the young lord described. If any of you have doubts, you can go to the branch for an investigation."

Seeing even Yan Lingqing speak with such confidence, the voices of the Xi Yang House Phase Refinement Masters became even quieter. If this was true, then the young lord's ability was indeed terrifying.

Though the ability to serve as the president was important, the ultimate goal was to make the Xi Yang House stronger, wasn't it?

Pang Qianshi's face twitched, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. He never expected Li Luo to personally intervene.

"Is the young lord trying to discourage the hearts of the people?" Pang Qianshi couldn't help but say.

"Vice President Pang, are you saying that my taking on the role of president will discourage your heart?" Li Luo asked.

Pang Qianshi remained noncommittal, calmly saying, "The contributions I have made to the Xi Yang House are known to all. When I competed with Han Zhi, the two lords chose him, and I had no complaints. But now, Han Zhi's betrayal has proven that the choice was wrong. Why can't the young lord correct this mistake?"

Li Luo smiled, "Back then, Vice President Pang was fully dedicated to the Xi Yang House, but now, is it for Pei Hao?"

"Pei Hao is also a disciple of the two lords, and I am loyal to the Luo Lan Manor. Everything I do is for its betterment!" Pang Qianshi said solemnly.

"Now, Han Zhi's betrayal has already cost the Xi Yang House a senior Fifth Rank Phase Refinement Master. If the young lord insists on disregarding the rules, the Xi Yang House will lose even more Phase Refinement Masters." His words carried a hint of threat.

With Pei Hao's support, Pang Qianshi was clearly not afraid of Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e.

After all, if the other side really did anything to him, Pei Hao would certainly retaliate, which would only make things worse for the Luo Lan Manor.

"Pang Qianshi, you are being disrespectful!" Elder Zheng Ping shouted angrily.

But Pang Qianshi was not intimidated, raising his head and saying, "I only hope the young lord can be more rational. Everything I do is for the betterment of the Xi Yang House!"

"Everyone, will you support me?" He looked at the other Phase Refinement Masters and asked.

In the crowd, some Phase Refinement Masters hesitated for a moment, and then one after another said, "Vice President Pang is indeed the best candidate for the role of president in the Xi Yang House."

What they said was indeed true. If we set aside Pang Qianshi's position, in terms of ability and experience, he was the most suitable candidate.

But how could they set aside his position?

So, hearing these voices, Li Luo understood that these Phase Refinement Masters were naturally more inclined towards the familiar Pang Qianshi compared to the unfamiliar young lord.

However, he was not angry. Instead, he stepped forward, stood on the steps, and looked down at the many Phase Refinement Masters, saying calmly, "Do you all know why I was able to improve the Xi Yang House branch in Tian Shu County to this level in just two months?"

The many Phase Refinement Masters exchanged glances, expressing some doubt. After all, Li Luo was only a Second Rank Phase Refinement Master, and it was indeed difficult to believe that he could change the performance of a Xi Yang House branch.

"It's actually very simple. It's because I possess a secret method source water. I believe that with the help of this secret method source water, the Xi Yang House headquarters will also see a significant improvement. In time, it might even become one of the top ten spirit water and strange light houses in the Great Xia."

As Li Luo's words fell, the crowd erupted in shock and commotion.

"Secret method source water?! The young lord actually has a secret method source water?"

As Phase Refinement Masters, they understood the immense value of a secret method source water to a spirit water and strange light house. It was no exaggeration to say that the method to refine a secret method source water was worth millions of gold.

The Xi Yang House, after years of development, had never developed a suitable secret method source water, which showed how rare it was.

The famous spirit water and strange light houses in the Great Xia all possessed more than one secret method source water or secret method source light. Therefore, if the Xi Yang House wanted to become a renowned spirit water and strange light house in the Great Xia, the primary condition would be to possess its own secret method source water or source light.

Because of the preciousness of the secret method source water, they were all shocked and flustered when they heard that Li Luo possessed a method to refine a secret method source water.

Pang Qianshi's expression also changed, and he couldn't help but say, "Even if it's a secret method source water, it depends on its purity and grade. An ordinary secret method source water can't support the young lord's grand claims."

Li Luo found Pang Qianshi's stubbornness somewhat amusing. He then smiled and threw a few glass bottles to some nearby Phase Refinement Masters.

Stubborn, huh? No problem, I specialize in treating this.

Elder Zheng Ping also received one. He quickly opened the bottle, dripped out the secret method source water, and sensed it. A look of shock appeared on his aged face.

"This... This secret method source water has a purity of at least Seventh Rank, and it's even a high Seventh Rank purity secret method source water!"

The crowd erupted in shock.

The other Phase Refinement Masters, after identifying the purity of the secret method source water, also turned pale, their hands trembling as they held the glass bottles.

A high Seventh Rank purity secret method source water was something only the top ten spirit water and strange light houses in the Great Xia could possess!

The Phase Refinement Masters in the crowd looked at Li Luo with suddenly fiery eyes.

Because at this level of purity, the secret method source water not only produced higher-quality spirit water, but more importantly, if used frequently in refining, it could even enhance one's Phase Refinement Technique. With good luck, one might even break through a bottleneck and advance to the next level.

This principle was somewhat similar to Li Luo's experience at the spirit water and strange light festival in Tian Shu County, where he helped Yan Lingqing refine a Fifth Rank spirit water.

Therefore, in the Great Xia, all Phase Refinement Masters wanted to join a spirit water and strange light house that possessed high-purity secret method source water, as it would make it easier for them to improve their Phase Refinement Techniques.

So, when Li Luo revealed the Seventh Rank purity secret method source water, everyone's hearts were shaken.

Amidst the many eager gazes, Li Luo looked at the ashen-faced Pang Qianshi with a half-smile.

"Vice President Pang, do you have anything else to say?"