200: Chapter 200 Sect Meeting 2

"Your Excellency, please calm your anger."

"I think we shouldn't dwell on these minor details for now. You put it very well just a moment ago; the urgent priority is to resolve the crisis."

"Currently, the High Priest cannot fulfill his duties. The priority we must address is selecting a decision-maker."

Tang Long chuckled, "Does this even need a vote? Those three are not qualified, and I think Bishop Liu is very suitable."

Liu Zhiming waved his hands repeatedly, "Not suitable, not suitable, I am too old. It would be better to choose someone younger and more capable."

Bishop Lv spoke up at this moment: "Bishop Liu is indeed steady, but succeeding as High Priest requires passing the Pope's test. I worry he won't be able to handle it."

As soon as he spoke, Wei Ye and High Priest Shang Yuleng immediately chimed in.

"That's right, the High Priests of every sect are Huagai Realm. If we have a Spirit Map in charge, we'll be laughed to death by others."

"We should still study this further."

Tang Long immediately slammed the table again, "Study my ass! For such a trivial matter, do we have to waste another few days arguing?"

"Since a formal succession isn't convenient, then let it be an acting position! At the very least, there must be such a person for the sake of appearances!"

"As for specific decisions, I think we can form a five-person group, and agenda items can be decided by vote!"

"Let's set this as the first agenda item. Who is in favor, and who is opposed?"

Tang Long raised his hand first as he said this.

Although some people were still unwilling and were secretly calculating their own interests, they couldn't help but admire Tang Long's decisive actions.

Fairness, reasonableness, and speed—this was exactly what the Songcheng Sect needed right now.

Liu Zhiming no longer pretended to be the nice old man and silently raised his hand.

After the other three were silent for a while, Bishop Lv followed suit and raised his hand. Wei Ye and High Priest Shang Yuleng exchanged a glance, and they had no choice but to raise their hands as well.

"Good! Then it's passed unanimously!"

"After the meeting ends, announce to the outside world immediately that the High Priest is in seclusion and temporarily unable to handle affairs, and that The Sect Leader position will be temporarily held by Bishop Liu."

"Next question!"

Liu Zhiming immediately became much more spirited, "Everyone, Your Excellency Tang Long might not know yet, but after the High Priest's incident, our Sacred Fire was extinguished. Without the Sacred Fire, there is no anchoring power. This directly concerns the survival of the entire Song City, and we must work out a countermeasure now."

Bishop Lv shook his head first, "The Sacred Fire is not something an ordinary person can ignite. Aside from going to the Pope to ask for a spark, I'm afraid there is no other way."

Wei Ye also shook his head, "If we bow our heads to the Pope, the Songcheng Sect will likely cease to exist very soon."

High Priest Shang Yuleng asked: "What about you, Your Excellency Tang Long? Can you do it?"

Tang Long frankly admitted, "I certainly don't have that ability."

Bishop Lv glanced at him again, as if wanting to say something, but ultimately held it back.

Liu Zhiming said in a deep voice, "Then we are in trouble. Once night falls, if the city is damaged by the heavenly change, The Sect will immediately lose all credibility."

Wei Ye said: "It is not far from dark now. Should we inform the Governors Mansion and the military early so they can prepare ahead of time?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng sneered again, "Since Wei Mingzhu is a Sun Worshiper, Governor Xu's actions today have already shown that he stands with the Sun Worshipers. If we inform them, I'm afraid it will only cause more chaos."

Wei Ye immediately flared up, "At a time like this, you still want to harp on me?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng looked indifferent, "I am speaking based on facts. Just today, Your Excellency Tang Long was nearly killed by them twice. The Sun Worshipers should be the next agenda item, not some friendly force."

Liu Zhiming tried to mediate again, "Everyone, say less. Haven't you argued enough after all these years? Your Excellency Tang Long, do you have any ideas?"

Tang Long stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes, "I wouldn't call it a solution. I am young and inexperienced, but I have a question I would like to ask you all."

"Please, go ahead."

"Must the anchoring divine power be the Sacred Fire?"

Liu Zhiming said: "For all sects under our Lord, of course, it must be. However, each god has different favors, and the power bestowed is naturally different, but it must be the creation or power of a deity."

Tang Long frowned, "Then... can the High Priest, who is currently possessed by the Mad God, count?"

After hearing this, the four bishops were stunned at first, and then all eight eyes couldn't help but reveal a strange glint.

"Holy shit!"

"That's right!"

"What kind of anchoring from a god-bestowed or god-created object can compare to the deity himself?"

"Such a huge Mad God is still playing in our main hall. With Him here, aren't we just riding a donkey while looking for a horse?"

"It's just that..."

Liu Zhiming coughed twice, "Your Excellency, we worship the Red God. What if our Lord punishes us? And that one... if word gets out."

"If our Lord were willing to spare us another glance, this kind of thing wouldn't have happened. As for leaks, currently, only we few know about this matter. Who would spread it?"

Several bishops nodded slightly, but in their hearts, they strongly disagreed.

The previous matter regarding the High Priest was leaked by someone.

Tang Long also sighed, "I would also like to find a proper method, but isn't there none right now? With Him there, we have time, and Song City won't collapse for the time being."

High Priest Shang Yuleng pondered at this moment, "But that one came suddenly, and I'm afraid He won't notify us when He leaves either. I don't know when He will leave..."

This question made everyone fall silent.

"That's right."

"That one is indeed a god, but He is truly mad. What if He just disappears later?"

Tang Long pondered for a while, "That one's mind isn't very clear, but communication is still useful. Later, I will call Mad Dog and go talk to Him to see if we can get Him to stay for a while."

The Great Sect Hall is the sacred place for worshiping the Red God. In this place, talking to the Mad God and asking Him to stay and play for a few more days already constitutes blasphemous speech.

The several bishops couldn't respond and could only change the subject.

Bishop Lv said: "Your Excellency, regarding the issue of the Sun Worshipers, do you have any thoughts?"

"Of course I do! I want to slaughter them all, cut them into ten-jin chunks, display them in front of me to admire, and then roast them one by one to eat."

The hatred in Tang Long's tone made the few old men feel a bit horrified.

They couldn't help but turn their gaze toward Wei Ye, and Wei Ye's old face quickly turned into the color of a purple eggplant.

He suddenly stood up, raised his arm high, "I, Wei Ye, have been loyal to my Lord all my life, and I am irreconcilable with the Blasphemers and Sun Worshipers! Since Wei Mingzhu is a Sun Worshiper, there is no longer any family affection between her and me!"

Tang Long chuckled, "Good, since Bishop Wei is so loyal to our Lord, this matter will be handed over to you to handle. Is that okay?"

Wei Ye's face twitched, "Your Excellency, I don't mean to shirk responsibility. I'm just worried that if Wei Mingzhu and Xu Chaoyang are already deeply tied together, I'm afraid that alone..."

"They are husband and wife, of course they are deeply tied. And I see that the entire Wei Family has also been controlled by the Sun Worshipers. If this is the case, Bishop Wei, can you still sacrifice your family for the sake of righteousness?"

The hands inside Wei Ye's large sleeves were trembling slightly, "As long as it is a decision within The Sect, I... can do it!"

Liu Zhiming hurriedly waved his hands, "Brother Wei's loyalty can be witnessed by our Lord. But sit down first; I think this matter needs to be discussed at length."

"Your Excellency Tang Long, if your hypothesis is correct, their power will be very immense."

"Without the High Priest, even if we exhaust all our strength, I'm afraid we might not necessarily win."

Bishop Lv retorted at this moment: "According to what you mean, we can only continue to sit by and watch, waiting for them to assassinate Your Excellency Tang Long next time?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng also looked grave, "Xu Chaoyang is also a Spirit Map expert, and there are his division commanders. Even if we don't count the National Defense Army for now, there are four Spirit Map experts. If the Wei Family has another one or two, we really don't have any chance of winning."

Bishop Lv snorted, "Whether there is a chance of winning is one thing, and whether one dares to fight is another."

High Priest Shang Yuleng immediately retorted, "It seems the madness on Bishop Lv hasn't dissipated completely. Did I say we shouldn't fight? I am talking about the survival of the Songcheng Sect!"

"To be infiltrated to such an extent by a small group of Sun Worshipers, and to have no solution now—for this Songcheng Sect, there is little difference between survival and death. No wonder our Lord refuses to grant us favor."

"Shut up, all of you!"

Tang Long and Liu Zhiming said almost in unison.