Xiang Shaoyun looked at Lu Jiang in astonishment and said, "Elder Lu, what do you mean?"
Once again, Lu Jiang asked solemnly, "I believe Deputy Ge Yi also intends for you to fight for the position. If you're confident, I can lend you some help."
Xiang Shaoyun was utterly confused. "Elder Lu, I don't believe anything ever comes for free. You wouldn't be intending to make me a puppet young guild master, right?"
He had just met Lu Jiang, so he naturally wouldn't agree so easily. Being so gullible would probably not end well for him.
"Looks like Deputy Ge Yi had not mentioned anything to you. I have always been in Deputy Ge Yi's faction, not the factions of the other two deputies. If Deputy Ge Yi actually wishes to be the guild master, I believe he will be able to gather countless followers with a wave of his arm. His prestige is far beyond the other two deputies. In fact, if the two deputies didn't have a sufficient level of prestige, they would have long been overthrown," said Lu Jiang.
Finally, Xiang Shaoyun understood that Elder Lu was making the offer out of respect for his master. He still didn't agree as he said, "Elder Lu, I do intend to fight for the position. However, I wish to do it with my own strength. I believe that is what my master wants to see."
"Deputy Ge Yi has been away for too long. He is unaware that the guild has changed greatly. Many people are being forced to pick a side. Us of the neutral faction are being suppressed and weakened. If you don't gather any support, you will never be able to win that position," said Lu Jiang gravely. "But with the neutral faction's support, you will have a 10 percent chance at succeeding."
"Only 10 percent?" Xiang Shaoyun was speechless.
"That's right. The two deputies are the ones who had followed the guild master in countless past wars. The two are incredibly capable and powerful. In fact, if they had reduced their internal conflicts, the Guardians Guild's position would be unshakable," said Lu Jiang. "Thus, it will be impossible for you to become the young guild master without any help."
Xiang Shaoyun sank into thought before saying, "It is still too early to talk about all that with my current strength. We can talk again in the future."
Whatever his plan was, he still needed to grow stronger. He also needed to find his master and figure out what exactly his master wanted, or he wouldn't be sure what he should really be doing.
"That's fine. As long as you need my help, this old man will always be ready to help," offered Lu Jiang. He did not push on, and he was inwardly impressed at Xiang Shaoyun's firm resolve.
After separating from Lu Jiang, Xiang Shaoyun started contemplating about the young guild master. The Guardians Guild was the strongest organization in the world. The two deputies were powerhouses at the same level as his master. Both had their own candidates for the position, and the so-called recruitment was most likely a guise to get some followers for their favored candidates.
At that realization, indignation welled within Xiang Shaoyun's heart. Both his master and Wu Xie wanted to see him become the young guild master. He did not want to disappoint them, but what could he even do to win the position?
Looks like I might have to accept Huang Baiwu's offer, after all, thought Xiang Shaoyun with a sigh.
Prior to this, Huang Baiwu had hinted that they would be willing to help him in his fight for the position. However, he had not agreed because he knew that Huang Baiwu had his own reasons. But it seemed like he really had to consider the offer seriously.
After Xiang Shaoyun spent two hours in deep thought, his eyes abruptly lit up like bright suns, and he said, "In my previous life, I aimed to dominate the world. I was killed. In this life, I am with the experiences of three lifetimes, the strongest physique, and the best opportunity to rise in power. How can I be hesitant and scared like a little baby? Huang Baiwu looks highly on my chances, and even Elder Lu is willing to lend me his support. In that case, I will gather all the forces I have at my disposal and aim straight for the heavens, taking the young guild master position for myself!"
After reaffirming his faith, he looked for Huang Baiwu and accepted the offer. He agreed that after obtaining the position, he would help the Dusk Dynasty rebuild. Next, Xiang Shaoyun requested that he stay with the Guardians Guild's forces in the war zone, hoping that he could fight alongside them against the devils.
He planned to obtain tentative acknowledgment from the Guardians Guild through this war. Only then would he be able to gain the support he needed in the next few years. His presence had proven to be a big help to the Guardians Guild. With his ability to suppress any Devil God at the fifth stage and lower, apart from some of the stronger Devil Gods whom he needed his soul clone to deal with, he didn't have much trouble on the battlefield.
In the blink of an eye, a year passed. Xiang Shaoyun had participated in no fewer than 50 battles before the Devil Domain's entrance. He had not returned empty-handed from any of the battles he had participated in. He had accumulated over 30 Devil God puppets, with one of them being a sixth-stage Devil God.
That Devil God, in particular, was someone Lu Jiang had personally captured for Xiang Shaoyun after knowing that Xiang Shaoyun had a unique ability to control Devil Gods. Over the past year, Xiang Shaoyun had also encountered the diabolic dragons' strongest counterattack. During that battle, his soul clone was nearly destroyed. Even when Lu Jiang and the emperor emeritus worked together, they were only able to barely force the devils to retreat.
Xiang Shaoyun had also entered the devils' wanted list because his Imperial Nether Domain made him much more dangerous than any other human. Additionally, the identities of Little Azure and Little White were also exposed. One was an azure dragon, whereas the other was a white tiger. The two had incredible rallying power among demonic beasts, and many demonic beast races sent their experts over to protect the two after learning of their existence.
Little White came from the Hundred Beasts Mountain, and there were many powerful demonic beasts there. Thus, it wasn't surprising that Demon Gods appeared to lend him support. As for Little Azure, he was originally a dragonfish. However, the demonic beasts had always viewed the azure dragons as their leaders. Thus, his appearance had attracted some demonic beasts with traces of draconic bloodline.
That was how Little Azure and Little White came to gain 15 Demon Gods each. In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that they did not care much for the weaker demonic beasts, they would have been able to create an army of beasts.
That was a situation Xiang Shaoyun had never expected. If that continued, he would probably have a terrifying level of support by his side. Of course, those Demon Gods were no fools. All of them were trying to persuade Little Azure and Little White to leave the dangerous war zone. Or simply put, they merely wanted the two to leave Xiang Shaoyun. With their glorious bloodlines, they could easily become royalty if they wanted.
However, the two were filled with respect for Xiang Shaoyun. If he did not tell them to leave, they would never abandon him. But after thinking it through, Xiang Shaoyun decided to have the two leave. Of course, he did not just tell them to go away. Rather, he gave them the mission to gather the experts among the demonic beasts and help him against the aliens in the future.