Chapter 916: Successor
Could it be that the magical talent of humans in this era was really inferior to the Dark Age?
That was probably not the real reason. Geresco left a note on the cover of the Book of Eternity. “Knowledge is the most devout faith of a mage!” That sentence was actually not a secret. That famous quote could be found in the library of the Supreme Council and many other libraries of Guilds of Magic.
Almost every mage knew of that quote from Geresco, but those who could truly follow it were few and far between. Hence, it was no exaggeration to say that the mages of the modern era had lost the faith that mages ought to have and the desire for knowledge.
Apophis let out a long sigh once again with some fatigue in his eyes. He calmly said, “We’re all tired now. We’ve been managing these trivial matters for over 1,300 years. If it weren’t for that jerk Geresco who bothered us with these matters, we would have long been able to follow in his footsteps and step into the highest realm of Anril.”
Over 1,300 years ago, the three arbitrators had already become Sanctuary powerhouses, and could follow Geresco to the war that overthrew the High Elves. Clearly, their strength at that time was far beyond just entering the Sanctuary-realm. Even if they hadn’t reached the peak of the Sanctuary-realm then, they probably hadn’t been far behind. After all, their enemies were the powerful High Elves.
The biggest reason that the three arbitrators had never taken the final step after all those years was that they were worried about the Supreme Council. One could imagine how the Supreme Council would shatter into bits and collapse before the enemies appeared without the three arbitrators.
“This is why we’re here to look for you.”
While Lin Li was being doubtful and wondering what the matter had to do with him, Megard, who had been remaining silent, suddenly said those words.
Upon hearing his words, Lin Li panicked, and he could vaguely sense the agenda of the three arbitrators who came to look for him.
Indeed, before Lin Li could think, Megard said in a calm and steady tone, “We hope that you can succeed us, take over the Supreme Council, and become the manager of all mages in Anril.”
What!? Did I hear wrong!? Lin Li simply couldn’t help but feel like digging his ears. Was he out of his mind, or were the three arbitrators crazy? Or had the entire world gone mad!?
Although he had just guessed a little bit, Lin Li still couldn’t believe his ears after hearing Megard’s words. The Tower of Dusk and the Supreme Council were completely different. The fact that the Tower of Dusk was being managed well did not mean that he could manage the Supreme Council too. It was just like making an Archmage learn Legendary-level magic. It was a difference in realm, and not something that could be achieved with effort.
Besides, the Tower of Dusk was being managed well, and Lin Li didn’t want to take over the Supreme Council that was declining. The three arbitrators had not managed to set the Supreme Council on the right path, and Lin Li didn’t think that he had the ability to do it, either. He reckoned that it would be impossible even if he were to toil until he vomited blood.
Lin Li did not want to take on such a taxing task that wouldn’t benefit him. Hence, he wouldn’t consider much, and was about to turn them down.
However, before Lin Li could speak, Megard seemed to have already predicted it as he raised his hand to stop him. He said, “Don’t be so quick to refuse. Hear me out first. We have all thought of your concerns, and we don’t mean to let you immediately take over the Supreme Council. Now, the three of us still have some energy. We can first help you lay the foundation. You have enough time to adapt, and when time is right, you can actually take over the Supreme Council.”
“That’s not appropriate. I have neither seniority nor prestige and authority. I barely qualify for being a councilor. How can I manage the entire Supreme Council?” Even though Megard had said so, Lin Li was still a little unwilling.
For ordinary people, the possibility of becoming an arbitrator and standing on the pinnacle of Anril was undoubtedly tempting. However, that was not all Lin Li pursued. Just like how the three arbitrators wanted to take the final step in the pursuit of magic, he was not satisfied with his mere entry to the Sanctuary-realm.
Lin Li didn’t have to do much for the Tower of Dusk, and he just needed to have enough strength to deter his enemies. He could leave the trivial and miscellaneous matters to his subordinates. Hence, Lin Li didn’t have to invest too much energy in the management and operation of the Tower of Dusk.
However, he couldn’t do the same for the Supreme Council, especially since what the three Arbiters wished for wasn’t just to have a Sanctuary powerhouse in charge. They wanted Lin Li to set the Supreme Council on the right track. Given the current condition of the Supreme Council, Lin Li would have plenty to do if he were to take on the task.
The Supreme Council was already declining at the moment, and if he wanted to change the situation, he would first have to clean up the council, after which he had to poach some talents that he could bring to the council. He would then have to change the situation of the mages losing their faith. That was a long and ma.s.sive process.
In addition to that, there were all sorts of problems, and the mere thought of it gave Lin Li a terrible headache. If he were to really do it, it would kill him.
The arbitrators looked at each other, not surprised by Lin Li’s refusal at all. As Sanctuary powerhouses, they naturally knew that the ident.i.ty of an arbitrator of the Supreme Council seemed glorious to ordinary people, but to Sanctuary powerhouses, it was more of a responsibility and trouble that they had been shouldering for more than 1,300 years. They definitely had stronger emotions about it than Lin Li.
However, the three arbitrators had no other choice. Sanctuary powerhouses were not immortals, and if they never took the final step, they would eventually decay one day. If they didn’t find a suitable successor, the Supreme Council would stray further away from the original intent once the three arbitrators pa.s.sed away. In the end, they would collapse and face their end.
“I think Teacher Andoine would be more suitable than me. He’s the chairman of the Supreme Council who has experience in running it. Be it because of his seniority or prestige, he’s more than qualified enough to take on that responsibility.” Lin Li knew that it wasn’t easy to directly decline. Hence, he recommended someone else to the three arbitrators.
“Him? The mention of that rascal makes me feel infuriated!” Hearing Lin Li mention Andoine, Apophis was filled with resentment, and he started cursing in a hostile manner. “We were initially quite optimistic, and had high expectations of that brat. Who knew that he would be so incompetent as to create a Thorn Domain for the sake of pharmaceutics. He will never, ever enter the Sanctuary-realm. Besides, with that ability of his, he can’t even suppress that rascal Rosen. What happened today is an example, how can you expect him to lead the reform of the Supreme Council!?”
Although Apophis was being a little extreme, Lin Li was well aware that with the Thorn Domain, the possibility of Andoine entering the Sanctuary-realm was almost zero. If Andoine could reach the Guru-level, he would be able to enter the Sanctuary-realm. However, that was not possible. With Andoine’s sub-par standards in pharmaceutics, it was even more unreliable than him taking the path of magic.
“Felic, the three of us have already discussed the issues of seniority and prestige previously. We’ve come to a consensus and made an arrangement.” Arbitrator Chris was a little embarra.s.sed when he said those words because everyone could tell that Lin Li was just making excuses when he talked about seniority and prestige.
However, he still had to say it despite being embarra.s.sed. He couldn’t watch the Supreme Council get destroyed in his hands! Chris sighed and said to Lin Li, “If you’re willing, you will be the fourth arbitrator of the Supreme Council. However, we won’t be announcing this news to the world for now. You’d better partic.i.p.ate in the management of the Supreme Council as a councilor first.”
Lin Li remained silent, and did not immediately nod or continue to refuse. After all, the three arbitrators were nice to him. When he was still an Archmage, Apophis had personally given him some pointers in magic. If it were someone else, it would be impossible.
Although Megard was cold and indifferent on the surface, he allowed Lin Li to take away the core crystal coffin of the Eternal Furnace because he had discovered that Lin Li owned the Eternal Furnace after the exploration of Osric’s mausoleum. In the end, the Arbitrator Chris personally received and brought him to the Supreme Council. He also gave him some pointers about the Sanctuary-realm.
Hence, despite knowing that the task was troublesome, Lin Li did not refute immediately, and instead listened to Chris’ arrangements patiently. If the trouble was still within his means, Lin Li wouldn’t mind helping the three arbitrators once. Well, he was young after all.
Sensing that Lin Li’s att.i.tude seemed to have eased up, Chris continued, “Once you have acc.u.mulated sufficient prestige, I will announce this news, and you will then start the reform of the Supreme Council as an arbitrator. Don’t worry, we aren’t going to just walk away and leave you in the lurch. We will still continue to support you during the reform until you completely control the situation. We will then leave.”
“Felic, we also know that this matter is indeed a big trouble for those who have stepped into the Sanctuary-realm, but it has been many years, and the three of us have yet to nurture a decent successor, so we can’t just watch the Supreme Council be destroyed like this.” Seeing that Lin Li was silent, Apophis tried to persuade him again.
“Apophis, don’t speak, let Felic think for himself.” Although Megard was speaking in a calm tone, there was still some antic.i.p.ation in his eyes. After all, he had been at the peak of the Sanctuary-realm for years, and everyone wanted to take the final step to truly become an immortal G.o.d.
The world always envied the three arbitrators for standing at the pinnacle of authority, but they did not know that the power they had was actually a huge burden to them. If they had not been held down and restrained by the Supreme Council, they would have probably long become immortal G.o.ds with their magical talent.
After a moment of silence, Lin Li finally nodded slowly while the three arbitrators watched him. “Alright, since the three arbitrators have so much trust in me, I’ll go ahead with this arrangement and do my best.”
Seeing that Lin Li finally nodded, the three arbitrators were secretly relieved. Although the arrangements had yet to be implemented, and they did not know when Lin Li was truly capable of taking over the Supreme Council, they already felt a little relieved. It was a feeling that they had not felt for a long time.
Lin Li didn’t know much about the Supreme Council yet; hence, he stood up to bid farewell to the three arbitrators after a simple conversation.
When Lin Li was about to leave, Apophis suddenly stopped him. “By the way, if anyone mentions the Tera Mine again, tell them to come to me.”
Lin Li nodded and turned around to leave the library. He thought to himself, At least Rosen and those guys are only coveting the Tera Mine. Yet, these three are even more ruthless. They actually want to take me and the mine together.
It wasn’t unreasonable for Lin Li to think this way. If he were to really take over the Supreme Council in the future, his resources would all have to be used on the Supreme Council.
With mixed emotions and thoughts, Lin Li made his way out of the venue. After all, to the outsiders, he was still just an insignificant councilor who had to attend the meeting of the Supreme Council.
When he was outside the venue, Lin Li could still hear the noises coming from inside. However, they fell silent once he entered.
All eyes were on Lin Li, and they watched as he entered the venue before walking back to his seat in the corner. From the moment Lin Li was taken away by the arbitrator, Apophis, everyone made speculations and guesses about him incessantly. They were making guesses about what the arbitrators wanted to see him for, and what made him different from them so much that the three arbitrators asked to see him at once.
In fact, regardless of what the three arbitrators were looking for Lin Li for, they could tell from the fact that Apophis had thrown Canuman out without asking any questions that they had some intention of defending Lin Li. Canuman had a high status in the Supreme Council, and was a high-ranking councilor. His status was definitely far beyond that of a small, newly minted councilor.
Hence, no one dared to regard Lin Li as a mere newly minted councilor anymore.
At this moment, Leddings was also feeling extremely uneasy, feeling like he was sitting on needles. He could clearly feel that there was resentment in the gazes of the councilors who he had colluded with when they looked at him now. Clearly, they resented him for implicating them and getting them into trouble.