Hearing An Ning’s response left Bao Guoan somewhat stupefied.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell if An Ning was sincerely recommending or just joking with him.
He personally thought it was a joke, but An Ning never joked... at least not with him.
He wanted that position too.
And he had for decades.
But, there was only one Sect Hierarch in the entire Flame Shrine, while there were thirteen red cardinals... They were nearly fighting their brains out for the position of Sect Hierarch, what more a newcomer?
Bao Guoan looked at An Ning with a skeptical expression and asked, "Do you know what you are talking about?"
"I do," An Ning nodded.
"You want to recommend him as Sect Hierarch?"
"Yes," An Ning nodded, "No one is more suited for the position than he is."
Bao Guoan was simply infuriated.
He didn’t like An Ning’s response.
First, she wasn’t joking; she seriously wanted him to recommend her "big brother" as Sect Hierarch.
Second, she said ’no one is more suited for the position’; did that mean he himself wasn’t suitable?
After a long while, Bao Guoan suppressed the anger in his heart and looked at An Ning, saying, "An Ning, you have saved my life, and I have always remembered this kindness."
"I won’t lie to you, I truly treat you as my younger generation. Whatever I can help with, I won’t let you down."
His gaze fell on Tang Fei’s young and handsome face, and his displeasure grew deeper.
"If you’re simply asking me to help him find a job within the Society, I think that’s no problem. Within my responsibilities, I can arrange a pretty good job for him."
"But to recommend him as Sect Hierarch... If you are sure you’re not joking, then you must think I’m crazy."
"You know the organizational structure and promotion system of the sect; even if we recruit him now and under my care he ascends every three years, by the time he becomes Sect Hierarch... no, by the time he becomes a district bishop, that would still take twenty years..."
"He is already a district bishop," An Ning said.
"What?" Bao Guoan looked at Tang Fei in astonishment, then turned his gaze back to An Ning’s face, asking, "When did this happen? Which district’s bishop did he become? Why hasn’t the headquarters received any reports?"
"Lingyang District. It happened three days ago." An Ning’s expression was unchanging as if it were simply a fact, "These last few days, a severe epidemic broke out in Lingyang District. Our former bishop, Lei Zongnan, unfortunately got infected."
"Before his passing, he promised that whoever could help us solve the epidemic virus, saving our brothers and sisters, would be given his position as bishop."
"Under the light of the Flame God, Tang Fei helped us solve the epidemic virus, saving the lives of tens of thousands of our society members... President Lei kept his promise, in front of me and tens of thousands of society leaders, he conferred the bishop position to him."
"Nonsense," Bao Guoan barked angrily, "Isn’t this nonsense? Do you think this is children playing house? The position of a district bishop is so revered; how can it be transferred so casually?"
"This should be reported to the headquarters, evaluated and approved by the Elder Council, and ultimately the candidate finalized... What authority does Lei Zongnan have to decide a district bishop’s candidate?"
"This has already become an accomplished fact, accepted by our society members," An Ning argued.
"That’s impossible," Bao Guoan shook his head, saying, "Without the Elder Council’s vote, without the Sect Hierarch’s blessing... this district bishop isn’t legitimate."
Bao Guoan glanced at Tang Fei and said, "Even if you all have decided, a new bishop will need to be appointed there."
"Uncle Bao, can you help find a way?" An Ning asked.
"What way can I think of?" Bao Guoan shook his head and said, "A district bishop, such an important position, even if I wanted to secure it... other archbishops and the Sect Hierarch wouldn’t agree either. This is something that needs a comprehensive assessment. It’s not something I can dictate."
"So we should replace the Sect Hierarch and archbishops and form our own Elder Council." Tang Fei suggested, "If I become the Sect Hierarch myself, wouldn’t all these issues cease to be problems?"
Bao Guoan looked at Tang Fei speechlessly; did this guy even know what he was saying?
To secure a district bishop position, you want to become the Sect Hierarch yourself?
To become the Sect Hierarch, do you plan to overthrow the Flame God?
Does such logic even exist in the world?
Seeing Bao Guoan’s silent, Tang Fei took the initiative to ask, "Does the archbishop think my proposal is feasible?"
Bao Guoan stood up, his gaze unfriendly as he looked toward An Ning, saying, "If you’re here to visit, then I welcome you. If you’ve brought someone to amuse me... then I’m not playing along."
"Uncle, I’m not here to amuse you," An Ning looked earnestly at Bao Guoan, clearly everything they had said was true; why was he unwilling to believe?
The Sect Leader of the Flame Shrine, is that something so great?
If it wasn’t for revenge in New Star, her brother wouldn’t even want to take such a worthless position.
"This really is our intention," Tang Fei also said seriously.
Bao Guoan’s gaze sharpened as he stared at Tang Fei, asking, "You want to be the Sect Hierarch?"
"Yes," Tang Fei nodded.
"On what basis?" Bao Guoan asked.
This was his biggest question and also why he felt it was absurd.
A young lad, with every word about becoming the Sect Hierarch...
You think you’re worthy?