I Can Control Resources

...

The construction of the Daoist Sect was actually somewhat similar to that of the Huashan Ancient Sect.

Both had a main gate, but no actual mountain.

However, there was a difference: faint green smoke perpetually curled within the Daoist Sect, making it resemble an Immortal Palace Sacred Realm.

This was actually what set the Daoist Sect apart from most other ancient sects.

This was because the Daoist Sect was a sect that was open to the public and centered around faith. Besides its own Sect Disciples, it also had a large number of followers.

This was a tradition that had been passed down for several millennia.

Not many people knew that Gao Neng had come out of the Underground City.

So, when the hover car parked in front of the Daoist Sect’s main gate, it didn’t cause any commotion. They just looked like ordinary pilgrims coming to offer incense.

Moreover, Gao Neng and the others encountered an awkward situation.

They had to buy tickets to enter!

"Since that’s the rule, we should follow it." Gao Neng came from a poor background and had never been much of a believer in gods, but he respected faith itself.

Fang Tangtang, on the other hand, didn’t care.

After all, she had plenty of money.

More importantly, she was only going to get richer in the future.

So rich she’d never be able to spend it all.

After paying for three tickets, the trio entered the main gate. A Little Daoist in a robe then ran out and bowed to them.

"Excuse me, are you Councillor Gao and your party?" The Little Daoist’s eyes were clear, and he looked to be in high spirits, his face flushed with a healthy red.

"Heh, that’s right," Gao Neng nodded.

Generally, those with ties to the Military Department would call him Major Gao, while others, like the great families and sects, primarily addressed him as Councillor Gao.

The three of them had come to challenge the Daoist Sect Leader’s eldest son.

Normally, they should have made a high-profile entrance—for example, by shouting something like, "Get out here, you mutt!"

But that would be utterly unbecoming of his status.

After all, Gao Neng now held several titles. There were certain proprieties he had to observe. At the very least, he couldn’t just stand there cursing like a common thug.

"So it really is you, Councillor Gao! Our Sect Leader has personally prepared tea and requests your presence for a chat." Upon hearing this, the Little Daoist’s eyes lit up again.

Although it was the Celestial King Group that openly sold elixirs in the Alliance, which of the sects and great families didn’t know that the one truly pulling the strings was Gao Neng?

Even though the reshuffling of the Elixir Market had damaged some of the interests of the sects and great families...

...among the younger generation, Gao Neng was a role model for all. After all, everyone had a ’rebellious’ heart.

"No need for a chat. I’m here to issue a challenge." Gao Neng glanced at the time. He remembered that Shen Ning’Er had challenged four positions in a single day.

Therefore, his plan naturally couldn’t involve just one fight.

If he really started chatting with the Daoist Sect’s Sect Leader in his capacity as a councillor, they could probably talk for hours.

And if they ended up developing some kind of rapport or discussing a collaboration...

How could he possibly fight then?

"A challenge?" The Little Daoist was startled, but he quickly put two and two together. "Councillor Gao, you can’t be planning to do the same thing as Shen Ning’Er and use our Daoist Sect as a..."

"That’s right. That’s exactly it," Gao Neng nodded.

"But... our First Senior Uncle only just got out of bed five days ago. Isn’t this going a bit too far, Councillor Gao?"

"Couldn’t be helped. The Daoist Sect was closer."

"..." The Little Daoist was left speechless, but he ultimately grit his teeth. "Since you’re here to issue a challenge, please wait here, Councillor Gao. I will inform the Sect Leader!"

"Thank you for your trouble," Gao Neng said.

The Little Daoist left.

A short while later, a group of people emerged from the Daoist Sect. The man in the lead had long hair and carried himself with a certain otherworldly grace.

"Councillor Gao, we parted in haste in the Underground City. I didn’t expect we would meet again so soon." The leader who spoke was none other than the current Sect Leader of the Daoist Sect.

"I trust you’ve been well, Master Zhang. I’ve come to issue a challenge," Gao Neng said with a bow.

"You jest, Councillor Gao. My son was only recently injured, but even at his peak, he would be no match for you. For you to come all this way to challenge him is truly giving him too much credit. I will concede on his behalf right now," the Daoist Sect Leader said calmly with a smile.

"Conceding without even a fight? Won’t that be a bit of a loss of face?" Gao Neng had expected as much.

"Heh, a little loss of face is nothing. Besides, given your current status, Councillor Gao, there’s no shame in my son losing to you," the Daoist Sect Leader continued.

"One hundred Attribute Elixirs. If you can defeat me, they’re yours." Gao Neng cut to the chase, laying his trump card on the table.

The words caused a stir.

As his voice fell, the expressions on the faces of the Daoist Sect’s entourage all changed.

One hundred Attribute Elixirs.

That was equivalent to several hundred attribute-endowed materials. The price was by no means low. Even at one-tenth of the current market price, it was an absolutely tempting offer.

"Sect Leader, one hundred elixirs! We..."

"Silence!" The Daoist Sect Leader’s tone turned cold. He shot a glance at the person who had spoken behind him, then slowly turned his gaze back to Gao Neng. "Please go back, Councillor Gao. Forget one hundred Attribute Elixirs. Even if it were two hundred, or three hundred, I would not agree to let my son fight you."

"Why?" Gao Neng was a little surprised.

In his mind, one hundred elixirs should have been more than enough to tempt them. This was a challenge that should have been impossible to refuse.

"There is no why. If you’d like to stay for tea and a chat, Councillor Gao, I will personally keep you company. But if you are here to challenge my son, then please, take your leave," the Daoist Sect Leader said again.

The others standing beside him fell silent. No one else spoke, and no one even showed a hint of reluctance.

If there was any emotion on their faces...

...it was mostly regret.

"What if I don’t leave?" Gao Neng’s eyes narrowed.

"If you don’t leave, Councillor Gao, then we will naturally stay and keep you company. If you wish to spend the night at the Daoist Sect, I will have guest rooms prepared for you," the Daoist Sect Leader continued.

"What if my condition for the duel is that a draw counts as a win for the Daoist Sect?" Gao Neng’s brow furrowed slightly. He hadn’t expected them to be so resolute.

"It makes no difference," the Daoist Sect Leader said firmly.

"Gao Neng, let’s not waste any more words on them! Time is tight. Let’s do what we did when we challenged Beihai Military Academy and just start cursing them out! I refuse to believe they won’t come out if we insult them!" Fang Tangtang grew angry as she listened.

"Forget it." Gao Neng shook his head.

"We’re not going to curse them? Why not? It worked last time at Beihai Military Academy, didn’t it? I still don’t believe it. Does the Daoist Sect have no sense of shame?" Fang Tangtang was indignant.

"Alright, Tangtang. This time is different from the last." Gao Neng stopped Fang Tangtang, who was about to start hurling insults. He could clearly sense that there was not a trace of killing intent or anger coming from the Daoist Sect Leader.

And it wasn’t just the Sect Leader.

The rest of his entourage were just as placid. Even though Fang Tangtang had spoken loudly enough for them all to hear, not one of them showed much anger.

It wasn’t that Gao Neng was unwilling to lower himself to stand at the main gate and curse them out.

Rather, he was certain that even if he stood there cursing for three days and three nights, the Daoist Sect Leader would not agree to his challenge.

"Someone, bring tea for Councillor Gao and our other guests." The Daoist Sect Leader waved his hand, and someone immediately brought three cups of tea before Gao Neng.

Gao Neng glanced at it.

He ultimately picked one up, took a light sip, and put it back down.

Then, he spoke. "Master Zhang, may I ask one more question?"

"Please, go ahead, Councillor Gao," the Daoist Sect Leader nodded.

"Do you think anyone else will be willing to accept my challenge if I go to other places?" After some thought, Gao Neng decided to ask the question that was on his mind.

"Among the sects and great families, no one will accept your challenge, Councillor Gao, no matter what conditions you offer," the Daoist Sect Leader said, shaking his head.

"Because of my status as a councillor?"

"No. If it were any other councillor, we would fight without hesitation. But when it comes to you, Councillor Gao... councillor or not, we will not accept the challenge."

"I see. I understand now." Gao Neng nodded and asked no more.

"It is still early. Would you care to stay for a simple meal at the Daoist Sect, Councillor Gao?"

"That won’t be necessary."

"Very well, then. See our guests out!"

"Yes, sir!"

Two Little Daoists came before Gao Neng and his companions and escorted them out of the main gate.

Fang Tangtang pouted the entire way.

’We paid for tickets.’

’And in the end, we just went through the main gate and came right back out. What a waste of money. If I’d known, I would have preferred to just fight our way in.’

"There’s no one to fight," Gao Neng sighed softly.

"Why can’t we fight? Everything was fine when we were fighting for the Dragon List, wasn’t it? If not this, why don’t we call some reporters, block their main gate, and force them to accept the challenge?" Fang Tangtang still didn’t quite understand.

"I’m afraid that won’t work," Gao Neng shook his head again.

"How could it not work?" Fang Tangtang looked bewildered. Her gaze then shifted to the silent Uncle Bai beside them. "Uncle Bai, you be the judge. Will my idea work?"

"You haven’t figured it out yet, have you, Tangtang?" Uncle Bai said calmly.

"Figured out what?"

"Right now, none of the sects or great families will accept Gao Neng’s challenge. It’s not because they’re afraid of losing, but because they can’t bring themselves to be ruthless against him," Uncle Bai explained.

"Can’t be ruthless?"

"Correct. In a real duel, injuries are unavoidable. But right now, Gao Neng is too important to the Alliance, to all of humanity. No one dares to let him get hurt, not even a minor injury."

"Is it that serious?" Fang Tangtang’s eyes went wide.

"Mm. If Gao Neng gets injured, who will refine the Alliance’s elixirs? No one can bear that responsibility. Therefore, it’s utterly impossible for anyone to fight him," Uncle Bai nodded.

"Wow, if you put it that way, doesn’t that mean you can basically do whatever you want in the Alliance now, Gao Neng?" Fang Tangtang’s face was full of envy when she heard this.

’It’s more than just doing whatever I want...’ Gao Neng looked up at the sun in the sky. He felt that even if he were to murder and commit arson in the Alliance right now, probably no one would arrest him.

’What should I do?’

’If no one will fight me to the death, I’ll never be able to break through to the high-rank!’

’I have to find a way to break this stalemate!’