After dealing with urgent matters. Sam went on to look at the amusing proposals he got.
Most of the proposals are for competitions and tournaments.
Currently, there are very few events for the students, teachers and other members of the organization to showcase their skills and the most popular one among them are the annual examinations. In fact, from the last year, several people from the major powers started visiting the examinations to spectate and try to recruit some of the better participants into their own organizations.
For that reason, many people who are not part of the organization also want to join in the fun. But unfortunately, the annual examinations are only for the people inside the organization.
Another drawback of that is the lack of fields in the competition.
The annual examinations are mostly focused on combat, artisans, formations, inscriptions, and other mainstream fields.
Now the proposals are there for creating competitions for the not-so-conventional fields.
There is a proposal for flash fish puppet racing, flatfish puppet water combat, the bee puppet hunting, bee puppet operation, underwater flat fish puppet treasure hunting, races, special combats, there is even a competition proposal for the factory workers who are specialized in assembling. Competition for assembling faster.
Sam knew where these are coming from. They are coming from the long peace they had. If a person is starving without food, he wouldn't care how the food tastes like, but if he is eating to his fill every day, then he would start worrying about the taste of the food, quality of the food, and even how the food looked.
This is the same. If they are having a constant war, no one would care who is best at what. They would just think of ways to survive one ordeal after another.
But now that there is peace, they are worried about all these things, but he didn't dampen their excitement.
He approved the competitions that have a rational setup and rejected the rest and even gave the proper reason for rejection.
It is not like anyone would question it, but they shouldn't even have a chance to do that. As time passed, the people will forget the fear they have of Sam.
As the new people developed, everyone would think that they deserve something more and they will feel that Sam is not as great as their predecessors said. Most of these thoughts are crushed by the use of the pill of servitude, but that is not a long-term solution. In fact, as the numbers grew, he cannot afford to waste too many resources on making these pills. All he has to do is to use the pills on the people that are in key positions.
While he is thinking of the future scenarios, some uninvited but expected guests arrived.
It is none other than Arman and Arkiv.
Sam went to meet them.
"How are you guys doing?"
Sam greeted them casually.
"Where did you go this time?"
Arkiv asked even before Arman had the chance to speak.
"Somewhere you don't know. Why are you interested?"
"Nothing much. I was wondering if you brought something from there."
"I am craving something, let's go to Mackey's place and we can talk while eating," Sam said and started walking out of the campus.
Arkiv and Arman followed.
When Sam arrived at the restaurant, Mackey greeted him and said.
"Boss, I was experimenting with the rice from yesterday, do you want to try something?"
"Yeah sure, bring me some venison, will you? Make it spicy."
"Sure boss."
Arkiv and Arman also ordered and they finally settled down.
"How is your health, did you properly recover from that guy's possession?" Sam asked.
"I am okay, in fact, I got something out of it this time. My spiritual sense is more active than ever before and in fact, my perception range increased."
"Well, good for you. Arman, what are you up to? Is Arthur still troubling you?" Sam shifted attention to Arman after he replied Arkiv.
"Arthur doesn't have time to save his own ass. Much less find trouble for me. The power dynamic of the Thundergod temple is changing. One Grand elder recently had a minor breakthrough and now he is gunning for the position of the Temple's head.
If that really happened, Arthur would lose all his privilege. Since, the first Palace of Inheritance and your departure from the thunder god temple, everything is going downhill for him. It is quite funny when I see him now and remember how he used to be."
"Good for you then. When will you be named the next heir?"
"I don't know. But I am not worrying too much. It would be mine as long as I want it anyway. All it would need is a single challenge with Arthur."
All three of them made some small talk.
"So, why are you guys together?" Sam asked as he took a swig of cold beer.
Arkiv looked at Sam and spoke. His easy-going nature disappeared and he became a bit serious.
"I have some news. There are three candidates teaming up for the next Palace of inheritance. I wanted to talk to you about that, but you are off on your journey. So, I was camping with this guy."
"Three people? Who are they?"
Sam is a bit surprised. He didn't expect that there would be teams in the Palace of inheritance too. After all, everything that came out of it is a life-saving or a life-changing treasure, who would be stupid enough to sacrifice it like that?
"That lightning user from the lightning spear sect. That guy from the Thunderbolt sect and that other guy named Agun."
"And why are they trying to team up?"
"It is because of you. Every palace of inheritance you played us like fools. You won all four of them until now. So, they are thinking that it is about time someone else other than you won it."
"Good luck to them."
"Yeah, yeah good luck to them. But just to be sure, do you want to team up?"
"Why? Want some extra security or some extra reward?"
"It is security actually, it would be hard to guard against three of them if I am alone. I am not as monstrous as you. If I really tried and used all my archery I would be able to manage two of them and that too in a really long battle. Three is too much for me and that guy Agun is a bit of trouble. He can go to the extreme sometimes. So, what do you think?"
"If you want security, then I am game, but the rest of the game is for ourselves, anyway almost every Palace of inheritance is a game played individually. If there is really any trouble, I would help you. But for the rest of it, you are on your own, you get what you can."
"That is enough for me. Just help me when they gang up on me. Other than that, I can handle the rest. Anyway, do you have any idea what would the next Palace of inheritance will be?"
"Who knows? Did you get the coordinates?"
"Not yet, actually, that is why we are a bit curious. Do you think it will happen like last time with some special circumstance?"
"Do you think every god is a psycho like Hou Yi?" Sam asked sarcastically.
After that, they went on their own ways.
After two days, both of them came back again and this time, they have the coordinates.
Sam got the coordinates and was surprised to see that both locations are extremely close by. From the looks of it, they might even be nearby cities.
This is new once again.
But the coordinates are not the only thing they brought,
"There is another news along with the coordinates."
"There is another test for us before the Palace of inheritance."
"Before?"
"Yes, before. This time not everyone has entry into the Palace of inheritance. Only six people are allowed entry. And they also have a special requirement for that. The special requirement was not announced yet. The message said it would come after we go there."
"Why didn't I hear anything about this?" Sam was a bit surprised. He didn't expect that something like this would happen.
"We don't know. Even my message was delivered by some attendant on that guy. Arman got his message delivered by god directly. I don't know why you are held up."
Even they were confused and at this moment, Sam felt the fourth floor reacting and he excused himself a bit before going into his room and entering the divine dimension.
Ling Tian appeared and he seemed to be in a tattered shape. His robes are tattered and his usual majesty could be seen covered with a faint aura of bloodthirst. His whole body is covered in blood and even his long hair's knot was removed.
There is one glaring scar on his chest that even made Sam feel a shiver. That is a gruesome wound and Ling Tian's eyes are still as sharp as ever.
"I am sorry Sam. I hope I am not too late."
