A Sought-After Disciple

Feng Xiangtian's expression shifted between overcast and clear, his gaze sweeping over the three elders and Yue Qianchou. No one spoke in the room, and the atmosphere turned incredibly strange. Cheng Gengqing began to panic, sweat beading on his forehead. Did I do something wrong? he wondered.

Damn it! What's going on? It's been almost an hour. If they don't want me, they can just say so. Do they think I'm afraid? If it comes to it, I'll just leave. Yue Qianchou, standing respectfully, was also getting impatient. He straightened his slightly bent back.

His movement made Feng Xiangtian's eyes light up. He thought to himself, The one who tied the knot must untie it. This trouble was caused by this kid, so he has to be the one to resolve it. With this thought, he felt more confident. A smile appeared on his face, and he coughed lightly before speaking to Yue Qianchou, "Your name is Yue Qianchou? Hmm, that's a good name. Since you've brought our sect's Fu Xian Token, our sect will naturally agree to your request to take you in. From today onwards, you are a disciple of Fu Xian Island. What is your current cultivation level? Tell me about it."

Yue Qianchou was overjoyed and quickly bowed, "Thank you, Sect Master, for accepting me. Disciple Yue Qianchou is deeply grateful. My cultivation is shallow; I've only just reached Level Ten Qi Refining."

The four old fellows in the room froze. Especially Feng Xiangtian, who, with his mid-Tribulation stage cultivation, couldn't discern Yue Qianchou's Level Ten Qi Refining cultivation. He felt a pang of embarrassment.

"Level Ten Qi Refining..." Feng Xiangtian murmured a few times. This was a bit different from his initial plan, but it was even better this way. He then frowned and said, "Yue Qianchou, there are some things I must tell you. Although this token allows you to join Fu Xian Island, our sect's rule is that anyone who fails Foundation Establishment three times will be expelled from Fu Xian Island. You haven't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage yet, so you naturally must abide by this rule. Think carefully! If you want to go back on your word, you can take this Fu Xian Token back now, and join our sect after you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Feng Xiangtian was speaking the truth, but his words also carried a deterrent. His intention was simply to make Yue Qianchou back down, throw away this hot potato of a Fu Xian Token, and be rid of the trouble.

Upon hearing Feng Xiangtian say this, the three elders' expressions changed, but they had no reason to object. They all stared at Yue Qianchou to see his reaction. As expected, he didn't disappoint them. Yue Qianchou had already heard these rules from Guan Yu and had thought them through long ago. He immediately shook his head, "To be able to join Fu Xian Island, the foremost sect of the Righteous Path, is my lifelong dream. Since I'm here, I will never go back on my word."

"Very good." Feng Xiangtian nodded impassively. "Yue Qianchou, take the token back! Wait until one of the sect elders chooses you as their disciple, then you can give the token to that elder."

After speaking, he spread his palm, and the token slowly flew to Yue Qianchou. After he took the token, Feng Xiangtian added, "Cheng Gengqing, take him down to register him and find him a place to stay."

Cheng Gengqing acknowledged the order, and after Yue Qianchou expressed his thanks, the two of them left the Sect Master's room.

Inside the room, after a period of silence, Elder Huang, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke, "Sect Master, I don't think we need to trouble the other elders. Why not let this kid help out in my Artifact Refining Pavilion?"

"That won't do," Elder Fei said with a smile. "Elder Huang, the Sect Master just mentioned that Myriad Fragrance Garden needs more manpower to increase the production of spirit herbs. I think this kid is quite suitable for it. Let him come to Myriad Fragrance Garden!"

"Nonsense!" Elder Guan from the Alchemy Pavilion cursed, standing up and glaring at the other two elders. "You two old geezers, stop playing these games. Don't think I don't know what you're up to. There's only one token, so if you want it, compete fairly. Otherwise, I'll be the first to disagree. Hmph! Sect Master, I'll take my leave now." He then turned and left.

Elder Fei and Elder Huang were cursed into looking at each other blankly. Knowing they couldn't afford to offend him, no one dared to speak. After Elder Guan left, they seemed to remember something and immediately stood up to bid farewell to the Sect Master. The people in the Sect Master's room vanished instantly.

Seeing that he was the only one left, Feng Xiangtian secretly felt lucky. If he hadn't come up with this plan, the trouble would have been much greater. Just these three elders were causing so much fuss; if over fifty elders were to... No, he had to inform the others as well, otherwise, it would still be a hassle.

Thinking this, Feng Xiangtian took out a piece of jade, cast a finger-seal at it, muttered a few words, and crushed it in his hand. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

After Yue Qianchou and Cheng Gengqing went downstairs, Cheng Gengqing wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Yue Qianchou, you're the first disciple at the Qi Refining stage the Sect Master has spoken to for so long. I've benefited from this too. After I hand over the spirit stones, I'll take you to register."

Yue Qianchou had no objections. He accompanied Cheng Gengqing, and they quickly counted and handed over the spirit stones. Then, they went to the place for registering new disciples. Because it was stated to be the Sect Master's decree, the process went smoothly as well.

Leaving the Penglai Pavilion, Cheng Gengqing smiled, "Yue Qianchou, congratulations. From today onwards, you are a disciple of Fu Xian Island."

"Thank you for your trouble on the way, Grandmaster Cheng." Yue Qianchou said with genuine gratitude. As a newcomer, especially in this cold and indifferent cultivation world, meeting someone who spoke to you kindly was indeed a very rare thing.

"It was just on the way, no need to be so polite." Cheng Gengqing waved his hand, then suddenly frowned. "You haven't found a master yet, so you probably don't have a place to stay for now. Why don't you stay at my place temporarily until you're assigned to an elder as your master, then you can go with your master."

Yue Qianchou thought this made sense. Moreover, it would be much more convenient to stay with someone he knew. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, he suddenly heard someone laughing heartily from behind him, "Then why don't you just become my disciple? Come and stay at my Alchemy Pavilion."

Yue Qianchou turned his head and saw one of the elders he had met earlier. Before he could react, he heard Cheng Gengqing bow, "Elder Guan." He had no choice but to bow as well.

"Haha! No need for formalities, no need for formalities." Elder Guan, with his hands behind his back, stared at Yue Qianchou with a smile, circling him twice as if he had found some treasure. Yue Qianchou felt a chill down his spine from his gaze. He only knew he was an elder, but he had no idea what he actually did. Coupled with the strong scent of medicine emanating from him, Yue Qianchou couldn't help but associate him with those eccentric medical practitioners who liked to experiment on humans.

Elder Guan stopped circling and put on a kind expression, "Yue Qianchou, how about you take me as your master?"

"Uh..." Yue Qianchou didn't know how to answer. He felt something was off. For an elder of Fu Xian Island, the foremost sect of the Righteous Path, to actively seek to be his master? Seeing Cheng Gengqing's slightly surprised expression, there was clearly something wrong! Definitely something wrong!

"Haha!" A hearty laugh rang out. Yue Qianchou turned to look, and the other two elders he had met earlier were walking over together. Cheng Gengqing bowed again, "Elder Fei, Elder Huang." Yue Qianchou had no choice but to bow again.

"Haha!" The two elders said in unison with smiles, "No need for formalities." Elder Fei looked at Yue Qianchou and smiled, "Yue Qianchou, you should become my disciple!"

"Yue Qianchou, I was just thinking the same thing. Come with me!" Elder Huang chimed in.

"Ah!" Yue Qianchou and Cheng Gengqing exclaimed in unison, stunned. Elder Guan's expression instantly changed from sunny to overcast, becoming very unpleasant.