Who to Pick as Master

"Who is Yue Qianchou?" A figure landed in front of them from the air. The newcomer's gaze swept over them, finally settling on Yue Qianchou, who was dressed differently. "You are Yue Qianchou?"

Yue Qianchou nodded. Before he could speak, the newcomer impatiently said, "You'll come with me! I'll take you as my disciple."

"Nonsense!" Elder Guan stepped forward, blocking Yue Qianchou. Elders Fei and Huang also stood with them, united against the newcomer. Elder Fei chuckled, "Elder Liu, since when did you start robbing people?"

Cheng Gengqing and Yue Qianchou were a bit stunned, not understanding what was going on.

Elder Liu, who had just arrived, said dismissively, "Old Fei, what are you saying? Yue Qianchou hasn't taken a master yet. Whoever he's willing to become a disciple of is who he'll go with. How am I robbing anyone?"

"Haha, I like what Old Liu said." Another figure landed in front of the crowd. Before the newcomer could even steady themselves, dozens of figures descended from all directions, with people constantly asking, "Who is Yue Qianchou?"

It was clear that all the elders were here for Yue Qianchou. Cheng Gengqing looked at Yue Qianchou suspiciously, unable to see anything special about him that would make so many elders eager to take him as a disciple.

Unbeknownst to them, Yue Qianchou shivered. He recalled a myth from his past life about a monk named Tang Sanzang, whose flesh was said to grant immortality if eaten. Could his own flesh have the same effect? Yue Qianchou immediately focused his divine sense on the golden bead in his dantian. If he detected anything amiss, he would flee immediately!

The window of the Sect Master's room on the third floor of 'Penglai Pavilion' was open. Sect Master Feng Xiangtian looked down at the crowd of elders below and shook his head with a wry smile, feeling once again that he had made the most brilliant decision.

The disciples coming and going around them saw so many elders gathered and didn't know what was happening. They wanted to go closer but didn't dare. Before long, a large crowd of disciples had gathered, and more people were rushing over upon hearing the news to watch the spectacle.

Even with Yue Qianchou's courage, being stared at by a group of old fellows who were at least two hundred years old caused a fine sheen of sweat to break out on his forehead. The pressure was immense. Yue Qianchou felt his throat dry up, swallowed, and bowed to the surroundings, "Disciple Yue Qianchou greets all the Elders."

"No need for formalities..." the elders replied in unison. Their tone suggested they were already Yue Qianchou's masters. Yue Qianchou gave them an awkward chuckle.

"My heavens! What's Yue Qianchou's background? So many elders are giving him face." Cheng Gengqing also felt the immense pressure and couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead. He looked around, seeing that the elders had completely surrounded them, leaving no path to escape.

With all the elders gathered, everyone knew what their intentions were. After a period of silence, the first elder to arrive, Elder Liu, scanned the crowd and said in a deep voice, "It's not feasible for us to just stand here. There's only one Fu Xian Token. The Sect Master said that whoever takes Yue Qianchou as a disciple will be eligible to receive that Fu Xian Token. Since the Sect Master has spoken, we should all comply. Now, it seems all the elders wish to take Yue Qianchou as a disciple, but there is only one Yue Qianchou and only one Fu Xian Token. We can't just snatch it!"

"Stop dawdling, speak your mind or shut up," Elder Guan said impatiently.

Elder Liu rolled his eyes at him. He was about to retort but then remembered that this old lunatic was someone few people could afford to offend, and he might need him to refine pills at some point. So, he shut his mouth. If it were anyone else, he would have said, "If you don't want to wait, you can leave first! No one is stopping you here."

Damn! That startled me. So they're all after the Fu Xian Token in my hand. Yue Qianchou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Cheng Gengqing also understood. His master, Elder Qin, had a Fu Xian Token. No wonder he had so readily let him bring Yue Qianchou to Fu Xian Island. If his master hadn't had the token, Yue Qianchou would have likely called him Senior Brother instead of Grandmaster, having the advantage of proximity. Cheng Gengqing finally understood why his master had smiled so strangely at the time; he had known there would be a good show to watch.

"Old Liu, we are all fellow disciples. It would be a laughing matter if we fought over a token. What idea do you have? Speak up! Let's all hear it and see if it works," one of the elders said.

"Yes! Elder Liu, why don't you speak first and let us hear..." many elders echoed.

Elder Liu glanced at Elder Guan with a hint of smugness, but only received another eye-roll. He could only say with a forced smile, "Actually, it's very simple. Let Yue Qianchou choose. Whoever he's willing to become a disciple of is who he'll go with, and the Fu Xian Token will naturally belong to that person. What do you elders think? If you agree, let's all bear witness so that no one goes back on their word." He directed the last sentence at Elder Guan, his meaning quite clear.

Elder Guan glared back and patted his chest, saying, "Whoever goes back on their word is a grandson." The other elders also thought this was a good idea. No one would try to snatch it, and Yue Qianchou would choose himself. Thus, they all agreed.

The tense, explosive atmosphere instantly dissipated. All eyes turned to Yue Qianchou. Elder Liu said to him, "Yue Qianchou, you've heard everyone. Whoever you think is suitable to be your master, you can approach them! No one will force you, so pick without fear."

Cheng Gengqing glanced at the scorching gazes around him and looked at Yue Qianchou with sympathy, thinking to himself that it would be difficult for anyone to choose. This matter was too offensive, and not just to ordinary people, but to all the elders.

Tch! Why should I be afraid! Yue Qianchou, facing the elders, straightened his slightly bowed posture. His gaze flickered towards the Sect Master's window on the third floor. He now understood why the Sect Master had gone to such lengths to get the Fu Xian Token back into his hands; he had known this trouble was coming.

The elders stared at him with gazes that were sometimes kind, sometimes stern, sometimes caring, but all conveyed one message: I am the master you should choose. Yue Qianchou's scalp began to tingle, especially Elder Guan's gaze, which was clearly a naked threat, as if telling him, "Kid! If you dare not choose me as your master, see how I deal with you."

What is this situation? I'm just a newcomer, and I can't afford to offend any of them! Yue Qianchou's gaze once again turned towards the Sect Master's window on the third floor. Feng Xiangtian seemed to see his pleading look, his figure disappeared from behind the window, and he muttered with a wry smile, "Young man, don't blame me. It's better for you to offend them than for me to."

Damn it! Why did it go the wrong way? They're the ones begging me, so why should I be afraid? Noticing the anticipation hidden within the elders' various expressions, Yue Qianchou suddenly realized.