The Four Great Elders Vie for Su Yun

Behind Su Yun, the four great elders instantly erupted.

The four pairs of eyes suddenly lit up, their gazes burning as they stared fixedly at Su Yun, as if looking at a peerless treasure.

Their breathing grew rapid, their eyes scorching.

"It's actually Metal-attribute?!"

"Heavens! How many years has it been! How long has it been since Spirit Province produced a Metal-attribute Heaven Spiritual Root?!"

"Invincible in slaughter, crushing those of the same rank; this child's future prospects are immeasurable!"

The four could no longer maintain the composed demeanor of elders.

Almost simultaneously, they each took a step forward.

The first elder, his white hair like snow and his face aged, possessed a generous and peaceful temperament. Though he carried no sharp killing intent, he naturally exuded a convincing majesty.

He was the First Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect.

The second-in-command of the sect, the person beneath only the Sect Master.

He oversaw sect personnel rules and elder council discussions, and could intervene in all matters, large or small. He held the highest seniority and the greatest prestige.

He spoke first, "Little Friend Su Yun, I am the First Elder!"

"If you enter my tutelage, I will grant you the highest authority. All sect cultivation libraries will be open to you without restriction, and you shall have priority access to all resources."

"If anyone dares to provoke you, I will personally crush them. I have the final say in all personnel appointments within the sect; I guarantee you can walk sideways through this sect!"

As his voice fell, the second elder stepped forward.

This man wore black robes, his face cold and stern, his brows sharp, and a faint, chilling aura of slaughter surrounded him.

The Second Elder, the Law Enforcement Elder.

He held authority over sect laws and punishments, managed the Law Enforcement Hall, and wielded the power of life and death.

His voice was cold, hard, and crisp, "I am the Second Elder."

"My Law Enforcement Hall possesses the densest aura of slaughter, making it the most suitable place for a Metal-attribute Spiritual Root to temper one's temperament and refine a killing sword intent."

The third elder wore green robes, his face gentle and refined, exuding a scholarly air with kind eyes.

The Third Elder, the Academic Elder.

He oversaw disciple cultivation, cultivation technique lectures, assessments, promotions, and sect ceremonies.

He chuckled, his tone gentle and enticing:

"Child, choose me."

"I manage all cultivation lessons for the entire sect. You may choose any top-tier instructor you wish, and I will customize exclusive cultivation courses for you."

"I will reserve priority spots for you in the sect's secret realms and cultivation paradises. I will personally oversee your cultivation progress, ensuring you never take a single wrong turn."

The final elder was slightly plump, with a kind face and smooth, rounded features, dressed in clean and luxurious brocade robes.

The Fourth Elder, the Internal Affairs Elder.

He managed the sect's treasury, spirit fields, medicinal gardens, cave dwellings, supplies, spirit stones, and provisions, holding the purse strings of the entire sect.

He smiled, straightforward and practical: "I won't say much else."

"Take me as your master, and whatever heavenly treasures you desire, I will have them brought to you directly. You will never have to worry about lacking money or resources for your cultivation."

The four great elders were all Golden Core True Persons.

In the entire Azure Cloud Sect, aside from the two Nascent Soul True Lords in seclusion, these four were the strongest.

The four of them knew well that with the terrifying talent of Su Yun's Metal-attribute Heaven Spiritual Root, as long as he did not perish prematurely and cultivated steadily, he would surely condense a Nascent Soul and become a titan of the region.

Snatching this disciple now meant securing the favor of a future Nascent Soul powerhouse!

None were willing to yield, their gazes clashing with a faint scent of gunpowder.

Below the high platform.

The entire audience's brains had completely crashed.

They stared blankly at the four great figures on the platform fighting over Su Yun.

The four great elders spoke one after another, surrounding Su Yun and refusing to back down, openly undermining each other on the spot.

The First Elder, holding the highest seniority, was the first to harden his expression as he looked at the other three.

"The three of you should stop joining in the fun."

"In terms of seniority, prestige, and influence within the sect, who can compare to me?"

"Su Yun has a Heaven Spiritual Root; the path he must walk in the future is one of ascending to the peak. He needs the sect's connections, the paving of rules, and personnel arrangements—I can settle any trouble with a single word."

"Following me, no one in the sect will dare to give him even the slightest bit of grief. Which of you can guarantee that?"

The Second Elder immediately let out a cold snort, stepped forward, and the atmosphere turned abruptly frigid.

"The Great Elder is being far too presumptuous with that statement."

"What use is high prestige and a wide network of connections? In the world of cultivation, one relies on strength and rules to suppress others."

"Su Yun possesses a Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root. He is inherently suited for the path of slaughter and combat."

"If he joins my Law Enforcement Hall, I can personally train him in lethal techniques. Whether it's tempering through combat or dueling against enemies, I can arrange the best path for him."

"If he were to follow the three of you—one managing rules, one teaching, and one handling money and grain—what would he learn about life-and-death struggles? You would only be wasting a fine talent."

The Third Elder was displeased by this, stroking his beard as he spoke slowly.

"Second Elder, don't be so absolute."

"What is the use of only knowing how to kill? Cultivation requires a step-by-step approach. Cultivation methods, foundations, breakthroughs, and opportunities in secret realms—which of these does not require meticulous planning?"

"I manage the entire sect's teachings and cultivation. All superior techniques, top-tier instructors, and quotas for sect secret realms are held in my hands."

"If Su Yun follows me, he will receive careful guidance at every step, from his initial Foundation Establishment to his future Golden Core. He will never take a wrong turn."

"Following you will only lead to endless fighting. If his foundation is ruined, he will struggle to reach the Great Dao in this lifetime. That would be the true waste."

The Fourth Elder chimed in with a friendly smile, though his words were just as unyielding.

"My three brothers, you all make valid points, but what is the one thing cultivation cannot do without?"

"It is resources! It is spirit stones! It is medicinal herbs! It is the treasures of heaven and earth found in immortal caves!"

"No matter how great the talent, without resources to pile up, one cannot reach the higher realms."

"I manage the sect's internal affairs and treasury, as well as the spirit fields and herb gardens. As long as Su Yun takes me as his master, he can use spirit stones as he pleases, take any medicinal herb he wants, and choose any superior immortal cave he desires."

"You three talk a good game, but when it comes to providing massive resources, who is as generous as I am? Empty principles are no match for tangible benefits."

Once these words were spoken, the other three elders immediately lost their composure.

The Great Elder frowned and shook his head.

"Old Four, you only know how to deceive people with spirit stones and herbs!"

"A youth's heart is easily swayed by material goods. If he only knows how to pile up resources without learning how to pave his own way or conduct himself, he will easily offend others in the sect. Without someone to back him up, all the money in the world will be useless."

The Second Elder chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Exactly. You spend all day guarding a treasury and herb garden, reeking of copper. What kind of combat expert can you teach? A Metal-attribute spirit root is meant for dueling and suppressing enemies, not for squatting in a cave and gnawing on herbs."

The Third Elder added with a chuckle.

"Old Four, cultivation is not just about living a comfortable life. Giving resources alone is useless. Foundation, vision, and opportunity—none can be lacking. Your approach is too shallow; it cannot support a future Nascent Soul True Lord."

The Fourth Elder refused to accept this and immediately retorted.

"Don't stand there and talk as if it doesn't concern you!"

"Which cultivator today can survive without resources? Without the support of spirit stones, how can one meditate and cultivate? Without medicinal herbs to temper the body, how can one stabilize their foundation?"

"You have your rules, your teachings, and your combat paths, but you cannot produce any real, tangible benefits. Do you expect Su Yun to follow you and drink the northwest wind?"

The four of them traded barbs and dismantled each other's arguments.

Each felt they were the most suitable to take Su Yun as a disciple.

Each looked down upon the methods of the other three.

None were willing to retreat even half a step, determined to snatch Su Yun for themselves.

Down on the plaza, thousands of youths watched in stunned silence.

They held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

"My god... the four elders are actually arguing in public?"

"They are all Golden Core True Persons! They are usually so high and mighty; who has ever seen them fight over someone like this?"

"It's because Su Yun's talent is too terrifying. A Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root—anyone would fight for him."

"If it were me, being fought over by four big shots to be their disciple, I'd wake up laughing in my dreams."

On the side of the plaza, a group of outer sect disciples felt their throats go dry, their eyes filled with envy.

"Those are the four great elders... the highest authorities of the sect!"

"Seeing them even once is usually as difficult as ascending to heaven!"

"And now, all four are surrounding Su Yun to fight over him as a disciple? Am I dreaming?"

"I would burn incense and pray if I could even be a registered servant disciple by their side!"

Someone shook their head with a bitter smile.

"How can the gap between people be so vast?"

"With four Golden Core experts fighting to take him as a disciple, from this day forward, Su Yun is truly destined to soar."