Becoming the Sect Master's Disciple

The four great elders argued until their faces were red, neither side willing to yield.

They traded barbs and undermined each other, showing not a shred of the composed demeanor expected of Golden Core True Persons.

Just as the four were on the verge of a falling out in front of everyone, a soft cough rang out abruptly.

Cough, cough.

The noisy elders fell silent in an instant.

They turned their heads in unison to look at Li Mofan, who stood to the side with his hands behind his back.

Li Mofan's expression was indifferent as his gaze swept over his four junior brothers, and he spoke slowly.

"Four junior brothers, stop arguing."

"I have accepted Su Yun."

The four Golden Core elders' eyes widened, their pupils constricting as they stared in disbelief.

The First Elder was the first to lose his composure, stepping forward with an urgent tone: "Senior Brother! You are breaking the rules!"

The Second Elder frowned deeply: "Sect Master, a hundred years ago you personally stated that because sect affairs were too complex, you would never take on another personal disciple! Every one of us elders remembers that clearly!"

The Third Elder waved his hands repeatedly, looking anxious: "Exactly, Senior Brother! How can you go back on your word? You swore an oath back then that unless you encountered a peerless prodigy, you would never take on an apprentice!"

The Fourth Elder was so frustrated he began rubbing his hands together, looking utterly aggrieved.

"Senior Brother! I only have one personal disciple to this day! I finally stumbled upon a Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root, how can you just swoop in and snatch him away? You can't do this! Give this child to me!"

In an instant, the four elders who had been undermining and bickering with each other formed a united front.

They aimed all their grievances at the Sect Master, Li Mofan.

The four surrounded him, clamoring and denouncing him in unison.

"Senior Brother! You handle all the sect's affairs, review documents, preside over meetings, and manage external relations every day; where would you find the time to personally instruct a disciple?"

"That's right! A heaven-defying genius like Su Yun needs dedicated, one-on-one instruction. You are too busy; you simply can't look after him!"

"We are all specialized elders with plenty of time; we are far more suitable than you!"

"You cannot use your status as Sect Master to forcibly snatch him away! It's unfair!"

The four spoke with frustration and annoyance.

They had finally encountered a Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root, and just as they were about to divide the prize among themselves, the Sect Master had intercepted it halfway.

No one would be willing to accept that.

Li Mofan's expression remained unchanged, a calm, faint smile on his face.

"I did indeed say that if there were no peerless prodigy, I would not take on a personal disciple for the rest of my life."

"But now, that prodigy is right before my eyes."

"A Metal-attribute Heavenly Spirit Root, peerless in lethality, pure and without impurities."

"A seedling like this is rare to see in the entire Spirit Province even once every few hundred years."

"I didn't want to take on an apprentice before because I hadn't seen a disciple worthy of my time. Now that I have met Su Yun, This Seat is willing to make an exception."

"The four of you have your own strengths, but also your own limitations."

"Your endless squabbling only makes things difficult for the child."

"Rather than leaving him unable to choose between the four of you, it is better that he enters my lineage."

Li Mofan's tone was calm, yet carried an unassailable firmness.

"This matter is not up for further discussion. My mind is made up."

As his voice faded, the four elders opened their mouths, wanting to speak but holding back.

They looked at one another and collectively deflated.

Frustrated, helpless, and unwilling.

But there was nothing they could do.

Li Mofan was the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect, his status above everyone else.

They were merely elders; no matter how much they argued, they could not forcibly snatch a disciple the Sect Master had set his sights on.

They could only retreat sullenly, their faces filled with gloom.

An elder's personal disciple, no matter how talented, was still just an elder's disciple.

A Sect Master's personal disciple was, in name, the Young Sect Master of the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

The difference in status was worlds apart.

Anyone, even a fool, would choose the Sect Master without a moment's hesitation.

No one would refuse such a heaven-sent opportunity.

Beside the high platform.

Liu Qing, the Outer Sect deacon elder, stood rooted to the spot, completely stunned.

His eyes were filled with shock, and even a trace of envy.

To date, the Sect Master had only two personal disciples.

Both of them possessed above-average talent and had already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage; despite their youth, they held extremely high status within the sect.

And now.

Su Yun was about to become the Sect Master's third personal disciple.

Having just entered the sect, his status and standing already surpassed that of an Outer Sect deacon elder like himself.

Liu Qing sighed with deep emotion; comparisons only served to frustrate.

On the high platform.

Su Yun finally snapped out of his series of shocks.

Li Mofan turned his head and asked, "Su Yun, are you willing to enter under This Seat and become my personal disciple?"

Su Yun did not hesitate in the slightest.

He did not even pause for a second.

He stepped forward quickly, his posture respectful and his tone sincere: "Disciple Su Yun is willing! I pay respects to Master!"

He saw things clearly.

The man before him was the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect.

He was one of the most prominent figures in the entire Spirit Province.

With profound cultivation and immense power.

To be able to take such a person as a master, with the head of a sect as his backing, he could practically walk sideways within the sect.

Resources, support, cultivation techniques, secret realm opportunities—he would have it all.

He feared that if he were even a second late, the other party might change his mind.

Such an opportunity was once in a millennium; he absolutely could not let it slip by.

A genuine smile appeared on Li Mofan's face.

He gently raised his hand, and a soft stream of spiritual energy lifted Su Yun, helping the youth to his feet.

"Good."

"From this day forth, Su Yun is the third personal disciple under my, Li Mofan's, tutelage."

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar.

On the plaza, all the youths waiting for the assessment had bloodshot eyes, their faces filled with envy.

"My god! A personal disciple of the Sect Master!"

"That is the highest status in the entire Azure Cloud Sect!"

"I'm jealous, I'm truly jealous! We're both human, so why is the gap so huge?"

The Outer Sect disciples standing to the side were even more green with envy.

They had worked hard for years, climbing from chores to the Outer Sect, and might not even see the Sect Master once in their entire lives.

Su Yun had arrived on his first day and immediately reached the top, becoming the Sect Master's direct disciple.

He was a future big shot, with a limitless future.

Within the crowd.

Those who had previously mocked, ridiculed, and jeered at Su Yun were now panicking.

Many of the youths who had casually badmouthed Su Yun turned pale, swallowing hard in secret.

"It's over, did I make fun of him before?"

"It should be fine, right? We were just saying a few words; we're nobodies, a big shot like him wouldn't hold a grudge."

"I hope so, let's just hope we aren't targeted..."

At the same time, those three youths in fine silk robes had long since lost all color in their faces.

Their legs went weak, and their bodies could not stop trembling.

The three of them were deathly pale, their lips drained of blood, their backs soaked through with cold sweat.

The arrogance, sense of superiority, and insolence from before had completely vanished.

The fair-skinned youth's teeth chattered as he lowered his voice, trembling, "It's over... it's completely over..."

The round-faced youth's eyes darted around in a panic, constantly scanning his surroundings. "He is the Sect Master's personal disciple now... and we mocked, belittled, and ridiculed him in public..."

The tall, thin youth's throat felt parched, his voice raspy:

"If we stay at the Azure Cloud Sect, something will happen sooner or later."

"Even if Su Yun is magnanimous and doesn't hold a grudge, the other disciples will make trouble for us just to curry favor with him."

The three of them exchanged glances, a single thought emerging in their eyes simultaneously.

They had to leave.

They couldn't stay a moment longer.

The fair-skinned youth gritted his teeth. "Forget about joining the sect; we're heading down the mountain now."

"Keeping our lives is what matters most."

The other two didn't hesitate in the slightest, nodding heavily.

Even though the Azure Cloud Sect was a top-tier immortal sect, they dared not stay a moment longer.

With their heads bowed, they took advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was focused on the high platform, quietly hugging the edge of the crowd. Hunched over, they shuffled toward the mountain gate exit in a panicked, disheveled state.

They only wanted to escape this Azure Cloud Mountain that had filled them with such despair as quickly as possible.