Meeting the Grand Elder, Young Sect Master

Meng Tangtang followed Elder Hao into the cave abode.👤💝  💀👹

They went straight to the study.

"Come in."

The Grand Elder's icy voice rang out.

"Yes!" Elder Hao hurriedly answered.

Meng Tangtang shivered in fright, gritted her teeth, and followed the chubby Elder Hao inside.

In the study, the Grand Elder sat in the center. Several others sat on either side—powerful elders of the Jingyun Sect—while a few young men and women stood off to one side.

The atmosphere was tense.

Meng Tangtang had never seen such a scene. At a loss, she obediently lowered her head and stood behind Elder Hao, using him to shield herself from everyone's scrutinizing gazes.

"You're the girl from the Meng Family, Meng Tangtang, right?"

Old Lady Xu sized Meng Tangtang up. Through her grasp of the power of heaven and earth, she clearly sensed something unusual. The hand holding her teacup trembled slightly as tumultuous waves crashed through her heart, mingled with wild joy. Just as I thought—an Innate constitution!

The Jingyun Sect was about to rise!

Old Lady Xu was thrilled. It seemed that even after she passed away, the Jingyun Sect would not gradually decline for lack of an Innate Realm expert to hold the fort.

This was Heaven's will!

At last, the breath she had held in her heart all this time finally left her.

Her tone softened considerably. A warm smile spread across her face, making her look much more kindly. The elders around her kept glancing over, intrigued by the rare sight.

"Don't be afraid. We called you here for a good reason."

"Come, girl. Tell me about what you've been through over the years."

Seeing this, Meng Tangtang relaxed a little too. At least, the room no longer seemed quite so intimidating.

"Reporting to the Grand Elder, these past few years, this disciple..."

Without hesitation, Meng Tangtang first told them how she had been frail and often ill for years, suffering from a serious disease. Then she explained that she had joined the Jingyun Sect because she wanted to cultivate and fight her illness. The Grand Elder nodded along, and the others listened attentively.

The few young men and women quietly perked up their ears.

"Your illness suddenly got better, and you awakened your constitution along with it?"

When she heard Meng Tangtang describe how her constitution had awakened, Old Lady Xu furrowed her brow, baffled. She couldn't help murmuring, "How could this happen? Generally speaking, except for a few extremely special cases, an Innate constitution shouldn't awaken so easily."

Though she didn't understand, she didn't press the matter.

The Innate constitution was real, the talent was real, and her loyalty to the sect was real.

It was all real. The process didn't matter so much.

At this thought, Old Lady Xu smiled again and gave Meng Tangtang a careful look. The more she looked, the more pleased she became.

This girl was even more exceptional than she herself had been at that age, and she possessed an Innate constitution. Given enough time to grow, perhaps one day the Southern Region would see a two-star sect called the Jingyun Sect.

Just imagining it was enough to make Old Lady Xu grin in her sleep.

Ancestors, watch over us!

Ancestors, please watch over us!

For so many years, ever since Founder Jingyun established the Jingyun Sect thousands of years ago, they had finally been given a chance to rise.

Old Lady Xu made up her mind: she would spare no expense to cultivate Meng Tangtang.

She would grant her the highest privileges of the Lineage and leave her free of worries. From that day on, all the sect's cultivation resources would be directed toward her. Even if Old Lady Xu had little time left and eventually passed on, it would be worth it as long as she lived to see Meng Tangtang reach the Innate Realm!

Seeing the Grand Elder's changing expression, the other elders exchanged glances, all looking solemn.

Everyone had only one thought in mind.

Spare no expense!

Cultivate Meng Tangtang!

Thank goodness, I got through that.

Seeing that the Grand Elder wasn't pressing her for details anymore, Meng Tangtang let out a huge sigh of relief.

It wasn't that she'd deliberately meant to hide her master. She had cautiously probed with her words earlier and realized that the Grand Elder didn't seem to know about her master at all. After hesitating for a while, she decided that since her master stayed in the Library Pavilion all year round, he probably didn't want anyone disturbing him.

So she'd chosen to leave out anything about her master.

She'd changed everything into her own fortuitous encounter, including her awakened constitution and spirit sword.

Thank goodness, I didn't expose Master's existence. I wonder if he'll praise me for being clever when he finds out? Thinking this, Meng Tangtang smiled along with everyone else, and the mood in the study instantly turned cheerful.

"Elders, hear my command!"

"From today on, I hereby appoint the outer-sect disciple Meng Tangtang as the Young Sect Master of our sect. This is not to be questioned!"

Old Lady Xu slowly straightened her hunched body and announced loudly.

"We obey the Grand Elder's decree!"

The elders present shouted in unison, excitement filling their hearts. The Jingyun Sect was about to rise!

East Sun Hall.

The residence reserved for Young Sect Masters of every generation.

It stretched as far as the eye could see, with an exquisite layout and costly materials. The buildings seemed to form a single whole, grand and splendid, wrapped in immortal light. It was like the rising sun—magnificent beyond compare!

"Young Sect Master, this is the sect's treasured Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill, kept for a hundred years. It's at least ten times as effective as an ordinary Qi-Gathering Pill. After taking it, you can absorb spiritual energy on your own for three months, tempering your body day and night. Its effects will last for a long time! Would you like to try it?"

"Young Sect Master, this is the Jadeheart Spirit Marrow the Grand Elder obtained after slaying an Innate Realm great demon. Even an ordinary person could become a cultivation prodigy after taking it, breaking through to the Innate Realm without a single bottleneck!"

"Young Sect Master, this Five-Colored Feather Dress is a complete set of low-grade spirit gear. It can block a single blow from an Innate Realm expert, and it's worth no less than your sword!"

"Young Sect Master, this is a Five-Colored Stone. It can dispel inner demons..."

"Young Sect Master..."

Meng Tangtang stared dumbfounded at the elders surrounding her, all wearing kindly smiles as they vied to curry favor with her.

Watching these old men and women argue until their faces turned red over whose treasure she should use first—and even come to blows—Meng Tangtang felt her whole worldview collapse!

Good heavens!

Were these really the same stern, impartial, upright elders?

Was that white-bearded old man, hopping furiously and spitting as he ranted, really the "Black-Faced Yama" the disciples said never smiled and was terrifying enough to stop a child from crying?

Why did they seem like a bunch of three-year-olds squabbling?

"Um, Elders..."

The noise had nearly deafened Meng Tangtang, and her voice was barely audible.

Whoosh!

The elders who had been arguing without end abruptly stopped, as if someone had hit a pause button. In the blink of an eye, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Meng Tangtang: "..."

With all those heated gazes fixed on her, Meng Tangtang felt her scalp go numb. She hurriedly waved her hands and said loudly, "I appreciate the kindness of all the Elders... Ah, no, this Young Sect Master appreciates it."

Several elders glared at her, and Meng Tangtang quickly corrected herself.

She continued, "Actually, Elders, there's no need to go to all this trouble... No, listen to me. I understand what you're thinking, but the sect is in a difficult position right now. Such extravagance and waste aren't appropriate. Besides, I still need to keep cultivating, so I hope you'll..."

"We understand, we understand!"

One elder slapped his forehead and said ruefully, "It's all our fault for getting too excited and disturbing the Young Sect Master's cultivation. It's simply unforgivable! Young Sect Master, please continue your cultivation. We'll leave right now—right this instant!"

The other elders suddenly understood. Looking regretful, they left their treasures behind and turned to go.

"Whew..."

"That was terrifying. Master really saw things clearly. No wonder an Innate Realm expert like him was willing to stay in a place like the Library Pavilion."

Seeing the elders take their leave, Meng Tangtang let out a huge sigh of relief!

Peace at last!

And her admiration for her master rose another notch!