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The Sect Master Peak lay in the place with the richest spiritual energy in the sect. After all, the sect master managed affairs great and small within the sect, which inevitably delayed personal cultivation somewhat, so this counted as a little compensation.

The several peaks surrounding the Sect Master Peak were arranged according to the five elements. To the southwest was the Artifact Refining Peak; directly south was the Talisman Peak; to the southeast was the Pill Peak. The Pill Peak also oversaw cultivation, so it occupied the largest area. To the northwest stood the renowned Discipline Hall, which connected to the Trial Secret Realm in the rear mountain. The secret realm was said to be exceedingly perilous, and only Foundation Establishment Realm disciples could venture inside. To the northeast was the Beast Taming Peak, second only to the Pill Peak in size, where many rare and exotic beasts with strange temperaments were raised.

Of course, there were also countless peaks large and small. There was Founding Peak, where sect tasks were posted and sect contribution points could be earned; Six Lectures Peak, where disciples studied and attended lessons; Sword Peak for sword practice; Blade Peak for blade training; Seven Stars Peak for playing with formations, and so on. In any case, once one reached the Golden Core Realm, one could open up a peak. One could name it whatever one pleased. The sect was very lax in managing such matters. As long as one could afford the sect contribution points, any peak could be chosen.

Sect contribution points, as the name implied, were contributions disciples made to the sect. For example, gathering spiritual plants, feeding spiritual beasts, slaying demons and evil creatures outside the sect, eliminating wicked cultivators, guarding some secret realm, representing the sect in grand competitions and winning placements—all could earn sect contribution points. Naturally, the former did not pay nearly as much as the latter.

Founding Peak, which issued sect tasks, had been named after a high-grade spiritual artifact. This artifact was said to have been forged by Yonglu Mountain's founding ancestor. It could automatically assess the difficulty of sect tasks and determine the contribution points awarded for completing each one. For instance, feeding spiritual beasts for one day earned sixty contribution points, while reclaiming one mu of spiritual farmland earned eighty.

Every elder seated at this small consultation meeting had no fewer than a million contribution points under their name.

In other words, they were all pillars of the sect. Now, every one of them intended to take the Mutated Wind Spiritual Root as a personal disciple, and because there were simply too many interested parties, the sect master had a terrible headache.

Gu Wufang's head hurt so badly that he even wanted to throw down the burden and quit. Damn it, whoever wants this lousy sect master position can have it. Back then, I suffered because my luck at drawing lots was rotten. I was clearly the last to enter the sect—by all rights, no matter how the turns went, it shouldn't have landed on my head!

"Senior brothers, stop arguing." If they kept at it, they would tear the roof off the Sect Master Peak.

"Then you tell us—who is best suited to take Wen Xu as a disciple?"

Gu Wufang: ...

Then you should all just keep arguing.

Speaking of which, this was an extremely practical matter. This time, Yonglu Mountain had opened its gates to accept disciples and, with incredible luck, had scooped up a disciple with a Mutated Wind Spiritual Root. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he would become one of the outstanding figures among Yonglu Mountain's generation of disciples.

Moreover, judging from the past three days of examinations, Wen Xu was impeccable in appearance, character, and talent alike. Taking in such an excellent disciple could be called every master's ultimate dream. Even Gu Wufang himself had developed the desire to accept a disciple, let alone everyone else.

Setting Wen Xu's personal wishes aside for the moment, Wind Spiritual Roots were exceedingly rare. At present, there were no great cultivators with Wind Spiritual Roots in the sect. Since they could not achieve a perfect professional match, they had to settle for the next best thing. Wood-element or earth-element cultivators—or, failing that, cultivators with both wood and earth Spiritual Roots—were the optimal choices.

Yonglu Mountain was brimming with talent. Even after using elimination, there were still... far too many options.

Seeing that they were about to start quarreling again, Gu Wufang could not help seeking help from his most reliable senior brother, Du Qiujin. His senior brother had a steady temperament and should have been the most suitable candidate for sect master, but unfortunately, Senior Brother Du was too honest and was easily deceived by the old foxes of other sects.

Du Qiujin was rather considerate of his junior brother. Seeing this, he took over the conversation. "Everyone, could you listen to a few words from me?"

"Then say them already."

Du Qiujin said, "At present, the most famous Wind Spiritual Root cultivator on the Hengze Continent is surely clear to everyone."

That could not have been clearer. It was Harmony Sect's Supreme Elder, Jun Zhaoying—the number one beneath the Tribulation Transcendence Realm. Her Windplay Art remained beyond anyone's comprehension to this day. She acted flamboyantly and held great seniority; she truly was capable of coming to someone's door and snatching away a disciple.

At Du Qiujin's mention, everyone's expressions grew solemn.

"Therefore, I think we must find Wen Xu a... master who can keep Jun Zhaoying in check. At the very least, someone who will make her not dare to openly come and steal him."

The moment he said this, everyone fell silent.

After a long while, someone finally spoke in an irritated tone. "By what you're saying, are we supposed to invite a Tribulation Transcendence ancestor out of seclusion?"

Among cultivators, the realms were Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Body Integration, and at the very pinnacle, the great powers of the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, also known as half-step ascension. Tribulation Transcendence cultivators possessed the power to move mountains and fill seas, but precisely because their strength was too great, they were bound by the laws of heaven and earth and could not emerge without a major matter at hand.

Generally speaking, Tribulation Transcendence ancestors cultivated in seclusion, contemplating the great Dao of life. Yet in truth, their eyes and ears remained keen. Some even sent out incarnations to walk the world, seeking opportunities for ascension—though such people were exceedingly rare.

"Actually... it isn't as though there's no such candidate."

Just as the entire room had fallen silent, someone suddenly spoke while stroking his beard. "Have you forgotten? We still have a little martial grand-uncle."

The words "little martial grand-uncle" crashed down, and well, the room became even more silent.

Even honest Du Qiujin could not help shrinking back a little. In his heart, he fiercely questioned himself: Does Yonglu Mountain really have to take this Wind Spiritual Root? Actually, giving him to Jun Zhaoying wouldn't be so bad, would it?!

But Gu Wufang, worthy of being sect master material, remained silent for a long time before directly making the decision. "Fine. I'll go... request guidance from Little Martial Grand-Uncle."

Everyone: ...

**

The next day, the thirty-five new disciples had washed and dressed early, Chen Zui included. Well, the disciple leading them nearly failed to recognize Chen Zui, for his transformation had been far too great. Fortunately, the blade in his hand and the spiritual power surrounding him proved his identity.

The group soon arrived outside Juyong Hall. Juyong Hall was generally opened only when the sect handled important matters. It stood atop the first great peak beyond the mountain gate, and it was also a place many Yonglu disciples would visit only once in their entire lives.