Zhuge Feng's Ten-Thousand-Word Leave Request

"Hm?"

The old man froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

He had come to invite Su Bai to join the Immortal Alliance, yet Su Bai had turned around and invited him to join the Heavenly Dao Sect instead.

The heavens and earth had been turned upside down.

"What about me? What about me? Am I not welcome?"

Seeing Su Bai ignore her, the young girl hurriedly jumped out and shouted.

Su Bai glanced at her and smiled. "Everyone is welcome."

This young girl actually possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root!

Name: Li Shiyan

Age: 16

Cultivation: Ninth Level of Qi Refining

Spirit Root: Heavenly Spiritual Root

Physique: Innate Spirit Physique

Sect Loyalty (Favorability): 20

Sixteen years old, yet already at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining!

She was enough to instantly crush every genius in the Great Zhao Empire.

Even Liu Yanran, the current young sect master of the Cloud Heaven Sect, was only at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining.

Moreover, Li Shiyan's favorability toward the Heavenly Dao Sect had only been ten just now, allowing her to climb merely ten levels of the Heavenly Ladder. Yet after just one conversation, it had risen to twenty!

She had potential!

"Since that is the case, this old man shall take his leave first."

The old man cupped his hands toward Su Bai with a smile. "I look forward to meeting you again!"

With that, he turned and departed together with Li Shiyan.

After traveling into midair, he suddenly stopped again, turned back, and said, "At present, the Immortal Alliance has no record of your Heavenly Dao Sect."

"This old man has traveled throughout All Under Heaven and happened to come here. After hearing of your Heavenly Dao Sect's deeds, I invited you ahead of time."

"I heard that you bear a grudge against the Lingxiao Sect. In that case, it likely will not be long before the Immortal Alliance learns of your information. At that time, others will come to invite you as well."

"It is merely that this old man cannot be certain what attitude those people will have."

After saying this, he and Li Shiyan vanished into the depths of the void.

"Attitude?"

Su Bai looked toward the horizon, a faint smile appearing on his face. "When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it. If they treat me with courtesy, I naturally will not strike a smiling face."

"But if they resort to force and threats, then they cannot blame me for no longer treating them as people!"

In this world, the strong had always been revered.

Above the Nine Heavens, a plain and unadorned Flying Vessel cut through the skies.

"Grandfather, I remember that you usually did not speak much to outsiders. Why did you say so much today?"

Sitting within the Flying Vessel, Li Shiyan tilted her head and asked.

"Hehe, seeing that Heavenly Dao Sect reminded me of some things from the past."

The old man smiled, a trace of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.

He could not remember how many thousands of years ago that had been.

He had almost forgotten what things had been like back then.

That had been the era when the immortal path was first being opened up, had it not?

"The past? I heard that Grandfather founded a sect a very, very long time ago too. It seemed that you also accepted people with mediocre talent, but later it was dissolved for some unknown reason. Grandfather, can you tell me about those old days?"

Li Shiyan stared at the old man with her dark, bright eyes, filled with curiosity.

At her words, a trace of dimness flashed through the old man's eyes.

He looked at the young girl beside him. He had not wished to tell her, but when he thought of the road ahead, he sighed inwardly and said,

"A very, very long time ago, there were no immortal cultivators on this land. The world was still in an age of barbarism."

"In that dark era, humanity was incomparably small and weak. All beasts fed upon humans."

"People pressed forward one after another, and at last created the method of immortal cultivation. They could gain greater power and protect the Human Race."

"After countless long years, the Human Race's immortal path finally began to shine brilliantly, and humanity finally gained a foothold upon the continent."

"After that came the era of opening up the immortal path. Grandfather was born during that time."

"All of the Human Race gathered every ounce of their strength. Countless people used their own bodies to test the path, and at last perfected the Immortal Arts leading to higher realms, sending the first group of people to a higher level."

"Later, the Human Race reigned sovereign over all under heaven, and the myriad Demon Races all bowed their heads. Humanity welcomed its most glorious peak."

"Sect Points +50."

"Sect Points +10."

"Sect Points +40."

Early in the morning, Su Bai received three consecutive notifications of increased points.

"I remember they did not accept any missions yesterday. Could it be..."

Su Bai's mind stirred slightly as he brought up his disciples' information.

Name: Zhuge Feng

Age: 18

Cultivation: Fifth-Level Qi Refinement

Spirit Root: Heavenly Spiritual Root

Sect Loyalty (Favorability): 97

Name: Xiao Lingxi

Age: 16

Cultivation: Fourth-Level Cultivation

Spirit Root: Superior Yin Spiritual Root

Physique: Primordial Yin Physique

Sect Loyalty (Favorability): 97

Name: Mu Lingxian

Age: 16

Cultivation: First-Level Qi Refinement

Spirit Root: Demonic Spirit Root, Nine Nether Demon Flame

Physique: Heavenly Demon Physique

Sect Loyalty (Favorability): 92

Over a single night, all three disciples had broken through in cultivation!

Zhuge Feng had broken through to Fifth-Level Qi Refinement, while Xiao Lingxi followed close behind and reached Mid-Stage Qi Refinement.

What surprised Su Bai the most was Mu Lingxian!

In just a single day, she had successfully entered Qi Refinement!

Her speed was no less than Zhuge Feng's, despite his Heavenly Spiritual Root!

Was this the Heavenly Demon Physique?

It truly was powerful!

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Su Bai said, raising his head.

The doors were gently pushed open, and Zhuge Feng walked inside.

The moment he entered, he respectfully knelt on the ground and presented a stack of papers with both hands.

"?"

Su Bai was full of confusion as he reached out and took the papers from his hands.

"Leave request application..."

Su Bai continued reading. There were eight pages in all, totaling more than ten thousand words!

Did a leave request application need so many words?

Su Bai looked at Zhuge Feng and asked, "What does this mean?"

Zhuge Feng respectfully replied, "Reporting to Master, this is this disciple's leave request. This disciple has matters to attend to outside the sect for several days and has specially come to apply to Master."

"Does taking leave require writing so many words?" Su Bai asked, completely baffled.

Zhuge Feng nodded. "Master may not know this, but the Lingxiao Sect's rules state that whenever disciples request leave, they must write an application of at least ten thousand words, and it may not even be approved."

"Master, please rest assured. Although this disciple has requested leave, all matters have already been arranged. Today's task of recruiting disciples will be handled by Junior Brother Xiao Yan in this disciple's place."

"This disciple's one hundred spirit herbs have been entrusted to Junior Sister Lingxi for care. It will not affect any of the sect's affairs."

"This disciple humbly requests Master to approve this leave application."

At this point, Zhuge Feng bowed heavily, pressing his forehead to the ground in earnest supplication.

Su Bai: ????

No, it was only taking leave. Was there really any need to make it this serious?

A leave request application... With that many words, it really could be compiled into a book. No wonder it was called an application rather than a form.

"The Heavenly Dao Sect is not the Lingxiao Sect. We do not have so many rules and regulations, nor are we a prison. We will not restrict our disciples' freedom."

"If you wish to take leave, there is no need to write any application. Just inform me. If there is an emergency, you may even leave the sect without needing my approval."

Su Bai waved his hand as he spoke.

"Master...?" Zhuge Feng raised his head, his expression filled with shock.

Taking leave could actually be this simple?

Just moments ago, he had still been worried that Master would refuse!

In his heart, he had already rehearsed a great pile of words, prepared to beg Master for approval.

Yet before he could even say a single word, Master had agreed?

"What? You do not want to take leave anymore?" Su Bai asked with a smile.

"No, no, no. This disciple thanks Master for this grace." Zhuge Feng was exceedingly excited.

"Before you leave later, add the rules for taking leave to the sect regulations. Next time anyone wishes to take leave, they need only inform me."

Su Bai waved his hand as he spoke.

"Yes!" Zhuge Feng bowed and withdrew, his heart filled with gratitude. His sect loyalty rose by another point, reaching ninety-eight.

A moment later, Zhuge Feng descended the mountain. He gazed into the distance, one hand clenched tightly into a fist, deep hatred appearing in his eyes.

"Father, Mother, thank you for Master's cultivation. Your son now possesses enough strength to avenge you!"