Senior Apprentice

Elder Jin Mang and Chen Qingxuan brought their flying swords down, landing before the disciples and receiving their respectful salutations.

Elder Jin Mang first cast an approving glance at Wei Kuang.

He had already sent someone to inquire and learned that Wei Kuang now possessed seven inches of Spirit Pressure.

In less than three months, he had cultivated seven inches of Spirit Pressure. Even with the talent of sixteen spiritual roots, this was no easy feat. If he maintained this pace, he should break through to the second level of Qi Refinement within two years.

This filled Elder Jin Mang with deep satisfaction.

Wei Kuang's grandfather, Wei Zhun, had been one of Elder Jin Mang's most beloved disciples. He had been highly talented, humble, and steady by nature.

Elder Jin Mang had once firmly believed that, given time, Wei Zhun would surely advance to the Foundation Establishment realm and become a pillar of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Unfortunately, while carrying out a mission outside the sect, Wei Zhun had been besieged by Demonic Cultivators and tragically perished.

Elder Jin Mang had grieved deeply over this, so he brought Wei Kuang to the sect to nurture him. Now, seeing Wei Kuang's swift progress in cultivation, the sorrow brought by Wei Zhun's death seemed to have eased considerably.

Elder Jin Mang said, "According to the rules of the Azure Cloud Sect, after each class of disciples completes the introductory lectures, the most outstanding among them—one capable of serving as an example to all the others—will be chosen as Senior Apprentice."

A faint stir rose from the crowd.

The disciples all exchanged glances.

Wei Xu, Nie Yunxi, and Wang Xiaohu nodded to one another in silent understanding.

They had already discussed this matter in private. If Elder Jin Mang insisted on choosing Wei Kuang as Senior Apprentice, they would rather offend the elder than remain silent; they would step forward to speak up for Zhou Qing.

Over the past three months, everything Zhou Qing had done for the disciples had been seen by all. If the position of Senior Apprentice fell to anyone else, no one would truly accept it.

It was not only the three of them who thought so. According to what Wang Xiaohu had learned, the other disciples felt the same way.

Elder Jin Mang continued, "Your instructor once recommended Zhou Qing to me as Senior Apprentice. I have looked into Zhou Qing's circumstances. He is indeed an outstanding child, but unfortunately, his spiritual roots are flawed. In the end, he will find it difficult to travel far on the path of cultivation. To serve as Senior Apprentice to all the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, the most important thing is to possess cultivation far beyond that of others. Only then can one command respect."

"Therefore, I recommended Wei Kuang."

"Later, we reached an agreement: when the lectures concluded, so long as Zhou Qing's cultivation was at least half of Wei Kuang's, the position of Senior Apprentice would go to Zhou Qing. Otherwise, it would go to Wei Kuang."

"Now, the two of you will come before me. Each of you will cease using the Spirit Concealment Art and reveal your Spirit Pressure, so that I may verify your cultivation."

Wei Xu nodded at Nie Yunxi and Wang Xiaohu. He was about to step forward as the first to stick his neck out and speak on behalf of the disciples.

But someone stepped out of the crowd before he could.

"Elder, this disciple has something to say."

"Oh? Wei Kuang, what do you wish to say?"

Elder Jin Mang looked at Wei Kuang, who had stepped forward, and asked amiably.

Wei Kuang said, "This disciple wishes to withdraw from the competition for the position of Senior Apprentice."

Elder Jin Mang frowned. "You say you wish to withdraw from the selection?"

Wei Kuang said, "Yes."

"Why?"

Wei Kuang said, "This disciple believes Zhou Qing is more suited to be Senior Apprentice than I am."

Elder Jin Mang said, "I will decide who is most suitable. Since when is it your place, a junior, to speak recklessly? Stand down!"

Wei Kuang sensed that Elder Jin Mang was already angered and could not help feeling nervous. But this was not the time for him to retreat. He braced himself and said, "Reporting to Elder, Zhou Qing saved this disciple's life and guided me onto the path. To contend with him, this disciple truly feels uneasy."

Before Elder Jin Mang could speak, Wei Xu seized the opportunity and stepped out from the crowd as well. "Please revoke your decision, Elder. We disciples are willing to honor Zhou Qing as Senior Apprentice."

The other disciples spoke in unison as well. "We disciples are willing to honor Zhou Qing as Senior Apprentice!"

Elder Jin Mang was instantly dumbfounded.

Only then did he realize that the situation seemed to have completely exceeded his expectations.

More than two months ago, after giving the Heart Strengthening Pill to Wei Kuang, he had stopped paying attention to matters here.

The cultivation of newly admitted disciples had never required an elder like him to personally oversee it. If Wei Kuang had not been among these new disciples, he should have cast the whole matter aside entirely.

In his view, once Wei Kuang had the Heart Strengthening Pill, the contest for Senior Apprentice had already been set in stone.

Wei Kuang possessed sixteen spiritual roots, while Zhou Qing possessed only one. In theory, there was a sixteenfold gap between their cultivation speeds.

With such an enormous disparity, there could be no suspense in the outcome. He had merely been waiting to formally appoint Wei Kuang in another two or three months, thereby fulfilling his wish.

Unexpectedly, the course of events had entirely slipped beyond his control.

Looking at the stubborn expressions of the disciples on the Instruction Platform, Elder Jin Mang finally realized, belatedly, that Zhou Qing had not only earned Chen Qingxuan's regard, but had also won over every disciple of his class in just two short months.

But... how was that possible?!

Those blessed with cultivation talent generally displayed all manner of extraordinary signs from childhood. Every one of them held their heads high, and none would easily bow to another.

What kind of magic did this Zhou Qing possess, to make everyone submit to him?

Though Elder Jin Mang had never heard of a mass line, he understood that when every disciple of the same class acknowledged Zhou Qing, Zhou Qing was already the Senior Apprentice in all but name.

Under such circumstances, if he appointed someone else as Senior Apprentice, it would not only do no good, but would instead sow all manner of disorder among this class of disciples, hindering their growth.

He smiled and shook his head. "Interesting, interesting."

"Very well. Since all of you are willing to honor Zhou Qing as Senior Apprentice, what more can I say?"

All the disciples revealed delighted expressions.

Chen Qingxuan, too, smiled with his eyes and winked at Zhou Qing.

Over the past two months, Chen Qingxuan had watched Zhou Qing's authority and prestige rise day by day among the disciples, so he had long anticipated this outcome.

Yet now that the matter had been settled, he could not help feeling happy for Zhou Qing.

Elder Jin Mang said, "Zhou Qing, come before me."

When Zhou Qing came over, Elder Jin Mang carefully examined this youth whom he had originally not thought much of. No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand why Zhou Qing had managed to win everyone over.

The Cultivation World had always valued spiritual roots over comprehension.

Comprehension could be supplemented through inheritances and the experiences of one's predecessors, but spiritual roots were difficult to alter no matter what one did. Thus, once one's spiritual roots were limited, one's cultivation was likewise limited.

That was why Elder Jin Mang had never thought highly of Zhou Qing from the beginning. But now that the die was cast, he would not deliberately make things difficult for Zhou Qing.

Elder Jin Mang smiled. "Zhou Qing, in the thousands of years since the Azure Cloud Sect was founded, there has never been anyone like you. I hope you can continue to preserve this miracle and carve out a path for yourself."

"The position of Senior Apprentice of the Azure Cloud Sect carries great responsibility. You must conduct yourself well and live up to the burden upon your shoulders."

With that, he handed a jade token to Zhou Qing. "This is the jade token of each generation's Senior Apprentice. Your authority must be exercised through this token. After you return, use your spiritual sense to enter the token and study it carefully."

Zhou Qing accepted the jade token with both hands and bowed. "Thank you, Elder."

Elder Jin Mang said nothing more. He rose into the air and flew toward Azure Cloud Mountain.

Once Elder Jin Mang departed, all the disciples immediately cried out with fiery enthusiasm, "Congratulations, Senior Apprentice!"