What followed played out much as Zhang Yuan had predicted. Jiang Le'an, who possessed a superior immortal spirit root and the finest aptitude, chose Sect Master Wenzhenzi as his master and was accepted as a True Disciple. The four with heavenly spirit roots were each taken in by an elder, followed by the disciples with earth, profound, and yellow spirit roots.
Those with immortal spirit roots could choose their own masters. Those in the heavenly, earth, profound, and yellow grades could only wait to be chosen.
Before long, only Zhang Yuan and Deng Bai remained without masters.
When Deng Bai saw Jiang Le'an take the sect master as his master, he was initially delighted. But then he realized that Zhang Yuan, like him, had yet to take a master, and Jiang Xinyi's gaze was still moving between the two of them. An ominous feeling crept over him.
Could Zhang Yuan, with his waste spiritual root, be the one with connections?
Very likely. Otherwise, how could someone with his waste spiritual root have made it this far?
"Deng Bai, I specialize in the wood element. Since you possess a wood-element immortal spirit root, why not enter my tutelage? I can accept you as a True Disciple, with treatment no worse than the sect master's own." The stubbly Third Elder addressed Deng Bai, his eyes filled with appreciation.
Deng Bai had already settled on a master. How could he agree? He hurriedly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but I've already decided which elder I wish to take as my master."
The Third Elder looked regretful, then somewhat curious. He was already the elder most proficient in wood-element spells in the sect. What better choice could Deng Bai have besides him?
Wenzhenzi and the others also turned their gazes toward him.