Nangong Yao glanced at Zhao Ting, then slowly settled into his seat and said mildly:
"Elders, dispense with the formalities. Please take your seats."
"Thank you, Sect Master."
The elders bowed and sat down.
Only Zhao Ting and Shen He remained kneeling, not daring to rise.
Nangong Yao picked up the teapot and poured himself some tea. "On my way here, I heard that a disciple with a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root had been recruited outside the sect. Is this the boy?"
First Elder Liu Yunjian immediately smiled. "Indeed, Sect Master. His name is Zhao Ting. Inner Sect Deacon Shen He recruited him from the area around Clear Sky City."
Nangong Yao nodded and turned to Shen He. "Deacon Shen, well done. I shall credit you with a meritorious deed for this. There is currently a vacant inner sect elder position at Earth Profound Peak. How would you feel about taking it?"
The elders were inwardly astonished. The Sect Master intended to promote Shen He straight to inner sect elder!
Still, it was a fitting choice.
Shen He had served diligently as an inner sect deacon for many years, and now he had recruited such an outstanding disciple for the sect. His promotion was as natural as water flowing into a channel.
Shen He stared wide-eyed in shock. The sudden windfall of joy had struck him dizzy, and he could scarcely believe it.
He had expected to receive considerable credit, but never imagined it would earn him a direct promotion to inner sect elder!
He had spent years in the Heavenly Dao Sect. Even after recruiting Zhao Ting, he had never dared dream of becoming an inner sect elder!
Yet now...
Seeing Shen He frozen in place, Liu Yunjian frowned. "Shen He, the Sect Master asked you a question. Why are you standing there in a daze?"
Shen He came to his senses with a start. Hastily suppressing his delight, he lowered his head respectfully. "Th-thank you, Sect Master. I shall bend my back to the sect's service and give my all until my dying breath!"
At a moment like this, Shen He dared not indulge in false modesty, claiming he lacked the virtue for the position or anything of the sort. With the opportunity right before him, he had to seize it at once.
Nangong Yao nodded slightly. "Very well. You may withdraw for now. I shall arrange for an elder to visit Earth Profound Peak and handle your promotion."
"Yes! I shall take my leave!"
Shen He drew a deep breath, forced himself to remain composed, and bowed as he backed toward the exit.
Even so, everyone present could see that he could barely keep the corners of his mouth from lifting.
"Shen He, if I am not mistaken, you are only at the Foundation Establishment late stage?"
Liu Yunjian suddenly spoke.
Shen He paused and hastily bowed. "Yes."
At the same time, anxiety rose in his heart again. Would his promotion be delayed? After all, inner sect elders had to meet a cultivation requirement: they had to be at least at the Core Formation stage.
Liu Yunjian smiled. "Do not panic. I merely wanted to remind you to cultivate diligently from now on. Otherwise, the other inner sect elders will not acknowledge your standing. Do you understand?"
Shen He relaxed a little. "I understand!"
Then he cast a grateful glance at Zhao Ting, who was nothing short of his lucky star, and quickly departed.
Only then did Nangong Yao turn to Zhao Ting, a smile appearing on his face. "Zhao Ting, now that you have joined the Heavenly Dao Sect, regard it as your home from this day forward."
Sensing Nangong Yao's goodwill, Zhao Ting felt much of his nervousness fade. He finally dared to raise his head and glance at Nangong Yao, though he immediately lowered it again and replied respectfully, "I shall keep your words firmly in mind."
Meanwhile, the elders' eyes were already flickering, and they were itching to make their moves.
Soon, Third Elder Jiang Bailu gave a dry cough and rose. "Sect Master, Zhao Ting is reserved by nature and kind in character. I am very fond of him. Might you allow him to become my disciple?"
This was one reason purple-robed disciples enjoyed such high standing.
Behind every purple-robed disciple stood one of the core elders present here!
Nangong Yao smiled with his lips pressed together, in no hurry to speak. He knew the Third Elder had merely set the ball rolling.
Sure enough, another elder, a beautiful woman, stood the next moment and cupped her hands. "Sect Master, the Third Elder already has a purple-robed disciple. Taking on another would likely tax his attention and leave him unable to teach them both properly. I have none at present, so taking Zhao Ting as my disciple would be most fitting."
Jiang Bailu's eyelid twitched as he stared at her. "Fourth Elder, you..."
Fourth Elder Chu Ningshang glanced expressionlessly at Jiang Bailu, showing no intention of yielding.
Though Chu Ningshang was the Fourth Elder, she was also the disciplinary elder responsible for all punishments in the Heavenly Dao Sect!
Jiang Bailu said irritably, "Fourth Elder, aren't you busy enough overseeing discipline throughout the sect? If Zhao Ting becomes your disciple, you will surely neglect him! Hmph! If you delay his cultivation, how do you intend to punish yourself?"
The corner of Chu Ningshang's mouth curved upward. "That is no concern of yours, Third Elder."
Jiang Bailu's expression darkened. He flicked his sleeve and said nothing more.
Seeing this, some of the other elders did not dare make a sound for a moment.
Clearly, the Third and Fourth Elders were particularly eager to take Zhao Ting... but they wanted him too!
Zhao Ting had never witnessed anything like this. Though he trembled with apprehension, he could not help feeling a little proud. After all, the elders were fighting over him.
Second Elder Liu Xuan Yin pondered for a moment. "Sect Master, perhaps..."
Nangong Yao understood what Liu Xuan Yin meant and said:
"Enough. It would not be right for me to interfere in which of you Zhao Ting takes as his master, nor shall I favor any of you. Let us do this: Zhao Ting shall choose for himself."
Now that Nangong Yao had spoken.
The elders felt relieved and immediately turned to Zhao Ting, recommending themselves one after another. In an instant, the atmosphere grew heated.
"Zhao Ting, I am the Sixth Elder. As long as you take me as your master, I shall give you the finest cave abode, magical treasures, and cultivation methods!"
"Tch, do you think he cares about those things? Zhao Ting, I keep a treasure-seeking spirit pet. With it, treasures come by the handful. As long as you become my disciple, I shall bestow it upon you!"
"Good heavens, Ninth Elder, you really are staking your fortune! You usually cherish that Mystic Yellow Mouse more than anything, yet you are actually offering it to Zhao Ting?"
"It is merely a treasure-seeking spirit pet. Zhao Ting, I know you have a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root. As it happens, I am our sect's only Artifact Refining Grandmaster. Become my disciple, and I shall empty my coffers of knowledge for you."
"Empty your coffers? That doesn't sound very good, does it?"
"Zhao Ting, I have just one thing to say: I too possess a metal-attribute heavenly spiritual root!"
That last remark came from Chu Ningshang.
As the elders clamored one after another, Zhao Ting was already drenched in sweat.
First Elder Liu Yunjian and Second Elder Liu Xuan Yin, however, did not join the battle for the disciple.
As First Elder, Liu Yunjian was normally occupied with sect affairs, while Liu Xuan Yin already had two purple-robed disciples.
Nangong Yao smiled. "Zhao Ting, you need not fear offending any of the elders. They are not so petty. Simply follow your heart."
Hearing this, Zhao Ting took a deep breath and kowtowed to the elders before saying haltingly:
"Thank you for your kindness, Elders... I would like to become the Fourth Elder's disciple."
Before you continue