"Damn it..." Ao Zhantian was overjoyed. Seeing Xu Tingzi congratulate him, he actually barked at Xu Tingzi, "Master already kept you! Didn't you follow Ao back then and fight Shui Mingzi to the death? Why can't you understand Master's intentions? Do you need Master to spell it out? Hurry up and kowtow to thank Master!"
Ao Zhantian's words struck Xu Tingzi like a thunderbolt, leaving him dazed. He stared stupidly at Xiao Hua, opened his mouth, wanting to ask whether Ao Zhantian's words were true, yet he could not force out a single word. "Pfft..." Ao Zhantian kicked Xu Tingzi in the leg, and Xu Tingzi's knees gave way as he dropped to them. Only then did he come to his senses. Weeping, he kowtowed and said, "This disciple, Xu Tingzi, pays respects to Master. This disciple was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai, missing the opportunity. This disciple thanks Master for not abandoning me..."
Likewise, Xiao Hua did not help Xu Tingzi up until he had kowtowed nine times. Smiling, he said, "What is lost is lost, and will never return! Had you not stepped forward decisively from among the crowd that day, I certainly would not have given you another chance. But since you did it, the opportunity came! I will not say much else. From now on, follow Ao Zhantian and handle the affairs of my Creation Sect properly!"
"Yes, Master, this disciple understands!" Beyond his wild joy, Xu Tingzi also felt somewhat ashamed. After answering, he followed Ao Zhantian to pay respects to Xiong Yi and the other Creation Sect disciples.
Ao Zhantian and Xu Tingzi had taken Master before everyone's eyes, and Xiong Yi and the others had all witnessed it. They smiled as they congratulated the two, to say nothing more of it.