It was not just Xu Jiuling. Almost all the spokespeople for the various factions on Earth Jade Island had approached Qing Chen.
There were also several of the day's Assistant Examiners. Even Xue Yubing and Di Huaiyi had been forced to send Qing Chen a few Voice Transmission Talismans.
For a time, Qing Chen became a hot commodity.
Secret techniques, spirit stones, beautiful female cultivators, medicinal pills, favors-all manner of offers of exchange crowded in on Qing Chen.
"Ten Foundation Establishment Pills, a place in the top hundred of the Gold Ranking, status in the sect-truly enough to stir the heart. You must find this laughable, Senior Brother Sun."
Looking at the stack of Jade Slips before him, Qing Chen cupped his hands toward Senior Brother Sun and said with a smile.
Combat Elder Sun Wudi understood all the twists and turns involved very well and showed no surprise.
Under Qing Chen's astonished gaze, Sun Wudi took a Jade Slip from his Storage Bag, handed it to him, and said:
"Junior Brother Qing, these are some disciples our faction values. Handle things as you see fit when the time comes.
"It wasn't like this before, actually. But the sect master hasn't appeared in over a hundred years, and these last dozen or so Dragon Gate Gatherings have gradually lost their original character."
Qing Chen silently accepted the Jade Slip and nodded in assent.
After Sun Wudi left, silence filled the hall.
Qing Chen counted them all up. Tonight, those pulling strings had handed him the names of nearly sixty or seventy disciples in total.
"Just as I expected. Since things have come to this, I might as well be utterly lawless and unbridled."
Early the next morning, as the sun rose, the sky was washed clean, blue stretching for