Zhen Yaotian glanced at Zhen Miaoqing, shook his head, and smiled bitterly.
Speaking of it, this was all his fault. Otherwise, things would never have reached the point where his daughter wanted to run away from home!
Back then, Cai Ping's father had also been an elder of the Longevity Sect. He had died saving Zhen Yaotian in a secret realm.
After returning to the sect, Zhen Yaotian had taken Cai Ping as his direct disciple and joked, "I'll marry my daughter to Cai Ping someday!"
He had never expected Cai Ping to take it seriously and call Zhen Miaoqing "wife" whenever he saw her!
Zhen Miaoqing had ground her teeth in fury and beaten him every time she saw him, making Cai Ping howl like ghosts and wail like wolves!
Later, Cai Ping had finally stopped daring to call her his wife, but he still hadn't stopped pestering Zhen Miaoqing.
Just recently, Zhen Miaoqing had returned from training in the mountains behind the sect. Cai Ping had just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm eighth layer, and his confidence had soared, making him fall back into his old ways!
Zhen Miaoqing had struck hard, beating Cai Ping until he spat blood and suffered severe injuries!
Almost everyone in the sect knew about this, so everyone had subconsciously left Cai Ping out of consideration just now!
But now that Meng Caihong had brought him up, the other elders recalled Cai Ping's cultivation and nodded in unison.
Seeing everyone agree, Zhen Yaotian nodded as well.
Afterward, two more people at the Foundation Establishment Realm seventh layer were recommended, finalizing the five spots for the Foundation Establishment Realm!
Once the Foundation Establishment Realm spots were settled, Zhen Yaotian's expression turned solemn. "In this competition, the Qi Refining Realm matches are the most important!"
"In determining the shares of the spirit stone mine this time, the Qi Refining Realm accounts for fifty percent, the Foundation Establishment Realm forty percent, and the Purple Mansion Realm ten percent!"
"So, everyone, give some thought to whom we should recommend for the five spots in the Qi Refining Realm competition!"
Zhen Yaotian's words made everyone present turn solemn, and they each began to ponder!
The spirit stone mine whose shares Zhen Yaotian had just mentioned was jointly developed by the Longevity Sect and the Great Saber Pavilion.
The spirit stones earned there accounted for forty percent of the entire Longevity Sect's income, making it a matter of paramount importance.
In previous years, the Longevity Sect had held sixty percent, while the Great Saber Pavilion had held forty percent.
But every twenty years, the two sects held a competition and redetermined their respective shares based on the results. This was unquestionably a major matter for the Longevity Sect.
The Longevity Sect's grand elder, Pei Yuanqing, remained stationed at the spirit stone mine year-round, which showed just how important it was!
"Sect Master, elders, Chen Boyu, Duan Junsheng, and Fan Huajun are all at the Qi Refining ninth layer. There should be no question about those three participating!"
"As for the remaining two, we'll have to consider them carefully. After all, every match concerns ten percent of the sect's income!"
Second Elder Zhou Yuan spoke calmly.
Everyone agreed with Zhou Yuan. Those three were all promising seedlings in the Qi Refining Realm; it was just unknown how many Dao platforms they could condense in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"I think Huang Guangwen can participate. Although his cultivation is at the peak of the Qi Refining eighth layer, he's also a body cultivator, and his combat strength isn't much weaker than Chen Boyu's and the others'!"
Seventh Elder Jing Fengcheng spoke up.
Huang Guangwen was the seventh elder's disciple, and everyone had heard about his combat strength. After all, he had repeatedly challenged Chen Boyu and the other two in the sect.
Although he had lost every time, he had always lasted several hundred moves!
Zhen Yaotian nodded, then said, "Then those four are settled. Does anyone have a candidate for the final spot?"
Hearing this, the elders closed their eyes in thought.
"I recommend someone!"
Just then, Zhen Miaoqing spoke calmly.
Zhen Yaotian and the elders couldn't help turning to Zhen Miaoqing in surprise.
After all, they had never heard Zhen Miaoqing express admiration for anyone!
Zhen Yaotian smiled at his daughter and said with a smile, "Let's hear it, Miaoqing. I'm quite curious which little fellow in the Qi Refining Realm has managed to catch your discerning eye!"
The elders were also very curious, and all turned to Zhen Miaoqing.
Zhen Miaoqing pointed at Third Elder Meng Caihong, then said, "I recommend the third elder's disciple, Ji Wuchang!"
As soon as Zhen Miaoqing spoke, most of those present were stunned, including Meng Caihong. They were all quite surprised!
Just then, Eighth Elder Jia Yuanliang said with a smile, "That little fellow is rather interesting indeed. I think he can do it too!"
Hearing the eighth elder speak, Zhen Yaotian, Zhou Yuan, Yin Shuyao, and the others were quite surprised.
Jia Yuanliang concealed nothing and recounted what had happened in Wind Thunder Valley. Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard it!
Zhou Yuan gave Meng Caihong a meaningful look. Although there had been much unpleasantness between him and Meng Caihong, he would not play petty games over something like this.
Zhen Yaotian considered for a moment, then said, "Wouldn't cultivation at the Qi Refining Realm seventh layer be a little too low?"
Zhen Yaotian's words plunged everyone into thought. After all, every match concerned ten percent of the income, which amounted to over a million spirit stones!
Yin Shuyao glanced at Zhen Miaoqing, then said, "I have a compromise to suggest. Arrange for someone at the Qi Refining Realm eighth layer to spar with Ji Wuchang. If he can defeat his opponent, give him the spot!"
"The fourth elder's suggestion is good! Although I'm Ji Wuchang's master, to be honest, even I don't know much about his combat strength!"
Meng Caihong spoke with a smile.
By saying this, Meng Caihong was actually offering Ji Wuchang a measure of protection.
After all, every match concerned ten percent of the spirit stone mine's income. Winning would be fine, but if he lost, it would inevitably affect Ji Wuchang afterward.
If they could arrange a match first, Ji Wuchang would effectively have a safeguard.
If he lost, there would be nothing more to say.
If he won, it would mean everyone unanimously approved of his spot, leaving no one anything to say!
Seeing everyone nod, Zhen Yaotian said with a smile, "All right, we'll do that!"
"Once Ji Wuchang comes out of Wind Thunder Valley, bring him here. I'm also very curious to see what the person who could break Miaoqing's Wind Thunder Valley record looks like!"
Zhen Yaotian's words brought looks of envy to many elders' faces, and they silently marveled at Ji Wuchang's good fortune.
Not only had he been personally recommended by the eldest senior sister, the sect's foremost genius, but he had even made the sect master remember him.
Regardless of the outcome, Ji Wuchang had gained something. He had already left an impression on many of the Longevity Sect's elders.
At that moment, Ji Wuchang knew nothing of this. He discovered that the stone platform on the third level could no longer meet his needs.
He had just directed the power of lightning into the bones throughout his body, expelling a great deal of pitch-black impurities, but some remained stubbornly entrenched.
Ji Wuchang opened his eyes helplessly, wisps of lightning power flickering within them.
Seeing Ji Wuchang finally awaken, many of those present at last breathed sighs of relief.
This fellow wasn't human. He had actually lasted eight hours.
Huang Wanqiu also opened her eyes and glanced at Ji Wuchang below, admiration showing in her gaze.
Just then, everyone saw Ji Wuchang stand up and slowly walk upward.
"Holy shit, what is this fellow trying to do? Could he still not have had his fill and want to challenge a higher stone platform?"