Chapter 49 Qi Cang Goes Crazy

When the two were arguing, the other ’Elders’ also looked for opportunities to recruit. "Lin Ning, my cultivation is higher than hers, you should follow me instead!" "Hehe, I have an excellent relationship with the Sect Leader. If you become my disciple, your future cultivation will be much more convenient..." "Lin Ning, say it yourself, who do you want to follow?" Nobody wanted to miss the chance to recruit this genius girl. The sight made the other disciples incredibly envious. They still had to wait for someone to choose them, but Lin Ning had the power to choose an Elder. This is the difference between an absolute genius and an ordinary talent. "Thank you for your kindness, Elders, but Lin Ning already has someone in mind, apologies!" This apology clearly meant that she did not want to acknowledge any of them as her master. Feeling disappointed, Luo Yuan, Yin Xiaoxue, and the others could only sigh and shift their gazes to Ji Linghan. It was clear; apart from Ji Linghan, who else in the sect was qualified to be her master? Anyone else would likely be surpassed by her in less than two years. However, this also sparked the competition for disciples. Since they couldn’t recruit Lin Ning, they decided to select other outstanding seedlings. Only the quick ones get them, the slow ones do not! In an instant, the square became like a bustling market. Even in front of Qi Cang appeared an ’Elder’. "Young one, I am willing to take you as my disciple, you may now become my apprentice!" The speaker was Shan Tai, and eyeing his plump body and sensing his mere Gathering Essence Seventh Layer strength, Qi Cang very much wanted to punch him flat in the nose. Damn it, who are you calling young one? I am the Young Master of the Eight Clouds Hall, a Spirit Platform Eighth Layer expert! And yet, here you are, a mere ant not even qualified to meet me, daring to overestimate yourself by trying to take me as a disciple? What kind of attitude is "you may become my apprentice"? But, a play must be acted fully. Thinking about his future plans, thinking about his grand scheme, he could only endure, continuing to play the role of a regular disciple. "Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but I..." Even if I really have to pretend to become an apprentice in the future, it won’t be to you, this waste of time. I could either apprentice under Ji Linghan or Yin Xiaoxue, but you, this dead fat man, deserve no chance. Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted. "What now? You too want to be like Lin Ning, looking down on this and that, choosing your own master?" Shan Tai sternly reprimanded with a serious face: "Young people shouldn’t aim too high; recognize your own capabilities!" He actually dared to lecture me? Teaching me how to live? If it weren’t for Qi Cang’s deep scheming and patience, anyone else might have reacted by now. "The Elder’s teachings are right." He truly had no way to refute, for when he entered the sect, his test scores weren’t outstanding. Though his disguised Energy-Introducing Realm cultivation was decent among the third-generation disciples, he was older. To avoid attracting special attention, he deliberately kept his scores in the four assessments just above the standard for true disciples. In Shan Tai’s eyes, this disciple was among the bottom five in talent among the 55 true disciples. He wasn’t qualified to take Lin Ning as a disciple, but surely he could take you? "Then hurry up and become my disciple!" Qi Cang really wanted to just slap him to death on the spot. But now was not the time to fall out; he could only find an excuse to delay. "As far as I know, the apprenticeship ceremony is held after the entry ceremony." Shan Tai only temporarily relented upon hearing this. "Then we’ll wait until after the ceremony. Kid, your name is Yun Cang, right? Don’t worry, following me, you will have a future!" This name was Qi Cang’s alias for this entry. Qi Cang inwardly lamented, this guy actually targeted him. Fine, you’ll have asked for it! After joining, I’ll arrange an ’accident’ for you. Just then, three long chimes spread throughout, signaling the start of the entry ceremony. White robes fluttered in the wind, a figure descended from the clouds stepping on a Spirit Sword, appearing like an immortal. The divine-grade Spirit Platform shone brilliantly, and celestial phenomena filled the sky. Bai He and the Spirit Bird chirped in unison amidst swirling mist and immortal notes resounding. At a glance, it seemed as though an immortal had descended upon the world. Brother Cheng made a grand entrance. This entrance he had meticulously planned, employing over a dozen array spirit talismans and specifically catching some Spirit Birds as temporary workers. As for his purpose, it was purely to show off. The effect was quite impressive. The newly entered third-generation disciples looked up, their faces filled with awe. Even Qi Cang’s pupils slightly constricted— a Divine-grade Spirit Platform was real! When that Spirit Platform appeared, he felt as if his Divine Soul had encountered a mortal enemy, suppressed tightly. The original hidden strength also became restless due to the instability of the Divine Soul, nearly revealing his true realm right then. He quickly averted his gaze from the Divine-grade Spirit Platform, calming his mind to settle his emotions. Although Jiang Cheng had seen great spectacles, he was unfamiliar with the ceremony’s steps. Fortunately, Luo Yuan was experienced, so he was appointed as the ’Master of Ceremonies’. "The entry ceremony begins!" The entire ceremony wasn’t too complicated. It started with offerings to the heavens and earth, tributes to the ancestors, entry oaths, etc. Having mentally prepared beforehand, Qi Cang could accept these steps. But the last step, paying respects to the Sect Leader, truly made him want to go crazy. According to customary rules, during entry, one must bow three times and kowtow nine times to the Sect Leader, and this was the same across major sects. However, Jiang Cheng slightly altered this step. Originally, all disciples bowed together, but he changed it to individual bows. The reason wasn’t that Jiang Cheng wanted to impress. He wasn’t a dead person, if it weren’t for the rules of this world requiring three bows and nine kowtows, he wouldn’t have intended to have them kneel to him. Changing to individual salutes was to use this opportunity to assess these disciples’ loyalty. As the Sect Leader, he had the authority to tweak the details, and of course, Luo Yuan and others had no objections. Nor did the newly entered third-generation disciples find anything amiss. But Qi Cang was very frustrated. As the dignified Young Master of the Eight Clouds Hall, he actually had to bow three times and kowtow nine times to the Sect Leader of a small sect? To know, the previous Sect Leader of the Feixian Sect was not even qualified to meet him. Judging by how hard it is for Duanmu Zhe to see him, one could tell. This was a great humiliation to him. He could only take a deep breath, tirelessly telling himself to endure! For the opportunity, for the Tiger Demon, for becoming the Master of the Eight Clouds Hall, temporary endurance and humiliation were worth it. No one knew his thoughts. Meanwhile, the other disciples were lining up to pay respects to Jiang Cheng. "Wei Miao pays respects to the Sect Leader!" A thirteen-year-old boy knelt respectfully and performed a complete grand ceremony. "Ding, you have gained a subordinate’s allegiance, earning 5 points." This Wei Miao, whose cultivation is only at the Energy-Introducing Realm Fifth Layer, not even reaching the Spirit Formation Realm, had a decent talent to earn 5 points. Jiang Cheng wasn’t focused on his current meager points— it was mainly for the future. Each small realm advancement, each great realm breakthrough brought points rewards. Moreover, his main purpose was to confirm if they truly joined sincerely. Since the system chimed, it indicated Wei Miao was surely one of his own. Brother Cheng, pleased with his achievement... He casually raised his left hand; a wave of spiritual power slowly lifted Wei Miao. "Rise! No need for formalities." "Having just joined the sect, to show the Sect Leader’s welcome, I present you with a small gift!"