Chapter 386: Offer
Chapter 386: Offer
Seeing everyone laugh at him, Qin Yao’s face started turning more and more red as a wave of embarrassment washed over him.
Yi Chen was able to realise this, but upon noticing something else, he decided not to take any action and observed with a subtle smile on his face.
Patting Qin Yao’s back gently, Feng Min’s comforting words reached Qin Yao’s ears the next moment.
"Brother Qin, it’s alright. You only told us how deeply you cared for Big Brother Chen. There’s no reason for you to feel ashamed, isn’t that right?"
As Feng Min said those words, she looked towards her elder sister and Yi Chen for support, who naturally stepped in at that moment.
"Min’er is right." Feng Ning nodded.
"Junior Sister Min is correct. Thank you for worrying about me, Brother Qin." Yi Chen said with a smile before looking towards Zhou Mei, who only turned her eyes away, too embarrassed to say anything to comfort Qin Yao at the moment.
’...Well, I didn’t expect much from her in the first place,’ Yi Chen thought with a bitter smile while glancing towards Qin Yao, whose complexion looked a lot better than before.
He was about to ask them about their experience while tackling the heart test. However, just then they saw Yu Xong along with several other elders making his way towards the courtyard.
’Aren’t they the ones from earlier...’ Yi Chen thought while glancing at the twelve new faces that were walking next to Yu Xong.
Yi Chen’s eyes first fell upon a warm-looking old man whose beard reached to his waist. He carried a disposition that naturally drew everyone’s attention.
Behind him were the other eleven elders, all carrying an intimidating and unyielding disposition...except for one.
’This...’
Yi Chen couldn’t help but make a weird expression when his gaze landed on the last elder.
All the elders in front of him were wearing robes of dark and serious colours that made one naturally pause and admire the air of strictness around each of them.
However, among the elders coming in their direction, there were two exceptions.
One was naturally Elder Yu Xong, who, in his elegantly draped yellow robes, had successfully stolen the hearts of several young men who had no clue about what lay underneath his robes.
As for the other person, it was Grand Elder Jian.
’At least Elder Yu Xong looks beautiful and elegant in those robes, but he...’ Yi Chen couldn’t help but purse his lips as an uncomfortable expression slowly began to take shape on his face.
With stubble apparent on his face, complemented by a high ponytail, Grand Elder Jian naturally exuded an air of maturity and masculinity at a glance.
However, that was until one laid eyes on the flamboyantly designed robes he was wearing at the moment. From top to bottom, it was completely pink in colour with several white flowers printed on it.
Just like Yi Chen, all the other candidates present in the courtyard also couldn’t help but make similar faces once their eyes fell on Grand Elder Jian.
Sensing Yi Chen’s gaze in his direction at that moment, Grand Elder Jian turned his head to meet his gaze and let out a subtle smile.
A chill ran down Yi Chen’s spine at that very moment as he instantly pulled back his gaze.
’Fuck! That was scary...’
He muttered inwardly while trying hard not to look in that direction as the group of elders finally stopped in the middle of the courtyard, their faces directed toward him.
Taking a deep breath, Yi Chen lifted his head to check the status panels of all these elders in order to know their identities, something he wasn’t able to do earlier.
However, just then the warm-looking elder stepped forward and answered the question that was in Yi Chen’s mind.
"Greetings to all two hundred and forty-three of you. I’m Su Wen, the Patriarch and one of the twelve peak masters of the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect."
Patriarch Su paused for a second and continued while gesturing towards the other elders, "Naturally, the ones standing beside me are the other eleven peak masters."
"...The Patriarch"
"I can’t believe my eyes...all twelve of them, standing right in front of me."
"The twelve peak masters!"
Hearing the murmurs filled with shock, surprise and jubilation, Patriarch Su let out a soft chuckle and said, "Normally, it wouldn’t be possible for you all to meet us like this. However, because of some special circumstances, we all ended up here and decided to check on the new seedlings our sect has recruited."
As Patriarch Su said those words, his eyes individually scanned through all two hundred and forty-three faces present in the crowd.
The next instant, an invisible force was felt by all the candidates, causing them to go silent, with nervousness evident on their faces.
"Not bad." Patriarch Su nodded the next second while pulling back his spiritual energy. "It’s clearly evident that among all the young generation present in our White Jade Kingdom, the few of you standing here possess outstanding talents.
That’s what has made it possible for you to come this far and officially become a part of the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect henceforth."
Just then, the smile on his face turned serious, causing the surrounding temperature to go down by several degrees.
"However, don’t let this achievement get to your heads and continue to push yourselves even harder from here on out for our sect. It’s filled with geniuses like you, who either make it to the top or are thrown out of the sect for giving up on themselves along the way.
I believe none of you would want to experience the latter path. Therefore, don’t let your achievements get to your heads, for what you’ve achieved so far in life is not even a fraction of what this world has to offer.
Keep moving forward and never back down, for a cultivator fails not when he is defeated but when he gives up! You understand?!"
Hearing those fiery words, all the candidates present couldn’t help but clench their fists, with intense passion burning in their eyes as they all replied simultaneously.
"Yes, Patriarch!"
Their voices echoed for several miles, making even the unsuccessful candidates who were being guided to the sect’s exit turn their heads and look back.
"Mhm."
Seeing their energy, Patriarch Su nodded his head and said, "Now, all of you will be guided to the administrative office for registration before being directed to your respective quarters."
As he said those words, he pointed towards Yu Xong and said, "Elder Yu Xong will be responsible for you throughout the day. He’ll brief you on what all you need to do by the end of the day, followed by your regular schedule starting tomorrow onwards."
Hearing this, all the candidates readily nodded their heads before freezing all of a sudden.
"Wait..."
"Did he just..."
"...Yes, he did."
Each one of them...especially the males couldn’t help but take in a cold breath as a chill ran down their spine the very next instant.
Glancing towards Elder Yu Xong, who had just taken a step forward after hearing Patriarch Su’s words, a sense of disbelief and self-loathing arose in all their hearts.
’I...did I just fall for a man? No way in hell!’
’This...this can’t be...’
’Even after knowing this...why do I still find him attractive...’
.
.
Several reactions rang through their minds, but not minding them the least, Yu Xong started directing them outside the courtyard. One after the other, the candidates who were already standing in a well-organised manner started following him.
"You there. Wait here. We have something to talk with you." Patriarch Su’s words caused everyone to stop momentarily.
"...me?" Yi Chen couldn’t help but turn around to glance at a chubby cultivator.
’It couldn’t be him...then that only means...’
Turning around, he immediately saw Patriarch Su’s head nodding in his direction.
"Yes, I mean you. Stay here." Patriarch Su answered in acknowledgement.
Witnessing this unexpected scene, all the rest of the candidates couldn’t help but turn towards each other, with confusion and curiosity evident in their eyes.
"This..."
"What’s happening..."
"Why was he stopped..."
"Don’t you guys know about him? He’s the one who..."
Several murmurs regarding Yi Chen began spreading among the candidates the very next moment.
However, not giving them the opportunity to further dwell on it, Elder Yu Xong immediately guided them out of the courtyard, leaving Yi Chen alone with the twelve peak masters.
"Brother Chen..."
Zhou Mei and the others couldn’t help but give Yi Chen a look of concern as they were guided out of the courtyard.
Seeing that, Yi Chen immediately nodded at them to reassure them before finally turning his head towards the twelve peak masters who were standing in front of him.
Under their gaze, he couldn’t help but feel an intense pressure, causing his breath to grow a little heavy.
However, having somewhat already guessed the reason why he might have been stopped by now, he quickly drew in a deep breath to control his bearing and asked.
"May I know why the Patriarch asked me to stay?"
"Certainly." Patriarch Su answered with a smile, a little impressed by Yi Chen’s spirit and explained, "As you might have already guessed by now, we at the Heavenly Azure Dragon Sect deeply value talents.
Therefore, after knowing that you possess a peak-grade spirit root, which is extremely rare in the entire Light Continent, it is only natural for you to catch our interest."
The smile on Patriarch Su’s face widened the next second as he continued, "In short, the special circumstance that I mentioned earlier, which made all twelve of us appear here today, is you."
Patriarch Su paused for a couple of seconds to help Yi Chen digest his words before finally dropping the bomb.
"So tell me, which one among the twelve of us would you like to become a personal disciple of?"