154: Accepting disciples

Within the Four Seas Sect's main discussion hall.

Li Qi stood in the center, surrounded by the Four Seas Sect's various magnates, while the Sect Leader of the Four Seas Sect sat high on the main seat.

"Still arguing?"

"Why don't you continue arguing?"

"So many Disciples in the Sect were watching just now, aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourselves?"

The various Island Lords smiled awkwardly, all remaining silent.

Xiang Zhizhou helplessly shook his head, then looked at Li Qi, who stood below, and called out softly.

"Li Qi?"

Li Qi stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "This Disciple is here."

Xiang Zhizhou nodded slightly, sighing leisurely.

"Li Qi... a good name."

This left Li Qi bewildered; what did the Sect Leader mean by praising his name? He could only tentatively respond.

"Sect Leader, you flatter me."

Xiang Zhizhou gently turned his palm, closed his eyes, and softly recited.

"Plum trees fragrant, spring's embrace deep,

Exotic flowers and grasses, bathed in the sun's red gleam.

Beautiful moments, hard to forget, forever to keep,

Only to stir lovesickness, ascending the emerald tower's dream."

"Good poem!"

"Good name!"

"This name is very fated with this Sect Leader, I wish to take him as my Disciple... What do you all think?"

Upon these words, the entire assembly was astonished.

What kind of move was this now?

To write a poem based on Li Qi's name... and then take him as a Disciple?

Is this something you, the Sect Leader, should be doing? Your acrostic poem is a bit too smooth, isn't it?

Such a flamboyant move... almost threw the Island Lords off their feet!

The First Island Lord, without hesitation, immediately stepped forward and declared loudly.

"Who can't write poetry? I'll do one too!"

"Everyone, I have a humble piece, 'Thoughts on Li Qi'!"

"Please, everyone, appraise it!"

Seeing Qi Qingqian preparing to recite poetry, Xiang Zhizhou immediately interrupted him: "Alright, everyone, quiet down. What kind of decorum is this, all of you?"

After a shout, the noisy Island Lords quieted down, but Qi Qingqian still said, unwilling to give up.

"Sect Leader, you can't compete with us."

"Aren't you going to the Elder Pavilion for secluded cultivation? How would you have time to take a Disciple?"

"Li Qi should rightfully be left to us."

Xiang Zhizhou raised an eyebrow and said calmly.

"Secluded cultivation?"

"What secluded cultivation?"

"What kind of cultivation are you talking about?"

"How come this Sect Leader doesn't know about it himself?"

The Island Lords were instantly speechless.

Finally, Xiang Zhizhou looked at Li Qi and slowly said: "Alright, everyone, calm down a bit."

"In this Sect Leader's opinion, it's better to let Li Qi decide for himself. Let him make his own choice."

"Li Qi, you've seen it, everyone wants to take you as a Disciple. Now it's up to you to decide your final path."

This arrangement was very fair, and the Island Lords had no objections, all looking at Li Qi with burning gazes.

This choice was very important, concerning his future development within the Four Seas Sect, and would largely determine the trajectory of Li Qi's fate.

Li Qi took a deep breath; he made his decision without much hesitation.

"I choose to become a Disciple under the Sect Leader!"

Don't ask why... just ask because this Sect Leader Xiang writes good poetry!!!

Li Qi had made his decision, and the Island Lords could only sigh helplessly, all looking at Xiang Zhizhou with mournful expressions.

Xiang Zhizhou was delighted to have found a good Disciple. After a few words of congratulations, everyone dispersed.

The discussion hall quieted down again, with only Xiang Zhizhou and Li Qi remaining.

Xiang Zhizhou, delighted with his new Disciple, looked at Li Qi with increasing satisfaction.

"Very good, Li Qi, becoming a Disciple under this Sect Leader... is definitely the most correct decision you've ever made in your life."

Li Qi also bowed respectfully: "This Disciple greets Revered Master!"

Xiang Zhizhou clapped his hands and sighed: "Good! Good! Good!"

Regarding Li Qi's origin, Xiang Zhizhou had also clarified it; Li Qi had entered the Four Seas Sect using a quota from the Feng Family.

"Feng Family?"

"Go and invite the Island Lord of Dragon Sunflower Island, Feng Wuyai!"

Dragon Sunflower Island ranked twelfth among the various islands, and its Island Lord, Feng Wuyai, was also the head of the Feng Family, and this Island Lord Feng had just been here.

Feng Wuyai naturally knew about Li Qi; Feng Yuqin had reported Li Qi's information to this family head.

Initially, Feng Wuyai looked down on Li Qi; a Divine Soul Realm cultivator held little value for the Feng Family. Feng Wuyai had even blamed Feng Yuqin, asking how she could use such a precious quota on an outsider?

But upon learning of Li Qi's Prodigy, Feng Wuyai instantly regretted it.

Such a Prodigy should have been firmly tied to the Feng Family's war chariot!

As a result, he inexplicably became a Disciple under the Sect Leader, and Feng Wuyai was completely helpless.

"Careless!"

"What a pity!"

Hearing a Disciple announce that the Sect Leader had summoned him, Feng Wuyai gave a bitter smile and hurried over again.

In the discussion hall, the three gathered, and Xiang Zhizhou smiled: "Island Lord Feng, I trust you've been well."

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

"Haha, no need for formalities!"

"Speaking of which, the Feng Family truly produces outstanding talents. First there was Feng Xiuran, and then this Li Qi... This Sect Leader is almost envious."

Feng Wuyai smiled helplessly: "You flatter me, Sect Leader."

After a few casual remarks, Xiang Zhizhou got to the point: "Island Lord Feng, I have something to ask."

"Please ask, Sect Leader."

Xiang Zhizhou nodded: "Li Qi entered the Four Seas Sect using your Feng Family's quota, so he can be considered a member of your Feng Family... How much do you know about Li Qi?"

This question hit the mark.

Feng Wuyai indeed couldn't say he knew much about Li Qi, and could only hesitate and say: "I don't know him very well."

Xiang Zhizhou nodded, an expression of 'just as I thought' on his face.

"That's right, you shouldn't know him... After all, you haven't been to the Lower Realm."

Upon these words, Feng Wuyai's pupils contracted, and he instantly thought of something, then looked at Li Qi, who was standing beside him, with an expression of disbelief.

Li Qi also trembled all over, cold sweat breaking out on his palms.

Xiang Zhizhou turned his head, looking at Li Qi with a smiling expression, and slowly asked.

"Li Qi... you are not from this realm, are you?"