The deceased Master is still alive in heaven

Under the moonlight, everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to Zhong Qing.

A question arose in their hearts simultaneously: How strong exactly was he?

However, even Zhong Qing didn't know his own limits, let alone them.

After an unknown amount of time, Sect Leader Chi Luan's voice broke the silent night sky.

He took a deep breath, cupped his hands towards Zhong Qing in a bow, and then slowly said, "Liuguang Sect has encountered a great disaster this time; thank you, Senior, for your assistance."

It was their second meeting.

But the address had changed from 'little friend' to 'fellow Daoist,' and now to 'Senior.'

"Previously, we were blind and failed to recognize a true god, offending Senior; we hope Senior will not hold it against us."

When saying this, Crimson Luan's heart was undoubtedly filled with gratitude and embarrassment.

Even the high-ranking members of Liuguang Sect, recalling their previous actions, now looked at Zhong Qing with averted gazes.

It was too embarrassing!

Not long ago, they were all scrambling to take him as a Disciple.

Unexpectedly, looking back, the other party was clearly an existence they could only look up to.

Seeing this, Zhong Qing somewhat understood their thoughts.

He immediately waved his hand and said, "As the saying goes, without coincidences, there's no story; we have formed some fate (yuanfen/karma) because of this."

"Please don't dwell on what happened before."

His voice was gentle, carrying an ethereal quality, giving people a feeling like bathing in a spring breeze, which made everyone's tense hearts relax.

At this moment, Sect Leader Chi Luan spoke again, "Senior is truly noble!"

"Although Senior is unwilling to hold it against us."

"We offended Senior first, and Senior saved our Liuguang Sect from peril afterward."

"Your great kindness and virtue are impossible to repay!"

"Our Liuguang Sect is also a well-known entity in this region."

"If Senior encounters anything in the future, just give the word; as long as our Liuguang Sect can do it, we will go through fire and water without hesitation."

He spoke these words with genuine sincerity, and his gratitude towards Zhong Qing had reached its peak.

The other Liuguang Sect members also nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Zhong Qing pondered for a moment and then said, "I actually do have one matter."

"Please speak, Senior!"

Everyone's expressions straightened, and they all adopted an attentive posture.

Seeing this, Zhong Qing directly said, "I want to take cultivators above the Emperor rank from Liuguang Sect as nominal Disciples; what do you all think?"

As soon as these words came out, the scene fell silent once again.

They all looked at each other, their eyes wide with disbelief.

A sense of absurdity permeated from their hearts.

Wasn't it absurd?

Previously, they wanted to take Zhong Qing as a Disciple, but now, Zhong Qing was actually making a reverse offer to take them as Disciples.

This...

This was simply too outrageous!

Whether psychologically or in terms of etiquette, they could not accept it.

"Please... please, Senior, don't joke with us."

"We... currently have no intention of taking a master!"

Sect Leader Chi Luan said with an awkward smile.

He felt that even if Zhong Qing proposed to become the Sect Leader of Liuguang Sect, he wouldn't be unable to abdicate.

But, but this was about taking him as a Disciple.

Honestly!

He, Crimson Luan, had lived for countless years and truly couldn't bring himself to become a Disciple.

"Senior, may I ask if you could change your request!"

"We can agree to any other request, but this matter of taking us as Disciples, we cannot accept."

First Elder Great Elder Chen Qing said cautiously, fearing that he might anger Zhong Qing.

Beside him, Ye Qingcheng looked at her troubled master and the elders.

She felt that she hadn't played any role in this sect's disaster.

But now, perhaps it was her time to be useful.

As a junior, how could she bear to see her elders in such a difficult, dilemma-ridden situation?

She immediately bowed to Zhong Qing.

Pleading, "Please, Senior, reconsider!"

Seeing this, Zhong Qing frowned slightly.

"I am not joking with you; I genuinely want to take you as Disciples. Are you truly unwilling?!"

Everyone shook their heads repeatedly, like rattles, their faces filled with resistance.

"What a pity then!"

Zhong Qing casually pulled out an immortal artifact!

"I was thinking of giving a gift to the first Disciple I took in, but now it seems this immortal artifact cannot be given away."

This was a three-foot-long sword!

Upon the long sword, immortal light overflowed, and immortal talismans intertwined, their flowing radiance shimmering with cold light, as if about to pierce through heaven and earth.

The whole exuded a profound, majestic, and terrifying aura.

The sharpness of the sword's gleam was such that merely looking at it from afar seemed to threaten to cleave one's soul.

"Immortal... Immortal... Immortal... Immortal artifact!"

The moment they saw the three-foot-long sword, everyone present, except Zhong Qing, had their eyes fixed on it.

Immortals, even in the entire Central Continent Second Heaven, were extremely rare existences.

Immortal artifacts, naturally, were treasures rarely found in the world.

It could be said that an immortal artifact, if released, would absolutely cause countless forces in Second Heaven to go mad.

In an instant, the eyes of the high-ranking members, led by Sect Leader Chi Luan, all turned red.

The First Elder, who had been listless and struggled to move, immediately jumped up.

Pointing at Ye Qingcheng, he loudly reprimanded, "Qingcheng! How could you be like this, child?"

"For Senior to be willing to take us as Disciples is a blessing we cultivated in our previous lives."

"You, how could you ask Senior to retract his command?"

"Exactly!"

Third Elder Mu Changchun echoed.

"You have a master who dotes on you, a master who loves you!"

"Pity this old man's master passed away early."

"Leaving me to struggle alone in this cruel cultivation world."

"Now it seems, this is clearly my deceased master, with a spirit in heaven, guiding this old man to once again take a new master."

"To once again experience a master's guidance and care!"

"Master, Disciple Mu Changchun, greets Master!"

"Disciple has suffered so much these years!"

"I regret, I only regret not meeting my benevolent master sooner!"

"I resent, I only resent this fate playing tricks on me."

"Changchun has waited hundreds of thousands of years, longing for this moment, and finally, I have waited for you, my benevolent master!"

Third Elder Mu Changchun's tearful and heartfelt lament made Ye Qingcheng feel completely disoriented!

At this moment, her head was buzzing, and she directly began to question life.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What did I do?

Third Elder's emotional and truly heartfelt display, for a split second, made her wonder if she had been a villain for nothing!

Had she blocked his path to discipleship, his path to enlightenment!

But, but she had clearly seen the elders' dilemma, which was why she asked Zhong Qing to reconsider!

Now, she seemed to be neither inside nor out.

Third... Elder, how could he be like this?

Ye Qingcheng, who had always been proud and treated as a precious jewel by the sect, now felt an unprecedented sense of grievance.

She gazed at the night sky, tightly pursing her red lips, and a mist visibly shrouded her phoenix-like eyes.

Her strong yet stubborn appearance made people inexplicably feel a pang of sympathy.

...