"Thank you for the help, Elder Sun," Yuan said shortly after the disciples left.
Elder Sun looked at him and asked, "What are you doing inside the inner court, anyway?"
"I was summoned by Grand Elder Bai."
"I see…" Elder Sun mumbled and stared at him as if she had sothing to say but wasn't sure if she should.
"What's wrong, Elder Sun?" Yuan asked.
After a mont of silence, Elder Sun spoke with a resolute face, "Want to beco my disciple?"
"Eh?" Yuan's eyes widened with genuine surprise. "You want to be your disciple? Are you serious?"
Elder Sun frowned and asked, "Why are you so surprised? You're acting like I'm not supposed to have a disciple. I may have been working as a protector in the Hunting Grounds, but I am still a sect elder with plenty of qualifications to be a master."
Yuan shook his head, "I don't question your qualifications."
"Then why are you surprised?" "Just cause…?"
Elder Sun sighed, "So, do you accept or not? I know you've refused many sect elders before, so I won't be surprised if you refuse as well."
Yuan smiled and said, "No, I accept your offer."
He proceeded to bow to her, "This disciple greets Master."
"I don't care much about such formalities. You can just call Senior Sun."
"Yes, Senior Sun."
Elder Sun retrieved a dallion and handed it to Yuan, saying, "This is proof that you're my disciple. Try not to lose it since I only have one."
Although Elder Sun never intended to accept a disciple, every sect elder was required to have at least one dallion.
"How many contribution points do you have right now? Since you'd spent 2 years in confinent, I doubt you have much. I'll give you five points."
"Actually, I have 25 contribution points, and I am already planning on taking the next Inner Court examination."
"The Inner Court examination already? But you're only—" Elder Sun's raised her eyebrows.
"The Inner Court examination already? But you're only—" Elder Sun's raised her eyebrows.
Then she realized Yuan was already at the third level of Spirit Master.
'Heavens! He was only a Spirit Apprentice not long ago! And he'd even spent 2 years in confinent! What monstrous talents!' she cried inwardly.
"The next Inner Court examination is in three weeks. Let give you so tips—"
"It's fine, Elder Sun. Just sit back and relax. I know what to expect," Yuan interrupted her with a confident smile.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded.
"Alright. I will contact you before the examination. Here's my communication jade slip."
After handing Yuan her jade slip, Elder Sun left the scene.
'I can't believe he actually accepted…' Elder Sun thought to herself as she walked away.
Elder Sun had never truly expected Yuan to accept her offer. After all, he had already turned down nurous sect elders—many of whom held far greater prestige and accomplishnts than her.
In truth, her approach was more of a formality than a genuine attempt. She simply wanted to 'check it off the list' and move on, knowing full well that his answer would likely be the sa as before.
'What should I do? I have never had a disciple before…'
Now, Elder Sun found herself in an unexpected dilemma. Despite having over thirty years of experience as a sect elder, she had never taken on a disciple before, so she didn't know where to start. While Yuan returned to the Hunting Grounds to increase his cultivation so more, Elder Sun went to Elder Jing for advice.
"What? You accepted a disciple? Who?" Elder Jing was quite shocked to hear about her situation.
"Xiao Yang."
"Disciple Xiao Yang?! He was actually willing to beco your disciple?!" Elder Jing exclaid. She couldn't fathom the reason Yuan picked her over the other sect elders.
"I'm as surprised as you are since I wasn't expecting him to accept. You have several disciples, so give so tips."
"Being a master is quite simple. You pass down your cultivation knowledge and personal techniques, guide them, support them, and correct their mistakes. You basically do this until they surpass you."
Elder Jing continued, "In your case, you need to help him with the sect's techniques since I doubt you'll be able to teach him your other techniques."
"Actually, I am not forbidden from sharing my family's techniques. However, there are a few caveats…"
"Don't tell it's sothing along the lines of 'he'll have to join my family', right?" Elder Jing raised her eyebrows.
"..." Elder Sun beca quiet.
"Seriously?"
Elder Sun sighed, "Yes, but not in the way you're probably thinking."
"Of course not. You already have Tian Yang, after all."
Seeing Elder Sun frown, Elder Jing quickly added, "Jokes aside, are you thinking about teaching him your family's techniques?"
"No, I don't want to burden him with my family matters. He's incredibly talented—even more than those geniuses back in my family. If he joined my family, the others would definitely try to destroy him."
"I know he's your disciple now, but…" Elder Jing shook her head.
"If you think I am praising him because he's my disciple, wait three weeks."
"Three weeks? What will happen in three—Oh, the Inner Court examination? Wait, but he's only a Spirit Warrior."
"That was two years ago. He's a Spirit Master now."
"Impossible! He was in confinent for two years! There's no way he could've cultivated while in confinent!" Elder Jing exclaid.
Elder Sun shrugged, "I don't know what else to tell you."
In the blink of an eye, three weeks had passed, and it was ti for the Inner Court examination.
The day before the examination, Elder Sun contacted Yuan.
"I'll co pick you up on the day of the examination. et in front of your living quarters," said Elder Sun.
The following day.
"Good luck, Young Master. I can't believe you'd actually managed to qualify for the examination before despite the two-year gap…" Ji Ran sighed after learning that Yuan would be partaking in the Inner Court examination.
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