“Many thanks for the Sect Leader’s generosity!”
Ling Xiao wasn’t a greedy person. Chang Yueying’s treatment of him this time was indeed exceptionally generous. Next, he needed to consider his three requests. Chang Yueying had made it clear that as long as the requests weren’t excessive and within the sect’s ability, they would be granted. Naturally, this was a polite statement, so he needed to choose carefully.
After a moment’s thought, Ling Xiao made his decision. “Reporting to the Sect Leader, my first request is that the Yuehua Sect restore the status of inner disciple to my secular master, Master Bai Yun!” This was Master Bai Yun’s lifelong dream, his only wish before death. His efforts to nurture outstanding disciples for the Yuehua Sect were solely to contribute to the sect and regain his inner disciple status. To Ling Xiao, it might be a mere title, but to Master Bai Yun, it was a lifelong pursuit.
Despite past tensions with Master Bai Yun, without him, Ling Xiao wouldn’t be where he was today. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, Ling Xiao wasn’t an ungrateful sort like Ming Tian. Moreover, with Master Bai Yun currently guarding the Divine Sword Sect for him, fulfilling this wish would ensure even greater loyalty.
Hearing Ling Xiao’s request, the crowd was momentarily stunned, then many leaders nodded approvingly. “This boy, despite being in the sect, doesn’t forget his secular master. Such character shows he’s not one to betray his sect, he’s worth nurturing!” If Demon Flame Tianzun were present, he’d surely object, but unfortunately, he was still recovering from severe injuries in the Volcano Palace, unable to leave.
“This request stems from a heart of gratitude, I grant it!” Chang Yueying nodded with a smile, her impression of Ling Xiao improving significantly.
“My second request is that the sect release Yuan Zun,” Ling Xiao said, having carefully considered this. It wasn’t excessive, Yuan Zun’s imprisonment was purely the Law Enforcement Hall’s bias towards Demon Flame Tianzun. In truth, Yuan Zun had never done anything against the Yuehua Sect, in fact, as Yang Danlin’s friend, he could be a key ally in critical moments. The sect shouldn’t oppose this.
“Yuan Zun has no relation to you, why request his release?” Chang Yueying asked, puzzled.
“Reporting to the Sect Leader, Yuan Zun is a friend of my benefactor, Elder Yang Danlin, and has guided me in formations and alchemy, making him half a master to me. Thus, I earnestly request his release,” Ling Xiao replied, “Yuan Zun and Elder Yang have been close companions, never acting against the sect. He even helped Elder Yang develop many excellent pill formulas, practically half a member of the Yuehua Sect. The Law Enforcement Hall imprisoned him due to Demon Flame Tianzun’s matter, and I’ve always felt guilty.”
After all, Demon Flame Tianzun’s issue stemmed from Ling Xiao. “No! Yuan Zun must not be released!” Elder Jin interjected urgently. Had he stayed silent, Chang Yueying might have hesitated, but his outburst solidified her resolve.
“Oh? What’s the Law Enforcement Hall’s reason for this?” she asked.
“He injured Demon Flame, how can he be released so easily?” Elder Jin roared.
“As head of the Law Enforcement Hall, you dare say that? Do you think I’m ignorant of what happened that day? I stayed out of it to avoid conflict with the Law Enforcement Hall!” Chang Yueying’s expression darkened, “Demon Flame, despite being an inner sect elder, attacked an outer disciple in Guanghan Hall, nearly killing him. I let that slide, yet you dare defend him?”
Some matters were overlooked to maintain sect harmony, but if someone insisted on making a fuss, Chang Yueying wouldn’t back down. Elder Jin’s expression shifted, but he finally shut his mouth, saying nothing more.
“Ling Xiao, I grant your second request, Yuan Zun will be released today!”
“Many thanks for the Sect Leader’s leniency, I swear to serve the Yuehua Sect and you with my life!” Whether Ling Xiao meant this was known only to him, but he was genuinely grateful to Chang Yueying. This incident also lessened his resentment towards the sect. Despite its many issues and infuriating figures, there were still fair individuals like Yang Danlin, Guanghan Tianzun, Jinguang Tianzun, and Sect Leader Chang Yueying.
“State your third request. Your first two were for others, this last one should be for yourself,” Chang Yueying kindly reminded.
Ling Xiao had planned as much. Both Master Bai Yun and Yuan Zun were his masters, Bai Yun in the secular world, and Yuan Zun, a master he couldn’t yet publicly acknowledge. The first two requests were his duty to them, but this final one was for himself.
“My third request is to take the Sect Leader as my master!” Ling Xiao said respectfully.
In the Mysterious Realm, there was no rule limiting one to a single master. The ancient sages said, “When three walk together, there must be my teacher.” For millennia, those who achieved greatness often had multiple masters. A Yuehua Sect predecessor who reached the Cave Heaven Realm had ninety-nine masters before his death. Others had at least three or four. However, an unwritten rule stated that within the same sect, one could only have one master. Master Bai Yun, being from the secular world, didn’t count, nor did Yuan Zun, who wasn’t part of the sect. Thus, Ling Xiao was fully entitled to seek a revered elder as a master.
With this, even Elder Jin and Demon Flame Tianzun wouldn’t dare openly act against him. Having fully displayed his extraordinary talent, he believed taking Chang Yueying as his master wasn’t impossible. Hearing this, Yang Danlin nodded repeatedly. Guanghan Tianzun and Jinguang Tianzun exchanged wry smiles, both had hoped to take Ling Xiao as a disciple, but their cultivation was inferior to Chang Yueying’s. This boy knew how to pick a master!
Elder Jin, however, roared, “How dare you! A mere outer disciple making such an outrageous request, to take the Sect Leader as your master? Even divine-grade treasure bodies and the top ten core disciples haven’t been accepted by her, who do you think you are?” As he spoke, Elder Jin unleashed his terrifying aura, trying to pressure Ling Xiao into abandoning the idea. He absolutely couldn’t allow Ling Xiao to succeed.
