“I never imagined Elder Duan had such an experience.”
At this moment, Chu Feng finally understood why so many people knew about Elder Duan.
And why Tu Yuanyuan’s master had advised him in that way.
“Elder Dao, this disciple would like to go and visit Elder Duan. May I?”
Chu Feng asked Dao Qinian.
“In the Wolong Martial Sect, apart from not being allowed to leave the sect without permission and certain forbidden areas being off-limits, disciples are not restricted in their freedom.”
“I will first settle all of you down. Once that is done, if you wish to go to the outer courtyard to see him, you may go anytime.”
Dao Qinian replied.
…………
In the outer courtyard, inside a palace hall, quite a number of outer courtyard elders had gathered.
This was the annual gathering of outer courtyard elders, held right after the newly recruited disciples finished their talent tests.
They knew that not long after the talent tests ended, their rewards would be delivered.
Although only a small portion of the recruited disciples could pass the talent test, most outer courtyard elders still came here.
Setting aside the need to build good relations with fellow outer courtyard elders, if the elder who received a reward was in a good mood, they might share some of it.
But Duan Liufeng was an exception among those present.
This was the first time…
The first time he had come to this palace to attend such a gathering.
If not for recruiting Chu Feng this time, and if Chu Feng had not passed the talent test, he still would not have come.
However, the other outer courtyard elders did not have a good relationship with Duan Liufeng. He simply sat alone in a corner, neither eating nor drinking, just quietly waiting.
He was not waiting for the banquet to end.
He was waiting for the Northern Xuan Courtyard elder to bring the rewards.
Whether there was a reward for him or not, he would leave once the distribution was finished.
“Elder Duan, congratulations today.”
Suddenly, a figure approached with a wine cup in hand.
It was Elder Qian, the one who had recruited Hua Xu.
“Elder Duan, come… let me toast you.”
“Although the disciple you found is only lower-lower grade.”
“At least you can still receive a reward.”
“After all, that boy even plans to take you as his master. He should give the reward to you, right?”
Although Elder Qian claimed to be offering a toast, both his words and his expression were filled with sarcasm.
He was clearly here to pick a fight.
“Chu Feng is indeed quite good.”
“I never mentioned anything about taking him as a disciple.”
“When he learned that if he took me as master, it would allow me to enter the Northern Xuan Courtyard.”
“He took the initiative to offer to become my disciple. This boy truly values gratitude and loyalty.”
“Compared to those disciples who go back on their word, disciples like Chu Feng are truly very rare.”
Elder Duan replied.
“What do you mean? Are you mocking me?”
“No matter what, I can get a mid-grade reward.”
“And entering the Northern Xuan Courtyard, I can do it with my own strength.”
“But you can only get a lower-lower grade reward.”
“No, perhaps you will not even get the lower-lower grade reward. That Chu Feng… may not really give the reward to you. He might keep it for himself.”
Elder Qian asked in a stern voice.
“Yes, Elder Qian is right.”
“The words of those new disciples cannot be trusted at all.”
“How many disciples, after testing their talent, clearly said they would give the reward to their elder, yet afterwards gave nothing? Such things happen far too often.”
Elder Qian seemed to have good connections, or perhaps Duan Liufeng had too few. Quite a number of people began speaking up to support Elder Qian.
“That is true. The rewards have not been distributed yet. Who will get them and who will not is still unknown. So I also advise everyone not to celebrate too early.”
Elder Duan was not angry, but he still countered them.
“Duan Liufeng, what are you so arrogant about?”
“Do you still think you are the genius from three thousand years ago?”
“Now you are the same as us, just an outer courtyard elder. In the current Wolong Martial Sect, hardly anyone recognises you anymore.”
“After waiting three thousand years, all you picked was one lower-lower grade disciple. What do you have to be proud of?”
“You can only act aloof in front of us.”
“If you have the ability, go act aloof in the Northern Xuan Courtyard and see.”
Seeing that subtle sarcasm could not hurt Duan Liufeng, Elder Qian directly launched personal attacks.
“Let alone the Northern Xuan Courtyard. Back when I, Duan, was in the Eastern Dragon Courtyard, my character was the same.”
Duan Liufeng replied.
“Stop arguing, stop arguing. The elder from the Northern Xuan Courtyard has arrived.”
But at that moment, someone suddenly shouted loudly inside the palace.
Upon hearing this, all the elders in the palace quickly stood up and hurried outside to welcome him.
Because the Northern Xuan Courtyard elder had come bearing the rewards.
After the Northern Xuan Courtyard elder arrived, he immediately began announcing the names of the elders who would receive rewards.
According to past practice, the main event was usually saved for last. So first came the lower-lower grade rewards, then lower grade, mid grade, and finally upper grade.
Of course, upper grade rewards were rare in previous years, but this year there might be one.
The reason it was only a possibility was because disciples could choose to give the reward to the elder who recruited them or keep it for themselves.
So before the rewards were handed out, no one knew for sure whether an upper grade reward would actually be distributed.
Because of this, Elder Yu, who had recruited Tu Yuanyuan, was extremely nervous at this moment.
But this time, before all the rewards were distributed, many elders present were already grinning from ear to ear.
Because the lower-lower grade rewards had been fully distributed, yet Duan Liufeng’s name was not called.
Everyone believed that Chu Feng had kept the reward for himself.
Duan Liufeng had rejoiced in vain.
In an instant, many mocking gazes fell upon Duan Liufeng.
Various unpleasant secret voice transmissions also reached Duan Liufeng’s ears one after another.
Duan Liufeng was not angry, but a trace of disappointment appeared on his face.
His disappointment was not because he did not receive a reward.
Given Duan Liufeng’s character, he simply did not care about such rewards.
If he cared, he would not have waited a full three thousand years without stepping into the Wolong Tongtian Formation to recruit disciples.
He was disappointed because… he had truly felt earlier that Chu Feng was special and different from other disciples.
But now, it seemed Chu Feng really was, as Elder Qian and the others said, someone who could not be trusted.
Soon, the lower grade rewards and mid grade rewards were also distributed.
The Northern Xuan Courtyard elder then took out two purple boxes.
Seeing those purple boxes, everyone showed envy and jealousy. Elder Yu was so excited that his body trembled.
They knew these were upper grade rewards.
Since upper grade rewards had been brought out, they must belong to Elder Yu.
After all, Tu Yuanyuan was recruited by him.
As for why there were two, although people did not know the reason, they had their guesses.
They thought perhaps Tu Yuanyuan had performed exceptionally well, and the Eastern Dragon Courtyard elders had given an extra reward.
But the next scene caused all the outer courtyard elders to be utterly stunned.
They saw the Northern Xuan Courtyard elder, holding the two upper grade rewards, walk straight up to Duan Liufeng.
“Elder Duan, congratulations.”
Not only did the Northern Xuan Courtyard elder speak to Duan Liufeng, but his attitude was exceptionally polite.
“This elder, what congratulations do I have?”
Duan Liufeng himself was somewhat puzzled.
“Tu Yuanyuan has given her reward to you.”
The Northern Xuan Courtyard elder said.
“What?”
Upon hearing this, the crowd was even more shocked. Especially Elder Yu, who looked as if he had been struck hard. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground.
