Taiyi Dao Fruit

Elder Kaiyang felt offended, but considering the possibility of accepting a disciple, he endured it.

He truly had the heart for mentoring now, both to teach a satisfactory disciple and to keep an eye on Jiang Li.

By speaking such words, this Jiang Li was either profoundly loyal or exceedingly treacherous, either devoid of ambition or harboring grand schemes. It seemed wiser to keep a closer watch on him.

"You're right, handing him over to Tianxuan is no better than entrusting him to me," Elder Kaiyang declared, pretending not to notice Elder Tianpeng's disdain and voiced his agreement.

However, Elder Tianxuan merely smiled faintly, her lips moving slightly behind her veil as she sent a private message, "Elder Kaiyang, your disciple Ling Wujue has already developed a conflict with Jiang Li. If they were to be mentored under the same master, sooner or later Ling Wujue may end up in an unbearable predicament. Jiang Li might have a big heart, willing to reconcile with Ling Wujue, but Ling Wujue... heh."

Her implication was clear: You can't control this disciple, so let your elder sister handle it.

Elder Kaiyang fell silent.

A rift had formed between Jiang Li and Ling Wujue, and even if they could reconcile, Jiang Li would not align with Yun Jiuye. But among the younger generation of disciples, a day would come when they would vie for influence. Not aligning with Yun Jiuye meant only gravitating towards others.

Given the temperament of his own disciple, if Ling Wujue did not align with Yun Jiuye, he would be regarded as an enemy. Their conflict would likely intensify under the same master's tutelage, leading inevitably to a showdown.

Jiang Li was able to duel with Jiang Zhuyun; Ling Wujue facing him would probably be outmatched.

Despite his quite apparent disdain for his own disciple, Elder Kaiyang could not just ignore Ling Wujue, and he certainly couldn't assist Ling Wujue in opposing another disciple.

Thus, Elder Kaiyang withdrew.

Elder Tianxuan, observant and insightful, immediately detected Elder Kaiyang's decision, smiled faintly and then turned to Elder Tianpeng.

"Elder Yaoguang, the disciple you tutored in the Si Fan Valley, you protected him, didn't you? The one who invoked Divine Descent from the Taiping Sect's Lei Kun was the Outer Disciple Qiu Huai'an, but it was Luu Wangji who received your Thunder Technique. Only because he had too little time to learn the technique, unable to cultivate it in time, so you passed this art to the more easily initiated Jiang Zhuyun and to Qiu Huai'an, who could contain the Decree Dao Fruit."

Elder Tianxuan sent a private message, "You knew I was plotting, hence you intervened when Luu Wangji attempted to rebel, preventing him from betraying the Sect and saving his life. My sister, I understand this, given the fateful connection and similar backgrounds you share with Luu Wangji. But with such actions, it would be best not to accept Jiang Li as a disciple, to avoid injuring the mentor-disciple relationship in the future."

Hearing this, Elder Tianpeng sighed inwardly, knowing she was right. Simultaneously, Elder Tianpeng realized why Elder Kaiyang had suddenly fallen silent.

Clearly, Elder Kaiyang had been caught in a sore spot.

Yet, he was still reluctant to let Jiang Li enter under Elder Tianxuan's tutelage.

"Elder Tian Ji could take Jiang Li as a disciple," Elder Tianpeng replied privately.

Among the elders, only he and Elder Tian Ji had yet to accept a disciple. If he chose not to accept any disciples, in truth, it should fall to Elder Tian Ji as an alternative. However, this elder had a poor reputation, which was why Tianpeng had first suggested Kaiyang.

Elder Tianxuan was well aware of this.

Her smile unchanging, she sent a message, "While you secluded yourself in Si Fan Valley, the Jiang family attempted to have Jiang Li expelled from the Sect and plotted his assassination. Elder Tian Ji saw through this scheme, suggesting to turn the tables and use Jiang Li as bait, luring the Jiang's branch family's experts to their doom."

With her hint given, Elder Tianpeng knew that Elder Tian Ji was also an impossible choice.

The remaining Elders Tianquan and Yuheng had already accepted disciples and were inclined to follow Elder Tianxuan's lead; becoming their disciples would not be different from directly apprenticing under Elder Tianxuan.

Considering this, the best option seemed to be for Jiang Li to apprentice under Elder Tianxuan.

Elder Tianpeng remained silent.

With ease, Elder Tianxuan had ousted three other elders from the contest, and her gaze returned once more to Jiang Li, softly saying, "I preside over the Sect's 'Dragon Armor Divine Chapter', also cultivate 'Ziwei Astrology', and have created the 'Exchange Skill Mysterious Skill - Taiwei Fu'. If you wish to advance in Magic Calculation and Echange Skill, you will inevitably seek instructions from me. Rather than causing inconvenience in the future, why not directly become my disciple and inherit my learnings?"

Jiang Li did not immediately respond, instead waiting for the other two elders to speak up.

In the end, he heard nothing.

"It seems she's taken care of it," Jiang Li marveled inwardly.

So fast.

Elder Tianxuan is impressive.

For a moment, Elder Tianxuan's image in Jiang Li's heart became more profound and inscrutable, shrouded in an aura of mystery that seemed beyond comprehension. However...

[She padded it.]

The Karma Collection revealed detailed data, and Jiang Li, with his keen insight, discerned that Elder Tianxuan had padded it.

This wasn't a dream; the fake could not become real. With his acute insight and extensive experience, Jiang Li realized the truth that Elder Tianxuan had indeed padded it.

This discovery quickly dismantled his awe for Elder Tianxuan.

Awe, fundamentally, is the compliance of the weak toward the strong, but if the strong's weaknesses are discovered, that compliance might collapse, disintegrating the awe.

At least for Jiang Li, this one discovery was enough to tear down his awe, transforming the once profound and incalculable Elder Tianxuan into someone predictable to him, no longer arousing respect psychologically.

Of course, the reality of Elder Tianxuan's strength remained a fact, and he still needed to swear fealty as a disciple.

Jiang Li bowed decisively and said, "Greetings, Master."

Although this bow was not a formal initiation, it essentially established the teacher-student relationship. From now on, Jiang Li would have to spend his days under Elder Tianxuan.

With her high wisdom and long-reaching plans, combined with her mastery of Magic Calculation and Qimen strategies, Elder Tianxuan was akin to an old demon of a thousand years. If Jiang Li wanted to live peacefully under her, he would need to be more vigilant and wholly support his senior sister in ascending to the Sect Leader's throne.

His current level was probably not enough to contend with this old demon, but he could compete with Gongsun Qingyue.

If he couldn't handle the old, could he not cope with the young?

If it came to it, he would just marry into the Gongsun Family and become Gongsun's son-in-law, and then wait for the return of the Dragon King after three years...

Wait, three years might not be enough.

Then thirty years.

Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west, don't underestimate an affiliated son-in-law in poverty.

"Good."

The corners of Elder Tianxuan's mouth, hidden behind her veil, revealed a notable curve. As she stepped forward and placed her hand, as smooth as white jade, on Jiang Li's left arm, even through his clothes, he could feel the delicacy and smoothness of her touch.

This was a trait that ordinary people simply could not possess, only found on high-grade cultivators.

Elder Tianxuan followed the Divine Path, and her body, like that of a Goddess, possessed the utmost perfection, irresistible in its allure to both men and women.

After all, everyone gravitates towards beauty.

Therefore, Jiang Li had preemptively switched to Wise Man Mode.

No matter how perfect you are, you will not shake my spirit. He planned to engage this mode whenever he interacted with Elder Tianxuan in the future, to prevent being tempted by beauty and harboring disrespectful thoughts toward his Master.

Jiang Li had always been a good man who respected his teachers and valued the right path.

"The day has been set by your teacher, and I have made all the preparations necessary for the apprenticeship ceremony. In two days, you will be promoted to Inner Sect Disciple and take me as your Master," Elder Tianxuan announced the arrangements she had made well in advance.

She had predicted the outcome before arriving here.