They were sensible people. When the battle erupted, their juniors had been right at the center of the conflict, and they had already prepared themselves for the worst. Never had they expected their juniors to emerge completely unharmed.
The joy of surviving washed away the disappointment of being screened out by the Dao Seeking Sect.
None of the four new recruits of the Dao Seeking Sect had elders accompanying them, so there was no need to consider goodbyes.
Zhuang Ping's mother was locked away in prison and could not come out.
Zhou Xing'er's elders had always looked down on her, so they wouldn't come.
Gu Junye had come alone.
As for Daoist Xiantian, there was even less need to mention it—the Dao Seeking Sect was his home.
In the bamboo grove, every cultivator from the Great Yu Alliance had been captured. Daoist Xiantian even spotted two familiar figures in the Body Integration stage. They were the very pair who had invited him to join the Great Yu Alliance, and after he refused, had informed True Monarch Guanqi about his possession of the Golden Cicada Slough.
"So they were members of the Great Yu Alliance all along." Daoist Xiantian came to a sudden realization. He had not expected the Great Yu Alliance to be rounded up so quickly.
Dealing with the Great Yu Alliance was not the elders' responsibility; the Child Grandmaster would handle it himself.
Having watched the entire three rounds of trials, the elders were secretly discussing the new batch of disciples via voice transmission.
"This kid named Gu Junye isn't bad. He could enter under my tutelage," the Grand Elder chuckled. This had been Dai Bufan's idea. The two of them happened to both possess Water Spiritual Roots; in the future, Dai Bufan could teach him, saving the Grand Elder the trouble as a master.
"Zhou Xing'er has quite a talent for planting. It just so happens that I haven't taken a disciple in years. Wouldn't it be nice to raise one to tend the Herb Garden for me?" Old Ba said.
"Then Zhuang Ping is mine. This boy shares an affinity with Hongwen; Hongwen was the one who tested his character back then," the Fourth Elder smiled, unconcerned that Zhuang Ping possessed only three spiritual roots.
Of course, it was still too early to say who would become whose disciple. Taking a master was a two-way process, requiring the consent of both master and disciple.
The three of them had only just arrived at the Dao Seeking Sect and knew nothing about anyone. They would be given a month, after which they could decide whose disciples they wished to become.
"What about the Patriarch? How about having him enter under my name?" the Eighth Elder suggested eagerly. Following Daoist Xiantian's wishes, he was to be treated as an ordinary disciple.
"You really aren't afraid of Master breaking your legs, are you?" the Third Elder sighed, taking off his armor.
At the mention of their master, even the Eighth Elder, a master of every trick and swindle, felt a chill of fear.
Where Daoist Xiantian belonged was a thorny issue. Asking around, not a single person dared to accept Daoist Xiantian as a disciple, terrified that Master would conveniently toss them into Prison Peak.
The eight elders did not dare, but someone did.
A figure strode toward Daoist Xiantian: "Qi Tong, are you willing to cultivate with me?"
The speaker carried immense weight in the Dao Seeking Sect—it was none other than Daoist Lord Hanhai.
The eight elders: "..."
Those who were unaware looked at Daoist Xiantian with deep envy. To be taken in as a disciple by a half-immortal was a tremendous stroke of fortune.
Those in the know, however, experienced far more complicated emotions.
They were amazed that the Restorer of the Sect was still alive, and even more amazed by how blatantly clear his motive was.
"I am willing!" Daoist Xiantian did not care whose disciple he became, as long as he had a peaceful environment to cultivate in.
All in all, the Dao Seeking Sect had reaped a bountiful harvest today. Not only had they recruited four new disciples, but they had also recruited a half-immortal, five cultivators at the Tribulation Transcendence stage, and over twenty at the Body Integration stage to join Prison Peak.
Everyone was pleased; truly a cause for celebration.
Chapter 765