Seeing that the people from the Main God's Temple simply couldn't be driven away, several elders of the Beast Taming Sect left with gloomy faces.
They were already extremely busy with the disciple selection, and now there were several so - called immortals from the Main God's Temple showing up as judges.
If it weren't for the fact that the selection of the junior sect master had to be carried out secretly, they would have already made their dissatisfaction clear.
Different from their first meeting, the Immortal Huiyan had now shed his mask of mercy, with a blatant and calculating smile on his face.
It was the kind of smile that relished seeing others being unable to do anything about him.
After the True Lord Kunshan asked the True Lords Pengyue and Fei Fei to escort the three immortals to rest, he left the True Lord Huxiao and Chu Lanqiu alone.
Seeing that they seemed to have something to say, Shen Qing and Li Xian bid farewell and left.
After the group walked far away, the True Lord Kunshan withdrew his spiritual sense and rubbed his temples wearily.
"Master, what's wrong with you?"
There was deep concern in Chu Lanqiu's voice. The True Lord Kunshan looked up and stared at Chu Lanqiu seriously.
"Lanqiu, are you confident about this disciple selection?"
Instead of answering Chu Lanqiu's question directly, the True Lord Kunshan showed concern about Chu Lanqiu's preparation for the disciple selection.
Chu Lanqiu gave her master a puzzled look. Seeing the True Lord Huxiao nodding affirmatively, she replied, "Disciple is confident."
Receiving Chu Lanqiu's confirmation, the True Lord Kunshan showed a faint smile, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes became more prominent due to the smile, and his face took on a grayish and deathly pallor.
This appearance of the True Lord Kunshan made Chu Lanqiu feel a sense of unease.
"Master, what on earth is wrong with you? You haven't shown yourself in front of others recently, nor handled the sect's affairs as you used to. Now there are all kinds of bad rumors among the sect members. Master, you are the pillar of the sect. You must take good care of yourself..."
Chu Lanqiu rambled on with her concerned words, causing tears to well up in the True Lord Kunshan's eyes.
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Chu Lanqiu's wrist tightly, with eagerness and expectation on his face. "Lanqiu, you are the only disciple I have high hopes for. I ask you, if one day I hand over the sect to you, what will you do?"
"Master?!"
Chu Lanqiu was startled by the True Lord Kunshan's words and immediately panicked.
"What do you mean by this, Master? I know the rules of the sect. I've never had such presumptuous thoughts. I just want to cultivate well..."
Although a glimmer of hope flared up in Chu Lanqiu's heart, the thousand - year - old rules of the sect weighed heavily on her. She simply couldn't believe that the sect master would change the iron - clad rules for her, so she could only express her loyalty bitterly.
"No, no, no! Cough, cough, cough... cough..."
Hearing Chu Lanqiu's answer, the True Lord Kunshan suddenly started coughing violently. Due to the coughing, a sickly blush appeared on his aged face.
Seeing the True Lord Kunshan in such a sickly state, Chu Lanqiu became even more panicked.
She didn't know which of her words had stimulated the True Lord Kunshan and made him so excited.
"Master, did I say something wrong? I..."
Slap -
"Ungrateful disciple! Look at how you've angered the sect master. Say it again!"
The True Lord Huxiao slapped Chu Lanqiu hard on the shoulder and whispered a reminder.
At this moment, his heart was also filled with excitement. If previously his wish for Chu Lanqiu to become the junior sect master was just an unrealistic fantasy and struggle, now the True Lord Kunshan's question was proof that his fantasy might come true.
The elders of the sect all knew that the True Lord Kunshan's lifespan was almost exhausted, and he had failed to break through to a higher realm. Perhaps in the near future, the Beast Taming Sect would lose a reliable sect master.
Among the current elders of the Beast Taming Sect, the True Lords Huxiao and Pengyue had the highest seniority and the strongest abilities.
However, both of them had clearly stated that they were not suitable to be the sect master. So the elders had to turn their attention to the younger generation of disciples.
According to the tradition of the sect, the elders had searched among the male disciples for a long time but had not found a suitable candidate.
Some were not strong enough in cultivation, while others were too reckless in character. Only Fei Fei was barely acceptable, but his mind was not on the right path.
Even the True Lord Pengyue had subtly said that it was not suitable to hand over the Beast Taming Sect to his disciple because of his excessive obsession.
So Chu Lanqiu caught their eye.
But it was precisely because of her female identity that the elders were in a dilemma.
That's why this disciple selection had been organized.
Under the intense pain, a hint of ferocious pain flashed across Chu Lanqiu's charming face. But it was precisely because of the True Lord Huxiao's slap that Chu Lanqiu's mind suddenly cleared up a lot.
She looked at the True Lord Kunshan. In her memory, he was always steady and immovable. But now he was slumped painfully on the stool, and his once majestic long beard had started to turn gray and dry.
It felt like an ancient big tree that, after going through wind and frost, could no longer withstand the snow and was about to fall.
This big tree had once sheltered the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect from wind and rain and withstood everything.
Now, this big tree was asking her if she was willing to become the next big tree to shelter the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect. How could Chu Lanqiu refuse?
So, with a determined look in her eyes, she stared at the True Lord Kunshan seriously and said word by word, as if making a solemn promise.
"If one day I gain the trust of the sect master, I will surely lead the Beast Taming Sect to greater glory. I will strengthen myself and protect the sect. All villains and evil spirits will not dare to approach. I will become a big tree to support the Beast Taming Sect, just like you."
"Hahaha, good! Good!!!"
The True Lord Kunshan finally heard the answer he was satisfied with and laughed heartily.
The heartfelt laughter came from his chest and was deafening.
After a while, the laughter gradually died down, and the True Lord Kunshan tightened his grip on Chu Lanqiu's hand.
He stared intently at Chu Lanqiu and said, "Remember your words today. If you can win in the disciple selection, your master and I, two old fellows, will surely clear all obstacles for you. Lanqiu, do you understand?"
The True Lord Kunshan looked at Chu Lanqiu lovingly, as if seeing the future hope of the sect through her.
Chu Lanqiu held the True Lord Kunshan's hand tightly and said excitedly, "Disciple will surely live up to the expectations of the sect master and master!"
The True Lord Kunshan nodded in satisfaction and playfully teased the True Lord Huxiao, in a good mood. "Among my disciples, you have the most reckless personality. But unexpectedly, your disciple is a steady one. I'm very happy today. Let's the three of us masters and disciples drink to our heart's content!"
The True Lord Huxiao also laughed. His posture and laughter were exactly the same as the True Lord Kunshan's.
"Master, aren't you just trying to avoid the sect's affairs and using this as an excuse to get drunk?"
The True Lord Kunshan was exposed and slapped the True Lord Huxiao on the head crossly. "You talk too much."
The three of them got along harmoniously, and the hall was filled with continuous laughter.
But they didn't expect that all their conversations just now had been overheard by another group of people.