11 What Virtue, What Ability

"What? Your master accepted a disciple in the Qi Refining Realm?"

Qiu Yunze, the Grand Elder, went from initial impatience to wearing a face of astonishment upon hearing Jiang Chen's words.

Jiang Chen was already accustomed to this reaction. From the Sixth Elder to the Grand Elder, almost every elder, upon hearing that the master intended to accept a disciple in the Qi Refining Realm, would display this expression, as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"Senior Uncle, I have informed the other five Elders. If you have time now, please visit Miao Peak for the ceremony," Jiang Chen said respectfully.

Qiu Yunze waved his hand and said, "I understand. You can go now."

Jiang Chen bowed and took his leave.

Not long after Jiang Chen left, the other five elders all arrived at Golden Yuan Peak where Qiu Yunze was.

Second Elder Li Hongri, Third Elder Yu Zhen, Fourth Elder Gao Qianshou, Fifth Elder Zhao Jian, and Sixth Elder Qian Dahai, excluding Ning Lang, all six elders of the Haohui Sect Sect had gathered.

"Ning Lang has been staying in the Foundation Lower Grade for ten years. Where did he find a disciple in the Qi Refining Realm?"

"Yes, what's going on exactly?"

"Why did Ning Lang suddenly decide to take on a disciple?"

"This matter may not be true. Let's go to Miao Peak and see for ourselves."

"Let's go together. If Ning Lang is just seeking attention without any real intentions, I will make sure he pays the price!"

While speaking, the six elders flew away one after another.

In the time it took for a cup of tea, they all arrived at Miao Peak.

Not far away, ten outer disciples were carrying bamboo and wood, each of them working diligently. Upon seeing the arrival of the six elders, they all stopped their activities and respectfully greeted them.

"Why are you all here?" Qiu Yunze asked coldly.

"Reporting to Grand Elder, Seventh Elder asked us to come here and help build some new houses on Miao Peak."

"Build new houses?"

The six elders looked at each other, puzzled about what Ning Lang was up to. In the end, led by Grand Elder Qiu Yunze, they all walked into the bamboo house where Ning Lang resided.

Ning Lang had heard the conversation outside long ago. When they entered, Ning Lang greeted them with Gan Tang by his side, saying, "Thank you for coming, Senior Uncles. This is my newly accepted second disciple, Gan Tang. Gan Tang, come and greet your Senior Uncles."

Gan Tang politely paid her respects, "Disciple Gan Tang pays respects to Grand Elder, Second Elder Uncle..."

When the crowd discovered that Ning Lang had indeed accepted a disciple, and a female disciple at that, their expressions became rich.

Zhao Jian squinted his eyes as he looked at Gan Tang.

In his mind, he thought, judging by her appearance alone, this girl is not ordinary. What virtue and ability does Ning Lang have to accept her as a disciple?

The other elders also had similar thoughts.

Fourth Elder Gao Qianshou couldn't help but ask, "Have you really accepted Ning Lang as your master?"

"Yes."

"Do you know that he only has the cultivation level of the Foundation Realm?"

Ning Lang sneered inwardly. I invited you here for the ceremony, and you're mocking me in front of my disciple. You're giving me no face!

Gan Tang, clever as she was, sensed the discord between them. After hearing Gao Qianshou's words, Gan Tang changed her expression and directly questioned, "So what? Is there any rule that a disciple in the Qi Refining Realm cannot accept a Foundation Realm cultivator as their master?"

This left Gao Qianshou speechless.

Certainly, there was no such rule.

However, generally, who would pay attention to a Foundation cultivator who had just surpassed the age of seventeen or eighteen and broke through to the Qi Refining Realm?

A master imparts knowledge and guidance. Who would choose a master who has only slightly higher cultivation and less talent than themselves?

But since Gan Tang had said so, the six elders found it difficult to say anything more.

Ning Lang sat down.

Following Ning Lang's instructions, Gan Tang respectfully served tea to Ning Lang.

After taking a sip, Ning Lang stood up and said, "Gan Tang has already paid her respects to me as her master. Since you, Senior Uncles, have witnessed the ceremony, please leave."

"Ning Lang, are you trying to drive us away?"

"Why? Weren't you looking down on me before? Do you want to stay and have a meal with me now?"

"Heh!"

Qiu Yunze snorted coldly and waved his hand as he left.

The other five elders, after looking at Ning Lang and then at Gan Tang, left with their own thoughts.

...

"Grand Elder, is this matter going to be left like this?" Zhao Jian caught up and asked.

Qiu Yunze stopped and said coldly, "His position as an elder has not been revoked yet. He still has the right to take disciples."

"Where is the Sect Master now?"

"In recent months, demons have appeared in various places below the mountain. The Sect Master should be discussing countermeasures with other sect masters."

Zhao Jian said, "When the Sect Master returns, can we propose to revoke Ning Lang's position as an elder?"

"He has clung to this position for so long. It's time to make way."

"Agreed!"

"I second that!"

Second Elder Li Hongri said in a deep voice, "Once Ning Lang's position as an elder is revoked, I will extend an invitation to that girl we just saw to be my disciple."

Third Elder Yu Zhen also said, "As long as she is willing to be my disciple, I am willing to give her a spirit crystal as a welcoming gift!"

Sixth Elder Qian Dahai said, "In addition to a spirit crystal, I am also willing to give her an upper-level inner martial arts technique."

"I am willing to offer a spirit crystal and five concentration pills!"

Qiu Yunze declared boldly, "As long as she is willing to be my disciple, she can freely access the library, and every year, I will give her a spirit crystal."

After this statement, the other elders had nothing more to say.

...

"Master, it seems your popularity here is not good."

Ning Lang smiled faintly, "Indeed, it can be said to be quite bad."

"Then why doesn't Master want to leave? Wherever Master goes, Gan Tang is willing to follow."

Ning Lang gently pinched Gan Tang's nose and said, "I have been on this mountain since I can remember, for more than ten years. I have a deep attachment to it."

Gan Tang looked up at Ning Lang, blinking her eyes. She seemed to not quite understand what Ning Lang meant by that kind of attachment.

Late at night.

Ning Lang, as usual, stood shirtless in front of the cliff, practicing his sword.

Gan Tang lay on the window, watching Ning Lang in the moonlight. His tall and perfect figure, clean and graceful movements, attracted her attention. After watching for half an hour, Gan Tang couldn't help but bite her lips and began to daydream.

She only lay back on the bed when Ning Lang sheathed his sword.

Ning Lang took a cold bath by the water tank, cleaned his sweaty clothes, and hung them on a branch by the cliff. Then he walked into the room under the night sky.

The window was not tightly closed. Gan Tang's face was still rosy, showing no signs of being asleep.

Ning Lang shook his head with a smile, sat cross-legged on the bed, and cultivated the Great Yellow Court Scripture for two hours before lying down.

Early the next morning, Ning Lang opened his eyes to see a delicate young girl's face. Delicate eyebrows, bright eyes, beautiful nose, cute ears, rosy lips – all the perfect features were harmoniously arranged on this egg-shaped face without any flaws. The girl frowned slightly, full of vitality in her facial features.

"Master, are you awake?"

The distance between them in bed could only accommodate one finger.

Ning Lang sat up, stretched lazily, and the joints of his whole body made a cracking sound.

After putting on shoes and socks and fastening his belt...

"Huh, yesterday when I went to sleep, the belt was clearly fastened. How did it..." Ning Lang turned his head to glance at Gan Tang. The latter lay on the side of the bed, looking at Ning Lang with a faint smile. With slender legs and a slender waist, her beautiful figure was perfectly outlined by the dress.

Hearing the movement outside, Ning Lang turned his head, tied his hair while instructing, "Your senior brother has already gotten up. Don't linger in bed. Get up early and practice."

"Yes, Master."

...