
Grand Sky Sect, the news of the Great Elder bringing Chu Xinghe back spread far and wide.
The brothers from Spirit Crane Palace were the first to greet the Great Elder and naturally sought out Chu Xinghe afterward.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, you're impressive! The Quelling Evil Pill fills the gap in curing all kinds of sinister fires!"
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Xinghe, on creating another divine pill!"
"Junior Brother Xinghe is now the most renowned alchemist in the world, and he hasn't even reached the Sixth Grade yet. If he reaches the pinnacle in the future, it would be unimaginable..."
Many brothers came to congratulate him, and Chu Xinghe chatted with everyone with a smile.
Unfortunately, this time he couldn't bring gifts for everyone.
It's not that he didn't have any, but he couldn't give them...
How could he give away what the Zhao family gave him?
"Senior Brother... you should keep this deer antler grass... its medicinal effects are quite potent."
"Junior Brother... this Jueyin Root is perfect for treating various indescribable issues, it's just right for you!"
Like that?
Chu Xinghe suspected he might be subjected to death by a thousand cuts by his brothers.
After chatting with his brothers for a while, Chu Xinghe headed to the Grand Sky Palace. Now, entering the Grand Sky Palace, if the guards even glanced at his Grand Sky Token, it would be considered his loss.
Others had to go through various checks and reports to enter the Grand Sky Palace, and even then, it depended on whether the Sect Master wanted to see them.
For Chu Xinghe, the guards didn't even bother to report unless the Sect Master was in seclusion; otherwise, it was impossible for him not to see Chu Xinghe.
In the Grand Sky Hall, he found the Sect Master, and Chu Xinghe specifically came to pay his respects.
"Xinghe, your performance at the Zhao family was excellent. Although I don't understand the path of alchemy, after this incident, I believe the Great Elder was right. With the Medicine Saint's inheritance, you are destined to reach the pinnacle in alchemy. But remember, while the path of medicine is important, you must not neglect your own cultivation."
"I will remember, Master."
"Alright, the festival is approaching. Take some time to rest. In the coming days, people from all over the Grand Sky Sect will return to report on this year's situation. You should listen in as well."
"Huh?" Chu Xinghe was dumbfounded.
I just came to pay my respects, how did I end up with more responsibilities?
"What do you mean 'huh'? Others would love to have this opportunity. These are things you need to get familiar with, and it won't hurt to listen and observe more."
"I will obey, Master."
"Also, after the festival, the sect will prepare to select the next batch of disciples. I plan to have you oversee the second round of selection."
Hearing this, Chu Xinghe's eyes lit up!
What? An unexpected reward?
In an instant, the gloom from listening to reports vanished.
The Sect Master truly understands me!
To destroy a sect, is there a more stable way than starting with the selection of disciples?
The rise and fall of a sect is like a tall building, and its inheritance is like the foundation.
No matter how powerful a sect is, if it recruits useless disciples year after year, how can it remain strong?
Being put in charge of the second round of disciple selection? I would soar on the spot!
The Grand Sky Sect's disciple selection has three stages. The first stage is a nationwide open selection.
Various forces scattered across the land discover talents and send them to Grand Sky City for the second round of selection.
Only after passing the second round in Grand Sky City do they enter the Grand Sky Sect, where the elders of the eighteen palaces select suitable disciples for their respective palaces.
Entrusting the second round to me? Chu Xinghe was moved to tears.
If I handle this, won't it be chaos with all sorts of oddities?
What? You're a genius? Your talent is exceptional?
Sorry, you're not suitable for the Grand Sky Sect. Please head to Martial Emperor City to start your path to success.
What? You're not doing well? That's great!
The Grand Sky Sect welcomes you. We are dedicated to cultivating the underdog flow. As long as you're enough of an underdog, you'll surely make a mark in our sect!
How could I possibly lose this time?
No matter how vast the Grand Sky Sect's resources, if the disciples are lacking, how can it turn the tide?
Martial Emperor City, last time I accidentally took down Zheng Yu and the others, that was my mistake. Rest assured, when you come again this year, I won't let you down!
As long as I'm here, Martial Emperor City won't take a single victory from us!
Recruiting disciples is cutting off the sect's inheritance at the root, and Chu Xinghe was so moved his eyes turned red.
With the Sect Master's support, how can I worry about the sect not perishing!
Gu Mingchao, seeing Chu Xinghe's tearful eyes, was also taken aback.
What a good child!
If other disciples heard the sect entrusting them with such a responsibility, they would be ecstatic. But Xinghe, this child, is full of gratitude, truly a child who knows how to be thankful.
"Xinghe, rest assured, even though you've only been in the sect for a year, and it might seem rushed to have you oversee the second round, with your abilities, I believe no one in the sect will oppose it. As always, follow your own ideas, the sect will not interfere."
An exceptional Sect Master!
Chu Xinghe bowed deeply!
Even after leaving the Grand Sky Hall, Chu Xinghe's eyes were still brimming with tears.
Full authority over recruiting disciples!
Chu Xinghe just wanted to say, rest assured, from this batch of disciples onward, our Grand Sky Sect will surely pioneer the underdog flow on the Blazing Sun Continent!
When it comes to underdogs, our Grand Sky Sect is unparalleled.
Afterward, Chu Xinghe visited the other seventeen palaces, paying respects to the elders, earning their praise.
The disciples of each palace warmly welcomed Senior Brother Xinghe's visit.
"Senior Brother Xinghe, I'll vote for you this year!"
"Senior Brother Xinghe, go for it! I want to see you set the highest voting record in sect history this year!"
"Junior Brother Xinghe, I've already prepared my vote for you this year!"
The voting they mentioned was a tradition that started in the Grand Sky Sect many years ago.
No one knows exactly when it began, but each batch of disciples would privately vote for the most outstanding, the most popular, and the most disliked disciples.
Initially, it was just a private vote among the disciples, but when the sect found out, they didn't stop it. Instead, they announced that this tradition would be preserved.
Every year during the festival, the disciples would hold a voting event to select the most liked and disliked disciples.
With the festival approaching, disciples from each palace were already discussing this year's voting.
The most popular disciple this year?
The most outstanding new disciple?
When it comes to these categories, no one thinks there could be another choice besides Chu Xinghe. Now, everyone is only concerned about how many votes Chu Xinghe will receive this time.
Can he break the sect's festival voting record?
After visiting all the palaces, Chu Xinghe finally arrived at the newly completed Artifact Refining Palace. Though small, its luxurious construction was no less than the Medicine King Palace.
Chu Xinghe always felt at ease when he came here.
Look, the Lucky Star Ouyang Family is my only true god!
Since joining the Grand Sky Sect from the Ouyang Family, the Compass of Misfortune has been steadily providing me with a small amount of spiritual power, and now I'm almost at the Fifth Grade.
Though it's a small amount, it's steady as can be.
The Ouyang Family is truly as steady as an old dog!
Heading straight to the kitchen of the Artifact Refining Palace, the kitchen is the second most luxurious building here. Despite having the fewest people, the Artifact Refining Palace has the most chefs, making the Ouyang Family unparalleled.
Sure enough, as soon as he entered the kitchen, Chu Xinghe saw the soot-covered Ouyang Ming battling with braised pork.
Upon inquiry, Chu Xinghe was overjoyed.
"Senior Brother Xinghe, I accidentally blew up the furnace again just now. I'm sorry to disappoint you. Since joining the Artifact Refining Palace, I've consumed countless sect resources but haven't crafted a single good spirit weapon..."
Ouyang Ming looked remorseful, while Chu Xinghe was ecstatic.
"Junior Brother, the path of artifact refining is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. How could it be smooth sailing? You need not feel remorse. On the contrary, you must work even harder. The sect's resources will surely be endless, and you must remember, never slack off. If it doesn't work once, we try ten times. If ten times don't work, we try a hundred times!"
After Chu Xinghe spoke, Ouyang Ming was moved to tears.
It has to be Senior Brother Xinghe!
These days, I've been struggling without results, almost unable to hold on. But after hearing Senior Brother Xinghe's words, I have the motivation to continue consuming sect resources... no, to continue exploring the Cloud Piercing Hammer Technique.
The Artifact Refining Palace truly lives up to its name, with one good news after another.
Ouyang Ming is steadily blowing up furnaces, and Ouyang Ling isn't idle either.
After a long period of exploration, Ouyang Ling has made great strides in Holy Heart Spirit Infusion.
Previously, her success rate was about one percent, and now, she's improved to one in two hundred!
Listen! What a great junior sister!
While others use resources to improve, Junior Sister Ouyang uses them to gallop backward.
Junior Sister, I have faith in you. One success in two hundred attempts isn't your best. If you could forget the Holy Heart Spirit Infusion, I'd laugh myself awake in my dreams.
The rest of the Ouyang Family is just as steady as an old dog. In terms of stable output, no one can match the Ouyang Family.
With the Ouyang Family, how can I worry about big things not succeeding?
In high spirits, Chu Xinghe arranged for more chefs to be found for the Ouyang Family to add to the excitement!
Leaving the Artifact Refining Palace with great satisfaction, the festival drew nearer, and disciples from each palace began preparing for it.
Red lanterns were hung high, and each palace started decorating festively.
Not only were the palaces busy, but people scattered across the Grand Sky Sect were also returning as the festival approached, ready to report on the year's various affairs.
Chu Xinghe hadn't yet recovered from the joy brought by the Ouyang Family when he was abruptly awakened by a slap.
"Senior Brother Xinghe! It's me, Tieniu, here to see you!"
Misfortune!
Hearing that voice, Chu Xinghe felt a sense of doom.
"Senior Brother Xinghe, I've missed you so much!" Wang Tieniu, dressed in core disciple attire, ran over to give Chu Xinghe a big bear hug.
Coming from a miner disciple background, Wang Tieniu was a miracle, rising from a misfortune-ridden miner disciple to become a core disciple of the Grand Sky Sect in just a few months.
This news gave countless miner disciples in the Grand Sky Sect endless hope.
See, Senior Brother Xinghe didn't lie to us. As long as we work hard, we have a chance to reach the pinnacle.
However, whenever Wang Tieniu appeared, it was never good news, and soon, Tieniu brought Chu Xinghe a brand new version of bad news...
TFTC!