The banquet ended, but the wind and snow persisted.

The Grand Sky Sect was filled with people returning to their respective palaces, their bellies full and their minds buzzing with conversation, most of which centered around Chu Xinghe.

"I thought Senior Brother Xinghe would be angry after being voted the most disliked person."

"Nonsense... I said it wouldn't matter! Who is Senior Brother Xinghe? We make such a small joke, and you think he'd get angry?"

"Exactly... you're being petty. Senior Brother Xinghe is undoubtedly the most disliked person!"

"Junior Brothers, you don't know. In previous years, anyone chosen for that would be done for, but look at Senior Brother Xinghe today, even the Sect Master and Elders couldn't stop laughing."

"If you ask me, the vote for the most promising disciple that Senior Brother Xinghe won is truly impressive. Even with the Great Elder abstaining, he still got eighteen votes! Unprecedented!"

"True, but speaking of which, that Chu Cheng is really infuriating!"

"Can we not ruin the mood right now?"

Outside, under the cover of snow, Chu Cheng lay in bed, pulling the quilt tighter.

Hmph! It's just a festival banquet, isn't it?

I, Chu Cheng, couldn't care less!

Sitting at the edge as an Outer Disciple? Is that a place fit for someone like me, Chu Cheng?

I, Chu Cheng, was born to be a hero among men, and even in death, a mighty spirit!

That seat of honor is where I, Chu Cheng, belong. Who does Chu Xinghe think he is?

Next year's festival banquet, I, Chu Cheng, will make sure the entire Grand Sky Sect knows who truly is the best!

After all, without weathering storms, how can one see a rainbow? No one succeeds casually!

"Bang..." Just as Chu Cheng was imagining a rainbow in the sky, the door was kicked open.

"Chu Cheng, you scoundrel! You're a disgrace to humanity!" A drunken Liu Bo, leading a group of equally inebriated Outer Disciples, barged into the room.

Soon enough... the rainbow appeared, as Liu Bo's punch made Chu Cheng see rainbows swirling everywhere...

No one knew how long the beating lasted, but the wind and snow intensified...

Chu Xinghe returned to the Spirit Crane Palace with the Great Elder. Along the way, the Great Elder, his face flushed from drinking, didn't forget to console Chu Xinghe.

"Xinghe, don't be upset because of that Chu Cheng. No one can be liked by everyone, especially those who aren't even human."

"If it weren't for you today, I would have expelled him from the sect!"

After seeing off the Great Elder, Chu Xinghe returned to his room. Senior Brother Feng Fei had been forced to drink and was carried back, now snoring loudly.

Without a word, Chu Xinghe went to bed.

He slept dreamlessly through the night, only to be woken up early the next morning by Senior Brother Shen Chun.

"Hurry, hurry... Junior Brother Xinghe, the Sect Master has ordered you to attend the Deacon Conference!"

"Huh?" Chu Xinghe got out of bed, recalling that the Sect Master had mentioned that all the deacons from outside the sect had returned to report on the year's developments and hear the sect's plans for the coming year.

Almost forgot about that.

Skipping breakfast, Chu Xinghe rushed to the Grand Sky Palace.

When Chu Xinghe stepped into the Grand Sky Hall, the elders from each palace and the returning deacons had already taken their seats.

Seeing Chu Xinghe enter, the elders smiled, while the deacons nodded in acknowledgment, with a few younger ones even standing up instinctively.

"Xinghe, find yourself a place to sit and listen in," the Sect Master said, and Chu Xinghe quickly nodded, finding a seat at the side.

The deacons, observing the Sect Master's attitude, understood.

As deacons, they were said to hold a position second only to the elders within the sect, wielding great power outside, but that was just a claim.

Deacons were always deacons, essentially workers, and compared to the true elders, they fell far short.

Although over the past year, the deacons had heard so much about Chu Xinghe that their ears were almost calloused, witnessing everything at the festival banquet yesterday had still left them in awe.

At that moment, they realized they had underestimated the weight of the name Chu Xinghe within the Grand Sky Sect.

This Deacon Conference wasn't without precedent for personal disciples to attend, but those who did were always the Sect Master's personal disciples, who would eventually become the next Sect Master.

Chu Xinghe, attending under the title of the Great Elder's personal disciple, was truly unprecedented.

The Deacon Conference began, and the deacons started reporting on the year's work.

These reports were essentially the sect's top secrets, including various incomes, resource battles, territory planning, and even the development of some hidden moves the sect had made in various places.

To put it bluntly, what Chu Xinghe heard made him a bit anxious. If any core disciple barged in and overheard even a sentence, they could be reduced to dust by the Great Elder's palm.

And the Sect Master kept reminding Chu Xinghe to focus, listen, and learn well!

After hearing about the past year's developments, Chu Xinghe realized just how many secrets the Grand Sky Sect held and how vast its unimaginable resources were.

Then came the future plans. Listening to the elders and Sect Master's proposals for the deacons' future development, Chu Xinghe really wanted to speak up.

What about continuing to expand territory... what about laying hidden moves, what about resource plundering... listening to these made Chu Xinghe anxious!

Sect Master! In my opinion, these are unnecessary. Our Grand Sky Sect is already invincible in the world. The deacons have worked hard for a year; why not take it easy next year?

But Chu Xinghe didn't dare say this, nor did he have the right to speak.

He could only listen, unable to speak, which was quite frustrating.

Finally, the deacon responsible for the disciple selection reported on the chosen talents from various places over the past year, who were to undergo a second selection to enter the Grand Sky Sect.

After the deacon finished, the Sect Master spoke: "For this second selection of disciples in Grand Sky City, let the elders take a break and let this child Xinghe gain some experience, how about it?"

"Sect Master... Xinghe is still inexperienced, but there's no harm in letting him try."

As soon as the Great Elder said this, the other elders nodded in agreement.

The Great Elder was right; although Xinghe was inexperienced, his abilities were unquestionable!

Every time this child acted, it was unpredictable, yet he always succeeded!

Entrusting such an important task to this child was surely the right choice. Even if mistakes were made, it would be a valuable experience for him!

The elders unanimously agreed, and Chu Xinghe was put in charge of this year's second selection of disciples.

The deacon responsible for the initial selection looked shocked. This was about the sect's future inheritance, and it had always been elders who were sent. This time, it was entrusted to Chu Xinghe, proving they had underestimated his status.

After listening to secrets all morning, Chu Xinghe was almost overwhelmed, but upon hearing this, he was moved to tears!

Sect Master... Elders... rest assured... entrusting this to me is a sure thing!

Do you know about the "waste talent" genre?

Our Grand Sky Sect's rise from mediocrity to greatness depends on me, Chu Xinghe!

"I will do my utmost," Chu Xinghe stood up and accepted the task.

"Xinghe, no need to feel pressured. Do it your way, and the sect will give you full support," the Great Elder's words were clear.

Go ahead!

Do as you please! The sect has your back, so don't worry about us breaking your legs over any mysterious moves you make.

Goodness, Chu Xinghe looked at the Great Elder, feeling like he was glowing!

With the Great Elder's trust, if he didn't select the best "waste talent" this time, he'd be embarrassed!

The success of the Ouyang family taught Chu Xinghe that one shouldn't deny oneself over a little setback.

As long as one persistently courts disaster, they can always find a Lucky Star like the Ouyang family.

The Deacon Conference ended, and not long after Chu Xinghe left the Grand Sky Hall, Deacon Yang approached him.

Deacon Yang was responsible for the first round of disciple selection.

"Disciple Chu Xinghe greets Deacon Yang."

"Oh, Xinghe, no need for such formalities with me. I hail from the Spirit Crane Palace and was personally promoted by the Great Elder. Now, having become a deacon, I never forget the Great Elder's kindness. So, Xinghe, if you ever need anything, just say the word, and I'll make sure it's done."

Goodness... already pledging loyalty?

If I said you should focus on selecting "waste talents" in the future, could you handle it?

"Deacon Yang, I am young and inexperienced. For such an important task as selecting disciples, I will need your guidance."

"Oh, Xinghe, you're mistaken. While I am indeed a deacon, the Sect Master has ordered that you take charge of this second selection. I can only assist you, not guide you."

Perfect!

Chu Xinghe was extremely satisfied with Deacon Yang.

He feared this guy might cause trouble, but Deacon Yang was so cooperative?

If the Grand Sky Sect had more deacons like Yang, how could the sect ever fall?

"Thank you, Deacon Yang."

"Alright, Xinghe, I will ensure that all the disciples who pass the initial selection from around the world arrive in Grand Sky City at the appointed time, ready for your second selection."

Bidding farewell to Deacon Yang, Chu Xinghe hummed a tune as he left the Grand Sky Palace.

Today is a good day, everything I wish for will come true...

What? This song is unlucky?

Hmph! I'm in charge of recruiting disciples for the sect, bringing in a bunch of "waste talents," and causing an explosion. How could I possibly lose this round!

After the festival ended, Qin Xiangqian also came to bid farewell to Chu Xinghe.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, do visit Spirit City more often," Qin Xiangqian said with anticipation.

Since Senior Brother Xinghe visited last year, he became the vice president. If he visits again, wouldn't he become the president? If he visits a few more times, could he become the first Outer Disciple to become a deacon in the Grand Sky Sect's inspirational story?

Thinking of this, Qin Xiangqian was filled with hope for the future.

But Chu Xinghe wasn't looking forward to it at all... Visit Spirit City?

Are you kidding me? Just hearing the words "Spirit City" gives me a headache. Qin Xiangqian, you're no longer the top Lucky Star in my heart!

After seeing off the eager Qin Xiangqian, Iron Bull also came.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, I'm heading to Spirit City too. I'll miss you!"

"Senior Brother will miss you too, Iron Bull," Chu Xinghe said, hugging Iron Bull's sturdy frame.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, don't worry. I'll continue to work hard this year. I'll aim for a ten percent stone yield rate, and I'll also properly train those useless disciples I've taken in. If they can't achieve a yield rate of over seventy percent, I'll kick them out. If they can't do something so simple, what's the point of keeping them?"

The unspoken bragging was the deadliest!

A seventy percent yield rate would make one an elder in the Shi family. Iron Bull, have you considered the Shi family's feelings?

"Also, Senior Brother Xinghe, I've been researching lately, and I think a ten percent yield rate isn't the limit. If I can develop a new stone pointing technique, maybe I can surpass ten percent!"

Chu Xinghe: "???"

What are you talking about...

Iron Bull also left, teary-eyed, shouting all the way that he would be a disgrace if he couldn't break the ten percent yield rate, and he swore to protect Senior Brother Xinghe!

Finally, the two most troublesome people were gone...

But the more he thought about their words, the more uneasy he felt... Could they actually be serious?