Daozhou Center, the mountain gate of the Dao Sect.
A magnificent immortal mountain floated amidst the clouds, with immortal cranes circling and dragons and phoenixes dancing within.
On either side of the immortal mountain, two immortal waterfalls descended from the heavens, irrigating the clouds.
Dense spiritual energy spread from the clouds to the heavens and earth.
The Sect Master of the Dao Sect, along with a group of elders and disciples clad in white, stood in formation on the mountain gate plaza. Their auras were condensed to the extreme, indicating they had all practiced superior cultivation techniques and possessed exceptionally solid foundations.
Ji Ning appeared in the sky above the mountain gate with Ye Ling.
"Welcome, Grand Elder!"
Upon seeing Ji Ning's return, the Sect Master of the Dao Sect led all the elders and disciples to kneel in greeting. Their voices boomed, soaring towards the heavens!
Ye Ling looked at the densely packed Dao Sect cultivators below, his heart filled with an overwhelming mix of emotions.
After being forced to ingest the purple pill, he had been brought back to the Dao Sect by Ji Ning to serve as an elder.
While the Dao Sect was the foremost power in Daozhou, and a Dao Sect elder held considerable status within Daozhou, enjoying far more cultivation resources than the sect masters of other sects, the critical issue was that Ye Ling had killed a supreme expert of the Dao Sect. If he were recognized, even with nine lives, he wouldn't survive here.
However, having ingested an unknown poison and with the World Annihilating Spiritual Fire still in Ji Ning's possession, Ye Ling couldn't escape for the time being. He could only brace himself and proceed.
'I can only stay in the Dao Sect for now and look for an opportunity,' Ye Ling sighed inwardly, offering flattery to Ji Ning. "The Dao Sect truly lives up to its reputation. Such a magnificent mountain gate, I doubt another can be found in all of Daozhou!"
Ji Ning said to Ye Ling, "Wang Li Ren, you must remember that the Dao Sect is the foremost sect in Daozhou. As a Dao Sect elder from now on, you must diligently guide disciples within the sect and uphold the reputation of our Dao Sect outside."
"Your junior remembers," Ye Ling replied, bowing respectfully to Ji Ning.
"Come down with me. I have not yet informed the Sect Master and the elders about appointing you as an elder. This is a good opportunity for you all to meet and become familiar with each other."
With that, Ji Ning led Ye Ling towards the mountain gate!
"Welcome back, Grand Elder."
The Sect Master of the Dao Sect, seeing Ji Ning descend, quickly stepped forward to greet him. He then glanced at Ye Ling behind Ji Ning and asked, "Grand Elder, who is this...?"
Ji Ning introduced, "He is our Dao Sect's new Ninth Elder, Wang Li Ren... introduce yourself."
Ye Ling stepped forward, cupped his fists towards the Sect Master and elders, and smiled, "Sect Master, esteemed elders, my name is Wang Li Ren. I ask for your guidance in the future."
The Sect Master of the Dao Sect, seeing Ye Ling's youthful appearance, showed a hint of hesitation and said to Ji Ning, "Grand Elder, our sect is currently undergoing significant upheaval. The Sword Ancestor has been unable to awaken for a long time, and the entire sect is in a state of unease. Now, suddenly appointing an elder of unknown origin... I fear..."
Ji Ning's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you questioning my judgment?"
The Sect Master of the Dao Sect trembled and quickly replied, "Your junior would not dare!"
Although he was the Sect Master of the Dao Sect, everyone in the sect knew that the true authority lay with Ji Ning and Jian Shisan. His position as Sect Master was merely a figurehead.
Ji Ning cast a cold glance at the Sect Master of the Dao Sect, then said to Ye Ling, "Hmph! Wang Li Ren, it seems everyone is not convinced of your appointment as elder. If you wish to establish yourself in the Dao Sect, you must demonstrate your strength."
Ye Ling immediately said, "Senior, your junior is no match for the Sect Master and the elders. It seems I am not qualified to be an elder. I think we should forget about it..."
Ji Ning’s cold gaze swept over Ye Ling. "If you cannot be an elder, then there is no reason for me to keep you here."
Ye Ling quickly responded, "Senior, please rest assured. I will definitely make the Sect Master and all the elders wholeheartedly accept me!"
Only then did Ji Ning nod, and then said to the Sect Master of the Dao Sect, "Jian San Liu, clear out the plaza and arrange a martial competition."
"After Wang Li Ren defeats you, we will assign him his own peak and allow him to take disciples."
Hearing Ji Ning's words, Jian San Liu felt extremely displeased.
He was so certain Ye Ling could defeat them?
However, Jian San Liu dared not defy Ji Ning. He cupped his hands and bowed, "Yes..."
Ji Ning then looked at Ye Ling. "I leave this to you. I usually reside on Tianji Peak. If you have time, come and visit me on Tianji Peak."
As soon as Ji Ning said this, Jian San Liu and the other elders' expressions changed, their looks varied.
Tianji Peak was where Ji Ning resided and was also a forbidden area of the sect, a place even the Sect Master was not qualified to enter. Now, Ji Ning was asking Ye Ling to visit him on Tianji Peak if he had time, which inevitably led everyone to speculate about the relationship between Ye Ling and Ji Ning.
For a moment, several elders realized that Ye Ling had latched onto Ji Ning's influence and decided to go easy on him during the upcoming competition, secretly trying to curry favor with Ye Ling.
Jian San Liu's expression, however, turned somewhat displeased, his gaze towards Ye Ling almost murderous. He detested people who rose to power through nepotism the most!
Ye Ling, completely unconcerned with the opinions of Jian San Liu and the other elders, bowed to Ji Ning and smiled, "Senior, rest assured. Your junior will come to see you tonight."
Ye Ling's words were like a depth charge, exploding in everyone's minds and stirring up monstrous waves!
Ji Ning gave Ye Ling a deep look, then said, "That's settled. I'm leaving!"
As his voice faded, Ji Ning vanished from his spot.
After Ji Ning's departure, Jian San Liu's expression was so grim it seemed water could drip from it. He made no effort to hide his contempt for Ye Ling and arrogantly stated, "You are called Wang Li Ren, are you not? If you wish to become a Dao Sect elder, you need the agreement of more than two-thirds of the elders, including myself!"
Ye Ling glanced at Jian San Liu and the eight elders behind him, then chuckled, "Sect Master, you mean I need to defeat six of you?"
"Exactly!" Jian San Liu said coldly. "There are no weaklings among our Dao Sect elders. If you think you can safely become an elder just because the Grand Elder is backing you, that's wishful thinking!"
"If you are a good-for-nothing, even with the Grand Elder's backing, I will not let you become an elder!"
"According to your logic, if you are a good-for-nothing, then perhaps you are not fit to be the Sect Master either?" Ye Ling asked Jian San Liu with a smile, showing him no respect whatsoever. After all, he had no intention of genuinely joining the Dao Sect, and the more chaos he could sow in the Dao Sect, the better!
"You insolent brat! You dare!" Jian San Liu roared, his anger reaching its peak. He immediately struck Ye Ling with a palm, unleashing the might of a Creator God. The surrounding elders changed color and quickly led the disciples on the plaza to retreat, lest they be caught in the crossfire!
Ye Ling watched Jian San Liu's palm strike, his eyes filled with growing amusement.
"See, you are just a good-for-nothing!"
*Bang!*
Ye Ling delivered a merciless kick to Jian San Liu's abdomen, shattering Jian San Liu's protective spiritual energy and sending him flying backward, crashing into the great hall behind the training grounds.
All the elders and disciples present were stunned into silence at this sight!