Elder Fang Wuxiu, the Spiritual Sword Sect's senior, stroked his beard and then calmly spoke up:
"This little guy has indeed given us some surprises, and we acknowledge his commendable aspects.
However, we must come back to the point that cultivators have a lifespan of less than a hundred years, and their physical functions start to decline rapidly around the age of forty. That's the most direct reason.
Furthermore, even before he reaches forty, within two years, when other junior disciples gain some experience in combat and advance their cultivation, he will never be able to defeat everyone as he did today. It's destiny."
"But he did defeat everyone. We have no reason to deny him the position of an inner disciple," Ye Qingluan said, wearing an adorable pensive expression, chin resting on her hand, and her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "If we strip him of his identity as an inner disciple, I'm afraid he won't accept it."
"Master, you are too soft-hearted," Zhao Xuanyi interjected. "Why should we care if a waste like him accepts it or not?"
"But if this child is a waste, then what does it make of the disciples he defeated?" Qi Guanyun looked at Zhao Xuanyi, wearing an expression full of playful meaning.
Zhao Xuanyi choked upon hearing this, his eyes wide open. "That's a completely different matter! Inner disciples require a significant amount of resources for cultivation. It damages the interests of Emei Sect to invest in a warrior who will only be effective for twenty or thirty years."
Ye Qingluan sat on the throne and listened to the argument among the elders. She suddenly felt a headache coming on, and she looked at Li Mingru, who was still drinking heavily on the side, her cheeks puffing up with anger.
"Li Mingru! Aren't you going to say anything? He's your disciple!"
Li Mingru smacked his lips a couple of times, seemingly savoring the strong aroma of the wine, and casually replied, "What's there to say? You deal with it. He is indeed my disciple, but I'm not the sect leader."
Ye Qingluan:...
Damn it, this arrogant junior brother of mine is really getting on my nerves. I really want to give him a good beating! Sob sob sob (◦`~´◦)
"Alright, stop arguing," Ye Qingluan said, feeling exasperated. She glanced at the elders who were still arguing and said, "I'm tired of your constant bickering."
She jumped down from the throne and stood at the edge of the platform, her beautiful eyes gazing at Lin Xiaolu and the group of children below. She spoke directly:
"Lin Xiaolu, according to the decision of the sect leader, you will retain your position as an inner disciple for now. Let's set a tentative time... how about five years? We will reevaluate your progress after five years!"
Down below, the eight-year-old boy looked up excitedly upon hearing her words.
Indeed, I'm awesome! Hehe, now that the boss has agreed to provide me with opportunities and blessings, everything should be fine~
On the platform, Ye Qingluan continued with her closing remarks for the test and encouraged everyone to cultivate diligently.
Thus, the test came to a complete end, and the children on the field gradually left with their respective masters.
Carrying his wine gourd, Li Mingru waited until all the elders had left the platform, then he glanced at Ye Qingluan and, with a slight drunkenness, asked, "Senior sister, are you going back to the cave residence?"
Ye Qingluan glared at him and said, "What will we do if you don't return to the sect? How can I continue to be the sect leader of Mount Emei if I don't focus on cultivating and improving myself?"
Li Mingru's face turned red upon hearing her words. He expressed his apologies and fell silent.
"If there's nothing else, I'll continue to retreat in my cave dwelling," Ye Qingluan pouted, a tinge of sadness in her eyes. She prepared to leave, stepping on her white embroidered shoes.
Li Mingru watched her somewhat desolate figure and couldn't bear it in his heart. Suddenly, he called out, "Senior Sister."
Ye Qingluan paused in her footsteps, turned her head slightly, revealing a perfect and delicate profile, waiting for him to speak.
Li Mingru scratched his head and said, "Do you have any free time these days? I want to try a method recorded in a secret manual on Xiao Lu's cultivation, to see if it can help improve his martial arts. Can you help me with the research?"
"You can handle this yourself," Ye Qingluan turned around, crossed her arms, and said coquettishly, "How can I compare to you? You have traveled the world and seen more things, while I'm just a country bumpkin who has never left Mount Emei."
Li Mingru was taken aback by her words and nodded awkwardly, "In that case, Junior Brother, I'll..."
"Come on, let's go now," before he could finish speaking, Ye Qingluan suddenly showed a happy expression and grabbed his hand, running down from the high platform, leaving Li Mingru bewildered.
What's going on? Weren't you refusing to go?
He looked at the lively Ye Qingluan and smiled wryly. Her mentality was really similar to that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.
Over the years, the position of sect leader, the burden of leading Mount Emei, and endless seclusion for cultivation had really put too much pressure on her.
The two of them descended from the high platform, and as soon as they reached the bottom, Lin Xiaolu came running over, shouting excitedly, "Boss, am I awesome or what?"
Just as Lin Xiaolu was about to boast about his bravery to Li Mingru, he noticed that Ye Qingluan was standing beside him, causing him to swallow his words.
Li Miaoxin and Li Yaoxi were also surprised to see Ye Qingluan and hurried over to pay their respects. Only Xiao Yuer stared at Ye Qingluan blankly, looking dazed.
Li Mingru took a sip of wine and said, "Xiaolu, you did well today. In the afternoon, I will grant you a great opportunity."
Lin Xiaolu replied with a long "Oh~," and then Li Mingru looked at Xiao Yuer.
"Xiao Yuer, starting from tomorrow, you will follow me to cultivate in the Pluck Stars Sect."
Xiao Yuer, just like her brother, let out a long "Oh~."
Li Mingru couldn't address Ye Qingluan directly as "Senior Sister" in front of the disciples, so he turned to her and introduced, "Leader, these are my two unruly disciples."
Ye Qingluan bent down, lovingly looked at Xiao Yuer, and then turned to Lin Xiaolu.
"I will also participate in the opportunity that Mingru is granting you. Make sure to cultivate well and not disappoint his intentions."
Lin Xiaolu nodded repeatedly. Then, he curiously asked Ye Qingluan, who was in front of him, "Leader, are you a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage?"
"Yes," Ye Qingluan smiled and replied.
Lin Xiaolu glanced at her up and down and thought that there was nothing particularly special about a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage.
Unlike him, Li Miaoxin and Li Yaoxi both showed admiration in their eyes. This was the first time the two of them had such a close encounter with the Sect Master, the only Nascent Soul stage powerhouse of Mount Emei.
Rumors had it that anyone in the Nascent Soul stage in any sect in the Divine Land could become a venerable figure, possessing various unfathomable abilities. It was the ultimate dream of every cultivator.
After a brief exchange of jokes, they left together.
Seemingly in a playful mood, Ye Qingluan was in high spirits as she followed the group of Pluck Stars Sect disciples down from Emei Peak, heading towards Pluck Star Peak with Li Mingru, chatting and laughing along the way.
Of course, neither Senior Sister Li Miaoxin nor Lin Xiaolu, nicknamed Xiao Yuer, understood what they were talking about. Most of their conversation revolved around profound cultivation methods, which even Li Yaoxi, who had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, only partially comprehended.
Throughout the journey, Ye Qingluan kept chattering with Li Mingru until they reached the Bridge of Seeking the Dao, when Lin Xiaolu suddenly, unaware of the customs, asked, "Leader, should we eat at the Dining Hall first or should you pass on your insights to me?"
It was already noon, and she was hungry.