Chapter 123: Joining Purple Cloud Sect

Xiao Li looked toward the sound; a middle-aged man stepped into the side hall, his brow showing a trace of fatigue that could not hide his excitement.

"Vice Sect Master?"

A low voice tinged with surprise from beside drew Xiao Li's attention.

"I am Xiao Li."

Xiao Li clasped his hands, feeling a bit more wary; he had thought an elder responsible for this would receive him, but instead a Vice Sect Master came directly.

Being able to serve as Vice Sect Master in a Fighting Sect–level clan, this person's strength goes without saying; there is a ninety percent chance they are at the peak of Fighting Emperor, possibly even a Fighting Sect powerhouse, showing how much Purple Cloud Sect values Xiao Li's arrival.

The other party observed proper etiquette, so Xiao Li naturally did not stand on ceremony.

"I am the Vice Sect Master of Purple Cloud Sect, Yan Li."

Yan Li chuckled, "I heard Brother Xiao wanted to join our Purple Cloud Sect, so I rushed over right away; please forgive any shortcomings in the reception."

Xiao Li smiled, "Your sect's etiquette is impeccable; I, Xiao, am overwhelmed by the honor."

Afterwards, Yan Li confirmed Xiao Li's strength; after some scrutiny, Xiao Li officially took up the post of Elder in the Mission Hall of Purple Cloud Sect.

The two walked along, with Yan Li familiarizing Xiao Li with Purple Cloud Sect's affairs.

"Is Elder Xiao an outsider?"

Xiao Li nodded, "I came to travel from the Jia Ma Empire; hearing of the Thunderstorm Canyon in the Li You Empire, I deliberately came here to cultivate."

Yan Li understood; they do not particularly reject outsiders, even in Central State there is no habit of excluding foreigners—everything is decided by strength.

Looking at Xiao Li's youthful face, Yan Li casually asked, "Elder Xiao, you have reached the Fighting King realm at such a young age; the future holds promise for Fighting Sect."

"Sect Master Yan overpraises me; I merely happened to take a Youth-preserving Pill, my real age is forty-two." Xiao Li concealed his age.

Yan Li did not ask further, then said, "Since Elder Xiao came for the Thunderstorm Canyon, you likely wish to enter the forbidden zone; if you stay two years in the Mission Hall, your contributions will be enough to gain entry."

"However..." Yan Li seemed to think of something, his expression a little awkward.

"Because disciple numbers have declined over the years, some quotas have been released by the sect; if Elder Xiao is in a hurry, you can simply purchase one."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li did not become overly anxious; instead he inquired about the disciple numbers.

"Sect Master Yan, along my journey I've seen that the number of disciples seems a bit mismatched with the sect's scale."

Hearing Xiao Li's question, Yan Li could not conceal it, sighing and saying, "It's like this..."

After hearing Yan Li finish, Xiao Li finally understood.

A year earlier, the riot of magic beasts suppressed by Purple Cloud Sect; the high-level Fighting Sect strength of those beasts caused massive casualties to the sect in a short time, and only with timely reinforcement from the great experts of the Li You Empire was Purple Cloud Sect preserved, the magic beasts repressed again.

Seeing a strange look cross Xiao Li's face, Yan Li hastily explained, "It was not intentional concealment; this magic beast has been severely wounded and may not emerge for decades, so we did not inform."

Precisely because of the magic beast's influence, many from the Li You Empire are unwilling to join Purple Cloud Sect; who knows when the magic beast will appear again.

"Sect Master Yan has misunderstood; I am merely curious why this magic beast was not slain." "This..." Upon saying this, Yan Li visibly hesitated.

"This matter concerns our sect's secrets; sorry, I cannot answer. When you one day sit in my position, you will know."

Yan Li smiled and changed the subject.

Only those at the level of Vice Sect Master or higher can know?

Xiao Li furrowed his brows, somewhat puzzled, but did not press further; his main purpose for coming here remains the strange lightning.

From Yan Li he learned that to purchase a forbidden-zone quota, one needs fifth-grade items as exchange, either two fifth-grade magic cores, or a fifth-grade pill, or something of equivalent value.

Unfortunately, the magic beast's magic cores have all been absorbed by Xiao Li; he does have fifth-grade pills, but those were left by Yao Lao for Xiao Li's self-preservation, better kept as a trump card.

In the Purple Cloud Sect Mission Hall, the two elders in the Elders' Meeting Room had been waiting a long time.

"Elder Ling, the sect just notified us that another elder has arrived; I don't know their strength," Wang Changqing asked.

Ling Ruoxu gave him a sideways glance; because she possesses the art of preserving youth, though over forty she still has the grace of a beautiful woman, her complexion like frost, her eyebrows like indigo dye, her eyes clear as spring water.

"How would I know... it seems they've arrived."

Wang Changqing blinked, then together with Ling Ruoxu looked toward the doorway; a handsome youth walked into the meeting room.

"Huh? Which disciple are you? I've never seen you before," Wang Changqing frowned; this is the Elders' Meeting Room, where ordinary disciples are not allowed to enter.

Before arriving, Yan Li had already told Xiao Li the characteristics of the two elders; the male one is Wang Changqing.

Wearing an elegant long dress, her head adorned with exquisite jewelry, her bearing graceful and dignified, her appearance though stern, yet upon close observation one sees in her bright eyes a softness and warmth; her voice like heavenly music, making one feel warm and intimate, calm and decisive yet full of wisdom, able to face myriad difficulties, never forgetting to uphold her inner convictions and principles—this is Female Elder Ling Ruoxu.

Xiao Li still cannot forget Yan Li's admiring expression; at a glance he is clearly an old man fallen into a late-life infatuation.

Hmm... it is quite possible it is unrequited love, for as Xiao Li knows, Yan Li is already married, and his wife is quite fierce; there is a deep bite mark on his wrist, its size indicating it is from a woman.

"I am the newly arrived elder, Xiao Li; please advise me, both of you."

Speaking, Xiao Li released a thread of thick aura, blocking Wang Changqing's mouth as he was about to question.

The meeting went smoothly; everyone was no longer those ignorant youths who do not know the heights of heaven and depths of earth, their conduct had propriety, especially understanding one principle.

Before one has figured out a person's background, never offend them.

Caution and vigilance remain the unchanging truth of the cultivation world.

Afterwards the three divided the work: seven days a week, each works two days, on Sunday they hold a small meeting to summarize; the stipend is acceptable, but Xiao Li lacks nothing in money or resources, so he did not say more.

Xiao Li, newly arrived and without lodging, stayed in the employee dormitory of Purple Cloud Sect Limited Liability Company; as a domestic top‑hundred enterprise, the quarters for mid‑level cadres are quite decent, a small villa.

To one side of Xiao Li's residence is the dwelling of Female Elder Ling Ruoxu; on the other side is a disciple's quarters. According to Wang Changqing, this disciple is the descendant of an elder who died in battle a year ago; the sect provides such disciples with better conditions and resources as compensation.

(End of Chapter)