Chapter 84: Ziyang Palace Slot

After Zhang Guihua left holding Wang Ping'an, Xuanqing Daozhang let out a sigh of relief; he really was worried that Luo Liang had seen Wang Ping'an's Innate Dao Body and would compete with him for a disciple.

Don't be fooled by his being older and having higher cultivation than Luo Liang; Luo Liang is an Immortal Official of Qingyang County, not only more promising than a wild Daoist temple abbot, but also comes from a cultivation family.

Luo Liang contended with him for Wang Ping'an; he wasn't overly worried about that, but he feared that Luo Liang would report Wang Ping'an's matter to his family.

The rise and fall of a cultivation family is hugely tied to the development of its cultivation youths.

A powerful cultivation family, besides having a heavyweight seated in the clan, must also produce one talented youth after another.

Besides relying on its own-clan youths, it also needs gifted outsiders.

Once the cultivation family Luo Liang belongs to learns of Wang Ping'an's situation, without hesitation its elders, even the clan head, will step forward and offer various benefits to draw Wang Ping'an into their family.

With such generous gestures, these cultivation families, when luring talented youths, will present one irresistible condition after another, even hard for him to refuse.

Logically, he shouldn't stop Wang Ping'an from soaring upward, but he also has selfish motives.

So.

Earlier, when Luo Liang approached Zhang Guihua, he feared Luo Liang would discern Wang Ping'an's extraordinary nature, so he prepared to stand up and block Luo Liang's line of sight.

He didn't expect that he had overestimated Luo Liang—no, actually Luo Liang hadn't paid much attention to Wang Ping'an, or hadn't kept him in mind.

Even hearing that Wang Ping'an is a Great Benevolent Person Reincarnation, they might take it as a joke.

Because they didn't scrutinize Wang Ping'an, they failed to notice his extraordinary qualities.

Xuanqing Daozhang, not wanting Luo Liang to focus on his disciple Ping'an, said bluntly, "Brother Luo, why aren't you returning to Qingyang County now and coming here to find me? Is there something urgent?"

"Xuanqing Shixiong, we are both of Ziyang Palace; I entered after you, so calling me a Dao friend is too distant; you should call me junior brother!"

Luo Liang, in a serious tone, said, "Now that senior brother is here, and I, as junior brother, came down from Qingyang County, shouldn't I meet senior brother?"

Xuanqing Daozhang smiled lightly, not taking Luo Liang's words to heart.

Once.

He perhaps took Luo Liang's words seriously; when he first entered Ziyang Palace, he met a youth who had joined earlier, and after just calling him 'senior brother', he was immediately mocked and ridiculed.

They said he was a wild Daoist who appeared out of nowhere, unfit to be his junior brother.

At that time.

It was in front of a large crowd, one of the most humiliating moments of his life!

Xuanqing Daozhang said calmly, "Brother Luo, I still need to pray for my disciple in a moment!"

Luo Liang sensed the unfamiliar tone in Xuanqing Daozhang's words, but didn't mind; when one has a request, even if the speech is awkward or he receives a few mocking remarks, he must endure, and said, "Xuanqing Shixiong, you are truly kind to your disciple!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xuanqing Daozhang opened his mouth, realizing he had no patience for idle talk, and interjected, "Senior brother, don't say that; junior brother actually has a matter to find someone about, the Evil Cultivator issue!"

Xuanqing Daozhang asked, "Hasn't the Evil Cultivator already been dealt with?"

Luo Liang gave an awkward smile, seeming to want to say something, but a sidelong glance at Wang Lin left the words at the tip of his tongue unsaid.

"Brother Luo, Wang Lin and I are of the same matter; he is not an outsider, so whatever it is, feel free to tell me!"

Xuanqing Daozhang said again, "Of course, Wang Lin is not a talkative person; he won't spread what you say!" Luo Liang took a deep breath and said, "Senior brother, could we say that I killed that Evil Cultivator?"

"You did it?"

Xuanqing Daozhang was first startled, then recovered, looking at Luo Liang oddly; yet Luo Liang's face showed no hint of embarrassment, and he smiled brightly, saying:

"If the matter is easy, it's easy; if it's hard, it's hard—it's up to you, Brother Luo, how you handle it!"

Luo Liang wasn't foolish; how could he not catch Xuanqing Daozhang's obvious hint? He said earnestly, "Senior brother, as long as you agree to this matter, besides the conditions you previously promised,"

"that's a Ziyang Palace slot, are you certain?"

Xuanqing Daozhang was surprised.

Luo Liang nodded.

Xuanqing Daozhang wanted to ask what exactly was happening that would make Luo Liang relinquish a Ziyang Palace slot; such a slot can not only train one's own disciples but also be sold to other cultivation families for cultivation resources.

It could be said that the Ziyang Palace offers this as a benefit for accomplished cultivators who leave the sect.

=9+book bar

At the same time.

It also allows Ziyang Palace to attract gifted cultivation youths!

Besides Ziyang Palace, other cultivation sects do much the same.

However.

They only have a slot every five to ten years!

Luo Liang said earnestly, "Senior brother, I recall you still have two disciples; when they reach the appropriate age, we can't say they should continue cultivating with you, nor claim that learning from you is futile—only that Ziyang Palace is the best path!"

Even if Luo Liang didn't mention it, Xuanqing Daozhang himself was troubled about how to arrange his two disciples; studying at Ziyang Palace is the best development, yet Xuanqing sees that there is only one slot.

Whichever disciple is sent to Ziyang Palace, it seems unsuitable!

Moreover, Ziyang Palace restricts entry by slot to ages ten to twenty!

Now using this slot, waiting for another would take the next decade, yet regardless of which disciple, they are already over twenty.

Therefore.

During this period, he was very troubled by this matter.

Did not expect...

Drowsiness hit like a pillow!

Xuanqing Daozhang wanted to agree outright, but he knew this matter was done by Wang Ping'an; even the Sword Qi in Wang Ping'an's dantian counts as Wang Ping'an's. How could he trade someone else's affairs—especially his own disciple's—for his own conditions?

He wanted to agree, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Xuanqing Daozhang took a deep breath, suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, turned to the silent, wooden-like Wang Lin beside him, and said, "Wang Lin, what do you think of this matter?"

Luo Liang gave a strange glance, not expecting Xuanqing to ask Wang Lin about such a matter; it seemed Wang Lin held a certain standing in his mind—no, rather, his newly accepted disciple held that position.

Although.

He wanted to say that Xuanqing treated his affair like a transaction, but thinking of how important this matter was to him, the words at his mouth were swallowed back.

Wang Lin understood the meaning in Xuanqing Daozhang's words and said: "Xuanqing Daozhang, you are the master of my family's Ping'an; his affairs you decide, and our family has no objection!"

(End of chapter)