A Waste

Li Qingyang advocated for saving the injured youth, while Lu Yan argued against it. Their differing opinions reflected their distinct personalities.

"Sister!" Li Qingyang appealed earnestly, "Saving a life is the right thing to do."

Wang Jun often chuckled silently, aware of the contrasting views between the two.

"Enough," Lu Yan remarked dispassionately. "People die every day in Starfall Continent. Can we save them all?"

Li Qingyang fell into silence, unsure of how to respond.

Lu Yan continued, "We are martial artists, not healers. Our resources are limited, and there are more important uses for our elixirs."

Wang Jun often patted Li Qingyang's shoulder with a smile, offering his perspective. "Qingyang, your compassion is commendable, but sometimes, reality forces us to make tough decisions."

"Head, I..." Li Qingyang began but couldn't find the right words.

Li Qingyang was left with a sense of remorse but didn't continue the conversation. Wang Jun often chuckled and explained, "Back then, I didn't fully grasp the value of the ancient elixir, so I used it without much thought. Now that I understand its true worth, I'll be extremely cautious and won't use it casually to save unrelated individuals."

Lu Yan remarked dryly, "At least that's settled."

Li Qingyang, in a somewhat bitter tone, asked, "Head, when you saved me with that healing pill, did you regret it?"

Wang Jun often shook his head, a faint but warm smile playing on his lips. He spoke with a sense of assurance, "No regrets. Rescuing you not only saved a life but also presented me with the chance to welcome you into the Solid Strike Sect, where you've become our second disciple. I look forward to seeing you grow and thrive within our martial family. It's a decision I'm truly content with."

Li Qingyang found solace in his words. 

Walking up to the comatose teenager, Wang Jun smiled and whispered, "With this Healing Dan, let me welcome another talented disciple. I hope that this time, we'll also gain unexpected benefits."

Lu Yan questioned, "You're saving him?"

Wang Jun chuckled. "One disciple has already died recently, and saving him will fill that gap."

Lu Yan remained silent. Despite their brief interactions, she understood that the head's decisions were firm and unlikely to change.

"Ding!"

"The host consumes 1 point of contribution value to get the primary healing pill x 1 and has been delivered to the space ring."

"Ding!"

"Martial contribution: 29/100."

It had been over a month since Li Qingyang's rescue, and Wang Jun had almost forgotten about redeeming items using his contribution points. However, when it came to healing injuries quickly, he didn't hesitate to spend 1 point of contribution.

Wang Jun called out the Healing pill and tossed it to the injured youth. Lu Yan couldn't help but comment, "Head, do you really think that someone as talented as Second Brother can be saved so easily?"

Wang Jun replied with a casual shrug, "Maybe luck."

Lu Yan glared at him and retorted, "If he truly has great talents, how could he be bullied by a few mediocre individuals at the meridian opening realm?"

Wang Jun admitted, "You have a point."

As the healing elixir took effect, the young man slowly regained consciousness. Blinking his eyes open, he uttered with a hint of disbelief, "Am... am I still alive?"

Wang Jun smiled warmly, "Yes, you're alive."

The young boy got up from the bed, straightened his tousled hair, and examined the person in front of him. Then, with determination in his eyes, he bowed and said, "Sect head, please allow me to join the Solid Strike Sect!"

Wang Jun raised an eyebrow, "Do you know who I am?"

The youth replied, "I met you one month ago during the recruitment event. I wish to join the Solid Strike Sect and learn martial arts under your guidance!"

"So it is," Wang Jun acknowledged. He then inquired further, "What's your name, and where is your family located?"

The young boy introduced himself, "My name is Xiao Guiji, and my family is the Xiao family from Liyang City."

Li Qingyang, with surprise, interjected, "You're Xiao Guiji from Liyang City"

Wang Jun, intrigued, asked, "Do you know him?"

Li Qingyang explained, "Xiao Guiji is a legendary genius with exceptional spiritual roots, a once-in-a-thousand-year talent known to everyone in Azure Sun County."

Wang Jun was wide-eyed with astonishment, "Exceptional spiritual roots?"

Even Lu Yan, standing nearby, couldn't help but give Xiao Guiji a curious look. It seemed almost unbelievable that a ragged teenager like him could possess better spiritual roots than the Sect's Second Brother.

Wang Jun couldn't contain his laughter, "Haha! It seems I've struck gold again!"

With the acquisition of a Healing pill earlier and now this exceptional talent, Wang Jun felt like his luck was on a winning streak.

He made an announcement, "From today onwards, you are my ninety-ninth disciple."

Xiao Guiji, brimming with excitement, respectfully saluted, "Disciple Xiao Guiji, pleased to meet the head."

Wang Jun nodded with a smile and instructed, "Qingyang, fetch an entry token for him."

Li Qingyang complied but added a word of caution, "Head, I need to clarify something. This man was once a once-in-a-thousand-year genius, but for some reason, his spiritual roots degraded to a lower grade. They're no longer exceptional."

Wang Jun couldn't help but regret his earlier comment, feeling like he had put his foot in his mouth. It was too late to take it back now. He realized that such an important matter should have been communicated more delicately.

Li Qingyang clarified further, saying, "Somehow, his spiritual potential declined, and as a result, his fiancée came with someone else to the Xiao family to cancel their engagement and humiliate him. Afterward, feeling ashamed, the Xiao family kicked him out of their home."

Wang Jun often smiled slightly.

Genius turned into waste, fiancee remarrying... Aren't these the beginnings of standard novels, where they all become born protagonists? I never expected to encounter such a story among my disciples. 

With a chuckle, Wang Jun caught his disciple's enthusiasm and said, "Go and get the entry token."

"Yes," Li Qingyang replied, then stepped back to retrieve the entry token.

Although Li Qingyang spoke quietly about his conditions, Xiao Guiji heard it all. He hung his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palms, trying to endure the pain.

Lu Lu held her hand and said lightly, "Master, such a waste..." Wang Jun smiled with a knowing expression, and Lu Lu immediately closed her mouth, realizing she had spoken out of turn.

"Head!"

Xiao Guiji sadly asked, "Are you okay with recruiting someone like me, who's considered a waste?"

"No," Wang Jun replied honestly with a smile.

Feeling dejected, Xiao Guiji admitted, "I understand. I don't think I deserve to be a disciple of Solid Strike Sect. You've already done so much for me."

Li Qingyang rushed over with the introductory token, noticing Xiao Guiji's dejected departure. He asked Lu Yan, puzzled, "Sister, what's wrong with him?"

Lu Yan replied indifferently, "He feels like a waste and believes he's not qualified to join the Solid Strike Sect, so he chose to leave on his own."

Observing Xiao Guiji's despondent departure, Li Qingyang tried to offer some comfort, "Guiji, you were once a rare genius. If you stay with the Solid Strike Sect, under the guidance of the head, you'll surely recover everything you've lost."

Xiao Guiji, however, had already walked away, weighed down by his sense of inadequacy and disappointment.