Chapter 67: Senior Brother, Where’s Our Master?

The Lingxi Sect had eight mountain peaks—four on the north bank, three on the south bank, and in the very center stood the Zhongdao Mountain, the core of Lingxi Sect's external power.

Usually, the sect leader Zheng Yuandong handled all sect affairs right there.

At this moment, as the bell tolled throughout the sect, the mountain lords from both the north and south banks arrived and took their seats in the main hall. The sect leader sat in the central position.

Before long, Li Qinghou and Ouyang Jie brought Bai Xiaochun to wait outside the hall, while the two of them entered inside.

Outside the hall, four disciples stood guard, each looking curiously at Bai Xiaochun.

Bai Xiaochun smiled at them. It was his first time here, so he glanced around. The spiritual energy was dense, the grass and flowers fragrant, like a fairyland—quiet and peaceful, nothing like the noisy Xiangyun Mountain.

This was a key place of the sect, so normally other disciples came cautiously. But Bai Xiaochun seemed completely at ease, standing there calmly.

The four disciples nearby all felt admiration inwardly. It was no wonder he had earned such great merit for the sect; even his composed aura was unlike an ordinary person's.

In truth, Bai Xiaochun was afraid of death, but thinking of the merits he'd made and that he definitely wouldn't die here, he held his head high and was filled with anticipation for the rewards he might receive.

"With my contributions, I should at least get a pill to extend my life by a hundred years, a million contribution points, the best cave dwelling, and of course, the status of an inner disciple, haha," Bai Xiaochun thought excitedly. But after waiting a long time, there was no summons from inside the hall.

Bai Xiaochun grew puzzled and waited even longer, until he was about to sneeze, when a helpless voice finally came from inside:

"Bai Xiaochun, come in."

Energized, Bai Xiaochun took a deep breath, trying to look ready to risk fire and water for the sect. He strode into the hall and, as soon as he entered, clasped his fists and bowed.

"Xiangyun Mountain disciple Bai Xiaochun, greetings to the Sect Leader and respected seniors."

After bowing, Bai Xiaochun raised his head and saw an old man seated in the center. The old man wore a white robe and radiated an imposing presence. His cultivation was unfathomably deep.

Around him sat eight others—six men and two women—including Li Qinghou and Ouyang Jie. All of them looked at Bai Xiaochun with surprise that he had survived and appraised him carefully.

They glanced repeatedly at Bai Xiaochun's bloodstained robe. With their keen eyes, they could tell the tears were from a fierce battle, not some deliberate damage.

Especially Bai Xiaochun's clean, obedient appearance, combined with his calm and neither arrogant nor humble expression, impressed everyone.

Though their faces showed no emotion, their impression of Bai Xiaochun grew even better, but inwardly, they still felt somewhat strange.

"Bai Xiaochun, please give a detailed account of the mission to the Luo Chen Clan," Li Qinghou said kindly.

Bai Xiaochun became solemn and calmly recounted everything from start to finish, but he did not mention the black-robed elder—that was his own secret.

He also spoke of Feng Yan's sacrifice and the hardships along the way. Being clever, he downplayed his own merits and instead praised Feng Yan, Du Lingfei, and Hou Yunfei.

"It's all my fault, Feng Senior Brother died saving me, it's all my fault..." The more he said this, the more admiration he saw in the sect leader's eyes.

However, these veterans had many years of cultivation and sharp minds. From the moment Bai Xiaochun entered wearing that robe, they had already sensed his personality. Despite that, they still admired him.

"After you fainted, you recovered completely?" The sect leader smiled. He didn't press Bai Xiaochun's explanations further because every disciple had secrets. The sect valued loyalty, not total control, which would only breed resentment.

"Bai Xiaochun, your rewards were already given out months ago. For several months now, you have been the Lingxi Sect's... Honorary Disciple!" When the sect leader spoke these words, he felt a strange sensation in his heart. This was the first time he had seen a living honorary disciple.

They had discussed this in the hall before, feeling troubled because the title of Honorary Disciple was extremely important. Previously, it was only given posthumously to those who died in battle. Never had there been a living one. Now Bai Xiaochun appeared alive and kicking before them...

When they first received the news, everyone was stunned.

Moreover, the title was difficult to revoke—the funeral was held, the merits confirmed, and all this troubled everyone. That was why Bai Xiaochun was made to wait outside so long.

After discussion, they couldn't change it. According to sect rules, the title must be maintained.

"Honorary Disciple?" Bai Xiaochun was stunned. He'd never heard that title before. Standing there waiting so long, eagerly watching the elders' expressions, which all looked strange, and hearing no further mention of rewards, he couldn't help but ask:

"Uh... that's it? No more?"

"No more," the sect leader forced a smile.

Bai Xiaochun immediately became anxious. Just as he was about to reason about how hard the journey had been and how he barely escaped death, Li Qinghou cleared his throat. He knew Bai Xiaochun's temperament well.

"Quickly thank the Sect Leader. So far, Lingxi Sect has only ever had ten Honorary Disciples in a thousand years, and you're the first—and only—one now.

Being an Honorary Disciple places you above even inner disciples. It's the highest honor in Lingxi Sect. Your bloodline descendants will enjoy all sect resources, be born inner disciples, and the sect will protect your bloodline clan forever.

There are nine great families in Lingxi Sect, all Honorary Families. It's a brilliant and prestigious title," Li Qinghou explained.

Bai Xiaochun heard this and frowned deeply. His aura vanished. He looked pitifully at Li Qinghou and the sect leader.

He didn't know what to say. The Honorary Disciple title sounded great, but it was clearly meant for the dead. Its rewards were for descendants. But he was still alive...

At that moment, Bai Xiaochun sadly realized he had fallen to the level of a father envying his children.

"Th-thank you... Sect Leader..." Bai Xiaochun said with a mournful face, weakly.

"From today on, you can call me Senior Brother Sect Leader," Zheng Yuandong cleared his throat awkwardly. He felt very uncomfortable—he had proposed to be Bai Xiaochun's master because he thought Bai Xiaochun was dead, but now that he had returned alive, the thought of addressing a boy under twenty as a senior brother made him sigh inwardly.

"Huh?" Bai Xiaochun's eyes widened. His emotions had been through a rollercoaster—high hopes when entering the hall, then crushed by reality, and now this new twist.

"Because of your merits and since you have no master, I have decided that you will take my master as your master. From now on, I'm your senior brother," the sect leader said, more awkward than ever.

Bai Xiaochun took a deep breath and suddenly looked excited. He felt the sect treated him well. Thinking of the sect leader's master—surely a Grand Elder of the sect—his eyes gleamed.

"Now, who dares bully me? My master is awesome, haha!" Bai Xiaochun was ecstatic and immediately clasped his fists in deep gratitude.

"Thanks, Senior Brother! Senior Brother, where is our master? I want to pay my respects to the elder right away," Bai Xiaochun said eagerly and happily.

"Not yet. His portrait from before his passing is enshrined in the back mountain. I've already arranged for someone to prepare it. I will take you there shortly," the sect leader said with a strange expression.

"Passed away... enshrined in the back mountain..." Bai Xiaochun felt like he'd been struck by heavenly thunder. He stood there, stunned, the six words ringing in his mind before he finally realized that the master he had just sworn allegiance to had... already passed away.

"I..." Bai Xiaochun felt smoke pouring from his orifices, his head buzzing, and his heart dropped again. He felt utterly helpless and tearless.

He didn't even notice how he left. Lost in thought, he followed the sect leader to the back mountain, bowed to a portrait as his master, then walked out of Zhongdao Mountain in a daze and returned to Xiangyun Mountain.

On Xiangyun Mountain, many disciples saw him and hurried to greet him, their eyes full of curiosity. Some kindly took the confused Bai Xiaochun to see his tombstone.

Looking at the tombstone, Bai Xiaochun felt like the sky had darkened.

"I... I swore allegiance to a portrait as my master..." Bai Xiaochun returned to his courtyard without knowing how, sitting blankly in front of his wooden hut, overcome by grief and anger.

For several days, he wore a gloomy expression. It was only after half a month that he gradually recovered from the blow.

Sighing sadly, he walked out of his room, preparing to visit Zhang Dapang to catch up. But just as he stepped out, an outer disciple he encountered immediately clasped fists deeply and said:

"Greetings, Uncle Bai."

Bai Xiaochun stopped, eyes shining brightly, and grabbed the outer disciple's arm.

"What did you call me?"

"Uncle Bai, you are the sect leader's junior senior brother, so naturally I must call you Uncle Bai," the outer disciple said quickly, startled.

Bai Xiaochun released his grip, his eyes shining brighter, his heart pounding. He realized that this identity wasn't worthless after all—the seniority was intimidating.

He licked his lips and suddenly burst out laughing. The disciple was startled and quickly backed away, unsure what had come over Bai Xiaochun.

Bai Xiaochun quickly suppressed his laughter, cleared his throat, put on a senior's demeanor, and nodded slightly.

Instead of visiting Zhang Dapang, he headed eagerly to the mission office—because... there were more people there.

Meanwhile, on top of Xiangyun Mountain, after returning, Li Qinghou immediately went into seclusion. Sitting cross-legged, he pondered deeply. Flicking his large sleeve, his expression grew serious as he began refining pills.

"This kid Xiaochun has a stubborn personality. I need to prepare a life-saving treasure for him. Unfortunately, I'm not skilled in refining artifacts, so I'll refine a batch of Nine Absolutes Pills to trade with Danxi Sect... artifacts for Qi Condensation disciples like this clearly look like they're for nephews and nieces. Danxi Sect will definitely charge a high price," Li Qinghou murmured, shaking his head but not caring much. Even the Nine Absolutes Pills took great effort to refine. Thinking of Xiaochun's near-death ordeal, he focused his mind and began the pill furnace.