Chapter 270 - 8: Witty Banter or Overthinking?

Dang Jun’an and everyone else present were stunned. The seven of them exchanged glances and began communicating via telepathy.

"What’s the meaning of this?" asked the rigid Gan Zili.

"This should mean he wants to enter the Sect, right?" said the honest Fanx Qingyong.

"Isn’t that obvious? We saw that coming from a mile away. I’m asking about his attitude," the rigid Gan Zili replied.

"Could it be a hint?" the portly Yang Longying guessed.

"Does he mean he wants to remain hidden within the Sect, to be an Ordinary Disciple, and doesn’t wish to be singled out for special treatment?" said the cold Zhou Jiuyan.

"Probably. It seems this person is likely carrying some real trouble," said the honest Fanx Qingyong.

"If there wasn’t trouble, some fatal danger, why would a dignified Spirit Nurturing Master initiate the Six Paths Reincarnation?" said the portly Yang Longying.

"In that case, we shouldn’t expose him? So, should we still probe him?" Dang Jun’an asked.

"Why not? Even if he is a Spirit Nurturing Master, we should at least probe him a little," Fanx Qingyong said, looking up at the three people opposite him.

"Um, what if we scare him off? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss?" said Yang Longying.

"I doubt that would happen. Why don’t we try some verbal sparring? The Sect Leader here is quite good at it anyway," said Fanx Qingyong.

...

After Zhang Deming finished speaking, the grand hall fell into a strange silence once again.

The seven people above were darting their eyes around. He couldn’t tell if they were communicating with just their gazes.

Zhang Deming was a bit dumbfounded. ’What’s going on now?’

’Was I overthinking things just now?’

For a moment, Zhang Deming didn’t know whether he should say something more.

After a moment, Dang Jun’an suddenly spoke, breaking the eerie silence. "Ah, is that so? I wonder, fellow daoist... erm... Junior Brother, where is your old home?"

’What the hell?’

’Fellow daoist?’

’Junior Brother?’

’Is he talking to me?’

’Why do I feel like we’re not on the same wavelength at all?’

"Replying to the Ancestor, is the Ancestor asking about my hometown?

My home is in Bauhinia, Huazhou. Back then, it was Ancestor Yuee who personally brought me through the Sect’s gates and into the Miscellaneous Affairs Department of Little Qing Mountain."

Zhang Deming was full of questions, but his face remained respectful as he answered the Sect Leader’s query.

Dang Jun’an paused slightly upon hearing this, then smiled. "Huazhou, eh? That place must be the most barren among all the surrounding prefectures.

For you to be born in such a place, Junior Brother, your luck was truly a bit lacking."

’Are you sure you’re not calling me Junior Brother by mistake? Is there something wrong with your head?’

"My luck was a bit lacking, yes, but then didn’t I meet Ancestor Yuee?

For this Disciple to have met such a benefactor back then, I suppose I must have had some good fortune. My luck wasn’t too bad after all," Zhang Deming replied with a slight smile.

’Hmm?’

’Is he trying to say that his reincarnation wasn’t an arrangement of the Blessed Fortune Path, but an arrangement of Celestial Derivation Numerology?’

’Is that why he chose the Sect afterward?’

’Is he trying to say that the Sect is his great fortune in this life, and he bears no ill will?’

’If that’s the case, then the Sect has really lucked out this time!’

Dang Jun’an, assuming the two of them were engaged in verbal sparring, came up with his own interpretation and revealed a smile. "That is good fortune indeed. In that case, I, as your senior brother, can rest assured."

Zhang Deming: "???"

’What are you talking about?’

’I was just being polite and flattering you, but you accepted it so shamelessly. How am I supposed to respond to that?’

’In my past life, I was a programmer, not a salesman! I’ve deliberately practiced this art for over a decade in this life, but I still can’t keep up with this!’

"Hehe... you are right, Ancestor. About this ’Junior Brother’ you mentioned..."

Zhang Deming paused for a moment before changing the subject.

Dang Jun’an smiled. "Since you’re interested in joining the Sect, Junior Brother, our Celestial Spirit Sect welcomes you warmly. Hmm..."

At this, he turned to look at Yuee Mengsheng, who nodded. Seeing this, the three on the left looked a bit reluctant, but there was nothing they could do.

Spirit Nurturing Peak’s status in the Sect was already transcendent. Normally, it wasn’t that they didn’t fight or compete for disciples; it was because people were scrambling to send disciples to them. They didn’t need to fight at all.

If they really wanted to compete for someone, among the four core divisions, even the Sect Leader’s faction would have to yield.

After all, the Sect still had the Supreme Elders. And with the Supreme Elders, Spirit Nurturing Peak still held a great deal of sway.

Besides, a Spirit Nurturing Master entering the Sect was a matter for Spirit Nurturing Peak to begin with. Their claim was perfectly justifiable; it couldn’t even be considered a competition.

Dang Jun’an paused, then continued, "Hmm... At present, Spirit Nurturing Peak only has three Peak Masters, which is indeed a bit few. Why don’t you take up the position of Peak Master, Junior Brother?

In terms of status, you would be our equal. What do you think?"

’Only three Peak Masters is considered few?’

’Don’t think you can just bullshit me because I don’t know the Inner Sect.’

’Uh, wait. So you’re calling me Junior Brother because you want me to become an Ancestor?’

’But I’m only at the Tai Chi realm! Isn’t something wrong here?’

’Also, what do you mean, "what do I think?" Is this something you should be discussing with me?’

At this moment, Zhang Deming grew even more bewildered. Of course, the idea of running away slowly began to dissipate.

He gently raised his eyes and glanced at the seven people above him. Right now, every single one of them was staring at him.

’Are you guys serious?’

’Why do I get the feeling that the upper echelons of the Celestial Spirit Sect are all a bit crazy? We’re on completely different wavelengths!’

His thoughts raced. Finally, Zhang Deming chuckled and said, "Ancestor, with this Disciple’s Cultivation, isn’t the position of Peak Master a bit... high?"

Dang Jun’an paused at his words. "That was indeed inconsiderate of me. This might indeed attract attention, which would be detrimental to your... desire for a peaceful life, Junior Brother.

How about this? You can take the Peak Master Order first, and only the few of us here will know of your identity.

As for the announcement, we won’t issue it to the various departments for now. Publicly, you can be a direct... hmm... an Ordinary Core Disciple of Spirit Nurturing Peak. What do you think, Junior Brother?

Of course, if you’re willing to formally take a master on the surface, becoming a direct disciple is also an option.

However, the Martial Uncle who is qualified to take a Peak Master as a direct disciple went into seclusion some time ago, so that’s a bit troublesome. We’d have to wait a while.

For now, let’s have you take the public identity of a Core Disciple. Whenever you feel it’s time to become a Peak Master, Junior Brother, just say the word. We will then issue the announcement and hold a celebration.

What do you think of this arrangement, Junior Brother?"

’Peak Master?’

’Direct disciple?’

’Core?’

’And you want me to become a disciple of a Supreme Elder?’

’Don’t tell me in this life I’m the illegitimate son of some old geezer and just never knew it?’

’Or maybe that birth father I have no memory of is some hidden final boss?’

Zhang Deming, still bewildered, gave a smile and said, "Um... This Disciple will follow the Ancestor’s arrangements!"

He realized that the place he’d walked into today was completely off. The plans he’d prepared, the backup strategies, the speeches—not a single one was of any use.

’I wasted so many damn days preparing!’

’I didn’t even get to use my most surprising Oratory tactics!’

Hearing this, Dang Jun’an smiled. The six old men around him also showed hints of a smile. He said with a grin:

"In that case, let’s consider it settled. I called you here today, Junior Brother, for two reasons. The first was the matter of you joining the Sect, which we have now satisfactorily arranged.

As for the second matter... I wonder, Junior Brother, have you heard that a Spirit Nurturing Master has recently appeared in Celestial Spirit City?"

The bewildered Zhang Deming’s Heart Spirit instantly clenched, and he almost lost his composure.

’What does he mean by this?’

’Asking me this all of a sudden... it’s clearly not for no reason.’

His mind raced. Zhang Deming put on a puzzled expression and said, "Ancestor..."

"Junior Brother, don’t be so formal with me. Just call me Senior Brother," Dang Jun’an said.

Zhang Deming paused, then said, "Se... Senior Brother, this kind of matter... you shouldn’t be asking me about it, should you?"

"Hah, don’t be such a stranger, Junior Brother. You’re already the Fourth Peak Master of Spirit Nurturing Peak, aren’t you?

Even though we haven’t issued a notice to the Sect, internally, we all know it, don’t we?

We were going to discuss this Spirit Nurturing Master matter today anyway. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have called the three Peak Masters of Spirit Nurturing Peak to come along."

Dang Jun’an gestured to the three elders on his right. They nodded at Zhang Deming. Then, Dang Jun’an continued:

"Since you are now the Fourth Peak Master of Spirit Nurturing Peak, Junior Brother, we naturally need to ask for your opinion on this matter, don’t we?"

As Dang Jun’an spoke, Zhang Deming’s tense nerves slowly began to relax.

Dang Jun’an continued, "We discussed it for a while earlier. Our preliminary guess is that this is a wild Loose Cultivator Spirit Nurturing Master with no affiliation. We intend to recruit them. What do you think of this conclusion, Junior Brother?"