Li Wei led Wu Feng and the others into a spacious hall.
Hall Master Qin Huo who sat on the master seat looked over. His gaze lingered on Wu Feng a little longer than others.
Besides him, there were also a few elders. All of them seemed to put more attention to Wu Feng.
Li Wei who stands in front saluted. "Reporting to Hall Master and esteemed elders. I have led the new South Pilgrim Hall disciples from the Wu Clan."
Wu Feng took a step forward. He saluted with a deep bow. "Wu Feng paid respect to the South Pilgrim Hall Master and esteemed elders."
Behind him the Wu Clan disciples chorused, "Wu Leng Jing (Wu Yan Fei, Wu Yong, Wu Mei) paid respect to the South Pilgrim Hall Master and esteemed elders."
"Good. Now you can follow Li Wei to your cultivation caves." Qin Hao only nodded and no longer paid them any attention.
"Please wait, Hall Master Qin."
Before Li Wei and the others got the chance to turn back, an elder with a crooked nose raised his voice.
Wu Feng glanced at that elder. He wore an amiable smile while looking at them, but somehow Wu Feng felt uncomfortable in his presence.
"What opinion do you have, elder Gu?" Qin Hao asked in an indifference tone.
"It is a little embarrassing, Hall Master. At the entrance trial, I saw disciple Feng here have unparalleled talent. Coincidentally a few years I have obtained an ancient cultivation technique that seemed compatible with True Five Elements Spiritual Roots. It seems that disciple Feng has some fate with me. I wanted to take him as disciple, at least as long as he is in the Outer Hall."
Here, elder Gu emphasized the Outer Hall which was officially known as South Pilgrim Hall to implicitly send a message that after Wu Feng entered Inner Hall, he would pass on the responsibility as master to the other elder that was more qualified.
Elder Gu did not dare to overstep the boundary by taking Wu Feng as true disciple because any decision related to such a talent can only be decided by sect master.
In the eyes of others, the move taken by Elder Gu is normal. Who would not want such a potentially powerful talent?
But Wu Feng felt uncomfortable in his heart. That elder who just met him for the first time called him disciple Feng without using his surname. He felt like Elder Gu is looking down on him. Such a subconscious act must have been a reflection of what he hid deep inside his heart. Coupled with his instinct, he became wary of Elder Gu's intention.
In fact, the Gu Clan is a rival clan of the Wu. Their territory, Nan commandery laid beyond the western border of Jiang Xia. They always maintain neutral relationship with Wu Clan, but Wu Zhuang Yan always reminded Wu Clan disciples to be careful when they meet the disciples of Gu Clan.
Qin Huo pondered for a moment before saying, "Elder Gu, such matter can only be decided by sect master. It is useless to say it to me."
Elder Gu laughed. "Right, right. I was too hasty. I have made Hall Qin laughed at me."
He then looked at Wu Feng and said with an amiable tone, "disciple Feng, in the future if you have questions on cultivation, even if I am not your master, you can ask me. It will be my joy to give some pointers to an excellent student like you."
Li Wei revealed an envious expression that he hurriedly concealed when he heard Elder Gu.
But Wu Feng replied calmly with a salute, "thank you for the esteemed elder's kindness. I will surely seek esteemed elder's guidance if I have questions in the future."
Elder Gu nodded in satisfaction. Either way, he has planted a seed of goodwill and showed his determination to take Wu Feng as disciple by raising the issue before Hall Master Qin Huo. Even though it failed, but he has achieved his main objective.
In the future, he would be in a more favorable position to take Wu Feng as disciple. The other elders that did in opposition against him will be reluctant to contend with him after he declared his stance today.
Noticing that no one present has any more to say, Qin Huo waved his hand. "Li Wei, you can go now."
Li Wei bowed. He turned around followed by Wu disciples. On the way out, they crossed paths with the other disciples who went to the Outer Hall to pay respect.
"Come. I'll lead you to take your uniforms and allowance for this month."
Li Wei took out his flying treasure again. They flew to another peak. Along the way, Li Wei pointed out the important areas around.
"Over there is medicinal garden. You must not go there unless instructed by sect."
"Over there is a stable for spirit mount. In the Outer Hall only elders can have spirit mount."
"Over there..."
Soon they reached their destination. It was an unremarkable small peak.
"Come. In the future you can take your allowances yourself."
They went to a small building that has a sign "South Pilgrim Supply Hall" on top.
Li Wei greeted a disciple that was on duty before stating their intention.
"This is the rumored newcomer with True Spiritual Spirit Roots?"
His eyes widened with astonishment. He scrutinized Wu Feng from top to bottom.
"It's even rarer than Supreme Pure Spiritual Roots. Junior brother, is the rumor true?"
"It's true. So what?"
Wu Feng is a bit annoyed, so he answered rudely without caring that the one asked is his senior brother.
"Fierce. As expected from the holder of the rarest spiritual root."
The disciple gave him a thumbs up instead of being angry.
"Cultivate hard junior brother. My name is Gou Jian. Remember me when achieve greatness in the future."
Gou Jian flashed a bright smile before he went to the room on the back.
He came out a while later with a stack of uniforms and various other things covering his upper body from sight.
He walked funnily to not bump into furniture in the room.
"This is your uniforms and this is your standard swords. This is your qiankun pouches. This is your sect tokens engraved with communication talisman. Do not lose it."
He divided the items on a large table.
"Ah, almost forgot. Wait for a moment."
This time he went to another room.
"This your pills. Do not eat this more than once each day. For this, you only have to take it once a month. For this one do not take more than you can refine. Ask the elders if you are not sure how much you can take."
He went on to describe each pill in detail.
"Senior brother Gou, you are very dedicated."
Wu Feng imagined him in the place of Gou Jian's shoes, explaining like this every time a group of new disciples came. He shivered and found a newfound respect for this seemingly sloppy senior brother.
"Hahaha, all of you are my precious junior brothers and sisters. I do not want you to explode after eating too many pills at once because you are too eager in your cultivation."
"Brother Gou is so kind." Wu Mei commented with glittering eyes.
Gou Jian's face beamed even more.
"Oh right, this is your spirit stones for this month. Each disciple in the first Qi Condensation realm gets one piece each month, with an increment of one piece every higher cultivation level."
There was no spirit stone that contains energy less than what a Foundation Establishment cultivator has even at the lowest degree. Therefore just one piece is more than enough for a cultivator in low level Qi Condensation to cultivate for a month.
After they finished storing their new equipment and pills, they bid farewell to Gou Jian.
"Senior brother Gou is an interesting guy." Wu Feng commented when they were back on Li Wei's flying treasure.
"Brother Gou is indeed a kind person. When traveling outside for sect's mission, he always taking care of everyone in the group." Li Wei replied.
"But he seems sloppy." Wu Leng Jing ruthlessly gave his opinion.
With a laugh, Li Wei replied to his question. "Hahaha, brother Guo indeed seems a little unreliable. But he is quite strong. Everyone liked to go on mission with him."
He then swerved the Flying Leaf to the side to avoid two spirit eagles chasing each other, almost collided with them.
"Is there a mission to fight other sect or demonic cultivators?" Wu Yong who has been kept quiet along the way asked with anticipation.
He was as stable as a mountain on top of the flying treasure. Meanwhile Wu Mei clutched Wu Fei Yan's sleeves.
"Apologies. That was unexpected."
Li Wei lowered the altitude before replying.
"There are such missions. In fact, there are a lot. But those missions are very dangerous. You need to be at least seventh level Qi Condensation and proved your battle strength first before you can those mission."
"How to prove it?" Wu Yong asked again.
Wu Fei Yan and Wu Feng perked their ears. They were very interested to hear the answer.
Wu Yong and Wu Fei Yan were known for their battle thirst among Wu Clan younger disciples. While Wu Feng wanted to raise his cultivation as quickly as possible, and battle always serves as a polishing stone for cultivators.
"There." Li Wei pointed to a distance with serious expression.
On the far distant, one can vaguely see a mountain as black as ink. Dark clouds covered its peak.
"That is Black Tomb Mountain. As long as a seventh level Qi Condensation disciple can carry out a mission and return alive in a month after entering a cave near its peak they will qualify."
The group gazed at the sinister mountain and can not speak for a long time.