An elder descended in front of Sheng Tian on a cloud type flying treasure.
Sheng Tian had sent a transmission through his identification badge for an elder to pick him up, and though he had caused an uproar with the higher ups of the sect, lower ranked individuals like ordinary elders were kept in the dark, only told to show proper respect in front of Sheng Tian.
The elder in front of him didn't know why the pillars of the sect had gathered everyone to tell them that this young boy was to be respected as if he was the sect master's son, nor what Sheng Tian's status is for him to be granted such treatment.
All he knew was that if he didn't do what he was told, then he would have his cultivation personally crippled by the sect master and thrown out the sect.
He greeted Sheng Tian formally, even bowing a little, "I shall be the one who brings you around the sect to places that require flight. You can call me Elder Wang"
Sheng Tian nodded and stepped onto the cloud, "I wish to go the the Servant Hall first"
Elder Wang was surprised by the boy's confidence when speaking to an elder.
Thus, not daring to waste a single second, the elder directed the cloud to fly in the direction of the Servant Hall.
Whoosh!
Within minutes they arrived at a large pagoda with only a few people around. Sheng Tian jumped down the cloud with surprising dexterity and turned to face the elder.
"Can you wait outside? I still need to go elsewhere after this"
Elder Wang nodded a moment later, "Of course, it won't be a problem"
Hearing this, Sheng Tian nodded before walking into the pagoda. Once he entered, he walked over to an elder sitting at the front desk.
"Hello, I'm here to pick out some servants."
The elder opened his eyes and looked at the little boy with raised eyebrows. Did some troublemaker trick him into coming here?
He held out his hand, "May I see your identification badge?"
"You mean this?"
Sheng Tian took out his gold identification badge and showed it to the elder.
'What!!!?'
The elder almost jumped up and yelled when he saw this unassuming little boy pull out a jade badge encased in gold. He sweated inwardly as he realized the gravity of the situation.
'Thank goodness I didn't send him away immediately,' he inwardly thought.
Like Elder Wang, he had been warned of such a youth in the sect and was told to treat him with utmost respect or his head may hang on the lecture hall the next day. Elder Han felt as if an invisible blade had been lifted off his neck and drew a breath of relief.
Clearing his throat, he bowed and smiled, making the friendliest face and voice he could manage.
"Forgive me for not recognizing you, Young Master. You must be here to pick up the top quality servants the sect prepared for you. We have made sure to pick out the finest ones so you don't have to worry about them not meeting your standards"
Sheng Tian tilted his head as he wondered why the elder's attitude turned 180 degrees, before deciding to ignore it.
"Yes, I thought that having some servants to help around would be nice, so I came here first"
The elder beckoned for Sheng Tian to follow him through a door that brought them to the topmost floor. There, he saw many servants hustling and bustling.
With a wave of his hand, Elder Han sent out several voice transmissions, to which 5 young women walked over and lined up with slightly nervous expressions.
"Woah, those sisters are really pretty!" Sheng Tian said with childlike innocence.
The women's expressions lightened as they heard the voice of this cute boy. When the elder had called them over, they had been prepared for the worst. Now however, it seemed that the person they had been called for was this innocent boy.
The elder sweated a little as he had thought that Sheng Tian would be older and that the servants would serve some other purpose, but quickly composed himself.
"Top quality servants have high talent for cultivation and can perform many tasks. I personally picked out 5 for you, Young Master"
Sheng Tian tilted his head in confusion, "I thought I was only allowed 3 free servants though"
Elder Han quickly cupped his hands and bowed, "The extra 2 can be considered my gift to you"
Of course, taking out extra top quality servants would cost Elder Han a bit, but when recalling Sheng Tian's status, a few contribution points don't amount to much.
Sheng Tian cup his hands as well and bowed, "Then I thank Elder Han for the gift"
-
After signing a contract that finalized the transaction, Sheng Tian walked out of the pagoda with 5 beautiful servants that instantly drew the gaze of others.
"Hey! You there!"
Sheng Tian turned towards the source of the voice and raised an eyebrow. It was a young man wearing an inner court uniform with 2 female servants following behind him.
It seems like he had just bought the servants and saw Sheng Tian come out with 5 higher quality ones, likely wanting to cause some trouble.
Contrary to what onlookers would think would happen, Elder Wang stepped in as soon as he saw the man stopping Sheng Tian and knew what was going to happen.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and released his cultivation on the youth, as well as putting a firm hand on Sheng Tian's shoulder.
"Ack!"
The youth's knees buckled and he was pushed down.
He cried out in injustice, "What is this madness?! I didn't do anything!"
His pleas however, fell on deaf ears. Elder Wang managed to keep a straight face as he spoke with great justification and righteousness
"Don't speak bullshit. You were going to use your inner court status, disciple... A-anyways, oppression is not tolerated in the Sky Sword Sect"
Elder Wang cleared his throat, "Ahem! The grand elders have said that punishment for inner disciples would be paying the other party 500 contributions and a month in Solitary Peak"
The youth's face paled, "B-but I only have half the contributions for the fine!"
The elder snorted in disdain, "Then give him the servants you just bought along with the contract of ownership. You reap what you sow"
With trembling hands, the young man took out a parchment and handed it to the elder, before immediately running off to report to Solitary Peak, a place where disciples go and are locked up for some time for a crime.
The 2 young women stayed and stared with gaping mouths at what they just witnessed and went through. They had just been bought and yet their master had already changed to someone new.
Elder Wang politely handed Sheng Tian, who had stood there confused about the situation, the ownership contract.
Elder Wang explained, "That young man was going to make trouble for you, and as per customs of the sect, he is to be punished"
Sheng Tian, who still didn't know why the man was being punished, simply decided to move on.
"Can we drop off the servants at my abode? I wish to go to the Contribution Hall"