Upon noticing the silence, Victor turned his gaze to Gabriel once more. "Today, you will become the 7th peak master," he declared. "With this new role comes the obligation to take on a disciple. The sect will provide you with resources for cultivation, and depending on the number of disciples you accept, we will also arrange their supplies."
Gabriel was dumbfounded. He, a peak master, just like that?
The notion that his own cultivation supplies might have been diverted by his previous master for personal gain rankled him. He cursed his late master under his breath, feeling a surge of resentment.
Clasping his hands once more, Gabriel bowed respectfully to his sect master. "As you command, Sect Master," he replied.
"You are now an elder and a peak master. It is your duty to take on a disciple," Victor reiterated. "Gabriel is now an Elder of this sect, and his status is no different from yours. Be good. Now, this meeting is adjourned, and disciple recruitment will commence!"
Despite their reluctance to accept such a junior with mediocre talent and cultivation as their equal, everyone rose to their feet and bowed in obedience to the sect master's wishes. The protective aura emanating from the sect master left them baffled.
Bowing toward Victor, they murmured in unison, "As you wish, sect master."
As the meeting concluded, the hall emptied gradually. Gabriel, subjected to a barrage of hostile glares from the elders, was among the last to depart, followed by the 9th peak master.
This Elder was none other than Rose Langley, a 25-year-old goddess in every sense of the word. Her beauty was stunning, captivating all who beheld her. But beyond her looks, she possessed the strength of the Peak Elemental Fusion stage, solidifying her status as a formidable force.
Rose's origins were shrouded in mystery, with rumors suggesting that the sect master had discovered and nurtured her talents. Now, two decades later, she stood as a peak master, her remarkable abilities earning her renown throughout the cultivation world. Despite numerous offers from mid to high-tier sects seeking her allegiance, Rose consistently declined, adding to the enigma surrounding her.
Her refusal to join other sects left many questioning her motives, deeming her just as eccentric as her master. She was certainly a peculiar figure in the eyes of many.
Approaching Gabriel with a charming smile, Rose exuded an aura of allure that stirred Gabriel's primal instincts.
"Congratulations on becoming the 7th peak master, Brother Gabriel," she greeted him sweetly.
"Ah, thank you, Sister Rose," Gabriel replied with a bow, his mind racing with thoughts about what this enchanting lady might want from him. Was his appearance truly enough to attract her attention?
"Hehe, Brother Gabriel, come closer," Rose beckoned, causing Gabriel's cheeks to flush as he complied.
Leaning close, she whispered in his ear, "Your fly is open," before giggling mischievously and sauntering away.
"What!" Gabriel's embarrassment was palpable as he felt his soul leave his body, hastily attempting to adjust his attire, only to realize his fly had never been open in the first place.
Realizing he had fallen victim to Rose's playful prank, Gabriel couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. "What's with this lady?" he mused, before continuing on his way out of the hall, now tasked with finding a disciple. Perhaps someone would choose him as their master.
Five hours had elapsed since the Sect commenced its disciple recruitment. The first group to complete the tests had assembled in the courtyard, facing nine elders. Among them, the attention of many disciples was drawn to two young elders, though the allure of Elder Rose, with her captivating youth and beauty, captured the gaze of both young men and women alike, eliciting admiration from the crowd.
Sebastian, the First Elder, stepped forward as the group entered, addressing them with charisma. "Congratulations on passing the exam. You are now officially disciples of the Grey Mountain Sect! As members of our sect, strive diligently, cultivate earnestly, and contribute to the prestige that defines the Grey Mountain Sect across the lands!"
Gabriel, listening to Sebastian's words, couldn't help but reminisce about his own past, standing before these very elders with eyes shining bright with excitement. However, that excitement had long been overshadowed by seven years of stagnation under the 7th peak master, who had neglected Gabriel's cultivation to a deplorable extent.
"As for the rules," Sebastian continued, his tone serious, "there are few, but they are paramount. Always show respect to the elders and adhere to their regulations. Lastly, remember that killing is strictly prohibited within the sect's territory."
He turned to his fellow elders, "I will not take more disciples, my hands already full. Manage the rest."
With his words spoken, the First Elder turned and departed, leaving the remaining eight peak masters to assess the new recruits.
With Sebastian not taking on any disciples, the other elders eagerly scanned the fresh recruits, their eyes gleaming as they searched for individuals displaying promising talent. After all, according to their tradition, the one who selects first is deemed the victor.
"To those interested in crafting armaments, feel free to become my disciple!" declared the Second Elder, Brandon, his laughter resounding through the hall. "The 2nd peak is lacking in manpower and talent, much like yourselves! But fear not, we are also formidable!"
It didn't take long for the Third Elder to speak up. Her voice possessed an ethereal quality that drew Gabriel's gaze to the mysterious lady with her face veiled. Despite her concealment, her posture and elegant figure captured his attention. This woman was Luna Grace, the 3rd peak master, and the sect's esteemed alchemist. Luna played a crucial role in the sect, crafting high-grade pills distributed throughout and sold in the pill pavilion at the first peak.
Luna's background, like Rose's and the Sect Master's, remained shrouded in mystery. However, her alchemical prowess and the quality of her pills earned her the respect of the sect, even from the Sect Master himself. Rumors circulated about her sudden appearance in the sect and her swift rise to the position of elder, thanks to her alchemical talents. Despite her focus on alchemy, Luna's martial skills, particularly her flame cultivation, were formidable, providing her with strong offensive and defensive capabilities.
"To those aspiring to create pills and enter the path of alchemy, join me," Luna's ethereal voice beckoned, captivating all who heard it. Even her fellow elders admired her, despite her reserved nature and limited interactions.
After these specialized elders spoke, the remaining elders introduced themselves and highlighted their strengths. Skyler Dawn, Aaron Sinclair, Grace Stoneheart, and Ryan Skylark, the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th peak masters respectively, specialized in combat unlike Luna and Brandon.
Skyler and Aaron excelled in swordsmanship, while Grace Stoneheart focused on cultivation arts and skills. Ryan distinguished himself as a master of the saber. As for Rose, the 9th peak master, her expertise lay in charms and covert attacks, leading her to accept only female disciples.
Well, for the 7th peak master, an all-rounder specialization is expected. However, with Gabriel at the helm, whose meager cultivation and skills are not even worth discussing, it's better to say that the sect lacks an all-rounder specialization with Gabriel as its leader.
As the Elders introduced themselves, they began selecting disciples who interested them, sparking excitement and nervousness among the fresh recruits. After all, they had no say in who they followed; it was up to the Elders to choose their disciples. Those not chosen would be relegated to outer disciples, honing their skills in the hopes of becoming inner disciples and earning another chance at selection.
Hours later, out of 82 recruits, only 15 were chosen by the Elders.
Rose approached Gabriel with a smile on her beautiful face, followed by fresh two recruit girls. "Brother Gabriel, are you going to choose some disciples?" she asked, noticing Gabriel's hesitance as he observed the other Elders selecting their disciples based on talent.
However, Rose soon remembered Gabriel's lack of talent, worsened by years of neglect from his previous master. She felt relieved, hoping that Gabriel wouldn't take on disciples out of fear of stunting their growth.
Her hopes were dashed when Gabriel nodded at her and walked towards the fresh recruits, indicating his intention to select disciples.
Seeing this, Rose could only shake her head in pity for his future disciples. This sentiment was shared by the other Elders, who watched with resignation as Gabriel, known for his infamous bad luck, prepared to choose a disciple.
They were powerless to intervene, knowing that the Sect Master supported him.
In this group of recruits who remained after being sifted by the Elders and plucked out like ripe fruit, leaving only the undesirable or unripe fruits hanging, nerves were frayed, and some had already given up.
However, among these young recruits, a 15-year-old girl had her hands gripped tightly, unwilling to accept that she was not chosen by the Elders. Her eyes burned with anger and determination as she recalled what had transpired before passing the test. It was when her two cousins, who were siblings, and had already treated her poorly back home, almost caused her to fail the exam by using her as bait.
This young girl is Serana; her talent is average, which unfortunately went unnoticed by every Elder. They might not even remember her presence here if asked days later. However, what made Serana unwilling was how the Elders of both the third and fifth peaks had chosen her cousins as disciples, leaving Serana behind. This meant that in the future, she would likely endure even more terrible treatment from her cousins.
After the death of her parents, Serana was left behind and adopted into her Aunt's family. Life was initially better, but soon the treatment towards her worsened to the point where even the family's servants bullied her, seemingly treating her mistreatment as entertainment.
As a result, Serana developed a deep hatred towards her adopted family. Now given a chance to turn her life around, she was reluctant. Although being an outer disciple was acceptable, it would take years, and it was unlikely she would be able to catch up with her cousins, who were chosen as core disciples by the Elders.
As her reluctance burned in her eyes like a beacon, Gabriel noticed her.
Gabriel walked towards her and asked, "Are you willing to become my disciple?" Serana was shocked as she stared at the young man in front of her. Now that he was up close, she realized that this man was not much older than her, in fact, he looked only a few years older.
"Thinking that the most talented elder of the sect had chosen her, Serana quickly and respectfully kneeled, declaring, "I'm willing! I'm willing! Serana is willing!!!" Her proclamation echoed, drawing everyone's attention.
This was a better outcome than not being chosen by an elder! For Serana, it didn't matter what her master specialized in, as long as she was accepted as a core disciple. The benefits far outweighed those of being an outer sect disciple.
All eyes turned to her and to Gabriel, shocking everyone. Wasn't this young man too inexperienced to be an elder? What was happening?
Soon, a young man who had been listening to gossip all day couldn't resist whispering, "Isn't this the sect's ill fortune? A man like Gabriel, lacking in strength and talent, being chosen as an elder! This poor girl is taken by a demon who'll ruin her future."
As soon as he spoke, shock rippled through the crowd, even reaching the kneeling Serana, chilling her heart. The elders wore bitter expressions, knowing these rumors would spread throughout the sect.
Sensing the worsening atmosphere, Gabriel swiftly made Serana stand. "From now on, you're my disciple. Follow me," he said casually, turning to walk toward his mountain.
Serana looked at his back and learning that the rumors must be true, she felt as if the world had fallen. When she looked at his cousin and seeing the mocking and laughing face they made as they learned about the rumors made her heart cold.
She once again looked at the leaving figure of Gabriel, his lonely figure made her remind of her father who was sickly and looking far away as if he was waiting for someone, it didn't took long for her father to pass away as he died young when she was only 6 years old.
Serana gripped her hands tightly, and decided to challenge the fate and walked forward and followed her master!
…