Chapter 126: Let’s Add Another One

“Bought… bought Shoushan Sect?”

The entire academy suddenly went completely silent. Everyone looked like they’d just been choked.

For a moment, they all thought they’d misheard. But seeing Fang Cun sitting there calmly on the high platform, surrounded by the County Sect Elders who were all staring at him with similar bewildered expressions, they realized their ears hadn’t played tricks on them. So, they could only turn their own stupefied gazes towards the Immortal Platform, their minds consumed by a single question: This… this County Sect… can be sold?

What on earth? We were supposed to be fellow students, how did you skip straight to becoming an Elder??

“Th…this… respect!”

He Zhenzhang below the platform was the first to react, shouting loudly. It was like flipping a mute switch off. The silence shattered as a wave of noise erupted around him. Countless disciples started chattering chaotically, everyone talking at once.

On the Immortal Platform, Meng Zhixue remained stunned for quite a while before it sank in. She tried not to laugh, held it in, but ultimately couldn’t contain it and burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, up on the podium, the various County Sect Elders suddenly turned in unison to look at Young Sect Master Xu, who sat meekly beside Fang Cun. If eyes could speak, Young Sect Master Xu would surely have been drowned in thunderous interrogations right then. Thankfully, they could only hold their tongues, giving the young Sect Master precious moments to duck his head and pretend to be clueless.

It wasn’t just the disciples below; even the County Sect Elders on the high platform, along with the Academy Head and the City Governor, were also dumbfounded for a long time, their faces registering sheer disbelief. This… this… never in their lives had they heard that a County Sect could be bought…

… Actually, wait. Maybe it can!

Ten years ago, the Wu family from Qingtong took over Leshui Sect.

Thirty years ago, the five major clans of Jiangshou jointly established Yun Huan Sect…

These were actually instances of powerful families buying County Sects to train their own talents. It was just that these events seemed so distant, like something happening in another world, something only the transcendent great clans had the clout to do…

Or perhaps…

They were gradually regaining their composure: Actually, wasn’t the Fang Family of Willow Lake also one of those extraordinary great clans?

“No, even if Shoushan Sect has declined and is nothing but an empty shell now, buying it isn’t so simple…”

“So many large, powerful families, with deep roots and countless masters, but without a Way-founding Divine Talisman personally sealed by the Divine Kings, they couldn’t establish a sect or found a path. Moreover, most sect families, even if struggling, would hold onto their founding talismans as long as they could keep going. They wouldn’t sell them. Yet, Second Young Master Fang actually bought three-tenths of Shoushan Sect’s spiritual veins? How… how much silver must he have spent?”

As the thought crossed their minds, they shook their heads. No, this isn’t merely a matter of silver…

The Way-founding Divine Talisman represents the qualification to establish a path. More importantly, it represents the spiritual veins beneath the sect’s mountain gate!

Thanks to the Way-founding Divine Talisman, according to Great Xia law, each County Sect is essentially half-owned by the Great Xia Immortal Court and half by the sect itself. Meaning, Shoushan Sect supported itself with its subterranean spiritual veins, but only five-tenths were theirs; the other five-tenths belonged to the Great Xia Immortal Court. If Fang Cun bought three-tenths of those spiritual veins directly from them… hadn’t he basically bought Shoushan Sect?

Great Xia owned half the veins. The Xu family held two-tenths. And the Fang family… now had three-tenths.

Of course, the founding talisman itself couldn’t be bought, and the Sect Leader’s position wasn’t something easily snatched…

…

“Amusing…”

Amidst countless bewildered and suspicious gazes, Fang Cun remained composed on the surface. Yet, inside, he thoroughly enjoyed their peculiar expressions.

Long before this moment, he had anticipated that he might face something like this when entering a County Sect…

And indeed, it had come to pass.

Furthermore, Nine Immortals Sect’s stance was even more extreme than he had predicted.

Judging by the expressions and attitudes he saw, it seemed not only had Nine Immortals Sect rejected him, but they had likely colluded with the other County Sects to ensure none of them chose him!

Were they truly determined to completely block his path into any County Sect?

A pity. Except in very special occasions or actions, he disliked being too passive!

Who said joining a County Sect required being chosen by the Elders?

Thinking this, he swept his gaze around the platform, silencing the commotion, and said with a smile, “Merely a trivial matter, why such fuss? The students are still waiting below. Shouldn’t we, the esteemed Elders, prioritize their proceedings and discuss other matters later?”

The Elders paled at this. “Th…this is a trivial matter?”

…

Despite the sea of questions churning within them, the proceedings had to continue. They could corner the hapless Young Sect Master Xu later for a thorough explanation. The Elders’ ability to maintain composure was not ordinary. After giving Young Sect Master Xu a deep, penetrating look, they forcefully suppressed the roaring doubts and confusion in their hearts, cleared their throats, and continued calling forth the students they had chosen from their respective County Sects.

After Nine Immortals Sect, it was Leshui Sect’s turn. They softly called up three students, headed by He Zhenzhang. The other two excelled in the Classic of Documents, while one was known for exceptional talent in the Classic of Calculations.

Normally, this would be the highlight of one’s life. He Zhenzhang, a secretly exhibitionistic character, would usually put on a show – evidenced by the thick layer of powder he’d applied to his face. But today, stepping onto the platform, he utterly forgot his original intent for the powder. Instead, he kept staring fixedly at Fang Cun, who was seated among the Elders. His gaze was intensely strange, as if he were witnessing a dream.

Fang Cun coughed lightly. “A student should speak respectfully and listen respectfully. Yet, this young crane is looking around shiftily, eyes darting everywhere. What exactly are you looking at?”

He Zhenzhang nearly jumped up in rage to defy him. Thankfully, the other Elders instilled enough fear. One cold snort was sufficient to make him slump, not daring to be disrespectful. Instead, he had to bow respectfully to Fang Cun and say, “Elder Fang’s admonishment is correct…”

Fang Cun couldn’t contain it; he laughed out loud.

After Leshui Sect, Yun Huan Sect summoned three female students, led by Meng Qing’er.

It was widely acknowledged that Yun Huan Sect disciples were primarily female.

Meng Qing’er was bold. Upon ascending the platform, she tilted her head and openly appraised Fang Cun for a few moments before sighing, “Such a handsome Elder is hard to find…”

The expressions of the older Elders nearby became slightly strained.

The County Sect Elders took turns announcing names. In total, over twenty students were called up to the Immortal Platform. The watching students felt surges of heartfelt emotion, sighing internally. Accepting over twenty disciples was considered a plentiful harvest these past few years. They could only gaze with envy tinged with admiration at these chosen ones, the favored talents granted entry to the Counties.

Despite their admiration and envy, someone suddenly noticed a problem: “Hold on… Brother Yu? Where is Brother Yu?”

Earlier, everyone’s attention had been captivated by Second Young Master Fang’s transformation into a County Sect Elder. No one had noticed that Yu Qingli, one of the Five Disciples of Nanshan Alliance, whose talent was among the very top in White Xiang Academy, had not ascended the Immortal Platform. Someone looked around in surprise and spotted Yu Qingli still standing among the crowd of students, his face unusually pale.

“What happened?”

“With that talent, skill, and even reputation, how could no County Sect choose him?”

“Exactly! Wasn’t it said earlier that an Elder from Lingwu Sect had taken an interest in him?”

Instantly, immense confusion surged among the student body. Countless eyes shifted to Yu Qingli.

On the platform, Meng Zhixue and the others also noticed this problem. They exchanged startled looks before shifting their gazes to the Elder representing Lingwu Sect. The man in pale yellow robes sat calmly sipping his tea, as if nothing unusual had occurred.

Previously, all attention had been on Fang Cun’s situation. No one had anticipated this outcome.

“I’ve seen Yu Qingli fight. His skills are only a hair’s breadth behind Meng Zhixue, especially considering his continuous lack of cultivation resources compared to her. This guy is low-key, gloomy, and not particularly approachable, but his talent is undeniable, and his conduct, well, nothing much to criticize either. On the Academy’s Ledger of Merits, he always ranked second. No matter how you look at it, he shouldn’t have been overlooked by the County Sect Elders…”

Fang Cun on the Immortal Platform was also coldly observing the scene.

The matter of Yu Qingli seemed complicated. Meng Zhixue and the others were baffled. Even the City Governor and the Academy Head’s expressions of surprise seemed genuine. Yu Qingli himself appeared unprepared for this outcome. Observing the Lingwu Sect Elder’s demeanor and his choice of three other Academy students made it easy to guess this situation was deliberate…

…

Down below, Yu Qingli, realizing his name wouldn’t be called, seemed crushed with despair.

Under the countless gazes filled with surprise and confusion around him, his body swayed slightly. He raised his head to look at the Immortal Platform. Perhaps he met the gaze of the Lingwu Sect Elder, intensifying the despair in his heart. For a fleeting second, an unwilling flash of anger showed on his face.

But ultimately, he said nothing. Slowly, he turned and began walking away, towards the edge of the crowd.

“This…”

The County Sect Elders on the platform were equally astonished. Some recalled this Yu student, having considered him earlier. However, they believed he was already claimed by Lingwu Sect. Now that Lingwu Sect hadn’t chosen him, vestiges of interest flickered within them. But a single glance at the Lingwu Sect Elder’s impassive face extinguished any such thoughts instantly.

“Ahem, all chosen students have now stepped onto the platform. Thus, today’s disciple selection announcement…” The Academy Head on the platform had also recovered himself. Finding his voice, he cleared his throat to make the formal declaration.

Though the outcome regarding that one student was puzzling, it was ultimately a minor matter. Best to conclude the ceremony swiftly.

Once the announcement was made, the matter would be irrevocably settled, with no chance for reversal…

“Just a moment!”

At that precise moment, Fang Cun on the platform gently set down his teacup and spoke, halting the proceedings.

“Hmm?”

The Academy Head looked surprised. He turned to Fang Cun. “Fang… Elder? Is there something else to say?”

Fang Cun turned towards the meek Young Sect Master Xu beside him and asked pleasantly, “Sect Master Xu, how many disciples has our Shoushan Sect accepted so far?”

The timid Young Sect Master Xu, caught off guard by the question, stammered, “This… four already!”

Fang Cun maintained his pleasant tone: “I think adding one more wouldn’t hurt, right?”

Young Sect Master Xu faltered, looking hesitant. “This… isn’t quite proper?”

Fang Cun chuckled. “I understand County Sect disciple selections usually have a fixed number. Like they say, each spot has its holder. But exceptions are possible. If we encountered a student with exceptional talent and sound conduct, making a special provision seems reasonable, wouldn’t you agree?”

Hearing this, Meng Zhixue and He Zhenzhang stared eagerly at Fang Cun.

Meanwhile, the complexion of the Lingwu Sect Elder darkened considerably.

Young Sect Master Xu grew visibly more uncomfortable. After a pause, he finally mumbled hesitantly, “This… it’s up to you…”

Fang Cun smiled. “That Yu student earlier seemed quite promising to me. What do you think?”

Young Sect Master Xu’s face resembled a bitter gourd. He hesitated for a moment. “His… his fundamental strengths don’t quite align with our Shoushan Sect…”

Fang Cun countered, “Young people can still be guided, can’t they?”

Young Sect Master Xu sighed helplessly: “Then… as you wish…”

Fang Cun beamed. Turning back to Academy Head Gongyang Yanqing, he stated clearly: “Shoushan Sect adds one more!”

“This…”

The Academy Head showed slight uncertainty.

From the other side, the Lingwu Sect Elder’s eyes suddenly shot towards Fang Cun like lightning, filled with venomous coldness.

Just as Fang Cun turned deliberately towards him. His face darkened abruptly. He slammed his teacup down onto the table sharply. Crack! The cup shattered. The Academy Head nearby flinched violently. The Lingwu Sect Elder immediately retracted his cold gaze.

Frowning, Fang Cun said again, his voice clear and firm: “One more!”