Chapter 18: Tang Lao's Predicament

Setting expectations to the lowest means choosing the lowest-ranked sect. Don't be indecisive; make only one choice.

If Lu Ye understood correctly, then this was exactly what Pang Dahai had meant when he spoke to him last.

Now, the crucial question was whether he should trust him!

After a moment's thought, Lu Ye made a decision. He put down the brush in his hand and, along with his jade token, handed them to the mustachioed cultivator opposite him. "Senior Brother, I've made my choice," he said.

The mustachioed man raised an eyebrow. "Don't you want to consider it more?"

Lu Ye looked down. "No need," he replied.

His talent was frighteningly low; even if he chose another sect, it would likely be useless. Instead, it would be better to place his hope on the last option, the Crimson Blood Sect. Pang Dahai had no reason to deliberately trick him, especially since he had given him two pieces of ore.

"Alright," the mustachioed man nodded. He took Lu Ye's preference form and jade token, then glanced down. "So you're that Lu Yi Ye."

"My name is Lu Ye, Senior Brother!" Lu Ye's eye twitched.

"I know, Lu Yi Ye!" The mustachioed man smiled as he looked at him, deliberately emphasizing the 'Yi' in the middle.

Lu Ye wanted to curse. He hadn't even started wandering the world, and he already had a nickname. How was he supposed to get by in the future?

And who on earth had spread the news of his 'One Leaf' talent?

A moment later, the mustachioed man finished collecting everyone's preferences. He shot into the sky, transforming into a streak of light, and headed towards the eastern mountainside.

At that location was a cluster of palaces, originally inhabited by cultivators of the Evil Moon Valley. They now served as the temporary office of the Vast Heaven Alliance. Cultivators constantly moved in and out, and large quantities of confiscated materials were piled there, awaiting distribution.

He didn't stop along the way, heading directly to the innermost palace. At the entrance of the grand hall, a female cultivator stood guard.

Seeing him arrive, the woman asked, "Are things handled?"

The mustachioed man replied, "They're all here."

"Hand them over to me. The elders are currently discussing withdrawal matters. I will submit them after they've finished their discussion."

"Withdrawing already?" The mustachioed man was clearly surprised.

The female cultivator replied, "The Ten Thousand Demon Ridge reacted faster than expected. Several sects are already gathering their forces, so we must leave here quickly."

The mustachioed man nodded knowingly. Although the Vast Heaven Alliance had brought many people this time, this was still considered the territory of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. If they clashed again, the other side could continuously send reinforcements, which would put the alliance at a disadvantage.

Evil Moon Valley had already been defeated, and they had reaped significant benefits. At this point, it was natural to know when to withdraw.

Handing the stack of papers to the woman, the mustachioed man quickly departed.

The female cultivator waited outside the door for a while longer before hearing a resonant voice from within. "Bring them in," it said.

Hearing this, she immediately pushed open the grand hall's doors.

Inside the grand hall, there were only ten people, representing the ten major sects that had come to attack Evil Moon Valley. The one at the head looked stern, exuding authority without anger. He was none other than Pang Zhen from the Righteous Qi Sect, and also the Vice Alliance Leader of the Vast Heaven Alliance. Among everyone present, he had the highest cultivation, having reached the Divine Sea Realm.

The woman came before Pang Zhen, respectfully placed the stack of papers she was holding down, and said, "This disciple respectfully withdraws!"

After she left, Pang Zhen flipped through the stack of papers in front of him, pulled one out, and pushed the rest to the representative of the Azure Jade Sect.

To Lu Ye and the others, each paper here carried their future and dreams. But for people like Pang Zhen, these documents were not worth a careful look.

Every time they conquered territory occupied by the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, they would rescue some people. Recruiting those with cultivation aptitude and talent from among them was merely an established custom.

Each of their sects had tens of thousands of disciples. Unless someone's aptitude and talent were exceptionally outstanding, no one would bother to take a second look.

Among Lu Ye's group of people, there was clearly no one worthy of their special attention.

A stack of over a hundred papers passed among the representatives of each sect, gradually diminishing. When it reached the representative of the Hundred Flowers Valley, he selected over ten people and was about to pass it to the next person when he suddenly seemed to discover something novel. He looked up at an old man seated at the very end. "Elder Tang," he said, "someone chose the Crimson Blood Sect."

As soon as these words were spoken, Pang Zhen, who was just instructing the representative of the Azure Jade Sect about something, couldn't help but look up. "Really?" he asked.

He had just casually pulled one out from those hundred-plus people and hadn't looked at the others carefully at all.

Others also showed surprised expressions, and some even laughed. "Among this batch of youngsters, there's still someone with discerning eyes, it seems..." they said.

It was as if choosing the Crimson Blood Sect was something incredibly remarkable.

At the far end, the one referred to as Elder Tang was precisely the old man who had led Lu Ye out of the mine.

Elder Tang also looked surprised upon hearing this. Although the Crimson Blood Sect had participated in many such operations, it had never once been chosen, even though those rescued had three opportunities to choose.

The Crimson Blood Sect's rank was too low. Anyone with a bit of ambition or pursuit would not choose it.

Despite the surprise, Elder Tang still waved his hand. "The Crimson Blood Sect does not accept disciples, as you know," he said. "If not for the current alliance rules, the Crimson Blood Sect's name wouldn't even appear on that paper."

The representative of the Hundred Flowers Valley heard this and said, "I'm afraid that won't do, Elder Tang. He only chose the Crimson Blood Sect, and no one else chose it."

Elder Tang looked surprised and extended his hand. "Let me see," he said.

Taking the remaining papers from the representative of the Hundred Flowers Valley, Elder Tang carefully flipped through them one by one. He found that it was indeed as the representative had said: the person who chose the Crimson Blood Sect had made only one choice.

"Lu Ye..." Elder Tang looked at the name on the jade token and immediately recalled the young man he had met in the mine. He was even more surprised that it was him.

The representative of the Hundred Flowers Valley said, "According to alliance rules, in such a situation, the Crimson Blood Sect must accept this individual."

There indeed was such an alliance rule: the Vast Heaven Alliance gave those rescued three opportunities to choose. However, if only one choice was made, then the chosen sect had to accept that person, provided no one else made the same choice. This rule was intended to give a glimmer of hope to those solely devoted to cultivation. Among the major sects, only a few representatives knew about it, while the rescued slaves would certainly not.

"This young man..." Elder Tang felt somewhat helpless. Lu Ye choosing the Crimson Blood Sect seemed to be a difficult matter for him.

"Elder Tang, the Crimson Blood Sect should also accept a disciple," the representative of the Hundred Flowers Valley advised, then changed his tone. "However, although this young man has opened one aperture, his talent seems somewhat unsatisfactory."

"What does it matter if his talent is poor?" someone interjected. "Talent doesn't represent everything. You've cultivated for so many years; can't you even see this much?"

"Have you seen 'One Leaf' talent?"

"This is too poor; how did he even open an aperture?"

"But since he made this choice, the Crimson Blood Sect has no room to refuse."

"I'm just afraid of the Elixir Heart Sect..."

Upon mentioning the Elixir Heart Sect, everyone immediately fell silent, as if something unspoken had been brought up.

"Rules are rules! If the Elixir Heart Sect has any objections, tell them to come find me!" Pang Zhen, who had been silent, finally declared. "Elder Tang, accept him. Although 'One Leaf' talent isn't worth cultivating, at least it can help preserve the Crimson Blood Sect for now. This might not be a bad opportunity."

Elder Tang held Lu Ye's jade token in his hand. After a long while, he finally said, "I'll consider it."