Settlement

Elder Ji showed a pained face and spoke, "Elder Miao, you have known me for a long time. You know that I always maintain a sense of propriety. But this time, elder Zhou crossed the line and stole a disciple from the Ji faction. The Disciple came to the Outer sect hall to register so he could take missions and earn spirit stones, but elder Zhou registered him in his faction, stealing a talented disciple right under my nose. Elder Hong is also here. He can verify that the Disciple named Han Cai was sent to my faction, not to elder Zhou's faction."

Elder Hong was sitting by the side and gave a confused look. Why was his name mentioned in this mess? He had forgotten about Han Cai, as there was nothing special to remember about the kid at that time.

Seeing his confusion, Elder Ji mentioned, "The ten years old who came from your hong family through the mayor of the cloud mountain city."

Finally, elder Hong remembered. He still did not have much memory of Han Cai, but he remembered Han Cai's chubby father giving him a pouch of 100 gold coins.

Elder Hong was startled by the fact that this kid who came through his family was so talented that both elders would tear each other apart over him. Maybe, He should take this kid in his hong family faction.

Elder Hong spoke, "Yes, this kid is from my…."

Before Elder Hong could complete the sentence, Elder Zhou and Elder Ji stared daggers at him like they were expressing we have done our investigation. You were just a delivery guy; got nothing to do with him. You better not try to steal this talent.

Seeing the furious eyes of two elders, he changed his sentence midway. "Yes, this kid is from my… mountain cloud city area, where I was visiting at the time".

Elder Miao thought for a while and said, "Let's call the kid here to get this resolved .."

Before Elder Miao could complete his sentence, Elder Zhou interrupted him with an upright face, "That kid is from my Zhou faction, and no one can change that. I will fight everyone here if anyone tries to disturb his cultivation. But I can see How elder Ji suffered because of this misunderstanding. I am ready to give up my responsibilities in the outer sect hall to elder JI. It has been a long time since I wanted to cultivate in seclusion."

All the elders present, including elder Miao, were stunned. Their Jaws dropped. One had to know how much effort elder Zhou put into getting the sect hall responsibility; it was his biggest cash cow. He gave up on his highest source of income just for a disciple. What kind of earth-shaking talent this Disciple had that elder Zhou was ready to give up Outer sect hall.

Seeing the Lucrative offer of the outer sect hall, finally, the elder ji caved in and decided not to pursue Han Cai's matter.

With the intervention of elder Miao of the discipline hall, the matter was settled. Soon all the Elders and Disciples scattered away.

When they went to their cave abode, all outer sect elders who were present during the debacle asked their faction's disciples to investigate all about Han Cai.

Slowly the whole outer sect was abuzz with the name Han Cai, a 10-year-old boy who mastered level one of cultivation and sword in just one and half years. Now he is eleven years old and will be participating in the outer sect tournament from the Zhou faction. Elder Zhou was so impressed with the talent that he gave up his outer sect hall duties to spend time guiding Han Cai in his cultivation. All the outer sect disciples, be they the ones from rich backgrounds who bribed elders to join the sect or the ones who entered the sect through test because of their talent, wanted to know who this Han Cai was.

Elder Zhou was worried that someone would pay gray robes to try to disturb Han Cai's cultivation or tell him about the whole ordeal. He forbade anyone from coming near Han Cai's quarter. Only Kong Dandan was allowed to deliver Han Cai's meal. Even an elder warned even Kong Dandan not to run his mouth around Han Cai.

Other Zhou faction disciples were trying to understand why the elder gave so much special treatment to Han Cai. Why did he sacrifice so much for this kid?

Maybe this kid is some royal prince or someone like that, who came to the sect to hide from enemies. Or perhaps he was the elder's illegal grandson.

When the elder Zhou gave up his responsibility of the outer sect hall, his income of spirit stones was reduced, but he told Kong Dandan to take two spirit stones from him and give it to Han Cai. Make sure to tell Han Cai not to go to the Outer sect hall until the tournament begins. When other disciples tried to ask the elder what was so special about Han Cai, the elder only said they would know when the outer sect tournament began.

Once the tournament starts next month and Han kai participates in it as a Zhou faction disciple, Elder Zhou will not have to worry about any other outer sect elder trying to poach him.

There was only one month left until the outer sect tournament. So all Zhou faction disciples decided to wait patiently to understand what makes Han Cai so unique. It was not only him waiting. Every other elder was curious about Han Cai too, and they wanted to see this exceptional talent that made the elder give up the outer sect hall.