As expected, everyone turned their heads to gape at Mo Zhiyuan's calm and collected face, devoid of any hint of nervousness.

"Uh..."

Wu Mansong, honored but also confused, scratched at the side of his head awkwardly.

As if that was not shocking enough, Mo Zhiyuan dropped to his knees in front of Wu Mansong and bowed his head in reverence.

"Shizun, please accept me as your disciple."

"This..."

Wu Mansong gestured toward Mo Zhiyuan while exchanging helpless glances with the other peak masters.

Shang Meili, Huayuan Peak Mistress, cleared her throat and cautiously asked, "Young man, have you possibly mistaken Wuchang Peak for Jinlian Peak?"

Mo Zhiyuan flashed her his most charming smile and replied, "No, Peak Mistress. "

Shang Jieyun, Zhanfeng Peak Master, crossed his arms before his chest and narrowed his eyes at Mo Zhiyuan.

"I don't get it," he said. "Didn't we say that he passed the written examination and that he had decent innate talent? Why must he join Wuchang Peak?"

"Technically, he doesn't necessarily have to join Wuchang Peak," Chun Shiqie, Jiqiao Peak Master argued before he turned to Wu Mansong. "No offense, Sect Leader. Surely you must think of it as a waste. Even if he doesn't want to perform exorcisms alongside Peak Master Shen, he can pick any other peak but Wuchang Peak."

"Brothers and Sister, it's not that I insist on recruiting him to my peak, but inner disciple acceptance has always been based on mutual agreement between the prospective shizun and disciple..."

"Sect Leader, you need to make an exception."

"Maybe he doesn't like to fight. Alchemy would be good for him," Jiang Kexue, Yangshen Peak Master remarked.

"Or talisman-making. Cultivators with strong spiritual power are always in need," Gu Zhenren, Gaozhuan Peak Master nodded in agreement.

Seeing the peak masters in heated argument, Mo Zhiyuan couldn't help but sneer at Shen Ruizhe. He was the only one who did not bother telling his opinion about this matter. And why? Because he never wanted to recruit Mo Zhiyuan in the first place.

In fact, was that not what he said the last time he visited Mo Zhiyuan?

"My greatest regret has always been you, Mo Zhiyuan."

Those were his exact words.

To tell the truth, Mo Zhiyuan knew that he was not half-bad. If he wanted to, he could get into any peak other than Jinlian Peak. The only reason why he, like many foolish young disciples, asked to get into Jinlian Peak was said peak's widespread popularity across the sect. Like a stupid dog, he jumped on the bandwagon only to regret it bitterly later on.

He had two compelling reasons to pick Wuchang Peak.

First, he wanted to show off to Shen Ruizhe. He wanted Shen Ruizhe to know that he, Mo Zhiyuan, was a gold nugget amongst the many outer disciples waiting to be recruited into the peaks.

Shen Ruizhe, for once, needed to get a slap on his face.

Not everyone wanted to be his disciple.

Especially not Mo Zhiyuan.

After much discussion with no definite conclusion, Wu Mansong turned to Shen Ruizhe for help.

"Shen Ruizhe, what do you think we should do?"

Shen Ruizhe lifted his gaze and looked at Mo Zhiyuan's subtle but arrogant smile for a beat before he answered very simply, "The disciple already chose Wuchang Peak. Sect Leader, will you accept him?"

At once, that smile was wiped off Mo Zhiyuan's face. He intended to humiliate Shen Ruizhe, but why was Shen Ruizhe this nonchalant about him? Did he really not plan on recruiting Mo Zhiyuan to his peak?

Wu Mansong was being glared at fiercely by other peak masters other than Shen Ruizhe. He quickly broke into a cold sweat.

"That, uh, Mo Zhiyuan, you may temporarily join Wuchang Peak. Let us speak about a better arrangement for you later on."

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Mo Zhiyuan bowed before all peak leaders before he turned to leave.

But just then, Shen Ruizhe's authoritative voice was heard behind him.

"Come back."

Mo Zhiyuan smirked to himself.

He knew it. Shen Ruizhe couldn't possibly let him go just like that. Like a proud dog wagging its tail, expecting some treats, Mo Zhiyuan turned around and faced Shen Ruizhe.

"Yes, Peak Master Shen?"

Shen Ruizhe calmly rolled his left sleeve and held out his left hand.

"Let me check your cultivation level."

It was an odd request, coming from Shen Ruizhe. In the past five years, Mo Zhiyuan, just like all other outer disciples, learned the basic lessons in classrooms. What cultivation level was there to check?

Still, Mo Zhiyuan obliged and placed his left hand on Shen Ruizhe's hand. The instant their hands connected, the golden chains around Shen Ruizhe's waist unwound and hovered behind him like menacing golden serpents.

Golden strands of spiritual energy flowed from Shen Ruizhe's palm, tickling Mo Zhiyuan's skin. Unexpectedly, similar golden strands seeped from Mo Zhiyuan's hand, intertwining with Shen Ruizhe's to form a radiant orb of spiritual power between them.