"What, the Alliance Leader he..."
Exclamations echoed, and the peak masters looked at the old man with disbelief.
It was the first time they had seen the old man speak to someone so kindly.
Indeed, kindly.
The recipient was still a young man not yet thirty years old.
They had seen all sorts of geniuses, but this was the first time they had seen someone capture the old man's attention.
The crowd turned their gaze back to Zhang Ergou, eager to hear his response.
Dan Feng looked at Zhang Ergou with anticipation, nudging him with his eyes.
Peak Master Liu, surnamed Liu, watched Zhang Ergou nervously, his fingers so tightly clenched they turned blue without him realizing it.
Zhang Ergou glanced left and right. At this moment, he was truly hesitant.
He had already conned so many good things out of Dan Feng that he expected Dan Feng to want him to join Dan Peak. But Zhang Ergou had his own plans.
"Do you really want me to choose myself?"
Zhang Ergou asked uncertainly, his gaze sweeping over the peak masters.
The peak masters' expressions varied. Those who had no hope of getting Zhang Ergou smiled and greeted him.
Meanwhile, Jian Ying of Sword Peak had a somewhat complicated expression.
Zhang Ergou's gaze bypassed Peak Master Liu and Dan Feng. After waking up this time, he had also heard from Li Zhan about the peak masters vying for him.
However, he was still annoyed by Dan Feng's suspicion that he had been possessed.
He assumed Peak Master Liu had also investigated him.
If not for his current strength, Zhang Ergou truly wished he could shout, "What about basic trust between people?"
Turning back, Zhang Ergou met the old man's gaze directly.
"Little fellow, have you decided which peak you wish to cultivate at? Whatever choice you make, this venerable one will support you unconditionally."
The old man looked at Zhang Ergou, his expression filled with kindness.
Everyone, including all the peak masters, had the same thought: they were suddenly a little envious of this young man.
"Senior, I have decided."
Zhang Ergou nodded heavily.
Instantly, the peak masters and elders perked up. Even Bai Youran, who felt his chances were slim, craned his neck.
He desperately hoped Zhang Ergou would become his disciple.
Otherwise, his lifelong skills would have no successor.
"Oh~, tell me."
The old man's eyelids lifted slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
At this moment, Zhang Ergou felt an invisible pressure surge towards him.
He frowned inwardly. It seemed someone was trying to interfere with his choice. Zhang Ergou quickly glanced at everyone again but could not discern anything from their expressions.
"Senior, can I cultivate under you?"
Boom~~
Dan Feng, Jian Ying, Peak Master Liu, and the others looked at Zhang Ergou in utter disbelief.
This young man was far too audacious, choosing the Alliance Leader instead of any of them.
He was truly bold; how dare he?
Everyone gained a new understanding of Zhang Ergou's audacity.
"Haha, it's been a long time since someone wanted to become my disciple. Little fellow, tell me your reason."
The old man did not reject Zhang Ergou outright.
Instead, he looked at him with a smile.
"Senior, I fear if I join someone else's tutelage, some people might act against me."
Zhang Ergou stated directly.
"Presumptuous!" Jian Ying and Dan Feng exclaimed almost simultaneously.
The other peak masters looked at Zhang Ergou with even stranger expressions.
The old man waved his hand, and the others retreated, resuming their seats.
"Act against you?" The old man frowned slightly.
"Within the Alliance, treasures are too few to shower upon a genius disciple like you. How could anyone act against you?"
"This junior does not know, it is merely a feeling."
Zhang Ergou was too smart to reveal his suspected targets at this moment.
Doing so would alienate everyone.
Even if he were a genius, he could not defend against powerful beings whose cultivation far surpassed his. The best course of action was to seek the strongest protection.
The old man's status was undeniable, making him the most powerful person present.
"A feeling, haha, little fellow, you are quite interesting."
The old man chuckled again.
"However, becoming my disciple is not easy. Are you sure you wish to be my disciple?"
The old man did not reject Zhang Ergou immediately.
"Alliance Leader!"
All the peak masters cried out in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.
It had been ages since the Alliance Leader had taken a disciple.
Moreover, the Alliance Leader had so many matters to attend to; where would he find the time to teach a disciple?
"Esteemed Alliance Leader, you are busy with state affairs day and night. Such minor matters as teaching disciples can be left to us."
Peak Master Liu quickly stepped forward to dissuade him, fearing the old man would immediately agree to Zhang Ergou.
He was still not giving up.
"You say this old man is old?"
The old man glared at Peak Master Liu.
"Your subordinate dare not."
Peak Master Liu broke out in a cold sweat and quickly retreated.
"Esteemed Alliance Leader, Zhang Ergou has shown unique talent in alchemy. He can be cultivated under my tutelage, and soon the Alliance will have a sixth-rank alchemist."
Seeing Peak Master Liu defeated, Dan Feng quickly stepped forward to contend.
If he didn't try now, it would be too late once the old man made his final decision.
"Alchemy?"
The old man pondered for a moment, as if genuinely considering the feasibility of the matter.
"What confidence do you have in teaching him to become a ninth-rank alchemist?"
The old man suddenly looked sternly at Dan Feng.
"This..."
Dan Feng was speechless. He himself was only an eighth-rank alchemist. Teaching a ninth-rank alchemist was simply impossible.
"Esteemed Alliance Leader, you don't have to embarrass me like this just to reject me. There are so many disciples present," Dan Feng grumbled internally.
However, the old man shook his head at Dan Feng's performance.
The others dared not speak. Even Dan Feng had been silenced by the old man; what grounds did they have to contend?
"Ninth-rank alchemist?"
The disciples erupted in an uproar. Did the old man have such high expectations for Zhang Ergou?
He actually believed Zhang Ergou could break through to become a ninth-rank alchemist.
Zhang Ergou also looked at the old man with great confusion.
After much thought, he believed becoming the old man's disciple was the best choice, though he was merely trying his luck.
Now, it seemed the old man not only did not reject his idea but had also cleared the obstacles for him.
Whether he chose Dan Feng or Peak Master Liu, he would have thoroughly offended the other.
But if these words came from the old man, the effect would be entirely different.
If they were to blame, they couldn't blame Zhang Ergou.
"Little fellow has fate with this venerable one, so this venerable one will temporarily guide him. He shall be a registered disciple. Once he truly passes my trials, a formal discipleship ceremony will be held."
The old man made his decision, settling the matter.
"Registered disciple?"
Zhang Ergou was a little taken aback. What was a registered disciple?
"Master, I am before you. Please accept your disciple's bow."
Whether he understood or not, the proper courtesies had to be observed.
"Don't rush to kowtow. This venerable one still has a few trials."