Han Xuhan didn't get the time to check out the entire extent of changes in his system. The people around him weren't waiting.
Xuan Zi scanned the beseeching faces of a large number of Elders in the gathering and shrugged lightly.
"Since Disciple Zhou has agreed to the arrangement, I will allow it."
Han Xuhan turned around and stood a step behind Xuanyuan Zhou to copy her salute towards the sect master.
"Thank you for the kindness, Sect Master."
"Thank you for accommodating my wish, Sect Master."
Xuan Zi waved a hand disinterestedly.
"There's no need for all that. You're a smart young man, Han Xuhan. The choice you've made today has also proven you an honorable youth. It is great to see youngsters with such selfless mindsets.
"I'm sure that given the opportunity, you'll eventually become an official disciple of our sect. I'm looking forward to that day."
Yeah, you'll have to keep looking forward for quite a while, old fart.
Hiding his sneer, Han Xuhan accompanied Xuanyuan Zhou and followed Lao Jun down the mountain. They would have to register their identities in the Sect's archives, now that all the slots for recruitment have been settled.
Watching them disappear under the fog, Xuan Zi began to calculate something on his fingers. The Elders moved away to avoid disturbing him and began to argue among themselves in a hushed tone.
"What a stroke of luck! That Zhou girl finally ended up in the outer court. I was the one who convinced the sect master to consider it. So my mountain peak will be her home!"
"Old Meng, your sense of shame has fallen low enough to make a pit in hell. How dare you claim the credit for her selection?"
"I agree with Elder Ding, Brother Meng's antics are getting unbearable now. We allowed him too much leeway during the last recruitment, and he hogged so many good seedlings!"
"This Zhou girl's temperament is better suited for my Steel Searing Heaven Peak. I'll gladly mentor her."
"Shut the hell up, you brute! You'll ruin her by forcing her to wield your shitty weapons. Xuanyuan Zhou shall enter my Poison Frost Mountain Peak!"
"What makes you think she's suitable for that horrid path of yours? That Zhou lass is more suitable for the scholarly paths. I can—"
The arguments began to grow heated as almost every Elder tried to snatch her into his mountain.
After all, the fate of the rest of the new talents had already been decided by yesterday. She was the last remarkable talent in her batch. The Elders who had failed to recruit top-notch disciples this year were very desperate.
Done with his mysterious calculations, Xuan Zi glared at them.
"I see that all of you are very enthusiastic about recruiting Disciple Zhou. Looks like you're conveniently forgetting a certain fact. Whoever gets to mentor her must also mentor that boy if she asks you for it."
"Why would that be a problem?" One of the younger, inexperienced Elders asked.
"I just took a peek at his fate, which turned out to be a little too obscure even for my vision. The unlocking of his memory seal didn't reveal significant threats, but that doesn't mean there are no threats at all.
"The obscurity in his fate makes me suspect that we haven't quite grasped the true nature of his existence. Are all of you ready to face whatever calamity he brings upon your mountain peak? Is one Xuanyuan Zhou worth it?"
Xuan Zi's reasoning silenced the Elders. Having successfully killed their enthusiasm, Xuan Zi disappeared into the fog, headed back to his palace.
The atmosphere in the gathering became rather awkward as everyone continued to exchange complex glances without uttering a word.
"Fellow Elders, I have an idea," An old man finally broke the silence. All eyes gathered on him.
"Why don't we use one of the older disciples to convince these two to choose separate mountain peaks? Disciple Zhou is very grateful to the boy. She would be delighted at the prospect of letting him be directly mentored by an Elder, instead of following her around like a real servant."
The eyes in the crowd brightened. Praises fell like rain.
"That's a great idea!"
"Elder Ning's craftiness never ceases to surprise!"
"Old ginger is spicier than new ginger; it's true!"
"But which mountain peak would accept the boy?" One Elder spoke out in concern. Immediately, everyone started avoiding each other's gaze.
"I don't have the qualifications to teach this outstanding young man!" Elder Meng shamelessly claimed.
"He looked so malnourished! How can he lift any weapons in my mountain? He's really not fated with me," said the Elder of Steel Searing Heaven Peak.
"My mountain Peak has no place for male disciples this year. So I can't take him. How inconvenient!" Posion Frost Peak's Elder said with a regretful look on her face.
"Since Elder Ning suggested it, why doesn't he take him in?" Someone shouted from the back of the crowd. The old Elder Ning flew off into a raging fit.
"Who said that? Who? Come out if you dare!"
"Erm... how about we send him to elder Daheng's pavilion?" One elder proposed tentatively.
The Elders looked around themselves for the man named Daheng, and found nobody. Suddenly, this suggestion seemed like a brilliant stroke of wisdom.
Yes, let's dump the trash on the guy who is absent from the meeting! Serves him right!
"Yes, yes. Elder Daheng shall be the perfect teacher for this boy. Absolutely!"
"I agree! His requirements are low, so even if the boy has poor talent in cultivation, they won't be a bad fit together!"
Burning with democratic spirit, the Elders finally reached a decision everyone could agree to. Soon, a message was sent to the Archives Pavilion, instructing certain senior disciples to make their plan a reality.