There was no immediate response to Kong Ye's question at first. Nobody wanted to speak without figuring out what the Elder's goal was.
"Hmm? No opinions at all? That's even better. It looks like I don't have to argue with anyone about my choice, then," Kong Ye said rather quickly. It did seem like he didn't want a debate.
At this moment, a voice finally came from the disciple body, that too from the group Han Xuhan was standing with.
"Elder, this disciple believes that we, the ones who have never stepped foot into the path of Mystic Arts, should receive the most favor from you. How else would we keep up with those disciples whose family provided them with all the resources and Mystic Arts early in life?"
If anyone else had said this, Han Xuhan would've applauded them with his full personal support, but the speaker was Mu Ran, the only one among their group who actually had a cultivation base. This guy was a fraud, an imposter!
Han Xuhan couldn't help but look forward to Elder Kong Ye catching him red-handed. He could sense Mu Ran's cultivation base too, right?
But instead of pointing out that Mu Ran already had a cultivation base, Elder Kong just asked his name and looked at the rest of the groups.
"Anyone wish to contest his words? This will be the only opportunity you get for it. Don't cry about fairness later!"
Han Xuhan was dumbfounded. Why didn't this Elder say anything? How could he not sense the fraudulent act taking place right under his nose?
"I do!"
A burly disciple from Xuanyuan Zhou's group of elites walked out. Pointing at Mu Ran, he shouted,
"Little guy, it seems that you have some misconceptions about how fairness works in human society. Just because I received the resources and techniques of my family, it makes me less deserving of a sect's teaching?
"What would be the point of accumulating wealth and resources, if we cannot use it to our advantage? How is your arrangement fair, then?"
A collective cacophony followed his rebuttal. Almost all the disciples who had cultivated a Mystic Art were in agreement with him. In fact, even Han Xuhan privately felt that his argument made more sense.
But Mu Ran didn't back down.
"My arrangement is fair within the sect. The moment we all became disciples of this sect, we were put on an equal footing, but if the sect is blind to the external advantages of a minority while treating the disadvantaged disciples with cold impartiality, what will be the outcome?
"The outer court will soon become divided into two groups—disciples who have money and disciples who don't. Cultivation itself being an expensive process, such a divide will only be exacerbated!"
Mu Ran's eloquence made Han Xuhan reassess his character profile.
In the chapters he had read, Mu Ran was more of a bumbling fool with great luck and a knack for violence. Stacking up logic in a spontaneous debate like this was certainly not his forte.
But here he was, right before Han Xuhan's eyes, almost about to win a debate despite being on the wrong side. It left Xuhan feeling doubtful about all of his previous assumptions.
Was this even the Mu Ran he knew?
The elite disciple on the opposite side also looked unprepared for a proper debate. He struggled to speak for half a minute before realizing that Elder Kong Ye didn't look pleased.
Right then, another disciple from his group walked over and pushed him to one side. Face cold and lips curled, Xuanyuan Zhou gazed at Mu Ran down the slope with a mocking smile.
To others, this moment seemed little different from everything that had taken place in the class so far. But for Han Xuhan, time seemed to slow down. His pupils shrank as he realized what was about to take place.
Mu Ran was about to confront Xuanyuan Zhou!
The Protagonist was facing the Child of Destiny!
He could almost see ferry sparks flying between them. His delirium was only broken when Xuanyuan Zhou's disdainful voice rang out across the slope.
"The world of cultivation belongs to those with great fortune. The Crimson Snow Sect is not outside this principle. Your idea of isolated fairness within the sect does not fit our sect's machinations.
"The sect would rather see the Elder focus his attention on the disciples with the best-proven potential. And fortune is the greatest potential a cultivator could be born with. Naturally, the five of us with high foundation in Mystic Arts are more worthy of the Elder's investment."
Mu Ran's gaze darkened at the harsh rebuttal. Pointing a finger at Xuanyuan Zhou in anger, he shouted,
"Bullshit! Just because you've cultivated a few years more than us, you can claim to be more fortunate than us? Why don't we compete and see who actually has more potential as a cultivator?"
"Sure, let's compete!" Xuanyuan Zhou replied fearlessly, her cold smile getting broader.
"But a trash with no cultivation can't defeat me! So where are you getting this much confidence from? Do you have some other means enabling you to fight above your league?"
Han Xuhan nearly cheered out loud.
So it wasn't just the benefits of this class that had spurred Xuanyuan Zhou to cross Mu Ran! She was using this opportunity to dig out his secrets!
Just an hour ago, he had described Mu Ran's character profile to Xuanyuan Zhou. He had mentioned his 'suspicions' about Mu Ran having deep secrets and hidden resources. That must be the reason why Xuanyuan Zhou was challenging him openly!
Sure enough, even Mu Ran seemed to have guessed something from the way Xuanyuan Zhou threw out her challenge. His face changed colors rather quickly as he reassessed his options.
Meanwhile, Elder Kong Ye, who had been silently watching the conflict between the best and the worst group in the outer court break out, finally decided to step in.
"Disciples, it seems the debate has reached a stalemate that can only be resolved with a proper confrontation that proves who has more potential. This situation is actually not too far from my original plans for this class. So why don't you all listen to my arrangements?"
Mu Ran looked like he had received a lifeline, whereas Han Xuhan and Xuanyuan Zhou were left feeling disappointed. The rest of the disciples had no complaints.
"For the next five weeks, I shall focus on teaching the worst disciples here. They'll receive my personal guidance and be eligible for my weekly elite lecture," Elder Kong said, pointing at Han Xuhan and Mu Ran's group.
"After this period, I will hold a contest of Mystic Arts demonstration for the entire outer court. The top thirty disciples in the contest shall become eligible for my personal guidance for the next sixty days, after which another contest shall take place.
"This way, whoever among you has the greatest potential or the greatest fortune—all will receive a fair opportunity!"