Chapter 239 - Master Gong: The Great Elder

Li Ming picked up the wooden pendant from the table of the Array Sect disciples and returned to her position in the rows of disciples who succeeded in passing the first exam.

Out of five hundred students that appeared to participate in the exams to fight for their admission in the Academy, only three hundred and eighty-eight students passed the first exam.

And there was still the second part of the exam left which was going to be even harder than the first one.

"You want to join the Array Sect?" A boy who looked around seventeen years old and was carrying a pollaxe, a really interesting choice of weapon in the world where swords ruled the weapons, asked her as soon as returned.

Li Ming just lightly nodded her heads, not saying anything else.

The whispering and murmurs around her came to an end as they all watched the Head of the Hall of Elders, Master Gong, standing up from his high seat.

The pollaxe boy who was about to say something more to her also stopped as he watched the Head Elder walking down the stairs that led to his high seat.

Li Ming and the rest of the children were currently standing in the Hall of Elders while the Elders were sitting on their respective seats around them.

She could feel the eyes of those elders passing over each student as they predicted and analyzed which one was worthy of becoming a disciple and which one not.

"It's time for you all to enter into the second stage of your entrance exam. All of you are brilliant children with a bright future ahead. This second exam will not only test your strength and ability but also your weaknesses and fears. I'm wishing you all good luck. May you all come out as winners and join this Academy." Master Gong smiled softly as he finished.

"Thank you, Master Gong!" 

A chorus echoed throughout the Hall of Elders as the children thanked the Elder Head for his best wishes. 

A group of Senior disciples entered the hall and made the participants divide into different groups according to their chosen sects.

One by one, the different groups started leaving the hall with two seniors from their chosen sect.

By the time it was the turn of the Array sect, the hall was almost empty.

"Li Ming, will you mind staying back for a few minutes?" 

Li Ming stopped in her tracks as she heard Master Gong calling her name. She turned towards the Elder Head and looked at the curious eyes of all the Elders that were present in the Hall.

Did she even have the choice of saying no to the Elder Head? Of course, not! 

Therefore, she gave a last quick glance to the departing figures of her chosen sect before turning back towards the Elder Head and bowing her head a little in acceptance.

"Don't worry. We will not take much of your time. We just want to ask something." Another Elder said as she also stood up from her seat and walked a little closer to Li Ming.

"Little girl, why did you chose that Array Sect? Is my Sword Sect not worthy enough?" Another Elder who looked even older than Master Gong asked her as he looked at her with complaining eyes.

"..." 

Li Ming just stared at the Elder of the Sword Sect without saying anything. What was she supposed to say?

"Elder Bai, can't you see that she does not use the sword as her weapon?" The Lady Elder scoffed at the other elder from the Sword Sect as she shook her head with a soft sigh leaving her lips.

"Huh? What do you mean? How can you tell that she doesn't use a sword?" Elder Bai asked the Lady Elder as he looked clearly offended by her words.

"Looks like the people carrying a sword really have their eyes closed in ignorance. How could you not recognize the huadian that's clearly visible on her forehead?" The Lady Elder asked as she frowned at Elder Bai and his ignorance.

"What huadian? What a huadian have to do with her using or not using a sword? Elder Nian, have you lost your mind because this year your sect is not getting any peerless genius?" Elder Bai mocked.

"You...!"

Lady Nian was sure not happy with the behavior of Elder Bai. However, before she could say anything more, Master Gong stopped her.

"Enough both of you! A child is standing in front of you and you two can't even act like the Elders that you are!" Master Gong reprimanded the two Elders who just glared daggers at each other but stayed silent.

"Hehe! Little girl, don't mind these two. They just love to entertain everyone for free." Master Gong said sweetly to Li Ming while passing a hard glare to both the Elders who clearly were not happy after being called entertainers.

Li Ming just smiled softly. Her entire focus was still stuck on the part where Elder Nian talked about her huadian.

Did they know? The thought popped up in her mind making her nervous.

It was really not easy to fool the great elders of the Guixian Academy. Their immense knowledge and high cultivation levels in addition to their hundreds of years of Immortal lives was clearly something that she could not fool.

"Little girl, are you really the new master of the legendary Lightning Whip?" Master Gong's question filled the already silent room with a new kind of silence.

Li Ming could feel the eyes of every single elder on her as they observed the beautiful blue colored huadian on her forehead.

She knew that Master Gong was already aware that she indeed was the owner of the Lightning whip.

The reason behind him asking the question our loud was probably to see how she was going to reply.

Since half of her face was still hidden behind the veil, no one could see the little twitch that appeared in her lips as she observed the Elders around her.

"Replying to Master Gong, I'm indeed the new master of the Lightning Whip." Li Ming replied as she bowed her head with her hands clasped together.

She decided to not lie in front of all the Elders of the Academy. She could not take any risks with her future plans and there was no way that she could have filled the Great Elders.

"Good, good! Looks like you have already passed the examination of the Senior Immortal Master. You are really something!" Master Gong said as he chuckled at his own words.

His eyes were filled with curiosity and also pride as he looked at her.

She could feel the other elders passing each other curious and shocked glances as they all controlled themselves from talking their thoughts out loud.

"Little girl, how was your experience with that old fox? As far as I can tell, he sure would not have been easy to please." Master Gong said as he waited for her reply.

"The Immortal Master is someone who only had great immortals as his disciples in the past. He has high standards and requirements when it comes to cultivation and knowledge. How can it be an easy task to meet his requirements?" Li Ming said as she let her eyes sparkle with pride and awe. 

"To be able to pass into the exams of the Great Immortal Master and earn his praise is like a dream come true for me. However, to be honest, it was the generous heart of the Great Immortal Master who found me worthy enough for such a treasure, otherwise, how can someone like me have the chance of becoming the Master of the Lightning Whip. It's all thanks to the kind-hearted Great Immortal Master."

Li Ming could feel honey covering her tongue as she kept praising the old fox.

While her words confused the rest of the elders who could not understand exactly when the Immortal Master became so kind and generous, Master Gong burst out into laughter as he pointed at her with his eyes brimming with amazement and pride.

"Now I can see how you succeeded in taming his temperament. You are just like the five great immortal disciples that he used to have. This is the exact attitude and personality that one needed to face that old man. Very well done, Little girl." Master Gong praised her as he finally calmed down.

Li Ming once again bowed her head slightly but stayed silent, waiting for the Elder Head to finally dismiss her so that she could join the rest of her team.

---

In the cozy living room of his small cabin, the Immortal Master was sitting in his chair as he watched the scene that played on the huge mirror hanging on the wall in front of him.

"This little brat is becoming more and more sinister with her acting skills. Good, good! Let's see how they all are going to handle her." 

He muttered out loud as he watched Master Gong finally dismissing her with a good luck wish.

It was only the mere beginning of what was coming next for the Great Masters of the Guixian Academy.