CHAPTER 447: 447 HONORARY ELDERS

"Why not enter the hall and see for yourselves what the reality is?"

Yun Xiao’s composure intensified the suspicions in Gu Dao’s heart. On the other hand, Qin Zhengyang, the Elder, who harbored preconceived notions, still wore a cold smirk.

"Hmph, I want to see if this young man truly has the ability or is just bluffing!"

Eager to expose Yun Xiao’s feigned composure, Qin Zhengyang stepped into the Qihuang Hall before Gu Dao, followed quickly by Chairman Gu Dao, who then heard an incredibly unbelievable exclamation from inside.

"What happened?"

Seeing this, Gu Dao couldn’t help but be shocked. He knew that Elder Zhengyang, although somewhat harsh, was a composed individual. What had happened inside the hall to cause such a loss of composure?

"Ah, this..."

Gu Dao, hastily entering the hall and looking around, saw the rows of collapsed steles, his face instantly becoming blank, as if he could hardly believe his own eyes.

The Master of the Lingtian City Meridian Refining Master Guild, and a senior elder, were both speechlessly staring at the collapsed steles in the hall, unable to utter a word for a long time.

These two naturally understood what the collapse of the Qihuang Steles implied; it meant that the person who entered the Qihuang Hall had written the correct solution on the scroll.

Although the difficult issues presented in the Qihuang Hall had stumped everyone in the Lingtian Empire, the special site was connected to the headquarters of the Tenglong Continent in the Middle Three Realms. The Earth Rank and Heaven Rank Meridian Refiners surely knew the method of resolution.

Once the completed scroll is placed upon the Qihuang Stele, a special connection would project it to the headquarters of the Meridian Refiners in Tenglong Continent; there, the high-level Pulse Refining Masters would evaluate and if the answer is correct, the steles would collapse; if wrong, nothing would happen.

But now, the collapsed steles all over the hall - could it be that Yun Xiao had resolved nearly a hundred difficult cases in the Qihuang Hall in just two time periods, and without any errors?

How could this be possible?

This place held countless difficult cases accumulated over the years by the Lingtian Empire Meridian Refining Master Guild, challenges that dozens of previous guild Masters and Elders had been unable to resolve. How did a mere sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy manage it?

"Ssss..."

Elder Qin Zhengyang, who had been adamant in his disbelief, was now inhaling sharply, completely upending his longstanding beliefs about Meridian Refining. He suddenly felt, was the Meridian Refining Technique he had been practicing for over a hundred years entirely false?

As for Chairman Gu Dao, although he had high hopes for Yun Xiao passing this test, he never expected an outcome like this.

How does this young man’s mind work, knowing so intricately many perplexing issues? How else could he have resolved nearly a hundred complicated ailments in such a short time?

"Hmm?"

As Gu Dao was internally shocked, his eyes suddenly spotted an exceptionally large stele which as the head of the Meridian Refining Master Guild, he had never seen before.

’Could it be from headquarters...’

Thinking of a possibility and seeing that the stele had not collapsed, Gu Dao finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, he was interrupted by the familiar footstep noises coming from behind.

"Chairman Gu Dao, Elder Zhengyang, have I passed the test?"

Yun Xiao’s voice rang out, pulling them back from their reverie. Seeing them turn around, the expressions directed at him were incredibly expressive and fervent.

"Of course you’ve passed!"

Chairman Gu Dao affirmed, and then rubbing his hands, somewhat embarrassedly added, "That... Yun Xiao, are you interested in joining our Lingtian Empire Meridian Refining Master Guild?"

Chairman Gu Dao and Elder Qin Zhengyang’s eagerness stemmed from wanting to recruit this young man capable of ’curing all ailments.’ Given this young man’s Meridian Refining talent, it was foreseeable that his achievements would surpass that of Chairman Gu Dao in time.

On the Hidden Dragon Continent, there’s competition among the different Empire’s Meridian Refining Master Guilds, and periodically, they send talents to headquarters in the Middle Three Realms. If approved by headquarters, substantial rewards would follow.

Having resolved all the difficult issues in the Qihuang Hall, Yun Xiao undoubtedly qualified. Gu Dao believed that if Yun Xiao was represented by Lingtian Empire’s Meridian Refining Master Guild, the future benefits would be tremendous.

Seeing Yun Xiao remaining silent, Gu Dao, swiftly thought, and then said, "Yun Xiao, I know you are not from Lingtian Empire, but our Meridian Refining Master Guild is an independent entity, never constrained by the Lingtian Royal Family!"

Pausing, Gu Dao gritted his teeth and threw out another heavy offer, saying, "As long as you join the Meridian Refining Master Guild, you can be directly appointed as an Elder. Your rights and benefits will be no different from the other Elders."

"Chairman..."

Suddenly hearing Gu Dao’s proposal, even Qin Zhengyang beside him was startled, looking at the Chairman incredulously, wanting to speak yet hesitating.

Although Yun Xiao’s performance in the Qihuang Hall today was stunning, Qin Zhengyang clearly sensed that this young man was only at the Early Stage of Meridian Union Realm, and his Power of Soul had likely not reached the Middle Level of the Spiritual Rank.

As usual, to assume the position of an Elder in the Meridian Refining Master Guild, one must at least reach the Meridian Qi Cultivation of the Spirit Vein Realm, a tier far beyond what Yun Xiao currently possesses.

However, in response to Qin Zhengyang’s doubt, Gu Dao merely waved his hand, his gaze constantly fixed on Yun Xiao, wanting to know if this young man would agree?

Qin Zhengyang didn’t know much about Yun Xiao, but Chairman Gu Dao had been paying attention to him since his assessment as a low-level pulse refining master of the Spiritual Rank.

Consecutively taking assessments in the medicine and poison categories, then curing the July Flowing Fire Poison of the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion, and finally causing such a commotion in the Qihuang Hall, each and every one of these events narrated the extraordinariness of this youth in rugged attire.

If such a talent is not retained, Gu Dao would truly be unworthy of being the Chairman of the Meridian Refining Master Guild; he believes that this is an excellent opportunity for the Lingtian Empire’s Meridian Refining Master Guild.

"Sorry, Chairman Gu Dao, Yun Xiao is already affiliated with the Jade Pot Sect, he will not join any other sectarian forces!"

Just when Gu Dao thought his conditions would undoubtedly persuade a young man at the Early Stage of Meridian Union, Yun Xiao didn’t hesitate at all, directly shaking his head and declining.

"Jade Pot Sect?"

Suddenly hearing this name, both Gu Dao and Qin Zhengyang were stunned, but soon remembered this enormous sect of the Xuanyue Empire and exchanged glances.

"Yun Xiao, being part of a sect really doesn’t affect it!"

Since Yun Xiao already belonged to a sect, Gu Dao knew that fully persuading him was next to impossible, and could only think of an alternative.

"In our Meridian Refining Master Guild, there is a position called Honorary Elder, which is aimed at high-level Meridian Refining Masters from various major sects or families."

Gu Dao said so, and this statement indeed sparked interest in Yun Xiao; if it didn’t demand changing his allegiance, then it was worth considering.

This practice had always existed, like many high-level Meridian Refining Masters from large families and sects, they were willing to carry the title of Honorary Elder in the Meridian Refining Master Guild, providing them an extra pathway.

Of course, the title of Honorary Elder in the Meridian Refining Master Guild wasn’t just bestowed upon anyone, even some who reached the Advanced Spiritual Rank as Meridian Refining Masters couldn’t enter the Guild’s eyes without their own unique skills.

Since the establishment of the Lingtian Empire’s Meridian Refining Master Guild, fewer than ten such honorary titles had been issued, indicating how incredibly precious they were.

"What benefits does an Honorary Elder have?"

Yun Xiao was very composed, with the perspective of the reincarnated Long Xiao Battle God, mere vanity couldn’t catch his eye, he was more interested in substantive benefits.

"This kid, despite his young age, is quite shrewd!"

Hearing Yun Xiao’s words, Gu Dao was not angered but delighted, swearing inwardly before saying with a smile: "With the title of Honorary Elder, no one in the Lingtian Empire will dare to provoke you easily, and regarding the goods sold by our Meridian Refining Master Guild, you can purchase them all at half-price!"

Gu Dao first mentioned safety, but the latter statement was what truly moved Yun Xiao; he knew the wealth stored by the Meridian Refining Master Guild, and with half-price, he could definitely procure some valuable items.

"Alright, I’ll take the Honorary Elder position!"

With such a good offer, Yun Xiao no longer hesitated and directly decided, and after speaking, his gaze intently fixed on the Chairman in front of him, the meaning was quite clear.

Gu Dao didn’t drag things out; upon extending his hand, two badges magically appeared in his hand, one of them inscribed with the small letters ’Yun Xiao’ and three black crescent moons extremely striking.

That represents the badge of a Spirit-grade Advanced Pulse Refining Master, as long as Yun Xiao accepts it, it denotes him as a genuinely Spirit-grade Advanced Pulse Refining Master.

Thinking back to when Yun Xiao left the Xuanyue Empire just months ago, he was only an Advanced Mortal Rank Pulse Refining Master; who would have thought that in just a few months, he had already achieved such a status, truly formidable and terrifying.

As for the other badge, Yun Xiao also saw clearly that it seemed to be engraved with "Lingtian," likely representing the Honorary Elder of the Lingtian Empire Meridian Refining Master Guild.

Gu Dao handed over the black Pulse Refining Master level badge to Yun Xiao first, but when handing out the second badge, he paused slightly and said: "Yun Xiao, now that you are an Honorary Elder of our Meridian Refining Master Guild, you must take responsibility for any future matters of the Guild!"

This was likely the true reason why Gu Dao was eagerly recruiting Yun Xiao. Though Yun Xiao wasn’t currently much help, given this child’s talent, it wouldn’t take long before he would shine incredibly bright on the Hidden Dragon Continent.