Chương 81: An Unshakable Choice

"What is this? Do you two truly believe you can hoard a talent like young Reyn for yourselves while forbidding the rest of us from even extending an invitation?" Xuan Wuqing retorted, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He didn't yield an inch, his Daoist robes billowing with a sudden surge of spiritual pressure as he stood toe-to-toe with Qingxiaozi.

"In your Xuanxiao Sect, a man of his caliber is treated as nothing more than a lowly registered disciple. If you do not value him, he is well within his rights to seek a path elsewhere. You have no authority to chain him." Bai Sha took a heavy step forward, his expression darkening as his cold gaze swept over Qingxiaozi.

"He speaks the truth," he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble.

"Do not interfere in today's matter. How Reyn chooses is his business alone. Intervene, and we will extract a justification from you—even if it means sparking a blood feud between our sects." Behind them, the three Xuan brothers rose in a silent, synchronized motion. Though they uttered no word, their positioning behind Xuan Wuqing spoke volumes. The message was clear: they stood united against the Xuanxiao Sect. Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi exchanged a sharp, wary glance.

A cold knot of anxiety tightened in their chests. The logic presented by Xuan Wuqing was undeniably sound within the laws of the cultivation world. As a registered disciple, Reyn was not bound by the soul-oaths of a true inheritance disciple; he was technically a free agent. With nearly every sect of the North Yue State watching, to forcibly restrain him would be to invite the collective wrath of their peers.

Even with two Golden Core ancestors, the Xuanxiao Sect could not survive being ostracized by the entire region. Yet, the thought of losing him was a nightmare. To have a peerless alchemist living under their roof for a year, only to have him snatched away the moment his brilliance was revealed? The regret would be enough to make their hearts bleed for centuries.

"Young friend Reyn," Xuan Wuqing said, turning back to the youth with a sudden, predatory warmth.

"We only ask for your word. Do not let the pressure of your current sect weigh upon you. If you agree to join us, we will ensure your absolute safety. On my honor as a Golden Core cultivator, you will be protected." He watched the shifting expressions of Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi with inward glee. If Reyn joined his Earth Spirit Sect, the balance of power in the North Yue State would shift overnight. Even against the Xuanxiao Sect's two Golden Core masters, his sect would no longer be the underdog.

"Indeed," Bai Sha added, his eyes gleaming with calculated intent.

"Should you choose any of our three sects, we will form a united front. Neither you nor your clan will suffer a single scratch. We will provide everything the Xuanxiao Sect denied you." The two old ghosts had made their decision: under no circumstances could they allow the Xuanxiao Sect to retain this boy. A sect with two Golden Cores was already a threat; adding a Grade 3 Alchemist would make them unstoppable. The three Xuan brothers stepped forward in unison, their voices echoing through the hall.

"The Qingyan Sect also welcomes you, young friend!" Faced with the aggressive posturing of the three major sects, Qingxiaozi and Dan Chenzi stood like statues of ice, their faces grim. They were trapped. Their four eyes remained locked on Reyn, dreading the moment he might utter the words that would sever his ties to them. Reyn stood in the center of the storm, his expression momentarily blank.

It took several heartbeats for the reality of the situation to sink in, and when it did, he could only manage a bitter, inward smile. Not long ago, he had been a nobody, a target of ridicule and scorn. Now, because of a single pill, he was the most coveted prize in the province. Such was the fickle nature of the cultivation world. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts.

"Seniors, please... allow Reyn to speak," he said, offering a respectful, measured bow. These were Golden Core masters—beings who could crush him with a flick of a finger. He knew he had to tread carefully.

"Speak freely, young friend," Xuan Wuqing encouraged, leaning in with visible anticipation. Reyn nodded, pausing for a moment of solemn reflection before his voice rang out, clear and unwavering.

"I, Reyn, was born a mere child of the Lei Clan in the distant Thunder Abyss Mountains. That I even stand here today, knowing that the path of immortality exists, is a gift granted to me by the Xuanxiao Sect through the decennial Ascension Trial. It was they who opened my eyes to the vastness of the world." He looked toward Dan Chenzi, his gaze softening with genuine gratitude.

"After my spirit root test, I was destined to be sent home to live a life of mediocrity. It was my Master who took me in when no one else would. He granted me the path of cultivation, bestowed upon me the secrets of alchemy, and entrusted me with his own medicinal garden. Every breakthrough I have achieved is rooted in his benevolence." His voice grew firmer, resonating with a conviction that silenced the hall.

"I do not claim to be a saint or a man of perfect virtue, but I know the weight of a debt. Everything I am today was given to me by this sect and my Master. To abandon them now, in the hour of my success, would be an act of treachery that would make me unworthy of the Dao. I am deeply honored by your offers, seniors, but I will not leave. Even if I remain a mere registered disciple for the rest of my days, I stay with the Xuanxiao Sect."

The words were simple, delivered without artifice, yet the sincerity behind them was as immovable as a mountain.

"Good! Excellent!" Qingxiaozi's tension vanished instantly, replaced by a look of profound pride and affection. He turned to the rival elders, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips.

"It seems, fellow Daoists, that my disciple has no desire for your 'hospitality.' Rest assured, however—Reyn will receive the finest treatment the Xuanxiao Sect can offer."

"Indeed," Dan Chenzi added, his eyes shimmering as he looked at Reyn.

"Reyn, my disciple... today, I shall officially take you as my True Inheritance Disciple. Do you accept?" Without a second's hesitation, Reyn knelt. He performed the sacred ritual of three prostrations and nine kowtows, his forehead meeting the cold stone of the hall.

"Disciple Reyn pays his respects to Master!"

"Rise, my boy, rise!" Dan Chenzi laughed, his joy overflowing. He reached out to pull Reyn up, and with a flick of his wrist, he produced a milky-white jade sphere from his storage bag.

"This is a Sword Pellet. When infused with True Essence, it manifests as a spirit sword of the highest grade. It served me faithfully until I reached the Golden Core realm. Today, it is yours—a gift to mark your apprenticeship." Reyn took the pellet, feeling a sudden chill and a faint, sharp aura emanating from the artifact. To receive a treasure that a Golden Core master had used for decades was a windfall beyond his wildest dreams.

"Thank you, Master!" Dan Chenzi turned back to the rival elders, his face a mask of smug satisfaction.

"Well? My disciple has made his choice. Do you still intend to persist?"

"Hmph!" Xuan Wuqing snorted, his face a mask of frustrated resignation.

"Since it is the boy's own choice, we have nothing more to say. But mark my words, Reyn—should you ever find the Xuanxiao Sect lacking, the gates of the Earth Spirit Sect on Dingjin Mountain will always be open to you." Bai Sha's expression flickered between anger and calculation. Finally, he let out a cold huff and sat back down, his eyes narrowing as he retreated into his own dark thoughts.

"Xuan Wuqing, you worry too much," Qingxiaozi laughed, his voice booming with newfound authority.

"Reyn is a Master Alchemist of our sect; we would never mistreat him." He paused, his expression turning solemn as he looked down at the kneeling youth.

"Reyn, step forward." Reyn obeyed, kneeling once more with focused intensity.

"Disciple is here."

"By my authority as Sect Leader, I hereby appoint you as the Elder of the Pill Pavilion. Your status shall be paramount, subordinate only to myself and Junior Brother Dan Chenzi. Furthermore..." Qingxiaozi turned to the assembled crowd, his voice carrying the weight of a divine decree.

"I announce to all present: The Lei Clan of Thunder Abyss Mountains shall henceforth enjoy the Thousand-Year Decree of Protection from the Xuanxiao Sect. For ten generations, so long as our sect stands, the Lei Clan shall flourish in peace and prosperity!" A thousand years of protection. In the brutal world of cultivation, it was the ultimate reward—a legacy of safety that few clans could ever hope to achieve.