CHAPTER 415: CHAPTER 277: HOPEFUL SECOND GENERATION IMMORTALS

Beast Taming Sect.

The Old Sect Leader Li looked at the empty lake surface and let out a deep sigh.

At this moment, his broad back seemed somewhat desolate, exuding the aura of a lonely old man.

And indeed, he was a lonely old man.

His son and daughter-in-law were currently having a carefree life over in the West Continent, and never bothered to come home.

His grandson and granddaughter were once obedient, but recently they got overly excited, and before he could discipline them, they had already run away from home last night.

What made him most upset was not just their departure, but that they took some things with them when they left.

Spirit Deer Valley was driven away by those little rascals in the middle of the night yesterday.

Not only did his grandson and granddaughter and that little girl from the Sword Sect leave, but almost all the Thousand Mechanism Cultivators stationed here, half of the Medicine King Valley cultivators, and all of the Demon Race members left as well.

Their actions were so swift and their plans so long in preparation, it was truly impossible to guard against.

Those who knew would say it was the little rascals causing chaos; those who didn’t would think that someone had robbed their sect.

The reason they left so quietly wasn’t that the Old Sect Leader Li was too old and inattentive at night but because Zhu Luo, that old turtle, was also making mischief with the kids.

It was a case of treachery at home being hard to defend against.

It used water to create a fake mountain, masking the Spirit Deer Valley’s aura and replacing it. If it weren’t for a disciple on duty tonight who fell into the lake as soon as he climbed the mountain, he wouldn’t have discovered until tomorrow.

Where exactly did it go wrong with his upbringing?

How come there isn’t anyone who lets him have peace of mind?

Just as the Old Sect Leader Li was marveling at the hardships of life, a disciple flew out from Ring Lake, seeming to have something to report, but with a hesitant look as if not knowing how to begin.

"Speak, where’s Elder Han?" The Old Sect Leader Li glanced at that disciple.

Elder Han was in charge of Ring Lake; it wouldn’t be possible to drive Spirit Deer Valley away without getting past him.

"Elder Han... disciple did not see Elder Han; he hung a sign at the Dragon Palace entrance saying he has a cold stomach lately and is inconvenient for visitors," the disciple stammered.

The Old Sect Leader Li felt a bit stifled, thinking that old rascal must have run away too.

"Call a meeting, notify all the elders, anyone without a cold stomach should get over here immediately."

That disciple, drawing his neck a little, dared not respond, knowing the Old Sect Leader dared to scold people, while he did not dare. Reluctantly, he could only step back slowly, all the way to behind a big tree to summon his white crane, then rode off swiftly, disappearing without a trace.

Fifteen minutes later.

Looking at the assembly hall half filled with people, the Old Sect Leader Li’s mind was buzzing.

The hall had only half occupancy; the other half of the chairs were labeled with nameplates.

Each nameplate had various ailments: cold stomach, cold hands, dizziness, unbalanced meridians, forgetting to drink warm water, and so on.

These nameplates were found from the elders’ residences.

To someone familiar, this is the Beast Taming Sect, to an outsider, it might seem like the scene of a seniors’ gathering at a retirement home.

The other elders present had well grasped the heavy atmosphere, each quietly sipping tea, waiting for the Old Sect Leader to speak.

"What’s going on with you all? Are you so unpopular that they don’t invite you to play, or are you staying to cover for those little rascals?"

The Old Sect Leader Li was probably genuinely angry, his words laced with sarcasm.

An elderly elder twirled his beard braided into small plaits, smiling as he spoke, "Among our brothers, we are in good health, unable to fall sick, and besides, someone has to stay and watch the house, right?"

Probably because this braided elder broke the ice, the other elders started chatting as well, ready to brush over this matter.

"Nice weather today, isn’t it?"

"Indeed, indeed."

"Hey, Liu, how’s the few Divine Oxen you’ve been raising?"

"So-so, so-so."

The Old Sect Leader Li coughed, and the elders immediately fell silent.

Before long, several Beast Taming Sect disciples were brought in.

When Li Jue and Li Yueqi ran away, they took many of their friends with them, mostly fellow Golden Core disciples of the same age. These individuals were the disciples the Beast Taming Sect had prioritized training over the years, the hope for the next generation.

Now, not many were left.

A somewhat sly male disciple seemed to have been prepared long ago. Before the Old Sect Leader inquired, he had already dropped to one knee, sliding two meters along a rail right in front of the Old Sect Leader, clasping his fists as he spoke.

"Disciple Ma Li knows his mistakes and is willing to accept punishment."

The Old Sect Leader Li lowered his eyelids to peer at the young lad for a moment, "All right, tell me, what’s your mistake?"

"Alas, disciple was caught in the middle, unable to balance loyalty and righteousness. Brother Li was set on going to Xinhe United Victory, and disciple did indeed know about it as Brother Li personally met with me at night and invited me to join."

"Then why didn’t you leave?" the Old Sect Leader Li inquired.

"Disciple’s heart is tied to Beast Taming Sect! The sect has cultivated disciple for many years, how could I abandon it? Originally, I intended to report it, but I couldn’t betray Brother Li with whom I share a deep brotherly bond!"

"So?" The Old Sect Leader Li gestured for him to rise.

"Alas, who could have imagined Brother Li being so resolute, worthy of accomplishing great things? Seeing my hesitation, he knocked me out with one swing; you see, I’ve just awakened, and here’s the bump on my head."

Ma Li tilted his head to show the Old Sect Leader the bump on his head.

"Tell the truth." The Old Sect Leader Li, having watched this little rascal’s performance, said blandly.

This lad’s resolve was strong, still wanting to make a more convincing argument, but the Old Sect Leader’s single sentence shattered all his beliefs.

"Your father didn’t take you along when he ran?"

Ma Li, "?"

Only then did Ma Li have the opportunity to look around the assembly hall, and indeed realized his father wasn’t here, and where his father usually sat, there was a nameplate now.