Chapter 1735: Chapter 1735: Rejected as an Apprentice?

"Thank you, Headmaster and all elders."

Even though Nine Layers Mountain is a bit stingy, Li Feng couldn’t show any disrespect, at least not with any expression of dissatisfaction on his face.

"This is what you deserve, so there’s no need to thank us."

Wei Wu waved his hand: "Now let’s talk about the next matter. With your entry results, you can directly skip the new recruit training camp and choose to study under any elder."

Li Feng’s heart stirred upon hearing this, could it be that he is to become a direct disciple?

If that’s the case, then naturally he should choose the biggest supporter. Li Feng looked at Wei Wu, but Wei Wu seemed to have discerned Li Feng’s thoughts and directly said: "You are not qualified to join under me just yet."

"Study under the various elders for a while first."

Wei Wu straightforwardly rejected, even though Li Feng surprised them admirably, this young man seemed rather sharp, so Wei Wu intended to observe further; after all, accepting a direct disciple carries responsibilities.

In some sense, the relationship between master and disciple is unified.

A teacher is like a father, inheriting a line, and although what is inherited isn’t the bloodline, it is the transmission of the path, even more important than the bloodline.

Upon hearing this, Li Feng realized the old man’s thoughts; he intended to see if Li Feng was qualified. After all, the opponent is the Ancestor Dragon Army God, with an eminent status, not so easily accessible for apprenticeship.

Fourth Elder Shi Huanshan however, smiled and spoke: "You don’t need to have any concerns, it’s just following and learning, not formal apprenticeship. Of course, if you want a formal apprenticeship, the Headmaster won’t accept, but I will."

"What about it, do you want me as your master?"

An elder beside sneered upon hearing: "Fourth Elder, you wish. Saying that, turned his head to look at Li Feng.

"If you want to apprentice, you should choose wisely. Though he is the Fourth Elder, the Shi Family behind him is just a second-rate family."

"If you want to choose, why not choose me, I am the Fifth Elder of Nine Layers Mountain, Yu Wenjing. My Yuwen Family is a strong second-rate family, far above his Shi Family. If you apprentice under me, I assure you the benefits are abundant."

"Also, the daughters in my Yuwen Family are known for being distinguished and virtuous. Coincidentally, I have a daughter around your age, so we can be master and disciple, as well as in-laws; what do you think?"

"Pfft, Fifth Elder, have some decency. Who doesn’t know your little daughter is notorious for being a shrew?"

"Who are you calling a shrew?"

Looking at the two elders about to start a fight, Li Feng was speechless; fortunately, at that moment, Wei Wu coughed: "What sort of decorum is this?"

"Li Feng, whether or not to apprentice is your decision, no one can force you. Of course, if you want to choose someone to apprentice under, you can, it’s entirely up to you."

"We have eight elders in Nine Layers Mountain, but only five are present here. The second elder Xia Changhe, I don’t manage affairs, so he handles day-to-day management. There’s also Fourth Elder Shi Huanshan, who oversees military rules and regulations."

"Fifth Elder Yu Wenjing, who is responsible for logistics, Seventh Elder Ouyang Fenghua, who mainly oversees Martial Strategy Hall, Eighth Elder Xiao Rui, who manages the training camp."

"Aside from these, the remaining three elders not present are Great Elder Nolan Qian, but he has been in seclusion and has not been involved in worldly matters for a long time, so you don’t need to consider him."

"As for the Third Elder and Sixth Elder, they are on patrol at the border and won’t return soon."

"It’s up to you to ponder whom to choose."

Li Feng heard Wei Wu’s words; this old man obviously considered taking him as a disciple but wanted to test him, using these words to remind him to recognize reality.

Li Feng certainly wouldn’t rashly apprentice. Apprenticeship in Ancestor Dragon City is a significant affair. Although the old man didn’t directly accept him, he didn’t outright refuse either.

Li Feng naturally wouldn’t foolishly choose an elder at random. As for whom to choose, Second Elder can be excluded, as the other is Murong Ye’s master; he didn’t intend to become Murong Ye’s fellow disciple.

Looking further down, enthusiasm-wise, it’s mainly between Fourth Elder and Fifth Elder; as for Seventh and Eighth, their attitudes toward him were indifferent.

Li Feng naturally wouldn’t warm up to cold shoulders.

Ultimately his gaze fell on the Fourth and Fifth Elders, with the Fifth Elder being evidently more glib and in charge of Nine Layers Mountain’s logistics. Socializing with him, as he said, would certainly yield many benefits.

While the Fourth Elder, who oversees military rules and regulations, seemed inferior.

"I choose..."

"Fourth Elder, then. I hope Fourth Elder will guide me well in the future."

Haha.

"Kid, you have a good eye, don’t worry, following me, Old Shi, certainly won’t disadvantage you." Shi Huanshan seemed satisfied when Li Feng chose him, despite it not being an apprenticeship, he still looked smugly at the Fifth Elder beside him.

"Dismissed then."

Wei Wu, seeing this, didn’t say much, directly waved his hand and then got up to leave, not calling Li Feng for a personal meeting.

The etiquette of Nine Layers Mountain wasn’t elaborate, and after Wei Wu left, the other elders also departed directly. Li Feng watched as the Second Elder left, followed by the Fifth and Eighth Elders, but the Seventh Elder lagged behind, seeming not to be part of the Second Elder’s group.

Watching the back of the Fifth Elder, Li Feng was glad he didn’t choose him.

Shi Huanshan stepped forward, placing a hand on Li Feng’s shoulder: "Kid, luckily you didn’t choose that Yu Wenjing, he’s a sly old fox. Did you see? He’s part of the Second Elder’s group."

"You humiliated his disciple Murong Ye publicly today, directly offending him, and even if you wanted to ingratiate yourself, he might not value you. This old guy is quite rigid, always putting family bloodline first."

Looking at the familiar Shi Huanshan, Li Feng noted he was quite unlike someone who oversees military rules and regulations.

The two strolled out of the Nine Layers Mountain main hall with arms around each other’s shoulders.

Shi Huanshan continued: "Kid, you lucked out today. Although I would love to accept you as my disciple, evidently there was no such fate."

"You should also be aware, the Headmaster has considered accepting you, just that Headmaster is quite stringent with accepting disciples, so wouldn’t easily voice it, thus needs to observe more."

"You must perform well; if you can truly apprentice under the Headmaster, the benefits aren’t just minor ones as the Fifth Elder mentioned."

"Perhaps in the future, you might inherit Nine Layers Mountain."

"Oh, I can inherit Nine Layers Mountain?"

"Heh, why not. Kid, don’t undervalue yourself, you indeed received the commander assessment from the Martial Strategy Hall, plus your performance in the Martial Arts Five Gates is outstanding, superior even to Murong Ye, regarded as a once-in-a-century genius."

"Clearly, there are two other closed-door disciples on this mountain, and these two are quite extraordinary, one is the current Family Head of the Royal Family, and another is also a Family Head from a first-rank family, ranking in the top three among first-rank families."

"These two both have family inheritances, naturally unable to also inherit Nine Layers Mountain’s Headmaster position. You’re different, with not much background, if you can showcase sufficient talent, you leading Nine Layers Mountain would undoubtedly be the best choice."

"After all, Nine Layers Mountain cannot be family-owned, and if someone from the Second Elder’s line became Headmaster, Ancestor Dragon Army might face some turmoil."