The entire Bing Character Seven Courtyard, and even all the disciples watching outside the courtyard, instantly fell into a deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Elder Luo’s body jolted violently, his livid face instantly flushing to the color of liver. He wanted to refute, but found any words seemed utterly feeble and pale in the face of those four characters.

“Sect Pillar” — such an evaluation had never before been used on a hall comprised of menial disciples!

Elder Ma was using his own prestige to vouch for the Repair Hall, for Su Ming!

However, that wasn’t the end.

Elder Ma’s gaze once again fell upon Su Ming, his tone flat, yet dropping another thunderbolt.

“Su Ming, your application for promotion to outer sect disciple, this old man has already submitted it to the sect.”

The crowd completely erupted!

“What? Outer sect disciple? But his Dao foundation is damaged…”

“Personally recommended by Elder Ma! This… this Su Ming is practically ascending to heaven in a single step!”

Manager Liu stood within the crowd, feeling darkness cloud his vision, nearly collapsing on the spot.

He had schemed with all his might, only to end up becoming the stepping stone for someone else’s meteoric rise! This mouthful of reversed blood choked in his chest, making him almost faint.

Su Ming’s heart was also roiling with towering waves, but he forcibly suppressed it, offering Elder Ma a deep bow from the waist.

“This disciple… thanks the elder for his nurturing!”

“Don’t thank me.” Elder Ma waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over Elder Luo whose face was now ashen with extreme displeasure, his words carrying a pointed meaning. “This is something your Repair Hall earned, brick by brick and tile by tile, through your own capability.”

With that, he turned, hands clasped behind his back, and leisurely walked away, leaving behind a retreating figure and a ground littered with shattered astonishment.

…

Half an hour later, External Affairs Hall, meditation room.

The scent of sandalwood was more mellow than usual, seemingly capable of soothing the restlessness in one’s heart.

Elder Ma personally poured a cup of tea for Su Ming. The steaming tea mist blurred the wrinkles on his face, yet made those turbid eyes appear even more profound. The teacup was made of coarse pottery, warm to the touch, carrying a sense of rustic simplicity.

“Today’s matter, you handled it very well.” Elder Ma took a sip of tea, speaking slowly.

“All thanks to the elder’s protection.” Su Ming replied respectfully.

“Protection?” Elder Ma shook his head, a trace of self-mockery appearing at the corner of his mouth. “This old man’s meager cultivation, how can it be called protection? It was merely leveraging influence, shielding you from some of the open attacks.”

He set down the teacup, his fingertips lightly rubbing the warm rim, as if organizing his words.

“Your application for promotion to outer sect disciple, I have already submitted it. However, don’t celebrate too soon.”

Su Ming’s heart tightened, listening attentively.

“The sect has its rules. Your ‘damaged Dao foundation’ assessment is recorded in the registers;
this is an ironclad fact. This matter requires re-examination by the Stewards Hall and the Transmission Pavilion;
it’s definitely not a task that can be completed in a day. Especially for a special case like yours, they will investigate more meticulously, drag it out longer.” Elder Ma’s voice was calm, yet revealed a cruel reality. “Short, half a year. Long… a year, is also possible.”

Su Ming’s heart sank, yet he didn’t show the slightest disappointment.

Elder Ma observed his expression, a flash of approval appearing in his turbid eyes. Not arrogant in success, not disheartened by failure, this child’s temperament far surpassed his peers.

“However, since you have already rendered such meritorious service to the sect, this old man cannot let your heart grow cold.” Elder Ma retrieved a new identity token from his robes and handed it over.

The token was entirely made of green jade, cool to the touch. Besides the characters “Su Ming”, there was also a small imprint of the character for “outer”.

“From today onward, you are a ‘Quasi-Outer Sect Disciple’.” Elder Ma explained. “Although your status is not yet formally entered into the sect’s jade register, the monthly stipend an outer sect disciple should receive, the permissions in the Hall of Meritorious Deeds, you can all enjoy in advance. Consider it a bit of personal compensation and motivation from this old man.”

“This disciple… kowtows in thanks to the elder!” Su Ming received the token with both hands, performing another grand bow.

He weighed its significance clearly. This wasn’t merely an improvement in treatment;
it was a clear political stance — Su Ming was someone Elder Ma was protecting!

“Go on.” Elder Ma waved his hand, closing his eyes once more. “The Repair Hall’s path has only just begun. Remember, walking steadily is the only way to walk far.”

Inside the Xuantian ring, Lin Yu laughed heartily. “Hahaha! Good! Excellent! Disciple, your master knew it! That Elder Ma of yours is a man who understands!”

Su Ming was taken aback by this sudden reaction. “Master, the slow approval process, isn’t that a bad thing?”

“A bad thing? This is a heaven-sent opportunity!” Lin Yu’s phantom image excitedly rubbed his hands together, pacing back and forth within the ring. “Disciple, you’re still too young! What is official status? Status is a shackle, a spotlight! Once you become a formal outer sect disciple, you’ll have to accept the sect’s mandatory missions, get involved in the overt and covert struggles between the peaks, be watched by countless eyes! How could we then quietly amass wealth?”

Lin Yu’s voice suddenly became earnest, filled with the flavor of “ancient wisdom”.

“Disciple, you must remember, true strength is never written on an identity token. Slow approval is good! This threshold is both a test and, more importantly, our protective umbrella! This is a once-in-a-millennium development period!”

The “five-year plan” he had charted for Su Ming officially commenced at this moment.

“We must use this perfect window period to forge the Repair Hall into an iron fortress, impervious to needles and water! Not only must we monopolize the repair of the sect’s low-grade formation vessels, we must thoroughly master every single link in the upstream and downstream chains!”

Hearing this, Su Ming felt his vision suddenly broaden.

Yes, Master was right. He had only seen the glory brought by official status before, overlooking the constraints and risks behind it.

“This disciple understands.” Su Ming’s gaze once again became clear and resolute.

…

Returning to Bing Character Seven Courtyard, it was already late at night.

The courtyard was brightly lit. Old Wang, Old Li, and the others had not dispersed, but were gathered together excitedly, discussing the triumphant vindication of the day.

Seeing Su Ming return, they immediately surrounded him, their eyes filled with fervent admiration.

Su Ming placated everyone with a few words, announced a day off tomorrow, and advanced a portion of contribution points as a reward, only then dispersing the excited crowd.

Returning to the eastern side room, activating the compound formation, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

…

The next morning, when the first rays of dawn pierced through the thin mist of the back mountain, spilling onto the bluestone slabs of Bing Character Seven Courtyard, the usual busyness was absent, replaced by a tranquility more reassuring than spiritual energy.

Su Ming had not slept all night.

He hadn’t cultivated, nor rehashed the heart-stopping events of yesterday. He simply sat quietly on the stone stool in the courtyard, listening to the wind whistling past the eaves, feeling the slight coolness transmitted from the “Quasi-Outer Sect Disciple” token against his chest.

“Quasi-Outer Sect Disciple” — a single character’s difference, a world apart.

He knew this wasn’t merely a symbol of status;
it was Elder Ma’s resounding declaration, an invisible barrier temporarily isolating him from the open and covert attacks of the past.

“Disciple, what are you thinking about? Reliving the feeling of being the center of attention yesterday?” Within the Xuantian ring, Lin Yu’s soul consciousness materialized a phantom image, leisurely reclining on a beach chair, his tone full of teasing.

“Stop thinking about it. The highlight moment experience card has expired. From today onward, you need to be even more ‘low-key’ than before. A tree that stands out in the forest will be toppled by the wind. We are now that little sapling just sprouting, watched by all the gardeners and pests alike. We need to quickly sink our roots deeper.”

Su Ming’s heart stirred, deeply agreeing.

He was about to respond when the sound of familiar, cheerful footsteps approached from afar.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep