The arena was still echoing with the cheers of Si Ming's recent victory over Mo Jiang when a procession of distinguished figures descended onto the stage. Ten venerable elders of the Dark Moon Sect stepped forward—each with a presence as unique as the ancient runes etched into their robes. They were:
• Elder Steel Cauldron
• Elder Azure Oracle
• Elder Golden Torrent
• Elder Crimson Dusk
• Elder Jade Phoenix
• Elder Silver Ember
• Elder Obsidian Blade
• Elder Celestial Howl
• Elder Mystic Tempest
• Elder Storm Bringer
Each elder, with voices resonant and filled with age-old wisdom, began extolling Si Ming's potential. They crowded forward, each attempting to claim him as their disciple.
"Si Ming, you have the spark of great potential!" boomed Elder Steel Cauldron.
"Join me, and I shall teach you celestial techniques that can move mountains!" urged Elder Azure Oracle.
"Your foundation is remarkable," declared Elder Golden Torrent.
"Allow my guidance to further ignite your untapped spirit!" added Elder Crimson Dusk.
Their voices overlapped with lively debate as they bickered. "I, Elder Jade Phoenix, should be the one to take him on—I've seen seeds like yours bloom into legends!" countered Elder Jade Phoenix.
"Nonsense, Elder Silver Ember; your methods are too slow for one with his pace!" retorted Elder Silver Ember.
Elder Obsidian Blade snapped, "You would squander his talent with endless rituals, whereas my path offers pure martial enlightenment!"
The quarrel raged on between Elder Celestial Howl, Elder Mystic Tempest, and Elder Storm Bringer, each convinced that destiny had earmarked them to mold the rising star.
Si Ming chuckled softly at the scene. With a calm smile he addressed the collective, "I appreciate your kind offers, revered elders, and I am honored that you consider me worthy of your guidance. However, my eyes are set on the Inner Sect."
Elder Storm Bringer laughed heartily and declared, "Truly, as the saying goes, 'A man destined for greatness never remains tethered to the earth!' It seems the seeds of this generation shall sprout into mighty oaks." With that, he presented Si Ming with a gleaming token—a symbol that thereby proclaimed him an Inner Disciple of the Dark Moon Sect. The crowd erupted into wild cheers.
At the same moment, high above the arena's fanfare, Saintess Fenyue gazed outward from her lavish pavilion. Muttering to herself, she mused, "Hmm, this Si Ming is exceptional indeed—his fate is most unusual. Yet, I detect not the aura of her on him… Perhaps a singular, fortuitous encounter carved his future anew." With a graceful sigh, she rose and departed, leaving her thoughts to drift like autumn leaves.
Silence followed for a heartbeat as Si Ming stood, token in hand, knowing that he had bypassed the bi-yearly disciple acceptance exams—a path for the mediocre.
Almost immediately, a soft chime echoed through his mind via the Spiritual Voice Transmission (SVT) technique. A gentle yet resonant voice spoke, "I congratulate Daoist Ming for his success. I hope to meet a fellow daoist again."
Si Ming frowned slightly. "That was strange..." he murmured, acknowledging the message before returning his focus to what he must do next.
Packing his modest belongings into a simple bag, Si Ming proceeded toward the main gate of the Dark Moon Sect. An attendant, his face lined with years of service, welcomed him warmly and led him through intricately carved corridors to the Hall of Ascension—a grand chamber where new disciples were issued their attire, dormitory assignments, and other regalia of the sect.
Inside the hall, however, his path was unexpectedly blocked. A group of five men in their early thirties, were embroiled in a heated discussion near the entrance. Their voices rose in a cacophonous argument that abruptly ceased as Si Ming stepped forward.
"Excuse me," he said politely. When his words repeated the second time, the five men turned, their eyes gleaming with predatory mischief.
"Boy!" one of them bellowed. "Pray tell, do you come seeking to form a harem of consorts, or do you desire to bind yourself exclusively to a single Daoist partner?"
One of them sneered, "Which path do you choose, then?"
Another pressed, "Umm... I guess a single partner. Because if a I dare to surround himself with a multiple partners, then I'll have a hard time with giving each of them gifts."
Hearing this one of the men, a burly fellow with a tattered grin named Lu Tianwei, laughed and patted Si Ming's back so roughly that it made him jump. "Tell me, boy, do you already have a master?" he asked mockingly.
Si Ming met his gaze with deadpan calm, "No, I'm merely here to collect my items for joining the Inner Sect."
"Perfect," Lu Tianwei declared with a hearty laugh as he and the other four exchanged knowing glances. "Here we go again—Peak Master Old Shadows' habit of plucking disciples from the ranks is showing." They bantered amongst themselves, remarking on the randomness of the selections as if it were an everyday occurrence in their world.
Before matters could escalate further, the attendant reappeared and led Si Ming away toward the administrative offices. Moments later, he found himself standing at the lofty foot of Shadowmoon Peak—the revered pinnacle of the Dark Moon Sect. In a swift motion, the peak master, a grizzled and imposing figure known as Grandmaster Shadowmoon, descended from his elevated dais. With commanding authority, he summoned a motley band of ten junior disciples who had recently been recruited into his inner circle. They were:
1. Li Wei
2. Chen Rong
3. Sun Tao
4. Zhang Kai
5. Wu Xian
6. Liu Feng
7. Gao Ming
8. Xu Zhi
9. Huang Yue
10. Qian Zhen
They all turned to face Si Ming with warm, albeit mischievous, smiles. "Welcome, junior disciple," they chorused. Confused, Si Ming hesitated. "Wait—didn't I never formally join?" he asked, his brow rising.
A cheerful voice piped up from among them, "That's how we all got here! One day, a master finds you in ways you hardly expect." The disciples laughed camaraderily, their eyes twinkling with shared experience.
Grandmaster Shadowmoon stepped forward and addressed him gravely. "Si Ming, from this day forth, you are one of my disciples. Accept this token and your new storage ring as symbols of you being my disciple."
He then looked around at his misfit assembly and added with a hint of a smile, "Take care of our new junior" One of the younger disciples stepped forward, offering a respectful nod.
Si Ming accepted the token and ring with a quiet nod. Uncertainty mingled with quiet joy in his heart as he set off on this new chapter of his journey—this time, as a full-fledged disciple of the Dark Moon Sect.
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