Chapter 143 - Cold Rejection

Jiu Shen came downstairs with Lu Sulan following behind him. The latter was looking at her master's back with a crimson red face as her expression alternated between that of shyness and elation. When Jiu Shen held her hand a moment ago, she felt like she was walking in a field of flowers and greeneries, making the throbbing of her heart even more intense.

As for Jiu Shen, he was unaware of his disciple's thoughts since his mind was occupied by something else. He was confident that he can persuade the elders of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect into accepting his proposal, so he wasn't worried about it in the slightest. And after he's done with his discussion with them, he was planning to visit Green Cloud City and complete his mission to get the God Crystals and the rewards from the system.

"Sulan, where are the elders of your sect?" Jiu Shen turned to glance at Lu Sulan and saw her dazed expression.

"Ah! T-There they are seated there..." Lu Sulan woke up from her stupor and pointed in one corner of the store where ten mature ladies can be seen seated closely together. They were wearing the standard robes meant for the elders of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect. Each of these mature ladies looked to be in their early thirties with different kinds of charms, but they all had one thing in common - they have the same frosty expressions on their faces.

The ten of them were already aware of Jiu Shen and Lu Sulan's arrival, and they could not help but feel surprised when they saw Jiu Shen. His face was otherworldly like an immortal that had descended to the mortal world, and even these frosty mature ladies felt their hearts fluttering when they saw his handsome face. And they didn't even realize that their eyes flashed with a bright glow at that instant.

Just as these beautiful elders of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect were about to greet Jiu Shen, the respectful voices of two old men suddenly echoed inside the store.

"Wine Master Jiu, Qi Hongtian would like to accept you as my master! Please accept me!"

"Wine Master Jiu, Fengzi would like to accept you as my master! Please accept me!"

Everyone inside the store was surprised to hear their words and they instantly turned their gazes towards the two old men who were now kneeling beside Jiu Shen. They displayed the most humble expression as they prostrated reverently before Jiu Shen. However, the customers' expressions turned strange when they recognized the identity of the two.

"Aren't they Master Fengzi and Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian of the Alchemy Hall?! They actually want to accept Wine Master Jiu as their master? Woah!"

Even the ten elders of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect were dumbstruck at what they saw. Their beautiful faces suffused with a look of disbelief.

They finally realized that Lu Sulan wasn't exaggerating Jiu Shen's strength at all! Heck! He even made the two proud top alchemists of the Alchemy Hall willing to take him as their master! No one else was capable of doing that!

Jiu Shen's eyes remained peacefully calm as he slowly turned his gaze towards the two old men kneeling before him. "The both of you are not qualified to become my disciple. Leave." His voice was cold and emotionless as if he didn't regard the two old men seriously.

The bodies of Master Fengzi and Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian trembled when they heard his cold rejection. They thought that Jiu Shen would accept them considering their high attainments in alchemy, but they didn't know that Jiu Shen never treated their alchemy skills seriously.

The two old men lifted their heads and looked at Jiu Shen's calm face with dejected and perplexed looks.

"Wine Mas-"

"The both of you may be talented in everyone's eyes, but to me, your talents in alchemy is mediocre at best. Leave now." Jiu Shen cut them off and no longer bothered with them.

The customers and everyone else was dumbfounded at this. To think that Jiu Shen didn't accept the two as his disciples. It was truly shocking for them!

Master Fengzi and Supreme Elder Qi Hongtian glanced at each other and saw the despair in each other's eyes. They then stood up and left the store, but to everyone's surprise, they actually knelt outside the store amidst the hot sunny weather! Everyone admired their determination, but they could only sigh in their hearts since Jiu Shen didn't even bother to glance their way.

"We greet you, Wine Master Jiu!"

"We greet you, Wine Master Jiu!"

The elders of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect who were as pretty as the flowers hurriedly stood up from their seats and greeted Jiu Shen with utmost respect in their eyes. They didn't dare treat him lightly anymore especially after witnessing the scene earlier.

Jiu Shen nodded his head at them and gestured for them to sit down. "Everyone, please sit down."

The ten elders promptly sat down and looked at Jiu Shen's face with eager looks.

Lu Sulan who was standing behind her master could not help but let out a smile when she the expressions of the elders.

"Sulan might have already told you guys about my plans, but I will tell it to you once again." Jiu Shen grabbed a seat for himself as he spoke those words, while Lu Sulan stood behind him with a look of reverence.

"I plan to visit Green Cloud City this time and after I complete my business there, I will begin the construction of my sect here in Beltran City. At that time, I hope that your Ice Cloud Sword Sect will be willing to become part of my sect." Jiu Shen added with an indifferent look as he eyed the ladies in front of him. He was confident that they would accept his proposal.

The ten elders glanced at each other and knelt in front of Jiu Shen without hesitation. "We greet you, Lord Sect Master Jiu Shen!"

"We greet you, Lord Sect Master Jiu Shen!"

Their beautiful voices reverberated within the store, but their words came as a surprise to everyone.

"What?! Wine Master Jiu is setting up a sect?!"

"This is an astonishing piece of news! I need to go back to my clan and report this to the elders."

"I would surely apply to become a disciple of Wine Master Jiu's sect!"

The customers' discussed excitedly as they watched the scene with wide eyes.

Jiu Shen didn't stop them and only gestured for them to return to their seats after a few seconds. "Inform the disciples of the Ice Cloud Sword Sect about this and settle them down here in Beltran City. Also, the emperor will give this plot of land to us, so you must help the Silveria Imperial Family in cleaning the entire place. Make sure that nothing goes wrong while I'm gone, and you don't have to worry about experts at the 9th-rank Saint since there will be someone who will deal with them if ever they decide to confront us."

Jiu Shen gave a series of commands, but there was no displeasure on the ladies' expressions. In fact, they were eager to serve this handsome and unfathomable man.

"We follow Lord Sect Master's orders." They said solemnly as they stared at Jiu Shen.

Jiu Shen was pleased with their attitude so he let out a smile. "Great."

Looking at his smile, the ladies went into a daze and they seemed to be enchanted by his looks.

"Master, I want to go with you!" Lu Sulan held Jiu Shen's right arm and looked at him with a pleading expression.

Jiu Shen felt her warm and soft body sticking closer to him, but he remained indifferent. "Absolutely not."

"But master..."

"Sulan, don't be stubborn. Don't leave the elders here to work alone. Besides, you have to protect everyone while I'm away. I will feel more at ease with you present here to oversee everything." Jiu Shen rubbed her head gently with a smile.

After hearing his words and feeling his tender touch, Lu Sulan dipped her head shyly as she replied in a small voice. "Okay, master. I will stay here."

Staring at Jiu Shen who was surrounded by more than ten pretty ladies, the customers could not help but click their tongues in admiration.