Chapter 220: Sect Master Lin Fan

Ye Jun had to admit that he was a prejudiced person. Considering the Heavenly Frost Palace was one of the Pillars of the North, he expected its leaders to be more... well, leader-like.

'The North continues to surprise me.'

He clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "Forgive me, Senior. I didn't know it was you. Disciple Ye Jun greets Sect Master Lin Fan."

"It's fine." Lin Fan waved his hand casually, taking another bite of fish. "I'm not even invited here."

"Yup, he's an unwanted guest." Elder Mo snorted.

"Seniors are always welcome here," Song Liangxue smiled slightly. "But I'm confused about what happened between you two."

"Just know we had a bet and I won it easily." The older man chugged the whole cup of wine and said, "But this damned old bone can't even fulfill the end of his bet."

"There you go again, ruining my reputation." Lin Fan glared at him. "First of all, you cheated."

"Lies! Filthy lies!"

"Shut up!" Lin Fan almost threw a cup at him. "Also, the bet involved who would represent the sect at this banquet, and that's clearly you. We never mentioned who could come and who couldn't."

Elder Mo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Should have known you shameless fossil would find a loophole."

'Fossil? Aren't both of you old men?' Ye Jun was speechless. 'What kind of sect am I entering? Sounds exciting though. My days won't be filled with boredom there.'

"I feel like my husband will suit the Sect Master's teachings a lot," Song Liangxue commented after they finally paused their fight.

"He's shameless?" Elder Mo raised an eyebrow.

Instantly, Ye Jun put on his best smile and said, "How can that be? I'm the most humble man in the whole North, heck, in the whole world... or more if they exist."

Seeing Elder Mo's speechless look, Song Liangxue chuckled. "I told you."

"Haha! Finally, someone with a sense of humor is joining the sect." Lin Fan laughed, standing up to size up Ye Jun.

'Damn, he's even taller than me and more robust. Really shouldn't judge someone by age.' Ye Jun cursed inwardly, staring at the old man.

"All kinds of weirdos enter the sect. Brooding ones, arrogant ones, those who are too serious or too lazy, even lechers." Lin Fan shook his head in disappointment. "They're talented, don't get me wrong. I love them in my sect, but they don't really have what it takes to be leaders or to stand at the top of their generation."

He patted Ye Jun's shoulder, smiling. "You... you have the free spirit that a Cultivator needs. I can sense it, an innate quality of yours. I'm glad to have you in my sect, and if you don't mind, I even want to take you as my disciple."

Ye Jun blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting the man to make such an offer. "Are you serious?"

"I've never gone back on my words," Lin Fan said proudly, completely ignoring the strange looks he was getting from Song Liangxue and Elder Mo.

"But why should I choose you?" Ye Jun asked in return. "I mean, Liangxue promised me that she'll help me become the disciple of her grandfather, so why should I choose you over him?"

Both Song Liangxue and Lin Fan were dumbfounded to hear that. The old man turned towards Song Liangxue, asking, "You did?"

Having no other option, she sighed. "Yes, I did. He deserves the best, and I don't think there's anyone better than Grandpa. So, I did plan to introduce him."

"Hmm, can't argue with that logic." Lin Fan nodded in understanding. "But I think he'll come around."

Sitting back in his seat, Lin Fan picked up another wine glass and said, "Leaving those matters aside, I have to say I look forward to your future. The Nine Tribulations are the stuff of legends, yet I didn't expect one to appear before me."

Ye Jun just smiled. "I'm looking forward to spending time in the sect too. So many things are left to learn. I'm sure I'll gain a lot of techniques there as well."

"You brat," Lin Fan chuckled.

"You're a good man," Elder Mo said with a serious look. "A man who has seen the world, so I will not warn you about anything. I only hope you keep the North in your heart."

"It is and always will be."

After a short conversation with them, Ye Jun and Song Liangxue talked a bit with the disciples sitting behind them. They were a few core disciples of the Heavenly Frost Palace, each one renowned throughout the North. They were quirky, but Ye Jun had a favorable opinion of them.

'It's good that I don't have to deal with young masters lusting after my wife.'

Once that was done, they moved on to the next two Great Sects. They were a bit more reserved than the Heavenly Frost Palace, but Ye Jun was glad to see that they didn't harbor any malicious intent. It was quite easy for him to sense people's intentions toward him.

Winter Heart Valley impressed him a lot, especially with their arts of stealth and movement. It suited him so well that he was tempted to join them for a second.

Many sects, especially great ones like Winter Heart Valley or the Heavenly Frost Palace, had a few specialties, the Daos they followed, and other distinguishing factors. But that was just their main attraction, as they were also very versatile sects. ℯℯ𝘭.

It just depended on their foundational arts to determine what kind of sect they were.

Ye Jun did promise to visit Winter Heart Valley, and that certainly earned him mixed reactions from them. While the elder was pleased, the disciples clearly had different thoughts.

'I will just steal their arts.'

After that, they also conversed with the Abyssal Glacier Sect, whose members were quite distant in person. Ye Jun felt a distinctive aura surrounding their robust physiques, pressing down on him.

While they did not say much, they conveyed their intentions through a few simple words.

'Can I endure their training?... Well. After that tribulation, I feel like I can endure anything.'

Finally, their next stop led them to Prince Zhao.