Chapter 245: Chapter 245: The First Outer Sect Elder of the Misty Sect
“Sect Master Ye, you didn’t hear wrong, I indeed wish to join the Misty Sect.” Gong Qingqiu stood up and, with great formality, bowed deeply to Ye Feng.

She had no home to return to.

Having slain the Demon King Huyuan, Ye Feng was her and all of Shuiyang City’s benefactor. Aware that she could not repay him, Gong Qingqiu could only “offer herself” in return.

Of course, what she meant by this was joining the Misty Sect.

Hearing Gong Qingqiu’s words, Ye Feng fell into silence.

In the battle for Shuiyang City, Gong Qingqiu, at the cost of decreasing her own cultivation level, had successfully broken through the encirclement and escaped, though with grievous losses. Yet, even now, she still maintained the standard of a senior practitioner at the Fourth Layer of the Element Gathering Realm.

This level of cultivation was certainly not up for grabs like cabbages.

Looking across the entire Southern River Basin, Gong Qingqiu was considered a Sect Master-level powerhouse of a One-Star force, on par with the likes of Yunhua Zhenren and the Sect Leader of the Liuyun Sect.

If he could, Ye Feng would definitely take her in.

A Fourth Layer Element Gathering practitioner, an auxiliary cultivation method, a damaged Fourth Grade spell—all these were treasures for the Misty Sect.

Nevertheless, Ye Feng did not immediately express his stance.

“System, Gong Qingqiu is so old already, can she still be taken in as a disciple?” Ye Feng appeared to be in deep thought on the surface but was actually inquiring with the system.

“Does not meet the conditions for a disciple, but can be taken in as an Elder.” the system explained.

Upon hearing the first part of the system’s response, Ye Feng showed a look of disappointment, but as soon as the second part followed, he instantly revealed a joyful expression and looked at Gong Qingqiu with puzzlement written all over her face.

Then, he excitedly took her hand.

“Daoist Gong, do you truly wish to join the Misty Sect?”

Ye Feng asked with eager anticipation.

Gong Qingqiu lowered her head to look at the hand being held, her cheeks reddened, and she seemed quite embarrassed, softly saying, “As long as Sect Master Ye is willing to accept me, from now on, I will belong to the Misty Sect.”

“With such a sincere heart from Daoist Gong, how could I not accept?”

Ye Feng hurriedly took out the Book of Names, “Please Daoist Gong, tell me in detail your name, background, talent, cultivation level, specialties… ah, I mean, what skills are you good at, like alchemy, setting formations, crafting talismans, etc.”

“Gong Qingqiu, originally from Shuiyang City, Upper Grade talent, Fourth Layer of the Element Gathering Realm, I enjoy making talismans and formations, and have some study of alchemy. I like to tend to flowers, cultivate plants, and take care of spiritual beasts,” she replied.

Listening to this introduction, Ye Feng’s smile grew increasingly twisted.

Gong Qingqiu was simply an all-rounder!

Such a person joining the Misty Sect, it would be a tremendous gain!

Ye Feng quickly took note and stamped the Sect Leader’s Seal without hesitation.

“Ding, Outer Sect Elder ‘Gong Qingqiu’ received.”

“Ding, upon the appearance of the first Elder-level powerhouse in the Misty Sect, the virtual construction of the ‘Elders’ Hall’ has commenced.”

The system issued two consecutive prompts.

Soon, the following text appeared in Ye Feng’s field of view.

[Elders’ Hall: Tier 1]

[Outer Sect Elder: Gong Qingqiu (Element Gathering Realm, Fourth Layer)]

[Note: Elders of the Elders’ Hall may issue Elder Tasks directly (a maximum of ten per month for Outer Sect Elders); the Disciples of the Sect who complete them can obtain corresponding rewards]

Seeing this, Ye Feng looked at Gong Qingqiu with excitement in his eyes, which made her blush and quickly turn away.

“Why does Sect Master Ye look at me with such heated gaze, could it be, she doesn’t like younger ones, but prefers someone middle-aged like me?”

“Though I’m of a certain age, I’ve never had a dual cultivation companion. If Sect Master Ye really needs one, it seems not impossible. After all, he is my great benefactor, and the key point is he’s quite handsome…”

With a flick of her finger, the tea in her cup condensed into a mirror before her.

Looking at the delicate face in the mirror, although she was of a slightly older age, her appearance was only comparable to that of an ordinary woman in her thirties, with exceptional beauty, extraordinary temperament, and a figure both ample and mature, exuding a charm more profound than that of younger cultivators.

“So, I am also this beautiful…”

Gong Qingqiu’s mind was serene.

In the past, as the Deputy City Lord of Shuiyang City, to assist her elder brother in managing the entire city, she self-taught formations, talismans, alchemy, and city management among many other fields of knowledge, making her the most capable person in Shuiyang City.

It was precisely because of this that when Shuiyang City was under attack, the other Elders fought to death to ensure Gong Qingqiu was able to make it out.

She represented the last hope of Shuiyang City!

However, Gong Qingqiu didn’t realize that what Ye Feng coveted was not her appearance but that damn talent of hers!

At that moment, Ye Feng put away the Book of Names and the Sect Leader’s Seal, feeling extremely pleased.

Now that he had appointed the first Outer Sect Elder, many affairs of the Misty Sect would no longer require the Sect Leader himself to handle personally, which would be much more convenient.

“Daoist Gong… oh no, Elder Gong, from today onwards, you are the Outer Sect Elder of our Misty Sect. If your performance is good in the future, I will surely promote you to Inner Sect Elder,” Ye Feng said with a smile, placing great expectations on Gong Qingqiu.

As a talent with comprehensive abilities, Gong Qingqiu was definitely a huge boost to the Misty Sect.

“The… the future?”

Gong Qingqiu’s pretty face blushed, and she quickly lowered her head, only after a long while did she shyly “hmm” in response.

However, when she looked up again, she saw Ye Feng take out a strange furnace and start tossing various materials and Spirit Stones into it, immediately followed by a clanging sound.

“What is this?”

Gong Qingqiu was very perplexed.

It didn’t look like artifact forging, nor did it resemble alchemy.

And since when did you need Spirit Stones for artifact forging or alchemy?

On her first day at the Misty Sect, she was already encountering questions she didn’t understand.

But Ye Feng revealed a grin and said, “This is a Refining Furnace, the Supreme Artifact for artifact forging entrusted to me by my Senior Brother, the Old Sect Leader, before he passed away. It can help me forge many Spiritual Artifacts. The Five Elements Spirit Sword and the White Bone Sword Array were both refined using it.”

Upon hearing this, Gong Qingqiu’s expression changed drastically.

After the battle with the Liuyun Sect, the Five Elements Spirit Sword and the White Bone Sword Array had become notorious, causing countless people to be terrified at the very mention of them.

Only now did Gong Qingqiu learn that these two supreme treasures were forged by this peculiar furnace.

This was simply too miraculous!

Soon, Ye Feng took out a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact level Identity Token.

It was overall light blue, symbolizing the status of an Outer Sect Elder.

The front protruded with the words “Misty Sect,” and the back with “Outer Sect Elder Gong Qingqiu,” with many exquisite patterns on the surface, possessing functions such as message transmission, defense shield, and Sword Beam Emission.

But since it was a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, its effects were better than those of the disciples’ tokens.

“This is the Elder Token, it has many functions…”

Ye Feng began the introduction.

After Gong Qingqiu refined the token, she indeed discovered its profound mysteries and stood up, her almond eyes filled with shock.

“There are actually such magical Spiritual Artifacts in this world, and moreover, everyone in the Misty Sect has one; Sect Master Ye is truly wealthy and generous!”

“What’s more incredulous is that you can simply throw materials into the Refining Furnace and it will autonomously forge Spiritual Artifacts, something I have never heard of before.”

Gong Qingqiu was continuously amazed.

Compared to what she had known before, she felt that her knowledge was insignificant, and couldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as Ye Feng’s.

“Now that Elder Gong has joined our Misty Sect, and as an Outer Sect Elder, every month, you can issue ten Sect Disciple tasks, essentially giving our disciples some motivation. After completion, the rewards will be personally distributed by me,” Ye Feng informed her about the note from the Elders’ Hall.

“Next, Elder Gong, follow me out to meet the other disciples.”

“Alright,” Gong Qingqiu nodded slightly and, walking with graceful steps, followed Ye Feng out of the Sect Leader’s Great Hall.

In front of the Sect Leader’s Great Hall.

The disciples had gathered here.

“From today onwards, Daoist Gong Qingqiu officially joins our Misty Sect and becomes the first Outer Sect Elder of our Sect. From now on, if you have any questions, you can all consult Elder Gong,” Ye Feng formally announced.

After speaking, he turned his head and, with a solemn face, cautioned Gong Qingqiu, “Remember, no matter what, you must not accept Wang Ping’an as a disciple. If he dares to ask you to be his master, kick him down the mountain and have him reflect on his actions!”

“Erm… Alright!”

Although she did not understand why, Gong Qingqiu saw Ye Feng’s serious and earnest demeanor for the first time, even more so than when he faced Demon King Huyuan.

“Could it be that this disciple named ‘Wang Ping’an’ is even more terrifying than the Demon King? It truly is baffling!”

Gong Qingqiu stole a glance at Wang Ping’an, who carried a giant cauldron on his back, her mind filled with turmoil.