Let me, Su Ji, rectify the misconduct within our sect.

He looked down at Li Fan, who was kneeling on the ground with an expression of utmost devotion.

Su Ji stroked his chin and began to reconsider his plans.

Those five elders of the Xiangsi Sect looked exactly like sly old foxes who only submitted in name but not in heart. Who knew when they might stab him in the back.

This Li Fan in front of him, although he didn't seem too bright, was an honest and dutiful person. Moreover, he was a Golden Core realm sword cultivator with impressive strength.

Most importantly, he was deeply grateful to him, and his loyalty was absolutely maxed out.

Having a subordinate who could work for him seemed like a pretty good choice.

Thinking of this, Su Ji cleared his throat, put on an unfathomable posture, and slowly spoke to Li Fan.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Senior!"

Hearing this, Li Fan respectfully stood up and stood to the side with his hands down, keeping his posture extremely humble.

"Since you have the heart, this Sect Master will grant your request." Su Ji stood with his hands behind his back and took two steps. "From today onwards, you will be the sixth elder of my Xiangsi Sect."

"Sixth Elder?"

Li Fan was taken aback for a moment, and then an uncontrollable ecstasy surged on his face.

He originally thought that being an enshrined guest would already be a tremendous blessing; he never expected the Senior to directly grant him the position of an elder.

"Thank you, Sect Master!"

He was about to kneel again, but Su Ji raised a hand to stop him.

"However..." Su Ji looked him up and down, a playful smile appearing on his face. "Since we are acquainted, calling you Sixth Elder would be a bit too distant."

"From now on, I'll just call you Old Six."

"Old Six?"

Li Fan muttered to himself. He felt that there was something weird about this title, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

But since it was a title bestowed by the Senior, it must have some profound meaning.

Was it to remind him to guard against arrogance and rashness?

Or to make him never forget his original intentions?

Countless possibilities flashed through Li Fan's mind in an instant.

Yet, he couldn't figure it out.

Sure enough, the gap between people was still very large.

The gaze he directed at Su Ji became even more filled with admiration.

He immediately bowed and replied in a loud and clear voice, "Everything is up to the Sect Master! Thank you, Sect Master, for bestowing this name!"

Standing not far away, Su Jiu watched this scene and couldn't help but raise a hand to her forehead.

Although she didn't get it either.

Her intuition told her.

That guy Su Ji was starting to be unserious again.

Right at this moment, behind Li Fan, a faint, illusory figure of a woman slowly emerged.

The woman was dressed in a simple cloth dress and had a delicate and pretty face, though her soul body looked somewhat weak. She bowed gracefully to Su Ji, her voice soft and gentle.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for fulfilling our wish."

Li Fan also hurriedly explained, "Sect Master, this is my Dao Companion. Before... it was all thanks to your words that I made up my mind to no longer care about those tedious formalities and officially become Dao Companions with her."

The soul body bowed to Su Ji again, her face filled with gratitude.

Li Fan looked at his Dao Companion, his face full of tenderness, but then a trace of worry surfaced.

"It's just... Sect Master, she... is a soul cultivator."

He cautiously observed Su Ji's expression.

"The path of soul cultivation is mostly regarded as an evil path by the outside world, and people believe its ultimate end is... possessing a body to be reborn. I'm worried that her identity as a soul cultivator will bring trouble to the Xiangsi Sect."

"If the Sect Master feels it is inappropriate, I... I will find a proper place to settle her down and absolutely will not burden the sect."

When he said this, his tone was incredibly firm, evidently having thought it through deeply.

Hearing this, the soul body behind him trembled violently, and her clear, pretty eyes revealed a deep sense of reluctance to part.

She hurriedly took a step forward and spoke anxiously to Su Ji.

"Sect Master, please see clearly! Although I am a soul cultivator, I absolutely have no intention of harming anyone! And... and I know how to do many things!"

Terrified that Su Ji would drive her away, she quickly added, "Of the Six Arts of Immortal Cultivation, apart from the path of spiritual planting which I haven't dabbled in, I am fairly proficient in the other five arts: talismans, formations, artifacts, pills, and divination!"

Hearing this, Su Ji's eyes suddenly lit up.

Proficient in the five arts of talismans, formations, artifacts, pills, and divination?

This... isn't this just a free Pal?

And an all-around one at that!

She must stay!

However, his face remained completely impassive. Instead, he looked at Li Fan with feigned curiosity.

"Old Six, this Dao Companion of yours... sounds like she has quite a story. How did she become a soul cultivator?"

His original intention was just to be polite and find an excuse to keep her here.

Who knew that Li Fan, this honest man, seemed to have kept this story bottled up in his heart for too long. As soon as he heard Su Ji ask, his chatterbox immediately opened.

He sighed and began to narrate endlessly.

Fortunately, he knew some limits and only picked the key points to talk about.

From how the two met due to a farce in the market, to how they struggled together in the bitter sea of rogue cultivators, and then to later encountering a powerful enemy where she blew up her physical body to save him, leaving only a wisp of a remnant soul...

Su Ji yawned repeatedly as he listened. Seeing that Li Fan had the tendency to continue, he quickly waved his hand.

"Alright, Old Six, go rest on the side for now."

"Since you're an elder now, go find a mountain peak and build a residence or something. You've been standing here for a month, it's been hard on you."

Su Ji casually sent away Li Fan, who still wanted to continue expressing his loyalty.

Hearing this, Li Fan was so moved that his eyes turned red.

To think that the Senior actually cared about whether he was tired or not.

He gave another deep bow before pulling the soul body along and retreating from the courtyard, his heart filled with joy.

Su - New Sect Master - Ji then walked up to Su Jiu and reached out to pinch her puffed-up cheeks.

"What's wrong? Haven't seen me for a month, missed your senior brother?"

"Rushing over without stopping your fox paws the moment you heard the commotion of me coming out of seclusion?"

"Bah!"

Su Jiu swatted his hand away in disgust, but an uncontrollable blush crept up her cheeks.

"Who missed you? I'd be glad if you never came out of seclusion for the rest of your life!"

Although she said this, seeing that Su Ji was safe and sound, her heart that had been hanging in suspense for a month finally settled down.

After all, Su Ji wasn't someone who loved cultivating that much.

Not seeing him for a month, she was indeed a bit worried about whether he had experienced Qi Deviation.

"During the days I was away, did any trouble happen in the sect?" Su Ji asked with a grin.

At the mention of this, Su Jiu's face instantly fell.

She glared at Su Ji, her clear eyes almost spitting fire.

"The sect is full of rumors and gossip, saying that I only became the Vice Sect Master by riding your 'promotion tool'."

Su Ji looked confused: "Could it be..."

However, the invisible instinct of a cultivator to seek good fortune and avoid disaster was working in overdrive.

"Could it be that these people have nothing better to do?"

"I am deeply pained that the sect is like this."

"Never mind."

"Let me, Su Ji, rectify the unhealthy trends within the sect."