Albeit from the other eight mountains, the domestic disciples had passed rigorous examinations which took place every six months. Their number stood next in line to the figure of the external disciples in the Taixuan Sect.
Although they could hardly rise to become the backbone of the sect, the domestic disciples were still of significance. They would be an integral force once a war broke out between the Taixuan Sect and the Suomo Sect.
Hence it was nothing to be sneezed at that hundreds of domestic disciples kneeled to the chief seniors at the same time and pled for help.
The primary chief senior rushed to inquire about the matter forthwith. However, hardly had the disciples got an opportunity to air grievances than a mountain owner beat them to it.
Yi Tianzhong stood out and responded, "Esteemed Primary Chief Senior, I ordered them not to take the pellets without my permission before their arrival. And those who go against my mandate will be subject to death penalty."
As a matter of fact, Yi Tianzhong's disciples got terribly agitated on seeing him responding to the chief seniors. They were afraid that he might invent a charge against them instead, which would bring a calamity to all of them.
However, Yi Tianzhong didn't distort the facts at all. On hearing his statement, his disciples went struck-dumb all across the board.
Nevertheless, the three chief seniors all flared up on hearing that.
"Yi Tianzhong, do give us a plausible explanation!" the short-tempered tertiary chief senior yelled rampantly.
In contrast, the primary chief senior was rather composed. He came up to ask the disciples whether Yi Tianzhong told the truth.
Seeing the disciples nod in agreement, the primary chief senior cast eyes on Yi Tianzhong.
"Esteemed chief seniors, to be honest, I assumed you would have let them go once they got the pellets. I feared that it might be dangerous for them to take the pellets themselves, hence the mandate. I had no idea that you have been so considerate, otherwise, I wouldn't have ordered them like that," Yi Tianzhong responded.
Although his explanation did make sense, the three chief seniors didn't fall for that on thingking of Lin Xiao's reminder. Compounded with the conversation between Lin Xiao and Yi Tianzhong outside the Furnace Hall ten days ago, they soon figured out Yi's ulterior motive.
Their junior martial uncle took pains to produce pellets for the sect, while Yi Tianzhong was attempting to pocketing his disciples' pellets. On thinking of that, the tertiary chief senior couldn't contain his anger any longer and was about to get engaged in a fight.
However, the primary chief senior stopped him immediately.
"I see. They are rather fortunate to have such a considerate mountain owner. You know, the domestic disciples are an indispensable force of our sect, hence we can't let them get hurt. Well, given there is plenty of room at the Main Mountain, they may just as well stay here. And we'll supervise their progress of pellet activation on our own," the primary chief senior said. He was rather resourceful. In so doing, he not only deterred Yi Tianzhong from taking further action, but also offered protection to his disciples. And the Mount Qingming got substantially crippled accordingly.
Knowing that the primary chief senior was protecting them, the domestic disciples scrambled to extend their gratitude and express their willingness to stay.
Then Yi Tianzhong had no option but to let it be.
Paying curtesy to the primary chief senior, Yi Tianzhong said in a respectful tone, "Esteemed Chief Senior, that cannot be better." However, he wished if only he could have hashed the primary chief senior to death.
He had exerted himself to successfully turned dozens of disciples into his henchmen. Although they were still in the dark about some core confidential information of the Mount Qingming, they were still better informed about under-the-table dealings than most regular disciples.
If they stayed at the Main Mountain, they would definitely betray him. Then all his previous efforts ended up in vain. Although he already saw it coming the moment his disciples got the pellets. However, his heart still ached when it happened for real.
"The old dog! Goddamned rat-face!" Yi Tianzhong gritted his teeth. However, on thinking of his plan, a tinge of smile popped up on his face, "these damn turncoats and the old dog's days are counted. As soon as the martial contest kicks off…just wait and see!"
A furtive sparkle of insidiousness flashed across his eyes. However, as he lifted his head, he looked perfectly normal.
"Go and activate your pellets," the primary chief senior bade the disciples to go to the Main Mountain. Then he looked at a middle-aged man and said, "Kong Ji, you take care of them."
Kong Ji was one of the guardians in the Taixuan Sect and the prior judge for enrolment examinations. The primary chief senior deemed it fool-proof to let him take care of the disciples, as he was devoted to the Tianxuan Sect heart and soul.
Kong Ji nodded and took the assignment. Like the primary chief senior, he was known as a steadfast worker and never talked big.
Done with arrangements for the disciples, the three chief seniors left with the remaining pellets.
Seeing them off, the eight mountain owners left respectively, followed by the disciples.
The great square soon retrieved its tranquillity.
Once the chief seniors left the square, they started to rush to the Main Mountain at full speed.