"Ha-ha, looks like you're going to have a hard time in the Five-element Sect in the following days." The
Dragon Intent Grass laughed.
"It doesn't matter. I just wanted to relieve the embarrassment. Besides, I am just staying there for a
while. I don't plan on making any friends on my visit," Ricky said.
The Misty South Palace was still his dream destination.
...
A few hours later, Wells and Lloyd landed simultaneously. Lloyd was still the calm and energetic self he
always was. It was as if he hadn't been through a battle at all.
Wells, on the other hand, had a trace of discomfort, and naturally, his black hair was a bit messy.
Obviously, Wells had been at a disadvantage in the previous confrontation.
"All right, Lloyd. I'll give him to you now. But don't train him to be as soft as you are," Wells said lightly.
"And I do hope you won't get involved in the matter of the Five-element Flag."
"You can rest assured that I am not that kind of person," Lloyd answered in a soft tone.
Then, Wells turned to Raylan and said, "Let's go." They left.
"We must leave, too.
This is not a good place to talk." Lloyd declared, again in the soft tone he was well known for. Then he,
along with Ricky, Ashley, and the others, left the scene as well. A few minutes later, they arrived at a
green mountain far away.
Wooden houses and palaces were laid out all over the mountain range, which made it a suitable
cultivation place for the disciples of the wood branch.
An invisible array covered the surroundings and was continuously absorbing the power of heaven and
earth, especially the power of wood. This power would then be gathered in the cultivating place below,
to be utilized by the disciples at will.
"Ricky, the wood branch is going to be your home from now. I have already arranged a house for you,"
Lloyd said. They were standing in front of his cultivation palace.
Lloyd was extremely excited right now, since he had found an excellent and extraordinary genius for
the Five-element Sect; a genius who was once an incredible demi-spiritual emperor. Such a talented
cultivator was sure to lead to the rise of their sect.
"Thank you so much!" Ricky was grateful.
Whether Lloyd was interested in his talent or he was being nice purely for the sake of the Five-element
Flag, the fact that he was truly kind to Ricky was undeniable. The latter was always going to remember
that.
"You can call me Elder Lloyd from now on," Lloyd said with a smile.
"Yes, Elder Lloyd!"
Ashley was furious upon seeing her master be so kind to Ricky. She was of the opinion that Ricky was
not a good person and her master's kindness made her jealous and angry.
However, there was nothing she could do at the moment. She would have to wait and tell her master
about what kind of person Ricky really was when she got the chance in the future.
While she was engaged in her thoughts, Ricky took out the Five-element Flag and said, "Elder Lloyd,
this is the Five-element Flag I found in the Emperor Beast Swamp. Since it is a sacred weapon of the
Five-element Sect, I think I should hand it over to you."
"It really is the Five-element Flag. It is finally back," Lloyd exclaimed as he took the flag in his hand.
"It was a wise move to hand over the Five-element Flag voluntarily," Ashley told Ricky using her
internal power when she saw the latter take initiative.
"I have no choice. After all, I am also a member of the Five-element Sect now," Ricky replied.
To be honest, handing over the Five-element Flag had been painful. It was a sacred weapon he had
found and now, it was just gone. However, he had his own principles. He had to hand over the Five-
element Flag considering his relationship with the Wood Saint and Metal Fire Saint.
"Humph!" Ashley snorted.
However, to their immense surprise, after carefully pondering over the flag for a while, Lloyd handed it
back to Ricky once more.
"Ricky, I am thankful to you for finding the Five-element Flag. This is one of the biggest contributions
ever made to our sect. Since you have already become a disciple of the Five-element Sect, you can
keep the flag with you.
I think it's time for you to try turning the flag into your own sacred weapon."
Ricky and Ashley were dumbfounded at the proposal.
The meaning of Lloyd's words was noticeably clear: making the Five-element Flag Ricky's sacred
weapon would mean that the flag would then belong to him.
"Master..." Ashley couldn't believe her ears.
However, Lloyd waved his hand to stop her. "Ashley, you must not tell anyone about this. Don't even
breathe a word of it, not even to the elders. Do you understand?"
"Yes, master!" Ashley nodded, rather unwillingly.
She didn't want this to happen. Ricky had said in public that she was already engaged to him, and
Lloyd must be aware of that. He must also be aware of Ricky's character. So how could he still give the
Five-element Flag to such a person?
"Elder Lloyd, to be honest, I have no idea what to do with this," Ricky told Lloyd.
"The Five-element Flag holds a special place in our sect. I am willing to believe in something like
opportunity," Lloyd explained. "Since you found the Five-element Flag, this is an opportunity for you.
Now that you have joined the Five-element Sect, you can take the Five-element Flag with you. There is
nothing wrong with it.
Besides, I know that you don't want to give up a sacred weapon, right?"
"Well..." Ricky stammered as he scratched his head in embarrassment.
"I know. You don't have to refuse." Looking at Ricky, Lloyd smiled.
Ricky did not hesitate or refuse anymore. He was a simple person who disliked unnecessary
formalities. Since Lloyd had said so, Ricky made up his mind and took the Five-element Flag.
"Thank you very much, Elder Lloyd." He expressed his thanks graciously.
"It looks like Lloyd not only wants you to become a disciple of the Five-element Sect, but he also wants
you at a prominent position in the sect. Otherwise, he would not have given you the Five-element
Flag," the Dragon Intent Grass remarked.
"Maybe, but the Five-element Flag is mine now. To be honest, I really didn't want to lose a sacred
weapon," Ricky replied.
"It's just that I was a little mean. I thought that the wood branch had ulterior motives, so I let Ashley
acknowledge her marriage with me."
"So what? It wasn't wrong of you to be careful. In fact, you need to be on your guard all the time since
you have come to the Middle Land by yourself," the Dragon Intent Grass said.
By that time, Lloyd spoke up again.
"All right then. I will let Ashley take you to your place. You two will be able to talk to each other in
private. After all, you have already..."
Before he could finish his words, Ashley angrily interrupted, "Master!"
"Ha-ha, okay, okay. I won't meddle in your personal affairs. I have some important things waiting for me
anyway. Ashley, you make arrangements for Ricky first and also tell him about the selection of the holy
son,"
"Okay,"
was her reply.
Afterward, Ricky followed Ashley to his place of residence.
"Ashley, look. I'm sorry for what I did before. I was mean and cruel, and I want to apologize. I hope you
understand," Ricky said apologetically once they were outside.
"Humph! You are a bastard!" Ashley just snorted.
Ricky spread his hands helplessly at this response.
"Listen up. I am going to tell you about the selection of holy son as my master told me to," Ashley
added in a cold voice.
Obviously, if it weren't for Lloyd, she wouldn't have spoken a word to Ricky.
"I'm all ears!" Ricky smiled. He did not care about Ashley's attitude towards him as long as he could get
what he wanted.
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