Setting expectations to the lowest meant choosing the lowest-grade sect. Not being of two minds meant making only one choice.

If Leaf Gray's understanding was correct, this was precisely the meaning behind Morgan Sterling's final words to him.

The crucial question now was whether he should believe him!

After thinking for a moment, Leaf Gray reached a decision. He put down the writing brush in his hand and handed it, along with his own jade token, to the mustached man across from him: "Shixiong, I have made my choice."

The mustached man raised an eyebrow: "Not going to think about it some more?"

Leaf Gray lowered his head slightly: "There's no need."

His innate talent was frighteningly low. Even if he chose another sect, it would likely be useless. Given the circumstances, it was better to pin his hopes on the final option, The Vermilion Guild. Morgan Sterling had no reason to deliberately mess with him; after all, he had given him two pieces of ore.

"Alright." The mustached man nodded, accepting Leaf Gray's 'preference form' and jade token. He glanced down at it. "So you're the one called Oneleaf Gray."

"My name is Leaf Gray, Shixiong!" The corner of Leaf Gray's eye twitched.

"I know, One-Leaf Gray!" The mustached man said with a smile, emphasizing the 'One' heavily.

Leaf Gray felt like cursing. To get a nickname like this before even properly starting his journey in the world? How was he supposed to get by?

And who was it that had spread the news about his One-Leaf talent?

A short while later, the mustached man had collected the preference forms from everyone. He then shot up into the sky, transforming into a streak of light that headed towards the mountainside to the east.

That location housed a complex of palaces, originally occupied by The Lunar Blight cultivators, but now serving as The Firmament Palace's temporary headquarters. Cultivators streamed in and out continuously, and large quantities of confiscated resources were piled up there, awaiting distribution.

Without stopping along the way, he went directly to the innermost palace. Guarding the entrance was a female cultivator.

Seeing him arrive, the woman asked, "Is it done?"

The mustached man replied, "It's all here."

"Hand it over to me. The esteemed representatives are currently discussing the retreat arrangements. I will submit these after their discussion concludes."

"We're retreating already?" The mustached man was clearly surprised.

The female cultivator said, "The Ophidian Covenant's reaction was faster than anticipated. Several sects are already gathering their forces, so we must leave this place quickly."

The mustached man understood and nodded. Although The Firmament Palace had brought a considerable number of people this time, they were essentially in The Ophidian Covenant's territory. If another confrontation occurred, the enemy could continuously send reinforcements, which would put them at a disadvantage.

The Lunar Blight had been crushed, and they had seized a large amount of resources. It was naturally time to quit while they were ahead.

After handing the stack of papers to the woman, the mustached man quickly left.

The female cultivator waited outside the door for a while longer until a powerful, resonant voice came from inside: "Bring it in."

Hearing this, she immediately pushed open the door and entered the great hall.

Inside the hall were only ten individuals, representing the ten great sects that had participated in the attack on The Lunar Blight. At their head was a man of imposing and dignified appearance, whose very bearing commanded authority—Leo Sterling from The Righteous Path Gate, also the Vice Alliance Leader of The Firmament Palace. Among those present, his cultivation level was the highest, having reached the Divine Sea Realm.

The woman approached Leo Sterling, respectfully placed the stack of papers in her arms before him, and said, "I take my leave, Disciple!"

After she left, Leo Sterling casually flipped through the stack of papers in front of him, pulled out one sheet, and then pushed the remainder towards the representative of The Azure Heaven Sect.

For Leaf Gray and the others, each of these papers carried their future and dreams. But for people like Leo Sterling, these things weren't worth a careful look.

Every time they liberated territories occupied by The Ophidian Covenant, they would rescue some individuals. Selecting those with cultivation aptitude and talent from among them was merely a customary practice.

Each of their sasts had tens of thousands of disciples. Unless someone's aptitude and talent were exceptionally outstanding, no one would give them a second glance.

Among Leaf Gray's group, there was clearly no one who warranted their special attention.

The stack of over a hundred papers passed from the representatives of one sect to another, gradually diminishing. When it reached the representative of The Thousand Crypticress Vale, he selected over ten individuals. Just as he was about to push the remaining stack to the next person, he suddenly seemed to discover something novel. He looked up towards an elder seated in the last seat: "Elder Lockridge, someone has chosen The Vermilion Guild."

Upon hearing this, even Leo Sterling, who had been giving some instructions to The Azure Heaven Sect's representative, couldn't help but look up: "Is that true?"

He had merely picked one from the hundred-plus people at random earlier, without carefully examining the others.

The others also showed surprised expressions, and someone even laughed and said, "It seems there is someone among this batch of youngsters who has a discerning eye…"

As if choosing The Vermilion Guild was an extremely remarkable feat.

The elder referred to as Elder Lockridge, seated in the last seat, was precisely the old man who had led Leaf Gray out of the mine shaft.

Elder Lockridge also wore an expression of surprise. Although The Vermilion Guild had participated in many such operations, never once had anyone chosen them before, even though those rescued had three chances to make their choices.

The Vermilion Guild's grade was simply too low. Anyone with any ambition or pursuit wouldn't select it.

Despite his surprise, Elder Lockridge waved his hand: "The Vermilion Guild does not accept disciples, as you all know." If not for the alliance regulations, The Vermilion Guild's name wouldn't even have appeared on that list.

The representative of The Thousand Crypticress Vale spoke up: "I'm afraid that won't do, Elder Lockridge. This person only chose The Vermilion Guild. Furthermore, no one else has chosen The Vermilion Guild."

Elder Lockridge looked astonished. He reached out his hand and said, "Let me see."

Taking the remaining papers from The Thousand Crypticress Vale representative, Elder Lockridge carefully looked through them one by one. The result confirmed the representative's words; this person who had chosen The Vermilion Guild had indeed made only one choice.

"Leaf Gray…" Elder Lockridge looked at the name on the jade token and immediately recalled the young man he had encountered in the mine shaft. His surprise grew; it was actually him.

The Thousand Crypticress Vale representative said, "According to the alliance regulations, in such a situation, The Vermilion Guild must accept this individual."

Indeed, such a rule existed. The Firmament Palace gave those rescued three chances to choose. However, if only one choice was used, then the chosen sect was obligated to accept that person, provided no one else had made the same choice.

This rule aimed to provide a glimmer of hope for those single-mindedly dedicated to the path. Among the major sects, only a few representatives were aware of it; the rescued slaves would certainly not know.

"This youngster…" Elder Lockridge felt somewhat helpless. Leaf Gray choosing The Vermilion Guild seemed to pose a troubling matter for him.

"Elder Lockridge, it's about time The Vermilion Guild accepted a disciple," the Thousand Crypticress Vale representative persuaded, then changed his tone: "However, although this youngster has opened one aperture, his talent seems to leave much to be desired."

"What does poor talent matter? Talent doesn't decide everything. Have all your years of cultivation not made you see this clearly?"

"Have any of you ever seen a One-Leaf talent before?"

"This is just too poor. How did he even manage to open an aperture?"

"But since he has made this choice, The Vermilion Guild has no grounds for refusal."

"I'm just worried about The Adamant Fist side…"

Mention of The Adamant Fist immediately caused everyone to fall silent, as if touching upon a sensitive subject.

"Rules are rules! If The Adamant Fist has any objections, tell them to come to me!" Leo Sterling, who had remained silent until now, made the final decision: "Elder Lockridge, accept him. Although a One-Leaf talent isn't worth cultivating, this could at least help preserve The Vermilion Guild for now. This might very well be an opportunity."

Elder Lockridge held Leaf Gray's jade token in his hand for a long while before finally saying, "I will consider it."