There was an innate difference between a personal disciple and disciple in-name.
A personal disciple referred to a disciple who inherited his master's life's knowledge and required a grand ceremony when the master officially accepted the disciple.
As for a disciple in-name, it didn't require any ceremony and a verbal promise would do.
Typically speaking, higher-ups in the Scarlet Flames Academy might have hundreds of disciples in-name but definitely wouldn't have more than 10 personal disciples.
"Good, good, good!"
After learning that Ye Wanwan was only a disciple in-name, the elderly man nodded and smiled faintly. "Then acknowledge me as your master. I'll accept you as my personal disciple."
Ye Wanwan was startled. It can also work like that…?
"What are you doing? Are you stealing my disciple in front of me?"
Elder Gong immediately turned to the elderly man.