Chapter 6 Are you out of your mind? Is this really his junior brother? Quick...
Why give up the position of the sect leader's chief disciple to become an ordinary disciple of Daofa Peak?
These words were so shocking that the elders and disciples were speechless for a long time, and the huge square became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Although Daofa Peak is one of the wealthiest peaks in the Tianyan Sect, far better off than Wanjian Peak, a gathering place for impoverished sword cultivators, how can the elders and disciples be compared to the sect leader's first disciple? Has this poor kid who appeared out of nowhere lost his mind?
A telepathic message flew into Fu Ming's consciousness.
"Junior Brother Ming, please think it over. The cultivation resources on Dao Fa Peak are far inferior to those on Tai Wei Peak where the sect leader resides. I'm afraid it will bury your talent!"
On the other end, the system was also anxiously yelling: "Host, wake up, wake up! Being next to Xiao Huaiyuan will give you a 20% bonus to your merit points! If you don't accumulate enough merit points, you will die, and if you die, this system will have to go into hibernation again!"
Fu Ming: If you curse me again, I'll send you into hibernation early, believe it or not.
For a moment, Fu Ming's consciousness was in complete chaos, a scene of utter confusion that made his forehead feel like it was about to split open.
However, Fu Ming had his own plans: he knew his junior brother's temperament well. He could fool him for a while, but if he stayed by Xiao Huaiyuan's side for a long time, he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be exposed.
On the high viewing platform, Xiao Huaiyuan's white-clad figure appeared and disappeared intermittently, remaining silent like the other elders, like a paper puppet, devoid of any human vitality.
"The reason why I am unwilling to become a disciple of the sect leader is not entirely due to fear, but because I am afraid that I will bring trouble to the sect leader."
Fu Ming cupped his hands and bowed in Xiao Huaiyuan's direction, then looked directly at that blurry face.
What do you mean?
Before Xiao Huaiyuan could speak, the elder sitting next to him asked a question first.
"Reporting to the elder, I don't know who I offended, but this morning I was suddenly attacked in the market of Fucheng. The thief was well-trained and used deadly moves as soon as he struck. Fortunately, the sect leader was able to save me, otherwise I would never have made it to the recruitment conference."
"The fact that the Sect Leader is willing to lend a helping hand is already a great kindness to me. How could I dare to involve the Sect Leader in my own misfortune?"
These words served two purposes. First, Xiao Huaiyuan was a shrewd and calculating man; given his seemingly impure intentions, Xiao Huaiyuan would certainly not rashly accept him as a disciple. Second, the system had previously notified him that he had triggered the side quest involving a poor but noble family; now, taking advantage of the large group, he was testing both sides' attitudes, which also provided the members of the Surveillance Department with an opportunity to make their move.
"Reporting to Senior Brother Headmaster, this is indeed the case. Yesterday, Chen Cheng, Chen Chong, and others bullied this non-disciple in an inn, but we stopped them. This is probably related to this incident."
As expected, Lin Han and his group still chose to step forward at this critical moment, showing their loyalty. Fu Ming felt even more favorably toward them.
The Chen family is a powerful clan that controls the Hall of Respect and the Weapon Refining Peak, with countless disciples. Even the elders show them respect. Taking on this hot potato that offends the Chen family will inevitably incur the displeasure of the Chen family and other aristocratic families. Would the sect leader refuse to accept it to avoid suspicion?
A gentle breeze swept by, stirring up a cacophony of voices. All eyes turned to Xiao Huaiyuan, who remained unmoved, as if no one could ever stir his emotions.
"The thief has been taken to the prison. I have instructed the Inspectorate to investigate and interrogate him. They will find out who is behind this."
"However, regarding the matter of taking on apprentices..."
Fu Ming was slightly dazed. In his vision, the confusing spell on Xiao Huaiyuan's face had been removed, and his dense, needle-like divine sense once again scanned Fu Ming's body, its power restrained yet full of oppressive force.
He wasn't quite used to it yet. The Xiao Huaiyuan he knew before was much more honest and obedient, and had never made him feel so... threatened.
"I have already decided to take Mingchen as my disciple. Mingchen, are you willing to become my disciple?"
Xiao Huaiyuan, have you taken the wrong medicine?
Is this still his cautious junior brother? Someone quickly check if he has been possessed.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Sect Leader, but I have chosen a different path..."
Fu Ming remained defiant and resorted to his old tricks, but the elders from the other peaks, seeing the situation was turning against them, immediately switched sides. The sect leader had the guts to take sides, and they couldn't afford to be hurt.
"Young friend, given your situation, it's very difficult for us at Daofa Peak. Perhaps we should just give up?"
"Since Daofa Peak has voluntarily withdrawn, then Wanjian Peak will also withdraw first."
...
Okay, you guys win.
In just a moment, Fu Ming was left all alone. Xiao Huaiyuan waved his sleeve, and a staircase made of spiritual energy rose out of thin air, guiding Fu Ming to stand before him.
The system continued to bewitch Fu Ming: "A 20% bonus, my dear! Don't miss out! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Don't hesitate, open the live stream and place your order now!"
Fu Ming chuckled, then slung the stolen sword over his shoulder and walked step by step toward the current leader of the Tianyan Sect, their shadows merging together.
He flung his robes aside and kowtowed.
"Master, please accept my bow."
Xiao Huaiyuan carefully examined the young man's features. He had always remained neutral in the sect's internal conflicts, but his intervention was due to his compassion: those who flaunt their talents are bound to be ostracized, and if he did not intervene, this young man would likely follow in his senior brother's footsteps.
A mysterious wave rippled out from Fu Ming's side, similar to the barrier they used during their duel, preventing their conversation from reaching the ears of those who were interested.
"From this day forward, you will be my personal disciple and an inner disciple of the Tianyan Sect. You must be careful in your words and deeds and not violate the laws of Heaven."
Xiao Huaiyuan gave these instructions, then raised his hand and summoned a magic seal, imprinting a brilliant golden disciple seal on the back of Fu Ming's hand.
"Ding ding, the mission to join the Tianyan Sect has been completed! Morality value +5, cultivation resources will be distributed soon. Congratulations, host! clapping clapping clapping!"
"as well as."
Their hands briefly touched, sending a tingling sensation through them.
"You don't need to use this sword anymore. In a few days I will give you a new sword and take you to get some cultivation supplies."
Oh? So that's how cultivation resources are distributed. I thought the system would conjure up some pills or magical artifacts out of thin air for him. Fu Ming, who was well-versed in all kinds of adult novels, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"Thank you, Master!"
However, Fu Ming hadn't laughed so genuinely in a long time. The Demon Realm was barren and lacked resources. He had been very frugal all these years, so calling his junior brother "Master" wasn't a loss.
After all, his real master didn't disagree, haha.
Looking at his disciple, whose eyes were curved and who seemed to be thinking about something, Xiao Huaiyuan's heart stirred slightly, and he reached out to brush away the stray hairs on his forehead.
"Um?"
Fu Ming looked up and met his gaze, his eyes open and honest.
If there are no red marks, then naturally there won't be any.
Despite the many twists and turns of this recruitment event, the ending was quite good. Fu Ming became the sect leader's first disciple, Miss Gu joined the Dao Fa Peak and became the top disciple of this year's cohort, the other disciples found suitable homes, and those who were not selected were able to take some travel money home. It was a happy ending for everyone.
As for Chen Chong, the once arrogant and dissolute playboy of the Chen family, of course no one cared whether he lived or died.
"I knew you were stupid before, but I didn't know you were this stupid!"
Chen Chong knelt in the ancestral hall for a long time before he was suddenly kicked to the ground. Fortunately, he had two hundred pounds of fat on him, so he didn't fall unconscious on the spot.
"When will you ever be a little smarter? You dared to hire someone to commit murder without even trying to hide it. Now look what happened, the first trial revealed that it was ordered by the Chen family."
"That bastard ambushed us..."
"No need to say anything more."
Chen Chong gritted his teeth and got up, but the pressure from the person above him, who was several realms higher than him, suppressed him again. His posture was so strange that he looked like a fat pig bound hand and foot and used as a sacrifice in front of the ancestral tablets.
"The only solution now is to expel you from the Tianyan Sect. This is for your own good."
"uncle!"
The elder behind him suddenly changed his tone, as if his anger had subsided, and slowly spoke.
"Alright, we've never lacked you any rare treasures, magical artifacts, or elixirs in the past. How could we really abandon you to your fate? Here's what we'll do: from now on, you'll change your name and appearance and become a guest elder at a sect called the Xuanluo Sect. Every three to five years, there will be a beast tide attacking them. If you make a contribution, you'll naturally have a chance to come back."
He was one of only two direct descendants, yet the Chen family was truly unwilling to protect him.
Chen Chong's teeth chattered with coldness, but he dared not truly contradict his uncle, and could only force himself to swallow his resentment. How despicable! He would surely repay this suffering in the future!
After all that trouble, Fu Ming only managed to accumulate a single digit of merit points, which was not even a fraction of the required amount.
The high-level quest worth 15 merit points still has no clues. Based on Fu Ming's many years of gaming experience, he should have to wait for some event to be triggered before he could continue, just like the side quest of the poor family with the progress bar stuck at 50%.
As for the second task, Fu Ming browsed through the sect's commission section several times but couldn't find any commissions from affiliated minor sects that were being attacked by the beast tide. Could it be that this cheap and low-quality system was trying to trick him again? Fu Ming flipped through the tattered book in his divine sense, causing the system attached to the book to see stars.
"Where is the location for the second mission?"
"Query failed, query failed, query failed... Host, stop poking! You won't get an answer no matter how many times you poke it TT."
Forget it, this guy is too stupid to be bothered with.
The sun was high in the sky, and it was time for morning classes. Apart from Fu Ming and his group of new disciples who hadn't yet made arrangements, most of the others were listening to the lecture in the lecture hall. Fu Ming went around to the back of the request board and found a disciple taking a nap in the shadows.
"Hey, wake up."
Fu Ming called out twice, but when he didn't respond, he made a stun spell and threw it at the man's head.
The man was sleeping soundly when a nine-headed beast appeared in his dream, chasing after him. When he turned his head, he discovered that the nine writhing heads were actually his master's rugged, thin face.
"ah!!!!!!!!!!"
The disciple was so startled that he jumped up from his chair, tripped over the corner of the table, and almost fell flat on his face. When he came to his senses, he saw a fair-skinned young man watching him with a smile.
"You're awake now, right? Help me check if there are any recent requests related to the beast tide."
"Oh, oh. You're looking for a beast tide? Want to hunt for spirit cores and beast hides? Let me see..." The disciple feigned composure, quickly flipping through a thick stack of commission orders. "The sects near Mount Taixuan all have them, but it's not easy. Putting aside your current Foundation Establishment cultivation, there's no way there would be a beast tide at this time of year. It'll be snowing in a few days."
He stole a few glances at the boy between pages. He didn't recognize the boy's face; he wore standard inner disciple attire, the pattern on the hem of his robes resembling that of the Sect Leader Peak. Wait, Sect Leader Peak?
Fu Ming tapped the table and whispered to him.
"It doesn't matter if you don't have a commission. Just tell me the names and locations of those sects."
"You...you're Ming Chen?"
A note from the author:
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