36. Taking on Apprentices
Demon Realm: Netherworld Palace
"Your Excellency."
The man in black robes knelt respectfully on the ground, bowing his head and carefully reporting to the emperor in the main hall: "We have not yet found any trace of Wen Ruyu."
The room was silent. Feng Ying had been kneeling for an unknown amount of time, cold sweat streaming down his face. At this moment, only he and the Venerable One were in the hall, but the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
After a long while, a soft laugh suddenly rang out. Feng Ying pursed her lips and lowered her head almost to her chest.
His Majesty is displeased.
"Continue." The person seated had no change in expression, his eyes were covered by a white silk cloth, and he was probably just calmly gazing into the distance, with a faint smile playing on his lips.
“The cultivation world has been relatively peaceful recently, except—” Feng Ying paused, quickly looked up and glanced at the other party, and continued, “A few cultivators occasionally appear around the Demon Realm. Their cultivation is not high, and they will occasionally take a few glances from afar, but they do not make any extra moves and should not pose a threat.”
"However, I will continue to send more people to keep an eye on things. There is one more thing, which I... am not sure if I should say."
With a raised eyebrow, the Demon Lord picked up a cup from the table, tilted his head back, and poured himself a sip of wine.
He drank casually, a few drops of liquid accidentally falling onto his robe, and some slid down his lower lip past his prominent Adam's apple, disappearing into the depths of his slightly open collar, leaving much to the imagination.
However, the other party didn't seem to care and said playfully, "Speak."
"Qingshan Peak has been extremely lively lately, it must be because—"
哢
The jade wine cup was cracked from being squeezed, which made Feng Ying's heart jump.
“Go on.”
The person seated there spoke without any change in tone, but if one glanced at him, the surging demonic energy around him would reveal the master's suppressed rage.
"The disciples' assembly must be about to begin, and many cultivators are traveling here by flying boat."
Another agonizing wait ensued, and Feng Ying even had the illusion that he would never leave the main hall again. He wanted to leave as soon as possible, but then he remembered a rumor he had heard from someone a few days ago. He boldly said, as if seeking credit, "It is said that Elder Qingge will also be going. Your Majesty, I believe that revenge will be just around the corner—"
"Who gave you permission to mention her!"
Bang!
Before he could react, the kneeling man was slammed against a pillar in the main hall. The Demon Lord smashed his wine cup on the ground, then stood up and slowly walked down the steps. Crimson demonic energy roughly grabbed Feng Ying's neck, easily lifting him off the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Your subordinate—your subordinate knows his mistake."
A suffocating feeling intensely eroded Feng Ying's mind. He wished he could slap himself a few times for actually daring to mention that taboo in front of the Venerable One!
"If there is a next time, I will tear you to pieces." The Demon Lord paused, "Go and receive your punishment."
"Cough cough, cough, yes, thank you for your mercy, Your Excellency."
Feng Ying quickly fled, leaving only one person in the hall. Her slender figure, draped in a bright red robe, resembled a beautiful ghost. Every smile and frown was breathtakingly beautiful, yet extremely dangerous.
Master, please don't do anything to upset me.
A gust of wind lifted the white streaks on the other person's face, revealing a pair of purplish-red eyes, filled with desire and heat.
Yin Li stroked the Qingfeng Sword, as if he had thought of something, and his heart suddenly ached.
It's been a year, Master. You shouldn't be living such a peaceful life.
On July 12th, the wind rustled through the treetops, and the scorching sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, evaporating into every corner of the world.
The annual Qingshan Peak Disciples Conference thus officially commenced.
Countless cultivators, brimming with confidence and dreams, excitedly headed to this grandest and most magnificent sect, hoping to gain recognition.
"Hey, Brother Zhao, are you nervous right now?"
The disciple who spoke was named Chi Yuanhan. He had a youthful and immature air about him, spoke arrogantly, and seemed to fear nothing.
The man standing beside him, silent and with a cold expression, had handsome and refined features. He glanced at the other man, rubbed his temples, and said with a hint of helplessness, "From the day we embark on this cloud boat journey together, this is the tenth time you've asked me this question."
"Ah... really? Hahaha, well, I'm just so happy. You know, Green Mountain Peak has always been my dream, and what I want even more is—"
"I would like to become a disciple of Elder Chu Qingge of the Cloud Mist Sect."
Zhao Jing'an took the bait without any expression, and as soon as he finished speaking, everyone around him burst into laughter.
Someone, eager for a good show, raised their head and said, "Young Master Chi, do you really like Elder Qingge that much?"
"Hey, what do you mean by that, brother? Elder Qingge killed a demon all by herself back then, and besides, who among you doesn't know her title as the Great Elder!"
With a cold glint of blood from his sword, he could travel thousands of miles in a single stroke, and from then on, his reputation spread far and wide.
Most people seem to be immersed in the battle depicted in popular novels: the woman in white, ethereal and rational, coldly wielded her sword without mercy against her disciple who had already become a demon, revealing her utter evil.
"That's true, then Young Master Chi should know even more how difficult it is to enter Elder Qingge's Cloud Mist Sect."
"Yes, yes, besides, I heard before that she hadn't taken on any disciples for several years, and she lost another disciple after that great battle. If I were in that situation, I probably wouldn't even consider attending the disciple conference."
"That makes sense, that makes sense."
"Hey, what's the point? If you ask me, Elder Qingge must be feeling very lonely right now and needs more manpower. Which elder on Green Mountain Peak doesn't have a lot of disciples?"
Besides, after Elder Qingge's most prized disciple was discovered to be a demon, he must be eager to find a disciple with talent like mine!
"You—"
"What's wrong with me!" Chi Yuanhan said disdainfully, patting the sword at his waist with his right hand in a threatening manner. "If you're not satisfied, then fight me now!"
Everyone fell silent instantly. Although one or two of them disliked the flamboyant personality of this young master Chi, they had to admit that he was indeed the most talented among this group.
But why is it considered so?
Some people glanced at Zhao Jing'an and saw that he still looked indifferent, as if he hadn't taken the conversation to heart.
Indeed, Zhao Jing'an, the second young master of the Zhao family, is born with a superior spiritual root, just like Chi Yuanhan of the Chi family. It's a pity that everyone thinks that Zhao Jing'an is actually the best candidate to win the championship.
"I'm going to go and rest now."
Unaware of the high expectations placed upon him, Zhao Jing'an spoke first. He had no time to chat with these people, especially Chi Yuanhan, who was giving him a headache.
"Hey, Brother Zhao, don't go yet! We haven't finished talking, hey, hey!"
Chi Yuanhan couldn't keep up with the other person's pace and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What is this? He doesn't even let me finish speaking. Humph, if he runs into me, he'll be sorry!"
As the sun sets and the stars rise, the moon casts a frosty glow on the ground. The weather is hot now, and Chu Qing sits down at the stone table in the courtyard again and drinks a jar of wine.
Two days ago, the system finally came back to life.
[Beep, beep, the system update and upgrade are complete. Please confirm the task, host.]
1. Conquering Demon Lord Yin Li, current favorability: ? Darkening value: 100
2. Please, host, seize the divine artifact and kill the villain.
[Is this question mark a bug on your end? Didn't you just complete an upgrade?]
[Sorry, the world is a bit out of control these days, the male lead's affection level cannot be detected yet.]
[Never mind, can anyone predict when he'll arrive?]
【cannot. 】
They're really useless.
Chu Qing rolled her eyes and began planning the disciple assembly.
The disciples' assembly at Green Mountain Peak is divided into three levels. First, the cultivators compete to determine who is capable of entering the sect.
Those cultivators who have reached this stage have essentially stepped into Green Mountain Peak, but to become disciples of an elder, the top three must compete to be selected by the elder in the main hall.
The selected disciples cannot directly become disciples. Instead, they must undergo a week-long overall ability assessment, which may involve killing spirit beasts or breaking through illusions. In short, as long as they pass the final test, they can officially become disciples of the sect.
[System, do not interfere with my actions from now on. I will complete the task.]
【This…】The system hesitated. After returning, it felt that the host had changed, but it couldn’t quite put its finger on what had changed. The host seemed to have become more indifferent.
I have a plan. Don't worry, I won't die easily.
[Okay.] The system agreed to Chu Qing's suggestion and continued to play dead.
Soon, the day of the disciples' assembly officially began arrived. Disciples from both inside and outside the sect came to watch the grand competition among cultivators from all over the world.
"Hey, did you hear? Elder Qingge seems to be taking on disciples this year!"
"Is that so? Well—that's not surprising, considering the previous disciple was really..."
"Alright, alright, stop talking. Elder Hua and the others are here."
High up in the main hall, Chu Qing, Hua Qi, and Xu Zhi Qiu went to the competition platform together. The three of them sat in the main seats, waiting for a formal competition.
"Qingge, did you suddenly have a change of heart?"
"Hmm," Chu Qing nodded lightly, seemingly having truly let go of everything, and smiled gently: "I've figured it out. Indeed, as Elder said, we still need to look forward."
"It's good that you've figured it out, it's good that you've figured it out." Hua Qi stroked his beard with some relief. "Then let's begin and see how many prodigies we have this year."
The moment the drums were struck, the crowd erupted in cheers. The warriors rubbed their hands together, eager to fight, and after drawing lots, the formal sparring began.
The first round of "preliminary selection" concluded in just one week, selecting the top twenty qualified disciples. Chu Qing glanced calmly at the list:
Group 1: Zhao Jing'an, Xu Fei, Xie Wei...
Group Two: Chi Yuanhan, Yan Ziming...
There are four groups in total, with five people selected from each group.
Zhao Jing'an, that student seems good, but he's too quiet.
Chu Qing only had a general impression of the first group. She randomly chose the place closest to her, which was the first group, while Hua Qi was in the second group, and the remaining two groups were given to Xu Zhi Qiu.
However, the preliminary rounds are nothing; the important thing is the official competition tomorrow.
The disciples' assembly was one-third complete, and many cultivators were tripped up here, missing out on Green Mountain Peak. Some were dejected, while others wanted to try again next year. The Green Mountain Town inn was bustling with activity.
"Hey buddy, which group are you in?"
"I'm in Group Two, but I'm facing off against Young Master Chi right away. Although he's flamboyant, his ability to recruit disciples is truly admirable."
The two men were sitting at a table in a restaurant, talking animatedly. Someone at another table overheard them and quickly chimed in, "Hey, I was in the first group, do you know who I met!"
"Who is it? Stop keeping me in suspense and tell me already!"
The people at that table smiled mysteriously and said meaningfully, "I have witnessed the true face of the First Elder of Green Mountain Peak. He was so aloof and ethereal, truly worthy of being called the bright moon in the sky."
"Elder Qingge!"
Despite their shock, the group continued to chatter on, "While I was preparing, I overheard the disciples of Green Mountain Peak saying that the Grand Elder is going to take on a disciple this year!"
"Really? You're not kidding us, are you?"
"Oh my, it's true. I heard it from the disciples of Green Mountain Peak myself, and almost everyone knows about it. It's said that the Grand Elder brought it up himself."
They were chatting happily when they suddenly felt someone standing next to them, whose tall figure cast a large shadow on the small table.
"Excuse me, sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
The person being addressed wore a straw hat and a striking crimson robe. They couldn't see his face clearly, but they did notice that his skin was abnormally white and his lips were blood-red.
"What were you saying just now?" the man asked in a low voice. An invisible pressure surrounded him. The spiritual energy wasn't very strong, but it made the person sitting down shiver for no reason.
"We've only heard that Elder Qingge is going to take on a disciple."
"Taking...a disciple?" The man in red scoffed, his aura growing even colder. He didn't ask any further questions, but turned and left, leaving the bewildered crowd behind.
Have you seen this person before?
The others shook their heads, not taking the incident to heart. Perhaps they had all drunk too much, and after briefly expressing their regret about the competition, they left one by one.
On the other side, in the main hall of Qingshan Peak, Hua Qi was speaking to Chu Qing in a kind and gentle manner.
“I think Zhao Jing’an is a good kid. I took a look at him before I left, and he was outstanding, both in temperament and technique. In fact, he should have a top-grade Heavenly Spiritual Root, which is suitable for sword cultivation and most suitable for you.”
"He's too quiet."
Chu Qing shook her head: "I know what I'm doing. I said I would take on a disciple, and I will definitely be able to choose one. But this can't be rushed. Everything depends on fate."
"Ah, that's true. I also found a good candidate today." Hua Qi hesitated, carefully choosing his words: "It should be the young master of the Chi family, one of the five great families in the mortal realm. He also possesses a top-grade Heavenly Spiritual Root, but—"
"The Five Great Families?"
Chu Qing frowned. She didn't remember this setting in the novel, but the latter half of the novel focused on Yin Li, so it was normal that she didn't know.
“Oh, right, the five great families.” Hua Qi explained, “There are five great families in the human world: the Zhao family, the Chi family, the Yan family, the Tian family, and the Mo family. They are considered important officials in the court. Some of their ancestors made immortal contributions to the founding of the country. Every year, some of the descendants of these families come to Green Mountain Peak to cultivate.”
Chu Qing nodded in realization. Although the five great families had a tendency to monopolize the market, compared to the others, the families did indeed have higher talent, with some being naturally suited for cultivation.
"So Zhao Jing'an is from the Zhao family?"
“That’s right, actually—” Hua Qi glanced at Chu Qing with a strange expression: “Actually, Mo Yu is the young master of the Mo family. He is naturally passionate about medicine and also has a superior wood spirit root, making him suitable for medical cultivation.”
"Hmm," Chu Qing pretended to know, but was actually shocked for a moment. She had just realized that Mo Yu was her surname. No wonder Hua Qi didn't let her mess around with him back then.
"This year's prospects are quite good; several disciples from prestigious families have indeed made it to the second round based on their genuine talent and skills."
Chu Qing made a serious assessment, a hint of worry creeping into her heart. She had deliberately spread the news of taking on a disciple today, and unsurprisingly, Yin Li should already know about it.
After watching the competition for a week, it was impossible not to be tired. As soon as Chu Qing returned to the courtyard of the Cloud Mist Sect, she saw Ling Xueluo standing in front of the door, seemingly waiting for her to come back.
[Author's Note]
Yeah, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we'll see each other tomorrow!!!
Ahhh, this is so exciting! I love it! Hahaha, the crazy Demon Lord is about to rebel!
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