In the center of the scene—
Su Mu was still standing face to face with Qing Jingrou. It took him quite a while before he finally reacted and said, “Uh… thank you.”
“You’re welcome. It’s what I should do,” the young woman replied with a gentle smile.
The surroundings fell into dead silence.
This sudden turn of events caught everyone completely off guard.
Qing Jingrou actually did not give Su Mu a cold face?
And her attitude was even so gentle?
What on earth had happened?
“I get it now!”
Someone suddenly realized it.
“It must be because of Su Ningye!”
That sentence seemed to wake everyone up at once, and their eyes lit up.
That’s right. Everyone knew that Su Mu’s father, Su Ningye, doted on him immensely. Moreover, Su Ningye was a top-tier great cultivator at the peak of the Immortal King Realm, one of the strongest beings of the era, and the current patriarch of the Su Immortal Clan.
The power he wielded was simply unimaginable.
“It must be that Su Ningye made a profit exchange with the Qing Clan. For the sake of her family, the Cold and Pure Immortal Maiden changed her attitude!”
“That has to be it!”
The crowd nodded repeatedly, fully convinced.
Su Mu also heard the surrounding discussions. After thinking it over carefully, he felt that this really was the only possible explanation.
Otherwise, given Qing Jingrou’s personality, she would never have done something like this.
Dad, you bastard…
For your son’s happiness, you actually paid such a huge price. Damn it…
“Jingrou, you really don’t need to force yourself like this. Just be natural…” Su Mu still hoped the female lead would maintain her original character setting and not cause any more trouble. He really did not want to go through this again.
“No, every word I said was sincere. You…” Qing Jingrou suddenly stiffened, an apologetic expression appearing on her face.
“I’m sorry. My master just sent me a voice transmission. I need to go over right away. I’ll come find you again later.”
She smiled apologetically, gave a small wave, and walked toward the interior of the Holy Land.
As the young woman passed by Su Mu, she brought with her a faint, elegant fragrance, but Su Mu’s expression remained blank.
He felt a bit dazed.
Regardless of whether his father had truly paid an enormous price or not, today felt completely off.
Speaking of which, where exactly did Chen Shu go?
Su Mu scanned his surroundings but could not find Chen Shu anywhere, and he felt somewhat irritated.
These people really have no professional integrity at all.
The protagonist is late, and the female lead went off-script.
Su Mu felt nothing but disdain for this.
He also hurried toward the interior of the Holy Land. It was getting late, and the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony was about to begin.
Luo Haicheng had already disappeared as well. With the ceremony about to start, his master had called him away.
Su Mu walked forward alone at a slow pace, and everyone who was headed in the same direction deliberately kept their distance from him.
After all, everyone knew who he was. The Young Master of the Su Clan. A foolish simp who ruined his family’s wealth and humbled himself just to fawn over others.
Everyone present was a genius from various factions, all proud individuals. Naturally, they looked down on someone like Su Mu.
But Su Mu did not care.
The path of a simp was always lonely.
Dong—
Dong—
Dong—
Three deep, resounding bell tolls echoed repeatedly. The Disciple Acceptance Ceremony officially began.
The venue was inside the Yao Feng Holy Land, a circular plaza. Surrounding it were nine mountain peaks standing high in the clouds, from which gazes continuously swept over the crowd.
Above, immortal qi drifted ethereally.
Below, voices were clamorous.
This was the difference between immortals and mortals.
Inside the venue—
Su Mu saw many familiar faces.
Chen Shu, like Su Mu, was standing in the center of the plaza.
Luo Haicheng was beside his own master, winking and making faces at Su Mu.
Qing Jingrou was also standing beside her master, her temperament cold and peerlessly beautiful, truly worthy of the title of Immortal Maiden.
The latter two were each positioned on a mountain peak.
There was also one more—
Mo Shuangxing, one of the female leads of Shenyuan Continent, the woman who provided the most help to the protagonist Chen Shu in the early plotline. She was a great cultivator at the 3rd stage Immortal King Realm, one of the nine peak masters of the Yao Feng Holy Land, and also Qing Jingrou’s master.
She was half-hidden within the clouds and mist, dressed in a moon-white palace gown. Her willow-shaped brows and star-like eyes, immortal bearing and peerless beauty were striking. Upon closer inspection, her figure was full and jade-like, with rolling curves that made one sigh at how formidable her “strength” was.
Su Mu pondered inwardly.
According to the normal plotline.
His father, Su Ningye, should have already communicated with her. Later, Su Mu would not need to participate in the assessment at all and could directly become her disciple.
Then, the protagonist Chen Shu would suddenly step in, defeat Su Mu in a duel under everyone’s watchful eyes, and replace him as her disciple.
In front of so many people, Mo Shuangxing would not be able to blatantly cheat by taking in a loser as her disciple.
As for why Chen Shu could defeat Su Mu despite being a full major realm lower, that also had much to do with Mo Shuangxing.
It was because she proposed a contest at the same cultivation level, and Chen Shu then produced a growth-type half–sacred artifact.
As a side note.
The cultivation realms in Shenyuan Continent totaled ten levels. From lowest to highest, they were: Xuan Qi Realm, Condensed Core Realm, Soul Body Realm, Sea Containment Realm, Heavenly Origin Realm, Earth Immortal Realm, Heavenly Immortal Realm, Immortal King Realm, Immortal Venerable Realm, and Immortal Emperor Realm.
Each major realm was divided into nine stages.
At the current point in time, Su Mu was at the peak of the Heavenly Origin Realm, while Chen Shu was only at the 2nd stage Sea Containment Realm.
In short, the plotline of the Disciple Acceptance Ceremony was that Chen Shu and Mo Shuangxing worked together. One wanted to become her disciple, and the other did not want a backdoor admission. They used each other.
Qing Jingrou would watch coldly from the sidelines, appear at the right moment, harshly humiliate Su Mu, and elevate Chen Shu as the new rising star of the Holy Land.
Su Mu also noticed that Qing Jingrou had been staring at Chen Shu in the plaza, her gaze not shifting at all.
He let out a soft sigh.
“Looks like I still can’t avoid this.”
But that was to be expected. They were the protagonist and female lead, after all.
And—
If the plotline deviated any further, Su Mu felt he really would not be able to keep playing along.
However, as Su Mu examined things more closely, he suddenly let out a soft sound.
“Hm?”
Wasn’t Qing Jingrou’s gaze a bit off?
Normally, at this moment, when she looked at Chen Shu, her eyes should show admiration, approval, or at least calm friendliness.
But Su Mu could faintly sense… killing intent!
What the hell???
“Am I seeing things?”
Su Mu felt doubtful. How could the female lead look at the protagonist with that kind of gaze? Or was it because the distance was too far and he could not see clearly?
That must be it.
Su Mu nodded to himself.
After all, there was so much cloud and mist in between.
“Then Mo Shuangxing’s gaze must be the same.”
Su Mu muttered as his eyes shifted to another person, only to feel even more puzzled.
Qing Jingrou’s gaze could still be explained, but what was going on with Mo Shuangxing? Logically speaking, she should not even know Chen Shu at this point…
At the peak of the mountain—
Mo Shuangxing forcibly suppressed the killing intent in her heart, reminding herself that it was not the time yet. At the same time, she turned her gaze toward the other side, toward the young man who was standing there deep in thought.
A trace of tenderness could not help but appear in her eyes.
“Little one…”
Soon, time reached that familiar point.
“The Disciple Acceptance Ceremony officially begins!”
An old man shouted loudly, his voice echoing continuously. The crowd below looked up upon hearing it, and the young men and women were filled with excitement and anticipation.
“It’s finally starting!”
“The Holy Land! I’m here!”
“This time, I will definitely not lose to anyone!”
…
Joining the Holy Land for cultivation was the lifelong dream of many people.
All Immortal King–level powerhouses currently on Shenyuan Continent had trained in a Holy Land during their youth.
In other words, if one wanted to walk the supreme path of cultivation, this place was the only choice.
Buzz!!!!
A massive rumbling sound erupted as a huge crystal suddenly appeared in midair at the very center of the plaza.
“According to tradition, the first stage of the ceremony is for the various peak masters to select disciples and bestow benefaction!”
The old man’s voice was heavy and imposing, shaking the crowd until their chests felt tight.
Benefaction sounded like a privilege of the peak masters, allowing them to preselect disciples they favored and ask whether they were willing to join their lineage.
In reality—
This was an unspoken agreement among the major clans, a chance to enter through the back door. As long as you could bribe a peak master, you could directly enter their sect at this moment.
Su Mu’s heart tightened.
Here it comes. Actors, take your positions.
“Benefaction begins! Those who receive a token may enter the sect!” the old man announced.
In an instant, among the nine mountain peaks, four erupted with intense surges of vital energy. Three tokens immediately shot out, each selecting its owner.
“Looks like four people were chosen this year.”
The crowd felt envious.
As expected, these were all members of Immortal Clans.
Su Mu’s gaze flickered.
From Fierce Soul Peak, a streak of light shot out in an instant.
An ancient token crossed layers of cloud and mist, hovering before Su Mu. Radiant light shimmered, reflecting the bitterness in the eyes of those around him.
“Su Mu, are you willing to enter my sect?”
Mo Shuangxing’s voice sounded from above.
“I—” Su Mu had just opened his mouth.
“Wait!”
Chen Shu suddenly shouted loudly, his face full of righteous indignation as he stepped forward from the crowd!