“Nonsense.”
Before Lin Feng could even finish speaking, Su Wenjiu interrupted him with a sharp shout.
“I clearly said the young man’s cultivation was progressing rapidly, and I wanted to know who his master was so I could seek that master out—not to make him my disciple.”
Flustered, her cheeks flushed red as she tried to defend herself.
Su Wenjiu’s words left Lin Feng utterly confused.
The boy scratched the back of his head and blinked. “Did you really say that? I don’t remember it that way. You said you were from the Eastern Domain Holy Land and that joining the Holy Land would be better for me than staying on Command Hall Peak.”
“You misheard.”
Su Wenjiu quickly added, “I did say I was from the Holy Land, but what I meant was even in the Holy Land, I’ve never seen a disciple progress so fast, so I wanted to join Command Hall Peak.”
“Then what about the eighth-grade sword you tried to give me?” Lin Feng pressed.
“That was… that was… that was meant as a reward—for you to introduce me,” she said, spinning lies faster than ever in fear of offending Zhong Qing.
Her survival instincts were in overdrive.
Afraid that Zhong Qing wouldn’t believe her, she quickly cupped her fists, bowed respectfully, and said with sincere humility, “Senior, it’s true. When I saw how quickly this young man was advancing, I knew he had to have a remarkable master.”
“So in a moment of rashness, I followed him to Command Hall Peak, intending to ask to become your disciple. But before I could even meet you, I stumbled into the Bitter Sea.”
“But no matter what, I entered the peak without your permission. I humbly beg for your forgiveness.”
As she spoke, Su Wenjiu dropped to her knees and kowtowed with sincerity.
“Pah, I’ve never seen anyone this shameless in my life,” came Elder Jian’s scornful voice from the desolate ring.
“Hmph, I knew she wasn’t telling the truth. Elder Jian, you heard her too. How can she be so shameless?” Lin Feng said angrily.
He was just about to expose Su Wenjiu’s lies when Zhong Qing raised a hand to stop him.
The truth was obvious—Zhong Qing wasn’t blind.
But he wasn’t angry.
Since the hundredfold boost had activated, Lin Feng’s cultivation speed had reached monstrous levels. It was only natural that others would covet him as a disciple.
It was understandable.
And considering this woman had followed them to Command Hall Peak and even suffered in the Bitter Sea, she had probably already paid a heavy price.
Besides, even though she was lying through her teeth, her attitude was still considered sincere.
So he couldn’t be bothered to pursue it further.
Su Wenjiu felt her face burn. She could tell from Zhong Qing’s tone that he saw through her lies. She flushed and quickly bowed again. “I’m sorry, Senior. I lied just now. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“I was blind and reckless to offend you.”
“With talent like your disciple’s, I’m not qualified to be his master.”
“But, Senior, what I said later was true. I sincerely want to become your disciple. I hope you’ll grant me that chance.”
Su Wenjiu spoke with great respect.
Now that she had met Zhong Qing, the desire to become his disciple had taken firm root.
Zhong Qing was the most unfathomable person she had ever encountered. She had witnessed the Bitter Sea and watched him fish out that terrifying beast-like creature with a bamboo rod.
Becoming his disciple would not be a mistake.
Zhong Qing was slightly surprised by her sincerity.
Though he didn’t feel any affection for her, at least the dislike had faded.
But as for taking her as a disciple…
Zhong Qing glanced at Su Wenjiu and observed her closely, then shook his head.
“Miss, you don’t meet my criteria for taking a disciple. You should leave.”
Just moments ago, Zhong Qing had used the Heavenly Eye to observe her. Her talent was indeed excellent—exceptionally so—but she didn’t trigger a tie.
Which meant she was useless to him.
And since he had no intention of teaching anyone, there was no point in accepting a disciple without a tie. It would be a waste of time for both parties.
“Not qualified…?”
Su Wenjiu was stunned.
Her talent and strength had broken all records in Aurora Valley.
Back then, the elders of various sects had fought fiercely to take her as a disciple, offering up their most treasured resources. In the end, none of them won, and none would concede to another.
So they decided to jointly teach her—only then was the conflict settled.
Because of this, though she was the saintess of Aurora Valley, she technically had no official master.
She hadn’t let anyone down either. Barely in her twenties, she had already reached the Moon Profound Realm.
To say she was the future of Aurora Valley’s holy land was no exaggeration.
The more she was rejected, the less she wanted to give up.
She understood that meeting Zhong Qing at Command Hall Peak might be a disaster—or it could be a rare opportunity.
She decided to reveal her biggest secret.
A secret known only to a few in Aurora Valley. If leaked, it could spell the destruction of both the sect and herself.
She believed this secret would convince Zhong Qing to change his mind.
“Senior, actually, aside from my innate talent… there’s something else hidden in me that no one knows…”
Su Wenjiu took a deep breath.
She steeled herself to reveal her secret—but before she could even say it, Zhong Qing spoke first.
“I know. You have a trace of the ancient Divine Phoenix bloodline in your body,” he said calmly.
He had already seen it when he used the Heavenly Eye. Before the Heavenly Eye, no cultivation, no talent, no bloodline could remain hidden.
?
??
???
Su Wenjiu’s eyes widened. Her red lips parted in an O-shape.
She stared at Zhong Qing in disbelief.
The Divine Phoenix bloodline she’d been so proud of, so carefully hidden… had already been seen through?
And he mentioned it so casually?
“Miss, I’m sorry. Even if you carry the Divine Phoenix bloodline, you still don’t meet the qualifications to be my disciple.”
“Please leave.”
Zhong Qing reeled in the fish he had just caught. Having achieved his goal of satisfying today’s appetite, he gathered his fishing gear and got up to leave.
“Disciple, see the guest out.”
“Yes.”
As Zhong Qing left, Su Wenjiu’s face grew pale.
In her mind, his words echoed endlessly.
Even if you carry the Divine Phoenix bloodline, you still don’t meet the qualifications to be my disciple…
That one line shattered the last bit of her pride completely.