After Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze spoke, he seemed to be in a good mood. “Mu Zixiao, what’s the matter? Unwilling to take me as your master?”
Before Mu Zixiao could reply, someone nearby erupted.
“Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze, this won’t do! This Mu Zixiao has a Five-Colored Mixed Spiritual Root!” The red-faced elder in the hall pointed at the Feng sisters. “At the very least, Feng Yue Xiang has Three Spiritual Roots, not to mention Feng Yue Ying, who possesses a Single Spiritual Root!”
Upon hearing this, the Sect Master was greatly shaken. “Uncle Junxi, Feng Yue Ying should be the one chosen by heaven. No matter what, your disciple cannot be a cultivator with a Five-Colored Mixed Spiritual Root.”
Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze glanced at the Feng sisters and let out a faint, mocking laugh. “My decision is final. Mu Zixiao, are you willing to take me as your master?”
There were few in the world who could make Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze ask a question twice.
Mu Zixiao could sense the unique aura emanating from Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze—perhaps it was her inexplicable sixth sense. Her mind raced with countless thoughts, but she could only utter one word: “Yes.”
“You insolent girl, how dare you be so arrogant before the Immortal Venerable!” The red-faced elder now found Mu Zixiao utterly displeasing, as if she had stolen his prized treasure.
Mu Zixiao had no desire to engage with strangers. Driven by self-preservation, she moved closer to Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze and stood there expressionlessly.
“Since there are still objections, Mu Zixiao, you shall take me as your master here in Tianquan Hall, before the portrait of the Sect Ancestor.” As he spoke, he cast a cold glance at the red-faced elder, effectively silencing any further debate.
Mu Zixiao obediently knelt and kowtowed three times. “Mu Zixiao greets her master!”
Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze seemed to appreciate her no-nonsense demeanor. “Go and offer three sticks of incense to the Sect Ancestor. Once that is done, the master-disciple ceremony will be complete.”
At that moment, Feng Yue Ying mustered her courage and interrupted the ceremony.
“Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze, I climbed Duanchen Cliff with great difficulty precisely to become your disciple.”
“Indeed, indeed! This girl has excellent aptitude. Even if you’ve made your decision, Uncle, why not take two disciples? Good things come in pairs?” The Sect Master seized the opportunity to interject a few kind words.
Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze looked down at Feng Yue Ying with disdain before sweeping a glance at the Sect Master.
“Mu Zixiao is the one I divined—my destined disciple.”
Feng Yue Ying retorted, “Could it be that Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze’s divination is infallible?”
Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze responded with a cold laugh.
Feng Yue Ying paled but persisted. “Even if the divination is correct, does Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze truly submit to fate?”
Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze, born with a rebellious nature, had only recently cultivated a calmer disposition. These words struck right at his core.
A heavy silence fell, and even the Sect Master thought Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze might reconsider.
“I submit only to the fate I have divined for myself. And what I despise most are disciples like you—sharp-tongued and cunning.”
Mu Zixiao: Thanks, I feel targeted.
Feng Yue Ying collapsed to the ground, devastated by his words. Tears glistened on her exquisitely beautiful face, a picture of utter misery.
“Zixiao, stop staring. Go offer the incense.”
Upon being called out, Mu Zixiao quickly averted her gaze and respectfully offered incense to the Sect Ancestor. Then, she presented a cup of tea to her newly acknowledged master.
She was entirely unfamiliar with the ritual and only managed to complete it with the Sect Master’s step-by-step guidance.
The Sect Leader sighed deeply, unable to comprehend why Yuanze had chosen the worst candidate after all his careful selection. The hope of revitalizing the Kunlun Sect through the legacy of Fenghuang Peak now seemed uncertain.
If the Sect Leader from over a decade later could see his present self, he would surely give himself a hard slap. What stood before him was the most talented disciple in the cultivation world! The most promising newcomer! The future star whom all factions had been vying to recruit for the past century.
Of course, at this very moment, he knew none of this. He could only grit his teeth and accept this young girl who, by seniority, was his junior sister.
“Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze, I will stay at the Kunlun Sect for half a year. If Your Excellency does not change your mind by then, I will take my leave and descend the mountain, to live or die as fate wills.”
The Sect Leader anxiously interjected, “Ah, no need for that! Miss Feng, you may choose freely among the halls. We are all willing to take you as our disciple.”
“Thank you for your kindness, esteemed seniors. My heart is set on becoming a disciple of Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze.” With that, Feng Yueying gathered her resolve, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times heavily before the assembly, a sight that pained all who witnessed it.
But the cold and indifferent Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze, accompanied by his expressionless new disciple Mu Zixiao, commanded, “Let’s go.”
Mu Zixiao did her best to minimize her presence, following Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze out of Tianquan Hall under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
As soon as they left Tianquan Hall, Immortal Venerable Yuan Ze handed her a handful of magical artifacts and warned, “For the next six months, you must not leave my sight. Stay by my side and cultivate diligently.”
Hah, so he was afraid something might happen to her.
Could there be some hidden reason behind this act of taking her as a disciple?