The lake-blue satin draped over her body looked like the deep sea, and also like the night sky.
Most of the immortals in this grand hall wore gauze robes to appear ethereal and detached; the newcomer, however, wore a smooth, well-textured brocade gown and held an umbrella, walking with slow, elegant steps.
“The Soul-Absorbing Dream-Severing Umbrella… Is this Immortal Venerable Chengyue?”
“Hearing about someone a hundred times is not as good as seeing them once; she is indeed young and promising. But isn’t Immortal Venerable Chengyue known for not taking disciples?” Looking at Immortal Venerable Chengyue, the person wondered in confusion, “Could it be that she is going to accept a disciple this year?”
“If that is truly the case, then it would be her head disciple, the first direct legacy disciple. I wonder who will profit from this.”
“Pfft, I wouldn’t be so sure. What can a Nascent Soul cultured purely by piling up pills teach anyone? In my view, her refusal to take disciples all this time stems from inferiority and fear. At least she has some self-awareness!”
As Bu Chengyue drew near, the crowd checked their discussions and bowed one after another to greet her. Exerting a slight force with her hand, she closed her umbrella, revealing that exquisite face that resembled a bright, flawless moon. Pretending not to have heard what those few guests had said, she spoke calmly, “Greetings to all fellow daoists.”
Someone stood up to welcome her—it was the Elder of the Hall of Discipline, and also her senior martial brother. Thus, Bu Chengyue took a seat beside him.
“Junior Sister is finally willing to step out of the door. Otherwise, outsiders would truly think we few old men are bullying a child, allowing neither outings nor taking disciples.”
“Senior Brother Wen spoke three sentences and made three mistakes. No one is bullying me, nor restricting me from doing this or that. As for this outing, Junior Sister was equally unwilling.” Had the Sect Master not threatened to make her teach classes, she wouldn’t have come to participate in this disciple-recruitment assembly at all.
Others had rarely seen a Nascent Soul practitioner under two hundred years old, and were unwilling to acknowledge her talent and diligence. Added to the fact that Bu Chengyue was indeed indifferent to worldly affairs and disliked showing off or pushing herself forward, rumors grew more and more rampant.
Yet, the protection, medicinal pills, and high-tier weapons she provided to the sect were solid and undeniable. Let them talk all they wanted; Shenxuzhou naturally understood her abilities, and her position as an elder was unshakable.
In this grand hall, there were not only people from Shenxuzhou, but also representatives from other sects. A few of them kept stealing glances at her. Bu Chengyue tapped the tip of her umbrella on the ground; though the crisp soundwave was not loud, it fell into everyone’s ears.
Wen Xinghuo beside her glanced at her. “Senior Brother Sect Master said you are indifferent to worldly affairs.” She was releasing her spiritual pressure just now.
“Many thanks to Senior Brother Sect Master, and many thanks to Senior Brother Wen.” That’s right, she is indifferent to worldly affairs—go ahead and spread the word about her like that outside.
Being glanced at twice was naturally nothing, but those few individuals harbored ill intent. She could guess the slanders in their bellies, and they would surely defame her after leaving Shenxuzhou. It was still necessary to intimidate them.
As the head of the Hall of Discipline, Wen Xinghuo had to maintain authority, but he didn’t need to put on airs around his junior sister. His chatterbox immediately opened up, repeatedly asking Bu Chengyue whether she was actually going to accept a disciple or not.
“Senior Brother Wen keeps talking about disciples, disciples… Could it be that you miss those few martial nephews of mine? Junior Sister will go find them for you right now.” Having said that, without caring how Wen Xinghuo reacted, she turned around and left the grand hall.
If I had known, I would have arrived right on the dot. I listened to so much nonsense.
Immortal Venerable Chengyue flicked her sleeves, feeling that the sunlight was glaring. Finding it inappropriate to open her signature umbrella to block the sun, she simply walked toward the shade of the trees, which also allowed her to avoid people.
She found crowded places annoying and despised large, clamorous crowds the most. The mountain peak assigned to her by the sect was named “Yunjie Yuedi” (Cloud Steps and Moon Land)—secluded, quiet, and beautiful. It suited her heart so well that she wished she could rely on it and stay inside for a lifetime.
Not long after leaving, she began to miss home again. Immortal Venerable Chengyue, who had inexplicably started feeling “homesick,” let her footsteps wander, only to bump into several new disciples who were about to enter the hall to take masters.
With her cultivation level, she could clearly hear what those kids were saying from far away; it seemed to be a dispute, and someone had even harbored intent to kill.
Gritting her teeth, Bu Chengyue arrived in front of them in an instant. “Shut up, don’t move.” What a nuisance. As an elder—and the closest elder at that—it would be unreasonable for her not to handle it.
“Greetings, Elder Chengyue!” One of the young men’s eyes lit up. He had clearly inquired about the various elders of Shenxuzhou beforehand and recognized her immediately.
“This seat said, shut up, don’t move.”
Seemingly not expecting that the young and interesting Elder Chengyue of the rumors would be so stern, he instantly panicked. Thinking that what he had just done might have been discovered by the elder, cold sweat broke out all over him.
Bu Chengyue did not care about his psychological activities. At the same moment she moved, she had already sent a message to Wen Xinghuo using her waist token. Once the people from the Hall of Discipline arrived, she could leave.
After all, she hadn’t heard much, so her role as a witness was minimal.
Among the three people present: one was eager to leave, one was panicking internally, and there was also a thin, small girl whom no one paid attention to. She merely kept her head down, her bright black eyes lingering briefly on Bu Chengyue before quickly withdrawing her gaze.
Her sense of presence was so low that even after arriving before the main hall, Bu Chengyue did not recognize that the girl below—whose eyes burned brightly as she insisted on taking Elder Chengyue as her master—was the very same one who had stood beside her earlier.
“Junior Sister, agree quickly!” Wen Xinghuo quietly prompted the somewhat dazed Bu Chengyue.
She put on a smile. “This disciple, the Sect Master has already said that the ones accepting disciples this year are only those few elders over there. This seat sees that you possess a sharp and fierce temperament, making you good material for learning secretive and elusive movement techniques. Why not go to the Shadow Hall? Elder He, what do you think?”
Elder He was the head of the Shadow Hall. In fact, he had already inquired about her: this girl had ruthless methods, and although her realm was not as high as others, she broke through the siege relying on her tricky movement techniques. However, her attacks were perhaps a bit too underhanded.
“Ah, Junior Sister Chengyue, the child has her heart set on you, so I won’t butt in.” This was a refusal.
Bu Chengyue looked around the circle. None of these elders showed any interest in this disciple; even the Treasure Keeping Pavilion, which always adhered to the attitude of “the more disciples the better, refusing no one,” avoided her gaze.
The atmosphere froze for a moment. No matter how the Sect Master or the other elders persuaded her, Bu Chengyue had only one sentence: “This seat does not wish to accept disciples. This disciple, please choose another good master.”
Upon hearing this, some felt helpless, while others sneered.
Bu Chengyue merely thought that if she took a disciple, she would have to teach them well to prove she wasn’t the “cultivation world’s vase” they claimed she was. She was confident she could raise a talent that would astonish everyone, but why should she prove it?
Her current days were very good—able to focus on cultivation, with a steady stream of resources and no one to bother her. Teaching a disciple would be far too mentally and physically exhausting.
“If the Immortal Venerable hadn’t stepped in to save me just now, this disciple wouldn’t even be standing in this grand hall whole and sound. This disciple didn’t know who you were, but simply felt that a person as powerful and kind-hearted as you is the kind of person this disciple aspires to be. I beg the Immortal Venerable to grant my wish!”
She kowtowed once more.
Bu Chengyue had handed the matter over to the Hall of Discipline and hadn’t cared further, completely unaware of the sequence of events. Had she unintentionally saved her life… She still didn’t want to accept a disciple. “Since we met earlier, you should also know what kind of person this seat is. There is no need to persist.”
Stepping down from her seat, she landed beside the thin, weak disciple. Sheng Meng was kneeling on the ground, able to see those dust-free shoes. That person said, “Senior Brother Sect Master may decide. Chengyue feels unwell and will take her leave first. Please excuse my lack of manners, everyone.”
She actually left just like that?
She really did leave just like that.