Bu Chengyue inquired clearly about the matter of the Dharma Examination: every department would set up an assessment, and the top three with the highest combined scores could enter the secret realm trial of Shenxuzhou, where all gains would belong to the individual.
In addition to the secret realm trial, one could also enter the second floor of the Treasure Keeping Pavilion to select a weapon and take it away. Only Golden Core stage senior martial brothers and sisters were normally permitted to enter the second floor to borrow weapons for practice, but if they secured the top three spots, they could take it directly away!
Bu Chengyue had almost never been there; even when she did come, she would head straight for the fourth floor to borrow some materials or places. The natural treasures gathered there were abundant, creating a dense concentration of spiritual energy, making it suitable for refining anything.
She even brought Sheng Meng along for a walk around the second floor, but it was filled with common items, with hardly any high-grade ones. Just this?
“Although the quality is average, it is enough for you guys, just taken to practice with.” Immortal Venerable Chengyue felt that any item she had casually given away in the past was better than the ones here.
Looking at Sheng Meng again, she wore the expression of someone who hadn’t seen much of the world, her eyes filled with longing toward everything she saw.
Sheng Meng wasn’t longing; she truly hadn’t seen much of the world, but she had seen Bu Chengyue’s lavish handiwork, and was merely making comparisons in her heart.
In the eyes of onlookers, the pair of master and disciple appeared with one slightly frowning and the other gazing eagerly—looking like two poor souls who had never seen anything and desperately wanted it, two frogs at the bottom of a well coming from Yuedi Yunjie.
“This disciple greets the Elder and Junior Sister. The items on the second floor of the Treasure Keeping Pavilion can be taken directly by you; just register them. If Junior Sister needs them, it is also fine for you to help her borrow them.” A disciple from the Treasure Keeping Pavilion, who considered himself kind-hearted, came forward to guide them.
“Sheng Meng, is there anything you’ve taken a liking to?” It’s a bit inferior, but if she likes it, it’s not unbearable.
Sheng Meng glanced at her storage ring, then quietly sized up Bu Chengyue’s expression. Seeing that her demeanor hadn’t changed, she then said, “In reply to Master, there is none.”
She was worried that Bu Chengyue’s previous generous gestures were because she didn’t know how ordinary people treated their disciples; she feared that seeing these items would make her take back the things given to her. Now that they had reached her hands, they were her possessions, and no one could snatch them away.
After the two left, a clear sneer resounded from the second floor, though it was unknown who uttered it.
This level of contempt couldn’t hurt Sheng Meng, and Bu Chengyue paid it even less mind. She was more interested in learning more details about bringing up a disciple; back in the day, she herself had been raised freely on her own, having already figured out a cultivation path suitable for herself by the time she joined her sect. Her master had many disciples and almost never managed her.
Now she had also accepted a disciple, an only child at that—how should she teach her… Sigh.
“Master, do not worry. This disciple will certainly be diligent and enterprising, and will not let down Master’s great kindness toward this disciple.” Sheng Meng feared that Immortal Venerable Chengyue still disliked her and would drive her away.
She had had enough of days where breakfast didn’t guarantee dinner, and wished to seek a bit of stability—even temporary stability would do, giving her sufficient room to grow.
This posturing to curry favor was seen through at a glance by Bu Chengyue, who felt sympathy for her. Although as a cultivator, a extreme state of mind and rushing recklessly could easily sow hidden dangers for the future, Sheng Meng’s core nature was not bad, and proper guidance could still correct her.
“Cultivation is meant to give life more opportunities and more choices, not to satisfy your master’s expectations. Besides, this seat has only one expectation of you: if one day you become a force of your own, I won’t force you to protect the common people or punish evil and promote good, but at least do not cause trouble for others.”
“Master, rest assured. If I cause trouble, I will absolutely not speak Master’s holy name, and this disciple will solve it herself.”
Bu Chengyue was amused by her, looking as if the moon had broken through the clouds. This disciple she accepted had far too many thoughts, hidden deeply at that, guarding even against her master. When she said she wanted to seek protection and cultivate at Yuedi Yunjie, Bu Chengyue didn’t fully believe it.
The reason was likely false, but the purpose real. A teenager in her teens was truly clumsy and pure even when disguising herself, only keeping a wooden face so that people couldn’t guess her thoughts through changes in expression.
She didn’t expose her either, finding it novel and amusing instead.
Starting to raise a disciple now meant she could lead a retirement life before long. Sheng Meng knew how to cook, had a favor to ask of her, and wasn’t bad at heart; as long as she raised her properly, she could definitely train her into a fine hand for looking after her in her old age.
Good culinary skills were truly a huge bonus point. While tasting the food, Bu Chengyue felt gratified that she no longer had to go to the dining hall, while thinking to herself that the sect ought to include a culinary assessment in the Dharma Examination—that way, their Yuedi Yunjie would surely take first place.
“Previously I didn’t know Master’s appetite; next time I will make a bit more.” These past few days, Sheng Meng had completely shattered her prior imagination of Elder Chengyue. The person eating so much food before her eyes was in no way that day’s distant and aloof Immortal Venerable.
If Bu Chengyue knew what she was thinking, she would certainly retort that she was experienced in the ways of the world and returning to simplicity. Why bother over so much when it was better to be casual and candid? Living was already exhausting enough; having to constrain oneself in disguises was just a hassle.
Bu Chengyue, who had always feared troublesome matters, found every day quite bothersome because she had taken a disciple. Fortunately, Sheng Meng saved her trouble and didn’t need her to speak too much to comprehend things; whether it was drawing talismans, setting up arrays, or using spells, she understood at a single pointer.
Luckily, Bu Chengyue possessed self-awareness, knowing that it was all because Sheng Meng was smart that she was so relaxed; otherwise she would truly think she was also a genius in teaching and nurturing disciples.
For ordinary cultivators to practice one discipline well among the many Daoist arts like spells, pills, talismans, and arrays was already the result of talent plus effort. Although Bu Chengyue had never proclaimed it to the outside world, she knew quite a lot, and at a very high level. Back when she learned these, at what speed did she learn?
It had been too long and she couldn’t remember clearly; it should deserve to be called talented, and Sheng Meng wasn’t bad either—worthy of being her disciple.
Half a year’s time didn’t require her to learn anything extra; mastering these things completely and integrating them thoroughly would guarantee no problem for top three. “Your state of mind is not stable enough. From now on, set aside one hour every day specifically to consolidate your state of mind.” The Dao heart is the root; if the root is not firmly planted, no matter how high the cultivation, it can collapse at any moment.
In her heart, Sheng Meng was unconvinced. She didn’t feel there was anything wrong with her state of mind, but she had to be obedient. She had already felt how much help Bu Chengyue’s casual pointers were to her. “This disciple obeys.”
Bu Chengyue didn’t even need to raise her head. Reaching out her hand, she called Sheng Meng over to a position a few steps away, raised her wrist, and pointed at her through the distant void with a finger: “You must ask yourself why you insist on cultivating.”
“To repay Master’s kindness, and also to protect myself from being bullied by others.” An unthought-out answer.
Bu Chengyue smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes, wanting to brush away the anxiety and restlessness all over her body as well. “If you can’t finish it today, will you die? Sheng Meng, you are only in your teens, your life is still long, and your master’s life is also long. I can protect you for several hundred years. Take it slow.”
Sheng Meng was moved—at least she showed that she was moved.
Perhaps she truly took it to heart. After a few months, she had calmed down considerably and even had time to tend to flowers and plants. Yuedi Yunjie presented a flourishing spring scenery, and she grew closer and closer to Sheng Meng.
“Watch the house, I’m going out for a bit.”
For nearly half a year, Master hadn’t gone down the mountain. With the Dharma Examination imminent, why was she suddenly going out? “Where to?”
“I won’t abandon you, rest assured. Master is going to inquire about other disciples so you can familiarize yourself with your opponents.” As she spoke, she formed a hand seal with one hand, transformed her body, and turned into an inconspicuous disciple.
The ordinary face had no memorable features, but the way her lips curved into a smile was deeply branded into the bottom of Sheng Meng’s eyes. Until Bu Chengyue completely disappeared, she still hadn’t snapped back to her senses.
What’s been going on lately? Why do I always stare at Master and daze off…