Mu Zhe didn't want to, Mu Zhe want to refuse.
But he couldn't say it.
Xi Guxing, however, had no such scruples. He drew his sword and pressed it against Shen Gurong's neck, his eyes narrowed as he coldly said, "Say that again?"
Shen Gurong wasn't afraid of the sword at his neck and obediently repeated it.
"I said, is there any possibility that Master will take on another disciple?"
In the Lotus Lake of Jiuchun Mountain, Chao Jiuxiao flew wildly from afar, his movements turbulent. Reaching the shore, he suddenly transformed into a humanoid figure in black robes, his toes barely touching the ground as he strode forward, a water-formed sword pressed against Shen Gurong's neck.
As Chao Jiuxiao swung his sword, water droplets deliberately trickled from his sleeve, nearly splashing Shen Gurong's face. He roared, "How could Master possibly accept another disciple?! What are you dreaming about?"
Two swords were held to Shen Gurong's neck. Lou Bugui, unaware of what was happening, also summoned his sword, eager to put it to Shen Gurong's neck for a three-way standoff.
Shen Gurong carefully pressed the swords back against his neck with his fingers: "Senior brothers, senior brothers, please calm down."
The lingering spirit of Lou Bugui still haunted the Wind and Water Pool, refusing to dissipate. Every time Chao Jiuxiao thought of him, he wanted nothing more than to tear that damned Shen Gurong to pieces. Now, having just emerged from seclusion, and with Master apparently about to accept a new disciple, both old and new grudges surged within him, and the sword nearly fell.
Su Xiyan, brewing tea nearby, noticed the menacing expression and frowned, saying, "Put the sword down."
Shen Gurong immediately gave his senior sister a grateful look.
Su Xiyan said, "If you're going to hit him, then hit him properly."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Chao Jiuxiao had wanted to beat up Shen Gurong for a long time. Hearing this, he licked his lips. His vertical pupils narrowed slightly as he sheathed his longsword and arrogantly declared, "Come and fight!"
Shen Gurong timidly said, "No, no thanks."
Chao Jiuxiao cursed, "Useless! You don't even dare to fight. I think you're not far from death already!"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Su Xiyan coughed and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Eleven, why would you suddenly want to ask this? Master hasn't taken on any disciples for a hundred years, if you..."
Shen Gurong raised his hand, interrupting his senior sister: "Senior sister, let's discuss this later."
Su Xiyan blinked.
Ten years ago, because Shen Feng Xue's body was inexplicably injured, Shen Gurong tried to use his spiritual power several times, but not only did he fail to hit anyone, he also suffered considerable pain. Later, due to the turmoil caused by the phoenix's spiritual power, opportunities to use spiritual power became even rarer.
After ten years of seclusion, Shen Feng Xue's injuries healed, and his soul stabilized. Except for the loss of half of his yuandan, his spiritual power circulated without hindrance.
After rescuing Xiwu yesterday, Shen Gurong tossed and turned, constantly reflecting on how he had released the pressure of a Mahayana stage cultivator and how he had summoned Lin Xia Chun. He spent a night in meditation in his sea of consciousness and even had a slight epiphany.
Shen Feng Xue's body had experienced too much fighting over the past hundred years. Even with just a thought, Shen Gurong's body could move instinctively—like when he rescued Xiwu.
However, that was only for a moment. After thinking for half a day, Shen Gurong realized that, as Shen Feng Xue said, if he wanted to survive in this world where cultivation was paramount, he still had to rely on himself.
He rose, and with a thought, the illusory "Lin Xia Chun" sword appeared in his palm.
Shen Gurong appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was overjoyed: 'Summoned it! Finally, I've summoned it!'
Suppressing his excitement, Shen Gurong said calmly to Chao Jiuxiao, "Let's fight then. Just don't get beaten to a pulp later."
Upon seeing this, Chao Jiuxiao immediately transformed into his enormous true form, roared, and swept away the three people who had been watching the spectacle with his tail.
Su Xiyan landed lightly, not spilling a single drop of tea from her cup.
She sighed, unfazed, and downed the half-cup of tea in one gulp. She said to Xi Guxing, "I bet on Eleven."
Xi Guxing said, "I bet on Jiuxiao. Eleven's yuandan is still incomplete. Facing Jiuxiao..."
Before he could finish, a furious roar echoed from Lotus Lake, seemingly the sound of Chao Jiuxiao in pain.
Xi Guxing: "..."
Xi Guxing said seriously, "...I can definitely beat Jiuxiao. I'll switch to Shen Eleven."
Su Xiyan: "..."
The two of them simultaneously turned their "oppressive" gazes to Lou Bugui, who was crouching to the side, dodging the splashes from Lotus Lake while holding an umbrella.
Lou Bugui met the bewildered gazes of his two senior brothers, then exclaimed "Ah!" his eyes lighting up: "Eleven's out of seclusion!"
The two brothers: "..."
Xi Guxing walked over, pulled him off the ground, withdrew the spiritual energy protecting him from the rain, and rubbed half of Lou Bugui's umbrella against him, coaxing him: "We're betting on who will win this time, want to join in?"
Lou Bugui moved the umbrella closer to his senior brothers, tilted his head, and said, "Isn't Eleven always the winner?"
Xi Guxing: "But this time Eleven is short half of his yuandan."
Lou Bugui didn't think deeply or consider it carefully. After a long pause, he said, "Ah, then I'll bet on Jiuxiao."
Before Xi Guxing could speak, a figure suddenly rushed from Lotus Lake, followed by a loud crash as it slammed into the Bodhi tree.
The water droplets on the Bodhi tree splashed down with a loud thud.
Upon closer inspection, it was Chao Jiuxiao who had been knocked into the Bodhi tree.
Chao Jiuxiao clutched his chest, a dark blue scale already appearing on his neck, slowly spreading up his face. His handsome face was grim.
Shen Gurong, dressed in red, gracefully landed on the shore, gathered Lin Xia Chun, his expression indifferent, and nodded slightly: "Senior brother, I apologize for the offense."
Chao Jiuxiao: "..."
You weren't this polite when you were fighting the dragon!
Chao Jiuxiao nearly vomited blood from his hypocritical demeanor.
He and Shen Gurong were two realms apart. Although he could use his demon form to close the gap to one realm, the cultivation realm was a vast chasm. Even with half a yuandan missing, Shen Gurong could still easily defeat him.
Chao Jiuxiao was arrogant and proud. Ever since Shen Feng Xue arrived at Liren Peak and took away his master's favor, he had secretly wanted to devour Shen Feng Xue whole, but each time he had failed.
At first, his master protected him. Later, when his master finally went into seclusion, Shen Feng Xue's cultivation level soared, reaching the level of a half-step saint.
Every time Chao Jiuxiao's cultivation improved, he would challenge Shen Feng Xue to a fight, but he was always defeated with a single blow. Enraged, Chao Jiuxiao would often coil himself into a ball in the Wind and Rain Pool, frantically splashing around for days.
Ever since learning that Shen Feng Xue had brought this upon himself by having half of his core removed, Chao Jiuxiao had often thought about sparring with him again.
"With half my cultivation gone, I should be able to beat him, right?" Chao Jiuxiao thought.
But now, he was slammed against the Bodhi tree, his mind completely blank.
Su Xiyan walked up to him, stroked his dragon head, and sighed, "I've told you before, losing half of your yuandan doesn't mean losing half your cultivation."
Chao Jiuxiao: "..."
Chao Jiuxiao's face was full of humiliation, his bright red lips bitten tightly, his beastly eyes trembling, as if veiled by a layer of mist.
Su Xiyan thought, 'Ah, he's crying.'
Xi Guxing thought, 'He cried because he was beaten?'
However, both of them were mindful of Chao Jiuxiao's arrogant nature, keeping their thoughts to themselves.
When Shen Gurong controlled Shen Feng Xue's shell to fight, he felt "omnipotent" for the first time. Seeing the dragon he had feared ten years ago being sent flying by him, Shen Gurong was incredibly excited.
He tried to remain calm, raising an eyebrow slightly, and said, "You cried?"
Chao Jiuxiao: "..."
Chao Jiuxiao was filled with shame and indignation. His evil dragon roared, transformed into a small dragon, and disappeared into the lotus lake.
Shen Gurong was confused. He asked doubtfully, "He was crying just now, wasn't he? I think I saw tears in his eyes."
Su Xiyan: "..."
Xi Guxing said quietly, "You really are as inhuman as ever."
Shen Gurong: "..."
Why did he suddenly start cursing again? Shouldn't I be praised for winning?
Shen Gurong was a little annoyed. Just then, Lou Bugui suddenly threw away his umbrella, pounced on him, and hugged him tightly.
Shen Gurong's hope immediately rose.
Tenth Senior Brother, praise him quickly!
Tenth Senior Brother said, "Eleventh, you've finally come out of seclusion!"
Shen Gurong: "..."
Shen Gurong remained expressionless, thinking: Thank you, I've been out of seclusion for two days.
Without Chao Jiuxiao, the others were able to sit down and chat calmly.
Xi Guxing said "calmly," "If Master knew you had such rebellious thoughts, he would definitely kill you! Get out!"
Shen Gurong was also "amiable," saying, "Do you want to get beaten up too?"
Xi Guxing: "..."
Su Xiyan thought for a moment and tried to say, "Eleventh, I heard you saved a disciple from Fenglu City yesterday?"
Shen Gurong said, "She's no longer from Fenglu City."
Su Xiyan said helplessly, "Regardless of who she is, if you want her to join Liren Peak, just take her as your disciple directly. There's no need to go through all this trouble to accept a disciple on behalf of Master."
Shen Gurong fell silent. Being called Master by someone who looked so much like his sister made him feel a little awkward.
Since he planned to pamper her like a sister, it would be best to give her the status of a junior sister.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Su Xiyan roughly guessed that he hadn't listened to her, so she sighed and said, "Then shall we ask Master with the jade marrow?"
Upon hearing this, Xi Guxing gasped, grabbed Su Xiyan's arm, and whispered, "Master will definitely not agree. How could he accept a disciple he's never even met?! And that child..."
He glanced at Shen Gurong before saying, "I've already found out about that child. She's born with ghostly energy, and she'll most likely cultivate the ghost path when she grows up..."
Shen Gurong noticed the change in his tone and frowned in confusion, "So what if it's the ghost path? As long as it doesn't wreak havoc on the Three Realms and harm the innocent, isn't that enough?"
Su Xiyan and Xi Guxing suddenly froze, staring at him almost in horror. Even Lou Bugui, who hadn't been following their conversation, looked up in astonishment.
Shen Gurong felt a chill run down his spine under their gazes: "W-what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Su Xiyan's expression was complicated: "Nothing's wrong, it's just... I never knew you could say that."
Shen Gurong was taken aback.
Xi Guxing also said, "You've resented ghost cultivators for a long time now. That water ghost in Fuxian City was sealed in Dongting Lake by you back then. I thought you..."
He didn't finish his sentence. Shen Gurong took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm: "Even Daoist cultivators are divided into good and evil, and ghost cultivators are no exception."
Although he was afraid of ghosts, if a child with Shen Xiwu's face cultivated the ghost path, he could probably overcome it.
After a long silence, Xi Guxing frowned and said, "Alright, then we'll ask Master."
Shen Gurong asked, "Has Master emerged from seclusion?"
Xi Guxing shook his head: "Master's seclusion this time will likely last twenty or thirty years. We can only send the message through divine sense; we don't know when we'll receive a response."
As he spoke, he took out the jade marrow and placed it on the sandalwood table.
Four pairs of eyes looked at the azure jade marrow.
Xi Guxing said, "Then let's decide who will go and tell Master about this."
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Xiyan and Lou Bugui quickly stepped back.
Shen Gurong: "..."
This was the first time he'd seen Lou Bugui react so quickly.
Su Xiyan coughed dryly and mumbled, "I... um, cough cough cough!"
She almost coughed up her lungs.
Shen Gurong: "..."
Lou Bugui was much more straightforward; he got up to run out, but Xi Guxing grabbed him and pressed him back down. Xi Guxing sneered, "Don't even think about running."
Lou Bugui looked completely bewildered, then, a beat too late, mimicked his senior sister's violent coughing, as if fleeing some ferocious beast.
"Cough cough cough!"
Shen Gurong: "..."
This master... is his power really that great? To make these two act like this?
The three of them were in a chaotic mess. Finally, Xi Guxing and Su Xiyan exchanged a glance, then both turned their gazes to Lou Bugui.
Su Xiyan said, "Okay."
Shen Gurong: "Huh? Okay? What's okay? Okay in what way?"
Xi Guxing nodded, raising his hand to push the Azure Jade Marrow in front of Lou Bugui.
Lou Bugui nearly jumped up in shock, shaking his head frantically, "No, no..."
Xi Guxing calmly said, "Weren't we betting on who would win between Eleven and Jiuxiao just now?"
Lou Bugui nodded blankly, "Yes."
Xi Guxing said, "The wager is that whoever loses has to use the jade marrow to find Master and tell him about the discipleship."
Lou Bugui: "..."
Lou Bugui was easily coaxed. He asked confusedly, "Did we talk about the wager just now?"
Xi Guxing lied without batting an eye: "Yes, right, Senior Sister?"
Senior Sister nodded.
Lou Bugui's face turned ashen. After struggling painfully for a long time, he finally picked up the Azure Jade Marrow with a death-defying resolve.
Shen Gurong saw that Lou Bugui, who usually didn't care about anything, was trembling. He began searching for Nan Yangjun in Shen Feng Xue's memories.
However, for some reason, Nan Yangjun's memories were completely blank, not even his appearance.
Besides, if he was so terrified, why didn't he let him contact Master himself?
Could it be that Shen Feng Xue and Nan Yangjun's relationship had deteriorated to the point where they couldn't be connected by jade marrow?
Just as he was wondering, Lou Bugui had already picked up the jade marrow, closed his eyes slightly, and probed it with his divine sense.
A moment later, he opened his eyes, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and threw the jade marrow away.
Xi Guxing: "All done?"
Lou Bugui said softly, sounding aggrieved, "All done."
Su Xiyan patted his head and said, "Good boy."
Shen Gurong watched this scene, and for some reason, he suddenly thought of his childhood, when his older brother always sent him to do things that would incur their parents' punishment. Now, Su Xiyan and Xi Guxing were just like his older brothers back then.
Xi Guxing stroked the jade marrow, slowly saying, "Master will probably need many days to respond, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, the azure jade marrow became hot.
Xi Guxing: "..."
Xi Guxing coughed lightly, pretending he hadn't said anything, and gently smeared his hand on the jade marrow.
A man's voice came from within: "Let him be."
Xi Guxing was taken aback, not expecting Nan Yangjun to agree without asking any questions.
"Master!" Xi Guxing said, "But that child... carries ghostly energy, Liren Peak..."
Nan Yangjun coldly said: "I said, let him be."
Xi Guxing immediately lowered his head: "Yes."
The jade marrow flashed briefly and then remained still.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Finally, Su Xiyan made the decision: "Then let's do it this way. Let the child enter Liren Peak first, and we'll hold the apprenticeship ceremony after Master emerges from seclusion."
Xi Guxing, who had consistently opposed the arrangement, remained silent.
The matter was settled. Shen Gurong was in high spirits and bid farewell to his senior brothers.
Fanjiang Residence had been repaired. The damaged evening mist flowers in the courtyard had been cleared away by Mu Zhe, and new seeds had been sown. He was watering them with spiritual spring water from Jiuchun Mountain.
Watered with spiritual spring water, the seeds would germinate overnight and bloom throughout the courtyard in no time.
Seeing Shen Gurong approach, Mu Zhe put down the small wooden ladle: "Master."
Shen Gurong was in a good mood and casually asked, "Where's your Senior Aunt?"
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe's lips twitched. Clinging to a last glimmer of hope, he asked, "Have all the senior uncles... agreed?"
Shen Gurong nodded: "Yes."
Mu Zhe's heart sank. After struggling painfully for a long time, he finally managed to say with difficulty, "Senior... senior aunt is in the side courtyard. She was able to get out of bed today."
Shen Gurong: "Okay, I'll go see her."
Saying this, he quickly walked towards the side courtyard.
Mu Zhe followed.
In the side courtyard, Xiwu sat on a stone bench, staring blankly at the evening primroses in the small flowerbed beside her. Her eyes were vacant, like an empty puppet.
Yu Xinghe finally finished his daily routine of copying books. He rubbed his sore wrists and walked out of his room. He stretched, and his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a figure draped in a long robe not far away.
Yu Xinghe blinked: "Huh?"
He quickly walked in, puzzled, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Xiwu glanced at him, her eyes blinking gently.
Yu Xinghe's eyes lit up: "Little girl!"
Yu Xinghe's voice was soft, and he seemed extremely happy.
Liren Peak doesn't accept female cultivators, and this was the first time he'd seen a girl younger than himself. Overjoyed, he ran over, his eyes crinkling, "Hello! Are you lost?"
Xiwu tilted her head, looking at him for a long time before timidly whispering, "No."
Yu Xinghe was a chatterbox; he could talk for ages on a single word, not finding her response cold at all.
"Then which peak are you from?"
Xiwu was initially a little afraid of strangers, but Yu Xinghe was so enthusiastic that she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Liren Peak."
The Immortal Lord said she was from Liren Peak, so she was.
"Ah!" Yu Xinghe almost jumped up, his eyes practically disappearing with joy, "Liren Peak! You live here now, does that mean my master has accepted you as a disciple?!"
Xiwu didn't quite understand, and could only nod vaguely.
Yu Xinghe: "Ah! I have a junior sister now! I'm not the youngest anymore!"
He was happily circling around Xiwu when a hand reached out and pressed down on his shoulder.
Yu Xinghe turned around and saw it was Shen Gurong.
Shen Gurong said calmly, "What are you doing?"
Yu Xinghe exclaimed joyfully, "Master!"
Shen Gurong responded and released him, lest he make Xiwu dizzy from spinning around.
He squatted down, gently stroked Xiwu's hair, and whispered, "Xiwu, are you feeling better today?"
Upon seeing him, Xiwu's empty eyes brightened slightly, as if a puppet had been infused with a soul, gaining some life.
She was about to get up from the stool when Shen Gurong pressed her down, making her sit properly.
Xiwu lowered her head and whispered, "I'm much better, thank you, Immortal Lord."
Shen Gurong smiled and said, "You don't need to call me Immortal Lord anymore."
Yu Xinghe said happily, "Yes, yes."
He had to call him Master.
Xiwu blinked her watery eyes at him.
Shen Gurong said, "Call me Senior Brother from now on."
Xiwu was stunned.
Yu Xinghe's smile froze on his face.
"Huh?"
Mu Zhe, who had been observing coldly, suddenly felt at ease when he saw Yu Xinghe's stunned and dumbfounded expression.
Shen Gurong looked at Yu Xinghe with a loving expression and said, "Come, Xinghe."
"Greet your little Martial Aunt."
Yu Xinghe: "..."
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