“Just say no!”
Suddenly, the many venerable figures surrounded Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan’s lips quirked. “I simply can’t.”
The Sect Master’s face instantly darkened. “Lu Xuan, don’t tell me you’re worried about being expelled from the Grand Dao Sect if you don’t take a disciple?”
“No,” Lu Xuan said simply.
The Sect Master pressed on, “I can amend the Grand Dao Sect’s rules for you. I’ll make a special exception: you can remain the Peak Master of Azure Mystery Peak, disciple or no disciple! So, you don’t need to take Ji Fuyao as your apprentice anymore!”
At this, everyone turned their gazes to Lu Xuan. Surely, Lu Xuan would give up now, right?
“I must take Ji Fuyao as my apprentice!” Lu Xuan said with a faint smile.
At his words, a profound light flickered in Ji Fuyao’s eyes, and the way she looked at Lu Xuan subtly shifted. So many Peak Masters had pressured him, yet Lu Xuan hadn’t compromised!
Her body held too many secrets. During the sect’s entrance assessment, she had sealed them with an ancient secret art. The talent and strength she displayed were perfectly calibrated—just what she wanted the Grand Dao Sect to see! But if she were to join another Peak Master, those secrets could easily be exposed!
With that in mind, Ji Fuyao bowed respectfully to the Sect Master and the others, then turned to Lu Xuan. “Sect Master, esteemed Peak Masters, my decision is final! Master, let us return to Azure Mystery Peak.”
“Alright,” Lu Xuan affirmed.
“Wait!”
Everyone immediately blocked Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao. “Peak Master Lu, no matter what, Fuyao cannot become your disciple today!”
“She absolutely must become my disciple!” Lu Xuan’s stance grew even firmer.
For a moment, Lu Xuan directly confronted the Sect Master and the other elders.
A momentary silence fell.
The Sect Master looked at Lu Xuan with a solemn expression. “Lu Xuan, Fuyao is a peerless genius, one our sect hasn’t seen in a thousand years! In the future, she will become the Grand Dao Sect’s cornerstone for ten millennia. This is no child’s play! Your strength is inferior even to an outer disciple; how can you possibly guide Fuyao properly?”
The others nodded in agreement, expressions of utter heartbreak on their faces. They simply couldn’t fathom why Lu Xuan was so insistent on taking Ji Fuyao as his disciple.
“Sect Master,” Lu Xuan said with a grave expression, “who says I can’t teach her well?”
The Sect Master burst into laughter. “Very well! If you’re so confident, I won’t press the matter further. Care to make a wager? One month from now, during the Inner Sect Competition, if Fuyao fails to win first place, you will no longer be her master, and she will join another peak!”
Hearing this, Ji Fuyao immediately sent a mental message to Lu Xuan. “Don’t agree! Those core disciples are all above the Profound Emperor realm, and I’m only a Grand Profound King. I have no absolute certainty of taking first place in a month!”
Lu Xuan, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. With complete assurance, he declared, “Agreed! In one month, I’ll have Fuyao suppress every single member of the Grand Dao Sect’s younger generation!”
As his words fell, everyone present was stunned, staring at Lu Xuan in disbelief. Seriously? Who gave you that confidence?! Her delicate neck slightly tilted, Ji Fuyao’s eyes blazed with divine light as she glared at Lu Xuan, her chest rising and falling furiously, face flushed crimson with rage.
“Excellent! Just excellent, Peak Master Lu!” The Sect Master and the others almost couldn’t contain their smiles. “Since you’re so confident, how about I add a bit more difficulty?”
Lu Xuan, looking utterly unperturbed, simply spread his hands. “Makes no difference to me!”
The Sect Master chuckled. “During this month, Fuyao may only use the cultivation resources of Azure Mystery Peak. She is forbidden from using any other resources of the Grand Dao Sect!”
“Fine by me!” Lu Xuan said with a faint smile, turning to Ji Fuyao. “Disciple, I have great confidence. What about you?”
“Argh!”
Ji Fuyao nearly collapsed. Biting her tender lips, her chest heaved as she stomped her foot on the ground in a fit of pure frustration. She was so angry she wanted to hit someone! She was starting to regret taking Lu Xuan as her master. Clearly, this was a trap set by the Sect Master, but Lu Xuan had foolishly walked right into it! Over this next month, the Sect Master was bound to provide the core disciples with numerous opportunities, making it even harder for her to compete! Ji Fuyao felt like crying, but no tears would come. Meanwhile, the Sect Master and the others couldn’t suppress the triumphant smiles playing on their lips.
“Fuyao,” Lu Xuan said, looking at her, “let’s head back to Azure Mystery Peak.”
Flames flickered in Ji Fuyao’s eyes, her chest still heaving beneath her fiery red gown. Her composure had completely shattered, and she could only silently follow Lu Xuan away.
Watching Lu Xuan’s retreating figure, a grey-robed disciple muttered under his breath, “Hilarious! Ji Fuyao might be a genius, but her brain must be scrambled if she chose a good-for-nothing for a master…”
Before he could finish, Ji Fuyao vanished from her spot, instantly reappearing before the grey-robed disciple. Her gaze was chillingly cold as she slowly spoke.
“What did you say?”
Ji Fuyao’s anger had already reached its breaking point, with no outlet, and now it completely erupted. Boom! A blazing divine light erupted from Ji Fuyao’s body, savage power surging around her. A terrifying pressure, vast as an abyss and deep as the sea, crashed down directly upon the grey-robed disciple.
The grey-robed disciple’s face paled in horror. Ji Fuyao’s power completely overwhelmed him. In an instant, he was forced to his knees, bleeding and utterly unable to move. Witnessing this, the Sect Master and the others were utterly dumbfounded. Even Lu Xuan was taken aback. My disciple, Ji Fuyao, what a savage!
At that moment, another black-robed youth angrily shouted, “Ji Fuyao, in front of everyone, are you trying to murder a fellow disciple?!”
Before he could finish, Ji Fuyao extended a slender hand, and a terrifying force pressed down on the black-robed youth’s head.
“You talk too much,” Ji Fuyao said, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. “You can kneel too!”
Thud! The black-robed youth was instantly crushed to his knees, utterly powerless to resist!
For a moment, everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Even the Sect Master felt a tremor of shock. This Ji Fuyao was incredibly domineering! To dare attack like this, right in front of so many people? Was she not afraid they would suppress her?! Lu Xuan sighed inwardly. ‘As expected of Empress Fuyao, her domineering aura is truly unparalleled.’
Suddenly, several outer sect elders rushed forward, pointing at Ji Fuyao and angrily rebuked, “Ji Fuyao! Remember, you are not yet an official disciple of the Grand Dao Sect! How dare you act so brazenly with the Sect Master present?!”
Ji Fuyao said nothing. Her slender hand splayed open, and a divine radiance, like a sweeping ocean, surged forth, directly landing on the heads of these outer sect elders. “Then you can all kneel!”
The outer sect elders roared, gritting their teeth, spiritual energy surging around them as they tried to resist. But it was useless! Though they were all at the Grand Profound King realm, Ji Fuyao completely surpassed them! Thud! Thud! In a single breath, the outer sect elders knelt to the ground, utterly humiliated. Witnessing this scene, everyone in the arena was left dumbfounded. Ji Fuyao’s power was simply too immense! The Sect Master’s gaze deepened, but instead of alarm, he felt a surge of delight. It seemed Ji Fuyao had held back quite a bit during the entrance assessment.
In an instant, a swath of people knelt to the ground. Under Ji Fuyao’s oppressive aura, they felt as if a colossal mountain pressed down on them, unable to even lift their heads, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Complete annihilation! The outer sect elders’ faces burned crimson with shame. To kneel before a mere disciple in front of so many people was an unbearable humiliation! Such a thing had never happened in the Grand Dao Sect!
At this moment, Ji Fuyao, clad in her fiery red gown, her delicate face stunningly beautiful yet utterly cold, exuded a faint divine radiance. An enigmatic power constantly surged around her. In that instant, she appeared like a goddess descended to the mortal realm, standing high above all, looking down upon every living being with disdain.
Ji Fuyao’s gaze swept over the suppressed crowd. “My choices are my own business,” she stated coldly, “and not for you to criticize!”
As her voice echoed, the many elders and disciples all gasped in shock. Lu Xuan, however, merely offered a faint smile, a hint of admiration in his eyes for Ji Fuyao. The others looked at Lu Xuan, his smile striking them as the smug grin of a small-minded man who’d gotten lucky. They all looked at him with disdain.
At this point, the Sect Master slowly stepped forward. It was time. He had to put an end to this farce! After all, Ji Fuyao had caused the Grand Dao Bell to resonate, and she had caught the attention of the Ancestor! The Ancestor had repeatedly emphasized that she must be brought into the Grand Dao Sect! He had witnessed the entire incident. That outer disciple had indeed been too chatty, and had unfortunately stumbled right into Ji Fuyao’s fury.
“Fuyao, now, now,” the Sect Master said, approaching her with a benevolent smile. “Let’s let this matter go. For this month, you can temporarily cultivate with Lu Xuan; we won’t interfere. Are you satisfied with that?”
Ji Fuyao tilted her delicate neck, nodding faintly. “One more thing.”
“Tell me,” the Sect Master replied with a smile.
Ji Fuyao’s gaze swept over the kneeling elders and disciples. “Sect Master, I don’t appreciate it when people gossip about me… or my Master.”
The Sect Master immediately rebuked, “Apologize to Fuyao and Peak Master Lu! From this day forward, no one is to ever again speak ill of Peak Master Lu or Fuyao!”
At his words, the numerous elders and disciples trembled, still kneeling as they apologized to Lu Xuan.
“Ji Fuyao… Peak Master Lu, I’m sorry, I was wrong…”
“I won’t do it again…”
“…”
Seeing this, Ji Fuyao withdrew her oppressive aura and gave a slight bow to the Sect Master. “Thank you.”
Then, Ji Fuyao walked to Lu Xuan. “Master, let’s go back.”
The Sect Master reminded her, “Fuyao, don’t forget to go to the Grand Dao Hall to collect your assessment rewards and complete your sect registration.”
“Understood, Sect Master,” Ji Fuyao replied.
Lu Xuan slowly led Ji Fuyao away.
Watching their retreating figures, the elders and disciples finally let out sighs of relief. They had all been thoroughly intimidated by Ji Fuyao just now! But the Sect Master’s attitude was also intriguing; clearly, he valued Ji Fuyao immensely! Soon, everyone pushed the recent commotion to the back of their minds and continued with their preparations to join various peaks.
Meanwhile, Lu Xuan led Ji Fuyao up the mountain. “Disciple,” Lu Xuan said with a faint smile, “you did pretty well just now.”
“Hm?” Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. Why did “Disciple” roll off his tongue so easily? Her anger flared up again! She had already sent him a mental message to refuse the wager, but he hadn’t listened! Lu Xuan couldn’t possibly be taking this ‘master’ role seriously, could he?!
“Why did you agree to the Sect Master’s wager just now?” Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes flickered like scorching flames. “Are you that confident in me?”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “No, not in you. I’m confident in myself. Trust me, in one month, I will make you the top cultivator among the Grand Dao Sect’s younger generation!”
Ji Fuyao’s face was a perfect picture of bewilderment. “???” She was done talking to Lu Xuan. Instead, she was pondering her recent actions against those outer sect elders and disciples. She had acted not only to establish her authority but also to test the Grand Dao Sect’s attitude towards a peerless genius like herself! The results were quite satisfying. It seemed the Grand Dao Sect truly did grant special privileges to prodigies! Ji Fuyao knew that she had caused the Grand Dao Sect’s ultimate treasure, the Grand Dao Bell, to resonate. She was likely already under the watchful eye of the Ancestor-level figures. She understood her own worth. She was using the Grand Dao Sect, and the Grand Dao Sect was using her in turn!
With that thought, Ji Fuyao’s gaze shifted to Lu Xuan. “I know how to cultivate this month! But I also hope that you, too, will improve your cultivation! Master!” Those last two words, ‘Master,’ were practically gritted out through Ji Fuyao’s teeth.
Lu Xuan paused, slightly taken aback. “Huh?” How did his disciple suddenly start lecturing him?! This wouldn’t do! Who was the master and who was the disciple? These roles couldn’t be messed with! But Lu Xuan didn’t retort. For now, his words held little weight. However, once the System was fully activated, he would make Ji Fuyao realize that choosing him as her master was the most correct decision she had ever made in this life!
Before long, Lu Xuan and Ji Fuyao set foot on Azure Mystery Peak. Azure Mystery Peak was suffused with abundant spiritual energy and boasted breathtaking scenery. A waterfall cascaded down from the mountain’s summit, and as the morning sun rose, its light illuminated a layer of mist that shimmered over Azure Mystery Peak, making it appear exquisitely beautiful.
Ji Fuyao chose a cultivation cave for herself, then set up several seals and restrictions. Afterward, she came to Lu Xuan’s cultivation cave and handed him a jade slip. “This jade slip contains some of my cultivation insights. I know your talent is mediocre, but you mustn’t give up on yourself. As my Master, I hope you’ll also make an effort!”
Lu Xuan took the jade slip, a little speechless. Now, the tables had truly turned, hadn’t they? Was his disciple actually lecturing her Master? “No! Absolutely not!”
“Master,” Ji Fuyao said, “I’m going to the Grand Dao Hall now to collect my assessment rewards and complete the sect registration procedures. I hope you’ll begin cultivating.”
“Alright, then,” Lu Xuan nodded.
The moment Ji Fuyao left, the System’s voice slowly chimed.
“Ding! The Invincible Disciple-Taking System has finished loading!”
Lu Xuan immediately shot up from his bed, eager to check the System!