Chapter 724 - 645 Ascending the Peak 54
Although Tan Shuangshuang liked to do things herself, she didn’t mind being served. When she was in Qingyun City, she was the top junior of the Tan Family, and her courtyard had dozens of servants.
However, Tan Shuangshuang generally disliked having people enter her room, so she didn’t forget to remind Ouyang Qing and Ouyang Mingxin not to casually enter her room; everything else was fine.
Just after sending Ouyang Qing and Ouyang Mingxin off to work, someone knocked on the restriction of the courtyard. This restriction served as protection for the house, essentially acting as something akin to a gate, alerting the owner of the house to the presence of visitors.
Tan Shuangshuang opened the restriction and found the guest was Qin Shaofeng, the direct disciple of Sect Leader Wei Tianxiao. Upon seeing Tan Shuangshuang, Qin Shaofeng approached with a big smile and said, "Seeing you looking so spirited, Junior Sister, you must have recovered. The Sect Leader asked me to inform you that the apprenticeship ceremony will be held for you tomorrow. You are quite fortunate to be chosen by the strongest Hall Master of our Wuji Sect to be taken in as a direct disciple. As your senior brother, I congratulate you in advance."
Qin Shaofeng’s face had a refreshing smile that made him very likable. His speech was polite yet intimate, making interactions very comfortable.
Tan Shuangshuang did not dislike Qin Shaofeng’s closeness and wasn’t as surprised as Qin Shaofeng expected regarding the apprenticeship.
If it were before she obtained the Thousand Silk Entanglement cultivation technique, Tan Shuangshuang would have been very surprised. But now, with the cultivation technique seemingly tailored for her, with no parts she couldn’t understand, her need for a master had significantly diminished.
However, being able to apprentice under the strongest practitioner in the Wuji Sect was an honor in itself. Even if Tan Shuangshuang did not need such a powerful master, the Tan Family needed her to have an illustrious master as their background support. Tan Shuangshuang wouldn’t be so unwise as to refuse.
Therefore, Tan Shuangshuang politely replied to Qin Shaofeng, "Young Sect Master is too kind. Someone could have been sent to inform me of this matter; there’s no need for the Young Sect Master to come personally."
Qin Shaofeng chuckled. Although this task wasn’t troublesome, it was a great opportunity to build a good relationship with Tan Shuangshuang, which naturally he wouldn’t yield to others. "In the future, we will be siblings in the same sect, so there’s no need for such formal politeness. My surname is Qin, and I am certainly older than you, so you can call me Brother Qin from now on. Please remember tomorrow’s apprenticeship ceremony, Junior Sister. If you have any questions about the Wuji Sect, feel free to ask me, and I’ll answer whatever I know."
Qin Shaofeng intended to get close, and Tan Shuangshuang willingly cooperated. The subsequent conversation went smoothly, and Qin Shaofeng was very satisfied when he left. He was here because he favored Tan Shuangshuang greatly, wanting to establish closeness, and his goal was achieved satisfactorily.
After seeing Qin Shaofeng off, Tan Shuangshuang inevitably pondered the matter of her future master. She had heard of Ling Wuchen, who was known to be the most severe and least approachable among the major figures of each sect during cultivation in the Secret Realm over three years.
Early the next morning, Tan Shuangshuang rose, and upon stepping outside, she saw Qin Shaofeng leading a group of women over. Upon seeing Tan Shuangshuang, Qin Shaofeng smiled and said, "You’re up early, Junior Sister Shuangshuang. Today is a good day for you, and I’ve brought people to help dress you up."
Tan Shuangshuang was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, the group of women had already surrounded her in a flurry, leading her to bathe first and covering her body with some unknown substance, leaving her fragrant and fresh.
After the bath was makeup, where several women busied themselves with Tan Shuangshuang’s face, spending a long time. When Tan Shuangshuang looked in the mirror, she discovered her face had undergone a huge transformation, the makeup heavy but not vulgar, solemn instead.
Once her face was done, attention moved to her hair, which was styled in a high bun complementing the heavy makeup, enhancing the dignity. After her makeup and hair were done, Tan Shuangshuang put on an intricate deep red base robe embroidered with golden silk and silver thread.
Once Tan Shuangshuang was fully dressed, she exuded an aura of gravitas brought about by her attire and makeup. Tan Shuangshuang stood up, lifted her chin, and with a serious face, unconsciously emitted a cool and intimidating aura, making her akin to a sword drawn from its sheath due to the clothing and makeup.
After dressing up, Qin Shaofeng led Tan Shuangshuang to board the sect’s majestic phoenix with rainbow tail feathers, quickly reaching the main hall at the summit of the Wuji Sect’s chief peak, a place dedicated to holding important ceremonies.
The great hall’s doors were still tightly shut, not yet opened. Qin Shaofeng led Tan Shuangshuang to land at the entrance, where two other elaborately dressed young disciples awaited, likely candidates from the assessment who performed outstandingly and were about to become Direct Disciple of the Inner Sect.
Qin Shaofeng arranged the three of them to stand together, waiting for the apprenticeship ceremony to commence. They did not wait long before the heavy and solemn sound of music accompanied the great hall’s doors as they opened automatically to either side.
The hall was large, floored with whole slabs of white jade and the four walls pristine, exuding solemnity. Significant high-ranking members of the Wuji Sect had gathered, showing the importance placed on this apprenticeship ceremony for the direct disciples. Tan Shuangshuang glanced around, recognizing only Wei Tianxiao and Si Kaojing among the unknown faces.
Qin Shaofeng led the way in front, with Tan Shuangshuang and the other two direct disciples following behind him, heads lifted, faces serious, step by step entering the grand hall and stopping before Wei Tianxiao, the Sect Leader seated centrally.
Here, Qin Shaofeng stood to the side as Wei Tianxiao looked at the three of them, his expression extremely solemn as he said, "The three of you are the most outstanding disciples in this time’s sect selection assessment, soon to become direct disciples of our Wuji Sect. You must always prioritize the interests of the Wuji Sect, never betray the sect, avoid acts of cruelty, do not abuse your cultivation for evil, and do not endure unnecessary suffering..."
Wei Tianxiao spoke for a full hour, and Tan Shuangshuang and the others almost nodded off. Fortunately, Wei Tianxiao’s speech ended, and the apprenticeship finally formally began.
The first to apprentice was Tan Shuangshuang. Wei Tianxiao rose, leaving the central seat before sitting to the side. Then, Tan Shuangshuang saw a man, handsome and masculine yet with a face full of seriousness and powerful aura, come to sit before her—this was Hall Master Ling Wuchen of Law Enforcement Hall.
Qin Shaofeng approached holding a tray with spiritual tea and a red jade token atop. Qin Shaofeng had previously told her that her role in the apprenticeship was simple, just offering tea.
Tan Shuangshuang lifted the spiritual tea, knelt before Ling Wuchen, and held the teacup high up to him. Ling Wuchen accepted the tea and drank it, and Tan Shuangshuang then kowtowed three times before standing under Ling Wuchen’s satisfied gaze.