Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Choose Me?
***
“Hmm? Little punching bag?”
The red-haired girl who had been waiting somewhat impatiently looked at the familiar figure walking from the distance, her eyes immediately widening.
Lin Muyu followed Su Wanqing to a spacious area filled with disciples who had just passed the trial and were sitting cross-legged to rest.
She followed Su Wanqing’s instructions and walked into the crowd.
Suddenly, she felt her shoulder being tapped.
Turning around curiously, she saw a familiar red-haired girl looking at her with interest.
“Not bad, little punching bag actually made it up here.”
Lin Muyu, who had just been mistreated by Su Wanqing, immediately flared up, pouting and speaking with slight fierceness.
“Don’t call me punching bag! I have a name, it’s Lin Muyu!”
But the red-haired girl didn’t get angry at all. Instead, she extended her hand with a smile:
“Lin Muyu? Good name! I’m Luo Chenxi, nice to meet you.”
Seeing Luo Chenxi’s good attitude and following the principle of not hitting someone who’s smiling, Lin Muyu placed her hand on top.
“I’m Lin Muyu, very unhappy to meet you!”
“Pfft.”
Hearing this, Luo Chenxi, who had been relatively calm, burst out laughing and couldn’t help but apply force with her hand.
Lin Muyu immediately felt her hand being squeezed hard, saying somewhat painfully: “Hey! What are you doing?!”
She really felt that the red-haired girl in front of her had no sense of boundaries at all.
“Sorry, bullying you is really fun.” Luo Chenxi released Lin Muyu’s hand and suddenly said seriously.
Lin Muyu glared at Luo Chenxi, rubbing her slightly reddened hand and muttering quietly:
“Seriously, is my body too weak? Why does this person have such strength?”
After saying this, she turned her head away, no longer paying attention to this annoying person.
“Time is up. Congratulations, a total of 985 people have become disciples of our sect this time.”
An elderly voice echoed in everyone’s ears, congratulating them.
A golden light flashed, and the Crane-riding Elder appeared before everyone again on his immortal crane.
“Remember, you are currently only trial disciples. Those who fail to reach the 3rd stage of Qi Refining within one year of cultivation will be eliminated from the mountain, and after 4 years, there will be a sect competition among peers.”
“The top 211 will enter the inner sect and enjoy more resources. Those ranked beyond 211 will be outer sect disciples and may choose to stay or leave.”
The elder’s words made everyone’s expressions turn serious. They had thought that passing the difficult trial meant they had entered the sect.
They didn’t expect the real trials were still ahead.
Reaching the 3rd stage of Qi Refining within one year wasn’t particularly difficult for those who had passed the trial.
The purpose was mainly to eliminate those who passed through underhanded methods or relied solely on physical strength, but actually lacked proper talent.
The subsequent sect competition among peers was the real focus, inner sect disciples were the sect’s true core disciples.
If they couldn’t become one of the top 211 inner sect disciples and instead became outer sect disciples, they would likely only be able to do odd jobs in the future. Their cultivation path would stop at Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage, having no connection to true cultivation.
“However.”
Just as the new disciples were feeling somewhat anxious, Elder Feng’s tone shifted.
“Those among you with exceptional talent will be taken as disciples by interested Elders in advance.”
As he spoke, dozens of golden lights suddenly flickered in the sky, flying above the new disciples amid their amazement, looking down at everyone.
Leading them was a robust middle-aged man who looked kind and amiable. He smiled warmly:
“Welcome to Qinglan Sect. I am the sect master of Qinglan Sect, Fuyun. Next will be the disciple selection ceremony.”
Master Fuyun kindly introduced the immortals who had come to select disciples to those below. They were either Peak Masters or Elders.
Black Mole Elder and Sword Elder were also among them.
“Then please everyone begin…”
Just as Master Fuyun was about to announce the start, a light and ethereal voice interrupted him.
“Wait, this master also wants to select disciples~”
The newcomer was a tall, blue-haired fairy wearing a plain white Daoist robe with a wine gourd hanging at her waist.
“?”
Master Fuyun looked at this figure, and his originally kind expression instantly changed, his face stiffening.
The Elders also changed their expressions and stepped back in unison, as if afraid of something.
“Xiao Lian, what are you here for?”
Master Fuyun immediately changed his expression, his face actually showing some flattery.
“Senior Brother, are you deaf? I’m here to select disciples.”
Xinlian’s tone was completely impolite, seeming not to regard Master Fuyun, the sect master, with any respect. Instead, she casually picked up her gourd and took another sip of wine.
“Is that so? That’s quite rare indeed.”
Fuyun didn’t mind Xinlian’s attitude at all. Although he was the sect master, he couldn’t control this young lady!
Among the Elders present, except for those few who had only joined the sect for a few hundred years, who hadn’t been beaten by her?
Her reputation had long resounded throughout the Qinglan Sect.
“Ahem, this is Fairy Xinlian from our Jade Lotus Peak, whose strength is extremely formidable.”
Master Fuyun awkwardly introduced her to the people below, deliberately emphasizing the word “extremely.”
The new disciples below were all stunned seeing this scene. They hadn’t expected that even the sect master didn’t dare offend this Fairy Xinlian.
“Then let the disciple selection ceremony begin.”
Master Fuyun then officially announced the start of the disciple selection ceremony.
“Xinlian, would you like to choose first?”
He figured his junior sister must have someone in mind, just like 4 years ago when she took Su Wanqing from someone else.
Otherwise, why would she come to select disciples?
He had thought last time was an accident, but unexpectedly she came to select disciples again this time.
“No need, you all choose first.” Xinlian calmly refused, drinking her wine on the side.
This behavior surprised Master Fuyun greatly. He hadn’t expected his junior sister to give the first selection opportunity to others.
Was the sun rising from the west?
“Alright then, Zhuoyan, you go first.”
The first to step forward was a serious-faced girl whose pink hair tips seemed to be burning with dazzling flames.
“This master is Zhuoyan, Peak Master of Fierce Fire Peak. Number one, are you willing to become this master’s disciple?”
Number one naturally referred to Luo Chenxi, who was the first person to enter the sect.
But she glanced at Fairy Xinlian.
After seeing that scene just now, she understood that Xinlian might be the strongest person here, and becoming her disciple might be the best choice.
But Xinlian wasn’t paying attention to her, still drinking her wine.
So she could only kneel halfway down: “This disciple is willing.”
Many of the disciples selected afterward would subconsciously glance at Xinlian, but she continued drinking her wine, paying no attention to others.
“Are you willing to become this old man’s disciple?”
Finally, Sword Elder spoke to the dark-skinned burly man.
“This disciple is willing!”
They were both the type who cultivated body strengthening, so they hit it off.
“Your turn, Xiao Lian.”
Master Fuyun saw that everyone had finished selecting, so he spoke to Xinlian.
At this moment, Lin Muyu was sitting comfortably in the crowd. She didn’t think someone like her who ranked last would be selected.
She was still sitting there resting leisurely.
But suddenly, the disciples in front all consciously made way, exposing her.
She could only see what seemed to be a light blue, gorgeous figure pointing at her, red lips slightly parted.
“I choose… her!”
Lin Muyu quickly looked around and found no one nearby. She pointed at herself somewhat incredulously.
“Choose me?”