CHAPTER 13

— The Seventh Disciple —

The weather was splendid, the spring sun radiant—truly one of the rare auspicious days of the year!

—What's that? You ask what "auspicious days" have to do with good weather? Well, the connection is quite significant...

'Ahem,' Ding Ding cleared his throat and slapped the back of the head of the young disciple in cyan robes behind him, who was staring with wide, innocent eyes, eagerly awaiting an answer. He sternly reprimanded, "If Master says it is, then it is! Why so many questions? You're not a 'walking encyclopedia!'!"

Under Ding Ding's fierce glare, the young disciple in cyan robes reluctantly turned away, swallowing the question that had just reached his lips: "What's a 'walking encyclopedia'?"

Having silenced the chattering disciple—Ding Ding believed the word "bu1ly" shouldn't apply to the situation earlier; "educate" was far more accurate!—Yes, he was simply acting as a Senior Brother, teaching his Junior the essence of respecting one's teacher and not overthinking things. It certainly wasn't because he didn't know the answer and couldn't be bothered to respond!

Shifting his gaze back, he swept it over the dense crowds on either side, the banners fluttering in the wind, the imposing high platform... until it settled on the elegantly smiling woman seated in the armchair at the end of the red carpet. The impatience on his face melted into an appreciative smile—his beautiful master was as poised and graceful as ever!

Glancing at the figure in black robes standing slightly behind the Sect Leader, Ding Ding couldn't help but roll his eyes—'this Big Iceberg, clutching his sword with a cold expression, looked just like a gangster's enforcer! Dressing as if heading to a funeral every single day—what's the deal with that? Doesn't he know it ruins the ethereal aura of our beautiful master?'

With a huff, he turned his gaze away, finally landing it on the person of the moment.

Today's Tong Tong seemed quite extraordinary.

Her long hair was meticulously tied up, lending a touch of maturity to her doll-like face. The pristine white brocade robe, spotless and immaculate, added an ethereal quality to her presence. Her serious expression was remarkably similar to Su Yan's on the stage, leaving Ding Ding momentarily stunned.

Yet, at this very moment, as Tong Tong knelt on the high platform before the crowd, listening to the prayers, her heart was far from as calm as her outward appearance suggested.

She couldn't understand how, in just a few short months, she had risen from an ordinary cyan-robed disciple to become a white-robed personal disciple under the Sect Leader. Even more astonishingly, due to someone's "misleading words," she had directly been appointed as the Seventh direct lineage disciple—and now, this grand, attention-grabbing apprenticeship ceremony, akin to a superstar's concert, was being held in her honor.

Three months ago, Su Yan, at Ding Ding's request, had taken her to the Sword Tomb to find a sword. After much deliberation, she hadn't managed to obtain the coveted Fishbone Sword but had instead, by a twist of fate, drawn the seemingly elegant yet deceptive Biling Sword—or so she thought.

Unexpectedly, that "Biling Sword," though delicate in appearance, was fierce and formidable. The bl0od-binding ritual nearly drained her dry!

Fortunately, the resourceful Senior Brother Su Yan fed her a miraculous Huanzhu Pill, capable of curing all ailments, just as she fainted from excessive bl0od loss. He also used his true essence to guide her energy, sparing her from the consequences of severe qi and bl0od depletion that would have required bed rest.

Later, misfortune turned into blessing. Following his guidance, she gained insight into the flow of true qi, faintly opened her acupoints, and showed signs of drawing qi into her body.

In the days that followed, under Yuan Qiongshuang's relentless pressure, she practiced meditation day and night without rest. Astonishingly, within just three months, she successfully broke through the barriers and reached the Qi Refining stage!

Roughly calculated, Tong Tong—a so-called "cultivation waste" with a three-element spiritual root—had taken less than five months to reach the Qi Refining stage, rivaling even those exceptionally talented potential disciples. How could this not make people look at her with newfound respect?

Aside from Yuan Qiongshuang, who had helped her cleanse her meridians and aided her progress, no one would have expected this—not even Tong Tong herself.

When Ding Ding rushed into the Jiuhan Palace with an expression of shared pride and excitement to report to Ye Zhiqiu, even the usually composed Sect Leader Ye couldn't help but sit up straight in surprise, carefully inquiring about the details.

Who would have thought that on a whim, agreeing to Ding Ding's request, that seemingly ordinary little girl had actually accomplished it!

Ye Zhiqiu suddenly grew interested in her and turned to ask Su Yan, who had been silently standing beside her, "Yan'er, what do you think of that little one?"

"..." Su Yan hid a trace of helplessness at the corner of her mouth behind a sip of tea, averting her eyes without answering.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled gently, as if accustomed to her beloved disciple's aloofness. Even more intrigued by her rare display of awkwardness, she turned to Ding Ding with a playful smile and said, "It seems Yan'er quite likes that little one."

"He absolutely adores her!" Ding Ding, sensing the teasing glint in her eyes, eagerly exaggerated in agreement.

With the beautiful master backing him up, this young master wasn't afraid at all! At worst, he could hide with his dear senior sister, hehehe... His mind buzzed with clever calculations as Ding Ding puffed out his chest and raised his head, trying his best to ignore the sudden chill running down his back, though he dared not meet Su Yan's gaze.

"Since that is the case, I shall take her as my final disciple." With a playful wink at Su Yan, who was struggling to maintain a cold expression but whose eyes betrayed a hint of evasion, Ye Zhiqiu shed her dignified and graceful demeanor, revealing the liveliness she only showed in front of her disciples.

"..." Su Yan pressed her lips together, still unwilling to speak—the more she explained, the more flustered she became. This occasionally mischievous master would only grow more pleased with herself, so it was better to remain silent. After all, for that silly girl, this should be good news.

Thus, with Ding Ding's urging and Su Yan's tacit consent, Sect Leader Ye waved her sleeve, finalizing the selection of the seventh disciple of Qiuye and setting the stage for the upheaval that would later sweep through Chonghua—though none of the protagonists at the time could foresee it.

Something that, before her transmigration, she would have dismissed as a daydream caused by lack of sleep the night before, now unfolded naturally after crossing worlds, and the person involved had no right to refuse—of course, only a fool would say no!

She had latched onto the thigh of Chonghua's number one authority! What a prestigious thing that is!

The ambitionless young girl Tong Tong, wearing a face that the clueless onlookers below mistook for that of a well-mannered and educated young lady, inwardly cackled with glee as she envisioned a future of running amok in Chonghua, blissfully unaware that her peaceful days were waving goodbye.

"The auspicious hour has arrived—worship Heaven and Earth!" The old man standing by the edge of the ten-zhang-high [roughly 3.33 meters (or about 11 feet)] platform, serving as the master of ceremonies, possessed a sharp, high-pitched voice that starkly contrasted with his appearance—Tong Tong privately suspected it was this voice, rivaling that of the eunuch Li Lianying, that earned him the privilege of presiding over Chonghua's various ceremonies. The big boss must favor this kind of voice that could scare the living and startle the dead to command the scene—isn't that how it's always portrayed on TV!

Dressed in a light apricot-colored robe, the Chonghua Sect Leader , Ye Zhiqiu, moved with graceful poise to the prepared altar, lit a stick of incense, closed her beautiful eyes, silently recited a few words, and respectfully bowed before inserting the incense into the burner.

Tong Tong was staring mesmerized at that elegant back—'Young Master Ding was right, Master is truly a beauty! So beautiful and full of grace! And soon, she'll be my beautiful Master too, ohohoho...'

Suddenly, her mind jolted as if someone had sent a voice transmission, snapping her back to reality. She heard a voice as cold as jade, tinged with helplessness, say, "Don't just stand there—go offer the incense."

That voice—wasn't it Su Yan's?

"Oh, right!" With a start, she saw Ye Zhiqiu had already stepped aside, turning to gaze at her with a smile—and here she was, daydreaming in front of everyone. How embarrassing...

Her face flushed crimson, but Tong Tong maintained a solemn expression, stepping forward humbly and slowly, imitating Ye Zhiqiu's actions to burn incense and worship heaven.

"Heh, little one, don't be nervous." As she turned, she clearly heard a gentle, melodious voice softly chuckle.

Tong Tong widened her eyes in disbelief, staring blankly at Ye Zhiqiu's encouraging expression. The woman, backlit by the sun, seemed to radiate a sacred and warm glow, as if the strains of "Hallelujah" echoed in her ears, instantly soothing her anxiety.

Almost reverently, Tong Tong nodded, took a deep breath, and stood quietly by her side, as calm as still water, unlikely to ripple easily.

Seeing this, Ye Zhiqiu's eyes softened into gentle curves, and the corners of her lips lifted another two degrees, making her presence even more like a soothing spring breeze.

"The rite is complete! Offer the tea!" After a series of tedious rituals—worshipping heaven and earth, paying respects to the ancestral masters, and more—the most thrilling climax had finally arrived. Tong Tong, who had been dizzy from lighting incense, kowtowing, and reciting vows, burst into tears of excitement at the master of ceremonies' words—how hard had it been for her just to become a disciple!

With a flick of her robe, she knelt on the ground—grumbling inwardly about why no one had provided a cushion or something! White clothes get dirty so easily, and they're a pain to wash!—yet her face wore a humble, reverent expression. "Master, please accept your disciple's bow." Up close, her beautiful master was exceptionally well-preserved, with skin so delicate it seemed as smooth as a peeled egg, far more supple and radiant than her own sun-weathered, dried-up appearance. How enviable! She must remember to ask for her skincare secrets someday!

While her mind wandered, Ye Zhiqiu took the teacup she offered, took a small sip, and handed it to a disciple in cyan standing nearby. From her sleeve, she retrieved a purple Qiankun pouch and placed it gently in her hand, smiling warmly. "A gift from your master. I hope you'll like it."

Holding the obviously extraordinary Qiankun pouch, Tong Tong grinned from ear to ear, feeling that her beautiful master's status in her heart had now surpassed even that of a goddess.

With the apprenticeship ceremony concluded, Tong Tong officially became the seventh direct lineage disciple of the Qiuye Peak in the Chonghua Sect, and as the Sect Leader announced, she would also be the last disciple she would ever take.

Almost instantly, dartboards and voodoo dolls modeled after Tong Tong's youthful portrait became the hottest-selling items in the underground black market. She successfully dethroned Ding Ding, who had held the top spot for over twenty years, and was officially crowned the "Most Envied Person in the Chonghua Sect."

BACK | TABLE OF CONTENTS | NEXT