CHAPTER 354
Borrowing Heaven
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Chu Youwei's attire always resembled that of a villainous overlord from a TV drama—clad entirely in black.
This uniquely cold and fierce aura was her trademark, deterring anyone from approaching her lightly.
"Master, you're awake."
"Hmm, Youwei, you're here too."
Su Cheng smacked his lips twice, stretched lazily, then patted Chu Youwei's shoulder.
"Master, can we kill those two?"
Chu Youwei had been waiting here for this very moment. Now that her Master had awakened, she needed his approval.
Her fierce eyes glared viciously at Su Muchan, who knelt before the table. Ye Qinghan couldn't be killed. Li Shiyao couldn't be killed. Dongfang Jue couldn't be killed!
This Su Muchan hadn't formally apprenticed herself, and Shangguan Rou was a member of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion!
Surely these two could be killed?
Su Muchan's eyes widened like copper bells. She wasn't deaf!
Su Muchan: You fucking bitch! Can't take the heat? What the hell did I ever do to you?
Who are you going to kill? She may be demonic, but she hasn't eaten anyone or done anything evil!
Haven't you heard the saying?
Foxes aren't demons, and beauty isn't lewdness!
Succubi aren't demons either! This is called seduction—it's her natural beauty!
Why does this world harbor such malice toward succubi?
Besides, if men didn't harbor ulterior motives, succubi couldn't do much, right?
Shangguan Rou: Did she just look at me? Am I on the death list too?
"Youwei, you did well. Consulting your master before taking a life—that's commendable!"
Su Cheng nodded, offering verbal praise for Chu Youwei's performance!
Chu Youwei smiled, finding her master rather endearing: "So Master, can you reward me with one more kill? You can keep Ye Qinghan for yourself, but how about rewarding me with that Dongfang Jue?"
Su Cheng scratched his head awkwardly: "Heh heh, Youwei, Lingxian Hall is still a reputable orthodox sect, wouldn't you agree?"
"Your disciple knows not what a reputable orthodox sect entails. Master need only state whether you consent. Your disciple shall prioritize your command above all else."
Chu Youwei was always like this—pressing forward relentlessly, yet her intensity differed from Cangjue's.
This wasn't nitpicking; Chu Youwei simply didn't want them to laugh anymore.
"Youwei, your master has his own plans."
Su Cheng dropped the banter too, for Chu Youwei's words left neither of them any room to back down.
Chu Youwei seldom acted this way, but Su Cheng understood her momentary lapse.
His gaze seemed like a promise, yet to Chu Youwei, it appeared somewhat laughable.
"Master, I will prove it to you. With me here, you need not rely on anyone else's strength. They are not worth your time."
"Only Yuwei. Yuwei will never leave you again. Even if it means dying once more, Yuwei is willing to accompany you."
Even if it meant dying again.
Ye Qinghan tightened his embrace around Li Shiyao, one hand clockwise rubbing her addictively soft belly, the other pinching Second Grandma's large breast, merely smiling.
"This junior sister—Qinghan accepts her."
Dongfang Jue stared in shock. Just a few pretty words, and he accepted her?
What about all her persistence over the years? Was it all just wishful thinking?
What?
Just because Chu Youwei and the Master were old acquaintances?
What gives?
"Senior Sister, Jue doesn't get it. What's so likable about that girl? She walks around with that sourpuss face like someone owes her money. Who even bothers with her!"
"And didn't you hear, Senior Sister? She just told Master she wants to kill Jue'er!"
Li Shiyao didn't mind her senior sister getting cozy with her. In her eyes, it didn't matter since they were all girls. The only thing that bothered her was why did the eldest senior sister always pick on her?
Why not spread the love around?
"Senior Sister, I don't dislike her either, but she just seems so hard to get along with~"
Ye Qinghan nodded. "Forced relationships never work out. Don't worry—as long as you don't provoke her, she won't cause trouble for you."
Li Shiyu nodded. That made perfect sense. She, who had always gotten along with everyone, was experiencing this kind of setback for the first time in her life!
That was in front of Chu Youwei. But she couldn't blame others—after all, expecting one trick to work everywhere was impossible.
Some people just wouldn't buy it.
"Miss Mu Chan, please rise."
Su Cheng waved his hand, signaling Su Muchan, who had been kneeling for a long time, to rise. Only then did Su Muchan tear her gaze away from Chu Youwei.
Su Muchan sensed something was amiss. What was this woman's deal?
Was he going to try to take advantage of her right off the bat?
As Su Muchan stood up, about to unleash a series of moves to test Su Cheng's sincerity, he interrupted her.
"Miss Mu Chan, you wish to become my disciple?"
Su Muchan thought: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah~ I don't want to become his disciple, I just genuinely enjoy kneeling~
"That's correct. I've always been alone and have long desired to join the Lingxian Hall."
As Su Muchan spoke, she noticed Su Cheng's distracted gaze drifting elsewhere!
Hey, buddy? I'm talking to you!
You're looking at another woman? What's wrong with me not being as pretty as her?
Following Su Cheng's gaze, Su Muchan saw none other than another familiar face!
She'd met this person in the Northern Realm—the legendary thief Meow Meow. She was called a thief because Su Muchan genuinely doubted anyone could steal anything from Su Cheng…
Then she saw Su Cheng suddenly light up like he'd spotted his own daughter, switching to a beaming smile as if he'd taken up soliciting customers!
"Hey? Miss Miaomiao, here to seek a master?"
Miaomiao still looked timid and shy, as if she were a bit afraid of strangers.
After all, those who could seek apprenticeship here were rarely ordinary folk—they were cultivators who had already embarked on the path to immortality.
For ordinary folk, just climbing the Spirit Mountain was challenge enough!
"Master Su, Miao Miao…" She hesitated, unable to muster the courage, and simply said, "I'm just curious. I came to look around."
【Huh? Just look? What's there to see? Does this kid even have friends on the Spirit Mountain? Impossible!】
【There are no good people on this mountain. Don't let her get led astray again!】
【I barely got her back on the right path. What if she gets lured away by those heretical cults again?】
"Well, it's fine to look. Ling Mountain differs from the immortal sects outside. This grand initiation ceremony offers cultivators everywhere an opportunity—all the sects of the Southern Realm will come to Ling Mountain today to recruit disciples."
Su Cheng briefly explained to Miaomiao that this ceremony wasn't the usual method for immortal sects to recruit disciples. Anyone who came could participate in the interviews.
While passing the interview wasn't guaranteed, it offered ordinary cultivators a chance to enter a sect. This spared them the need to wander endlessly and allowed those without innate talent to find a suitable sect based on their strengths.
For instance, those who didn't excel in martial arts competitions weren't necessarily without merit; they could choose paths like alchemy or talisman cultivation.
Beyond this, prodigies could also carefully select a suitable sect based on personal preferences or future aspirations.
Such flexibility would be unrealistic in the other three realms. Seeking a master there requires locating a celestial mountain, passing trials, and only then gaining an interview opportunity.
This requirement alone is enough to deter the vast majority of cultivators.
Simply put, the existence of the Apprenticeship Ceremony brings immortal sects down from their lofty pedestals. The strong can grow stronger, while the weak gain opportunities for advancement, preventing them from remaining perpetually disadvantaged.
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