CHAPTER 1
Becoming a Disciple
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"If you agree to take me as your direct disciple, I'll save your life. What do you say?"
"Are you out of your mind?"
Su Cheng hung precariously from the cliff, one hand clutching the rock face, staring up at Ye Chenmeng who sat above him, grinning like a fool.
"You refuse? Then Chenmeng can't help it. We're not related—why should I save you?"
"Miss, please hear me out! I only founded this sect to scrape by on the sect's subsidies—I never intended to take disciples. I don't even have cultivation!"
Su Cheng was speechless. He'd only been in this world for a few days, and already he'd managed to provoke this formidable figure?
[Hey, you're heaven's chosen one, destined for greatness—the future Demon Clan Empress! You should join the protagonist's crew, feast by day, and indulge shamelessly by night. Why torment me?]
"Miss, I truly can't hold on much longer! How about I recommend a sect for you? You know Cheng Liang, right? Even the rules of Heaven's Way can't touch him. If you become his disciple, you're bound for greatness!"
Ye Chenmeng wasn't falling for that. She wasn't stupid!
She'd overheard every word of Su Cheng's inner monologue just now. And she'd been hearing this kind of talk for days!
She knew Su Cheng possessed countless treasures—all top-tier immortal-grade artifacts, even legendary先天至宝 (Xiantian treasures) that only existed in myths!
The only problem was that Su Cheng lacked cultivation, rendering them useless!
Knowing this, how could Ye Chenmeng let him off? A mere little scheme had landed Su Cheng in his current predicament.
Su Cheng had no disciples, no children—if she became his disciple, wouldn't all those treasures be hers?
"I don't want any damn Cheng Liang! I demand to become your disciple and be the Lingxian Hall's First Disciple." Ye Chenmeng showed no panic. She knew Su Cheng would inevitably give in.
【Has this lady lost her mind? Does she want to destroy me? If she joins my sect, it'll look like she was coerced! Won't the entire world come hunting me down then?】
【I just want that sect subsidy—why is it so damn hard?】
Even if both paths lead to death, at least I can't die now! When you're under someone else's roof, you just have to endure!
"Lady, can I agree to you? Just pull me up first."
"Really?" Ye Chenmeng's beautiful eyes sparkled with delight. She grabbed Su Cheng's wrist like it was nothing—as easy as snatching a little chick—and pulled him up effortlessly.
【Heh, you think I'm stupid? Tomorrow's disciple-acceptance ceremony—if I don't give my approval, see how you'll manage!】
Su Cheng nodded, smiling as he waved goodbye to Ye Chenmeng.
"Alright, Master. See you tomorrow!" Ye Chenmeng narrowed her fox-like eyes, her mind already made up.
The next day, the discipleship ceremony.
All the sects gathered on Spirit Mountain to recruit new disciples, and Su Cheng was no exception. Since he intended to claim the sect's subsidy, participating in group activities was non-negotiable.
Su Cheng didn't want to slack off like this either, but what choice did he have after being reincarnated as the antagonist in a cultivation world?
To survive, he had to avoid the male lead at all costs, playing the good Samaritan! He couldn't give the male lead or his harem any chance to kill him!
After all, this was the cultivation world. The male lead's harem members were essentially all Heaven's Chosen Ones—people Su Cheng couldn't afford to provoke.
Countless prodigies gathered upon the Execution Platform, each standing tall and proud, dreaming of joining a mighty sect to master immortal arts and attain eternal life.
Cheng Liang descended from the heavens on his sword, landing precisely before the grand armchair reserved for him.
"Su Cheng? You're here to recruit disciples too?"
Cheng Liang's eyes sparkled with mockery, his words dripping with sarcasm. How could anyone possibly seek Su Cheng as a master when he possessed no cultivation?
"Ah, just browsing around, looking for promising talent." Su Cheng adopted an air of aloofness, standing with his hands behind his back as he surveyed the countless prodigies gathered on the Execution Platform.
"There are quite a few promising talents this year. Which one has caught Brother Su's eye?"
Cheng Liang adopted a look of anticipation, certain Su Cheng would fail to recruit a single disciple today, just as he had every year.
"Let me look around some more." His gaze drifted uncertainly, feigning hesitation—a tactic designed to give the male lead ample emotional satisfaction. Su Cheng felt he understood men all too well.
Su Cheng had the protagonist's little thoughts completely figured out.
"See that one in the white dress? Her name is Ye Chenmeng. She possesses the bloodline of the Fox Demon King and a natural allure. With proper guidance, she'll surely become a great talent in the future."
Ye Chenmeng stood in the front row, not hard to spot. Cheng Liang leaned against Su Cheng's shoulder, his face flushed as he spoke with relish.
【Hmph, I could tell what kind of nonsense you were about to spout just by the way you puffed yourself up!】
"Brother Cheng speaks wisely. This maiden finding you is like a bird finding a perch, a loyal minister finding a master. Her future is limitless."
Cheng Liang roared with laughter. Su Cheng's words were music to his ears—he was thoroughly pleased!
"So, you don't like her?"
【How could I possibly like her? If I did, wouldn't you kill me? Who wouldn't like this treasure?】
"I don't like her. I still want to take on a male disciple. Female disciples are too delicate—they're out of the question."
Su Cheng sat in the grand armchair, speaking with utmost seriousness, unaware that every thought in his mind was being heard crystal clear by Ye Chenmeng.
Ye Chenmeng's lips curved slightly. Like her? Just as expected~
Soon, the disciple-accepting ceremony commenced.
Nearly every sect was packed to the brim, with Cheng Liang’s side teetering on the edge of a stampede. Only Su Cheng’s area stood desolate and empty, like that of a lonely old man.
Where other sects had two-meter-high platforms, Su Cheng had only a small wooden table—barely as spacious as a street food stall. Slumped there in a lazy posture, he resembled a fortune-teller.
He couldn't even be bothered to hang a banner. A plain white paper with the characters [Lingxian Hall] written on it sat on the table. He leaned on it and started dozing off.
Su Cheng was utterly exhausted. He'd spent the entire previous night studying the Frostblade Sword Art. Though he lacked cultivation, he refused to accept his limitations!
[Why does this enhanced version of the Ling Frost Sword, a先天至宝 (innate treasure), feel like nothing more than a fire poker in my hands?]
The cultivation technique was sound, the sword manual flawless, and the Frostblade itself was as genuine as could be. Why couldn't he see the sword qi? Why couldn't he sense the essence of the Frostblade?
Ye Chenmeng eavesdropped from afar. A先天至宝? An enhanced version?!
Was it the sword on his body?
Su Cheng wore a coarse gray robe. Compared to the other sect leaders' ethereal, scholarly demeanor, he resembled more of an academy teacher.
A three-foot-long sword hung at his waist—a dull, black blade with a rough scabbard. The white rope wrapped around the hilt had yellowed with age, though the jade pendant hanging from it seemed somewhat valuable.
Better leave this junk for the master. Probably just for show anyway.
Ye Chenmeng had observed Su Cheng for several days and had gained some understanding of him.
She suspected Su Cheng had a habit of hiding any treasures he possessed. That Ling Shuang Sword was most likely stashed away by Su Cheng to prevent others from coveting it!
Heh, a reinforced version of a先天至宝? Master even called him "precious treasure"—surely he wouldn't be stingy about a sword?
"Young lady, the initiation ceremony has begun. Are you hesitating over which sect to join?"
An elder with an ethereal, otherworldly demeanor approached with measured steps. He was the Second Elder of Cheng Liang's Daoist Pavilion, a figure of extraordinary power. For an ordinary disciple to even speak with him was a tremendous stroke of luck.
While Cheng Liang himself wouldn't personally attend the initiation ceremony, having the Second Elder extend the invitation was already a tremendous honor.
However, Ye Chenmeng's innate talent absolutely warranted such treatment.
Even if nothing else, that innate, nation-ruining, people-plaguing charm alone was reason enough for Cheng Liang to never let her slip away.
"Thank you for your kindness, Elder. Chenmeng already has someone in mind."
"May I ask who that master is?" The Second Elder showed no urgency to reveal his own affiliation. It was obvious that as long as this woman wasn't foolish, she would inevitably choose the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
Ye Chenmeng paid him no mind, striding directly to Su Cheng's small table. She knelt down properly, not uttering a word.
The Second Elder watched this scene, his face going numb…
Cheng Liang, watching from afar, had his conversation with a female disciple cut short as his face darkened…
"Young lady, you wish to apprentice at Lingxian Hall?" The Second Elder's face was etched with utter disbelief. Even if Ye Chenmeng prided herself on her lofty principles and refused to apprentice at the Tian Dao Pavilion, that would be one thing!
But with so many options available, why did she single out Su Cheng, that good-for-nothing?
Ye Chenmeng ignored him, remaining kneeling in silence. She knew Su Cheng hadn't fallen asleep.
She also knew that she absolutely had to take Su Cheng as her master. From the moment she knelt, there was no turning back.
To back out now would make her a disgrace, despised wherever she went.
【Second Elder, say something! Elder, look at her!】
【Cheng Liang, hurry over! Your harem is about to take me as her master! Take her away!】
"Young lady, the Lingxian Hall master is so rude. In my opinion, you'd be better off joining another sect. It wouldn't waste your extraordinary talent."
Ye Chenmeng couldn't care less about that now. Su Cheng might not be the best person, but at least he didn't have any annoying pests around him, allowing her to cultivate in peace.
As a descendant of the Fox Demon Royal Lineage, how could I stoop so low as to become someone's harem concubine or plaything? That man's gaze alone was sickening!
Ye Chenmeng remained silent, kneeling obediently, waiting for Su Cheng to speak.
Before she knew it, a crowd had gathered around her, all urging Ye Chenmeng to "reform her ways."
Suddenly, the crowd parted to make way for Cheng Liang, the head of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
Gone was the playful demeanor he'd shared with Su Cheng moments before; Cheng Liang now wore a completely different expression.
With hands clasped behind his back, Cheng Liang stepped beside Ye Chenmeng and declared, "Young lady, cease your futile efforts. One cannot rouse a feigned sleeper. This Master Su possesses no cultivation, so naturally he won't take you as a disciple."
【Finally, bro! My arm's going numb. All this time, I've been playing dead—couldn't even shift my position!】
【Well said! Wake her up! Shatter her unrealistic dreams with reality!】
【Tell him it's impossible between us!】
The onlookers joined in the commotion, shouting in protest as if they too were wronged, each adding their own voice to the chorus.
"Yeah, yeah! Everyone knows the Lingxian Hall Master is just a useless废物 with no cultivation!"
"A prodigal son returning to the right path!"
"Master Cheng is offering such kind words—he's already shown you immense favor!"
Seeing Ye Chenmeng still unmoved, Cheng Liang decided to pull out his trump card.
"I cannot bear to see your innate talent go to waste. I wish to take you as my disciple and impart Heaven-tier cultivation techniques to you. What say you?"
【Exactly! You shouldn't put on airs. That's the right approach! A dragon among men like you deserves a beauty like her by your side! Take her away! I'm not done living yet!】
Ye Chenmeng was growing irritated, but she feared giving Su Cheng any grounds to exploit. Was this fellow scheming to reject her? How could she dare disturb Su Cheng's sleep?
"Chenmeng resolves to become Master Su's disciple, dedicating her life to serving by your side. I thank you for your kindness, Master Cheng."
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