Chapter 112: The Inner Disciple Selection, Part 2
…
The next morning, Mu Zhi’an left early and traveled to Two Polarities Peak with Wei Mengrou. He wrote a message on a paper crane and sent it into the peak. Soon, Lan Mulian arrived, riding a cloud.
She looked at him, noticing the safe distance he was maintaining from Wei Mengrou, a smile playing on her lips. “You’re early.”
“Come in. I’ve prepared tea.”
She led them towards a pavilion on the back mountain.
“I heard the sect master resides here. Why haven’t I seen her?” he asked, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
“She left a few days ago. I don’t know where she went,” she replied.
He was disappointed. He had hoped to catch a glimpse of his pen pal.
They reached the pavilion, and Wei Mengrou excused herself, leaving them alone.
“Don’t mind her. She’s always like that,” he said, chuckling.
Lan Mulian nodded, pouring him a cup of tea.
“I heard the peak lord of Boundless Sea Peak visited you yesterday,” she said, her voice clear and cold, getting straight to the point.
He nodded. “Senior Ling Long took his Eight Treasures Cranes. He was concerned.”
“Just because of one crane…?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yi Hao wasn’t that petty.
“She took all of them,” he admitted.
All of them. Her eyes widened with surprise. No wonder he had gone to the Jade Glass Palace. One crane was one thing, but all of them, it was a significant loss.
She sipped her tea, then noticed his gaze upon her, as if hoping she would remove her veil.
She smiled faintly, setting down her cup. “You said Senior Ling Long was seeking you. Why?”
Why are you teasing me? He was disappointed, but he masked his emotions, taking a sip of tea. “Do you remember my destiny from the test?”
She was intelligent. She understood immediately. “She’s interested in your destiny. Perhaps she even knows what it means?”
As expected of Senior Sister. She’s so sharp. He nodded. “You’re right. She summoned me because of my destiny. She even granted me an inheritance in her realm.”
He retrieved two tablets from his storage ring.
“Tablets containing Ling Long’s destiny…?” she asked, her voice laced with surprise.
He nodded. “If you need one, Senior Sister, you can have it.”
She shook her head. “Ling Long’s destiny is precious, but it’s useless to me.”
Useless. That meant she already possessed immense destiny. He understood.
He suddenly felt a cold gaze upon him, and he looked up to see her smiling, her voice laced with amusement. “You’re quite clever, Mu Zhi’an, trying to extract information.”
Her voice was sweet, her smile gentle, but her eyes were cold.
He bowed respectfully. “I was simply trying to help you, Senior Sister.”
“And then you’ll give one to Ye Lingxuan, one to Ye Qian, and one to your little lover?”
Her voice turned cold, her words sharp.
“Just like you did with the snow lotuses.”
He flinched. She hadn’t mentioned the snow lotuses, but she clearly cared.
He sighed. “Senior Sister, Miss Bai, she was already insecure after her family’s troubles in Tianxuan City. And after Ye Yu accused her of being a demonic cultivator, she became even more vulnerable.”
“If I hadn’t chosen her, I was worried.”
He set down his teacup, shaking his head. “It’s fine. I know it’s just an excuse. I’m grateful that you’re even seeing me.”
He looked up at her, his voice filled with mock despair. “I was wrong about the snow lotuses, Senior Sister. You can scold me, punish me. I’ll accept it. But please, don’t abandon me.”
He retrieved dozens of paper cranes from his storage ring, his gaze downcast, his voice soft. “I still want to exchange letters with you.”
Silence.
He kept his head bowed. She was too intelligent. Even his most heartfelt performance couldn’t completely sway her. She remained skeptical.
She studied him, a smile playing on her lips. “You’re quite the charmer, Mu Zhi’an.”
“I’m being sincere, Senior Sister,” he insisted.
After a moment of silence, she said, “Put those cranes away. If my master sees them…”
He relaxed, his heart easing. Her words meant she was temporarily dropping the matter of the snow lotuses. It didn’t mean she had forgiven him, but at least he could continue to pursue her.
“Is the peak lord of Boundless Sea Peak skilled in formations?” he asked, changing the subject.
She frowned, pondering his question. “He’s more skilled in talismans than formations.”
“Why do you ask?”
“I managed to comprehend a small portion of the formation in the Trial Forest, but there are some things I don’t understand,” he replied.
She hesitated, then said, “If you’re interested in formations, you could ask Master Yan at the library. She’s knowledgeable about the ancient texts. She might be able to help you.”
She paused, then added, “Or if you join Boundless Sea Peak, you could ask his master.”
He looked at her, confused. “He has a master?”
She nodded. “His master is the founding peak lord of Boundless Sea Peak. His power is immense. He’s been in seclusion for many years, leaving the peak in Yi Hao’s care.”
A thought flashed in his mind.
Demon Realm traitor.
The formation in the Trial Forest had clearly been created by a demonic cultivator. That was why he, with the Demon Realm Empress’s mark, had been able to comprehend it. He had initially suspected Yi Hao, but now, his master seemed more likely. After all, according to Lan Mulian, Yi Hao wasn’t skilled in formations.
“But to meet his master, you’ll need to become an inner disciple,” she said, her voice pulling him back to the present.
She sipped her tea, looking at him, a smile playing on her lips. “Focus on the inner disciple selection in four days.”
“The sect master will be there as well,” she added.
The sect master will be there? So I’ll finally meet my pen pal? He finished his tea, his thoughts elsewhere, then continued chatting with Lan Mulian until, half an hour later, he excused himself.
…
He spent the next four days cultivating in Bai Ruoxi’s room, not venturing out. The day of the inner disciple selection arrived.
The nine peak lords, thirteen elders, twenty-six vice peak lords, and the pavilion masters gathered on a platform in the Pilgrimage Palace. Their combined strength was unmatched in the Eastern Realm, even in the entire cultivation world.
Thousands of disciples stood in the square below, their gazes fixed on the figures on the platform, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.
The opening ceremony began!
