Chapter 89: Trust Not the Rumors

What’s more, this was a system mission.

It would be better to complete it quietly. There was no need to make a spectacle of it.

An Yue’er and Leng Qianxue understood at once.

“I’m sorry. I overstepped,” An Yue’er said guiltily. “A senior like you lives here in seclusion and does not wish to attract the world’s attention. I failed to think things through. My cultivation is still too shallow.”

Leng Qianxue, however, opened her mouth to ask Zhu Xiaoyuan, “Senior, may I ask what requirements you have for taking disciples?”

Zhu Xiaoyuan smiled faintly. “My disciples need meet no great number of conditions. When fate arrives, that is enough.”

Fate.

That word was mysterious beyond measure.

Though it had only been a casual remark from Senior Zhu, Leng Qianxue and An Yue’er knew very well that those words alone would cause countless geniuses to miss their chance with him.

Even Ye Qingchen, already an immortal, had still lacked the necessary fate.

“Rest assured, Senior. Since you have entrusted this matter to us, we will handle it properly,” An Yue’er said.

Zhu Xiaoyuan nodded. “Thank you.”

...

After leaving the small mountain village, An Yue’er and Leng Qianxue went straight to the Swift Extremity Holy Land.

Now, in order to protect the living beings of the Heavenly Martial Realm and resist the unknown enemy, many great figures had gathered there.

By the time they returned, Ziyang and Lingji had already been waiting. They quickly welcomed Leng Qianxue and An Yue’er inside.

“You have finally returned. May I ask what instructions Senior Zhu has given this time?” Holy Lord Ziyang asked at once.

An Yue’er said, “There are indeed instructions. When we went to see Senior Zhu this time, he must already have known that such a disaster would befall the Heavenly Martial Realm. In order to help us face it, he instructed us to do one thing.”

At once, Holy Lord Lingji and Holy Lord Ziyang both looked at her with utmost gravity and caution, waiting for her to continue.

“What is it? Please tell us quickly.”

An Yue’er looked into everyone’s eyes and said, “Senior says he intends to take disciples.”

Take disciples!

Those three brief words struck Lingji and Ziyang like something utterly unbelievable.

“I never imagined Senior would actually take disciples! How many people would scramble to go! Even Fairy Ye Qingchen was rejected by Senior Zhu!”

Holy Lord Lingji could scarcely believe what he had heard.

“This is no simple matter of taking disciples. None of us knows what Senior Zhu intends by this move. It may well play an extremely important role in the future!”

“And I still dare not imagine just how far Senior Zhu’s disciples might go one day. At the very least, they would have to become immortals.”

Everyone wore a different expression, but one thing was clear: anyone who could follow Senior Zhu would surely have boundless prospects.

Holy Lord Lingji was even somewhat excited. “Did Senior mention any requirements for becoming his disciple?”

This was such a rare opportunity that, if possible, he himself wanted to kneel and ask to become Zhu Xiaoyuan’s disciple.

Holy Lord Ziyang was even more direct. “Misses, may I ask... at our age, do we still have a chance?”

Both of them were already at the quasi-immortal level. They also each presided over a holy land. Yet now they stared at Leng Qianxue and An Yue’er with eyes full of anticipation.

The two women exchanged a glance. In that instant, they fully understood just what kind of upheaval the news of Senior Zhu taking disciples would cause if it spread.

With two great holy lords waiting eagerly before them, An Yue’er and Leng Qianxue suddenly did not know what to say.

Even the holy lords wanted to become disciples.

“The two of you...” An Yue’er said, “Senior Zhu said he has no special requirements for disciples. As long as fate arrives, that is enough.”

Then she added, “However... the two of you are the representatives of the Southern Barbarians, figures on the level of holy lords. Wouldn’t it be somewhat... inappropriate...”

The more she spoke, the softer her voice became.

At that moment, what was there left for the two holy lords not to understand?

They had no chance.

Even Immortal Ye Qingchen had failed to obtain the place of Senior Zhu’s disciple, much less them.

And yet those obscure nobodies, Ruofeng and Huanyue, had been fortunate enough to gain such an opportunity.

“Senior Zhu also gave one more instruction,” Leng Qianxue said. “His taking disciples is not to be publicized.”

Holy Lord Ziyang and Holy Lord Lingji both nodded.

“Then we can only inform the various holy lords,” Holy Lord Lingji said.

“Since Senior has decided to take disciples, he naturally will not choose mediocrities. We might as well let the outstanding talents of each sect try their luck.”

Ziyang nodded. “Let us not make too much of it. Otherwise, if the other sects become curious, we may disturb Senior’s quiet cultivation.”

“In that case, let us simply release a few hints. If someone can seize the opportunity, perhaps that person is the one destined for it.”

The others all nodded in agreement.

...

“Hey, have you heard? A hidden master in the Southern Ridge Mountains wants to take disciples!”

“What Southern Ridge Mountains? What hidden master?”

“Don’t listen to street rumors. It’s all fake.”

“No, I heard it’s true! That master’s cultivation is even greater than that of a True Immortal!”

“Hahahaha! What a joke. Have you all lost your minds? Where in the Heavenly Martial Realm could such a person possibly exist?”

Lately, everyone had been talking about the matter, but not a single person believed it.

After all, countless legends had long circulated in the Heavenly Martial Realm. No one knew which were true and which were false, so they simply treated them all as fiction.

Every cultivator knew innumerable rumors, but most of them were dismissed as jokes and forgotten.

“Reporting to the Holy Lord! Recently, there are once again rumors that a hidden master in the Southern Ridge Mountains wishes to take disciples, and that becoming that person’s disciple may grant one an immortal opportunity...”

“Heh.”

When the Holy Lord of the Rufu Palace heard the elder beside him report this, he let out a soft, mocking laugh, not believing it in the slightest.

“Our people have discovered that this news seems to have come from the two holy lands of the Southern Barbarians, so I came specifically to report it to you and ask how we should respond.”

The Holy Lord of Rufu Palace was utterly disdainful.

“Let them spread it if they like. We need not interfere.”

“Think about it. If such a great master truly existed, would the people of the Southern Barbarians not keep the opportunity for themselves? Would they really hand it over to us?”

The moment those words were spoken, the elder of Rufu Palace understood.

Who knew what scheme was hidden behind all this?

...

“Reporting to the Sect Master! Rumors have recently arisen in the Southern Ridge Mountains that a peerless master wishes to accept disciples...”

The people of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were making their report as well.

“Heh.” The old sect master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect merely sneered. “And you actually deemed such words worth bringing before me? Utter nonsense.”

“The Southern Ridge Mountains are fraught with danger. But do you think the Swift Extremity Holy Land and the Ziyan Holy Land are fools? Do you think the title of holy land is merely for show? If there truly were such a splendid opportunity, they would have already taken it for themselves.”