Chapter 112: The Inner Disciple Selection, Part 1

Mu Zhi’an waited in the pavilion, and soon, a handsome man in white robes approached, his aura refined, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Who’s this guy? He’s quite handsome… Almost as handsome as me… Mu Zhi’an studied him, his thoughts filled with a hint of rivalry.

Yi Hao bowed politely, his demeanor humble despite his status. “Young Friend Mu, you sent me a letter?”

This is Yi Hao?

The peak lords were all at least a hundred years old, their cultivation at Nascent Soul or higher. Mu Zhi’an bowed deeply, his voice respectful. “Greetings, Senior. I am Mu Zhi’an.”

His attitude was sincere and deferential.

Yi Hao nodded, smiling. “I received your letter. I heard Senior Ling Long is staying with you…?”

“She is, Senior. She just finished eating an Eight Treasures Crane,” Mu Zhi’an replied respectfully.

Yi Hao’s eyelid twitched, but his smile remained unchanged. “It’s fine. She can have as many as she wants.”

If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here. Mu Zhi’an said, “She simply wanted to try it. It has no effect on someone like her.”

Yi Hao nodded, chuckling. “What do you suggest, Young Friend Mu?”

Mu Zhi’an pondered for a moment, then said, “It’s a waste to consume them, so I tried to dissuade her, but…”

He hesitated, then continued, “Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll think of something.”

The truth was, after eating one crane, Lin Ling had decided they weren’t as delicious as she had expected. She had lost interest in the others. So when he had requested them, she had readily agreed. But he hadn’t accepted them. After all, if he had retrieved them so easily, the favor wouldn’t be as memorable.

Yi Hao’s expression softened slightly. “I’ll leave it to you, Young Friend Mu.”

With his status, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to demand the cranes back from Ling Long. It would be embarrassing. He had just declared in front of his fellow peak lords that she could have all of them, and now, if he went back on his word, how could he face them? Besides, if she refused, he couldn’t force her. She was Ling Long. Even the sect master might not be able to persuade her. He could only place his hopes on Mu Zhi’an.

“Why is she staying with you?” he asked suddenly, remembering the most important question.

Ling Long rarely left her seclusion. She had never shown any favoritism towards anyone, except for the sect master. Yet she was currently residing with a new disciple. It was baffling.

Mu Zhi’an sighed, his voice laced with a carefully crafted concern. “I encountered her in her realm, Senior. We connected, and she even granted me a destiny inheritance.”

“Oh?”

Yi Hao studied him, his expression curious. “Isn’t that a good thing? Why are you sighing?”

“It is, but the Third Prince is spreading rumors, saying I abandoned my companions and claimed the inheritances for myself,” Mu Zhi’an said, his voice filled with mock despair.

“The Third Prince…?”

Yi Hao pondered for a moment, then scoffed. “That old fool’s son. Hmph, those royals are always resorting to schemes.”

He looked at Mu Zhi’an, his voice reassuring. “Don’t worry, Young Friend Mu. If anyone tries to exploit this, the sect will ensure fairness.”

“Your righteousness is admirable, Senior. Thank you,” Mu Zhi’an said, feigning gratitude.

Yi Hao nodded, then, before leaving, he offered a subtle hint. “Eight Treasures Cranes have no effect on those above the peak of Core Formation. If Senior Ling Long wants to eat, I’ll have some other ingredients delivered.”

“As for the cranes, if you can retrieve them, I’ll give you one.”

“I’ll take care of it, Senior,” Mu Zhi’an said, his voice filled with mock confidence.

Yi Hao smiled, pleased by his understanding. He offered a few more words of encouragement, urging him to focus on his cultivation, then he departed.

Mu Zhi’an bowed respectfully, watching as he soared into the sky.

He returned to his room and found Lin Ling sitting there, her chin resting on her hand, lost in thought. Her silver hair flowed freely, her beautiful face illuminated by the candlelight, her ample bosom pressed against the table, her simple robe doing little to conceal her alluring figure.

“Senior Lin Ling, we’ll return the cranes to the peak lord in a few days. Is that alright?” he asked, his voice soft.

He had already asked once, but it was best to confirm, just in case she changed her mind.

She snapped out of her thoughts, glancing at him, then nodded. She had been in seclusion for years, suppressing her karmic fire. Now, with someone’s help, she could temporarily leave her realm in human form. Naturally, she wanted to experience various delicacies. She had tried one crane, and she wasn’t interested anymore.

“When will we exchange destiny?” he asked.

She tapped the table, writing something on its surface.

He looked at the words: After the inner disciple selection.

Transferring destiny required time and preparation, even for Ling Long. And it was a gradual process, not something that could be completed in a day or two.

He nodded, smiling, then chatted with her for a while longer, building rapport, before leaving the room. He didn’t return to his own room. He headed towards Bai Ruoxi’s, quietly opening the door. She was lying in bed, seemingly asleep.

But he knew it was just a pretense. Core Formation cultivators didn’t need sleep. And it was still early. She wouldn’t be sleeping at this hour.

He closed the door, removed his robes, and slipped into bed, wrapping his arms around her soft body. Another night of helping Bai Ruoxi with her cultivation. How tedious.

…

That night, in a secluded chamber, Ning Long, the Third Prince, sat with a dark expression on his face, his fingers tapping impatiently against the armrest. Two cultivators, his age, stood before him respectfully.

Normally, a dynasty’s reign wouldn’t exceed three hundred years. But in this world, the Great Qian Dynasty had ruled the Eastern Realm for nearly a thousand years. It had reached its peak a century ago, but in recent years, there had been signs of decline. But even so, its foundation remained strong. Many royals had entered the Two Polarities Sect, some even rising to positions of power.

He had received special treatment since joining the sect. For example, these two cultivators had been assigned to him by the vice peak lord of Metamorphic Jewel Peak, to handle any inconveniences.

“You’re saying Mu Zhi’an led the disciples to the destiny inheritances?” he asked, his voice cold, his heart filled with regret.

He was the Third Prince of the Great Qian Dynasty, born with Imperial Aura. If he had received Ling Long’s inheritance, he might even have a chance to become crown prince. After all, the destiny bestowed by Ling Long, even his father would have to reconsider. But he had been expelled from the realm shortly after entering. If he hadn’t spoken up, if he had simply waited patiently, he might have followed Mu Zhi’an to the inheritances, he might even have received Ling Long’s destiny! It was his own fault for being impulsive. But it was also Mu Zhi’an’s fault. If he hadn’t cheated, he wouldn’t have felt unjustly treated and questioned Ling Long.

“The two who received inheritances, one was Huang Manting, the other a girl from the Southern Wilderness,” a cultivator reported respectfully.

Within the Two Polarities Sect, even his status as a prince wasn’t that impressive. But he had the backing of the vice peak lord of Metamorphic Jewel Peak. That was a different story. Serving the vice peak lord was a rare opportunity. If they earned his favor, they might receive preferential treatment. It was a tempting prospect.

“Are you sure Mu Zhi’an received an inheritance as well?” he asked.

“We can’t be sure. There’s no outward sign,” the other cultivator replied.

“Some disciples said they saw Ling Long approaching Bai Ruoxi when she first left the cliff. Mu Zhi’an was there as well,” the first cultivator reported, sharing the information he had gathered.

“Oh?”

He narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping against the armrest. After a moment, a realization dawned on him.

“What if Ling Long wasn’t looking for Bai Ruoxi, but for Mu Zhi’an?”

That would explain why she was with him in the realm, why they seemed so close. Ling Long had been seeking him from the beginning. Bai Ruoxi was just a distraction!

“He’s definitely hiding something.”

He spoke with conviction. “Continue investigating. After the inner disciple selection, I want to know everything about his past.”

The two cultivators bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”

He watched them leave, sipping his tea, his thoughts racing.

…

Meanwhile…

“You’re unhappy…?” a voice echoed in Ye Yu’s mind, sensing his frustration.

“My talent, my destiny, they’re both stronger than his! Why did Ling Long choose him, not me?!” he screamed inwardly, his aura fluctuating wildly.

The old man sighed. “Destiny only increases your chances of encountering opportunities. Seizing those opportunities, that depends on your own abilities.”

“Are you saying I’m incompetent, Master?” he asked, his voice laced with resentment.

“You’re not incompetent. You’re far more capable than Mu Zhi’an,” the old man replied. “But you lack flexibility.”

“In the cultivation world, strength is only one aspect. Social skills, adaptability, they’re equally important.”

“Imagine this. You reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, even Core Formation. You can defeat Mu Zhi’an in a fair fight. But what if he calls for help?”

His words silenced Ye Yu.

He quickly retorted, “Relying on others is a crooked path.”

But you’ve been defeated by outside forces several times. Bai Ruoxi was your fiancée. Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian are your cousins. And now they’re all on his side. Isn’t that outside help?

The old man sighed, but he didn’t say anything else.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay