The Second Disciple

The Apprentice-Teaching Simulator suddenly reacted, bursting with dazzling golden light.

The golden light came from the timid little girl hiding behind the wooden door.

The little girl's information appeared in the Apprentice-Teaching Simulator.

[Name: None]

[Race: Wilderness Tribe]

[Talents: Martial King Divine Physique, fire Spirit Root, Ill-Fated Destiny]

[Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm Fifth Layer]

[Dao Bone: 7 years]

A member of the Wilderness Tribe, with a Dao Bone of seven years and a cultivation at the Qi Condensation Realm Fifth Layer?!

Could this little one have been born in the Qi Condensation Realm?

Lu Changsheng had heard that the Wilderness Tribe were descendants of the people of High Antiquity, and that some of them had such powerful bloodlines that they were born with cultivation.

He had not expected this little girl to possess a special physique—the "Martial King Divine Physique."

The only pity was that her destiny was ill-fated.

Lu Changsheng beckoned to her. Though the little girl was still timid, she was drawn to his Innate Dao Body and came out.

"A month ago, a group of Wilderness Tribe warriors sought shelter at our branch hall while protecting her, but Black Tiger Dao Lord and the Reincarnation Hall attacked us. Before he died, the hall master ordered me to take her away through a tunnel. Then he chose to self-destruct, destroying the tunnel entrance. I escaped with my life and eventually met you, Holy Maiden."

The female disciple told them the whole story of what had happened in Desolate Province.

"Since she is so closely connected to the events in Desolate Province, we can take her back to the Sects and leave her fate to the pavilion master."

Having found a lead, Xia Ningxue planned to take the little girl back to the Ask Immortal Pavilion.

"Wait."

Lu Changsheng had finally found a prospective disciple with monstrous talent. How could he let her slip away? He stopped Xia Ningxue.

"What is it?"

"Since Fairy Xia is unwilling to become my disciple, I intend to settle for the next best thing and take this girl as my disciple, then bring her back to Shushan."

"You're from Shushan? We at the Ask Immortal Pavilion found her. How can we hand her over to Shushan?"

The female disciple grew anxious at once. Almost everyone at their branch hall had died in battle protecting this little girl from the Wilderness Tribe.

"You owe me a favor, don't you?"

Lu Changsheng looked at Xia Ningxue. She was the one in charge.

Xia Ningxue's delicate brows drew together slightly. She thought it over carefully for a long while before letting out a long sigh. "Take her with you."

"Holy Maiden, if the pavilion master blames us..."

"I'll take full responsibility. Besides, it may be better to leave her in Shushan's protection. Shushan's foundations are stronger than those of our Ask Immortal Pavilion, after all."

"I obey."

The Ask Immortal Pavilion's female disciple greatly admired Holy Maiden Xia Ningxue. Now that Xia Ningxue had made her decision, she pressed the matter no further.

"Southguard Pass isn't far from here. I doubt Black Tiger Dao Lord would dare enter the Ask Immortal Pavilion's territory. In that case, Elder Lu, farewell. If fate permits, we'll meet again."

Xia Ningxue moved two fingers, and her flying sword slipped from its sheath. She took the female disciple with her and returned to the Sects.

Before leaving, Xia Ningxue also gave Lu Changsheng a long, searching look.

"Her character is of the highest order."

Lu Changsheng sighed.

Xia Ningxue's integrity was also rare in this world.

Only Lu Changsheng and the little girl from the Wilderness Tribe remained.

"Do you have a name?"

The little girl shook her head.

"Since fate has brought us together as master and disciple, I'll name you Lian. From now on, I'll be your master."

Lu Changsheng stroked her head, unconcerned about her origins. In any case, once he took her as his disciple, he could fleece the system for all it was worth.

"Mm."

Lian, the little girl from the Wilderness Tribe, nodded vigorously.

She dimly understood that someone was hunting her, and that Lu Changsheng could protect her.

"Let's go back to Shushan."

Lu Changsheng waved his Daoist robe, and a gentle breeze enveloped Lian. Her whole body floated into the air, and at last a long-absent smile appeared on her face. She seemed to find it great fun.

Lu Changsheng wrapped his newly accepted disciple in his Spiritual Qi and flew back to Shushan on his sword.

Lian's cultivation was far below Lu Changsheng's, and he was in a hurry, so he used his own Spiritual Qi to help his disciple travel.

After Lu Changsheng left Desolate Province, Black Tiger Dao Lord was still flying into a rage as he searched everywhere for traces of Lu Changsheng and Xia Ningxue.

On a dead tree outside Southguard Pass, a withered human face suddenly appeared in the bark.

Elder Kumu walked out of the dead tree, the walking stick in his hand already broken in two.

"Even the Reincarnation Hall's Evil Sword couldn't keep this old man there. I wonder whether the Holy Maiden has returned safely to the Sects. Fifteen hundred years ago, the pavilion master sought out the Shushan Sect Master for a sparring match and lost all three bouts, losing all face. This time, the pavilion master finally found a disciple of exceptional talent to win back that lost face at the upcoming Six Paths Assembly. Nothing can happen to the Holy Maiden..."

On Shushan's Rear Mountain, Eldest Senior Brother Li Changye faced the sword marks on a stone wall and patiently listened as Lu Changsheng reported the full details of what had happened in Desolate Province.

Li Changye said slowly, "The sect leader has already sensed that a great calamity will befall Xiazhou before long. Pass down the order: every Shushan elder and disciple may receive twice the usual Cultivation Resources each month. I hope everyone will cultivate diligently and do their utmost to survive the calamity."

Lu Changsheng frowned. "Are things truly so dire?"

Li Changye turned around with a faint smile. "Junior Brother, there's no need to worry too much. Shushan has stood for hundreds of thousands of years and weathered every storm. It won't fall into decline because of a single calamity."

"Mm. Then how does Eldest Senior Brother intend to deal with the girl from the Wilderness Tribe?"

"Since you've already taken her as your disciple, Junior Brother, she must have a fated connection with Shushan. She is your disciple, and a disciple of Shushan as well. Shushan will provide her with protection!"

Eldest Senior Brother's tone was firm, full of powerful confidence.

This was Shushan!

Its word was its bond!

"Many thanks, Eldest Senior Brother. I'll take my leave."

Lu Changsheng had known that, given Eldest Senior Brother's character, even though Lian possessed the Martial King Divine Physique of High Antiquity, he would not snatch her away.

Lu Changsheng brought his second disciple back to Azure Cloud Peak and summoned his first disciple, Lin Qingzhi, who was cultivating diligently.

Lin Qingzhi had a Childlike Heart. While Lu Changsheng was away from Azure Cloud Peak, he had devoted himself to cultivation without any distractions.

"Master, who is this?"

"From today onward, she'll be your junior sister. Her name is Lian. As her senior brother, you must protect her well from now on. Understand?"

"I'll remember."

"Good."

Lu Changsheng checked the Apprentice-Teaching Simulator. The system showed that he now had two disciples, and the number of times he could grant rewards, use Transmission Empowerment, and run simulations each day had also increased from one to two.

After taking a second disciple, Lu Changsheng could fleece the system even more thoroughly.

Double the happiness awaited him.

Unfortunately, the Apprentice-Teaching Simulator seemed to accept only disciples with monstrous talent. Otherwise, Lu Changsheng could have recruited hundreds or even thousands of disciples and lined them up one by one for cultivation transfers and rewards.

"Next, I'll use Transmission Empowerment on each of you in turn."

Lu Changsheng did not let a single opportunity to use Transmission Empowerment slip by.

"Master, are you sure you want to use Transmission Empowerment on both of us?"

Lin Qingzhi stood there, dumbstruck.

Why was Master like a charging station with an unlimited supply? Was he not at all afraid of losing his own cultivation by using Transmission Empowerment?