Are You Sure You Want to Take Him as Your Disciple?
Lu Changsheng's gaze fell on a young attendant of Xiao Xiangdao, the third prince of the Liang Kingdom.
Xiao Xiangdao's Spirit Sword Body had attracted the attention of everyone in Shushan, and even First Senior Brother Li Changye had decided to take him as a disciple personally.
But the Apprentice-Teaching Simulator showed that Xiao Xiangdao's attendant had a Childlike Heart, and his potential surpassed even Xiao Xiangdao's.
One abundant in virtue was like a newborn child.
Those born with a Childlike Heart seemed ordinary and made slow progress in the early stages of cultivation, but once they set foot on the immortal path, they might attain enlightenment in a single day.
According to Shushan's ancient records, eighty thousand years ago, an Outer Sect Disciple of Shushan had taken fifty years to advance from the Foundation Establishment Realm to the Qi Condensation Realm. Yet he attained enlightenment in a single day, his cultivation leaping straight from the Qi Condensation Realm past the Golden Core Realm and the Nascent Soul Realm to the Dao Palace Realm. The Shushan Sect Master at the time believed he had a Childlike Heart and made an exception to take him as a disciple.
Such a disciple could be encountered by chance but not sought.
"Xiao Xiangdao, I intend to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"
When Li Changye spoke, offering to take a disciple, every mortal waiting below for the trial cast an envious look at the third prince of the Liang Kingdom.
Li Changye was foremost among Shushan's younger generation of elders and a candidate to become its next sect leader. As Li Changye's first disciple, Xiao Xiangdao's future would be limitless.
"The Liang Kingdom is one of the Great Xia Dynasty's vassal states. With Shushan as its backer, the Liang Kingdom's standing is bound to rise."
"The third prince of the Liang Kingdom has a Spirit Sword Body. He'll be a Shushan elder at the very least someday."
"I wonder if the third prince is already betrothed. If we could arrange a marriage with him, our clan could soar to wealth and glory."
"Oh, come on. The third prince is both a member of the Liang Kingdom's royal family and a Shushan disciple. Why would he spare a glance for a girl from an ordinary aristocratic clan?"
The many aristocratic clans and rogue cultivators below whispered among themselves.
"This disciple is willing!"
Xiao Xiangdao's eyes burned with fervor as he immediately agreed.
Taiyuan True Person spent most of the year in secluded cultivation, leaving Li Changye to govern Shushan in his stead. As Li Changye's first disciple, it was not impossible for Xiao Xiangdao to become Shushan Sect Master someday.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on getting your wish and joining Shushan. From now on, our Liang Kingdom will no longer have to live at the mercy of the neighboring vassal states."
"We shall report this happy news to His Majesty at once!"
The Liang Kingdom military officers and attendants escorting Xiao Xiangdao offered him their congratulations, then prepared to head home.
Shushan disciples were not permitted to bring servants with them, and even princes of mortal dynasties were no exception.
A mortal dynasty was of little account before a colossus like Shushan.
"Wait."
Lu Changsheng's voice rang out, and the Liang Kingdom party froze.
"What can we do for you, Daoist?"
The Liang Kingdom party was filled with uncertainty. Had they somehow offended this Shushan elder?
"I see that this young man has an affinity with immortality. I intend to take him as my disciple."
Lu Changsheng pointed at a youth in a blue robe.
The youth looked utterly ordinary, even somewhat simple and honest. No matter how one looked at him, he did not seem to have an affinity with immortality...
"Qingzhi, the Daoist wants to take you as his disciple. You lucky fellow."
"Why don't you hurry and thank the Daoist?"
The Liang Kingdom officer leading the party was an expert at the Qi Condensation Realm. Knowing what tremendous fortune it was for a mortal to be offered a place as a Shushan elder's disciple, he hurriedly urged the youth to accept him as his master.
The youth scratched his head, looking somewhat bewildered. "But I didn't sign up to join Shushan..."
"You blockhead. I really can't understand what the Daoist sees in you."
The Liang Kingdom officer pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. This was a stroke of fortune an ordinary person might never encounter in a lifetime.
"Shushan does not confine its recruitment to the Apprentice-Selection Ceremony. As long as you are willing to accept me as your master, you can set foot on the path of cultivation, and the Liang Kingdom will benefit as well."
Lu Changsheng began to whisper like a devil.
"Th-this disciple is willing."
The youth thought it over carefully before agreeing, making the people around him frantic as they watched.
This was a chance to become an inner disciple of Shushan straightaway!
"Very good."
Lu Changsheng accepted his first disciple with satisfaction.
"Junior Brother Lu actually took a disciple?"
"Could there be something exceptional about this young man?"
"Why not use the Guts-Illuminating Mirror to check his aptitude?"
The other Shushan elders saw that the reclusive Lu Changsheng was willing to take a youth as his disciple, and they began chiming in, eager to watch the drama.
Taiyuan True Person was also somewhat puzzled, so he activated the immortal artifact, the Guts-Illuminating Mirror, and directed it at the youth.
The Guts-Illuminating Mirror revealed the young man's aptitude: Lin Qingzhi, low-grade Root Bone, low comprehension, low luck, and no special physique.
"This..."
The Shushan elders stared in stunned silence.
They had originally thought the disciple Lu Changsheng had taken was a heaven-sent genius. They had not expected his aptitude to be so... ordinary.
With aptitude like that, he would not even qualify to become an Outer Sect Disciple if a Shushan elder had not taken an interest in him.
"Junior Brother Lu, this young man's aptitude is far too ordinary. Are you sure you want to take him as your disciple?"
The Shushan elders looked at him in bewilderment.
You lot don't know shit.
Lu Changsheng muttered inwardly.
A disciple with a Childlike Heart was hard to find even in ten thousand years.
"Ahem, aptitude is one thing. Character is more important."
Lu Changsheng forced out an explanation.
Taiyuan True Person and Li Changye nodded approvingly. This was one of the principles Shushan had upheld since its founding.
"The Apprentice-Selection Ceremony will continue!"
After Lu Changsheng took his disciple, the Apprentice-Selection Ceremony resumed. One candidate after another was accepted by a Shushan elder, while those who failed to catch an elder's eye could only become Outer Sect Disciples.
Once their cultivation reached a certain level or they made a contribution to Shushan, Outer Sect Disciples could become inner disciples, or even elders.
Aside from Xiao Xiangdao, several other disciples with special physiques stood out and were each accepted by elders of greater seniority.
Special physiques varied in strength. These disciples' special physiques were merely stronger than those of ordinary cultivators; they still could not compare to the Myriad Desolations Indestructible Body or the Spirit Sword Body.
"This boy is an orphan our Liang Kingdom's Zhenhai Army military governor brought back from a battlefield. He is also the third prince's game attendant. Apart from being good at board games, he is usually a little slow-witted. If he offends you in the future, please forgive him, Daoist. Qingzhi, you must cultivate diligently and not let this chance at immortality slip by."
Before departing, the Liang Kingdom officer entrusted Lin Qingzhi to Lu Changsheng.
Xiao Xiangdao glanced at his attendant. He had never expected an orphan to be taken as a disciple by a Shushan elder.
Fortunately, Lu Changsheng was only an ordinary Shushan elder, whose standing in Shushan was lower than Li Changye's.
Otherwise, if his own attendant surpassed him in cultivation, how could he, the third prince, save face?
Xiao Xiangdao clenched his fists. With his aptitude, becoming a Shushan elder someday would be no great challenge, and he would never be surpassed by an orphan.
Lu Changsheng did not notice what Xiao Xiangdao was thinking. Instead, he checked his newly accepted disciple's panel in the Apprentice-Teaching Simulator:
[Lin Qingzhi] [Innate talents: Childlike Heart, Innate Spirit Vein, Wood Spirit Root] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Realm First Layer] [Dao Bone: 15 years] [Merit: 0] [Cultivation method: None] [Law Treasures: None] [Rewards available today: 1/1] [Cultivation infusions available today: 1/1] [Simulations available today: 1/1]