"That may be true, but senior brother only has a single disciple. Can you really expect him not to worry?"
True Immortal Qianyuan's words left Second Elder Liu Gang speechless. Indeed, their own chief senior brother had only one disciple in Zhong Bai.
How could he not dote on him?
How could he not fret?
Soon enough, however, True Immortal Qianyuan cast this sentiment to the back of his mind.
"Oh well, everyone has their own destined fate. Let him be; I still have to handle this year's disciple-reception matters."
Shaking his head, True Immortal Qianyuan then left the Law Enforcement Hall.
At the foot of Mount Mao.
After arriving in Maoshan Town, Partridge Whistle and Hua Ling were infected by the town's peace and tranquility.
They always said that it was good to take shelter under a big tree, and only upon truly reaching Mount Mao's territory did they understand the meaning of this phrase.
"Junior Sister Hua Ling, our luck is pretty good. These past few days happen to be the time when Mount Mao accepts disciples.
Second Senior Brother believes that you can definitely do it, Junior Sister!"
Old Foreigner wore a soft smile, and while encouraging Hua Ling, he did not forget to continue talking about the information he had inquired about regarding Mount Mao's disciple intake.
Hua Ling listened attentively to this.
Partridge Whistle at the side, however, felt somewhat restless.
Although he supported his junior sister in seeking discipleship under Mount Mao, he also knew very well that they spent all year traveling back and forth between tombs, and the aura clinging to their bodies was very hard to escape the Dharma Eye of a Mount Mao immortal.
To put it bluntly, Mount Mao was very likely to look down on grave robbers like them.
In front of Mount Mao, whatever Mountain Mover Taoists were—
whatever Xieling Porters were, whatever Tomb Raiders were, whatever Grave-Digging Heavenly Officials were—they were all lumped into a single category: lower-class grave robbers.
Although he was crystal clear on this in his heart, Partridge Whistle could not say it out loud. Only by letting his junior sister truly hit a brick wall would she live a steady and secure life in the future.
It was much the same as when Zhong Bai had sought discipleship under Mount Mao back then.
Following the stone steps just the same to knock on the mountain gate step by step, and looking at the youths one by one around her, Hua Ling seemed to see the Zhong Bai of five years ago.
When she arrived before the Mount Mao mountain gate and looked at the large characters for Supreme Clarity Maoshan Orthodox Sect, Hua Ling felt bitter inside. Heaven knew if she even had a chance...
"Newcomers arrive every year, and the newcomers are not as good as the old.
These past few years haven't produced any good saplings, but this poor Taoist still won't let you lot run this trip in vain.
Upon ascending Mount Mao, you will have the chance to enter the sect. I am Qian Yuan, chief elder of the Mount Mao Law Enforcement Hall. Little ones, have you prepared yourselves?"
Upon hearing the name True Immortal Qianyuan, Hua Ling felt somewhat dazed. Looking at that otherworldly figure, was this Senior Brother Zhong's master?
Before Hua Ling could continue pondering, True Immortal Qianyuan pointed toward the void, and a gate of light appeared.
The trials were different every time, but generally speaking, they were still primarily about tempering one's courage.
"Those who enter the light gate shall have a chance!"
Following True Immortal Qianyuan's words, the boys and girls who had been waiting for a long time rushed into the light gate to vie for a place.
Before long, however, some people fled out from the light gate with looks of terror, shaking and trembling so much that their legs went weak.
Seeing this situation, True Immortal Qianyuan only frowned slightly with mild disgust and made no comment.
Hua Ling did not enter the light gate at the very first moment and thus also witnessed this scene. With a mixture of apprehension in her heart, Hua Ling stepped into the light gate.
As soon as she entered, a withered corpse immediately came into view. Before Hua Ling could examine it closely, the previously motionless corpse suddenly roared.
Boom, boom, boom!
Merely bounding about was like a heavy hammer striking her heart. Hua Ling only felt shocked at this moment.
"This is... a big zombie!"
Almost instinctively, Hua Ling wanted to run, but only the light gate remained behind her, and fleeing meant elimination.
Gritting her teeth, Hua Ling was a Mountain Mover Taoist after all; even if she lacked a handy trinket on her person, her state of mind remained relatively steady.
"Right, talismans!"
Thinking of this, Hua Ling hurriedly pulled the Blazing Flame Talisman that Zhong Bai had given her upon parting out from her bosom.
Hling it toward the zombie before her, in an instant, the firelight burst apart, and the zombie that had been fierce a moment before let out a miserable shriek.
This wasn't over yet. Hua Ling tightly clutched the peace buckle hanging from her neck in the palm of her hand; this was her final hope...
When True Immortal Qianyuan, who had been disappointed with this trial, spotted Hua Ling, what he saw was this scene of fire blazing up to the heavens.
Soon enough, however, True Immortal Qianyuan caught sight of the peace buckle in Hua Ling's hand.
"This is... the old Taoist's aura. It's that fellow Zhong Bai!"
At this moment, how could True Immortal Qianyuan still fail to understand? The so-called firelight probably also had an inseparable connection with his own disciple, Zhong Bai.
"The peace buckle the old Taoist gave you may not have much use, but to give it to a woman like this..."
Just as True Immortal Qianyuan was muttering curses, he quickly sensed that faint earthy stench on Hua Ling's body.
No, this lass before me is a grave robber!
Hey, with this old Taoist's fiery temper, Zhong Bai, you stinky brat, how could you mingle with this kind of lower-class trash?
For a moment, True Immortal Qianyuan only felt his head swell.
Meanwhile, in Jiuquan Town.
After practicing the Supreme Clarity Body Forging Art to perfection, Zhong Bai thought of taking a stroll into the Jiuquan Town church.
If he remembered correctly, there should still be a Western ghost lingering within the church.
Pulling out the radish brought out the dirt; this was a source of exorcism points right there!
As for vampires, although Zhong Bai knew that ordinary Taoist magic was useless against them, lightning was different. Lightning restrained evil spirits, and vampires equally belonged to this category.
What's more, even relying solely on his own profound blood-qi and the physical strength of his arms, Zhong Bai felt that suppressing a foreign ghost should pose no problem.
Just as Zhong Bai was contemplating action, he felt a sensation in his heart; in some nether realm, he seemed to hear his master cursing him up a storm.
Yet Zhong Bai merely felt that this was probably just an illusion caused by abundant blood-qi.
Little did he know that True Immortal Qianyuan over at Mount Mao currently had a splitting headache.
Logically speaking, it was impossible for Mount Mao to look upon a grave robber like Hua Ling with favor.
Yet Hua Ling possessed the peace buckle given by Zhong Bai.
Added to the fact that Hua Ling was considered one of the best performers among this batch seeking discipleship under Mount Mao—
taking everything into consideration, True Immortal Qianyuan was somewhat undecided.
Perhaps it was still because the degree of importance Zhong Bai held in his heart was simply too high.
"The background of a grave robber is a fatal flaw!"
Shaking his head, just as True Immortal Qianyuan was agonizing over it, a voice transmission instantly entered Qianyuan's Sea of Consciousness.
"Junior Brother Qianyuan, although this lass was previously of the lower classes, she is still young after all, and it wasn't her own intention; she merely did it to survive.
This poor Taoist sees that she has some talent in pharmacology, or perhaps this poor Taoist can take her into the Pill Hall!"
Upon finishing the voice transmission from True Immortal Qianyuan's Sea of Consciousness—the Pill Hall's chief elder, True Immortal Liuguang—the previously conflicted True Immortal Qianyuan immediately smoothed his brows.
"Since Senior Brother Liuguang is willing to disregard social standing and origins, this poor Taoist is naturally willing to help fulfill a good thing."
With that, True Immortal Qianyuan swung his horsetail whisk toward Hua Ling, who was finishing the trial in front of the mountain gate. Hua Ling's entire person was enveloped by the whisk and brought before True Immortal Qianyuan.
"Lass, your luck is quite good. The old Taoist knows you have some connection with that disciple of mine, Zhong Bai, but your background ultimately cannot make the old Taoist's heart soften.
However... True Immortal Liuguang, the chief elder of the Pill Hall, has taken a fancy to you. Would you be willing to enter Mount Mao?
To enter the Pill Hall?"
Hearing this news abruptly, Hua Ling was somewhat dazed, but she quickly reacted.
"Hua Ling is willing!"
To Hua Ling, a pleasant surprise at this moment meant just that.
She was well aware of her background, and knew that her success rate in seeking discipleship under Mount Mao was far too low.
Yet Hua Ling had still come, and still made her own choice.
Perhaps it really was just luck...
Thinking of this, Hua Ling smiled very happily. From today onward, her destiny began to shift!
True Immortal Qianyuan stood to the side sizing her up, and quickly had Hua Ling's condition clear at the back of his hand.
"Tsk tsk tsk, carrying the curse of the Ghost Cave Tribe, only Senior Brother Liuguang wouldn't find her troublesome.
Still, that makes sense. The Pill Hall isn't merely about refining pills and concocting medicine..."
With that, True Immortal Qianyuan quietly departed. As for Hua Ling, True Immortal Liuguang would come to fetch her.
Let me say this first, there will most likely be no female lead, no female lead. Although Mount Mao emphasizes a pure body, Hua Ling is still young anyway; they were all raised by Partridge Whistle, and calling them Mountain Mover Taoists is stretching it a bit. Besides, this author genuinely feels Hua Ling is suited for the profession of medicine refining.
Wuwuwu, I haven't had any monthly votes, investment reads, or tipping these past two days. Help, it feels like writing a single-player game, it's a bit tough to endure. Dear readers, hurry up and give me some motivation!
Before you continue