God-like Man

Intentionally taking in useless disciples to escape the duty of teaching?

Am I that kind of person? Well, okay, I am.

I didn't expect my perfect plan to be seen through...

And maliciously rumored! Lingzhou Yue was furious, but her clear face, like a painting, remained calm as she continued to drink.

Xiao Ran seemed confident, so let him handle it.

She thought.

True Person Yinyue was the first to speak up for her.

True Person Yinyue's gentle expression turned stern, and she said directly, "Even if Martial Sister Ling Zhou's recruitment of disciples is inappropriate, she is still a woman. Junior Brother Huangfu, please watch your words."

Huangfu Qun's eyes were deep, and he didn't care at all.

"These are not my words, but what the Inner Sect Disciples are saying. It's easy to crush these rumors—here are some Challenge Jade Slips from the Inner Sect Disciples, including some well-known Heaven's Chosen Gentleman. I've been suppressing them for you for a day."

As he spoke, he took out a stack of Challenge Jade Slips and threw them on the long table.

"Starting tomorrow, these core Inner Sect Disciples will be waiting for you for an hour at the Main Peak Sword Terrace during Chen Hour every day. If you want to prove that what you said is true, then use practical actions to convince them. Let's see if your eloquence is as effective on these Heaven's Chosen who failed to become Direct Disciples."

Xiao Ran frowned slightly.

"You want me, a Mortal, to fight against disciples with profound Cultivation?"

Huangfu Qun said calmly:

"You don't necessarily have to fight. Just find a way to shut them up."

Lingzhou Yue had a bad feeling. That was the rule, but in the past, which Disciple Challenge didn't end in a battle? She was frantically praying for Xiao Ran in her heart—

Don't accept the challenge!

Don't accept the challenge!

Don't accept the challenge!

Xiao Ran's expression remained unchanged as he bent down and put all the Jade Slips on the long table into his pocket.

"Very well."

What do you mean, 'very well'?

Lingzhou Yue couldn't help but want to give him a flick on the forehead! He dared to accept a Disciple Challenge after only three days of entering the sect?

Everyone was stunned and speechless, wondering what Xiao Ran was up to.

They were quite interested in tomorrow's Disciple Challenge.

Could it be that this child is hiding strength that even the Elders can't see? True gold fears no fire. Huangfu Qun had more tricks up his sleeve!

"Don't rush to agree. This is just your first test."

"Please speak, Elder."

Xiao Ran nodded slightly.

There was no way around it, the Disciplinary Elder was clearly targeting Master, and even if the questions were tricky, he had to solve them on behalf of Master.

Huangfu Qun continued, "As a Direct Disciple of the Sword-Wielding Elder of this sect, and a candidate for the next Sword-Wielding Elder, holding the sword is the top priority. Considering you are still a Mortal, I will give you one year to accept the Sword Undertaking Rite. If you can survive the Sword Undertaking Rite and obtain the True Inheritance Sword of this sect, then you will truly be a Sword Holding Disciple of my sect!"

Xiao Ran:

"That's natural."

Huangfu Qun: "Don't be so quick to say 'natural,' there is a third requirement."

The Sect Leader's seat.

Master Boyun couldn't stand it any longer and cupped his fist slightly towards Huangfu Qun, saying, "Martial Aunt, aren't you being too harsh on Junior Brother Xiao?"

Huangfu Qun shook his head and sighed, speaking the truth.

"This is a requirement from the Dao Alliance."

"What do you mean?"

"Ten days ago, this old man met with Chief Li Wuxie in East Floating City. He conveyed to this old man the Dao Alliance's final ultimatum to the major independent sects: each sect's Sword-Wielding Elder must complete one of two tasks."

"Two tasks?"

"The first task—each sect's Sword-Wielding Elder must accept at least ten Direct Disciples within ten years, spreading the essence of Sword Art. The sect only has five disciple slots; the other five slots must be arranged by the Dao Alliance."

"The second task—if the Sword-Wielding Elder has no intention of accepting disciples and imparting knowledge, they must complete at least ten Rank A Missions from the Dao Alliance each year, half of which are hunting high-level Wraith beings, and a small number are investigating cases and dealing with demonic paths."

Everyone was silent.

Everyone could see that the Dao Alliance had begun to strongly interfere in the internal affairs of each sect.

This meant that the Dharma Ending Era was accelerating its fall, and many things could no longer be speculated according to common sense...

How could Lingzhou Yue endure such grievances?

What kind of bullshit Dao Alliance was this? This old lady was done with it! From today on, I am the flower-picking grandmaster of the Dharma Ending Era!

But when she thought of her Master, who was as beautiful as a painting, or her cute and well-behaved disciple, she was a little reluctant to leave the sect.

Did they take her for a sow? The first task, accepting ten Direct Disciples, was an impossible task for her to complete.

The second task might be promising... especially since some of the Dao Alliance's Rank A Missions were very exciting.

"I will take Xiao Ran to try a few interesting and exciting missions. For him, this is also a kind of Cultivation."

Xiao Ran nodded.

Having lived in the Mortal world for three years, he fully understood the Dao Alliance's decision. In the Dharma Ending Era, the Cultivation World could only survive if they were united. A world where everyone swept only the snow from their own doorstep was destined to be destroyed.

Obviously, Master's carefree life was coming to an end, and even he was being dragged into it.

But for him, this might not be an opportunity. He could completely earn Filial Piety Points by doing tasks on behalf of Master.

Showing Filial Piety to Master, being responsible to the world, and earning Filial Piety Points for himself—what could be better?

Huangfu Qun didn't expect that these two, Master and disciple, would agree so readily, and he always felt that there was some unspeakable secret between them.

"Since there are no objections to the three points, Master Boyun can begin."

Master Boyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes."

The Elder Council, which had been delayed until now, was finally about to begin.

The attendees were first immersed in the grief of the Sect Leader's tribulation, and then their attention was drawn to Xiao Ran, with little interest in the content of the following meeting.

But in fact, the content of this meeting was very important.

The first item on the agenda.

Consolidate the Mountain-Guarding Grand Array.

Considering that the Wraith easily broke through, and the Sect Leader was unable to maintain the Mountain-Guarding Grand Array, it was necessary to consolidate the formation eyes.

After a brief discussion, Master Boyun, True Person Moxia, and Huangfu Qun undertook their respective tasks.

True Person Yinyue was responsible for preparing tribulation pills for the Sect Leader.

Lingzhou Yue was responsible for recruiting disciples, or completing Dao Alliance Rank A Missions.

The second item on the agenda.

In order to strengthen trade between various sects and towns, the Dao Alliance would take the lead in establishing a free trade immortal city to increase exchanges, boost domestic demand, and make human survival in the Dharma Ending Era more convenient and efficient.

The closest transformed immortal city to Zongzhi Mountain was the Dao Alliance's base in the Blazing Fire Kingdom, East Floating City.

Xiao Ran thought, this was like establishing a special administrative region.

The Dao Alliance was trying to integrate the power of cultivation through this move, enhance the influence of the Dao Alliance, and disintegrate the negative ideas of various sects that were independent, secluded, and reluctant to show their treasures.

The third item on the agenda.

The Dao Alliance issued a notice, asking major sects, towns, and Wraith hunters to pay attention to an extremely evil organization called [Apostle].

This organization had recently been summoning the Wraith in multiple densely populated areas! Their behavior was extremely bad. Those who discovered them must notify the Dao Alliance as soon as possible, or send strong individuals from major sects to capture them and escort them to the Dao Alliance, which would be heavily rewarded.

Summoning the Wraith?

Xiao Ran thought, weren't these human traitors?

This made him inexplicably think of the public intellectuals of his previous life. The human psychology of fawning over the strong was truly disgusting!

The Elder Council quickly ended.

Three very important items on the agenda, but everyone just nodded and pondered, without expressing any constructive opinions.

Back at Sword-Wielding Mountain.

The warm wind under the gnarled pine tree was gentle.

Xiao Ran stood like a wooden stake.

Lingzhou Yue circled around Xiao Ran, looking up and down, carefully examining this disciple she had only been with for two days.

This time, she did not pry into Xiao Ran's mediocre talent, or examine his handsome body.

But was assessing his character!

This guy usually pretends to be honest and innocent in front of me? Is he so bold and resourceful? He's boasting in front of the four elders without batting an eye?

To stand up for Master, he's gone to such lengths...

Did you grow up eating Filial Piety! No matter what, from now on, she and Xiao Ran are not just master and disciple, but also grasshoppers on the same rope.

Realizing this, she inadvertently circled behind Xiao Ran, massaging her precious disciple's shoulders and neck, her breath carrying a faint fragrance of wine, and said meaningfully:

"You've been hiding yourself well!"

Xiao Ran only felt his shoulders soften, and a ethereal Spiritual Energy slowly poured in, making him a little lightheaded.

Master is massaging my shoulders?

This was a scene he had never imagined! Xiao Ran had indeed been a little tired these past few days, and at this moment, he simply enjoyed it without saying anything.

Lingzhou Yue tentatively asked him:

"Let's talk about the Sword Inheritance Assembly and the Rank A Mission later. Just tell me about tomorrow's Disciple Challenge—how do you plan to shut up those elite disciples?"

Xiao Ran took out his Sword from the System Space.

"Of course, I'll use my Big Treasure Sword."

Her sword-like eyebrows twitched, and Lingzhou Yue suddenly felt a little ashamed.

"It's a pity that Master doesn't have any Sword Arts that Mortals can learn to teach you."

"It doesn't matter."

Xiao Ran didn't care, and only said, "Disciple has one thing I don't understand."

Lingzhou Yue pinched him hard as if blaming him.

"Didn't I tell you not to be so reserved with me and just say what's on your mind?"

Xiao Ran asked directly:

"Did Master accept Disciple as a disciple because of Disciple's trash talent, so that Master could use this as an excuse to avoid the obligation of teaching and imparting knowledge?"

Lingzhou Yue's hands suddenly stopped, and her palms were sweating.

You really aren't reserved at all! After racking her brains, she finally found a perfect excuse.

She walked gently in front of Xiao Ran, tidying up his clothes, her amber-like eyes reflecting the only star in the night sky.

"When Master was a child, my mother once said—in my lifetime, besides encountering thousands upon thousands of fairies, I would also meet a God-like Man, but unfortunately, this God-like Man is currently just a rough gem that needs to be carefully polished."

Xiao Ran nodded.

I believe you, my foot!