God-like Man

Deliberately taking in a useless disciple to escape the duty of imparting knowledge?

Was she that kind of person? Well, actually, she was.

She never expected her foolproof plan would be seen through by someone...

And maliciously spread as a rumor! Lingzhou Yue felt a fire in her heart, yet her picturesque, clear face remained nonchalant as she continued drinking.

Xiao Ran seemed confident, so she would leave it to him to handle.

She thought to herself.

The first person to speak up for her was True Person Yinyue.

True Person Yinyue's gentle expression turned stern as she bluntly stated, "Even if Junior Sister Lingzhou's choice of disciple was a bit improper, she is still a woman after all. Junior Brother Huangfu, please mind your words."

Huangfu Pqun's gaze was deep and indifferent.

"These aren't this old man's words; they're spreading among the inner sect disciples. If you want to crush these rumors, it's very simple—here are some challenge letters from inner sect disciples, and among them are quite a few already-famous talented gentlemen. I've held them back for you for a day."

As he spoke, he produced a stack of challenge jade slips and tossed them onto the long table.

"Starting tomorrow, these inner sect core disciples will wait for you at the Main Peak Sword Terrace for one hour every day starting at dawn. If you want to prove that what you just said wasn't empty talk, use practical actions to make them submit. Let's see if your eloquence is just as effective against these talented individuals who missed out on becoming direct disciples."

Xiao Ran frowned slightly.

"You want a mortal like me to engage in spell-combat with disciples of profound cultivation?"

Huangfu Qun said calmly,

"It might not necessarily require combat. Just find a way to make them shut up."

Lingzhou Yue intuitively felt her head throbbing. Those were the rules, but when had a disciple challenge ever not ended in a fight? She frantically cast mental spells for Xiao Ran—

Do not accept the challenge!

Do not accept the challenge!

Do not accept the challenge!

Without changing his expression, Xiao Ran bent down and scooped all the jade slips from the long table into his pouch.

"Very well."

What did he mean by very well?

Lingzhou Yue wanted nothing more than to give him a knuckle rap! He had only entered the sect for three days and already dared to accept disciple challenges?

Everyone was stunned into silence, having no idea what kind of medicine Xiao Ran was selling in his gourd.

They were quite interested in tomorrow's disciple challenge.

Could this boy still be hiding a level of strength that even the various elders couldn't see? True gold feared no fire, and Huangfu Qun had more tricks up his sleeve!

"Don't be in such a rush to agree. This is only your first hurdle."

"Elder, please speak."

Xiao Ran nodded slightly.

There was no help for it. The Disciplinary Elder was clearly targeting Master, so no matter how tricky the problem posed was, he had to resolve it on Master's behalf.

Huangfu Qun continued, "As the direct disciple of this sect's Sword-Wielding Elder and the candidate for the next Sword-Wielding Elder, wielding the sword comes first. Considering you are still a mortal, I will give you one year to undergo the Sword Undertaking Rite. If you can survive the Sword Undertaking Rite and obtain the sect's True Inheritance Sword, only then will you truly be considered a sword disciple of our sect!"

Xiao Ran:

"That is only natural."

Huangfu Qun: "Don't be in such a rush to say it's natural. There is a third requirement."

The sect leader's seat.

Master Boyun couldn't bear to watch any longer either, cupping his fists slightly toward Huangfu Qun as he said, "Isn't Martial Uncle being a bit too harsh on Disciple Xiao?"

Huangfu Qun, however, shook his head with a sigh and spoke the truth.

"This is a demand from the Dao Alliance."

"How so?"

"Ten days ago, this old man met with Chief Li Li Wuxie in East Floating City. He conveyed the Dao Alliance's ultimatum to the various independent sects: the sword-wielding elders of each sect must fulfill one of two tasks."

"Two tasks?"

"The first task—within ten years, the sword-wielding elders of each sect must take at least ten direct disciples to impart the essentials of swordsmanship. Only five disciple slots are allowed from within the sect, and the other five slots must be arranged by the Dao Alliance."

"The second task—if a sword-wielding elder has no heart for taking disciples and imparting knowledge, they must complete at least ten Dao Alliance Rank A missions every year, half of which must be hunting high-grade Wraith, with a small number being detective work, investigating demonic sects, and the like."

Everyone fell silent.

Anyone could see that the Dao Alliance had begun heavily intervening in the internal affairs of various sects.

This meant that the Dharma Ending Era was accelerating in its descent, and many matters could no longer be measured by conventional logic...

How could Lingzhou Yue stomach such a grievance?

To hell with the Dao Alliance, this lady quits! Starting today, the two of us will walk the path of the great flower-pickers of the Dharma Ending Era!

Yet the moment she thought of her picturesque Master, or her cute and well-behaved disciple, she felt a lingering reluctance to leave the sect.

Did they take her for a breeding sow? The first task—taking ten direct disciples—was an impossible mission for her.

The second task, perhaps there was something to be done there... especially since certain Dao Alliance Rank A missions could be quite thrilling.

"I'll take Xiao Ran to pick a few fun and thrilling missions to try out. For him, this is also a form of cultivation."

Xiao Ran nodded.

Having lived in the Mortal Realm for three years, he completely understood the Dao Alliance's decision. In the Dharma Ending Era, the Cultivation World could only hope to survive if everyone twisted together into a single rope; a world where each person swept the snow from their own doorstep was destined to perish.

Clearly, Master's carefree life was coming to an end, and even he himself had been dragged into the water.

Yet for him, this might not necessarily be a bad opportunity. He could entirely complete missions on Master's behalf to earn Filial Piety Points.

Showing filial piety to Master, fulfilling responsibility to the world, and earning Filial Piety Points for himself—why wouldn't he?

Huangfu Qun never expected this master and disciple to agree so readily, and he faintly felt there was some unspeakable secret between them.

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

Master Boyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes."

The Elder Council meeting, which had dragged on until now, was finally about to begin.

The attendees had first been immersed in the sorrow of the sect leader's tribulation, only for their attention to be subsequently hijacked by Xiao Ran, leaving them with little interest in the content of the upcoming meeting.

In reality, however, the contents of this meeting were extremely critical.

The first agenda item.

Consolidating the Mountain-Guarding Grand Array.

Considering how easily the Wraith had broken through, and that the sect leader was no longer strong enough to operate the Mountain-Guarding Grand Array, the array cores needed reinforcement.

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

True Person Yinyue would be responsible for preparing tribulation pills for the sect leader.

Lingzhou Yue would be responsible for taking disciples or completing Dao Alliance Rank A missions.

The second agenda item.

To strengthen trade exchanges between various sects and towns, the Dao Alliance would spearhead the establishment of a free-trade immortal city to increase communication, boost domestic demand, and make survival more convenient and efficient for humanity in the Dharma Ending Era.

The closest remodeled immortal city to Zongzhi Mountain was the Dao Alliance's stronghold in the Blazing Fire Kingdom: East Floating City.

Xiao Ran thought to himself that this was just like establishing a special administrative zone.

The Dao Alliance was attempting to integrate cultivation forces through this move, enhance its influence, and dismantle the negative isolationist mindset of various sects hiding their treasures away and avoiding the world.

The third agenda item.

The Dao Alliance issued a public notice instructing all major sects, towns, and Wraith hunters to be on the lookout for an extremist evil organization called the Apostles.

This organization had recently summoned Wraith in multiple population-gathering areas! Their actions were extremely heinous; anyone who discovered them was required to notify the Dao Alliance immediately, or have powerful individuals dispatched by major sects to capture and escort them to the Dao Alliance, with heavy rewards guaranteed.

Summoning Wraith?

Xiao Ran thought to himself, aren't these just human traitors?

This inexplicably reminded him of the public intellectuals from his past life—humanity's psychological tendency to fawn over the strong was truly utterly foul!

The Elder Council meeting quickly concluded.

Three extremely important agenda items had been discussed, but everyone merely nodded in contemplation without expressing any constructive opinions.

Returning to Sword-Wielding Mountain.

The warm breeze blew gently beneath the intertwined pine trees.

Xiao Ran stood like a wooden stake.

Lingzhou Yue paced around Xiao Ran, examining him up and down, meticulously scrutinizing this disciple she had only lived with for a day and a half.

This time, she wasn't probing Xiao Ran's mediocre talent or inspecting his handsome physique.

Instead, she was scrutinizing his character!

Was this fellow usually playing the honest and innocent card with me? How could he be so bold and sagacious? Daring to spout nonsense without batting an eye in front of four elders?

To go to such lengths just to stand up for her, his master...

Were you raised on filial piety! Regardless, from this moment on, she and Xiao Ran were not just master and disciple, but grasshoppers tied to the same boat.

Realizing this, she inadvertently drifted behind Xiao Ran, massaging her precious disciple's shoulders and kneading his cervical spine while exhaling a breath fragrant with wine, and said meaningfully:

"You certainly hide yourself deep!"

Xiao Ran only felt his shoulders go limp as ethereal spiritual energy slowly poured in, giving him a slight buzz.

Master is massaging my shoulders?

This was a scene he had never even imagined! Xiao Ran had indeed been somewhat exhausted these past few days, so at the moment he simply enjoyed it and said nothing.

Lingzhou Yue tentatively asked him:

"We'll talk about the Sword Inheritance Assembly and Rank A missions later. Let's talk about tomorrow's disciple challenge—how do you plan to seal the mouths of those elite disciples?"

Xiao Ran drew his prized sword from the System Space.

"Naturally, with my big treasure sword."

With her sword-like brows twitching, Lingzhou Yue suddenly felt a twinge of shame.

"It's a pity your master doesn't have any swordsmanship that mortals can practice to teach you."

"It's fine."

Xiao Ran didn't mind, merely saying, "Disciple has one thing he doesn't understand."

With a reproachful air, Lingzhou Yue pinched him hard.

"Didn't I tell you not to be too formal with me and to speak your mind if you have something to say?"

Xiao Ran asked bluntly:

"Did Master take me in as a disciple because of my heavenly-defective constitution, making it convenient for Master to use that as an excuse to escape the duty of imparting knowledge and teaching?"

Lingzhou Yue's hands stopped abruptly, her palms breaking into a sweat.

You really aren't formal at all! After a flurry of intense thought, she finally found a perfect excuse.

She walked with light steps up to Xiao Ran, smoothed his lapels, and in a pair of amber-like eyes reflected the sole star in the night sky.

"When master was little, mother dear once said—in my lifetime, besides encountering thousands upon thousands of immortal maidens, I would also meet a God-like Man. It's just a pity that this God-like Man is currently nothing more than a piece of uncarved jade, requiring fine and meticulous sculpting."

Xiao Ran nodded.

I believe you, ghost!