[Target: The Back Mountain]

Chapter 16: Target: Back Mountain

Back then, when that lucky bastard triggered the hidden quest and joined the Demon Sect Back Mountain Small Study, the "Heavenly Dust" game forum exploded instantly! While we were still struggling for scraps of profit, he'd already latched onto the thickest thigh!? Of course, a few days later, news of that guy's sudden death hit the headlines, and the forum exploded again... Turns out, a healthy body really does matter. As for the "perfect start" Lu Xun wanted, it was to join the Back Mountain Small Study! How long had he even been transmigrating? First someone wanted to catch him as a cauldron, then as a mount—this account was cursed! He could feel the deep malice women in this world held toward him! Boosting his strength couldn't wait. As for his body... it was especially healthy. Every morning from 4 to 7 AM, his body's normal male reactions told him: you're in great shape. No wonder they wanted to catch him as a cauldron—his fire energy was really blazing. Originally, he'd planned to find some way to reach the Demon Sect's territory first, then use special channels to obtain the qualifications to become the Master's disciple. But bumping into Mao Nanbei by chance made everything much smoother. Right now, Mao Nanbei wanted to take Lu Xun as her mount. Right now, that bastard had already treated her as a tool person. A few more hours passed, Mao Nanbei hovered the paper crane midair, and Murong Yan also stopped her flying sword. Ahead lay the several peaks where the Demon Sect was located, surrounded by the Demon Sect's Mountain Protection Array. Entering rashly without permission meant waiting to be blasted to ash! Legend said this array was crafted by the Master himself, and to this day, no one had ever forced their way through and escaped unscathed—not even giants of the Cultivation World, adding another layer of mystery to the Master's true strength. Both Murong Yan and Mao Nanbei had Sect Tokens, so the array wouldn't block them; they could come and go freely. Moreover, Mao Nanbei's token was special enough that bringing along outsiders like Lu Xun and Ji Li was no big deal. The paper crane flew forward, heading straight for one of the peaks. Just as it seemed about to crash, Ji Li was startled. But with a flash of light, the scene before them instantly changed. The peaks stretched in rolling waves, magnificent to behold. The peak they were now flying toward was called Reception Peak. At its summit was a large platform, as if cleaved flat by a single sword strike—slightly abrupt, yet miraculously blending with the surrounding scenery. This peak gave off a sense of lonely isolation, looking almost like... a scabbard? The one who'd sliced the mountain back then must have been a sword dao master—well, that was obvious; no master couldn't slice a mountain. "Doesn't this peak look a bit like a scabbard?" Murong Yan grinned foolishly, speaking to Lu Xun and Ji Li. The two nodded. Murong Yan added, "That's exactly what I thought when I first joined the sect." The paper crane landed at the top of Reception Peak, and Murong Yan quickly put away her flying sword. A group of patrolling disciples on Reception Peak immediately stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Welcome back, Little Martial Grand-Aunt." Then to Murong Yan, "Senior Sister Murong." Mao Nanbei sat on the paper crane, nodded calmly, shifted her little butt, and hopped off. She raised her hand, and the paper crane shrank again, landing in her small palm before being stored in her Storage Ring. She said to the leading patrolling disciple, "Go fetch Elder Qiu Shui for me. Tell her I've brought back a promising seedling." "Yes." This nameless extra disciple immediately took the order and left. The remaining patrolling disciples sized up Lu Xun and Ji Li. The girl the Little Martial Grand-Aunt brought back was really pretty... Eh! The guy was even better-looking!? The entire Demon Sect couldn't find a man more handsome than him. Lu Xun felt like he was reporting for freshman registration—first day of school, and he'd already crushed the former class heartthrob, grade heartthrob, school heartthrob... In his student days, someone like him would have sparked spontaneous crowds of senior girls. The Outer Sect Elder named Qiu Shui soon arrived. She had a basic understanding of the little loli Mao Nanbei—she knew the little loli was especially cocky, so if she called someone a good seedling, it had to be a celestial seedling for sure! She just didn't know if the good seedling was this fresh little girl or this... eh, so handsome! Elder Qiu Shui, as the big sister among the Outer Sect Elders, oversaw all Outer Sect affairs and personnel. Though the Heretical Path's disciple numbers couldn't compare to the orthodox sects, there were still quite a few people.

Among all these disciples, she had never seen a man more handsome than this one!

"The good seedling I meant is her." Mao Nanbei pointed at Ji Li at the right moment, not mentioning Lu Xun.

According to the rules, before new disciples entered the sect, they had to undergo another test of Cultivation Aptitude. With many people present now, Ji Li's aptitude was excellent while Lu Xun's was poor—Mao Nanbei was saving face for her future mount.

Like in many xianxia novels, cultivators could see others' aptitudes at a glance, which was actually quite broken.

If that were the case, sending disciples on a blanket search across the world would let them scoop up all the geniuses, wouldn't it?

After all, they could see it at a glance—no effort required.

In "Heavenly Dust," checking aptitude required a special technique, like the one Murong Yan had used earlier.

Elder Qiu Shui activated her technique, then lightly tapped Ji Li's brow. Eight ripples spread through the air, especially beautiful.

"We've struck gold!" Elder Qiu Shui laughed so hard she couldn't close her legs.

She hadn't expected the Little Martial Aunt to be so unreliable on normal days, yet this time she'd brought back a treasure!

Elder Qiu Shui's gaze toward Mao Nanbei changed, but as she looked at her, her peripheral vision inevitably caught Lu Xun.

"And this one?" she asked.

Mao Nanbei flicked her small hand, the Golden Bells on her wrist jingling faintly, and said, "He doesn't need it."

"Alright." Though Elder Qiu Shui didn't understand, she still nodded.

Mao Nanbei leaped up, sitting on Murong Yan's shoulder, dangling her little feet in the air as she asked Lu Xun, "Didn't you say you wanted to see the Demon Sect first? Now that you've seen it, what do you think?"

Little brat! So young, and already dead set on getting a mount!

Lu Xun asked, "To become a Demon Sect disciple, all I need is to pass the Outer Sect Assessment, right?"

"Yes." Murong Yan answered first, then gave a simple, honest smile.

Mao Nanbei glared at her, and Murong Yan smiled even more foolishly.

If Lu Xun became a Demon Sect disciple, Mao Nanbei could give up on making him her mount.

The Little Martial Grand-Aunt violently riding a junior fellow disciple of the same sect!?

How disgraceful would that be if it got out!

Though Lu Xun's Cultivation Aptitude was lacking, he still met the minimum standard for cultivation. If he had other strengths, he might have a chance to be accepted into the sect.

Lu Xun nodded slightly at this, but his next words stunned everyone present.

He said:

—"Then... what if I want to become the Master's disciple?"

A new week, and it's time to push for the signing rankings again. Asking for recommendation tickets and tips—these are the main data for climbing the charts now.