One More Person Joins

Medusa glanced around. The Snake-People Tribe didn't like living in the desert; given the choice, anyone would want to live in a city. She raised a slender finger and pointed casually.

"Yan City?"

Yan City lay in an eastern province of the Jia Ma Empire. Its broad roads made it a major thoroughfare connecting the empire to its eastern provinces, and it was also a prosperous commercial city—a vital stronghold of the Jia Ma Empire...

Yun Shan was acting very much like a shameless sycophant. He immediately cupped his hands and smiled. "This is a good place. The roads run in every direction, and it's not just a transportation hub. I'm sure the Snake-People Tribe will be very happy living here."

Jia Xingtian wore a pained expression. He was well and truly caught between a rock and a hard place. If they'd made the arrangements earlier, there wouldn't have been any trouble. But now... Still, he remembered clearly that aside from the empire's forces, the most powerful family in Yan City was the Mo Clan, a lackey of the Misty Cloud Sect. He hadn't expected Yun Shan to be so generous. Losing Yan City would cost him a considerable share of the profits.

In the blink of an eye, he made up his mind. He couldn't offend the Dou Sheng Expert before him over one city. He bowed just like Yun Shan and said, "Once I return, I'll arrange for the people stationed in Yan City to withdraw. From now on, the city will be renamed Snake City. The Snake-People Tribe may manage everything within it as they see fit. The Jia Ma Empire will not interfere."

"You're not being forced into this, are you?" Zhang Nian naturally noticed the flash of pain in Jia Xingtian's eyes and taunted him.

"Your Holiness, what are you saying? It's our Jia Ma Empire's good fortune to serve you. It's only a city. Since you've asked, we'll certainly obey."

Jia Xingtian spoke respectfully, though sweat had already soaked his back. For a moment just now, he'd felt an immense pressure, not realizing it was entirely in his own mind.

"Then it's settled." Zhang Nian had just been about to see them out when Yun Shan suddenly stood up beside him and dropped to one knee. Yun Yun behind him did the same. It all happened so quickly that Zhang Nian was completely bewildered.

What were they doing?

Yun Shan clasped his hands and said, "Your Holiness, this is Yun Yun, a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect and the most gifted among us. She's only twenty, yet she's already reached the strength of a Five-Star Dou Wang. I have nothing left to teach her. I'd like her to become your disciple. What do you think...?"

"This disciple, Yun Yun, sincerely wishes to become your student today. I hope Your Holiness will grant me this opportunity. I will devote myself to cultivation." Yun Yun's melodious voice lingered in Zhang Nian's ears. At the same time, an electronic prompt sounded beside him.

[Ding! Yun Yun is seeking to become your disciple... Generating attribute panel for the host]

[Name: Yun Yun]

[Strength: Five-Star Dou Wang]

[Bloodline: Human]

[Disciple Acceptance Reward: Tiangang Beidou Sect Protection Array. This is a mountain-protecting formation from one of the Three Thousand Great Worlds. Placed at the sect's entrance, it autonomously absorbs the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to sustain itself. The formation contains thirty-six smaller arrays and cannot be broken by anyone below Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint.]

Emm...

What a great reward! With this formation, I really could rest easy. Zhang Nian had been worried that the Soul Clan might come looking for trouble ahead of schedule. Going by the timeline, the Soul Clan should already be preparing to act, and their first target would be the Xiao Clan in the Jia Ma Empire. The Xiao Clan wasn't just some ordinary little family from Wutan City. Its heirloom, the Ancient Jade, was a tremendous opportunity—the Tou She Ancient God Jade.

Jia Xingtian's eyes widened. Zhang Nian might not know it, but he was well aware that Yun Yun was the successor Yun Shan had personally chosen to lead the Misty Cloud Sect. And now he was just handing her over? That old man had a heart of stone...

Medusa, standing behind Zhang Nian, said nothing. The matter of the Snake-People Tribe had already been settled. She'd initially thought they were doing all this to stop the Snake-People Tribe from entering the Jia Ma Empire. Now it seemed they'd only done it for the opportunity their master had granted. In that case, there was no need for her to speak up. Besides, if she said anything now, she would only upset her master, Zhang Nian.

Ya Fei was delighted, too. She couldn't stop cheering inwardly. Take her in as a disciple already! What a wonderful student! She had the face and the figure!

Zhang Nian's thoughts were simple. Yun Yun's addition would help him cultivate faster. Since Yun Shan was willing to part with her, Zhang Nian wouldn't refuse.

"Very well. Since you're sincere, you may stay."

He gave a slight nod, accepting Yun Yun as his disciple. Yun Shan beamed. The Holy One had agreed!

"Yun Yun, take good care of the Holy One from now on, and never slack off in your cultivation. I'll take my leave."

With the matter settled, Yun Shan clasped his hands and turned to go. His old face was full of delight. Jia Xingtian left with him, and once they were outside the sect gates, he couldn't help mocking him. "You old geezer, you really are willing to part with her. Wasn't Yun Yun the next sect master you chose yourself? You were willing to give her up?"

"Hmph. We're both nearing the end of our lives. With an opportunity like this right before me, how could I be content to stop here?"

Yun Shan ignored Jia Xingtian. His Dou Qi wings beat rapidly behind him, and he disappeared into the distance in a streak of light, leaving Jia Xingtian standing there, lost in thought.

That's right... This old man should make a bid for it, too...

Inside, Yun Yun seemed at a loss. Medusa stared at her coldly, while Ya Fei looked at her differently. Yun Yun couldn't quite tell whether that look was sympathetic or maybe a little flirtatious.

"Alright, no need to keep kneeling. Here are some Ice Heart Pills. If your mind feels unsettled while cultivating, you can take one."

He casually tossed an exquisite jade bottle onto the table. It was something the Misty Cloud Sect had originally owned.

A moment later, a prompt sounded in his ear.

[Host has given disciple Yun Yun 10 second-grade Ice Heart Pills. Calculating return...]

[Yun Yun's current favorability: 40 (not disliked). Return multiplier: 300...]

[Ding! Returned: seventh-grade Soul Nourishing Pill. Nourishes the soul and strengthens the foundation.]

Seeing her master give Yun Yun pills, Medusa's lips curled in disdain. Zhang Nian had given her a Ninth-grade Pill back then.

Ya Fei looked disappointed, too, and couldn't help thinking, Could it be that the Holy One doesn't like this type? But she looks lovely to me. She has the face and the figure, just as good as mine.

Emm, feeling that it might not be quite right, Zhang Nian took out the item the system had just returned.

"This bottle contains Soul Nourishing Pills. They're seventh-grade pills that nourish the soul and strengthen the foundation. Take them and eat them like candy."

Seventh-grade pills?

He was giving them to her to eat like candy?

Yun Yun was stunned. She had never seen a seventh-grade pill in her life. The most powerful alchemist in the entire Jia Ma Empire was only fifth-grade.

"If Master gave them to you, just take them. Why are you being so hesitant?" Medusa scolded her, and Yun Yun had no choice but to do as she was told.