Yao Ye Enters the Mountain Gate

Having successfully obtained the wings of a Rank 5 magical beast from Hai Bodong as desired, Zhang Nian returned to the mountain gate. At this moment, Medusa's strength had already broken through to the Dou Emperor realm, so she had no immediate use for this Dou technique. The same was naturally true for Yun Yun, and as for Zi Yan, it was better not to bother; when Zhang Nian found her, she was sleeping soundly. He glanced at Zi Yan, who was providing him with a 24-hour Dou Qi return via the system, and after some thought, he figured this little glutton must have eaten all the medicinal herbs he had given her last time. He decided to let it slide. Ya Fei, who had yet to wake up, seemed like a decent choice, but that would have to wait until at least a month later.

In the half-month that followed, the mountain gate was peaceful. Those who wanted to sleep slept, and those who wanted to absorb energy did so. Aside from appearing for daily meals, Yun Yun spent all her time on the mountain peaks studying Dou techniques, while Medusa had transformed into a cultivation fanatic, swearing to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm as soon as possible to maintain her reputation as the top sister of the mountain gate.

Good news also arrived from the Jia Ma Empire. Under the supervision of the royal family, Yan City was finally cleared out, and the Snake-People Tribe had successfully moved into the city. At the same time, the royal family renamed the city; from now on, there would be no more Yan City, as it had been renamed Snake City.

At the same time he received this good news, Zhang Nian also welcomed his fifth disciple: the eldest princess of the royal family, Yao Ye.

Looking at Jia Xingtian, who stood before him with a smile and kept singing his praises, Zhang Nian felt a headache coming on. Did a "Dou Sheng" expert like him really need to worry about political balance? It didn't seem necessary, yet this old man was being so sycophantic... he had even brought many gifts. To be honest, with Zhang Nian's current strength, he could become a titan even if he went to the Central Plains to establish a faction in the future. He only held back because the factions in the Central Plains were complex, and he wanted to avoid trouble while better analyzing the system, as he couldn't yet be considered invincible on the continent.

As for the heroic and spirited Yao Ye, after a night of psychological counseling from Jia Xingtian, she readily accepted the arrangement. In her view, being taught by a top expert on the continent while securing long-term political stability for the empire was worth it. Even if it meant bowing her head or compromising, she could fully accept it. If her sacrifice could bring peace to the empire's borders and prevent so many soldiers from dying on the battlefield, she was willing, and she would do it gladly.

"Great Saint, Yao Ye sincerely wishes to take you as her master. I hope you will accept me. If you find my aptitude mediocre, I am willing to become a maid in this mountain gate, only wishing to serve by your side..."

Dressed in a black tight-fitting outfit, Yao Ye embodied the word "heroic." While her appearance differed from that of Yun Yun or Medusa, her unique temperament added a different kind of charm.

No, where is my mind going! It must be the influence of that damn system. A teacher must be upright!

Realizing his thoughts were drifting, Zhang Nian corrected himself in time. Admittedly, the other party's attitude was sincere, and the words carried deep political sentiment, likely scripted by Jia Xingtian. It wasn't that he lacked the confidence to teach her, but the system notification that rang in his ears completely changed Zhang Nian's judgment.

[Ding! Detected that Yao Ye is sincerely seeking apprenticeship. Retrieving attribute panel for the host...]

[Name: Yao Ye]

[Strength: Nine-Star Dou Practitioner]

[Bloodline: Human]

[Favorability: ??]

[Apprenticeship Reward: Divine Weapon Fire-Tipped Spear]

Hmm?

Wait a minute, a Fire-Tipped Spear?

Is it the same Fire-Tipped Spear belonging to the Third Prince Nezha that I know?

Zhang Nian was stunned. This was the first time the apprenticeship reward was an item for himself. What was the logic behind this? Or was it because Yao Ye's heart was currently filled with thoughts of him? Or perhaps it was because she was thinking of serving him with all her might, leading to this result?

As for the question mark in the favorability, he was no longer confused. After all, one could not see the favorability of the other party before accepting them as a disciple. This was the system's way of preventing him from trying to cut corners by picking disciples with high favorability.

After all, in the previous apprenticeships, Medusa was rewarded with pills because she wanted to change the status quo of the Snake-People Tribe through him, so the reward was a manifestation of her inner desires. As for Zi Yan, it went without saying; she only wanted to eat more herbs to absorb energy and grow up quickly. Ya Fei likely knew she had no hope of cultivation, so she wanted to run an intelligence organization that combined assassination and information gathering, proving that women could have an iron-fisted approach. Yun Yun probably just wanted to protect the sect, hence the sect-protecting formation...

Following this logic, what Yao Ye wanted in her heart was him?

My god, such a thoughtful little cotton-padded jacket must be accepted into the mountain gate!

"Great Saint, I know Yao Ye's aptitude is a bit mediocre, but this girl has been exceptionally hardworking since she was young. I believe that under your guidance, she will surely achieve something." Jia Xingtian wore a fawning expression, chattering on about Yao Ye's virtues like a merchant selling goods. Yao Ye's face remained completely calm, a sight that made Zhang Nian feel a pang of heartache. What had this girl experienced to have such a mature state of mind at her age?

He raised a hand to interrupt Jia Xingtian's self-promotion, slowly stored the gifts Jia Xingtian had brought into his Storage Ring, and said, "I accept this disciple."

Hearing Zhang Nian's affirmative reply, the wrinkles on Jia Xingtian's face bunched together like an unbloomed chrysanthemum—ugly, yet extremely ugly. Yao Ye beamed, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed to Zhang Nian, saying with heartfelt joy, "Disciple Yao Ye pays respects to Master."

[Ding! Successfully accepted Yao Ye as a disciple... Updating attribute panel...]

[Name: Yao Ye]

[Strength: Nine-Star Dou Practitioner]

[Bloodline: Human]

[Favorability: 80]

My god, 80 favorability?

Zhang Nian's jaw dropped. She was truly worthy of being the girl who brought him the divine weapon Fire-Tipped Spear. Her favorability was on par with Medusa, whom he had been "conquering" for a long time. Where else could he find such a good disciple?

He immediately and generously took out the flight Dou technique he had obtained earlier, handed the scroll over, and said, "This is the Xuan-tier high-grade flight Dou technique Wings of the Eagle I obtained abroad. Also, this is a pair of wings from a Rank 5 magical beast, the Sun-Scorching Flame Eagle. Consider it a welcoming gift."

"A flight Dou technique?" Yao Ye was puzzled. With her experience, she didn't know what a flight Dou technique was, but Jia Xingtian behind her understood the rarity of this item perfectly. He looked at Yao Ye kindly and laughed:

"Silly girl, this is a rare treasure. It will allow you to possess the ability to fly and gain a pair of wings even before you reach the Dou King realm."