After getting the wings of a fifth-tier magical beast from Hai Bodong as he had hoped, Zhang Nian returned to the mountain gate. Medusa had now broken through to Dou Emperor, so she wouldn't need this Dou Technique for the time being. The same went for Yun Yun. As for Zi Yan, he decided against it. When he found her, she was sleeping soundly. He glanced at the system and saw that Zi Yan was returning Dou Qi to him around the clock. After thinking it over, he figured the gluttonous girl had eaten all the medicinal ingredients he'd given her last time. He decided to let it go. Ya Fei, who had yet to wake up, was another good choice, but he would have to wait a month before deciding.
For the next half month, peace reigned at the mountain gate. Some slept while others absorbed energy. Yun Yun appeared only at mealtimes; the rest of the time, she was on the mountain, studying Dou Techniques. Medusa, meanwhile, had become a cultivation fanatic, vowing to break through to Dou Zong as soon as possible and uphold her reputation as the mountain gate's top woman.
Good news came from the Jia Ma Empire as well. Under the Imperial Family's supervision, Yan City was finally cleared out, and the Snake-People Tribe had successfully moved into the city. The Imperial Family also gave the city a new name. There would be no more Yan City; from now on, it would be called Snake City.
At the same time, as Zhang Nian received the good news, he also welcomed his fifth disciple... the Imperial Family's eldest princess, Yao Ye.
Staring at Jia Xingtian, who stood before him with a smile and kept buttering him up, Zhang Nian felt a headache coming on. Did a "Dou Sheng" powerhouse like him really need to maintain a balance of power? Probably not. Yet the old man in front of him was being so obsequious... and had even brought a great many gifts. To be honest, with Zhang Nian's current strength, it wouldn't be long before he could head to the Central Plains and establish a force of his own, becoming a major power in his own right. He was only holding back because the Central Plains was rife with competing forces and he wanted to avoid trouble. He also wanted to better understand the system. After all, he still couldn't be considered invincible on the continent.
After a night of psychological counseling from Jia Xingtian, the valiant Yao Ye had gladly accepted the arrangement. In her eyes, having a top expert on the continent as her teacher while securing lasting political stability for the empire was worth it, even if she had to humble herself or make concessions. If her sacrifice could bring peace to the empire's borders and keep so many more soldiers from dying on the battlefield, she was willing—and would do so wholeheartedly.
"Saint, I sincerely wish to become your disciple. I hope you'll accept me. If you think my talent is mediocre, I can also serve as a maid here at the mountain gate. I only wish to attend to you..."
Dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, Yao Ye exuded the very picture of a valiant warrior. Her looks were quite different from Yun Yun's and Medusa's, but her unique bearing lent her a charm all her own.
Wait, what am I thinking? This must be the damned system's subtle influence. As a teacher, I have to be proper!
Realizing his thoughts had started to stray, Zhang Nian immediately corrected himself. Yao Ye was certainly sincere, and her words brimmed with political sentiment. Jia Xingtian had undoubtedly put them in her mouth. It wasn't that Zhang Nian lacked confidence in his ability to teach her; it was the system's notification that rang in his ear and completely changed his mind.
[Ding! Yao Ye has sincerely sought to become your disciple. Retrieving her attributes...] [Name: Yao Ye] [Strength: Nine-Star Dou Zhe] [Bloodline: Human] [Affection: ??] [Apprentice Reward: Divine Artifact, Fire-Tipped Spear]
Hm?
Wait a second. The Fire-Tipped Spear?
Was this the same Fire-Tipped Spear that Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince, had?
Zhang Nian froze. This was the first time the reward for taking on a disciple had been an item for him. What did that mean? Was it because Yao Ye was thinking only of him right now? Or because she wanted to serve him with all her heart, which was why the reward had turned out this way?
As for the question marks next to her affection, he no longer found them puzzling. He couldn't see a disciple's affection for him before accepting her. The system did this to stop him from gaming the rules by taking on disciples who already liked him, so he could claim the rewards. It really had him covered from every angle.
After all, the first time he took on a disciple, Medusa had been rewarded with a pill because she wanted to use him to change the plight of the Snake-People Tribe. The pill had manifested what she desired. Zi Yan needed no explanation: all she wanted was to eat more medicinal ingredients, absorb energy, and grow up quickly. Ya Fei probably knew she had no hope of cultivating, so she wanted to run an intelligence network that combined assassination and information-gathering, proving that a woman could wield an iron fist too. Yun Yun had likely been thinking of protecting her sect, so she had received a protective grand formation...
Following that logic, Yao Ye had been thinking of him?
Good heavens. A thoughtful girl like this absolutely has to join the mountain gate!
"Saint, I know our Yao Ye's talent is a little mediocre, but she's always been a hard worker. I'm sure she'll achieve great things under your guidance." Jia Xingtian kept singing Yao Ye's praises beside him, his old face shamelessly eager. He looked more like a merchant hawking his wares. Yao Ye's expression didn't waver in the slightest. Seeing this, Zhang Nian couldn't help feeling a little sorry for her. What had this girl been through to develop such a mature outlook at such a young age?
Zhang Nian raised a hand to stop Jia Xingtian's self-praise, then slowly put the gifts he had brought into his Storage Ring. "I'll accept her as my disciple."
Hearing Zhang Nian's definite answer, Jia Xingtian's wrinkles bunched together like an unopened chrysanthemum—ugly, and yet somehow even uglier. Yao Ye smiled brightly, knelt, and kowtowed to Zhang Nian. Her words brimmed with heartfelt joy. "Your disciple Yao Ye pays her respects to Master."
[Ding! Yao Ye has successfully become your disciple... Updating her attributes...] [Name: Yao Ye] [Strength: Nine-Star Dou Zhe] [Bloodline: Human] [Affection: 80]
Good heavens, eighty affection?
Zhang Nian's jaw dropped. No wonder this girl had earned him the divine artifact, the Fire-Tipped Spear. Her affection was already on par with Medusa's, whom he had been pursuing for so long. Where could he find another disciple this wonderful?
Without hesitation, he took out the Flying Dou Technique he had obtained earlier and handed over the scroll. "This is the High Xuan Tier Flying Dou Technique Wings of the Eagle, which I acquired while traveling. These are also the wings of a fifth-tier magical beast, a Sun-Scorching Flame Eagle. Consider them a welcoming gift."
"Flying Dou Technique?" Yao Ye asked, puzzled. Given her limited experience, she had no idea what a Flying Dou Technique was. But Jia Xingtian behind her knew just how rare it was. He gazed kindly at Yao Ye and smiled.
"Silly girl, this is a rare treasure. It lets you fly and gives you a pair of wings before you reach Dou Wang."
Before you continue