Taking Shui Bing'er as a Disciple, the Heavenly Emperor's First Disciple

"How do you feel?" Meng Chen's faintly smiling voice came from above.

Shui Bing'er looked up at the phantom floating in the air. The anger and dissatisfaction in her beautiful eyes were already gone.

Now that there was hope of her Soul Power recovering, how could she still be angry with Meng Chen?

She had even obtained such a powerful cultivation art. Her cultivation efficiency would greatly improve from now on!

And... whenever she thought of Meng Chen's words, "a direct path to the realm of Deities," Shui Bing'er's heart pounded.

Deities—those were realms that even Titled Douluo only dared to look up to.

Thinking of the enormous benefit she had received, Shui Bing'er bowed to Meng Chen. "Senior, I'm sorry."

"My attitude was bad before. I lost my temper at you and spoke disrespectfully. Please forgive me."

Meng Chen chuckled. "So, you're no longer angry with me?"

Shui Bing'er straightened up. Her lake-blue eyes met Meng Chen's directly as she said earnestly, "Senior, please don't say that. You bestowed such a precious cultivation art upon me. Shui Bing'er will remember this kindness forever."

She paused, then continued, "I didn't understand the situation before. I thought Senior had deliberately stolen my Soul Power... Only now do I know that Senior had no choice at the time, so I should apologize."

Meng Chen looked at the sensible young girl before him, and the approval in his eyes deepened.

She knew gratitude and dared to admit her mistakes. Perhaps...

Meng Chen waved a hand, his tone gentle. "There is no need to apologize. I absorbed three months' worth of your Soul Power, causing you to fall from level thirty-five to level zero. That was indeed my fault."

"Passing this cultivation art to you is merely compensation. You needn't feel that you owe me anything."

Shui Bing'er shook her head. "The cultivation art Senior passed down to me is far more valuable than mere level thirty-five Soul Power. This compensation is too great. I feel unworthy of accepting it."

Meng Chen laughed. "You're quite an honest girl. Others would wish for the compensation to be as generous as possible, yet you think it is too much."

His words embarrassed Shui Bing'er slightly. She lowered her eyes, a rosy blush spreading across her lovely face.

Meng Chen watched her with interest, then suddenly changed the subject. "Since you feel unworthy of accepting it, why not put it another way? Consider it not compensation from me, but... instruction."

Shui Bing'er raised her head, confusion appearing in her eyes. "Instruction?"

Could the meaning of that word be that Senior wanted to...

Shui Bing'er suddenly grew nervous.

"Correct." Meng Chen stood with his hands behind his back. Though his Soul Body was illusory, he possessed an air of looking down upon the world. "Your nature is kind, and your innate talent is excellent. After becoming a Soul Body, I happened to end up within you. It seems the two of us are fated."

"So... are you willing to take me as your master?"

Shui Bing'er's heart jolted. So it was indeed as she had thought.

She looked at Meng Chen, thoughts churning through her mind.

Taking him as her master did not seem impossible.

But she knew far too little about Meng Chen.

She only knew that he called himself the "Lord of Heavenly Court" and the "Heavenly Emperor Chen."

He had once been extremely powerful. After being besieged, he had detonated his own body, and his remnant soul had taken up residence within her.

Beyond that, Shui Bing'er knew nothing about him. She did not even know where he came from.

Could she really take him as her master under such circumstances?

Mother had taught us since childhood not to go with strangers.

But on second thought, judging by Meng Chen's actions, he should bear her no ill will.

If he had malicious intentions, there would have been no need for him to reveal himself. He could simply have hidden in her body and secretly absorbed her Soul Power until he was full.

And judging from his words and his cultivation art, he had definitely once been a peak expert!

Then his most precious possessions were—the experience and knowledge accumulated over a lifetime of cultivation!

He was more than qualified to be her master.

Shui Bing'er's heartbeat quickened as she looked into Meng Chen's deep, starry eyes.

Meng Chen did not urge her. He merely watched quietly, waiting for her answer.

He was not certain whether Shui Bing'er would agree.

After all, in his current state as a remnant soul, he was somewhat down and out.

If Shui Bing'er refused, he would not force her. The bond between master and disciple depended on fate; forced fruit was never sweet.

"Senior, I want to know, if I take you as my master... what would I need to do?"

Shui Bing'er asked somewhat uneasily.

She wanted to first make clear whether becoming Meng Chen's disciple came with any taboos, such as not eating beef or having to withdraw from Skywater Academy.

Meng Chen smiled. "Very simple. Respect your master and uphold the proper path. Do not deceive your master or betray your sect. Other than that, I will not interfere with anything you do."

After hearing this, Shui Bing'er finally made up her mind.

She took two steps back, bent her knees, and respectfully knelt down. Her forehead touched the ground as her clear voice rang out, firm and resolute:

"Disciple Shui Bing'er pays respects to Master!"

Meng Chen looked at Shui Bing'er kneeling before him, and a satisfied smile rose at the corners of his lips.

"Rise."

He raised his right hand slightly, and a gentle force of soul power lifted Shui Bing'er up.

"From this day forth, you are my personal disciple. I do not have many rules for my disciples. There are only three. Remember them well."

Shui Bing'er nodded respectfully. "Please speak, Master."

"First, do not use strength to bully the weak or slaughter the innocent."

"Second, fellow disciples must not harm one another. If there are grudges, report them to your master, and I will decide the matter."

"Third, the path of cultivation is long and difficult. No matter what hardships you encounter, never speak lightly of giving up."

Meng Chen looked at Shui Bing'er and enunciated each word. "Can you do that?"

Shui Bing'er nodded heavily. "This disciple can!"

Meng Chen was greatly satisfied. "Good. From today onward, you are a disciple of the Heavenly Court Sect. Once I restore my body, I will hold a formal disciple-taking ceremony for you."

Meng Chen was, after all, merely a Soul Body, unlike Shui Bing'er, who possessed a physical body.

Having remained outside for so long and done so much, he naturally began to feel weary.

Meng Chen yawned. "I need to rest. Today's expenditure was too great. I must return to your body and sleep for a while."

"Cultivate in peace. If there is anything in the cultivation art that you do not understand, ask me after I awaken."

Hearing this, Shui Bing'er looked at Meng Chen with concern. "Master, you... will be all right, won't you?"

Seeing the genuine worry in her eyes, Meng Chen felt warmth in his heart and smiled. "Don't worry. I won't disperse so easily. I am only temporarily fatigued."

After saying that, his Soul Body transformed into a streak of Chaos Flowing Light and entered Shui Bing'er's chest.

Deep within the Sea of Consciousness, the Chaos Bead floated quietly.

Meng Chen sat cross-legged inside the bead, closed his eyes, and began circulating a soul cultivation method.

His Soul Body was too weak. Passing on the Nine Revolutions Ice Phoenix Art had consumed more than half of the little soul power he had left. He had to recover as quickly as possible.

Still, being able to take Shui Bing'er as his disciple made it worthwhile.

This girl had decent talent and a good temperament. If properly nurtured, she would surely achieve great things in the future.

The corners of Meng Chen's lips lifted slightly before he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains into the room. Shui Bing'er rose, stretched her body, then walked to the mirror to tidy her appearance.

In the mirror, the young girl's ice-blue hair fell to her waist. Her skin was whiter than snow, her features delicate and lovely, and her sapphire-like eyes clear and bright. Her blue-violet lipstick lent her a touch of cool glamour.

Shui Bing'er changed into Skywater Academy's uniform. The white long dress, adorned with ice-blue accents, perfectly highlighted her graceful figure.

She took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

She was going to find her mother and tell her about taking a master.