Becoming Leng Yaozhu's Disciple

"You're only six this year. You haven't formally taken a master yet, have you?"

She asked casually, but her words carried weight in the quiet room.

Chu Yan raised his head and met her dark brown eyes for a moment.

He didn't answer hastily or look flattered. He simply nodded calmly.

"Not yet."

That was true.

The Chu Clan had its own system of inheritance. As an eighty-third-ranked Soul Douluo and a Two-Word Battle Armor Master, Chu Yuntian was more than qualified to teach him personally. At least until Chu Yan became a Spirit King, the Chu Clan's staff techniques could fully support his cultivation.

But the implication behind Leng Yaozhu's question was too obvious. Given her status, she wouldn't have asked an unrelated child whether he had a master.

Since she had asked, what might come next was plain to see.

Sure enough, Leng Yaozhu lifted her teacup and took a sip, as if giving him a few seconds to absorb her words. Then she continued unhurriedly:

"Before I came to Eastsea City today, I had no intention of taking a disciple. To be honest, I've hardly ever considered taking one in my life. Teaching people is too much trouble. I can barely keep up with my own affairs—how would I have time to manage a disciple's meals, daily needs, cultivation, and growth?"

Her tone was casual as she said this, even tinged with a hint of self-mockery. She sounded nothing like the solemn Limit Douluo who stood at the pinnacle of the continent.

But then her tone paused slightly, and her gaze returned to Chu Yan.

"Still, you really are a little unusual. Six years—or has it been seven? I've never seen a six-year-old perform like you."

Chu Yan listened quietly without interrupting.

Leng Yaozhu didn't wait for a reply. She continued on her own, speaking evenly. "You're calmer than many adults, your spiritual power has already reached the Spirit Connection Realm, and your Martial Soul is so unusual. More importantly, you didn't lie to me just now."

When she said "didn't lie," her gaze lingered on his face for a moment. It was impossible to tell whether her tone held praise or something else; she sounded as if she were simply stating a fact.

"I've been in this position for a long time, and I've seen plenty of people say pretty things to me. The older they get, the better they are at it. As for the young ones, they're too easy to rattle. But you've struck just the right balance."

As she spoke, Leng Yaozhu leaned back against the sofa, relaxing.

She looked up at Chu Yan, her tone no longer so casual, and a little more serious than before.

"So I'm considering making an exception."

"Of course, taking a disciple isn't child's play. Even if I accept you, I won't keep you by my side every day and teach you everything by hand. I spend most of my time in Shrek City, handling Spirit Pagoda affairs. The time I can give a disciple is limited."

Leng Yaozhu glanced at Chu Yan, as if observing his reaction.

But Chu Yan's expression remained unchanged. He showed neither disappointment nor eagerness.

Seeing this, the interest in Leng Yaozhu's eyes deepened. She continued, "But what I can give you are things you can't get from the Chu Clan on your own. Higher-level cultivation resources, broader connections, and a more comprehensive perspective. With your talent, being confined to a place like Eastsea City would be a waste."

The room fell quiet for a while.

After saying all that, Leng Yaozhu didn't continue. She simply drank her tea, as if leaving the choice entirely in Chu Yan's hands.

Chu Yan didn't hesitate for long.

He lowered his head and thought for two or three breaths, then looked up at Leng Yaozhu and said earnestly, "I'm grateful for your favor, senior. I'm willing."

He didn't put on airs or politely refuse. He agreed decisively.

There was nothing wrong with becoming Leng Yaozhu's disciple. The benefits simply outweighed the drawbacks. She could help conceal matters related to his Martial Soul, Soul Rings, and so on, not to mention all the other help she could offer.

At his words, Leng Yaozhu's lips curled slightly.

"You're certainly decisive."

She set down her teacup, stood, and walked to the window. With her back to Chu Yan, she gazed at Eastsea City's skyline, her usual composure and languid ease returning to her voice.

"Then it's settled. But let me make one thing clear: taking you as my disciple doesn't mean I'll bail you out of everything. You still have to walk your own path. I'll only open a few doors for you when it matters. What lies beyond them, and how much you can claim, will depend on your own ability."

"I understand, teacher." Chu Yan nodded.

Leng Yaozhu turned around and looked at him, seemingly checking whether he truly understood. Then she nodded slightly, her tone softening.

"I'm returning to the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda this afternoon. There's no rush for the formal ceremony. We can hold it later, once you come to Shrek City. For now, focus on laying a solid foundation here in Eastsea City. Learn what you need to learn and train as you should."

"All right," Chu Yan replied.

Leng Yaozhu thought for a moment, then took a palm-sized crimson token from her sleeve and tossed it over.

Chu Yan reached out and caught it. It felt a little heavy in his hand. The token was made of some kind of dark red metal, with a phoenix spreading its wings engraved on the front. Beneath it, a character had been carved in fine lines.

"Leng."

"This is my personal token. Keep it. When you get to Shrek City, or any Spirit Pagoda branch, you can use it to request some basic resources. You can also use the Spirit Ascension Platform and places like it for free. If you run into trouble you can't handle, use this token to contact the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda. Someone there will pass the message on to me."

Chu Yan held the token in his hand, his fingertip tracing the clear, delicate pattern of the phoenix with outstretched wings.

He didn't refuse. He put it away at once.

"Thank you, senior."

"You're still calling me 'senior'?" Leng Yaozhu glanced at him.

Chu Yan caught on quickly. He paused briefly, then naturally corrected himself. "Thank you, teacher."

At that, Leng Yaozhu's lips finally curved into a genuine smile. "That sounds much better."

She walked back to the tea table and sat down again, pouring herself another cup. She glanced at the tea in front of Chu Yan, which he had barely touched, and said, "You certainly aren't shy. You haven't even touched the tea I poured for you. Don't you like flower tea?"

"It's not that I dislike it." Chu Yan lifted his teacup and took a sip, answering honestly. "I just ate too much at the banquet earlier. I can't drink much."

Leng Yaozhu chuckled softly at his answer. "That's fair. I saw you sitting in the corner earlier, eating quite a bit. You had several pieces of Earth Dragon Meat, didn't you? You've got quite an appetite."

Chu Yan didn't mind that she'd noticed. He answered frankly, "I used up a lot of energy yesterday, so it was a good chance to replenish it. Besides, it tasted great."

"If you like it, you can have some next time you come to the Heavenly Spirit Pagoda. The cooks there make it even better than the ones here."

As she spoke, Leng Yaozhu set down her teacup, as if she had suddenly remembered something. She glanced at him and said, "By the way, since you're already my disciple, there are a few rules I should explain to you in advance."

She paused. The casualness in her tone receded, replaced by a more serious air.

"First, my position within the Spirit Pagoda is rather special. For now, don't tell anyone that you're my disciple. Things inside the Spirit Pagoda are more complicated than you imagine. If the Qiangu Clan finds out about you, they might take an interest in you. Until you've grown stronger, the fewer people who know, the safer you'll be."

"Second, don't mention your ability to condense Soul Rings on your own to anyone else. Just say you obtained your Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda. As for your Soul Ring's age, report it as around five hundred years. I'll take care of the rest."

"Third..."

She looked at Chu Yan, her eyes holding a warmth that was hard to describe. Yet there was not a trace of jest in her voice as she said, "Now that you've taken me as your teacher, cultivate properly. Don't give up halfway. I don't expect you to become a powerhouse of any particular rank, but at the very least, don't waste what you have."

"And since you've taken me as your master, you're now part of the Spirit Pagoda. You can't join the Tang Sect, the War God Temple, or any of the others."