Named Disciple

"Senior Brother, I happen to be lacking a pill-guarding attendant under my seat. His cultivation level doesn't need to be particularly high; let this child be admitted into my sect as a nominal disciple."

At this moment, an old man in a soap-colored robe standing behind the Master of the Nether Spring Branch suddenly spoke up. This caught everyone off guard.

The old man in the soap-colored robe had sparse hair and dull eyes, and his body exuded a sense of deathly stillness, as if he were nearing the end of his days.

"Since Old Hong has spoken, that could not be better." The Master of the Nether Spring Branch looked stunned, glancing at the old man in the soap-colored robe with surprise, then a look of contemplation flashed through his eyes as he spoke slowly.

"Hong Qianlie, that old freak Hong..."

"What a pity. Since Old Hong wants to take this person as a disciple, then so be it..."

Some of the Demon Race powerhouses shook their heads with regret. They had wanted to refine Chen Lin into a spirit pill; in their eyes, Chen Lin was a mere ant, and since he possessed a trash physique, his life and death could be decided at will.

This Old Hong seemed to hold a somewhat special status within the Myriad Demon Sect. Even though he belonged to the Nether Spring Branch, which ranked last among the seventy-two branches of the Myriad Demon Sect, many powerhouses dared not say much, seemingly unwilling to offend him.

While Chen Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, his temperament grew increasingly cold and ruthless. In the Demon Race, the strong preyed upon the weak; without strength or aptitude, one could only be fish on a chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered.

Following this, the various fierce beasts underwent bloodline testing one after another. This time, quite a few good seedlings actually emerged. Many possessed Heaven-tier bloodlines, and there were even a few with Immortal-tier bloodlines, all of whom were snatched up by the powerhouses of the higher-ranked demon branches.

Finally, apart from the personal disciples selected by the various branch masters, every one of these newly admitted disciples had a sect restriction implanted within their bodies. Should they commit acts harmful to the sect or attempt to defect, the restriction would be triggered, destroying their souls.

This was the mark of the Myriad Demon Sect given to its disciples, and Chen Lin was no exception.

"Wait here; there will be guide disciples to take you back to your respective demon branches."

Li Juekong tossed out these indifferent words before leaving with the other branch masters.

"Junior Brother Qiu Ming, I'm afraid I must trouble you to take these little ones to 'Nether Spring Peak.' My sect mission for this month has just been completed, and the deadline is almost up; I must rush to the 'Central Hall' for the mission handover."

Once all the powerhouses had departed, Wu Lan cupped his hands toward Qiu Ming and said.

"No matter, it is but a small task."

Qiu Ming watched Wu Lan leave, then turned around and flicked his sleeves, causing the massive Flying Skiff to reappear in mid-air.

Chen Lin and the others boarded the Flying Skiff one by one, though this time they were not tucked into Qiu Ming's sleeves; instead, he personally piloted the vessel.

"My Nether Spring Branch possesses very few divine abilities, but our Netherfire Alchemy is unique. Although we rank last in the entire Myriad Demon Sect, no one dares to truly offend us. Even the higher-ranked branches often come to us seeking pills and medicine."

Half an incense stick later, Qiu Ming, with a hint of arrogance, led Chen Lin and the others toward a towering peak.

Each branch possessed its own unique peak. Through Qiu Ming's casual remarks, Chen Lin gradually understood that resources within the seventy-two branches of the Myriad Demon Sect were limited. Those ranked higher naturally received priority for resources, while those ranked lower received the least—sometimes not even enough for the branch master and the branch's powerhouses to cultivate, let alone to nurture disciples.

The peak soared into the clouds, wreathed in mist; the higher one went, the denser the spiritual energy became.

"Outer sect disciples may only cultivate below the mountainside, and each has a cave dwelling. Nominal disciples cultivate at the mountainside and enjoy independent courtyards. As for personal disciples, they reside atop the peak, each possessing a magnificent palace. Wait here; the branch master and the various grand-uncles will arrive shortly to distribute you accordingly."

Qiu Ming led Chen Lin and the dozens of other fierce beasts into a grand hall, instructed them to wait in designated areas, and then began chatting with other attendant disciples in the hall.

Chen Lin surveyed the hall and found the layout extremely simple. In the center of the hall stood an altar filled with spirit tablets, each representing a fallen or deceased ancestor of the branch.

Above the tablets hung an ancient painting. In it, an old man held a pill furnace, with a phantom resembling a flood dragon appearing behind him, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, riding the clouds and mist, hidden within a surging river. It was wreathed in azure brilliance and was truly extraordinary.

Before long, a group of seven appeared in the hall. Hong Qianlie, the old man in the soap-colored robe who had wanted to take Chen Lin as a pill-guarding attendant, was among them.

"Welcome, Branch Master, and all Grand-Uncles."

Several disciples in the hall bowed in salute. Chen Lin and the others naturally hurried to bow as well.

"Hmm, no need for formalities. I am Xu Qing, the current Master of the Nether Spring Branch. Since you have joined my Nether Spring Branch, the rules of this branch must have already been explained to you by the guide disciple."

In the center of the group, the scholar in the plain robe, Xu Qing, nodded slightly, his expression gentle and refined. He spoke calmly: "Those with bloodlines below the Earth-tier may serve as outer sect disciples in this branch. Once registered, each person may go to the 'Immortal Treasury Pavilion' to choose one immortal technique. You will receive ten spirit stones each month for cultivation, but each person must complete two sect-assigned missions every month. Those who perform exceptionally well will be promoted to nominal disciples."

"Those with Earth-tier bloodlines or higher will be assigned as nominal or personal disciples. Nominal disciples receive twenty spirit stones each month for cultivation, and we will set aside two days every month to provide guidance and resolve your doubts regarding cultivation. Each person may go to the 'Immortal Treasury Pavilion' to choose three immortal techniques, and you must complete one sect-assigned mission every month."

"Personal disciples receive thirty spirit stones and ten spirit pills each month for cultivation and are exempt from sect missions."

The disciples were divided into three tiers, and their treatment could be described as worlds apart.

Those whose bloodline potential was below the Earth-tier all looked dejected as they were led out of the hall, where other disciples would arrange their affairs. In the blink of an eye, the hall became much emptier.

"I am devoted to cultivation and have little heart for teaching disciples, so I shall reluctantly take one personal disciple. This golden ape's ancestor was an 'Eight-Barbarian Golden-Armored Ape'; its physical body is powerful and well-suited for cultivating my immortal techniques. This child belongs to me."

Among the seven, a burly man in hempen clothes with a tiger's back and a bear's waist scanned the room. With a wave of his fan-sized palm, a strange, nearly ten-foot-tall giant ape was snatched into his hand. He chuckled, cupped his hands toward Xu Qing and the others, and transformed into a streak of golden light, vanishing instantly.

"This little fellow's ancestor was a 'Purple-Vine Thunder Eagle'; it is well-suited for cultivating my thunder-fire immortal techniques. This child is mine."

Immediately after, a gaunt man with purple lightning swirling in his eyes spoke coldly. He reached out and snatched a strange thunder eagle behind him.

"This concubine happens to cultivate a water-attribute immortal technique. This little fellow possesses the Heavenly Demon bloodline of the 'Ice-Python Tuo Snake,' so this concubine shall take him."

Because Chen Lin had already been designated as a nominal disciple by Hong Qianlie, no one came to contend for him. Of course, no one would bother fighting over a piece of trash with a "Parasitic Shared-Soul" physique.

Half an hour later, all the disciples had been divided up. Chen Lin stood behind Hong Qianlie. Beside him stood several others; three had been taken as personal disciples by Hong Qianlie, while the rest were all nominal disciples.

"From today on, you shall primarily cultivate this immortal technique. You may practice others, but this one must remain your focus."

Hong Qianlie turned his head to look at his disciples, his gaze fixing directly on Chen Lin. A flash of light appeared in his hand as he tossed an immortal technique jade slip toward Chen Lin. Although his tone was flat, it carried an unquestionable weight: "The treatment you enjoy each month will be the same as that of a personal disciple, but I will check your progress in this technique every half month. If there is no improvement, there will be punishment. Of course, if there is progress, I will not be stingy with rewards."

With a flicker of his eyes, Chen Lin lowered his head and respectfully accepted the jade slip.

His Advanced Perception took effect, and he felt that Hong Qianlie's decision to take him as a disciple was far from simple. In the dark, he sensed a trace of unease. Although the old man hid it well, Chen Lin still perceived an ephemeral strangeness in the way he looked at him, which forced him to be cautious.

Clearly, this Old Hong's taking him as a disciple was not so simple; there was certainly some other motive, and he was likely harboring ulterior intentions.