Named Disciple

"Senior Brother, I happen to be short a pill-tending boy. He doesn't need much cultivation. Let me take this child into my sect as a nominal disciple."

At that moment, a gray-robed elder standing behind the Nether Spring Branch Master suddenly spoke. Everyone couldn't help but stare in surprise.

The gray-robed elder had sparse hair and dull eyes. A deathly air hung about him, and he looked as though he were nearing the end of his days.

"Since Elder Hong has spoken, that's for the best." The Nether Spring Branch Master paused, then looked at the gray-robed elder in surprise. A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes as he slowly replied.

"Hong Qianlie, that old monster..."

"What a pity. Since Elder Hong wants to take him as a disciple, never mind..."

Several powerful members of the Demon Race shook their heads in regret. They had wanted to refine Chen Lin into a miraculous elixir. In their eyes, Chen Lin was an ant, and since he had a useless constitution, they could decide his life or death as they pleased.

Elder Hong seemed to hold a somewhat special status in the Myriad Demon Sect. Though he belonged to the Nether Spring Branch, ranked last among the Seventy-Two Branches of Myriad Demon, even the many powerful figures present had little to say. They seemed unwilling to offend him.

Chen Lin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart grew ever colder and harder. The Demon Race lived by the law of the jungle. Without strength or talent, he could only become a fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.

Next, the many ferocious beasts underwent bloodline testing one after another. This time, quite a few promising candidates emerged. There were many with Heaven-tier bloodlines, and even a handful with Immortal-tier bloodlines. The powerful figures from the higher-ranked branches snapped them all up.

In the end, aside from the personal disciples chosen by the branch masters, every newly admitted disciple had a sect restriction implanted in their body. If they harmed the sect or tried to flee, the restriction would activate and destroy their souls.

This was how the Myriad Demon Sect marked its disciples. Chen Lin was no exception.

"Wait here. A disciple will come and take you back to the branch you belong to."

Li Juekong tossed out the words indifferently, then left with the other branch masters.

"Junior Brother Qiu Ming, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to take this group of little ones to Nether Spring Peak. I've just completed this month's sect mission, and the deadline for my mission is almost up. I have to hurry to the Central Hall to report it."

After all the powerful figures had left, Wu Lan cupped his hands to Qiu Ming.

"No problem. It's a small matter."

Qiu Ming watched Wu Lan leave, then turned around and flicked his sleeve. The huge Flying Skiff appeared in the air once more.

Chen Lin and the others boarded the Flying Skiff in turn. This time, however, Qiu Ming didn't tuck them into his sleeve. He boarded the skiff himself and piloted it.

"Our Nether Spring Branch has few divine abilities, but our Netherfire Alchemy is second to none. Though we rank at the bottom of the Myriad Demon Sect, no one dares truly offend us. Even several of the higher-ranked branches come to us for pills."

Half an incense stick later, Qiu Ming flew with Chen Lin and the others toward a tall peak, a hint of arrogance in his expression.

Every branch had its own mountain peak. From Qiu Ming's casual remarks, Chen Lin gradually learned that the Myriad Demon Sect's seventy-two branches had limited resources. Those ranked higher naturally received them first, while the lower-ranked branches received the least—not even enough to meet the cultivation needs of their branch masters and powerful members, let alone to raise disciples.

The peak soared into the clouds, wreathed in mist. The higher they went, the richer the spiritual energy became.

"Outer disciples can cultivate only below the halfway point of the mountain, and each has their own cave dwelling. Nominal disciples cultivate halfway up and have their own courtyards. As for personal disciples, they live near the peak, each with an elegant palace. Wait here. The branch master and the various grand-uncles will arrive shortly, and they'll assign you then."

Qiu Ming led Chen Lin and several dozen other ferocious beasts into a great hall, told them to wait in the designated area, then began chatting with the other attendant disciples inside.

Chen Lin looked around the hall and found its layout extremely simple. In the center stood an altar covered with memorial tablets, each representing a powerful predecessor of the branch who had fallen or passed away in meditation.

Above the tablets hung an ancient painting. It depicted an old man holding a pill furnace, with the phantom of a dragon-like creature behind him. Its claws were bared as it soared through the clouds, hidden within a surging river and wreathed in azure radiance. It was truly extraordinary.

Before long, seven people appeared in the hall. Among them was the gray-robed elder, Hong Qianlie, who had wanted to take Chen Lin as his pill-tending boy.

"Greetings, Branch Master and Grand-Uncles."

Several disciples bowed in the hall. Chen Lin and the others hurriedly bowed as well.

"Mm, there's no need for formalities. I am Xu Qing, the current master of the Nether Spring Branch. Since you have joined our branch, I expect the welcoming disciples have already told you about our rules."

At the center of the group, Xu Qing, a scholar in plain robes, gave a slight nod, his expression refined and gentle. He spoke calmly. "Those with bloodlines below Earth tier may become outer disciples of our branch and have their names registered. Each may choose one immortal technique from the Immortal Treasury Pavilion, and each month receive ten Spirit Stones for cultivation. However, everyone must complete two sect-assigned tasks each month. Those who perform exceptionally well may be promoted to nominal disciples."

"Those with bloodlines of Earth tier or higher will become nominal or personal disciples, and we will assign them. Nominal disciples may receive twenty Spirit Stones each month for cultivation. We will also set aside two days each month to instruct you in cultivation and answer your questions. Each of you may choose three immortal techniques from the Immortal Treasury Pavilion, and must complete one sect-assigned task each month."

"Personal disciples may receive thirty Spirit Stones and ten spirit pills each month for cultivation, and need not take on sect tasks."

There were three ranks of disciples, and their benefits differed as much as heaven and earth.

The disciples whose bloodline potential fell below Earth tier all looked somewhat dejected. They were led out of the hall, where other disciples would make arrangements for them. In the blink of an eye, the hall had grown much emptier.

"I'm devoted to cultivation and don't have much time to teach disciples. I'll reluctantly take one personal disciple. This Golden Ape's ancestor was an Eight-Barbarian Golden-Armored Ape. Its body is powerful, so it's suited to cultivating my immortal technique. This one is mine."

Among the seven, a burly man in hemp robes, broad as a tiger and strong as a bear, swept his gaze over the group. He waved a hand the size of a fan, and a strange, nearly ten-foot-tall giant ape was pulled into his grasp. Then he chuckled, cupped his hands to Xu Qing and the others, and vanished in a flash of golden light.

"This little one's ancestor was a Purple-Vine Thunder Eagle. It's suited to cultivating my thunder-and-fire immortal technique. This one is mine."

Next, a gaunt man with purple lightning swirling in his eyes spoke coldly. He reached out and grabbed a rare Thunder Eagle, pulling it behind him.

"This concubine happens to cultivate a water-based immortal technique. This little one has the Heavenly Demon bloodline of an Ice-Python Tuo Snake, so I'll take it."

Since Chen Lin had already been designated a nominal disciple by Hong Qianlie, no one tried to claim him. Of course, no one would want to claim a useless creature with a Parasitic Soul-Sharing Body, either.

Half an hour later, all the disciples had been divided among them. Chen Lin stood behind Hong Qianlie, with several others beside him. Three had been taken as Hong Qianlie's personal disciples; the rest were all nominal disciples.

"From today onward, you will focus on cultivating this immortal technique. You may cultivate other techniques, but this one must remain your primary focus."

Hong Qianlie turned to look at the disciples under his charge, but his gaze went straight to Chen Lin. A flash of light appeared in his hand, and he tossed an immortal-technique jade slip toward Chen Lin. His tone was calm, yet left no room for argument. "You will receive the same benefits as a personal disciple each month, but every half-month, I will check your progress in cultivating this technique. If you haven't improved, there will be punishment. Of course, if you have made progress, I won't be stingy with rewards."

A glint flashed in his eyes. Chen Lin lowered his head and respectfully accepted the immortal-technique jade slip.

His Advanced Perception stirred. He sensed that Hong Qianlie hadn't taken him as a disciple for such a simple reason; somewhere deep inside, he caught a whiff of unease. Though Hong Qianlie had concealed it well, Chen Lin still sensed a fleeting oddity in the way he looked at him. That made him wary.

Clearly, Elder Hong hadn't taken him on as a disciple for no other reason. He must have some ulterior motive.