Becoming a Disciple

Wang Ding stood on the arena like a god walking the world, drawing every gaze in the field. Even Zhen Heshan, who had always stood high above the rest, looked toward him, surprise showing in his eyes.

"You pass. Go to the Welcoming Hall," the true disciple presiding over Wang Ding's arena said with a strange look. An outer disciple immediately came forward and led Wang Ding into a side hall, where he sat together with Long Lingyu and Dongfang Riyue.

Dongfang Riyue and Long Lingyu looked at Wang Ding in astonishment, their expressions different, with no telling what they were thinking.

Wang Ding sat on a wooden chair and carefully sized up the Welcoming Hall. The grand hall spanned dozens of zhang across, magnificent in gold and jade, with white jade paving the floor, golden carved coiling-dragon pillars, and tables and chairs made of sandalwood and ironwood. On the screen at the end of the main entrance was a painting of the Ancient Water God Sea-Suppressing Painting. Dozens of ancient calligraphies and paintings hung on the walls to either side, and the entire hall exuded an air of wealth, elegance, and grandeur.

At this moment, a menial servant dressed in the white robes of an outer disciple brought Wang Ding a cup of tea.

Wang Ding lifted the teacup and drank it down in one gulp. Streams of warmth immediately spread through his entire body, seeping through his five viscera and six bowels, making his spirit drift into a daze as though he were floating and dancing endlessly in the sky. His whole body cleared at once.

After a long while, Wang Ding came back to himself and felt that the Innate Qi within him had grown by a trace. "Good tea. I wonder what it is, to actually have such effects."

"Some country bumpkin from who knows where, who doesn't even know Dream Immortal Tea," an extremely unpleasant voice rang out.

Wang Ding looked over and saw a young man in brocade robes, soft shoes threaded with gold, and a tall white jade crown. His face carried an arrogant, domineering air, and he was currently looking at Wang Ding with haughty disdain in his eyes. Most likely, he was the winner of the third round.

"A dog from who knows where is barking here, yet I don't see its master coming to discipline it," Wang Ding said with a cold smile.

When the man heard this, his face instantly turned the color of pig liver, and he was about to strike. But remembering that this was the Wongchuan Sect's territory, and that making a move would bring a disaster that pierced the heavens—and having just witnessed Wang Ding's terrifying strength—he said, "Brat, you're dead. You dare speak to me, Li Yiqi, like this? My imperial brother is the Ice Prince, one of the top ten on the inner sect's monthly ranking, someone about to become a true disciple. Once we enter the inner sect, I'll make you wish you were dead, make you crawl before me and beg for mercy. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and kneel, hand over all your wealth, and get out of the Wongchuan Sect. I can still spare your life."

"You really are a dog. You've already started borrowing the tiger's might in the fox's skin, dragging your master out to speak for you."

"You—you're dead! No one in heaven or earth can save you. I absolutely won't let you off!" Li Yiqi shook all over with rage, pointing at Wang Ding as he spoke.

Wang Ding no longer paid him any attention. He sat there alone with his eyes closed, resting his spirit. About four hours later, more than fifty people gradually entered one after another, all of them having passed the entrance competition.

At this time, five or six people had gathered around Li Yiqi. Li Yiqi was jumping up and down as he said something to them, pointing at Wang Ding from time to time.

Those people kept casting malicious looks at Wang Ding. As if sensing it, Wang Ding opened his eyes and glanced at them, then ignored them again. Wang Ding knew these people were all descendants of imperial courts and noble clans in the secular world. Born used to ordering people about with a flick of the chin, they could not suffer even the slightest grievance. Their natures had long since twisted; all day long they did nothing but scheme. He and they were not on the same road, and sooner or later conflict would break out, so he did not plan to deal with them in false courtesy. If they dared provoke him, he would kill them all without exception.

Wang Ding had killed Young Master Xihua and obtained his collection. There were three supreme-grade Magic Tools alone, so he was not afraid of these few people at all. Even the so-called Ice Prince, their backer and one of the top ten on the Wongchuan Sect's monthly ranking, was someone Wang Ding was confident he could slay on the spot.

The hall was noisy and chaotic. Suddenly, a figure appeared in the seat of honor, and an aura instantly pressed down everyone's voices. It was that true disciple, Zhen Heshan. "From now on, you are all inner disciples of my Wongchuan Sect. In a moment, someone will lead you to the Dharma Transmission Hall to receive your benefits." Then he vanished directly before everyone's eyes.

Several outer disciples entered the hall at this moment and said to the crowd, "Senior brothers, please follow us." They then led everyone out of the Welcoming Hall, used a teleportation array, and arrived at Myriad Dharma Island, where the Dharma Transmission Hall was located. Everyone followed the guides into the Dharma Transmission Hall. At this time, seated within the grand hall was a cultivator of about fifty, and on either side stood nine young cultivators in blue Daoist robes.

After everyone entered, they did not dare be discourteous. Each of them stood properly, not daring to make a clamor, quietly waiting for the old Daoist seated above to speak.

"Report your names, each of you, from left to right," the inner disciple standing first on the right said at this moment. At the same time, he took out a jade slip and began recording. Before long, he had finished recording everyone's names and respectfully handed the jade slip to the old Daoist in the upper seat.

The old Daoist took the jade slip, and without any visible movement, waved one hand. Name plaques flew into everyone's hands one by one. Then he said, "This old Daoist is Fa Zhen, hall master of the Dharma Transmission Hall. From now on, all kinds of Daoist arts will be taught by me. My Wongchuan Sect has three great prohibitions you must remember. First, do not slaughter fellow disciples. Second, do not betray your master or destroy your ancestors. Third, do not privately leak Daoist arts. Any one of these three is a capital crime. When the time comes, people from the Law Enforcement Hall will naturally come looking for you. You must remember this." He then said to the inner disciples beside him, "Distribute the sect benefits to them." After saying this, he did not linger and walked straight toward the inner hall, paying no further attention to everyone.

After everyone received a storage pouch, they followed those dozen or so senior brothers through a teleportation array and were teleported to Crouching Dragon Island, which was specially provided for outer disciples' cultivation. Each of them, guided by an outer disciple, walked toward their residence.

"Senior brother, this is your residence," the outer disciple leading the way said to Wang Ding.

Wang Ding examined the small courtyard for a long while. This courtyard was named Spring Thunder Courtyard. Within it were artificial hills, a small pond, and green grass carpeting the ground, making for beautiful scenery. A two-story little building stood there, quite exquisite.

Wang Ding nodded in satisfaction as he looked at it and said, "Not bad."

Seeing the outer disciple's pleading eyes, Wang Ding suddenly had a thought and continued, "My name is Wang Ding. I've just arrived and lack manpower. Are you willing to follow me?"

How could that outer disciple not know that a heaven-sent opportunity had arrived? One had to understand that for outer disciples like them, if they had no backer, their immortal path was all but cut off. Now, hearing that Wang Ding wanted to take him as a subordinate, how could he care about anything else? He immediately knelt and pledged loyalty to Wang Ding, saying, "I, Zhang Hua, swear to the heavens that I will certainly be loyal to Senior Brother Wang Ding. If I speak falsely, may I be struck dead by five thunderbolts from heaven."

"Good. Since you've sworn such a heavy oath, I'll take you in. I happen to have something I need you to handle. I'm not at all familiar with the factions here. Go and properly sort out the division of forces within the Wongchuan Sect, then hand me a copy." After saying this, he took a bottle of Foundation-Cultivating Pills from his robes and gave it to him.

"Yes, senior brother." Zhang Hua left with the pills, his heart filled with joy. "This senior brother really is generous. A bottle of Foundation-Cultivating Pills is worth ten Low-grade Spirit Stones—that's equal to one month of my monthly stipend."

After Wang Ding entered the pavilion and looked around, he came to the inner room in satisfaction, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep.

Wang Ding had traveled day and night without rest. After arriving at Nine Nether Island, he had directly participated in the Wongchuan Sect's entrance competition, and he had not rested well for more than ten days. Now that he had accomplished all his goals, he could finally set down the worries in his heart and rest properly.