Take On an Apprentice?

He saw Elder Ye lightly rest his fingertips on Jiang Lu's wrist, focusing his senses into the meridians within her body. His brows slowly furrowed, tinged with uncertainty and surprise.

Something was wrong. He gave Jiang Lu a strange look. Ordinary cultivators with Mixed Spiritual Roots had narrow, clogged meridians, and their spiritual energy circulated sluggishly. Cultivation was already an arduous struggle for them, their progress unbearably slow.

Yet the meridians within her body were broad and unobstructed, branching in every direction, supple yet tough. Spiritual energy flowed through them smoothly without the slightest hindrance, and their capacity far surpassed that of cultivators at the same level.

The wider one's meridians, the faster one could absorb spiritual energy, and the more blessed one's cultivation foundation would be.

He raised his eyes, his strange gaze settling on Jiang Lu as he asked, "What is the purity of your Spiritual Roots?"

Jiang Lu lowered her head slightly, her long lashes trembling. Her eyes held just the right amount of shyness and embarrassment. "To be honest, this disciple does not know."

Elder Ye choked on his words, his heart instantly filled with a jumble of emotions.

She did not even know the purity of her own Spiritual Roots, yet her cultivation speed was absurdly fast. Was she not afraid that such reckless advancement would cause her spiritual energy to clash, destabilize her foundation, and send her into qi deviation if she was not careful?

"Then would you like to test them?"

He suddenly asked.

Test them?

Jiang Lu immediately shook her head. She did not know whether the test would reveal the unusual nature of her Spiritual Roots. Things were quite good as they were now, so it was better not to.

Seeing her refuse without the slightest hesitation, the interest in Elder Ye's eyes grew even stronger.

This little girl neither fought nor competed. She was cautious in all things, avoiding risks, hiding her clumsiness, and guarding her heart at every turn.

Only someone harboring a great secret and carrying an extraordinary opportunity would tread so carefully and avoid every taboo.

He had never been one to dig to the bottom of things or pry into the secrets of others. He had not intended to investigate her past.

But on second thought, he had been alone for many years and happened to lack a direct disciple suited to his heart.

If he took this girl into his sect and taught her day in and day out, then as they spent each day together in the future, every secret she possessed would sooner or later come to light.

The more he thought about it, the more appropriate it seemed. Elder Ye's gaze fell upon Jiang Lu as he examined her closely, becoming more satisfied the longer he looked.

Her age was just right, and her temperament had not yet fully taken shape. Even if her disposition became crooked in the future, he could personally teach her and straighten it out.

As for talent, she appeared to have Mixed Spiritual Roots, but her terrifying cultivation speed and her rare, broad meridians had long overturned conventional judgment. Calling them useless Spiritual Roots was utterly groundless. Her true talent was far from having been unearthed.

As for strength, she was merely at Qi Refinement, Fourth Level, yet she could independently refine second-tier pills. Her swordsmanship was nimble and skilled, her use of spells exquisite, far surpassing cultivators of the same level. Her temperament was calm, her combat strength solid, and she lacked nothing.

What suited his heart best was this girl's steady and grounded nature. She and he were exceedingly compatible.

Those who knew him well: ???

Could a person truly be this shameless?

Who did not know Ye Qing's great name? He was famous for stirring up trouble. Low-profile? What did those two words have to do with him?

Seeing the foolish grin on his face, Jiang Lu took two steps back. Why did she feel as though she had been targeted?

Elder Ye lightly coughed twice and composed himself. His eyes carried a touch of smug pride, as though becoming his disciple were some immense stroke of fortune. He slowly said, "Little girl, how about I become your master?"

Master?

Jiang Lu took another two steps back. Remember one thing: free things were the most expensive! Anything gained for nothing was a trap!

Could he be plotting something?

Elder Ye saw that her face held not the slightest joy or excitement, but was instead filled with vigilance, suspicion, and wariness. More than half his previously pleasant mood instantly darkened, leaving him helpless and aggrieved.

Was he really that untrustworthy?

"Heh~ What kind of expression is that, little girl? You should know that countless people want to become my disciple. The fact that I have taken a liking to you is your good fortune, all right?"

Hearing that, alarm bells rang even louder in Jiang Lu's heart.

Here it came!

Here it came!

The scammer's script was here!

The next line would definitely be, "I look down on everyone else; only you and I are fated."

Sure enough, Elder Ye's unhurried voice followed, carrying a trace of melancholy and certainty.

"There are countless cultivators in this world. So many have begged me bitterly to take them as disciples, yet I ignored every one of them. You alone pleased my eye, and you and I are fated by destiny. Why are you so incapable of appreciating kindness?"

Jiang Lu: The scammer was confirmed!

But scamming people in the Medicine King Pavilion—did he have a death wish?

The branch pavilion master must have been tricked by him!

The branch pavilion master was not weak, but this was a scam aimed at people like them!

It was a pig-butchering scam!

She was familiar with this kind of thing!

It was normal for him to have been deceived. She had to hurry and warn him!

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author—it may simply have been renamed!

Jiang Lu was immersed in the logic of her former life, forgetting that this was the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Scammers would not be foolish enough to achieve their goals this way.

She had simply been scammed too many times in her previous life, triggering a reflex.

After saying that, she watched him warily while gradually backing away. Then she turned around and ran for it.

Elder Ye was left utterly bewildered. Was this how taking on disciples worked nowadays?

He immediately followed and saw her running toward Water Old Man, panting heavily.

"Pavilion Master Chi, something terrible has happened! You've been scammed!"

Chi Miao had just been about to swallow the water in his mouth. At those words, he sprayed it all out.

He turned his head in astonishment and looked toward the voice.

A little girl stood in the hall, sweat covering her forehead from running, her breathing unsteady and her face full of anxiety.

Behind the girl, the attendants all lowered their heads and held their breath, pretending nothing had happened. At the very back, Elder Ye strolled over slowly, his expression difficult to describe.

What kind of combination was this?

He froze for a moment before recovering, his tone carrying a trace of confusion.

"Me? Scammed?"

Chi Miao held a teacup in his left hand and pointed at himself with the index finger of his right, his face full of disbelief.

Jiang Lu nodded.

Then she looked at Elder Ye behind him, stretched out her hand, and pointed at him.

"He's a scammer!"

Elder Ye, who had been following behind to watch the show, had not yet wiped the smile from his lips when he saw Jiang Lu pointing at him. His mouth twitched, and his face immediately darkened.

When had he become a scammer?

The surrounding attendants all bowed their heads and hunched their shoulders, holding their breath. They watched their noses, their noses watched their hearts, pretending they had completely vanished.

They dared not look or listen. Whoever witnessed today's earth-shattering farce would suffer for it...

Then Chi Miao revealed an expression of delight at the coming spectacle, only to meet Elder Ye's slightly darkened face.

He cleared his throat, gave a light cough, and quietly asked Jiang Lu why she said that.

Jiang Lu recounted what had just happened.

The more she spoke, the more teasing Chi Miao's gaze toward Elder Ye became.

Oh my, what a mess. He wanted her as a disciple, only for her to mistake him for a scammer.

Hahahaha!

If those old geezers found out, they would laugh their teeth out.

Then his expression toward Jiang Lu became even more amiable. After all, she was a disciple Elder Ye had taken a liking to. Though he did not know why Elder Ye had chosen a disciple with Mixed Spiritual Roots, she must have something worthy about her.

"Do you know who he is?"

Jiang Lu shook her head. He had not told her, so how could she possibly know who he was?

"Elder Ye, honestly. How could you take on a disciple without introducing yourself?" No wonder she had taken him for a scammer.

He did not say the latter sentence aloud, but Elder Ye read its meaning from his teasing expression.

Elder Ye's eyes widened, his face full of indignation.

He had never taken on a disciple before. How was he supposed to know what to do?

Chi Miao curled his lips, looking utterly helpless, then turned to Jiang Lu.

"You little one, he is not a scammer. What he said was true—many cultivators wish to become his disciple. His standards are high; he truly does not think much of ordinary people."

After saying that, he paused and leaned close to Jiang Lu, lowering his voice.

"Besides, his strength is extraordinary. Ordinary people do not dare provoke him, and he has some influence within the Medicine King Pavilion as well."

After saying that, he winked at her.

Since entering, even though Jiang Lu had misunderstood Elder Ye, Elder Ye had not shown the slightest sign of thinking this disciple was not worth having. Chi Miao thus knew that Elder Ye was very satisfied with Jiang Lu.

He did not mind saying a few good words for her. That way, Elder Ye would remember his favor.

Hearing this, Jiang Lu fell silent.

He was not a scammer...

Then had she made a fool of herself this time?

Elder Ye noticed Jiang Lu's embarrassment and stepped forward, his tone seductive.

"Little girl, do you want to become my disciple? My only disciple. All my good things will be yours in the future."

After saying that, he winked at Jiang Lu.

Jiang Lu looked at him, then at Chi Miao. It seemed that having a master might not be so bad.