I Guiding You Doesn't Mean I'm Willing to Take You as My Disciple

"Hey, my flute!"

As that breeze-like voice drifted down from the mountain,

the Transcendent Immortal Flute in Ning Rongrong's palm also flew from her grasp uncontrollably.

Following the voice, they saw moonlight surging and flowing atop Immortal Mountain as an ethereal figure slowly descended on Moonlight.

His plain white immortal robes with wide sleeves fluttered gently in the wind. His black hair fell over his shoulders, and his strikingly refined features seemed untouched by the mortal world, like an Immortal cast down beneath the moon, free of even the slightest trace of earthly dust.

He raised his sleeve and called softly. A clear, resonant chime echoed leisurely through the void as the jade-white Transcendent Immortal Flute tore through the faint moonlight and flew out of the silvery mist filling the sky. A pale jade glow of moonlight flowed over its body as it landed steadily in his palm.

His bearing was carefree and graceful, his gaze tranquil, as though he had descended from the moon above the nine heavens. Everything in the mortal world had become mere scenery behind him.

The evening breeze stirred his robes. He seemed utterly otherworldly, blending into the moonlight so completely that it was impossible to tell whether Moonlight set him off or whether he had gathered the bright moon around himself.

For a moment, even Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually so cold and aloof, stared in a daze.

Only then did she understand why those girls had been so obsessed with the Immortal during the day.

With that temperament and that handsome face, even gods would probably be a little dazed upon seeing him, right?

"Teacher, didn't you say you didn't stay up late and had gone to rest? Why were you eavesdropping on us so late at night? And you even snatched my flute!"

Ning Rongrong complained resentfully.

Su Chen said indifferently,

"Everything on Immortal Mountain is within my perception. How is that eavesdropping?"

"I merely agreed to let you look at the Transcendent Immortal Flute. I never said how long you could keep it. Do I need your permission to take it back?"

"Hmph!"

Ning Rongrong wrinkled her delicate nose. Though she had no way to refute him, she still asked slyly,

"Then did you feel anything when I was playing the flute just now, Teacher?"

Su Chen held the Transcendent Immortal Flute and tapped her forehead with it.

The blow immediately made Ning Rongrong clutch her head.

"Ow, ow, ow! Teacher, what are you doing? Oww~"

"Are you the master of Immortal Mountain, the Immortal Su Chen?"

Watching Ning Rongrong joke and bicker so freely with the Immortal before them, Zhu Zhuqing felt a little envious.

However, she could not act like Ning Rongrong and could only ask politely.

Su Chen nodded faintly. "That would be me."

Zhu Zhuqing bowed slightly. "Zhu Zhuqing greets Teacher Immortal."

But before she could bend at the waist, the Transcendent Immortal Flute pressed against her hands.

"You have not yet met the Apprenticeship Standard, and I am not yet your teacher. There is no need for such a formal salute."

Those words left Zhu Zhuqing despondent.

There was no reason, no excuse. A single sentence—she had not met the Apprenticeship Standard—had directly sealed off the path before her.

She was somewhat unwilling to accept it. Seeing that Ning Rongrong, an auxiliary-type Soul Master, had been able to defeat Dai Mubai after studying here had made her desire to become a disciple eight out of ten. Now that she had met the Immortal himself, that desire had reached a full ten out of ten!

"Just now, Senior Immortal, you said 'good question.' What did you mean?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, biting her lip.

"I said it was a good question because you and Rongrong understand that these Trait Entries can change. They can even evolve."

"You should know that the Trait Entry Detection Platform on Immortal Mountain was established to identify exceptional Soul Masters. Therefore, it only accepts students with three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries."

"But people are complex, not unchanging. People change, and Trait Entries change as well!"

"The nine major Trait Entries are merely summaries and classifications of a Soul Master's temporary state. They are not a one-sided judgment, nor should one let a single leaf obscure one's vision. It is wrong to erase a Soul Master's entire future based solely on one test."

Su Chen said calmly.

Zhu Zhuqing seemed thoughtful. "I understand. For example, the Detection Platform tested my Soul Power Level as level twenty-seven, purple-grade. But if my Soul Power reaches the thirties next month and I test again, it might become black-grade, because Soul Power is constantly increasing?"

"Yes, but also no. The quality detected by the Detection Platform is also related to age and talent. If the Soul Master being tested were a hundred-year-old man, would the same Soul Power Level still receive a purple-grade rating?"

Su Chen said.

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly understood.

"In other words, the better one's talent and characteristics in the fields shown by the various Trait Entries, the higher the rating. Like... like my figure. If my figure became bloated tomorrow, then would I... no longer meet the Supreme-Grade Trait Entry rating?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the supreme-grade figure Trait Entry that had been detected for her, and a faint flush quietly crossed her cold face.

For a girl, having her only Supreme-Grade Trait Entry be a sexy figure was truly rather embarrassing.

Su Chen had clearly noticed Zhu Zhuqing's embarrassment as well.

He could not help complaining inwardly to the system: I could tolerate you calling her looks supreme-grade, but how did you even produce a supreme-grade figure Trait Entry? You're a system that can't touch or be touched, so why do you care so much about someone else's figure?

When you test Trait Entries like this, people will think I'm lecherous. It's ruining my reputation and image!

The system said nothing and merely kept flashing Trait Entry lights.

A hero's true nature, only human

No need to possess, just feast the eyes

Though I have not obtained it, may you have it

"..."

"That is indeed the principle." Su Chen gave Zhu Zhuqing an affirmative answer.

"You have a strong chance of awakening three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries."

"You also have a top-tier diligence Trait Entry that is close to a Supreme-Grade Trait Entry. The reason the Detection Platform did not rate it as Exceptional Diligence is, I believe, because you have reservations in your heart. Perhaps you are not determined enough, do not believe in yourself enough, and have not given it your all. If you can overcome this hurdle, the Exceptional Diligence Trait Entry should become yours."

"Furthermore, you have a tremendous advantage in speed. If you work hard on your speed, dare to compete with the fastest soul beasts, push yourself at the very edge of danger to awaken your potential, and absorb a soul beast with top-tier speed as a Spirit Ring, then you will very likely evolve the Extreme Speed attribute. That way, you will have three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries."

Su Chen gave Zhu Zhuqing some guidance.

"Extreme Speed?"

Those two words caught Zhu Zhuqing's attention.

The Hell Spirit Cat was a top-tier agility attack-type Martial Soul and indeed excelled in speed.

"But if I put everything into speed, won't my attack power be too weak?"

"You should know that among all martial arts under heaven, only speed is invincible. Once you have speed, why fear lacking damage?"

Su Chen smiled faintly and waved his hand.

"Alright, go back. Come seek apprenticeship again once you are confident you can activate three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries."

"Um, Senior Immortal, since you are willing to guide my cultivation, why can't you accept me as your disciple first? With your guidance, I can definitely awaken three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries faster! Wouldn't the result be the same then?"

"Can't... can't you make an exception just once?"

Seeing the dust-free figure slowly making his way up the mountain, Zhu Zhuqing could not help asking.

Su Chen merely said with serene indifference,

"No."

"A tiny discrepancy can lead to an error a thousand miles wide."

"Three Supreme-Grade Trait Entries are Immortal Mountain's principle for accepting disciples. There will be no exceptions."

"My guiding you does not mean I am already willing to take you as my disciple."

"You must learn to rely on yourself in all things. Do not place your hopes on others changing for your sake. If you cannot learn that, then with your talent, you may never pass Immortal Mountain's test in your lifetime."

After saying that, Su Chen's figure vanished into the Moonlight.

Ning Rongrong had not expected her teacher to be so resolute. She was pleased, yet also felt a little sorry for the cat girl with the supreme-grade figure.

"Junior sister, keep it up! Teacher may not think highly of you, but I do. I hope you meet the Apprenticeship Standard soon. With your movement technique and speed, Immortal Mountain needs you to patrol the mountain!"

That way, Rongrong would have time at night to properly deal with that stinky teacher!

"Oh, right, remember this: my name is Ning Rongrong."

"I... am Zhu Zhuqing."

Before long, Ning Rongrong also returned to Immortal Mountain.

Zhu Zhuqing was left alone at the foot of the mountain, deep in thought.