Seeing that Long Yuyin still had not left, Yun Tian raised his eyes and asked mildly:
"Long Yuyin, why haven't you left yet?"
Long Yuyin's cheeks grew warm, and her hands unconsciously clenched. Looking both bashful and stubborn, she said softly:
"Teacher Yun, I... I want to become your disciple."
"Oh?"
Yun Tian raised an eyebrow, clearly a little surprised.
He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly:
"A year from now, the Feather God Sect will hold an Apprenticeship Ceremony for advanced students. Although it's intended for the upper years, lower-year students can participate too. If you make the top three, I'll take you as my disciple. How does that sound?"
Long Yuyin naturally knew about the Apprenticeship Ceremony.
It was the sect's grandest ceremony for passing on its teachings. Countless experts would attend in person to choose successors and impart everything they had learned throughout their lives.
Her gaze sharpened, and she immediately nodded:
"All right! I'll definitely take first place!"
Yun Tian, however, shook his head lightly:
"You won't take first."
"Impossible!" Long Yuyin immediately protested.
"Nothing is impossible." Yun Tian's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable certainty. "Nie Li will participate too. First place will belong to him alone. It's precisely because he'll be there that I'm only asking you to make the top three."
He paused and looked at Long Yuyin, his tone taking on a more instructive note:
"Your talent and bloodline are both exceptional. But you're too proud. Pride requires strength to match it; otherwise, it's merely conceit. When facing the strong, you must know how to bow your head. When facing the weak, you must be broad-minded. You could learn more of that from Ru'er."
"You want me to learn from her?! Impossible!"
Long Yuyin bristled on the spot, her face