Nangong Yu: Cousin-Uncle, I Have a Surprise for You Later

"Master, something seems off about the disciple-acceptance guidelines you gave us?"

Miscellaneous Dao Institute, Xiao Chen put down the papers in his hand and asked with a puzzled look.

Although the apprenticeship guidelines only had two conditions, anyone who met either condition could be accepted into the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, both conditions were extremely perplexing to him.

Chu Feng then asked, "Tell me what's strange about it?"

Xiao Chen asked, "Why are the candidates for apprenticeship limited to those with the surnames Lin, Ye, Chen, and Long?"

The people standing nearby nodded in agreement, expressing their confusion.

Chu Feng smiled and said, "I also added that if we can't find disciples with those four surnames—Han, Xu, Li, and Fang—that's fine too."

He had initially considered the four surnames of the Child of Fortune: Xie, Xiao, Lin, Ye, and Chu. However, considering that the Miscellaneous Dao Institute already had someone with the surname Chu like himself, as well as Xiao Chen.

So they changed the surnames of the disciples from the four great fortune Lineage to Chen and Long, since Aotian was definitely Child of Fortune in the early days.

Although it's rare to see these days, what if you happen to run into one?

Silence. The only response from the crowd to Chu Feng was a silent silence.

After a while, Cao Youqian continued, "Master, surname is one thing, but why are surviving a great calamity and being good at running away used as criteria for assessment?"

Chu Feng smiled and said, "I will answer your questions one by one."

First, I have an obsessive-compulsive disorder regarding surnames; I want to collect disciples with all these surnames.

As for the second one, it's even simpler. As the ancients said, "Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortune," which involves what we often call luck.

For example. "Little Chen, your dantian was shattered before, and you were jilted at marriage, yet you were still able to embark on the path of cultivation again. This proves that you have extraordinary luck. The same applies to Qin'er."

After hearing Chu Feng's explanation, everyone seemed to find common ground among their fellow disciples.

Only Elder Bing stared at Chu Feng in astonishment and asked, "Mr. Chu, could it be that you have learned the Qi-Gazing Technique, which has been lost for many years by the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"

"No, there really isn't. But there's something there. You'll understand if you read more novels. Throughout history, which person with great fortune didn't go through countless setbacks before becoming Saint?" Chu Feng replied with a smile.

"I see."

Elder Bing murmured to himself, a thoughtful expression on his face, as he began to consider whether he should refer to Mr. Chu's guidelines when he accepted disciples next time.

Xiao Chen and the others put down the briefings in their hands and respectfully said, "Master, we will definitely conduct the assessment of our future junior brothers and sisters according to your instructions."

Chu Feng: "Okay, it's settled then."

The Dao-Seeking Academy's disciple-acceptance ceremony was held as scheduled. Early that morning, Chu Feng led his four disciples to the entrance of the Dao-Seeking Academy.

Compared to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, the other eight academies that came to recruit disciples were mostly outer academy elders, with only a few inner sect elders occasionally coming to pick up disciples they had already chosen.

Although the Miscellaneous Dao Institute won first place in both the Inner Sect and True Disciple competitions, they were still assigned to a corner position.

Compared to the bustling activity at the other seven academies' assessment sites, the Miscellaneous Dao Institute appeared incredibly desolate.

Occasionally, a few disciples would come to take the test, but the four disciples would only ask them two questions casually before telling them they were unqualified.

This left the students who came hoping to try their luck completely confused. We hadn't even started the test yet, so how could we fail?

Although Chu Feng arrived at the disciple-acceptance ceremony, he had no intention of personally testing his disciples. He lay on the rattan chair quietly reading a novel, acting like a hands-off manager.

Xiao Chen and the others weren't in a hurry, since the dean hadn't given them any instructions on how many disciples the Miscellaneous Dao Institute should take in.

In front of the pavilion where the Dharma Cultivation Institute recruits disciples, a long line of cultivators waited to take the exam.

It can be said that in every disciple recruitment conference, the cultivators from the Dharma Cultivation Institute participate in the assessment the most, followed by those from the Sword Cultivation Academy and the Body Cultivation Institute.

After all, other departments require a skill to pass the assessment.

At the very back of the long queue, an elderly man respectfully addressed the young woman before him. "Ninth Princess, Elder Qi will be arriving soon. You should call those people to your side as soon as possible, otherwise it would be impolite to keep Elder Qi waiting."

Nangong Yu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Elder Zhao, I've already memorized their scent. I'll use a paper crane to send a message to them."

After saying that, she took out four small items from her storage ring, all of which had been imbued with the aura of those four people.

In her other hand, four paper cranes appeared. She placed them one by one on the four small objects and said, "Go and find their owners. Tell them I'm waiting for them here."

After saying that, the four paper cranes flapped their wings and flew into the crowd.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea was up, two women and a man appeared before Nangong Yu. The three of them immediately bowed to Nangong Yu upon seeing him.

"Li Qingqing pays her respects to the Ninth Princess."

"Zhao Shan greets Miss Nangong."

"Hu Haitao pays his respects to the princess."

No need for formalities.

Nangong Yu looked at the three people in front of him and a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing the smile of someone in a superior position.

Li Qingqing was dressed in green, with a green gourd hanging from her waist; she was a cultivator specializing in alchemy.

Zhao Shan, holding a long sword, was clearly a sword cultivator, while Hu Haitao was a burly man who followed the path of body cultivation.

"Thank you, Princess/Miss."

The three of them said in unison.

Nangong Yu said, "I think you all know why I summoned you here. In a little while, my cousin, an elder from the inner sect of the Dharma Cultivation Institute, will come to find me. At that time, I will take you all to participate in the assessment, which will save you a lot of trouble."

Of course, if you wish to enter the Dao-Seeking Academy through your own efforts, you may leave on your own.

The three people present were not fools, and they naturally understood the implication in Nangong Yu's words.

Hu Haitao spoke first, expressing his loyalty. "I, Hu, am willing to serve the princess."

Upon seeing this, the two people standing nearby also bowed and said, "We are willing to serve the princess."

The woman before me is the Ninth Princess of the Great Yu Imperial Dynasty. Not only does she have Half-Saint in the country, but she also has connections with the Dao-Seeking Academy. Only a fool wouldn't pledge allegiance to her.

Nangong Yu smiled and said, "Very well, then we can wait here for the last person to arrive."

The three of them showed no sign of surprise upon hearing this; the affairs of those in power were not something they could interfere with.

Just then, a figure suddenly fell from the sky.

"Little Yu, is the person you just said you were waiting for me?"

Upon hearing the voice, Nangong Yu turned around with a beaming smile and bowed to the person who had entered.

"Yu'er greets her cousin."

Upon seeing this, Elder Zhao and the other three also bowed, saying, "We pay our respects to our senior."

No need for formalities.

Elder Qi ignored the four people and looked at his cousin's niece with a smile.

Nangong Yu smiled and said coquettishly, "No, that's not it! The person I'm talking about is an extraordinary genius. I'm planning to bring him here to surprise my uncle!"

Upon hearing this, the three men who had been recruited by Nangong Yu looked somewhat uneasy. They secretly vowed to give that guy a hard time later.

"Oh?"

Elder Qi doted on this cousin's daughter. "Then I'll wait a little longer today and see what kind of talented young man has you so concerned about Little Yu!"