Volume One Chapter 1 Becoming an Apprentice

“If you agree to take me as your personal disciple, I’ll save your life. How about it?”

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

Su Cheng hung from the cliff, one hand gripping the rock face, staring at Ye Chenmeng, who was crouched above him with a mischievous grin.

“You don’t want to? Then there’s nothing I can do. We’re neither kin nor friends—why should I rescue you?”

“Miss, listen to me. I only founded my sect to get some subsidies and get by. I never thought about taking disciples—I don’t have any cultivation at all!”

Su Cheng was speechless. He’d only transmigrated here a few days ago—how had he already provoked this living Buddha?

[Dear ancestor, you are blessed by heaven, the chosen of fate, the future Empress of the demon clan. You should join the heroine’s party, spend your days feasting and nights in shameless revelry. Why torment me?]

“Miss, I really can’t hold on anymore! How about I recommend you a sect? You know Cheng Liang, don’t you? Even the laws of heaven can’t touch him. If you join him, your future will be boundless!”

Ye Chenmeng wasn’t fooled; she wasn’t stupid! She’d heard every word Su Cheng thought, and she’d been listening for days now!

She knew Su Cheng possessed countless treasures—all top-tier immortal artifacts, even legendary innate treasures! But Su Cheng had no cultivation, so he couldn’t use them.

Knowing all this, could Ye Chenmeng let him go? With a bit of scheming, she’d put Su Cheng in this predicament.

Su Cheng had no disciples, no children—once she entered his sect, wouldn’t all those treasures become hers?

“I don’t want any of that nonsense. I want to be your disciple, the first of the Lingxian Hall.” Ye Chenmeng was utterly calm; she knew Su Cheng would yield.

[Is this ancestor out of her mind? Is she determined to ruin me? If you join my sect, it’ll look like I forced you. Won’t the whole world come after me then?]

[I just want some sect subsidies. Why is it so hard?]

Though both options meant death, at least he couldn’t die now! When under another’s roof, one must endure.

“Ancestor, I’ll agree, all right? Just pull me up.”

“Really?” Ye Chenmeng’s beautiful eyes sparkled with joy. She grabbed Su Cheng’s wrist and hauled him up as easily as picking up a chick.

[Heh, you think I’m foolish? At tomorrow’s disciple ceremony, if I don’t nod, let’s see what you do!]

Su Cheng nodded with a smile, waving at Ye Chenmeng.

“Very well, Master. See you tomorrow!” Ye Chenmeng’s fox-like eyes narrowed; her mind was made up.

The next day, at the disciple ceremony.

All the sects were recruiting new disciples at Spirit Mountain. Su Cheng was no exception. If he wanted the sect subsidy, he had to join the group activities.

Su Cheng didn’t want to slack off like this, but having transmigrated as a villain in the cultivation world, what choice did he have?

To survive, he avoided the protagonist, imitated Lei Feng, and did good deeds. He couldn’t give the protagonist and his harem any chance to kill him!

After all, in this world of cultivation, the protagonist’s harem was full of chosen ones. Su Cheng couldn’t afford to offend them.

On the Execution Platform, countless young talents gathered, all standing tall, dreaming of joining powerful sects, learning immortal arts, and attaining immortality.

Cheng Liang descended from the sky on his sword, landing precisely in front of his grand chair.

“Su Cheng? You’re here to recruit disciples too?”

Cheng Liang’s teasing gaze was full of mockery. Su Cheng had no cultivation—who would want him as a master?

“Yes, just looking around to see if there are any promising candidates.” Su Cheng feigned aloofness, hands behind his back, scanning the crowd of talents on the Execution Platform.

“There are plenty of promising students this year. Which one has caught your eye, Brother Su?”

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Cheng Liang looked like he was watching a show; he knew Su Cheng would go without a single disciple again this year, as always.

“I’ll look around some more.” Su Cheng pretended to be uncertain, giving the protagonist plenty of emotional value—he felt he understood men too well.

The protagonist’s petty thoughts were firmly in Su Cheng’s grasp.

“See the one in the white dress? That’s Ye Chenmeng, blood of the fox demon king, born with seductive charm. With proper guidance, she’ll be a great talent.”

Ye Chenmeng stood in the first row, easy to spot. Cheng Liang leaned against Su Cheng’s shoulder, speaking with a lascivious tone.

[Heh, I knew what nonsense you’d say before you opened your mouth!]

“Brother Cheng is right. If she meets you, it’s a match made in heaven—a worthy minister finds his lord, the future is limitless.”

Cheng Liang laughed heartily; Su Cheng’s words were pleasing, and he was satisfied.

“You don’t like her?”

[Would I dare? If I liked her, wouldn’t you kill me? She’s a treasure—who wouldn’t like her?]

“I’m not interested. I still want a male disciple; female disciples are too delicate, not in my consideration.”

Su Cheng sat in the grand chair, speaking seriously, unaware that Ye Chenmeng could hear every thought clearly.

He likes me? Such a good thing?

Soon, the disciple ceremony began.

Almost every sect was crowded—Cheng Liang’s area had to be careful to prevent stampedes. Only Su Cheng’s side was empty, like a lonely old man.

Compared to other sects’ two-meter-high platforms, Su Cheng only had a small wooden table, less spacious than a snack vendor’s stall. Reclining lazily, he looked like a fortune-teller.

He didn’t even bother with a banner. A white paper with “Lingxian Hall” written on it lay on the table, and he dozed off right there.

Su Cheng was exhausted; he’d spent the previous night studying the Frost Sword Technique. Though he had no cultivation, he was unwilling to give up!

[This enhanced innate treasure Frost Sword—why does it feel like a fire poker in my hands?]

[The technique is fine, the sword art is flawless, and the Frost Sword couldn’t be more genuine. Why can’t I see any sword energy? Why can’t I feel the Frost Sword’s intent?]

Ye Chenmeng eavesdropped from afar. An enhanced innate treasure? Is it that sword?

Su Cheng wore a gray robe. Unlike the other sect leaders’ immortal airs, he looked more like a scholar. At his waist hung a three-foot sword, pitch-black, with a rough sheath and yellowed white wrappings on the hilt. Only the jade pendant hanging from it looked valuable.

That thing should be left for the master; it’s probably just for show.

Ye Chenmeng had observed Su Cheng for several days, gaining some understanding. She believed Su Cheng was the type to hide his treasures, so the Frost Sword was likely concealed to prevent others from coveting it!

Heh, an enhanced innate treasure? The master calls it a great treasure—surely he won’t be stingy with a sword?

“Miss, the disciple ceremony has begun. Are you hesitating about which sect to join?”

An elder with immortal bearing approached—Second Elder of Cheng Liang’s Heavenly Dao Pavilion, a formidable figure. For ordinary disciples, speaking with him was a stroke of luck.

Since it was a disciple recruitment, Cheng Liang wouldn’t come personally, but sending the Second Elder as an invitation was honor enough. And Ye Chenmeng’s aptitude certainly merited such treatment.

Even without anything else, her natural seductive charm made her irresistible to Cheng Liang.

“Thank you, Elder, for your kindness, but Chenmeng already has someone in mind.”

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“May I ask which sect leader?” The Second Elder wasn’t in a hurry to reveal his identity; he thought anyone with sense would choose the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.

Ye Chenmeng ignored him, walking straight to Su Cheng’s little table, kneeling respectfully and silent.

The Second Elder was dumbfounded...

In the distance, Cheng Liang’s face darkened mid-conversation with a female disciple...

“Miss, you wish to join Lingxian Hall?” The Second Elder was incredulous. Even if Ye Chenmeng were too proud to join Heavenly Dao Pavilion, there were countless other choices—why pick Su Cheng, a worthless nobody?

Ye Chenmeng paid him no mind, kneeling quietly. She knew Su Cheng wasn’t asleep.

She also knew she had to become Su Cheng’s disciple—from the moment she knelt, there was no turning back.

If she backed out now, she’d become a pariah, despised everywhere.

[Second Elder, say something! Elder, look at her!]

[Cheng Liang, hurry up! Your harem is about to become my disciple! Take her away!]

“Miss, the Lingxian Hall master is so discourteous. I suggest you join another sect—don’t waste your talent here.”

Ye Chenmeng couldn’t care less. Su Cheng might be lacking, but at least there were no pests around him, so she could cultivate in peace.

I am of the fox demon royal blood—how could I degrade myself to be someone’s harem or plaything? The way that man looks at me is disgusting!

Ye Chenmeng remained silent, waiting for Su Cheng to speak, kneeling properly.

Unnoticed, a crowd gathered around, all urging Ye Chenmeng to “see reason.”

Suddenly, the crowd parted to make way for Cheng Liang, the master of Heavenly Dao Pavilion.

Cheng Liang’s demeanor was changed, no longer joking with Su Cheng, but all seriousness.

He walked to Ye Chenmeng’s side, hands behind his back, and said, “Miss, don’t waste your efforts. You can’t wake someone who pretends to sleep. This Master Su has no cultivation and naturally won’t accept you as a disciple.”

[You’re finally here, brother! My arm’s numb already, sitting here like a corpse, not daring to even change posture!]

[Well said! Wake her up! Shatter her unrealistic dreams with reality!]

[Let her know—we’re impossible!]

The crowd echoed, voicing grievances, one after another.

“Yes, yes, everyone knows the Lingxian Hall master is a useless waste!”

“Return to the right path, repent!”

“Master Cheng’s kind words have given you the greatest honor!”

Ye Chenmeng remained unmoved. Cheng Liang decided to go all out.

“I can’t bear to see your talent wasted. I wish to take you as my disciple and teach you Heavenly Tier techniques. What do you say?”

[Yes, yes! You shouldn’t be so aloof. That’s the right way to speak! A dragon among men deserves a beauty like her by his side! Take her away! I still want to live!]

Ye Chenmeng was annoyed, but feared Su Cheng would seize on it. Was he planning to reject her? How could she disturb his sleep?

“Chenmeng is resolved to follow Master Su, serving him for life. Thank you, Master Cheng, for your kindness.”

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