Chapter 11: A Protagonist’s Privilege: The Scramble for a Disciple

As the esteemed sect master, nothing, whether momentous or trivial, within the Yuqian Sect could ever truly escape Mu Xianxian’s discerning gaze.

This time, however, she harbored no intention of interfering with the Grand Elder’s and Third Elder’s actions.

Her younger brother, Qin Yangjun, had grown remarkably reclusive of late, neglecting to share meals with her or even offer his usual greetings.

It truly felt as though he had all but forgotten about her, his elder sister.

A minor disciplinary measure was, therefore, undeniably in order.

She aimed to make him keenly aware of the repercussions of lacking his elder sister’s unwavering protection.

What she hadn’t foreseen, though, was Qin Yangjun’s surprising willingness to defy established sect rules in order to retain such a promising young talent.

This unexpected display filled her with profound satisfaction, making a suitable reward an absolute imperative.

A reward?!

Qin Yangjun found his emotions today mirroring the volatile twists and turns of a roller coaster, plummeting and soaring with dizzying speed.

Given the offer of a reward, Qin Yangjun saw no reason to stand on ceremony.

“I’ve heard, Elder Sister,” he began, his voice laced with subtle anticipation, “that not long ago, you acquired a profound sword manual from an ancient ruin…”

Qin Yangjun let the sentence trail off, allowing the unspoken meaning to resonate with unmistakable clarity.

The Dream Entering Sword Canon.

Though his elder sister had only managed to secure a partial copy, it remained a secret scripture, a legacy bequeathed by the legendary Glazed Sword Immortal.

Indeed, as the old adage wisely declared, ‘a starved camel remains mightier than a horse.’

Techniques within the Lower Realm were rigidly classified into Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow ranks.

The sword art enshrined within that canon, known as “Fleeting Bloom,” was an authentic immortal technique; even in its incomplete state, it wielded the formidable might of a Heaven-rank art.

As depicted in the story, following Mu Xianxian’s defeat, this very sword canon had passed into Yu Lingyue’s possession, with “Fleeting Bloom” evolving into one of the protagonist’s most potent trump cards.

The subsequent acquisition of its complete form had empowered the protagonist to unleash unparalleled prowess upon the battlefields of the Upper Realm.

If only he could lay claim to it himself…

“You cunning little rascal,” Mu Xianxian chided, a hint of amusement in her tone, “your intelligence network is indeed impressive, but that particular sword canon is not for you. You must choose another reward.”

Qin Yangjun was utterly floored by Mu Xianxian’s unexpected refusal, especially considering that within the novel’s narrative, Mu Xianxian had adored her younger brother to an almost excessive degree, even pursuing the protagonist relentlessly on his behalf.

Evidently, acquiring such formidable ultimate techniques was never an easy feat; he would, regrettably, have to settle for a lesser prize.

Owing to his elder sister’s esteemed position, Qin Yangjun enjoyed virtually unfettered access to the Yuqian Sect’s vast resources, thus, only the contents of Mu Xianxian’s personal treasury held any real allure for him.

Having recently gifted the “Cold Water” sword to Hua Yaoyao, he now found himself in dire need of a new weapon.

“In that case, Elder Sister,” he proposed, “I would be honored to receive your former personal sword.”

“Consider it done,” Mu Xianxian replied without hesitation. “I’ll have someone deliver it to you shortly. Furthermore, I once obtained a Heavenly Emperor Dragon Spirit Pill; I shall send that along to you as well.”

Upon overhearing this exchange, the surrounding elders could not suppress a collective, silent sigh of astonishment.

Their Sect Master’s former personal sword, Blood Chant, though merely a sixth-grade artifact, had been personally wielded by Mu Xianxian in countless campaigns of conquest, thereby imbuing it with a potent and fearsome aura of murderous sword qi.

Should this very blade find its way into Qin Yangjun’s grasp, even with his cultivation merely at the mid-Core Formation stage, he would undoubtedly possess the power to contend with, and even slay, a formidable Nascent Soul realm cultivator.

Regarding the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Spirit Pill, while it was technically a fifth-grade medicinal elixir, its constituent ingredients were exceptionally rare.

This wondrous pill possessed the ability to nourish the soul, purify the meridians, and, most remarkably, could elevate a cultivator’s realm by one full stage without any discernible side effects, provided they were below the Void-Refining stage.

Its intrinsic value thus approached that of a coveted sixth-grade pill.

Either of these two treasures, if merely cast out into the world, would undoubtedly incite a ravenous scramble among countless smaller and medium-sized sects, driving them to fiercely compete for possession.

Yet, their esteemed Sect Master had bestowed them with such effortless nonchalance.

It became profoundly evident just how deeply the Sect Master cherished her younger brother.

“Then I thank you profoundly, Elder Sister,” Qin Yangjun responded, his voice tinged with gratitude.

As the siblings’ private exchange drew to a close, the talent assessment likewise concluded.

With all the esteemed elders already present, there was no longer any need to formally submit the results.

The three most exceptional performers in the trial were promptly given the honor of selecting their instructors.

Li Xuanyang, without a flicker of hesitation, declared his choice for the Grand Elder’s lineage.

Cheng Lieqing, in contrast, opted for the Third Elder, while a less prominent participant (TL Note: A “passerby” here refers to an unnamed, ordinary participant in the trial) selected the Second Elder.

Under ordinary circumstances, only these top three would be granted the privilege of choosing an instructor; the remaining participants would simply be designated as official disciples, devoid of such a choice.

Yet, as the trial concluded, at a moment when everyone was typically expected to disperse and return to their own affairs…

While the multitude of disciples were being led away to their allocated residences by two assistant examiners, Hua Yaoyao and Yueyao likewise departed alongside them.

After observing the countless figures vanish into the distant horizon, gracefully soaring on their flying swords…

Every single elder present, as if by unspoken accord, turned their focused gaze towards Yu Lingyue, who had been conspicuously singled out and left behind.

She, indeed, was the ultimate objective that had drawn them all to this very place.

The Grand Elder was the first to break the silence.

“Young lady,” he began, his voice resonating with authority, “I observe that you, too, are a dedicated practitioner of the sword. Would you not be interested in joining my lineage? Within the vast expanse of the Yuqian Sect, aside from the esteemed Sect Master herself, only a mere handful can truly withstand the might of my blade. Should you choose to enter my lineage…”

Before the Grand Elder could even complete his proposition, the Fifth Elder promptly interjected, cutting him off mid-sentence:

“Ah, Grand Elder,” the Fifth Elder scoffed, a hint of disdain in their tone, “what you assert about a formidable sword not necessarily equating to a proficient teacher holds truth! Furthermore, I perceive this young lady’s spiritual consciousness to be exceptionally rich and vibrant; she is unequivocally a dual cultivator of both soul and sword. Come, join my lineage, and I shall personally guide you, hand-in-hand. You are currently at the eighth level of Qi Refinement; I guarantee that within a single month, I can elevate you to the pinnacle of Qi Refinement. Subsequently, we shall locate a sacred treasure land to assist you in establishing your Celestial Meridian Foundation.”

At this precise moment, the Third Elder, who had been silently observing, could no longer contain her own eagerness.

“Hold on, you two!” she exclaimed, a hint of exasperation in her tone. “Who among us here cannot offer the very things you’re so boastfully proclaiming? At your advanced age, attempting to ensnare a young lady with such transparent trifles! Young lady, I urge you to come to me. The majority of cultivators within my lineage are female, and everything they can possibly offer you, I can also readily provide. Moreover, the cultivation techniques I practice are inherently more suited to female practitioners.”

“Ah, Third Elder,” one of them retorted, “if that is truly the case, why must she exclusively join your lineage? Is our lineage not equally suitable?”

“Well, if you frame it in that manner,” another chimed in, “then I firmly believe that joining my lineage would be an even superior choice.”

“Hey, it’s all about cultivation!” another elder interjected, dismissing their arguments. “What distinction does gender truly make? I can unequivocally guarantee that you will receive the absolute finest resources available!”

“Young lady, come to me,” another elder pressed, producing an item. “Consider this sixth-grade artifact as your welcoming gift from your future master!”

“Hey, you old fellow!” another protested vehemently. “That’s going too far! You’re openly resorting to bribery now!”

“There’s no specific rule against it, is there…?” the elder countered with a sly grin.

“You shameless old man! Young lady, come to me; I’ll give you my personal sword as a gift!”

“………….”

Caught squarely in the midst of this chaotic fervor, Yu Lingyue found herself utterly bewildered and at a complete loss.

Never before had she witnessed such an undignified spectacle.

Though she desperately wished to articulate her thoughts, the words simply failed her, leaving her to stand silently, a passive observer to the unfolding drama.

Observing the esteemed elders, their dignified composure completely abandoned, clamoring and bickering over this single potential disciple, Qin Yangjun couldn’t help but inwardly sigh with a mix of amusement and admiration, ‘Truly, a protagonist’s privilege.’

Such exceptional treatment was undeniably beyond the grasp of any ordinary individual.

“Enough,” Mu Xianxian’s voice finally cut through the cacophony, clear and authoritative.

As Mu Xianxian spoke, the previously boisterous elders instantly fell silent, their arguments abruptly ceasing.

Ordinarily, as the Sect Master, she would have had no need to make an appearance, yet her presence today stemmed from two critical reasons.

Firstly, her younger brother, presiding over the assessment for the very first time, had displayed remarkable insight in identifying and retaining such a promising talent.

Secondly, she recalled the incident when Yueyao had first joined the sect; several elders had nearly erupted into a full-blown sword duel on the spot, so fierce was their competition for that particular disciple.

For the venerable elders of the illustrious Yuqian Sect to engage in a physical altercation over a mere disciple—if such a scandalous tale were to ever spread, it would undoubtedly become a source of widespread ridicule and humiliation.

“This young lady has journeyed to our Yuqian Sect, and I presume she already possesses a certain understanding of our ways,” Mu Xianxian articulated calmly. “Perhaps she already harbors her own personal aspirations. Since all of you are capable of offering similar advantages, why do we not, for today, make an exception and allow her the freedom to choose her own instructor? What are your collective thoughts on this proposal?”

“Since the Sect Master herself has spoken,” the Grand Elder conceded, “then let it be so. She may choose for herself.”

“I have no objections,” the Third Elder affirmed.

“Nor do I…” another elder chimed in.

“……”

As the undisputed Sect Master, Mu Xianxian’s words naturally carried immense weight and authority; her proposal was thus unanimously approved without a single dissenting voice.

Under the collective, expectant gaze of everyone present, Yu Lingyue first cast a brief glance towards the Third Elder.

Then, with a newfound resolve, she immediately spoke, her voice clear and firm:

“Reporting to the Sect Master, I humbly request to join Senior Brother Qin’s lineage.”

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