Chapter 656: Taking Disciples on Behalf of the Master

"Cough!"

Besides Ye Lan, two other Demon-Slaying Officials from Jianyang Prefecture had returned.

Ye Jing's face was pale, clearly bearing severe injuries; Meng Xiuwen, on the other hand, seemed fine, a toothpick in his mouth, his expression rather grim.

The three stepped into the residence, and Ye Lan formed a transmission spell.

Soon, a hunched figure emerged from the ground.

"You're back. How did it go?"

Min Zhiyan leaned on his cane, glanced at Ye Jing, and sighed inwardly.

This young girl had reached the Taiyi Zhenxian realm and was personally trained by General Yan Lan; her skills were commendable. If even she met with an accident, this incident must have been quite serious.

Ye Lan led the group into the courtyard, nodded to Shen Yi, then said softly, "The Divine Court is furious. Unfortunately, the Master Master Qibao Bodhisattva was well-prepared and managed to flee back to the sect. The seventeen prefectures' Demon-Slaying Offices, cooperating with the imperial court, attempted to control the spread of the Lotus Throne Method, but with little success..."

Although Ye Jing could not reveal her identity as a Demon-Slaying Official, she had at least acted in cooperation with the imperial court.

Yet they encountered resistance and were even severely injured.

This could only mean that among the many cultivators and demons who heard the Bodhisattva's sermon that day, a large portion had already lost their reason. Tempted by the path of the Sixth-Rank Jin Lian Walker, they were now willing to defy the imperial court to bring this method back to their sects or clans.

"The first signs of chaos are appearing." Min Zhiyan frowned deeply.

"This is only the beginning." Meng Xiuwen spat out the toothpick, his eyes cold: "With this Jin Lian Method in hand, do you expect them to pass the physical tribulation obediently?"

It was not that the Divine Court was stingy. Whether it was an Xian Sect or a Xian Sect, as long as they recruited disciples through normal channels and transmitted teachings, the imperial court had never interfered.

But ever since cultivators figured out the path of the Heart Tribulation, any technique of the Seventh Rank or above was, by its very nature, shaking the foundation of the Divine Court.

Fortunately, those who mastered such techniques were mostly from the Three Sects or closely allied with them; their numbers were small, so the imperial court simply turned a blind eye.

However, the Master Master Qibao Bodhisattva's sudden move this time caught everyone off guard.

"I fear that within a few months, unauthorized shrines and false temples will be everywhere."

Whether it was the Sanxian Sect or the Puti Sect, their disciples still had to follow certain procedures to obtain imperial qi, serving the people of Shenzhou in exchange for cultivation progress.

But those unbound loose cultivators, and even demons and evil spirits, who obtained such a precious scripture, might not be so concerned with propriety in their methods of seizing imperial qi.

With such a vast number, some with good luck would surely succeed in ascending to the Jin Lian Walker realm.

And at that level, what would they seek but the great scriptures of the Buddha-fruit?

The Puti Sect would need to expend nothing, yet gain a large number of self-proclaimed "disciples." In exchange, for the Divine Court to maintain this peaceful age would be harder than climbing to the sky.

"What does the Immortal Court say? Are they just watching the Puti Sect run wild?" Meng Xiuwen glanced sideways.

"The Immortal Court..." Min Zhiyan gave a bitter smile and shook his head slightly: "If the Immortal Court wanted to intervene, the Master Master Qibao Bodhisattva would never have had the chance to reach Heshan."

This was the part that puzzled the Earth God the most. The Immortal Court and the Divine Court jointly ruled the human world; what benefit would a great chaos in the human world bring to those above?

"..."

Ye Lan's eyes flickered; she clearly knew something but said nothing more.

Matters between the Divine Court and the Immortal Court were too far removed from people like them; compared to that, the trouble at hand was more urgent.

While the Puti Sect was still busy negotiating with the imperial court, they must cover up the matter of the Luo Han Buddha-fruit as soon as possible.

She walked slowly to Shen Yi's side: "Meng Xiuwen will watch over Jianyang Prefecture for now. If you have nothing else to do, come with me on the journey."

"Very well."

Shen Yi listened quietly to their conversation without interrupting.

Having experienced several great upheavals, he understood even better that in such a situation, the only useful means of self-preservation was to increase one's strength.

"Tsk, tsk."

Meng Xiuwen quietly patted Shen Yi's shoulder, giving him a knowing glance with raised eyebrows. This kid, who had pretended to be uninterested last time, had only been out once and was already taken a liking to by Ye Lan.

Not bad methods, indeed.

Thinking of this, Meng Xiuwen murmured softly: "Push a bit harder, and that Taiyi..."

Before he could finish, Ye Lan glared at him with a frown, silencing him.

General Yan Lan was now more worried that Shen Yi might misunderstand, thinking he had truly joined Shenxu Laozu's sect. In her current situation, she had no qualification to transmit any Buddha-fruit to him.

"Let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we return."

Ye Lan said no more, and led Shen Yi and Ye Jing straight out of the residence.

Cultivators have always longed for a life of idle clouds and wild cranes.

Only sects like the Jade Dragon Sect or White Cloud Cave, which still needed the imperial court's power to protect themselves, would station their disciples within the jurisdiction of the Divine Court.

True immortals disliked constraints and were even less willing to deal with court officials; they usually built their grotto-heavens between the Xianshan and the great seas.

Shenxu Mountain was located in the sea beyond Da Nanzhou.

Surrounding the main peak were over three hundred peaks, stretching endlessly, like a naturally formed great formation, with floating immortal qi, not inferior even to the Heavenly Court.

Among these three hundred peaks, eight stood the tallest, surrounding the main mountain.

Only when truly crossing mountains and seas, traversing such a vast distance as Shenzhou, did the gap in cultivation become even more apparent.

Ye Lan rode on sword light, truly traveling from the Northern Sea in the morning to Cangwu by evening.

Even carrying Ye Jing, she was far beyond what Shen Yi, a Seventh-Rank Taiyi Zhenxian, could catch up to.

Of course, Shen Yi could manifest his Fifth-Rank Luo Han Golden Body and travel on foot; he might not catch Ye Lan, but at least he would not become a burden.

But that would be too conspicuous. Since the Buddha-fruit was stolen, it would be no different from seeking death.

Thus, the three spent a full two months just traveling.

"Once we arrive, speak as little as possible and keep your temper in check."

Ye Lan looked down at the many peaks below; when her gaze reached the fifth highest peak, a faint sorrow appeared in her expression.

Under Shenxu Laozu, there were eight second-generation disciples, each founding a lineage to continue the inheritance.

Now, the fifth lineage still exists, but its founding ancestor is gone; only one third-generation disciple remains. Therefore, this disciple is called Master Ye Lan.

"..."

Shen Yi gave a slight nod, yet a few traces of doubt welled up in his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, Ye Lan had once said that her branch was nearly extinct.

But the peak they were heading toward at this moment was teeming with people — countless disciples streaking through the air as beams of light, bustling about in great liveliness.

The fragrance of herbs wafted everywhere, rich and enticing.

Ye Lan brought the two of them down slowly, arriving at the mountainside, and there was a feeling of not belonging to this place, as if an outsider.

Her expression was cold, and she walked up the mountain without looking sideways.

An older cultivator who spotted the group froze for a moment, then stopped with a strange look on his face and bowed: "Jiang Shijie Ye has returned."

Ye Lan merely gave a slight nod, then walked straight past him.

"These are all people from the Sixth Peak, the Hundred Arts of cultivation. The branch my sister belongs to specializes in the Dao of Alchemy. After the incident, the patriarch of the Sixth Peak sent people to take over this peak, including those alchemy recipes and natural treasures..."

Ye Jing followed quietly behind and softly reminded Lord Shen of something.

Now that they had arrived at the Xian Sect, they could no longer address him as General.

"Understood."

Shen Yi followed Ye Lan up the mountain as well. Feeling the increasingly numerous strange gazes around him, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

No wonder she had shown that kind of expression earlier — this was clearly a case of having the family line completely swallowed up.

How much say Ye Lan still had within this branch was truly hard to say.

By the time the three of them reached the small courtyard at the peak's summit, the news of their return had already spread to several surrounding peaks.

"Come in."

Ye Lan reached out and pushed open the door of Cheng Xiaoyuan, and the coldness on her face finally faded a little.

Yet when she saw that there were no fallen leaves on the ground — clearly swept regularly — and that hot tea was still placed on the stone table, with an almost tangible spiritual mist drifting over the jade-green tea liquor...

Her five fingers suddenly clenched tight.

The Fifth Peak had been occupied by others, and now even this last remaining small courtyard had been lived in by outsiders.

The furnishings within the courtyard, preserved in her memory, had been altered beyond recognition.

"Huu—"

Ye Lan adjusted her breathing, slowly loosened her five fingers, and walked into the inner room.

Looking at the forearm-tall statue of the patriarch placed on the offering altar at the very front, her eyes were completely filled with a cold glint.

"Jiang Shijie Ye is back — why didn't you give this junior brother a heads-up in advance!"

A handsome young man in disheveled clothes rushed in quickly, leaning against the door frame and greeting them with a cheerful smile. Seeing Ye Lan staring at the offering altar, he rubbed his earlobe and said casually: "Jiang Shijie is rarely on the peak, so it's been disciples from our Sixth Peak taking care of this place. This junior brother figured you seldom come back, and to make it convenient for disciples to pay respects to the patriarch, I had this patriarch statue replaced."

"I really didn't mean anything else — Jiang Shijie wouldn't mind, would she?"

"..."

Under the young man's gaze, Ye Lan showed neither displeasure nor anger. She simply reached out her palm, took down that patriarch statue, and casually tossed it at the young man's feet.

Thud.

The patriarch statue rolled two circles on the ground, making the young man's face change drastically: "Jiang Shijie! This is your martial uncle — aren't you being a bit too rude..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was cut off by a cold voice.

"Take your father with you. Get lost."

Ye Lan waved her palm with a hint of distaste, sweeping the offering altar clean with a flash of spiritual light.

She bent down and took out a dusty statue of a middle-aged man from a corner beneath the offering altar, carefully wiped it several times with her plain white sleeves, then solemnly placed it in the center of the offering altar.

Finally, she pinched off the few remaining incense sticks on the altar, took out new incense, lit it, and meticulously inserted them into the incense burner.

After finishing all of this, she slowly turned around, too lazy to even glance at the young man, and said to Shen Yi: "I've already sent messages to the other peaks. When the appointed time comes, I'll formally take you in as a disciple."

Logically speaking, a third-generation disciple taking on an apprentice didn't require such a grand affair.

But Ye Lan was different. Although she was a third-generation disciple within the Shenxu Mountain, she bore the position of Peak Master, holding equal standing with the other seven second-generation disciples.

In the middle of speaking, several majestic auras suddenly enveloped the courtyard.

Their intensity was such that even Shen Yi, who had personally experienced a fifth-rank fruit position, felt slightly startled.

The next moment, three figures with immortal bearing and Daoist air silently landed in the courtyard — a black-bearded middle-aged man, a crane-haired, child-faced elder, and finally a still-charming beautiful woman.

Seven letters had been sent, yet only three came, and the man from the statue earlier was not among them.

"Honored martial uncles, please take a look!"

The disheveled young man pointed furiously at the statue by his feet. Earlier he had been too timid to speak, but now he was nearly cursing, aggrievedly recounting what had happened before.

"Lan'er!" The black-bearded middle-aged man was the Peak Master of the Third Peak. His expression was stern as he said in a deep voice: "Uncle Mu Yang is your martial uncle. No matter how displeased you are, how could you commit such a disrespectful act toward your elders?"

Facing the black-bearded middle-aged man's rebuke, Ye Lan offered no explanation and had no intention of asking anyone to adjudicate. She merely said coolly: "Martial Uncle Qianfeng, please address me as Peak Master."

Just that one simple sentence caused Daoist Qianfeng's expression to falter slightly. His outstretched fingertips curled up a bit, then he angrily flung his sleeve: "Fine, fine, fine — Peak Master Ye. It seems this old man was being tactless."

The other two Peak Masters exchanged a glance and had no intention of getting involved.

Ye Lan had already assumed the bearing of a Peak Master, no longer acknowledging herself as a junior. With such an unyielding attitude, any further reasoning would only be asking for a snub.

"..."

Shen Yi silently observed the scene before him. He was an outsider now, and could only stand obediently to the side along with Ye Jing.

But many things were already quite clear.

Despite Daoist Qianfeng coming forward to rebuke her right away, the fact that he had shown up probably meant he was already among the more neutral of the Peak Masters.

As for those who hadn't come, they probably hadn't truly regarded Ye Lan as anything at all.

"The appointed time has come."

Ye Lan had not shown any emotion about this from start to finish. She was merely going through the motions — whether those people came or not was simply not important to her.

"Come here."

She pointed at the spot behind her.

After Shen Yi had taken his stand, Ye Lan turned, looked toward the statue, then hitched up her robes and dropped straight to her knees on the ground: "Today, in the name of the Fifth Peak's Master, I, Ye Lan, receive a disciple on the Master's behalf — taking Shen Yi into the Fifth Peak, enrolled as a third-generation disciple beneath the Ancestor Shenxu. From this day forward we are of the same sect, in life and in death, never to abandon one another!"

When the words fell, she kowtowed reverently toward the statue of the Ancestor.

As she rose, the look on her face once more turned to cool indifference, and she turned and made a gesture of seeing the guest out.

"..."

The three Peak Masters wore complicated expressions, and in unison cast a glance at the young man in ink-black robes.

The Fifth Peak had long existed in name only; the only one left of it, Ye Lan, because of that matter from back then still harbored a grudge, and rarely returned to Shenxu Mountain, spending her years traveling abroad — no one knew what she was up to.

Now she had finally come back, only to perform this act of receiving a disciple on the Master's behalf.

Could it be that she meant to restart the Fifth Peak?

After all these years, this Miss's thinking was a touch too naive — the Fifth Peak's share of resources had long been tightly locked down by Yan Shidi Uncle Mu Yang; it was hardly so easy to take back.

The mere title of Peak Master was far from enough.

The slovenly young man stood outside the door, clutching that statue, his whole person wearing a look of utter bewilderment.

He was no Peak Master, had received no transmission, and had no idea at all what Ye Lan had come back for this time.

Receive a disciple?

On whose behalf — the Fifth Peak?

Where is there any Fifth Peak now!

Thinking of this, his eyelid twitched, and he fixed the young man in ink-black robes with an unfriendly stare, then turned and shot off toward the Sixth Peak.

After all the trouble he'd taken to claw his way up to half a Peak Master, he absolutely could not let that wretched woman stir up any more trouble!

(End of Chapter)