Chapter 140: Ling Yuling Apprentices

Three days later, Ziling Xianzi chose to enter secluded meditation, and the joyous occasion that many had anticipated—Yan Taibai taking her as a concubine—did not occur.

This matter did not cause any stir within the Miaoyin Sect or Heavenly Star City; people only occasionally sighed, felt regret, or rejoiced that Ziling Xianzi, the number one beauty of Heavenly Star City, had not become someone's concubine, perhaps thinking they might have a chance.

Although the chance was minuscule, it was still better than having no chance at all.

However, for the Miaoyin Sect, morale had dispersed quite a bit; everyone knew that the relationship between Yan Taibai and the Miaoyin Sect was not very deep, and originally, it had only been a transactional relationship.

Only now could it be considered to have a slight friendship, and while they had originally hoped to take it a step further, it now seemed that was just wishful thinking.

But as time passed and the Zhaixing Assembly approached, the attention of the entire Chaotic Star Sea shifted to this Zhaixing Assembly; it was not for the sake of competing for spots on the Twenty-four Outer Star Islands, but because this was a massive grand event that occurred once every hundred years.

Every time, whether it was the Four Great Merchant Guilds, the Star Palace, or the various large and small sects and factions throughout the Chaotic Star Sea, they would all vie to hold various trade fairs and auctions; all sorts of rare and world-unseen materials, Demon Cores, spiritual medicines, magical tools, Dharma Treasures, and many other rare treasures would appear one after another.

This naturally attracted the majority of cultivators in the entire Chaotic Star Sea to come to Heavenly Star City.

Therefore, Heavenly Star City became increasingly crowded, though this was, of course, relative.

But this was also a rare opportunity for high-level cultivators to recruit disciples and enlist Golden Core Stage cultivators.

The Miaoyin Sect was one of them.

Furthermore, on this day, the Miaoyin Sect recruited a female disciple at the Foundation Establishment Stage who possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root and a special constitution.

Most importantly, this female disciple's appearance was not in the least bit inferior to the current number one beauty of Heavenly Star City, Ziling Xianzi, who was the Young Master of the Miaoyin Sect.

For a time, all the Golden Core Stage cultivators throughout the Miaoyin Sect wanted to take this beautiful, fairy-like female disciple as their own.

As for what they intended to do, everyone knew it in their hearts, though no one would state it explicitly.

However, this female disciple named Ling Yuling specifically requested to apprentice under Yan Ruyan, a newly advanced Golden Core Stage cultivator.

Once these words were spoken, although the other high-level Golden Core Stage cultivators of the Miaoyin Sect felt uneasy, they did not say anything more.

And Zhou Yuan, in order to secure this female disciple with Heavenly Spirit Root aptitude, had no choice but to summon Yan Ruyan, who was currently in secluded meditation.

Although Yan Ruyan felt surprised, she still met with this female disciple named Ling Yuling.

However, this female disciple Ling Yuling was dressed in male attire.

With a face like white jade, eyebrows reaching into her temples, phoenix eyes and a refined nose, and delicate red lips, she was a stunning beauty who was in no way inferior to her.

"Disciple Ling Yuling pays respects to Elder Ruyan. This disciple, though untalented, wishes to apprentice under the Elder."

As soon as Ling Yuling saw Yan Ruyan, she immediately bowed respectfully and stated her purpose.

Her voice was delicate, crisp, and pleasant, making one feel much more cheerful.

"You are quite direct. However, with your Heavenly Spirit Root aptitude, even apprenticing under a Nascent Soul cultivator would be more than enough, and your status would certainly not be low; why do you wish to apprentice under me?"

Yan Ruyan did not believe that someone from a rogue cultivator background could possess a Heavenly Spirit Root; there was simply no possibility of that.

Therefore, Ling Yuling's status must be high, but the Miaoyin Sect could not find any information, and yet Ling Yuling had sworn a Heart Demon Vow that she had no malicious intent, which was why Zhou Yuan agreed to let her try.

"Entrusted by my mother to apprentice under the Senior."

Ling Yuling answered honestly.

"Your mother? May I ask who your esteemed mother is?"

Hearing this answer, Yan Ruyan and Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance, and Zhou Yuan parted her sandalwood lips to ask further.

"Please forgive this disciple for being unable to disclose that."

Ling Yuling also said with a helpless expression.

Under these circumstances, how could she possibly apprentice under Yan Ruyan?

This was mainly the result of the debate between Ling Xiaofeng and Wen Qing; by apprenticing under Yan Ruyan and becoming her disciple, it would count as having a very deep connection with Yan Taibai.

This was acceptable; otherwise, Ling Xiaofeng would never have agreed to let Ling Yuling apprentice under Yan Taibai.

"Unable to disclose!"

Hearing this answer, even Yan Ruyan could not help but knit her delicate brows; was this not going too far? Even with Heavenly Spirit Root aptitude, one could not be this willful.

"Since you cannot disclose it, then you may leave!"

After a long silence, Yan Ruyan directly issued an order to leave; she could not bring any hidden dangers or risks to her side, especially since Yan Taibai was also in the Miaoyin Sect, making it even more impossible.

"Disciple obeys."

Hearing this, Ling Yuling was not disappointed; instead, she let out a sigh of relief as if unburdened, and bowed.

After all, this was something she had already anticipated.

"No, wait a moment. Since your parents sent you here, Yan'er, you should take her in!"

Suddenly, just as Ling Yuling was about to set off to leave and report back, Yan Taibai's voice rang out.

Then, his figure stepped into the hall along with his voice, his gaze falling upon Ling Yuling as he said indifferently.

"Disciple Ling Yuling pays respects to Senior Yan."

Seeing this, Ling Yuling hurriedly bowed and spoke respectfully, not daring to be the least bit negligent, but Yan Taibai gave her the feeling that she had been seen through, as if she had no secrets at all.

"Enough, no need for such formalities. I have already roughly guessed the identity of your parents; I just did not expect that they would have you apprentice under Yan'er. It is truly quite unexpected."

Yan Taibai shook his head lightly, his tone as indifferent as ever, speaking words that left the three women—Ling Yuling, Yan Ruyan, and Zhou Yuan—all shocked beyond measure.

Ling Yuling, in particular, looked at Yan Taibai with an expression of disbelief, wanting to see if he was deliberately trying to fish for information.

"Heavenly Star Sages!"

Abruptly, a faint voice rang in her ear, making her believe it completely.

However, this was a sound transmission that Yan Ruyan and Zhou Yuan could not hear, but once it fell into Ling Yuling's mind, it left her frozen in place for a moment like a stone statue.

Only then did she return to her senses, and with a complex expression, she bowed respectfully.

"Senior Yan's eyes are like torches; this junior is impressed."

"Hmm! Proceed with the apprenticeship!"

Seeing this, Yan Taibai did not say anything more, but walked over to sit beside Yan Ruyan and Zhou Yuan.

"Yes."

Although she did not understand exactly where she had been exposed, Ling Yuling knew that at this moment, she had no choice but to proceed with the apprenticeship.

After all, the identity had already been exposed.

"Disciple Ling Yuling, pays respects to Master."

As she spoke, Ling Yuling performed the solemn ceremony to take a master, and the master she was taking was naturally Yan Ruyan, not Yan Taibai.

Although she wanted to take Yan Taibai as her master, constrained by her parents' orders, she could only take Yan Ruyan as her master.

"Yuling, please rise."

Seeing this, Yan Ruyan, who was also taking a disciple for the first time, felt her small face flush with excitement, yet she had to summon the dignity of a master and instructed.

After all, there was not much difference in age between the two.

"Many thanks, Master."

Hearing this, Ling Yuling rose quite naturally and thanked her respectfully.

"Given your status, you surely do not lack treasures for self-protection, so Yan'er and I will not embarrass ourselves by offering you a greeting gift. These are two bottles of medicinal pills that help cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage improve their cultivation and magic power; they should be of some use to you, so take them as a greeting gift."

Seeing this, Yan Taibai patted his Storage Bag, took out two bottles of medicinal pills he had obtained from an unlucky soul, and handed them to Ling Yuling.

"Many thanks, Martial Uncle; many thanks, Master."

For such spiritual pills capable of improving cultivation and magic power, even someone with Ling Yuling's status would not refuse.

After all, even she could not treat all kinds of spiritual pills like candy.

"No matter. Will you stay to cultivate, or return to cultivate? The cultivation environment of the sect is not as good as the place where you cultivated before."

Yan Taibai continued to ask.

"The disciple will naturally cultivate within the sect. As for the family, there is no need to return for the time being. This is also my mother's instruction."

Ling Yuling replied respectfully.

"Good. Then, Madam, please have someone make arrangements! Let her cultivation cave dwelling be placed next to the cave dwelling of Yan'er and me, so that I can look after her a bit more."

Hearing Ling Yuling's answer, Yan Taibai instructed Zhou Yuan, who was beside him and curious about Ling Yuling.

"Yes, Brother Yan. This concubine will certainly handle it well."

Although Yan Taibai did not become her own "son-in-law," things were not bad as they were now. She also believed that with her daughter's charm, plus Yan Ruyan's assistance, she could surely win over Yan Taibai.

They were just a young couple in their honeymoon phase now.

Zhou Yuan thought to herself.

"Hmm! Go ahead."

"Remember to send word to your parents, lest they think I have done something to you."

Yan Taibai reminded Ling Yuling again.

This made an awkward expression appear on Ling Yuling's beautiful face, while Yan Ruyan and Zhou Yuan pursed their lips, struggling to hold back their laughter, not daring to laugh out loud.

They naturally understood the meaning behind Yan Taibai's words.

And in order to prevent Ling Yuling from continuing to be embarrassed, Zhou Yuan stood up and took Ling Yuling away from the hall to settle her into a temporary place to rest.

"Brother Taibai, what exactly is the identity of this disciple of Yan'er? Why does Yan'er feel that even you are unwilling to offend her?"

After Ling Yuling and Zhou Yuan left the hall, Yan Ruyan finally asked the doubt in her heart.

Yan Taibai, with a serious air, first took a sip of spiritual tea before feigning profundity under Yan Ruyan's dissatisfied gaze.

"Her status is even three parts higher than that Wen of Shengmo Island. Do you understand now?"

"You mean, the eldest daughter of the Wanfa Sect, the biological daughter of the Wanfa Sect Master?"

Yan Ruyan frowned slightly and voiced her guess.

"This... how is that possible? How could the daughter of the Wanfa Sect Master be higher than that Wen of Shengmo Island? Guess again."

Yan Taibai reprimanded her with annoyance.

This girl, whenever she was with him, her occasional bouts of confusion were truly a headache.

"Oh! Besides the biological daughter of the Wanfa Sect Master, then it must be the daughter of the two Heavenly Star Sages of the Star Palace?"

After a moment of thought, Yan Ruyan suddenly realized.

"That's more like it. That's right, it is the daughter of the two Heavenly Star Sages of the Star Palace. As for why she is taking a master, it is naturally because she wants to establish a connection with the fifth Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage in the Chaotic Star Sea."

Yan Taibai nodded, showing a satisfied expression, and praised her.

"But if that's the case, wasn't the previous Wen of Shengmo Island also doing this for the same reason?"

Yan Ruyan was confused again.

"Then why was Brother so impolite? What if he intended to give the entire part of the Tianjin Star Island controlled by the Demonic Path to Brother?"

Yan Ruyan blinked her eyes, becoming even more puzzled.

"Since we have already chosen the Star Palace, we naturally cannot continue to act as fence-sitters; otherwise, the first to die would be us, this unstable factor. You must understand that even if the Righteous and Demonic Paths join forces, shaking the Star Palace's position in the Chaotic Star Sea is not something that can be done in a short time. Moreover, it is not certain whether they can even do it. Furthermore, we cannot let down the goodwill that the Star Palace has already sent, can we?"

Yan Taibai sighed softly, rubbed Yan Ruyan's small head, and explained.

"Is Brother talking about my newly accepted disciple, Yuling?"

Yan Ruyan vaguely felt that Yan Taibai seemed to have reached some agreement with the Heavenly Star Sages; although she had not seen it, they had reached a tacit understanding.

"Correct. Using their own daughter as a hostage, these Heavenly Star Sages have us figured out. It is also to put our minds at ease, telling us that they will not burn the bridge after crossing it."

Yan Taibai nodded in agreement.

"That really is bold. If it were me, I absolutely could not do such a thing."

After sighing, Yan Taibai let out a breath.

"That is because Brother Taibai has sufficient divine abilities and strength; if you were to overturn the entire Star Sea, you naturally would not do such a thing."

"However, if Brother Taibai did not have this divine ability and strength, would you take Yan'er as a bargaining chip or hostage?"

Yan Ruyan blinked her clear, lively eyes and asked a question similar to the past life's "If your mother and I both fell into the water..."

"Haha, how is that possible? How could I take you as a bargaining chip or hostage? You really are talking nonsense."

Hearing this, Yan Taibai could not help but laugh out loud and tease.

"But in that case, wouldn't Brother Taibai be safe?"

Yan Ruyan continued.

"At worst, we can just return to Tiannan. If there are no accidents, the invasion by the righteous and demonic paths should be over by now; there is nothing to worry about."

Yan Taibai pulled Yan Ruyan into his embrace and comforted her.

"Mm! Yan'er understands. Yan'er wants to tell Brother Taibai that if such a day truly comes, Brother Taibai can abandon Yan'er. Yan'er would be willing and would not resent Brother in the slightest. As long as Brother is safe, even if Yan'er were to have her body and soul destroyed, she would be willing and have no complaints."

Yan Ruyan said in a soft, gentle voice.

"Rest assured, if that day truly comes, I promise to make the entire immortal cultivation world be buried with you."

With soft fragrance and warm jade in his arms, Yan Taibai let all sorts of sweet nothings spill from his mouth as if they cost nothing.

Inside a cave deep within the Holy Mountain.

"Yuling has already been accepted as a disciple by the dao companion of that fellow Daoist Yan from the Miaoyin Sect. Moreover, he has already guessed Yuling's identity. In this way, we have reached an agreement with the Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind fellow Daoist Yan."

Wen Qing parted her red lips slightly and finished reciting the contents of the Sound Transmission Talisman in her hand.

"He actually already knows; he is truly formidable. But by doing this, aren't you afraid of harming Yuling? Once her identity is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Ling Xiaofeng still asked with dissatisfaction.

"I naturally have confidence in this, otherwise I would not have let Yuling take such a great risk to be accepted as a disciple under that Fairy Ruyan."

Wen Qing said.

"Are you so certain that they will not take action against Yuling?"

Ling Xiaofeng still said with concern.

"At this point, there is no use in saying more. It all depends on the choice of the Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage behind that fellow Daoist Yan; we have done everything we should."

After speaking, Wen Qing did not continue to say anything more.

(End of this chapter)