Becoming a Disciple

"You want to take me as your disciple?"

Ling Xi repeated, unable to believe her ears.

She was a majestic Empress of her generation; for someone to claim they wanted to take her as a disciple, she doubted her own hearing for a moment!

A faint chill gathered on her breathtakingly beautiful face, like a young beast whose reverse scale had been touched.

However, the astonishment in her eyes quickly faded. She had reincarnated and was currently only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. It was somewhat forgivable that this person was unaware.

A half-smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a flash of amusement and mockery passing through her eyes.

Interesting, truly interesting.

I, the Empress, roamed the Tianlan Great World unhindered for ten thousand years, ruled over an Imperial Court, and commanded billions of living beings. Yet today, a... well, a Cave Heaven Realm cultivator is asking to take me as a disciple?

Truly, the ignorant are fearless.

She raised her eyes to look at Gu Changge, her gaze filled with scrutiny.

A mere Cave Heaven Realm cultivator wants to be my master? Once I restore my cultivation, a few casual pointers from me would be enough to benefit you for a lifetime.

When that time comes, we'll see who is mentoring whom.

Just a moment ago, she had been pondering that it wouldn't be a bad idea to rope the other party in as a helper.

Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, the other party would turn around and offer to take her as a disciple. This absurdly reversed situation made her feel uncomfortable all over. The pride in her bones made it difficult to accept; it was already good enough that she hadn't erupted on the spot.

Ling Xi's gaze fell back onto Gu Changge. She pressed the matter, her tone blunt and even carrying a hint of provocation.

"Among the Seven Great Sects of Xuanzhou, the Qingxuan Sect is just an ordinary one. What makes you think I would be willing to take you as my master?"

Beside her, Ling Kun had long been so shocked by this turn of events that he had lost all sense of what to do. His knuckles were white from gripping the jade ruyi in his hand. Seeing his daughter still questioning the man, he hurriedly stepped forward and gently nudged her with his elbow.

Lowering his voice, he said anxiously, "Xi'er! How can you speak to the Peak Master like that? This is an immortal master from the Qingxuan Sect! The Qingxuan Sect is a top-tier, famous great sect in Xuanzhou, one of the Seven Great Sects! It is a massive blessing that the Peak Master is willing to take you in. Stop standing there in a daze!"

The Qingxuan Sect was one of the Seven Great Sects of Xuanzhou, who knew how many times stronger than the Wang family.

Terrified that Ling Xi would say something else ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth, he turned back to Gu Changge and added with a face full of smiles.

"Peak Master, please don't take offense. This child just has a straightforward personality and hasn't seen much of the world. Please bear with her! As for the apprenticeship, we accept! We accept!"

Gu Changge didn't mind. Gently fanning his folding fan with his fingertips, he looked at Ling Xi. "Because I can help you resolve the marriage arrangement with the Wang family, and because the spirit veins, pills, and resources of Purple Bamboo Peak can allow your cultivation to progress faster."

These words seemed to hit Ling Xi's weak spot.

Her fingertips gripping the hem of her skirt quietly tightened. She had been getting a headache over the Wang family's marriage arrangement lately, and rapidly improving her cultivation was her most urgent need right now.

Although she didn't want to admit it, she knew clearly that with the Ling family's resources, achieving these things would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens, while the Qingxuan Sect could easily accomplish it.

Ling Kun also took the opportunity to chime in from the side, his voice lowered even further. "Xi'er, the Peak Master has already said this much! If you miss this village, you won't find this inn again! With the Qingxuan Sect as your backer, who would dare force you into a marriage in the future? If you want to go far in your cultivation, this is the best path!"

Ling Xi fell silent for a moment. The chill and struggle in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of resoluteness after weighing the pros and cons. Looking at Gu Changge's calm and breezy demeanor, she thought to herself, 'Fine, I will temporarily borrow the Qingxuan Sect's resources to restore my cultivation.

When I return to my peak, I will casually bestow a fortune upon him and help him achieve the Great Sage or even Quasi-Emperor realm, which can be considered repaying today's favor.

When that time comes, I will let him know exactly who is the master and who is the disciple.'

She finally bit her lip lightly, her tone softening a bit but still carrying a hint of awkwardness.

"If you can truly do all that... then I shall take you as my master." She bowed slightly, performing a simple apprenticeship bow. Her posture seemed submissive, but an imperceptible pride was hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Seeing her give in, a faint smile that seemed capable of seeing through everything tugged at the corners of Gu Changge's mouth. "Since you have entered my tutelage, you will cultivate peacefully at Purple Bamboo Peak from now on. As for the Wang family, just tell them that the Qingxuan Sect has taken the person away."

Hearing this, Ling Kun was overjoyed and repeatedly cupped his hands. "Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master! For my humble daughter to be able to join the Qingxuan Sect is truly a massive blessing!"

Ling Xi raised her eyes to look at Gu Changge, only to see the other party looking at her with a half-smile. That gaze seemed to be able to see through all her thoughts, causing her heart to inexplicably tighten.

'It's just an illusion.'

She steadied her mind, suppressing that trace of unease. 'What could a mere Cave Heaven Realm cultivator possibly see through?'

Naturally, she wouldn't know that at this moment, Gu Changge was secretly laughing in his heart:

'This girl is quite interesting. Nurturing an Empress to walk the path of cultivation again shouldn't be boring.'

"Alright, since you have entered my tutelage, you should get to know your two senior brothers."

He stepped sideways, gesturing for Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu behind him to come forward.

Xiao Ruobai stepped forward first. Although the steady battle intent around him, forged through countless battlefields, was deliberately restrained, it still carried an undeniable sense of heaviness.

He cupped his fist toward Ling Xi, his voice hearty. "Greetings, Junior Sister. I am Xiao Ruobai, Master's first disciple."

His words were concise and his gaze open, naturally exuding the bearing of an eldest senior brother.

Fang Hanyu then nodded slightly, his tone flat yet clear. "Fang Hanyu."

Ling Xi's gaze swept quickly over the two of them.

She could feel that this eldest senior brother had boundless vitality and blood energy within his body, concealing an unparalleled, fierce battle intent. He was definitely no ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

As for the second senior brother, his aura was even more ethereal and sharp, as if his entire person was a peerless sword hidden within its sheath, its sharp edge drawn but unreleased.

'This Purple Bamboo Peak of the Qingxuan Sect... sure enough, it has some profound depths.' She pondered in her heart, but her face remained impassive as she simply returned the greeting according to etiquette: "Ling Xi."

Her posture still carried a bit of the aloofness and pride belonging to the Empress of her past life; she didn't appear overly enthusiastic just because they were her senior brothers.

Gu Changge took all this in without pointing it out. Instead, as if remembering something, he took out a smooth, warm cyan jade token from his sleeve and casually tossed it to Ling Kun, who was nervously rubbing his hands to the side.

Ling Kun frantically caught it, only feeling that the token was slightly heavy in his hands. It was carved with flowing cloud patterns surrounding a vigorous Gu character, with spiritual light faintly circulating within. It was absolutely no ordinary item.

"Patriarch Ling,"

Gu Changge said in a flat tone, "Keep this token. In the future, if the Ling family encounters any trouble they cannot resolve, you can bring this token to Purple Bamboo Peak of the Qingxuan Sect, and someone will naturally take action on your behalf once."

Hearing this, Ling Kun's hands trembled violently, almost failing to hold onto the token that felt as heavy as a thousand catties!

Ecstasy and disbelief instantly surged on his face, his lips trembling from excitement. "Th-thank you, Peak Master! Thank you, Immortal Master! With this token, my Ling family... my Ling family is free from worries!"

He clutched the token tightly to his chest, as if holding some peerless treasure. All of his previous worries and panic vanished into thin air in an instant.

With this promise from a Peak Master of the Qingxuan Sect, who would dare to easily touch his Ling family?