The Thirty-First and Thirty-Second Disciples

Gu Changyuan took in all of Jun Anshi's little movements. A barely noticeable smile brushed across the corners of his mouth, but he didn't point it out. Instead, he simply raised his hand casually.

A gentle wave of spiritual energy slowly descended, enveloping the brother and sister. In an instant, it healed all the wounds on their bodies and even smoothed out the chaotic spiritual energy within them, restoring them to perfect condition.

Not only that.

Even their torn and bloodstained clothes were rendered as good as new as the spiritual energy flowed over them.

Jun Mukong looked down at his fully healed hands, then touched his seemingly brand-new robes, his eyes filled with shock.

Jun Anshi was equally stunned. She gently flexed her wrist.

Just a moment ago, there had been a wound deep enough to show bone, but now the skin was smooth and flawless, without even a trace of a scar.

The two exchanged a glance, turned around simultaneously, and bowed deeply to Gu Changyuan:

"Thank you, Senior!"

Gu Changyuan waved his hand, signaling them to dispense with the formalities.

His gaze swept over the two of them as he asked in a casual tone:

"It's just a small matter, don't take it to heart.

By the way, which sect do you two belong to? If it's inconvenient for you to travel, I can escort you back to your sect."

As his words fell, Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi both froze.

They looked at each other, a myriad of thoughts seemingly flashing through their eyes.

After a moment, they offered stiff smiles, and Jun Mukong spoke up:

"To answer Senior, we are currently both rogue cultivators. We don't belong to any faction."

Their smiles, though they tried hard to maintain them, carried a trace of unconcealable bitterness.

Gu Changyuan looked at them and didn't press the matter.

He simply nodded and then said:

"Then, would you be willing to take me as your master, become my disciples, and join my faction?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the two were instantly dumbfounded.

Take him as their master?

This senior before them, whose strength was unfathomable, actually wanted to take them in as disciples?

They knew their own talents very well—in this cultivation world, they were merely of average aptitude, perhaps even mediocre.

If placed in those large sects, no one would even spare them a second glance.

Why would this senior want to accept them?

Jun Mukong furrowed his brows slightly, his mind churning with thoughts.

Jun Anshi, however, didn't overthink it.

She simply looked at the man before her, feeling the gentle yet powerful aura radiating from him, and meeting his gaze that held absolutely no malice.

Thinking that she could become his disciple and see him often in the future, rather than just having this one chance encounter.

Jun Anshi, who was somewhat of a sucker for good looks, didn't think any further and replied:

"To answer Senior, I am willing!"

Jun Mukong: "???"

His eyes widened as he stared at his sister, who, despite usually being lively, was still relatively steady. She had agreed just like that, without any hesitation? Wasn't she agreeing a bit too fast?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately just let out a soft sigh.

Forget it.

This senior was their savior, after all. And given his strength, if he really had any ulterior motives, there would be no need for him to beat around the bush.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward as well, and bowed:

"To answer Senior, I am also willing."

As he spoke, the two exchanged a glance, the same determination flashing in their eyes.

And then—

They dropped to both knees right on the gravel-covered ground.

Without any hesitation or delay, their movements were perfectly synchronized.

Thump, thump, thump.

Three loud kowtows, knocked solidly against the earth.

Gu Changyuan watched their crisp and decisive actions, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Quite decisive.

No empty rejections or probing.

He gently raised his right hand, and a soft stream of spiritual energy lifted the two from the ground.

At the same time, the spiritual energy gently brushed across their foreheads, instantly erasing the red marks left by their kowtows without leaving a single trace.

"Good."

Gu Changyuan looked at them, a hint of satisfaction in his tone:

"From today onwards, you shall be my thirty-first and thirty-second disciples."

As his words fell, he raised his right hand in the air.

Two streaks of light flew from his palm, condensing in midair into two palm-sized tokens.

The tokens were entirely black, bordered with gold.

The front was engraved with a quaint character for Heaven, while the back bore the exclusive insignia of the Heaven and Human Sacred Land.

The tokens drifted in front of the siblings and hovered quietly.

Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi reached out and took them. As their eyes fell on the tokens, they felt a complex mix of emotions.

Being able to become disciples of such a powerhouse was naturally a tremendous stroke of fortune.

But—wait a minute.

Thirty-first? Thirty-second?

The two froze simultaneously, the joy on their faces instantly solidifying.

They raised their heads and looked at their new master, their eyes full of confusion and shock.

Huh?

Over thirty disciples?

Master, just what scale is your faction? One person taking in so many disciples?

Is this reasonable?

Countless thoughts instantly flashed through Jun Mukong's mind.

Could this be one of those unorthodox factions that uses the pretext of taking disciples to actually conduct shady business?

Jun Anshi was much the same; her pretty eyes were currently filled with the words: Did we just fall into a trap?

Gu Changyuan watched the wonderful changes in their expressions and couldn't help but chuckle.

He didn't explain, only tilted his head slightly and called out softly towards the sky:

"Ye Qingxue, Yue Lingxi, come down."

As soon as he spoke, two figures resembling celestial maidens gracefully descended on either side of him.

Suddenly seeing two women with such transcendent temperaments and city-toppling beauty, Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi stared blankly.

Too beautiful.

Not a superficial beauty, but a beauty radiating from the inside out, as if resonating with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Especially Jun Anshi—her weakness for good looks wasn't just limited to men. Seeing two such stunning senior sisters, she was completely dumbfounded.

Of course, she was straight.

But that didn't stop her from appreciating beauty.

Gu Changyuan introduced them to the two:

"These two are your Eldest Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Sister—Ye Qingxue and Yue Lingxi."

Eldest Senior Sister? Fourth Senior Sister?

Hearing that these two fairies were actually their senior sisters, the siblings felt a jolt in their hearts.

They hastily gathered their wits and bowed respectfully to Ye Qingxue and Yue Lingxi:

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister! Greetings, Fourth Senior Sister!"

Ye Qingxue nodded slightly, a faint smile on her face:

"Rise. Now that you have entered Master's tutelage, we are family. There is no need for such formalities."

Yue Lingxi stepped forward, gently helped Jun Anshi up, and smiled:

"If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to come find your senior sister."

Gu Changyuan watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction.

"Alright, since the matter is settled, let us return to the Central Domain."

Hearing that they were going back to the Central Domain, Jun Anshi immediately grew curious. Just which faction did their master belong to?

Jun Mukong hesitated for a moment but still couldn't help asking:

"Master, may I ask... what is the name of our sect?"

Gu Changyuan smiled faintly and calmly uttered the words:

"Heaven and Human Sacred Land."