NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11
With a light cough from Sect Master Ning Shenming, the peak masters and elders, whose eyes were filled with a hint of greed, restrained their blatant stares.
“Little ones, congratulations on passing the test. Standing on the Yunyue Platform, you are now disciples of the Shangding Immortal Sect. After testing your spiritual roots, we will arrange suitable masters for you to guide you on the path of cultivation.”
Ning Shenming, dressed in a cloud-patterned blue robe exuding an air of immortality, sat at the forefront. His voice, gentle and kind, clearly reached everyone’s ears.
The peak masters and elders then realized that their sect master was a Nascent Soul cultivator and prudently reined in their thoughts, knowing better than to compete with him for disciples.
Ning Shenming, satisfied with the atmosphere, nodded, but his expression stiffened when his gaze fell on Shen Shi, who was picking at his feet indifferently.
Ning Shenming sighed. The only person in the Shangding Immortal Sect he felt he owed something to was Shen Shi.
Shen Shi’s disciples were all picked from the Xianmiao Conference but were not wanted by any peak masters or elders. So, Shen Shi collected them like picking up junk, thus sparing the sect some embarrassment. The rule was that any child who made it to the Yunyue Platform became a disciple of the sect. Some, however, were anomalies that no peak master or elder wanted, but breaking the rule wasn’t an option.
Shen Shi’s disciples, collected under these circumstances, alleviated the sect’s awkwardness. Dongyue Li was a disciple Shen Shi originally brought, with decent aptitude. However, the disciples he later took in were more peculiar.
Xuan Yu, with a four-attribute spiritual root, had almost no talent for cultivation, yet her strong willpower helped her through the trials. Han Xian’er, a remnant of the defeated Purple Sun Empire, survived only due to the new emperor’s leniency. Who would dare take her and impart immortal methods? Cang Yuling lacked intelligence, and despite her talent, it was offset by her low comprehension.
Privately, the other peak masters and elders referred to Shen Shi as the “Junk True Person,” meaning a Golden Core Real Person specializing in collecting junk disciples. But the former Shen Shi didn’t care about these nicknames since he didn’t bother with these disciples anyway. How they wasted their potential was none of his concern.
“Those who didn’t pass the test can choose to stay in the Servant Hall or leave the mountain. It’s your choice. If you join the Servant Hall, you can also be taught basic cultivation methods,” Ning Shenming stated calmly.
This announcement stirred excitement among the children who didn’t pass the test. Even serving as servants in an immortal sect was prestigious, and there might be a chance for advancement.
Ning Shenming looked at the excited young boys and girls and smiled. These children, selected from the regions under the sect’s control, all had some talent. Keeping them in the sect to support the vast organization was important. The so-called basic cultivation methods were just simple Qi-nourishing manuals, which, without the aid of spirit stones, would take over a decade of hard work to reach the Qi Training stage.
After addressing the unsuccessful children, Ning Shenming turned his attention to those who had passed the trials.
“You children have passed all the tests and proven your talent. Now, one by one, come to the center of the Yunyue Platform. I will test your spiritual root attributes and then choose suitable masters for you,” Ning Shenming announced with calm authority.
His kindly demeanor was specifically for Xiao Qi; for the others, he maintained a distant and lofty attitude.
As Ning Shenming’s stern voice echoed, the children who had passed the test nervously walked onto the platform. Xiao Qi, however, observed calmly from the end, his demeanor betraying a calmness beyond his years.
Shen Shi, cracking sunflower seeds, with his shoes off and feet on the desk, watched the proceedings.
Xuan Yu and the other disciples beside him looked embarrassed, turning away, feeling ashamed of their master’s behavior.
The Yuhua Sect female cultivator with a generous chest looked at Shen Shi’s indecorous behavior, her pretty face showing surprise, and then she laughed softly: “This Shen Shi is quite an interesting man.”
Shen Shi didn’t care about the opinions of others. In the Shangding Immortal Sect, he was second only to Ning Shenming in strength, his Golden Core Great Perfection not just for show.
“Does Luo Sister have an interest?” another Yuhua Sect female cultivator whispered teasingly.
Luo Sister, the Yuhua Sect cultivator, chuckled, her eyes sparkling attractively, drawing the male cultivators’ thirsty gazes. She then said, “Maybe a little, but only if he didn’t have his past history
.”
“Luo Sister, that’s all in the past. The genius of the Treading Cloud Immortal Sect also said they won’t bother Shen Shi anymore,” the other female cultivator replied with a smile.
Luo Sister smiled charmingly: “We’ll see. I am indeed quite curious.”
As they spoke, two children with decent talent were selected by a peak master and elder. Then it was a little girl’s turn, a pretty child with pigtails and a dirty face, looking weak as if she hadn’t eaten for days.
“Bun!” Shen Shi, lounging carelessly, squinted his eyes at the little girl.
He remembered her well from his narrative – she was the first member of Xiao Qi’s harem, Wei Qin, nicknamed Bun, a foodie with excellent aptitude and comprehension. She was won over by Xiao Qi’s cooking and helped him climb the ranks of the Shangding Immortal Sect before turning on Shen Shi.
“What’s your name, little girl?” a guard disciple asked.
“Wei…Wei Qin, as in ‘refreshing,'” Bun said timidly.
Ning Shenming nodded slightly at the girl, who seemed to have some background. “Forget the past now that you’ve joined our sect. Focus on your cultivation.”
As the array activated, a bright green light appeared above Wei Qin’s head, spreading like a giant tree.
“Wow – such a pure wood spiritual root,” Gao Baihe exclaimed, impressed.
Ning Shenming smiled, pleased to find another promising child besides Xiao Qi. When others saw Wei Qin’s potential, they looked hopefully at Ning Shenming, waiting for his decision.
Ning Shenming turned his gaze to Shen Shi, lounging in his seat. “Would True Person Shen Shi be interested in taking this wood-attribute child as a disciple?”
His suggestion made Shen Shi the center of attention, but the cultivators couldn’t help but feel speechless at his unsightly posture.
“What a peculiar man. Doesn’t he care about his image at all?”
Shen Shi, scratching his chest, frowned at Ning Shenming: “Me? I’m not interested. I think it’s better to leave this child to Lingzhu Peak’s Master Bai.”
Shen Shi had no interest in babysitting a little girl. Wei Qin was meant to be Bai Ran’s disciple anyway.
Bai Ran, a gentle-looking female cultivator, was not strong and had a modest position in the sect. She liked Wei Qin but didn’t feel qualified to speak up. Surprised by Shen Shi’s suggestion, she hesitated, fearing to accept.
Shen Shi, seeing her soft and easy-to-bully demeanor, said dismissively: “Stop with the nonsense. If I say you’re more suitable, you are. Just take good care of the little girl.”
His domineering words silenced those who wanted to object.
Bai Ran, grateful and surprised by Shen Shi’s indifference, gently smiled at Wei Qin and invited her over.
“Wait,” Shen Shi suddenly interjected.
Bai Ran tensed, thinking there might be a catch.
Shen Shi flicked his finger, sending a pastry from his table flying towards Wei Qin, stopping right in front of her.
Wei Qin eyed the pastry hungrily, then looked at Shen Shi and Bai Ran.
“Eat,” Bai Ran said softly.
Shen Shi, lounging casually, gestured: “It’s for you.”
Wei Qin excitedly held the pastry and ran to Bai Ran’s side.
Bai Ran tenderly touched Wei Qin’s head, smiling warmly at Shen Shi, her eyes filled with gratitude.
Ning Shenming watched the scene unfold, not intervening, as it was Shen Shi’s decision how to handle the matter.
After two more children with average talent were chosen, it was finally Xiao Qi’s turn. Shen Shi straightened up, observing intently.
Xiao Qi confidently walked to the center of the platform. He felt his talent must be strong, so he wasn’t too nervous.
Everyone held their breath, eagerly watching Xiao Qi, a prodigy with high spiritual affinity. They hoped his spiritual root attribute differed from Ning Shenming’s, giving them a chance to claim him.
Shen Shi maintained his cold smile.
The array activated, and a fiery red light appeared above Xiao Qi’s head. Ning Shenming’s face brightened; fire was his attribute.