008: Eldest Disciple
Zemirah watched the little girl kowtow to herself and accepted it. After doing it once, Zemirah helped the girl stand up with a little spiritual energy.
Wendy felt the invisible power that guided her to stand. This must be the power of cultivators, will she be able to do it too in the future?
Zemirah spoke, "My disciple, I still don't know your name."
Wendy stopped in her daze and answered shyly, "Master, this disciple's name is Wendy."
"Wendy, a beautiful name." Zemirah praised.
Wendy blushed, her brown eyes twinkling.
Zemirah held out her hand, "Let's go. I'll take you to where I'm staying so that you can rest."
Wendy stared at the clean white like a precious jade hand and stared at her own dirty little hands. Zemirah saw her hesitation and smiled, she didn't wait for Wendy to think long and grabbed the little hand and held it.
"Come on, I'll take you to eat and buy you belongings later."
Wendy was startled at first before calming down. Yes, this person is her master now. No need for any hesitation since they are now the closest person in this world from now on.
The two ladies, one big and one small, left that place.
Some people have long noticed their interaction. They wondered at first what was happening, why is this beautiful cultivator in a white veil talking to a little survivor.
Only when they heard the whole conversation from the side did they watch in a daze the mortal little girl being accepted by the cultivator as a disciple just like that?
The guards and survivors around didn't expect to see this scene. Just swinging a branch and they were connected by fate?
The whole interaction quickly spread around.
For cultivators, the veiled beauty in a pink and purple robe is a little rich woman and a talented talisman master whom many wanted to befriend.
For the survivors, the whole spectacle is a miracle they wanted to have. Something everyone dreamed especially the other little children that even copied Wendy by picking up a branch and swinging it like a sword.
When the Town Lord and his guests heard of it, they chuckled and thought it was interesting.
"That lady is a little mysterious, actually accepting a mortal girl without seeing if she has any talent for cultivation." The Town Lord said
His guest, the gentle scholar smiled, "She's talented, her disciple may also have something special for her to take her as a disciple."
The Town Lord was surprised, "The Young Lord took a fancy to that lady?"
The scholar that was called young lord paused, thinking of that fox eyes that look at everything in interest and gracefulness, answered, "For her to trade Supreme-Quality Pill and Spiritual Fruit without any hesitation, and take out so many Outstanding and Rare-Quality Talismans. She's surely a talent with a background."
The Town Lord was thoughtful, thinking of the scene at the auction, "Now that this lady is staying in my town, I think I should stock some beautiful items. I may be able to exchange it next month with her precious talismans."
The Young Lord chuckled at the Town Lord's words.
Remembering the veiled lady who exchanged Rare-Quality talismans just for beautiful items and spiritual plants with lower value, he felt an unfamiliar interest spark in his heart silently.
'Really interesting… and beautiful.'
The Young Lord was curious about the face behind the veil.
---
The people in the talk around the town, Zemirah, and Wendy, entered the inn without knowing of the effect of their interaction.
Thea who is guarding the counter saw the lady bring in a mortal girl with her. Her eyes stayed on their hands, one clean and one dirty.
Who is this girl with the Lady? Thea curiously followed them with her gaze until they were out of her sight.
Zemirah led Wendy to her room, the little girl whose just a little above Zemirah's waist obediently followed while observing the unfamiliar environment.
Zemirah told Wendy, "My courtyard is being renovated, we'll move there next week. For now, we're staying at this inn."
Wendy nodded, "I understand, master."
Zemirah took out a food container from her space ring, "Come here and eat. I bought this before I went to find you."
Wendy saw the piping hot food. Her stomach grumbled at the smell. Knowing it was for her, she didn't refuse and ate happily.
While she was eating, Zemirah took out a crystal ball. Wendy saw it and looked curiously.
"This is a spiritual root detector," Zemirah explained.
Wendy heard about that thing. It is something that detects if a person can cultivate or not.
"It will detect if a person has spiritual roots. Spiritual root allows a person to feel and absorb spiritual energy of this world, only then one can embark on the path of immortality."
Wendy nodded.
"Here, put your hand on it." Zemirah showed Wendy the small crystal ball.
Wendy was nervous, doubting if she had a spiritual root. What if she doesn't have one, will her master send her back?
Zemirah saw her thoughts at a glance, so she smiled and reassured, "Don't worry, since we're master and disciple, it will not change."
Miraculously, it calmed Wendy's turbulent heart.
Yes, her master will not abandon her. Wendy started to trust her master, whom she just met.
Slowly, Wendy extended her hand and rested it on the crystal ball. The crystal ball felt cold on her hand, she was in awe at this small ball actually deciding if she could embark on the path of cultivation or not.
When her heart was beating fast while waiting, the silent crystal ball started shining. A faint green and brown light appeared, slowly becoming stronger and more apparent. It only stops when the crystal ball is covered with green and brown light.
Seeing the light, Wendy knew she was lucky.
If the crystal ball didn't react, it meant that she was unlucky.
She can cultivate.
Zemirah smiled at Wendy and sincerely congratulated her, "Congratulations, Wendy. You have dual spiritual roots, Green for Wood and Brown for Earth element."
Wendy, whose heart was hanging just now, felt her eyes tear up.
"Master – " She sniffed and took a deep breath.
Zemirah spread her arms to the little girl, Wendy hesitated before plunging into her beautiful master's embrace.
She cried loudly, finally showing her emotions. Zemirah patiently waited for her to calm down while embracing her little disciple.
For a little girl who has her life uncertain because of a bloody tragedy to find another chance to start over, it was a life-changing event. Something that she never dreamed of before.
Like how Zemirah died and transmigrated with a system to Azar.
When Wendy finished, the food was already cold.
"I'm sorry, master. I just – " She sniffed again, looking embarrassed at her outburst.
Zemirah laughed, "It's okay. You're my disciple now. No need to be embarrassed."
"Now that we know what your spiritual roots are, I'll find you a suitable Magic Artifact and Cultivation Technique. For now, take this as your master's first gift." Zemirah took out the [Heavensent Butterfly Sword], a Mortal-Grade Sword Artifact she bought from the Teal Treasure House.
Seeing the beautiful thin sword, Wendy fell in love at first glance. She loves swords, and now finally having one for herself, she was ecstatic.
"This is a Mortal-Grade Sword Artifact, suitable for you now that you haven't cultivated yet. When you reach the Early-Stage of Energy Refinement Realm, I'll give you my [Light Cicada Wood Sword]."
Zemirah showed her sword, a similar but thinner sword with an emerald tassel.
Wendy gasped in surprise and nodded in anticipation. Holding her own sword, she smiled gleefully.
"I'll teach you the Breathing Technique I'm practicing for you to finally start cultivating. Then the Sword Technique after." Zemirah told her plan to her little disciple.
A little distracted from the sound in her mind from the system, she focused on teaching Wendy the [Starry Mystery Breathing Technique]. The little girl took 3 days before finally understanding the Breathing Technique.
In those three days, Zemirah and Wendy went shopping. Wendy got an artifact robe, the [Crimson Sun Robe], a Defensive Artifact called [Weeping Clam Pearl], a Mortal-Grade space embroidered pouch that smells good, and dozens of different talismans.
Only then did Wendy know that her master was an amazing Talisman Master. Although she didn't know how much exactly the items on her body cost, she knew it was not something everyone could have.
She understood that her master truly valued her, making her heart closer and trusting her beautiful master.
The only thing that she was curious about was the face behind her master's veil.
In those three days, Zemirah tasted the sweetness of having a disciple. Sia said before that the closer the relationship, the higher the trigger rate.
Only now did she understand the huge difference between a stranger to a close disciple.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 5,000-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Late-Stage Grade 1 [Purple Heaven Butterfly Sword].
Details: [Purple Heaven Butterfly Sword], a sword made from the wings of a purple heaven butterfly by a Genius Forger. It has a powerful illusion effect and a sharp blade that easily cuts and slashs. The owner will be slightly protected from the spiritual attack of the low-stage Foundation Building.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8,590-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 [Crimson Golden Sun Robe].
Details: A robe artifact known for its warm soft, and smooth texture. It can shield the wearer from cold and wind. The robe will not be burned easily by fire. It can withstand attacks from the Late-stage Foundation Building.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 7,500-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Low-Stage Grade 2 [Mourning Tears Pearl].
Details: A pearl that is said from the tears the mermaid cried on her Clam Bed from the deep sea. It can withstand attack from late-stage foundation building. Before destruction, it can send a strong spiritual attack that can slightly injure a Mind Activation Realm.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 9,999-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 2 [Raining Flowers & Butterfly Embroidered Space Pouch].
Details: A space pouch that can hold living plants and insects inside. It has wide space to store things. Only the Golden Core Realm can destroy this space pouch and its spiritual mark.
Then the awesome talismans…
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,900-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Late-Stage Grade 2 [Ice Sword Hail Talisman].
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,500-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 [Flaming Arrow Rain Talisman].
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,700-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 2 [Earth Heart Protection Talisman].
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,100-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Early-Stage Grade 2 [Bloodlust Flower Trap Talisman].
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,000-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Early-Stage Grade 2 [Curse Sucking Talisman].
Ding! Congratulations Host for triggering a 1,100-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Early-Stage Grade 2 [Blessing Crowd Healing Talisman].
And lastly, the unexpected, pleasant surprise that she got, making her so happy that she froze after hearing it.
Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 9,999-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Black-Grade [Starry Sky Sea Breathing Technique].
Details: A miraculous breathing technique that uses the starry sky and sea to cultivate. The person who practices this becomes the darling of the stars and is protected by the stars from being the peek of secrets.
The breathing technique is the best version of [Starry Mystery Breathing Technique] from her destroyed sect. It's miraculous effects like being the darling of stars, where she was even protected by the stars from people that know divination.
It means that as long as someone tries to peek at her secrets, future, or past, they will see nothing and may even face backlash if pursued.
This was amazing, especially for Zemirah who has so many secrets on her body.
"Sia, you're so amazing." Zemirah sighed.
Then the most amazing surprise –
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a 1,000-fold back. You got a [10 Years of Breathing Technique Experience].
Zemirah asked Sia about the 10 years of Breathing Technique Experience though she had a vague idea.
[Ding! It means that the host will receive experience of specific years on that technique. It can be used to advance a technique's mastery.]
Zemirah decided to not use the experience gift but to wait for when she started practicing her newly received breathing technique.
For the next three days, she gave her little disciple more gifts.
Wendy, the doted disciple happily received her master's doting. She discovered that her master loves giving gifts to the people closer to her and as long as she accepts the gift, her master will be happy.
On the fourth day, Zemirah gave Wendy a gift and taught her the [Starlight Wrath Sword Skill].
Wendy easily learned the sword skill and accepted the pot of plant called [Dutch Whisper Plant] from her master. She likes to listen to it when practicing and before sleeping.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering an 8,555-fold back. You got a Celestial-Quality Black-Grade [12 Constellations Sword Moves Technique].
Details: A sword move set made by a sword master with the power of stars, it has 12 layers of different sword moves.]
[Ding! Congratulations Host for triggering a 7,500-fold back. You got a celestial-quality high-stage grade 2 [Morning Queen Bell Plant].
Details: A plant for a queen to welcome the morning. This plant can grow a bell every decade, the bell will be a grade 1 artifact and evolve every hundred years of sunbathing. Its morning bell will disperse negative emotions and evil spirits. Every bell is a coveted item of monks]
After that is a gift that Zemirah has been anticipating since she got her Talisman Master talent before.
[Ding! Congratulations Host for triggering a 9,999-fold back. You got a [10x Sword Talent Enhancement].
Details: The host's talent in swordsmanship will increase ten times. Affinity, comprehension, and intimacy to sword-related things will increase greatly.]
On the fifth day, Zemirah answered some questions of her disciple about the [Starry Mystery Breathing Technique] before handing the [Moon Tear Necklace].
Wendy saw her master take the necklace she was wearing before beckoning her, Wendy obediently went to her master and felt something on her neck afterward.
The necklace of her master was now on her.
Wendy wanted to protest, "Master, this is yours – "
Zemirah cut her, "Now, I'm giving it to you. It can cleanse the mind and can defend. Just a little gift."
Wendy sighed resignedly and happily held her new necklace.
"Tomorrow, we'll move to our courtyard. Remember to wake up early." Zemirah said as she admired the necklace on Wendy.
Wendy, who is now cleaned and dressed up, looks like a little miss from a prominent family. She wore normal green robes since Zemirah hadn't found her a good artifact robe set.
Wendy also doesn't mind since she still has her other outer robe.
[Ding! Congratulations to Host for triggering a 2,000-fold back. You got a Supreme-Quality Late-Stage Grade 2 [Blue Moon Raindrop Necklace].
Details: A necklace made from a Blue Moon Crystal, has rich water element energy. Can heal the wounds of the owner and enrich the spiritual energy around.]