Ji Yan casually tossed an item to Lü Shaoqing.
Lü Shaoqing caught it and saw it was a jade pendant.
Ji Yan said plainly, "I won this in a bet."
Lü Shaoqing turned to his master, Shao Cheng. "Master, you see, Eldest Senior Brother knows how to treat people better than you."
Shao Cheng scoffed, "Whatever your senior brother gives you is likely worthless since he doesn't care for it."
Ji Yan added, "It can withstand a strike from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."
Lü Shaoqing responded, "Master, you don't get it. If I sell it and say it's from my senior brother, I could still get a thousand spirit stones, maybe even more."
Shao Cheng's face soured, as he had forgotten this.
Annoyed, he changed the topic and glared at Lü Shaoqing.
"When I left, you were lying here, and now that I'm back, you're still lying here."
Shao Cheng was exasperated. "Can't you be more like your senior brother?"
Lü Shaoqing looked up from his Tianji Tablet and glanced at Shao Cheng. "Are you sure you want me to be like Eldest Senior Brother?"
Shao Cheng was at a loss for words and quickly shifted the conversation again, turning to Xiao Chuang. "Senior Brother Xiao, what brings you here?"
Xiao Chuang replied, "Junior Brother Shao, aren't you still looking for a direct disciple?"
He pulled Xiao Yi forward and said, "This is my niece. What do you think?"
Shao Cheng hesitated. "Is she interested in becoming my disciple?"
Lü Shaoqing, without even looking up, commented, "Uncle Xiao is only interested in Eldest Senior Brother. Master, don't flatter yourself."
Shao Cheng snapped, "Shut up."
Is there any other disciple who undercuts his master like this?
But Shao Cheng then looked over at his eldest disciple.
Most matters regarding Tianyu Peak required Ji Yan's approval, even accepting disciples.
If Ji Yan wasn't interested, Shao Cheng wouldn't take her in either.
Ji Yan's gaze fell upon Xiao Yi.
Her face turned red, and she fidgeted nervously, unsure where to place her hands.
She felt anxious, afraid that she might not be deemed worthy.
Ji Yan assessed Xiao Yi for a moment before addressing Xiao Chuang. "Uncle Xiao, my master needs more time to cultivate, and he may find it difficult to continue teaching disciples."
Xiao Chuang responded, "But isn't that what you're here for? It's fine."
After all, he was there for Ji Yan, not Shao Cheng, who was mainly a nominal figurehead as the master.
Xiao Chuang continued, "Or do you lack the confidence to teach this girl properly, Nephew Ji Yan?"
Ji Yan, feeling challenged, replied, "Who said that?"
"Even if you brought me a pig, I could make it ascend to immortality."
Xiao Chuang smiled. "See, there you go!"
"I've already informed the sect leader. He also hopes that another genius like you will emerge from Lingxiao Sect."
Lü Shaoqing interjected, "Dream on. It's more likely to find another genius like me."
Shao Cheng snapped, "Be quiet! No one will think you're mute if you don't speak."
Clutching his chest, Shao Cheng felt that if Tianyu Peak produced another disciple like Lü Shaoqing, he'd lose all face as the peak master.
Xiao Chuang pressed further, "Nephew Ji Yan, you know many people saw me bring this girl to Tianyu Peak. If it gets out that your master refuses to accept her, people will say you, as the eldest senior brother, are afraid of being overshadowed by another junior sister."
Ji Yan bristled. "Who would dare?"
Shao Cheng glanced at Lü Shaoqing, who continued staring at his Tianji Tablet, not even looking in their direction.
This brat!
If I didn't know you were scheming behind the scenes, I'd be the first to doubt it.
Shao Cheng told Ji Yan, "If that's the case, accept her as a disciple. I will personally guide her later."
Shao Cheng understood his disciple's character. With Lü Shaoqing advising from behind the scenes, the matter was as good as settled.
By speaking up, he was giving Ji Yan a way to gracefully accept the situation.
Lü Shaoqing chimed in, "Master, you struggle just teaching yourself. Don't mess up someone else's path."
Shao Cheng's temper flared. "Shut up! If you keep this up, I'll put you in solitary confinement."
Ji Yan looked at Xiao Yi. "Kneel and take me as your master."
Xiao Chuang was delighted and quickly instructed Xiao Yi to perform the disciple's ceremony.
"Disciple Xiao Yi greets Master!"
"Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother! Greetings, Second Senior Brother!"
Lü Shaoqing then added, "You've taken the oath; now where are the gifts? Where are the gifts from your two senior brothers?"
Shao Cheng shouted, "Shut up and get out of here!"
"Don't pay attention to his nonsense. Keep things simple."
Shao Cheng was satisfied with accepting Xiao Yi as a disciple.
Tianyu Peak had too few people. Compared to the other four peaks, its numbers were pitifully low—so much so that Shao Cheng felt he had failed the ancestors of Tianyu Peak and had already prepared several excuses for when he eventually had to face them in the afterlife.
However, there was nothing he could do. If his eldest disciple didn't approve, he didn't feel comfortable taking in new students.
Since taking over Tianyu Peak, the peak had been in decline.
If it weren't for taking Ji Yan as a disciple, Tianyu Peak might have already disappeared from the sect's ranks.
Seeing Xiao Yi finally accepted into Tianyu Peak, Xiao Chuang was overjoyed.
"Junior Brother Shao, Nephew Ji Yan, I entrust this girl to your care."
"Rest assured, Senior Brother Xiao," Shao Cheng replied, "she's my disciple now, and I will do my best to guide her."
After Xiao Chuang left, Shao Cheng turned to Xiao Yi and said, "Disciple, from now on, you are the third disciple of Tianyu Peak. Cultivate diligently and uphold the reputation of our peak."
Xiao Yi nodded obediently. "Yes, Master. I understand."
Shao Cheng then introduced Ji Yan and Lü Shaoqing to Xiao Yi.
"This is your eldest senior brother, Ji Yan. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask him."
"And this is your second senior brother, Lü Shaoqing. Avoid being too close to him, and don't follow his example."
Lü Shaoqing protested, "Master, you're damaging my image. What's wrong with me?"
Shao Cheng reprimanded him. "You're always lazy and lack seriousness."
"Don't corrupt your junior sister. She's not like you."
"If you lead her astray, how am I supposed to face Senior Brother Xiao later?"
Lü Shaoqing grinned. "If he has any complaints, I'll have Eldest Senior Brother handle it."
"Oh, by the way, Master, since we've accepted a new disciple, how about a celebration tonight?"
"I heard from that kid Wang Yao that Old Hu has started working at a new restaurant called Gathering Immortals Pavilion."
"They're offering grand opening discounts right now."
Shao Cheng looked at Ji Yan. "Shall we try it out?"