Lian Xing's expression was complicated as he met the clear gaze of the little girl. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. She was ragged, thin and weak, yet had overcome countless hardships to get here despite having her spiritual bones removed! It was truly impressive.
But if he told her that she could never cultivate again, and that she had to leave Yunlan Sect, where would she go? Would she die out there? Would she resent the world?
If it were any other time, Lian Xing would never feel such "sympathy," but the fall of a genius always made one feel especially regretful. Not to mention that this genius was almost his disciple!
He was trying to find the right words, thinking about how to refuse without hurting the little girl's pride, when he suddenly heard her say:
"Master, there is no need to accept me as a disciple. I can't cultivate, and I didn't come here to seek the way; I came to deliver something. Once it's delivered, I'll leave."
"Deliver something?" Lian Xing asked.
"Yes, an elder in my family was once from Yunlan Sect. The elder has passed away, leaving their remains, and I was asked to return them to your sect. It just so happened that your sect was recruiting new disciples. Once the remains are buried, I'll leave. Please don't worry, Master."
Many Yunlan Sect disciples who perished while out on their training journeys had their remains brought back to the sect for burial, so this was not a rare occurrence. After all, the bones of cultivators, refined by spiritual energy, were excellent materials for many demon cultivators to use in crafting.
Lian Xing had already hardened his heart, but upon hearing that the child was from a Yunlan Sect family, his heart tightened, and he suddenly couldn't bear to be so harsh.
On the other side, Xiao Chen saw Lian Xing's reaction and immediately knew something was off. This so-called little genius definitely had some issue, and now Lian Xing wanted to back out of taking her as a disciple!
But Lian Xing had already bragged, so Xiao Chen wasn't going to let him off so easily. At the very least, he had to lose face!
He had even prepared insulting words: "The esteemed sect leader of Yunlan Sect breaks his promises, goes back on his word, what a disgrace!"
Xiao Chen grinned and said, "Lian Sect Leader, what's going on here? Did your spiritual stone malfunction? Would you like me to bring you a new one to test this little disciple's talent?"
Lian Xing squeezed out through gritted teeth, "No need to trouble Sect Leader Xiao."
Xiao Chen smiled wickedly, "How could it be trouble? After all, we're both cultivators, and she's your direct disciple! Come here, little girl. I'm an old friend of your master. Let me give you a gift. Come over and accept it, little girl."
As he spoke, Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with a strange glimmer.
In order to annoy Lian Xing, this shameless man had even used "Speech Techniques" on a junior.
Lian Xing's heart sank. If Ji Wushuang accepted the gift under the influence of Xiao Chen's technique, it would be like he was being roasted over a fire.
The other three sect leaders were enjoying the drama, curious to see how Lian Xing would handle this situation: Would he be forced to accept this problematic genius, or would Xiao Chen laugh at him for failing to recognize her?
To everyone's surprise, Ji Wushuang lightly spoke the word "Disperse," and Xiao Chen's speech technique shattered with a clang and disappeared without a trace.
Everyone, except for Xiao Chen, assumed that he had suddenly had a change of heart and stopped trying to trouble the child.
But Xiao Chen himself was shocked. He pinched his own hand hard, ensuring that he wasn't hallucinating, and then stood up abruptly, glaring at the young girl.
He had the "Eye of Truth," which allowed him to see through the age of anyone with a single glance.
This little girl was indeed twelve years old!
No mistake about it!
Her aura was pure, indicating that she wasn't possessing anyone's body.
A twelve-year-old girl?!
She had just broken his speech technique with a single word?!
This wasn't a genius!
This was a freak!!!
Even if her spiritual root was unstable due to some physical issue, that didn't matter.
Xiao Chen took a step toward Ji Wushuang and eagerly said, "Little girl, since Lian Xing doesn't want to accept you as a disciple, how about I take you as my personal disciple?"
He spoke with all sincerity.
Xiao Chen knew that even though Ji Wushuang's spiritual root was flawed, he was willing to accept her because she had shown terrifying potential. At just twelve years old, she could easily break through his speech technique. That kind of talent was likely to make her a natural Dao body!
She would excel in all six major cultivation paths: Formation, Talismans, Alchemy, Artifacts, Beast Control, and Spirit Cultivation.
He had to snatch her up!
But when Lian Xing saw Xiao Chen's actions, he immediately understood that the old man was up to no good—trying to force him into accepting her as a disciple.
This was his personal matter with Xiao Chen, and it shouldn't affect this little girl. If she entered Xiao Chen's sect, there was no telling what might happen when Xiao Chen found out she had no spiritual bones.
Looking at Xiao Chen, who seemed so calm and wise, but was in fact petty and unyielding, Lian Xing finally made up his mind.
"This child has endured many hardships to come here, and she is from Yunlan Sect's bloodline. This is fate. Now, because of me, Xiao Chen is making things difficult for her, and that's just the way it is."
With that, Lian Xing's mood lightened, and he said, "Xiao Chen, you arrived too late. I already decided that this is my direct disciple."
Xiao Chen was truly envious, but he said, "Of course, it's up to the little girl. You decide which master you want, little girl."
"What are you talking about? She's my disciple!"
"I'm clearly the better choice."
Ji Wushuang: "..."
She didn't want to choose either of them.
As they continued to argue, a second challenger entered the hall.
This was a beautiful young girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with flawless skin and delicate features. Her aura was special—like mist, like rain, like wind, and like a beautiful dream.
As soon as she entered the hall, all eyes turned to her, including those of the two arguing sect leaders.
The girl seemed used to the spotlight. After all, she had always been the most dazzling presence.
Even though others could temporarily block her light, they would eventually meet a tragic end, just like her elder sister.
She had always believed herself to be special, because her "intuition" was always very accurate, allowing her to easily avoid danger and foresee the future.
And when she obtained a space jade pendant, her sensitivity grew even stronger.
The old immortal in the pendant had told her she was destined for great things, the "child of fortune" in this world!
So she left her family and came to participate in the sect recruitment.
Her family was just a small cultivation family and couldn't provide the support she needed.
She had come to the number one sect in the Eastern Continent—Yunlan Sect!
She had a feeling that her destiny was here!
Sure enough, when the two handsome men saw her, they both froze, most likely stunned by her beauty.
The girl smiled slightly and bowed to the crowd, "I am Mo Lanyi, a disciple of Yunlan Sect. I greet the esteemed elders."
The jade pendant's elder quickly warned her, "Mo Lanyi, that white-robed gentleman is the sect leader of Yunlan Sect. You must enter his sect. With your talent, you'll certainly become his last disciple. Once you do, the resources of Yunlan Sect will be at your disposal. Go, show them your potential!"
Mo Lanyi was full of confidence, "Rest assured, I will make the sect leader accept me as his personal disciple!"
As for the ragged and pitiful Ji Wushuang, she didn't even glance at her.