Chapter 45: Choose a genre

The main tent quieted down.

Luo Qingchen turned around and rubbed her two small hands together.

She sidled up to Wangyou Zhenren, a mercenary look on her face.

“Old man, now that I’ve joined Hidden Sword Mountain, shouldn’t we talk about my benefits?”

“Like, how many low-grade spirit stones per month as base salary?”

“Is there an artifact allowance?”

“Do I get five social insurances and a housing fund?”

“What grade of pill for the year-end bonus?”

The surrounding inner disciples of Hidden Sword Mountain were all dumbfounded.

What nonsense was this shorty spouting?

In the cultivation world, when taking a master, everyone kowtows and offers tea, grateful for the favor.

But her?

She was bargaining like buying vegetables at the market!

Wangyou Zhenren stroked the beard on his chin.

Though he didn’t quite understand, it was basically asking for benefits.

The old man wasn’t angry at all.

Instead, he laughed heartily.

“You little girl, you’ve got quite an appetite.”

The old man stood up and swept his gaze across everyone in the main tent.

He cleared his throat.

“From today onward, Luo Qingchen is the second personal disciple of my Wuyou Peak.”

“Her status is equal to your senior sister, Ling Xiyue.”

The moment these words were spoken.

A sound of sharp intakes of breath echoed through the tent.

All the inner disciples stared wide-eyed.

A personal disciple!

Hidden Sword Mountain had tens of thousands of disciples, but personal disciples were few and far between.

This little thief had just arrived, hadn’t accomplished a single thing, and was promoted straight to the top!

That tall Senior Brother Zhao, standing in the corner, turned green with envy.

His features twisted with jealousy.

Luo Qingchen was taken aback.

Personal disciple sounded impressive.

But a title like that couldn’t be eaten for food.

She pouted.

“Old man, don’t talk about empty stuff.”

“Then what?”

“Are you giving me spirit stones or not?”

Wangyou Zhenren tucked his hands behind his back and walked to the center of the main tent.

He dropped a bombshell.

“Wuyou Peak has only two disciples.”

“Use all of the mountain’s resources—spirit fields, ore veins, caves—as you wish!”

“No one will stop you!”

Luo Qingchen’s pupils shook.

Her mind instantly conjured up images.

A mountain of spirit stones!

Spirit herbs covering the hills!

Dig wherever and however she wanted!

This was basically owning a whole mine!

The corners of her mouth curled up uncontrollably.

‘This is way too awesome!’

‘Old man, you’re my real grandpa!’

Luo Qingchen was already daydreaming about her future blissful cultivation life.

Standing to the side, Ling Xiyue frowned slightly.

She stepped forward.

Interjected in a low voice.

“Actually…”

“It’s not that great.”

“The soil at Wuyou Peak is…”

Before she could finish.

Wangyou Zhenren’s expression changed.

The pressure of his Nascent Soul stage was precisely released.

It pressed directly down on Ling Xiyue.

Forcing the second half of her words back down her throat.

The old man frantically signaled Ling Xiyue with his eyes.

Warning her to shut up.

Luo Qingchen keenly sensed the undercurrent between the master and disciple.

She stopped moving.

Stared suspiciously at Wangyou Zhenren.

“What about the soil?”

“Your Wuyou Peak isn’t some poor pit, is it?”

Wangyou Zhenren coughed dryly.

Forcibly maintaining his air of a master.

He flicked his sleeve.

“Nonsense!”

“Wuyou Peak is a blessed land of outstanding people, a prime feng shui spot in Hidden Sword Mountain!”

“Xiyue meant to say that even the soil is more fertile than on other peaks!”

The old man quickly changed the subject.

Pointed at Senior Brother Zhao in the corner.

“From now on, you’re all fellow disciples. You juniors should get close.”

Luo Qingchen followed the old man’s finger.

Her eyes darted.

She immediately understood the old man’s intention.

She put her hands on her hips.

Cleared her throat in a show of borrowed authority.

Walked up to Senior Brother Zhao with a swagger.

“Ah, from now on we’re all fellow disciples.”

“Senior Brother Zhao, according to the rules, personal disciples have higher seniority.”

“Come on, call me ‘little senior sister’ and let me hear it?”

Senior Brother Zhao’s face turned ashen.

His fists were clenched so tight his nails dug into his flesh.

Making him call this swindling little thief “senior sister”!

It was worse than killing him!

He looked up at Wangyou Zhenren.

The old man was sipping tea from his purple clay pot, showing no intention of intervening.

Senior Brother Zhao gritted his teeth in humiliation.

Under everyone’s gaze.

He forced out a few words through clenched teeth.

“Little… senior sister.”

Luo Qingchen cupped her ear.

“I didn’t hear you! Louder!”

“Little Senior Sister!”

Senior Brother Zhao practically shouted it.

After yelling that.

He covered his face with both hands.

Pushed open the tent flap and ran out without looking back.

Luo Qingchen watched his retreating figure, every pore in her body relaxing with satisfaction.

Seeing a villain get what’s coming to them—that was one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Wangyou Zhenren, seeing the situation under control.

Set down his teapot.

Took a few martial art manuals from his storage bracelet.

Tossed them casually.

The manuals floated in front of Luo Qingchen.

“Now, it’s time to choose your foundation art.”

The old man pointed at the manuals in the air.

“Hidden Sword Mountain’s foundation is divided into two schools.”

“Hidden Sword and Revealed Edge.”

“Your senior sister cultivates Revealed Edge, which focuses on exposing your sharpness, breaking ten thousand techniques with one sword, and going head-on.”

The old man looked at Luo Qingchen.

“Which one do you pick?”

Luo Qingchen rubbed her chin.

She didn’t hesitate for even half a second.

Pointed directly at the manual on the left titled “Hidden Sword.”

“Then I’ll choose Hidden Sword.”

“I’m a low-key person. I don’t like showing off.”

Given that she was already practicing the Concealing Breath Art and Shadowless Hands.

No way she’d become the bird that sticks its head out.

The name “Hidden Sword” sounded very sneaky.

Luo Qingchen gestured excitedly.

“Old man, does Hidden Sword mean you hide your weapon in your sleeve first?”

“Then when the enemy’s not paying attention, you suddenly pull it out.”

“Bam bam, whack them on the back of the head a couple times?”

“Focusing on surprise attacks, a dirty trick style, right?”

The main tent fell dead silent.

The corners of Wangyou Zhenren’s mouth twitched wildly.

The veins on his forehead bulged and throbbed.

He felt like the ancestor’s coffin lid was about to burst open.

What kind of chaotic thoughts were stuffed inside this little girl’s head!

Dirty trick style my ass!

Ling Xiyue also showed a rare expression of confusion.

She turned to look at her own Green Scale Sword.

Then back at Luo Qingchen.

Imagined that scene.

Frowned even more deeply.

Wangyou Zhenren barely suppressed the urge to slap her dead.

Shouted with a black face.

“Rubbish!”

“The Hidden Sword school uses special sword boxes to nurture flying swords!”

“Normally, they reveal nothing.”

“When encountering an enemy, the sword box unfolds, thousands of swords fly out, using formations to fight!”

“What sleeves and crotch! Don’t insult our school’s techniques, you little thief!”

Luo Qingchen suddenly understood.

Her eyes lit up.

Made a wide opening gesture with both hands.

“I get it!”

“It’s ‘Light Wing Expansion’!”

“Full barrage!”

“Fire coverage, missile carpet bombing!”

“That’s cool! I’ll learn that!”

Wangyou Zhenren had completely lost his patience for teaching.

He rubbed his temples wearily.

Waved his hand.

“Take the manual.”

“Ask Xiyue if you don’t understand anything.”

“Your words are too confusing; they give me a headache.”

The old man looked at Ling Xiyue.

“Xiyue, from now on, take her under your wing and teach her the rules.”

Ling Xiyue nodded seriously.

Luo Qingchen grabbed the floating manual and stuffed it into her chest.

Just as she was about to turn and leave.

Wangyou Zhenren’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

A mental transmission.

The old man’s expression was solemn, completely dropping his earlier joking demeanor.

“Girl, listen up.”

“This girl is too naive; she’s easy to take advantage of.”

“You’re clever, full of tricks.”

“From now on, especially watch out for any shady male cultivators getting close to her.”

“If anyone has improper intentions, just cripple them on your master’s behalf!”

Luo Qingchen stopped mid-step.

Turned to look at Wangyou Zhenren.

The old man appeared to be still drinking tea, but his eyes were fixed straight on her.

This old man was protective to a fault.

He was using her as an anti-theft door.

Luo Qingchen thumped her chest so hard it echoed.

Responded loudly.

“Leave it to me!”

“Don’t worry at all!”

“If anyone dares to trick my big senior sister, I’ll scam them down to their underwear!”

Ling Xiyue, standing by, listened in confusion.

She had no idea what sudden weirdness had possessed Luo Qingchen.

But watching Luo Qingchen thump her chest and make a promise.

She felt a strange warmth in her heart.