“We don’t yet know whether the change will be good or bad, but we can only do this much. I also hope that this time, every elder will take on more disciples to prepare for what’s ahead.”
He paused, then his gaze landed on Lu Zhu: “This time, all elders must attend the disciple recruitment ceremony. Zhu’er, you must come too.”
Lu Zhu was hiding behind Yun Qingqian, mentally wandering off, when she was suddenly called out.
She looked up blankly: “Huh? I have to go too?”
“Yes.”
Xuan Zhen repeated: “This is your first formal public appearance since becoming an elder. You cannot decline.”
Lu Zhu blinked: “But Master, I don’t know how to teach disciples.”
“Then learn.”
Xuan Qing snorted coldly.
“A dignified elder who can’t even accept a disciple—what kind of image is that?”
Fifth Elder Yun Qingqian turned around and smiled, rubbing Lu Zhu’s head: “Xiao Qi, don’t worry. It’s not like you have to take disciples. It’s just an event to show your face. You’re a big favorite in our sect now.”
Feeling the warmth from her palm, Lu Zhu could only obediently nod: “Oh… alright…”
Xuan Zhen nodded with satisfaction, stroking his beard, and began arranging specific matters: “This recruitment will be larger than in previous years, and the procedures must be more formal. Second Elder, you are in charge of the venue. Third Elder, you are responsible for reception. Fourth…”
He started assigning tasks one by one.
Lu Zhu tried to listen for a while, but found the content as boring as her past life’s department meetings.
Her eyelids started to droop.
She stealthily yawned and let her gaze go blank.
Outside the window, white clouds drifted leisurely by.
Occasionally, a few immortal cranes flew past, their posture graceful.
Lu Zhu’s thoughts began to drift.
‘Come to think of it, it’s been over ten years since I transmigrated to this damn place.’
Ten years ago, she—no, he—was still a miserable corporate slave programmer, working overtime every day until late at night, exchanging life for money.
That day, after working 72 hours straight, he finally fixed the shit mountain code.
Just as he stood up from his chair, darkness fell before his eyes, and he was gone.
When he opened his eyes again, he had become a seven-year-old girl, being chased by a Three-Eyed Giant Wolf.
Back then, she was scared out of her wits, running and screaming until she couldn’t run anymore.
Instinctively, she waved her hand and froze the wolf into ice shards.
Then her current fortunate master—Azure Cloud Sect Leader Xuan Zhen—appeared with an expression like he’d found a treasure and brought her up the mountain.
“Ice Spirit Root! An extremely rare Mutated Ice Spirit Root!”
The old man’s beard was trembling with excitement at that time.
Lu Zhu didn’t know what an Ice Spirit Root was back then.
She just knew that following this picky old man meant food and no more wolves chasing her, so she casually became his disciple.
Then her cultivation life began.
‘To be honest, this life is much more comfortable than the last.’
No getting up early to squeeze into the subway, no working overtime to write proposals, no dealing with a boss’s bad moods.
Every day it’s just cultivation, eating, sleeping, occasionally visiting the back mountain to play with little animals.
Life is very leisurely.
The only drawback is—it’s too boring!
Cultivate, cultivate, cultivate.
It’s cultivation every single day.
At first, Lu Zhu found it novel, but after a few months, she got bored.
But her master said cultivators must endure loneliness, so she had no choice but to continue.
Who knew she would actually make a name for herself?
Qi Refining in one year, Foundation Establishment in three, Golden Core in five, Nascent Soul in ten.
Even her master said she was a cultivation prodigy not seen in a thousand years.
Lu Zhu herself didn’t feel anything special.
Maybe it’s because she was a science student in her past life and had strong comprehension?
Or maybe the Ice Spirit Root was just that powerful?
Anyway, she just followed the techniques her master taught and practiced for fun, and before she knew it, she was at Nascent Soul.
A seventeen-year-old Nascent Soul elder, the youngest elder in the history of the Azure Cloud Sect.
In her past life, she’d definitely be a genius prodigy, the kind the media would fight to report on.
But Lu Zhu still found it boring.
After reaching Nascent Soul, breakthroughs became harder.
Every day was just meditation and breathing exercises, life as bland as boiled water.
That’s why she liked running to the back mountain to play with those young disciples.
At least those kids were interesting.
And they only saw her as an elder, not as a girl.
‘Honestly, what I hate most is becoming a girl. After being a straight male for over twenty years, losing my little brother forever is really painful.’
At first, she thought as a Nascent Soul cultivator she was at least a strong figure.
When she got the chance to go down the mountain to places like Yihong Court to learn something, she would.
But now, with this appearance, if it weren’t for being taken away by that picky old man, she might have already been sold to some pleasure house.
Now, though she’s been living as a girl for over ten years, her straight male traits haven’t changed one bit.
Combined with a modern person’s open-minded thinking, she’s completely different from everyone else in the sect.
Unlike her master, senior uncles, and senior brothers—all immortal demeanor, speaking in elegant, refined tones.
Just like now.
Second Senior Brother is still going on and on about “recruitment procedures” and “notes for attention.”
Lu Zhu can’t get a single word in.
She stealthily pulls out a popcorn from her sleeve—she spilled so much earlier, but luckily a few were still hidden in her sleeve—and, without anyone noticing, quickly shoves it into her mouth.
Crunch crunch.
Crispy.
Delicious.
“Xiao Qi.”
Yun Qingqian’s voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
Lu Zhu was startled, nearly choking on the popcorn.
She quickly covered her mouth, pretending nothing happened: “Huh? Senior Sister, what’s up?”
Yun Qingqian looked at her with a half-smile, lowering her voice: “Don’t think I didn’t see you sneaking food again.”
Lu Zhu gave an ingratiating laugh and quickly took a few more pieces to offer to Yun Qingqian: “Senior Sister, have some too.”
Yun Qingqian smiled and took the small snack from Lu Zhu, popping it into her mouth without hesitation.
She had to admit, although this little junior sister was a bit flighty, no one knew what was in her head—she always came up with interesting little things.
“Second Elder just asked what you think about accepting disciples. Did you hear him?”
Yun Qingqian finished the popcorn in her mouth and grabbed another handful from Lu Zhu’s sleeve.
Lu Zhu’s expression stiffened.
She slowly turned her head and indeed saw Second Senior Brother staring at her, his eyes full of anger.
“Elder Lu,” Second Senior Brother said slowly, emphasizing each word, “what do you think of what I just said?”
Lu Zhu: “…”
She braced herself and stood up, squeezing out her most sincere smile: “Second Elder has thought very thoroughly. Little brother… little sister completely agrees and will cooperate fully!”
Xuan Qing stared at her for three seconds, then finally sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and said: “Sit down.”
Lu Zhu was immensely relieved and quickly sat down, no longer daring to daydream.
Xuan Zhen watched this, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
‘This little disciple has great talent, but her temperament is too flighty, like a child.’
‘But that’s not bad. With her around, the usually dull sect finally has some life.’
He pulled his thoughts back and continued presiding over the meeting: “Since no one has any objections, let’s proceed according to this arrangement. In three days, we will open the mountain gate wide and recruit many disciples. At that time, I ask all elders to fulfill their duties without negligence.”
“Yes!”
the elders replied in unison.
The meeting ended, and everyone started to leave.
Lu Zhu followed behind Yun Qingqian as they walked out.
When they reached the door, Xuan Zhen called her back: “Zhu’er, stay for a moment.”
Lu Zhu stopped.
After everyone else had left, she reluctantly walked up to her master.
“Master, what’s up?”
She blinked, looking innocent.
Xuan Zhen looked at her, somewhat helpless: “This child, you were late again today.”
“Disciple knows her wrong…”
Lu Zhu hung her head in apology, her attitude sincere.
Xuan Zhen shook his head: “Never mind, I won’t pursue it. But I have something to tell you.”
“Master, please speak.”
“Three days from now, at the recruitment ceremony, you must take it seriously.”
Xuan Zhen’s tone turned solemn.
“Although you are young, you are already a Nascent Soul elder, the face of the sect. There will be countless eyes watching you. You represent not yourself, but the entire Azure Cloud Sect.”
Lu Zhu nodded like a pecking chicken: “Disciple understands.”
“And,”
Xuan Zhen paused, “among the disciples recruited this time, there may be one who shares a deep affinity with you. If you see someone who catches your eye, feel free to take them as your disciple.”
Lu Zhu was taken aback: “Disciple? Master, I’m only seventeen…”
“So what? Does that prevent you from being my personal disciple? Or is your Nascent Soul cultivation fake?”
Xuan Zhen smiled.
Lu Zhu scratched her head, feeling that her master had a point.
“Well… okay, I’ll see then.”
Xuan Zhen nodded with satisfaction, waved his hand, and said: “Go now. Prepare well these few days. Don’t keep running to the back mountain.”
Lu Zhu obediently agreed and withdrew from the meeting hall.
Stepping outside, she took a deep breath and stared blankly at the sky.
‘Accepting a disciple… I wonder if it’s more troublesome than falling in love.’
Then again, she’d never been in love either.
‘Whatever. I’ll take it one step at a time.’
‘Anyway, this world is already absurd enough. A little more absurdity won’t hurt.’
“Besides, even if I want to take a disciple, it depends on whether the disciple is willing to follow me, right? I mean, if a disciple is older than the master, that would be a disgrace.”
‘As long as I slack off enough, I won’t have to worry about anyone wanting to become my disciple. After all, besides me, there are six other elders.’
With that thought, she summoned her flying sword and prepared to return to her Serene Heart Peak.
As she flew over the training ground, she looked down.
Those young disciples were still doing horse stances, their faces red, but no one was slacking off.
A slight smile tugged at Lu Zhu’s lips.
‘In three days, I wonder what kind of grand scene that will be?’
‘I’m kind of looking forward to it.’
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