He had never expected that this remarkably gifted genius would actually choose to become his disciple! One had to know that their Huaming Peak was suppressed by the other Peak Masters all year round, always coming in last at the annual grand competition. No matter how skilled they were with talismans and formations, they were always soundly beaten whenever they weren't allowed to use them in matches. This year, he had even assumed he would return alone, just like in previous years.
But now!
"Good... good disciple! Hahaha!"
Watching the little old man dancing with joy before her, Jin Bao'er felt a slight sense of relief. In her past life, this little old man had given her a medicinal pill when she was expelled from the Miaomiao Sect, which had saved her life. She had never had the chance to repay that kindness...
Perhaps this new path would lead to a different beginning for her.
The disciple-recruitment ceremony soon came to an end. Just as Immortal Venerable Louyun, who had not taken a disciple, was about to leave, his path was blocked by a small figure.
"Immortal Venerable, I, your disciple Su Xianzhi, humbly request to be taken as your disciple!"
The little girl’s body trembled slightly. Looking at the incredibly powerful man before her, she felt nervous yet resolute. Not knowing where she found the courage, she had rushed out regardless.
Immortal Venerable Louyun frowned at the sight. He was about to refuse, but suddenly something crossed his mind. He pursed his lips slightly and said coldly:
"Very well! You shall be accepted as an outer sect disciple!"
With that, he flew away directly to avoid anyone else blocking his path.
Su Xianzhi looked up with delight, but the man before her had already vanished. Had it not been for the looks of jealousy and envy cast by those around her, she might have thought she had been hearing things. Suppressing the disappointment and grievance in her heart, she stood up and chased after him.
In the distance, Jin Bao'er saw the scene unfold. There was not a trace of surprise in her eyes! She watched Su Xianzhi with irony, as if looking at a clown performing a farce.
In her past life, Su Xianzhi had coaxed her with "sister" this and "sister" that until she was completely won over. When Immortal Venerable Louyun expressed his intent to take her as a disciple, she had immediately brought Su Xianzhi along, and in the end, both of them were admitted under the Immortal Venerable.
But this time, without her paving the way, Su Xianzhi naturally wouldn't receive such good treatment. However, narrowing her eyes, a flash of murderous intent flickered through them! This was just the beginning, wasn't it?
Peak Master Hua, the little old man, took his newly acquired precious disciple back to Huaming Peak. Of course, they used a formation for teleportation, and the two vanished instantly.
Many new disciples watched this scene in astonishment, while the other Peak Masters were utterly disdainful—just a petty trick!
After Jin Bao'er and the old man returned to Huaming Peak, before she could even enter a room, the little old man began shouting toward the entire peak!
"You little brats! Why aren't you coming out to welcome your little junior sister!"
He was met only with silence... The entire peak seemed to have fallen into deep contemplation.
A second later, rustling sounds came from all around.
"Little junior sister? Where? Where is she?"
A figure crawled out from the bushes by the road, covered in grass clippings and leaves, hair a bird's nest and eyes dark as a panda's. He looked absolutely ridiculous.
Jin Bao'er looked up, her eyes devoid of any mockery, and said calmly:
"Jin Bao'er greets you, Senior Brother!"
Upon hearing this, the man lowered his gaze to see the fresh-faced little girl beside the old man. His eyes suddenly widened as he pointed at the old man, crying out in heartbreaking dismay:
"Old man! Have you no shame? Even if you couldn't find a disciple, there's no need to kidnap one! Don't you still have us? Isn't it... isn't it embarrassing for you to act like this?"
Jin Bao'er: "..."
The little old man was so furious he rolled his eyes and retorted irritably:
"What nonsense..." You’re the one who has no shame!
He regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth, fearing he had frightened his new disciple. He retracted the second half of his sentence with a guilty look.
"Ahem, let your master explain..."
"I won't listen! The evidence is right before our eyes, what else is there to explain?! Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fifth Junior Brother, Sixth Junior Brother, Seventh Junior Brother, come quickly and see! The old man is actually kidnapping children!"
After this long outburst, he gave the old man no chance to explain, and Peak Master Hua’s face darkened completely.
Jin Bao'er remained calm, appearing as steady as a mountain. Immediately following this, a figure descended from the sky and rushed in front of Peak Master Hua. After glancing at Jin Bao'er, he looked at the old man with a look of extreme disappointment!
"Master! A gentleman knows what should and should not be done. You... you have disappointed me greatly!"
Peak Master Hua: "..." Is that something you, a disciple, should be saying to me?!
Following that, another person flew in from afar, landing on the ground with great speed before hurriedly tucking away a talisman paper from his chest, his heart still racing...
"Little sister, do not be afraid. I will send you away at once."
Before he could even step closer, a plump man also ran over, gasping for breath. He looked at Jin Bao'er, then back at the little old man, his eyes brimming with disappointment!
Even without a single word being spoken, the old man’s whiskers were bristling with rage! Finally, he could bear it no longer and roared:
"You little brats! I told you! This is a disciple I took in after the entry examinations! It’s not kidnapping! It is NOT! If you keep talking nonsense, I will blow up your alchemy furnaces!"
"Pfft~"
The little old man's exploding temper finally brought a hint of a smile to Jin Bao'er's eyes. In her past life, once she joined the sect, she had been entirely focused on protecting Su Xianzhi and never knew that the Miaomiao Sect was home to such eccentric characters.
Fortunately, no one noticed that small sound. After his roar, Peak Master Hua quickly looked at the cold-faced Jin Bao'er and said nervously:
"Don't be afraid, disciple. Master isn't usually like this! It’s all the fault of these little brat..."
He swallowed the last word, then gave a silly laugh, relaxing only when he was certain Jin Bao'er hadn't been frightened.
"Where are the Second and the Seventh?"
The man with the bird's-nest hair finally realized that the adorable little girl before him was truly their junior sister and not a kidnap victim. He became incredibly excited, no longer caring about seniority.
"So this is our junior sister? I am your Fourth Senior Brother, Guan Ziyun. If you need anything in the future, just tell me! Senior Brother promises..."
He was interrupted by the plump man before he could finish!
"Go away, go away... what help could you possibly provide! Hehe, hello little junior sister, I am your Third Senior Brother, Luo Nanshan. Are you hungry, little junior sister? Senior Brother just stewed some flying beast meat, it's so fragrant! Come, come, come, Senior Brother will take you to eat!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the man who had descended from the sky interjected, refusing to be outdone.
"Why are you all grabbing for attention? Isn't it embarrassing? Little junior sister must be exhausted after the entrance test, so of course she needs a bath and a good night's sleep!"
He paused, lowering his head, a shy flush appearing on his handsome face.
"Hello little junior sister, I am your Fifth Senior Brother, Chen Xuanyuan!"
After he introduced himself, the last man—the one who had been holding the talisman paper—complained vexedly.
"You've already said everything, what's left for me to say..."
Having said that, he thought for a moment, took two talisman papers from his bosom and handed them over, his face filled with an embarrassed smile.
"Little junior sister, I am your Sixth Senior Brother, Lan Yingqing. Please take these as a greeting gift."
He then stuffed the talismans into Jin Bao'er's hand and stood aside without another word, letting the others continue their bickering.
Jin Bao'er looked at the two blasting talismans in her hand, suppressed the shock in her heart, and looked up with a complex expression at the quiet man.