The Immortal Lord and the Demon Venerable Are Both My Vests - Chapter 4

When Yin Lang leisurely returned to Huayuan Hall, he happened to hear a sigh. Following the sound, he saw the elder who had previously expressed appreciation for Lin Xinqiao tugging at his snow-white beard, his eyebrows furrowed into a large bunch, and he sighed heavily again.

Looking back at the water mirror, Lin Xinqiao was just stepping out of the Heavenly Ascension Path, lifting her head high as she walked toward the Sect Master’s eldest disciple waiting in the plaza at the mountainside, like a proud peacock.

No wonder.

With each additional trial passed, the location where one emerged from the Heavenly Path was different. Passing five trials allowed one to meet the various Integration stage, Soul Separation stage, and Spirit Transformation stage great powers in the mountainside plaza for mutual selection of masters, and one would become a direct disciple of Taihua Immortal Sect.

But from the moment one stepped out of the Heavenly Path, there would be no more qualification to enter Huayuan Hall.

The crowd gradually emerged from the cloud-shrouded and mist-wrapped Heavenly Path. On the seemingly endless long staircase, only two or three figures gradually remained.

Xu Rong was still among them.

Because of the previous incident, the great powers in the hall had a relatively deep impression of him. Among the three remaining people, their gazes unconsciously slid toward him.

To stand out from tens of thousands of trial-takers, the probability of these three failing at the last barrier was very, very small. The great powers in the hall settled their minds and began competing for ownership of the disciples.

“That black-robed young friend has an extremely rare mutated ice spiritual root. You all must not compete with this old man for this disciple.”

“Naturally, naturally. Besides you, Old Eccentric Zhao, who else here has an ice spiritual root?”

The elder called Old Eccentric Zhao stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction. He was precisely the one who had previously taken a liking to Lin Xinqiao.

“Since that’s the case, I won’t be modest about that fire spiritual root boy either? This one happens to need an alchemy assistant.” Someone immediately pointed at Xu Rong in the water mirror, making the first move.

This immediately aroused everyone’s anger.

“Fatty Zhu, what nonsense are you spouting? Is this great hall so lacking that you’re the only one with a fire spiritual root?”

“Everyone gave way on the ice spiritual root because we had no choice, but you still want to take advantage on the fire spiritual root?”

“Tianji Daojun hasn’t even spoken yet, how dare you ask for someone first?”

Suddenly called upon, Yin Lang abruptly met a hall full of predatory stares. After a moment of surprise, he quite smoothly extricated himself as an observer. “Everyone please do as you wish, I have no intention of taking disciples.”

Gu Fuxuan frowned disapprovingly, but still didn’t say anything more in front of everyone.

That group quarreled again in a heap, so intensely they nearly rolled up their sleeves to stand and throw magical treasures at each other. It was fortunate there were no outsiders in the hall now, otherwise they would have completely lost face for the first immortal sect.

Gu Fuxuan still wouldn’t give up, saying in a low voice, “That child is a good seedling, a pure Heavenly Fire spiritual root. To give up like this would be too much of a waste.”

Yin Lang toyed with his folding fan, his attitude as firm as ever. “I said I won’t take disciples means I won’t. Senior Brother, please don’t make things difficult for me.”

The water mirror rippled and slowly disappeared.

The great hall suddenly fell silent. The elders who had nearly come to blows each sat solemnly, and the clouds and mist swirling at the entrance of Huayuan Hall gradually dispersed, revealing three shocked youths before the great hall.

Xu Rong had entered this magnificent hall countless times in his previous life, but to avoid revealing any flaws, he still imitated the expressions of the two beside him and entered Huayuan Hall along with them.

More than ten people sat in the high seats within the hall—some dignified and solemn, some cynical and unorthodox, some carefree and unrestrained, all sorts of characters, yet each possessed an imposing aura that would not tolerate offense.

The three youths’ minds were dazed as they knelt in the center of the great hall.

The ice spiritual root elder opened his mouth to accept a disciple. The black-robed girl naturally had no objection and walked to his side with a cold pretty face. That elder laughed heartily, exchanged greetings with everyone, and was about to leave with his newly accepted disciple.

The second person had dual water-wood spiritual roots and smoothly came under the tutelage of an elder who managed the spirit plant gardens.

Then came Xu Rong.

The predatory gazes concentrated on one person. If not for his hundred years of experience from his previous life, he would probably have broken out in a cold sweat on the spot.

The elders each held their status and were unwilling to make a scrambling display in front of juniors, so for a moment, no one took the initiative to speak.

Xu Rong then said, “I’ve heard that the immortal sect has always had mutual selection between master and disciple. May this disciple choose his own master?”

The various elders thought this method was also fair and nodded to indicate it was acceptable.

Then they watched this promising seedling that many had favored rise and walk without hesitation to the front right, directly kneeling before Tianji Daojun’s seat.

He bowed respectfully and said loudly, “I wish to enter Daojun’s tutelage.”

The various elders: “……”

Someone asked: “Why do you wish to enter Tianji Daojun’s tutelage?”

Xu Rong answered. “Daojun saved me from the dangerous situation on the Heavenly Path. That woman’s whip was a spirit tool, and I only have Qi Refining stage cultivation. If I had been struck, I would have been either dead or severely injured!”

Immediately a pile of dissatisfied gazes went toward the Sect Master.

The Sect Master acted as if he saw nothing and said lightly, “Tianji, what do you think?”

The gazes concentrated on Yin Lang again.

Tianji Daojun, you clearly stated you wouldn’t take disciples just now. Now with this situation, handle it yourself.

Yin Lang lightly tapped his chin with his folding fan, revealing a troubled expression. “This is somewhat…” difficult to handle.

Before he could finish, a streak of rosy light suddenly appeared across the sky. In the blink of an eye, a figure suddenly appeared in the hall.

“Leave this person for this lady!”

The suddenly appearing woman wore a gorgeous long dress, draped in flowing ribbons, with a noble temperament. If not for the spiritual qi flowing throughout her body, one might mistake her for a mortal princess.

Her tone and actions were extremely overbearing and arrogant. The hand clutching the long ribbon surged with spiritual qi. Looking at that stance, she was ready to strike and snatch the person at the slightest disagreement.

The hall fell silent for a moment, even the Sect Master showing a slightly pained expression.

No one noticed the pupils of Xu Rong, kneeling on the ground, suddenly contracting.

It was her!

One of Taihua Immortal Sect’s three Tribulation stage elders, Enforcement Elder Li Baisu.

Seeing this person again after rebirth, the memory scenes from his previous life churned violently in Xu Rong’s mind, and dark, violent emotions uncontrollably surfaced in his heart.

It was this woman with a heart like a serpent and scorpion!

She had annihilated his entire clan, then hypocritically appeared when he failed at the fifth barrier of the Heavenly Path, expressing her willingness to take him as a disciple. She easily made him grateful to tears, as he offered up the immortal ascension secret method with both hands and worked tirelessly for her for a hundred years.

Finally, after being drained of all value, his meridians were completely severed, his divine soul shattered, and he fell into the bottomless Demon Abyss.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao showed mercy and gave him a chance to start over.

Xu Rong clenched his hands tightly.

Li Baisu must have come for him, but in this life, he absolutely would not walk the old path of his previous life!

Li Baisu firmly blocked the entrance of Huayuan Hall, stopping everyone’s path to leave. She gripped her long ribbon and, facing the tense atmosphere filling the hall, said coldly, “Don’t be so nervous. This lady won’t stoop to attacking juniors.”

The Mahayana stage ‘juniors’ with beards and eyebrows in abundance twitched at the corners of their eyes. The youthful-looking Sect Master had no choice but to step forward and bow. “I wonder what instructions Master has in coming here?”

Li Baisu glanced at him and asked directly, “Which one is Xu Rong?”

The Sect Master raised his eyebrows slightly and stepped aside to reveal the cloth-robed youth kneeling in the hall behind him.

Li Baisu directly pushed past the Sect Master and walked to Xu Rong’s front in a few steps.

“The legitimate son of the Li Dynasty’s Prince Xu, the prince of different surname—Xu Rong?”

“…I am. May I ask what matter the immortal seeks me for?” The youth kept his head lowered the entire time he spoke, his gaze firmly fixed on the hem of Li Baisu’s skirt, as if not daring to defile the immortal’s appearance.

Li Baisu said directly, “Squeeze out a drop of blood. This lady wants to verify whether you’re telling the truth or lies.”

“…Ah?”

Xu Rong controlled himself to show an expression that was one part doubt, three parts panic, and six parts forced composure, saying in a low voice, “The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents. How can I easily harm myself?”

“Heh.” Li Baisu sneered, simply no longer asking his opinion. With a wave of her hand, before Xu Rong felt anything unusual, a drop of blood was already suspended above her open palm.

Using some unknown method, seven-colored halos surrounded the blood drop. After three seconds, Li Baisu pressed her finger forcefully on Xu Rong’s forehead and raised her chin slightly. “You didn’t lie. Bow as master and disciple.”

The hand Xu Rong held gripping his robe suddenly clenched tightly.

He struggled to suppress the violent emotions in his heart and said hoarsely, “Immortal, this disciple wishes to take Tianji Daojun as master.”

The entirely innocent Shen Muxuan was dragged into the storm.

Facing Li Baisu’s explosive temper, he made an “ah” sound and had no choice but to speak up to explain for himself. “Elder Li, I have no——”

“Daojun!” The youth suddenly interrupted his words and looked up to reveal a pleading expression.

Shen Muxuan was actually stunned for a moment.

Then he helplessly shrugged his shoulders and said to Xu Rong, “This Elder Li is one of our immortal sect’s three Tribulation stage great powers. Since the elder has taken a liking to you, what are you unwilling about?”

Li Baisu’s mood visibly calmed quite a bit.

She snorted lightly, “At least more pleasing than your master.”

The Sect Master stepped forward in time to explain. “Elder Li comes from the Li Dynasty’s imperial family. Your clan was implicated and annihilated by matters of the cultivation world. The imperial family feels indebted to your father, so they requested Elder Li take you as a disciple to protect your great dao as compensation.”

For a lonely and helpless mortal youth, this was undoubtedly a delicious pie falling from the sky. If it were Xu Rong from his previous life, he probably wouldn’t have hesitated for half a moment before kowtowing to take a master.

“Thank you for Elder’s favor, but this disciple truly does not wish to enter Elder’s tutelage.” Xu Rong kept his head lowered, his voice not loud but with clear enunciation as he finished this sentence.

Even without looking, he could imagine what Li Baisu would explode into after throwing out that sentence.

That woman was already known for her explosive temper. Even in his previous life when constantly using Xu Rong’s gratitude to deceive and enslave him, she had never tried to pretend to be a gentle, good master.

The Sect Master looked like he wanted to say something. Li Baisu coldly threw her long ribbon in front of him. The Nanshan stone-built floor was smashed into a huge crater. The Sect Master’s eyebrows moved, and he kept silent.

Xu Rong lowered his eyes and sneered coldly.

No one spoke further. Li Baisu said coldly, “Then who does Prince Xu wish to take as master?”

The kneeling youth’s expression contained some hesitation. He raised his head and looked around, his gaze finally settling on the white-robed man who had tactfully indicated he would no longer take disciples.

He didn’t move.

Shen Muxuan was stuck and had no choice but to clearly state his meaning under Li Baisu’s dangerous gaze. “This lord stopped taking disciples long ago.”

After speaking, without looking at Xu Rong’s reaction, he bowed to Li Baisu and the others, turned and was about to leave, completely ignoring the bitter pleas of the youth behind him.

So what if this young disciple did have some secrets? These secrets weren’t worth having him openly tear his face with Li Baisu.

Yin Lang did not immediately return to Tianji Peak, but walked slowly along the Heavenly Ascension Path the trial disciples had walked, strolling leisurely as if viewing scenery.

The disciple selection ceremony at the mountainside was in full swing. Except for a few who were dissatisfied with their results and wore faces like they were owed money, most looked joyful and eager.

Although they would only learn the different meanings represented by different scenes when exiting the Heavenly Path after completing the ascension, the vast majority of participants had already far exceeded their own expectations by reaching this step. Only a few like Miss Lin, who were arrogant and proud, upon learning there were still sixth and seventh barriers, before angrily leaving could still weigh the benefits brought by both choices and stay.

Yin Lang stood in the distant clouds and mist, gazing at the wide plaza from afar. After deliberately noting whose tutelage Lin Xinqiao entered, he turned around and continued walking down.

In the distance, the right wrist where Lin Xinqiao wore the Heaven-Concealing Stone suddenly trembled lightly. She was completely unaware.

The foot of the mountain was much more noisy than above.

Most of those without spiritual roots who were screened out during the first spiritual root selection still lingered at the mountain’s foot, begging to test once more. Some of the outer sect disciples who failed to pass the fourth trial wanted to try their luck at other sects and were also packing their bags to travel to the next place.

“Martial Uncle Shen, why have you come here…”

Under her close friends’ envious gazes, Ji Chang’an barely maintained a smiling face and shuffled over to Yin Lang’s side.

She could still hear her close friends’ low discussions in her ear.

“Ah… why won’t Martial Uncle Tianji take disciples anymore? If he still did, I’d risk betraying my master to change allegiances…”

“…You really aren’t afraid of being killed by your master with a pill furnace…”

“Actually, being Martial Uncle Tianshu’s disciple wouldn’t be bad either. Look at Chang’an—didn’t she smoothly sidle up to him?”

“…You’re dreaming too beautifully. There are so many fellow disciples with hard backing eyeing the disciple positions of the Seven Swords’ sword masters. How could it be our turn…”

“……”

Ji Chang’an listened with complete despair.

It was the despair of being the only sober one when all the world was drunk.

Ha, ha, ha, you infatuated fools, do you know that beneath the skin of the Tianji Daojun you admire and worship is the Demonic Path’s great demon lord who kills without blinking! Do you know he’s also the ultimate villain of a whole long arrogant protagonist leveling-up novel!

Standing beside such a demon lord, that her legs weren’t shaking and her body wasn’t trembling while maintaining a smiling face was already her limit, okay?

Whoever wants to—she’ll definitely immediately and joyfully give up her position!