Chapter 7: Contest
Min Xinlan saw this and hurriedly bowed, trembling, she spoke with trepidation: "I was unaware and inadvertently took the senior’s spiritual pet; this matter is purely a misunderstanding..."
The more she talked, the softer her voice became, and her confidence waned as well, after all, there was no denying that she drugged the snow mink, her actions were not honorable.
Seeing the Iceberg Beauty still listening to the snow mink whisper, Min Xinlan secretly grabbed Chu Xuan’s hand and retreated, intending to hide within the mountain gate first.
But soon she panicked, clearly the other side did nothing, yet her feet were completely immobile, as if they no longer belonged to her.
Isn’t this person audacious? This is, after all, the gate of Hehuan Sect!
Aren’t there other sect members nearby? Why hasn’t anyone come to check the situation?
At this point, the mysterious woman had finished listening to the snow mink’s "statement," she nodded slightly to Chu Xuan: "My mink has been cared for by you these past few days, and you’ve also been pestered."
"This bottle of Nine Flowers Jade Dew Pill is my small apology."
The icy voice of the Iceberg Beauty carried a tinge of indifference, as if nothing could concern her.
As she finished speaking, an exquisite white jade pill bottle slowly floated to Chu Xuan.
However, he didn’t reach for it, but instead shook off Min Xinlan’s hand, tidied his clothes, and bowed solemnly before Cloud Fairy, sincerely kneeling: "I implore the immortal to take me as an apprentice!"
Chu Xuan isn’t stupid; accepting this spirit pill would nullify his favor of housing the snow mink.
Although he couldn’t tell if the Iceberg Beauty was good or evil, seeing her enveloped in celestial aura and acknowledging favors, she seemed likely a decent person, one with exceptionally high cultivation, even ignoring Hehuan Sect.
Hasn’t he always dreamed of cultivating immortal ascension? Such a golden chance for immortality, how could he let it slip away?
As for that old Daoist from Feilai Temple, he was long forgotten.
𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
As she looked down at the eager youth, the mysterious woman remained silent.
The snow mink in her arms hurriedly chirped in plea, which made Chu Xuan somewhat moved.
Min Xinlan was naturally both angry and furious, wishing she could peel the skin off this boy who had been playing innocent the whole time.
But she suppressed her anger, bowed once more: "Senior, this boy is already my sect’s disciple, I beg you to consider our sect’s face and not intervene."
But the Iceberg Beauty never glanced at Min Xinlan; as Chu Xuan harbored anxiety, she spoke again: "Give me a reason."
Evidently, in her view, merely saving the snow mink wasn’t enough to take him as an apprentice.
Chu Xuan intended to mention that he might have an Innate Dao Body, but upon reflection, he thought such a high-level mysterious person could probably identify his physique at a glance, mentioning it might seem boastful.
Therefore, Chu Xuan bowed again, earnestly said: "I have a heart seeking the Dao, I beg the immortal to take me as an apprentice."
"If unable, I’m willing to start as a servant, be fortunate enough to occasionally listen to the immortal preach."
Seeing his sincere tone, without deception, the Iceberg Beauty glanced at the snow mink, then calmly spoke:
"Fine, I happen to need someone to transcribe scriptures; you can copy them for three months, then I’ll teach you some basic Qi refining techniques and send you down the mountain."
Chu Xuan immediately agreed joyfully.
Although she hadn’t agreed to accept him as an apprentice, this was expected. Given her demeanor and presence, she’s likely an elite cultivator; apprenticeship matters are not taken lightly.
Seeing the opportunity to follow her up the mountain, if he performed well, he might extend three months into more until familiar enough that she might accept him as a registered disciple.
And thereafter he could dream of becoming an Inner Disciple or Direct Disciple.
Min Xinlan panicked upon realizing this, shouted towards the sect: "He has an Innate Dao Body; we absolutely cannot let him go!"
Upon hearing this, Hehuan Sect’s Mountain Protection Array immediately activated.
Clearly, the sect’s cultivators weren’t all dead; they were merely cautious of the mysterious woman, letting her do as she pleased for trivial matters.
But Min Xinlan’s words evidently stirred someone’s thoughts; she had merely observed innate Spiritual Qi around the youth, marking him as an excellent cultivation candidate.
If he truly had an Innate Dao Body, then that stakes its significance, worthy of a dispute.
Unexpectedly, when the array activated and began expanding outward, it was forced to bypass the cloud-riding Iceberg Beauty as if its hemispherical shield had a comical dent.
More critically, the Mountain Protection Array couldn’t shield the two people near the archway, barely covering the gate.
The mysterious woman continued to ignore Hehuan Sect; having promised, she gestured casually, and Chu Xuan ascended onto the cloud.
With respect and awe for the Iceberg Beauty, Chu Xuan bowed again, tactfully standing behind her without peeking.
"Primordial Monarch Taixu, being a guest from afar, why not come inside for a seat?"
An enticingly soft voice transmitted alluring tones from within Hehuan Sect.
Upon hearing the mysterious woman’s title, Min Xinlan was visibly shocked, her eyes wide with disbelief, it was her?! No wonder the sect showed such reluctance to challenge her.
The woman’s remarks were enough for the Iceberg Beauty to look at her, but only at that; gazing ahead coldly she responded:
"I’m taking him; do you object?"
Though Laixu’s words were blunt, the soft voice remained unhurried:
"Of course there is. Monarch come all the way from the northern region, flaunting before my gates, attempting to take our disciple so openly is unseemly."
If it were ordinary cultivators, they’d easily fall into the verbal trap, debating right and wrong; but Primordial Monarch Taixu was evidently not one for idle discourse.
She extended a delicate hand, wrist fair as frosty snow, "One move, if you can make me retreat, he will be yours."
These words were arrogant, yet Hehuan Sect remained silent, not daring to contradict; even Min Xinlan cautiously retreated into the archway for a sense of security.
Following a brief silence, the seductive soft voice rang again, "Alright."
Almost simultaneously, a fair palm appeared, extending a single finger pointing at a distance!
Upon witnessing that point wave, Chu Xuan felt the fingertip magnify across the skies, filling his vision, bringing forth unmatched momentum overwhelming him.