Chapter 47 ·Taking a Master? What a Joke!

Ling ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Wuchen raised an eyebrow. “The Azure Wave Sect? That sect that is barely hanging on thanks to two late-stage Nascent Soul ancestors, only capable of scouring the mortal world for seedlings to fill its ranks?”

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍disdain in his words was undisguised.

“Exactly!” ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Seeing a turning point, the black-clothed man hurriedly fanned the flames.

“Though ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Azure Wave Sect is weak, it has recently produced a true genius!”

“His ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍name is Lin You, from a mortal world under their jurisdiction. He reached Foundation Establishment in just twenty years, with astonishing phenomena!”

“Within ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the sect, all say this child has hope of reaching Nascent Soul and will surely become the pillar of the Azure Wave Sect in the future!”

“If True Lord goes and suppresses his own cultivation to spar with such a future prodigy, wouldn’t it be most delightful?”

As he spoke, he secretly observed Ling Wuchen’s expression.

The others instantly understood.

This was diverting disaster elsewhere!

If this calamity truly went to the Azure Wave Sect, regardless of victory or defeat, it would bring them great trouble.

If Lin You could be eliminated in the process, even better!

Hearing this, a trace of interest indeed flashed through Ling Wuchen’s eyes. “Foundation Establishment in twenty years? From a mortal world?”

“Absolutely true!” the black-clothed man quickly replied.

“This matter has already spread somewhat around the Azure Wave Sect. True Lord need only inquire slightly to confirm it!”

Ling Wuchen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. “You people have quite the scheme.”

“You wish to use my hand to bring misfortune upon the Azure Wave Sect?”

The hearts of the few tightened.

Yet Ling Wuchen continued, “However… if this child truly possesses good talent, it wouldn’t hurt for me to take a look.”

“The path to Nascent Soul is long. If I can find a fine piece of jade to take as a disciple and pass on my sword dao, that would not be bad.”

The group felt overjoyed and were about to flatter him further, when they saw Ling Wuchen suddenly shake his head.

“Unfortunately.”

“Hm?” They were stunned.

“I come from the Mystic Sword Sect. Though I am not rigid or pedantic, I still know the distinction between righteous and demonic paths.”

Ling Wuchen’s gaze abruptly turned cold, like a sword leaving its sheath.

“Feigning civility with demonic cultivators like you is already my limit. And you still wish to make use of me?”

“Not good! Run!” The man at the head reacted first, roaring as blood light erupted around him, transforming into a streak of crimson shadow that shot toward the window!

The other four each used their escape techniques, scattering in all directions!

“Can you escape?”

Ling Wuchen stood where he was, not even taking a single step.

He merely formed sword fingers and lightly drew forward.

Five thin silver lines seemed to pass through space itself.

The five streaks of blood shadow froze simultaneously, then collapsed soundlessly like sand sculptures stripped of all support.

Five corpses fell from midair, each bearing a tiny needle-like red dot between their brows, their eyes still frozen in final terror and confusion.

Ling Wuchen flicked his sleeve, drawing the five corpses before him. His right hand pressed down in the air as he executed a soul-searching secret technique.

Moments later, he withdrew his hand. In his palm now lay a jade slip containing detailed geographical information.

“Demon Blade Sect…” he murmured, then shook his head.

“Well hidden, but no rush.”

His gaze turned toward the southeast—the direction of the Azure Wave Sect’s mountain gate.

“Lin You… a mortal world genius who reached Foundation Establishment in twenty years?”

A trace of curiosity and interest flashed in Ling Wuchen’s eyes.

……

The drizzle had just ceased, and mist lingered in the mountains.

Nether Soul, clad in a dark robe, walked alone along the mountain path back to the sect.

He had just completed a sect mission.

He had gone three thousand li away to the Spirit Valley marketplace to deliver a batch of low-grade pills refined by Qingxia Peak.

The task was ordinary, the reward merely a single mid-grade spirit stone, but it was safe and steady, and allowed him to gather much information about the Spirit Realm.

The bluestone path beneath his feet was slick, ancient trees towering on both sides.

Occasionally, low growls of demonic beasts echoed from deep within the forest, only to fade back into silence.

This was the edge of the Azure Wave Sect’s sphere of influence, where spiritual energy was relatively thin.

Aside from disciples carrying out low-level missions, few people came here.

Though Nether Soul appeared to walk calmly, his divine sense had already spread over a radius of more than ten li.

This was a habit formed from years of lurking.

In a place like the Spirit Realm, one could never be too cautious.

Suddenly, his steps paused slightly.

At the bend of the mountain path a hundred zhang ahead, the mist silently parted to both sides.

A white-robed figure stood beneath an ancient pine, as if he had always been there.

The man appeared about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a handsome face.

He stood there casually, yet resembled a peerless sword sheathed within its scabbard.

Nether Soul’s pupils contracted imperceptibly.

A Nascent Soul cultivator.

And clearly not comparable to the two aged, blood-depleted ancestors of the Azure Wave Sect who remained in seclusion year-round.

This man’s aura was both rounded and sharp, his vitality vigorous like the rising morning sun.

Most crucially, his gaze was fixed upon him.

“A disciple of the Azure Wave Sect, Lin You?” the white-robed man spoke, his voice clear and bright.

Nether Soul’s thoughts raced, but he had already stopped and maintained a respectful posture. “This junior is indeed Lin You. May I ask who senior is…?”

“Mystic Sword Sect, Ling Wuchen,” the white-robed man replied indifferently.

His gaze swept over Lin You.

“Foundation Establishment in twenty years, dual water and wood spiritual roots, solid foundation, pure spiritual power… not bad.”

“In this Azure Wave Sect, you are rather wasted.”

Nether Soul was puzzled.

Maintaining respect, he said:

“Senior overpraises. This junior’s aptitude is mediocre. Being able to enter the Azure Wave Sect is already fortunate—I dare not claim to be wasted.”

“Mediocre aptitude?” Ling Wuchen chuckled, shaking his head.

“You need not be modest. I have traveled far and wide and seen countless geniuses.”

“Your foundation is steady, your spiritual power restrained yet sharp. More importantly, your temperament seems calm… you are a talent worth cultivating.”

He paused, his gaze locking onto Lin You as his tone turned solemn:

“I wish to take you as my disciple and pass on the supreme sword dao of the Mystic Sword Sect. Are you willing?”

The mountain wind swept past. Nether Soul fell silent for a moment.

Take a master? What a joke.

He was the evil incarnation split from the true self Gu Yan through the supreme divine ability 《External Incarnation》.

Coming to the Spirit Realm and infiltrating the Azure Wave Sect was for the sake of seizing the mortal world where his true self resided in the future.

Though the man before him was strong, he was merely at the initial stage of Nascent Soul—what qualifications did he have to be his master?

Moreover, once he took a master, he would inevitably have to go to the Mystic Sword Sect. Wouldn’t all his years of lurking and planning be completely wasted?

“Thank you for Senior’s favor.”

“However, this junior has already entered under Elder Su Wanyue of Qingxia Peak in the Azure Wave Sect. I have yet to repay my master’s kindness and dare not join another sect.”

“I ask Senior for understanding.”

The smile on Ling Wuchen’s face faded.

He had lived for over two hundred seventy years. Since forming his Nascent Soul, wherever he went, he was revered and admired.

Taking the initiative to accept a disciple was something he had never done before.

In his view, what he offered was an enormous fortune.

The Mystic Sword Sect was one of the great sword dao sects of the Eastern Continent, with a long heritage, far beyond a remote small sect like the Azure Wave Sect.

For him to take a liking to Lin You was a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes.

Refusal?

“Master’s kindness?” Ling Wuchen’s tone turned slightly cold.

“Su Wanyue of the Azure Wave Sect is merely at the late Golden Core stage. She may be decent at alchemy, but what else can she teach you?”

“I see a hidden sharpness in the flow of your spiritual power—you must have practiced swordsmanship, but your path is crude. Without proper guidance, you will ultimately fail to become great.”

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