MTLNOVEL Chapter 1 - Becoming a Disciple
“If you agree to take me as your personal disciple, I’ll save your life. How about that?”
“Do you even hear yourself? Is that something a sane person would say?”
Su Cheng was hanging off a cliff, gripping the edge with one hand, staring up at Ye Chenmeng, who was squatting above him with a playful grin.
“You don’t want to? Well, then Chenmeng can’t help you. We’re not related, so why should I save you?”
“Miss, listen to me. I only started this sect to get by with some subsidies. I never planned to take disciples. I don’t even have any cultivation base!”
Su Cheng was at a loss for words. He had just transmigrated here a few days ago, and now he was already dealing with this kind of trouble?
[Great auntie, you’re a prodigy, favored by fate, the future Empress of the Demon Race. You should join the protagonist’s team, eat and drink with him during the day, and have shameless fun at night. Why are you bothering me?]
“Miss, I really can’t hold on much longer! How about I recommend another sect to you? Do you know Cheng Liang? Even the Heavenly Dao can’t do anything to him. If you become his disciple, you’ll surely achieve great things in the future!”
Ye Chenmeng wasn’t fooled. She wasn’t stupid!
She had heard all of Su Cheng’s inner thoughts, and she’d been hearing similar things for days now!
She knew that Su Cheng had many treasures—top-tier immortal artifacts, even legendary primordial treasures!
The only problem was that Su Cheng had no cultivation base, so he couldn’t use them.
Knowing this, how could Ye Chenmeng let him go? With just a little trick, she had put Su Cheng in this predicament.
Su Cheng had no disciples and no children. If she became his disciple, wouldn’t all those treasures be hers?
“I don’t want that Cheng Liang guy. I want to be your disciple, the head disciple of Spirit Immortal Hall.” Ye Chenmeng wasn’t worried at all. She knew Su Cheng would eventually give in.
[This girl must be out of her mind! Does she really want to kill me? If you become my disciple, it’ll look like I forced you! Then the whole world will come after me!]
[I just wanted to live off some sect subsidies. Why is it so hard?]
Even though both options seemed like death, at least he couldn’t die now! When you’re under someone else’s roof, you have to endure!
“Alright, great auntie, I’ll agree. Just pull me up first.”
“Really?” Ye Chenmeng’s beautiful eyes sparkled with joy. She grabbed Su Cheng’s wrist and effortlessly pulled him up like he was a little chick.
[Heh, you think I’m stupid? At tomorrow’s disciple recruitment ceremony, if I don’t nod, let’s see what you’ll do!]
Su Cheng nodded and waved at Ye Chenmeng with a smile.
“Alright, Master, see you tomorrow!” Ye Chenmeng’s fox-like eyes narrowed, her mind already made up.
The next day, at the disciple recruitment ceremony.
All the sects were gathered at Spirit Mountain to recruit new disciples, and Su Cheng was no exception. If he wanted to live off sect subsidies, he had to participate in these group activities.
Su Cheng didn’t want to slack off like this, but what could he do? He had transmigrated into the body of a villain in a cultivation world.
To survive, he had to avoid the protagonist and do good deeds like Lei Feng! He couldn’t give the protagonist or his harem any chance to kill him!
After all, this was a cultivation world, and the protagonist’s harem members were also chosen by fate. Su Cheng couldn’t afford to mess with them.
The Execution Platform was filled with countless prodigies, all standing tall, dreaming of joining powerful sects, learning immortal techniques, and achieving eternal life.
Cheng Liang descended from the sky on his sword, landing precisely in front of his grand master’s chair.
“Su Cheng? You’re here to recruit disciples too?”
Cheng Liang’s mocking tone was full of sarcasm. Su Cheng had no cultivation base, so who would want to become his disciple?
“Yeah, just looking around to see if there are any good seedlings.” Su Cheng put on an aloof expression, standing with his hands behind his back as he looked at the prodigies on the Execution Platform.
“There are quite a few good seedlings this year. Which one has caught your eye, Brother Su?”
Cheng Liang was clearly enjoying the show. He knew Su Cheng wouldn’t recruit a single disciple, just like every year.
“I’m still looking.” Su Cheng feigned nervousness, giving the protagonist enough emotional satisfaction. He felt he understood men all too well.
The protagonist’s little thoughts were completely under Su Cheng’s control.
“See that girl in the white dress? Her name is Ye Chenmeng. She has the bloodline of the Fox Demon King and a natural seductive aura. With proper guidance, she’ll surely achieve great things in the future.”
Ye Chenmeng was standing in the front row, easy to spot. Cheng Liang leaned on Su Cheng’s shoulder, speaking with a lecherous grin.
[Heh, I can tell what you’re thinking just by the way you’re standing!]
“Brother Cheng is right. This girl is fortunate to meet you. Like a fine bird finding its tree, or a wise minister finding his lord, her future is limitless.”
Cheng Liang laughed heartily. Su Cheng’s words were music to his ears.
“Don’t you like her?”
[How could I dare to like her? If I did, wouldn’t you kill me? Who wouldn’t like such a treasure?]
“I don’t like her. I’d prefer a male disciple. Female disciples are too delicate, so they’re not in my consideration.”
Su Cheng sat in his grand master’s chair, speaking very seriously. Little did he know that all his inner thoughts were being heard clearly by Ye Chenmeng.
“Liking me? Is there really such a good thing?”
Soon, the disciple recruitment ceremony began.
Almost all the sects were packed to the brim. Cheng Liang’s side was so crowded that they had to be careful to avoid a stampede. Meanwhile, Su Cheng’s area was as desolate as a lonely old man’s home.
Compared to the two-meter-high platforms of other sects, Su Cheng only had a small wooden table, less spacious than a street food stall. Sitting there lazily, he looked more like a fortune teller than a sect leader.
He didn’t even bother to put up a banner. A piece of white paper with the words “Spirit Immortal Hall” written on it was placed on the table. Su Cheng then lay his head on the table and started dozing off.
At this moment, Su Cheng was extremely tired. He had spent the entire night studying the Frost Sword Technique. Although he had no cultivation base, he wasn’t willing to give up!
[Why does this Primordial Frost Sword, a top-tier treasure, feel like a fire poker in my hands?]
[The technique is correct, the sword manual is flawless, and the Frost Sword is as real as it gets. So why can’t I see any sword energy? Why can’t I feel the Frost Sword’s intent?]
Ye Chenmeng, eavesdropping from afar, was shocked. A Primordial Treasure? And an enhanced version?!
Was it the sword on him?
Su Cheng was dressed in a gray robe, looking more like a scholarly teacher than the immortal-like figures of other sect leaders.
A three-foot-long sword hung at his waist, dull and unremarkable. The scabbard was rough, and the white cord wrapped around the hilt had turned yellow. The only thing of value seemed to be the jade pendant hanging from it.
This piece of junk should be left for the master. It was probably just for show.
Ye Chenmeng had been observing Su Cheng for several days and had gained some understanding of him.
She believed that Su Cheng was the type to hide his treasures. The Frost Sword was likely stashed away to prevent others from coveting it!
Hehe, an enhanced Primordial Treasure? Master even called me a treasure. Surely he wouldn’t begrudge me a sword, right?
“Miss, the disciple recruitment ceremony has begun. Are you hesitating about which sect to join?”
A dignified elder with an immortal aura walked over. He was the Second Elder of Cheng Liang’s Heavenly Dao Pavilion, a figure of immense power. For an ordinary disciple, even speaking to him would be considered a great fortune.
Since this was a disciple recruitment ceremony, Cheng Liang naturally wouldn’t come in person. But the Second Elder’s presence was already a significant gesture.
However, Ye Chenmeng’s talent absolutely deserved such treatment.
Even without considering her other qualities, just her natural seductive aura, capable of toppling nations, would make Cheng Liang unwilling to let her go.
“Thank you for your kindness, Elder. Chenmeng has already found someone she admires.”
“Which sect leader is it?” The Second Elder wasn’t in a hurry to introduce himself. He assumed that, as long as this woman wasn’t foolish, she would surely choose the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
Ye Chenmeng ignored him and walked straight to Su Cheng’s small table. She knelt down respectfully without saying a word.
The Second Elder was stunned when he saw this…
Cheng Liang, who was chatting with a female disciple in the distance, also turned grim when he noticed…
“Miss, you want to join Spirit Immortal Hall?” The Second Elder was incredulous. Even if Ye Chenmeng was too proud to join the Heavenly Dao Pavilion, that was fine!
But there were so many other choices. Why on earth would she pick Su Cheng, that useless waste?
Ye Chenmeng didn’t respond. She just knelt quietly, knowing that Su Cheng wasn’t actually asleep.
She also knew that she had to become Su Cheng’s disciple. From the moment she knelt, there was no turning back.
If she backed out now, she would be despised everywhere she went.
[Second Elder, say something! Look at her!]
[Cheng Liang, hurry up! Your future harem member is about to become my disciple! Take her away!]
“Miss, the Spirit Immortal Hall’s sect leader is so disrespectful. In my opinion, you should join another sect. Don’t waste your extraordinary talent.”
Ye Chenmeng couldn’t care less. Su Cheng might not be much, but at least he didn’t have any annoying people around him. She could focus on her cultivation in peace.
I am of the Fox Demon King’s bloodline. How could I stoop so low as to become someone’s harem member or plaything? The way that guy looks at me is disgusting!
Ye Chenmeng remained silent, waiting for Su Cheng to speak, kneeling properly all the while.
Unknowingly, a crowd had gathered around her, all trying to persuade her to “change her ways.”
Then, the crowd slowly parted, making way for Cheng Liang, the leader of the Heavenly Dao Pavilion.
Cheng Liang no longer wore the playful expression he had when chatting with Su Cheng earlier. He now appeared entirely serious.
Cheng Liang walked to Ye Chenmeng’s side, hands behind his back, and said, “Miss, don’t waste your efforts. You can’t wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep. Sect Leader Su has no cultivation base, so he naturally won’t take you as a disciple.”
[You finally came, bro! My arm is going numb. I’ve been lying here like a dead man, not even daring to change my position!]
[Well said! Wake her up! Shatter her unrealistic dreams with reality!]
[Tell her it’s impossible between us!]
The onlookers also chimed in, one after another, as if pleading for justice.
“That’s right! Everyone knows the Spirit Immortal Hall’s sect leader is a useless waste with no cultivation base!”
“Turn back from your misguided path! Repent!”
“Sect Leader Cheng is being so kind. He’s giving you a huge face!”
Seeing that Ye Chenmeng still remained unmoved, Cheng Liang decided to play his trump card.
“I can’t bear to see your talent go to waste. I wish to take you as my disciple and teach you a Heaven-tier technique. How about that?”
[Yes, yes! You shouldn’t have been so reserved earlier. This is the right way to go! A dragon among men like you should have a beauty like her by your side! Take her away! I’m not ready to die yet!]
Ye Chenmeng was starting to get annoyed, but she didn’t dare to make a fuss. She knew Su Cheng was looking for a way to reject her. How could she risk waking him up?
“Chenmeng has decided to become Sect Leader Su’s disciple and serve him for life. Thank you for your kindness, Sect Leader Cheng.”