Chapter 36: Lü Dongbin Takes a Disciple

Ji Ning, Blackstone, and Mu Chuan soon understood. Mu Chuan was fine, but Ji Ning and Blackstone couldn't help feeling a bit envious.

A disciple of a Dao Ancestor! Besides one's own efforts, it also depends on fate.

Xiamang,” Fuhai asked in confusion, “From what you just said, it seems Ji Ning is the youngest among the three and won first place in the Immortal Destiny Convention. Blackstone is also a formation grandmaster. Why did the Dao Ancestor choose Mu Chuan instead?”

“How would I know?” Xia Emperor shook his head.

But in his heart, Xia Emperor recalled the scene when his second incarnation paid respects to Redmoon Dao Ancestor.

…

In the endless void beyond the Three Realms, a mountain floated in the void.

The mountain was a million miles in size, with palaces upon it. It was the cave-dwelling of the great power ‘Redmoon Dao Ancestor’.

“Master, these are the battle scenes of the top three youths from this Immortal Destiny Convention.” The white-robed Xia Emperor stood respectfully to the side, handing over a scroll.

On a distant rock sat a green-haired elder with legs crossed. As he sat there, the endless void around him became extremely stable.

The green-haired elder lightly tapped.

The scroll immediately unfurled in midair, faintly showing three battle scenes.

“Whoosh——” The first battle scene was activated, and the scroll revealed the battle between Ji Ning and Blackstone.

“Hmm.” The green-haired elder revealed a slight smile and nodded gently. “This little fellow who uses formations is really quite skilled in formation arts. If he devotes himself to studying them, he might become a true formation master in the future! With formations alone, he has hope of transcending tribulation and becoming an earth immortal. Worth cultivating!”

“The other sword-wielding kid is also good. His sword intent is strong enough. He should be a fine sword immortal seedling.” The green-haired elder praised.

The white-robed Xia Emperor beside him respectfully said, “Master, among the three in this Immortal Destiny Convention, the one who took first place is this sword-wielder, named Ji Ning. He has only been cultivating for a little over thirty years. The one who uses formations is named Blackstone, third place in this convention, who has cultivated for over a hundred years. The last one is named Mu Chuan, second place, who has cultivated for over three hundred years.”

“Over thirty years?” Redmoon Dao Ancestor was surprised, nodded gently, and his eyes showed even more delight. “It seems his talent in the sword dao is quite astonishing. Worth cultivating well.”

The white-robed Xia Emperor nodded lightly.

No kidding.

Even Lü Dongbin had long coveted him. Lü Dongbin was very good at teaching disciples and had a sharp eye. He had his eye on Ji Ning… and had long praised Ji Ning’s talent in the sword dao.

“Whoosh.” Redmoon Dao Ancestor opened the second scene.

It was the battle between Mu Chuan and Blackstone.

Seeing it, Redmoon Dao Ancestor’s eyes lit up, and he immediately opened the third scene, the battle between Ji Ning and Mu Chuan.

“Good, good, good.” Redmoon Dao Ancestor praised three times.

The white-robed Xia Emperor was astonished.

Who was Redmoon Dao Ancestor praising? Ji Ning?

“Master, there is another person in this Immortal Destiny Convention called Slacker, a disciple taken by Xuanwu the Great. He has cultivated for over a hundred years. Slacker was previously unaware of Xuanwu the Great. It was Fuhai who came personally to take Slacker to meet Xuanwu the Great.” The white-robed Xia Emperor added.

“Turtle-Snake’s disciple?” Redmoon Dao Ancestor asked curiously. “Is there a water-print record?”

“Yes.” Since the white-robed Xia Emperor had mentioned Slacker, he was naturally prepared. He immediately presented another scroll, which recorded several battles, including the one between Mu Chuan and Slacker, which Slacker lost.

After watching the battle scenes, Redmoon Dao Ancestor couldn’t help laughing: “Hahaha, that old fellow Turtle-Snake has a temperament similar to mine, and the same eye. The Slacker he chose… is also low-key and steady, with a solid and complete foundation. Although he cultivated slowly in his youth, as time goes on… that solid foundation will make him walk more steadily on the path of immortality.”

“This Mu Chuan and this Slacker are almost identical in their cultivation path.” Redmoon Dao Ancestor nodded with emotion. “Both have extremely solid and complete foundations, and both have very strong Dao hearts.”

The white-robed Xia Emperor was startled.

From the Dao Ancestor’s words… it seemed he thought highly of Mu Chuan.

“Dao Ancestor, are you choosing Mu Chuan?” The white-robed Xia Emperor couldn’t help asking. He was the one who had cultivated the longest among the top three.

“Remember,” Redmoon Dao Ancestor said with a faint smile, “Never judge a person’s quality by their momentary brilliance. The path of immortality is long and endless… They have only just set foot on the road. When choosing a disciple, look through their present to see their endless future.”

“Over thirty years? Over a hundred years? Over three hundred years? What do they amount to on the long path of immortality?” Redmoon Dao Ancestor said. “Slacker and Mu Chuan are both unhurried and unflappable, with leisurely and calm temperaments! And from their fighting styles, you can see that they don’t distract themselves with petty tricks.”

The white-robed Xia Emperor nodded.

Yes, Slacker and Mu Chuan were indeed very similar.

"Such a temperament is the best disposition for a cultivator," said Patriarch Redbright with a smile. "At least it meets the standards of me and Turtle-Snake."

Patriarch Redbright was known as a good-natured man, well-reputed by all.

As the saying goes, a tortoise takes a liking to a mung bean—they just click! Patriarch Redbright had taken a liking to Mu Chuan's disposition. He understood well that while the path of cultivation demanded talent and comprehension, in the later stages, the requirements for 'heart and Dao-heart' were even higher.

"Mu Chuan it is," Patriarch Redbright nodded. "As for the other two, they are also promising material. Go find your fellow disciples and see who is willing to take them as apprentices. In these turbulent times in the Three Realms, I might have misjudged. Perhaps Ji Ning and Blackstone will achieve great things in the future. So it's best to bring them into the Redbright lineage!"

"Yes," the white-robed Summer Emperor nodded. "Ji Ning is a sword immortal. I'll go find Junior Brother Changqing. Junior Brother Changqing is a sword immortal. As for Blackstone... among my many peers, there doesn't seem to be anyone truly exceptional in the Dao of formations."

"If you can't find a suitable teacher, you can teach Blackstone yourself. Your formation skills, though not top-notch in the Three Realms, are more than enough for him," said Patriarch Redbright.

The white-robed Summer Emperor nodded in agreement.

…

Main Hall of the Heavenly Mang Palace.

Among the assembled True Immortals and Celestial Gods, Lü Dongbin was the strongest. Among the Pure Yang True Immortals of the Three Realms, he ranked at the very top and was a peerless sword immortal with the potential to become a 'Grand Dao Patriarch.'

The two Patriarchs behind him were leaders of the Daoist sect.

Favored by two Patriarchs and having even trained a Pure Yang True Immortal himself, Lü Dongbin had a sharp eye. While others present had not noticed Ji Ning's uniqueness, Lü Dongbin faintly sensed something.

"Xiamang," Lü Dongbin said with a smile, "Since Patriarch Redbright did not take Ji Ning as his disciple, I'll shamelessly ask again. Ji Ning is indeed a top-notch sword immortal seedling, and I am quite fond of him. I wonder if Xiamang could do me the favor and let me have Ji Ning? I truly wish to take him as my apprentice."

"Lü Dongbin..." the Summer Emperor shook his head. "Although Ji Ning was not chosen by my master, the master praised him many times. So, Lü Dongbin, please don't make things difficult."

"Xiamang, he's just a Wanxiang Adept," said the Sea-Covering Celestial God with a curl of his lip. "Donghua has asked you personally. Is Donghua's face not worth a mere Wanxiang Adept? Besides, your Redbright lineage seems to have only one Pure Yang sword immortal, 'Immortal Changqing.' That Immortal Changqing is not one for teaching disciples. In all these years, I've never heard of him producing a single Celestial Immortal."

The Summer Emperor's eye twitched.

"Since Donghua has spoken, Xiamang, do him the favor," added the Northern Earth Immortal Elder.

Earlier, Lü Dongbin had mentioned it jokingly, but was refused.

This time, he was serious.

Lü Dongbin was indeed well-liked, with a strong background and powerful backing. For a moment, all the other True Immortals and Celestial Gods present, except for Patriarch Redbright's disciple 'Emperor Hao,' chimed in to support him.

"Xiamang, you know my temper. I speak bluntly. I've truly taken a liking to Ji Ning and want to take him as my apprentice. If you help me out, I'll owe you a favor. How about it?" Lü Dongbin said earnestly.

The Summer Emperor was startled.

A favor from Lü Dongbin? That was no small thing.

But Patriarch Redbright's words were still fresh in his mind. Although the master had not taken Ji Ning and Blackstone as personal disciples, he still thought highly of them. Perhaps Ji Ning and Blackstone might achieve astonishing things in the future... They had to be kept within the Redbright lineage.

"Lü Dongbin, it's not that I won't allow it, but my master has given orders," the Summer Emperor shook his head. "I have no choice."

Lü Dongbin frowned.

The Summer Emperor could see that Lü Dongbin was displeased, but there was no helping it—he had to refuse.

Lü Dongbin sighed and shook his head. It seemed he was fated not to have Ji Ning as his disciple. He dared not simply abduct Ji Ning, as that would be a direct slap in the face of 'Patriarch Redbright'—a Patriarch who had existed since the chaos, not someone to offend lightly.

"What about Ji Ning's Dao companion, Yu Wei? I rather like that young lady. If I take her as my apprentice, Xiamang, you won't stop me, will you?" Lü Dongbin spoke up.

"Haha, that's a trivial matter. Those who didn't make it into the top ninety-six, Lü Dongbin, you can pick any of them, even take them all, no problem," the Summer Emperor said magnanimously. He knew Lü Dongbin was unhappy earlier, so he was more accommodating now.

Lü Dongbin nodded.

Then his gaze shifted to Yu Wei, who was standing behind King Yan, holding hands with Ji Ning and whispering.

"Young lady, come here," Lü Dongbin said to Yu Wei with a smile.

His voice sounded directly in her ear.

"Hmm?"

Yu Wei was startled. She looked up and saw the Summer Emperor and the others all looking her way.

"Yu Wei, come over," the Summer Emperor also spoke.

Only then did Yu Wei, somewhat bewildered and puzzled, stand up and walk over. This scene caught the attention of the Celestial Immortals and Wanxiang Adepts present.

"Young lady," Lü Dongbin said with a smile as he looked at Yu Wei, "I, Lü Dongbin, wish to take you as my apprentice. Would you be willing?"