Chapter 151 Lü Dongbin Takes a Disciple

Yuntian curled his lips and said, "Mu Chuan, saying that makes no sense. However, don't think that becoming a Dao Ancestor's disciple is such a remarkable thing. Once you become a Dao Ancestor's disciple, the Celestial Tribulation will likely be even more formidable. Let us compete to see who can finally become a Celestial Immortal. My goal, moreover, is not merely to become a Celestial Immortal, but to become a Heavenly God, a True Immortal, or even one of the supreme, almighty figures of the Three Realms. Our journey of cultivation has only just begun."

"Brother Yuntian speaks wisely, so let us have this competition," Mu Chuan Zhenren said with a bright smile, looking intently at Yuntian.

"To think that this Yuntian, having failed to become my master's disciple, could adjust his state of mind so quickly. Truly rare," the Xia Emperor murmured as he looked at Yuntian. His gaze carried a hint of regret, yet was filled with profound satisfaction. "Let us see if any of my fellow apprentices are willing to take Yuntian as a disciple. Even if they refuse, I shall personally take him in as my own. It has been a long, long time since the Great Xia imperial clan produced such a stunning talent; he must be properly nurtured."

Lü Dongbin also cast a bright gaze toward Yuntian, praising him inwardly with a mental sigh: "To remain so calm in the face of both praise and humiliation—what an extraordinary Dao-heart! If I could take him as a disciple... I fear this Xiàmáng wouldn't let him go easily. Ah well, this Jining is equally exceptional, and since he walks the path of the Sword Immortal, he makes an even more suitable disciple!"

"Yuntian, Jining, the two of you need not be discouraged. As I said before, both of you shall become disciples under a Pure Yang True Immortal. I will help you choose masters suited to your paths... If no one else is willing to take the two of you, I, Xiàmáng Xùn, shall personally accept you both as my disciples," the Xia Emperor said, looking at Yuntian and Jining. "However, I do not walk the Sword Dao, nor am I proficient in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, making me less than ideal as your master. Rest easy in the royal capital for three days. Within three days, I will send someone to summon you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Jining bowed respectfully and replied.

Yuntian, however, frowned as if deep in thought. Suddenly, he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, Yuntian wishes to choose one of the Pure Yang True Immortals present today to be his master. I hope Your Majesty will grant permission."

As soon as Yuntian uttered these words, the Pure Yang True Immortals in the hall froze for a moment, and then involuntarily turned burning gazes toward him. Even Lü Dongbin could not help but look at Yuntian with flickering eyes, a mysterious smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Hmm?" The Xia Emperor's brow furrowed, clearly not expecting Yuntian to pull such a stunt. He said in a deep voice, "Yuntian, do not speak nonsense! I already said I would find a suitable master for you. Can it be that you do not even trust my words?"

"Your Majesty, you must know that just as a master chooses a disciple, a disciple also chooses a master," Yuntian replied, still calm and serene. "The master Your Majesty chooses for me might be suitable, but I might not necessarily like them. Why won't Your Majesty listen to whom I actually wish to take as my master?"

Hearing this, the eyes of the Pure Yang True Immortals lit up. The Overarching Sea Great Sage could not help but grin and laugh, "Haha... Xiàmáng, I'm quite curious myself. Who exactly does this brat Yuntian intend to take as his master? What harm is there in letting him speak?"

"Very well!" The Xia Emperor looked at the utterly calm Yuntian, his brows knitted in slight helplessness, and he could only nod. "Yuntian, speak then. Whom do you wish to take as your master?"

Instead of answering immediately, Yuntian swept his gaze across the gathering of Pure Yang True Immortals. Beneath their expectant and burning gazes, he finally looked at Lü Dongbin and smiled, "I have heard that the Superior Immortal Donghua is the absolute pinnacle among Heavenly Gods and True Immortals, holding the greatest promise of becoming a DaLuo Dao Ancestor, and has even successfully guided a Pure Yang True Immortal. I wish to enter the Superior Immortal's sect, but I wonder if the Superior Immortal would deign to accept me?"

"Haha... If I could still find such an outstanding disciple unworthy, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to take on any apprentices from this day forward!" Lü Dongbin laughed heartily as he stood up. "Disciple, dispense with the formalities; Master accepts you as a disciple."

The Xia Emperor frowned and wanted to speak, but after a moment of hesitation, he remained silent. Yuntian was indeed outstanding enough, and Lü Dongbin was undeniably at the absolute pinnacle of Heavenly Gods and True Immortals within the Three Realms, possessing strength that barely scraped the level of a Dao Ancestor. Aside from the Dao Ancestor himself, having Yuntian take Lü Dongbin as his master was truly the best possible choice among Heavenly Gods and True Immortals.

"Lü Dongbin, congratulations! You've taken in a fine disciple!" Though the other Pure Yang True Immortals felt regret and helplessness, they still smiled and offered their congratulations.

Lü Dongbin laughed heartily, then immediately continued, "Xiàmáng, since the Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor has not chosen Jining as a disciple, I will brazenly bring this up once more. Jining is an exceptional seed for a Sword Immortal, and I am very fond of him. Would you grant me this favor and let Jining come to me? I truly wish to take him as my disciple."

"Lü Dongbin, you really are insatiably greedy! Not satisfied with taking one, you actually want another?" Bodhisattva Mahasthāmaprāpta shook his head.

The Xia Emperor also shook his head with a rather unpleased expression. "Although Jining was not chosen by Master, Master praised Jining multiple times. Therefore, Lü Dongbin, do not make things difficult by forcing the issue."

Seeing how resolute the Xia Emperor was, realizing there was no hope of taking Jining as a disciple, Lü Dongbin could only pivot. "What about Jining's Dao-companion, Yu Wei? I rather like that little girl as well. If I take her as my disciple, Xiàmáng, you won't stand in my way, will you?"

"Haha, that is a mere trifle. Anyone who failed to enter the top ninety-six is yours to pick, Lü Dongbin," the Xia Emperor said with a hearty laugh. A mere Yu Wei was of no consequence to him.

Lü Dongbin nodded, then turned his gaze toward Yu Wei, who was standing behind King Yan and holding hands with Jining while conversing in low tones. He smiled and called out, "Little girl, come here!"

"Huh?" Yu Wei was startled. Raising her head, she saw that the Xia Emperor and the other Pure Yang True Immortals were all looking in her direction, and immediately following that, the Xia Emperor himself called for her to approach. She walked over in a daze, somewhat bewildered and uncomprehending. This scene also caught the attention of all the Celestial Immortals and Wanxiang Adepts present.

Lü Dongbin smiled warmly as he watched Yu Wei walk up to him. "Little girl, I, Lü Dongbin, wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"

Lü Dongbin made no effort to conceal his voice; it resounded clearly throughout the main hall of Tianmang Palace. At once, the assembled Celestial Immortals and numerous Wanxiang Adepts looked up in absolute astonishment. None of them had ever imagined that Lü Dongbin would actually take Yu Wei as a disciple. One had to know that while Yu Wei was considered a prodigy, she was not particularly dazzling among the vast array of geniuses. Moreover, she was a reincarnated immortal, leaving her with negligible hope of ever becoming a Celestial Immortal. How could Lü Dongbin possibly have taken a fancy to her? Many of the Celestial Immortals present could not help feeling a pang of jealousy.

"Are you willing?" Lü Dongbin asked once more, looking at Yu Wei, who remained frozen in shock.

Recovering her wits, Yu Wei thought of how she had only just bound herself to Jining as a Dao-companion only to be separated immediately, and could not help turning her head to look at Jining with a trace of reluctance.

Jining naturally understood what Yu Wei was thinking. Though reluctant, he knew Yu Wei was single-mindedly devoted to the Dao, so he gently nodded to her.

"Stop lingering over your little sweetheart," Lü Dongbin said, noticing Yu Wei turn her head toward Jining. "That little sweetheart of yours is bound to become the disciple of a True Immortal or Heavenly God, and will undoubtedly be taken by their side for guidance over a period of time. Therefore, even if you do not become my disciple, Jining will leave the Great Xia world before long anyway."

Yu Wei understood. She glanced at Jining in the distance and, seeing him repeatedly signaling with his eyes and nodding simultaneously, made her decision in her heart. Still, she could not help looking at Lü Dongbin and asking, "May I ask how long I will need to leave my master for if I take you as my master?"

"Short as a few decades, long as a century!" Lü Dongbin laughed. "You needn't worry. Once I learn that Jining has returned to the Great Xia world, I will quickly let you return so you can be reunited with your little sweetheart."

Yu Wei breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help asking if Lü Dongbin might take Jining as a disciple as well, leaving Lü Dongbin to sigh with helpless amusement.

Realizing how matters stood, Yu Wei no longer hesitated. She knelt directly and said respectfully, "Disciple pays respects to Master."

"Haha..." Lü Dongbin laughed heartily. "Good, good, good! To be able to take two fine disciples like you and Yuntian, this trip to the Immortal Fate Gathering has truly been worth it. Yu Wei, go spend a little more time with your sweetheart. Once the Immortal Fate Gathering concludes shortly, we will be leaving the Great Xia world."

After Yu Wei acknowledged the command and stepped back, Lü Dongbin looked at Yuntian and said, "Yuntian, you may step back as well."

"This disciple takes his leave!" With a light smile, Yuntian cupped his hands in a bow, drifted back down from the dais, and sat cross-legged behind King Qi.

King Qi turned to glance at Yuntian and said with mild helplessness, "You, why must you go against His Majesty's wishes?"

"A cultivator seeks freedom and longevity. If one cannot even be the master of one's own fate, or even choose a master one actually likes, what meaning would there be left?" Yuntian replied with a casual, carefree smile, completely unbothered.