10: Chapter 10 It's been so long since I've seen my beautiful master.

Outside the door, Mo Wentian, Su Xuner, and Su Qiyue remained standing where they were, each with a different expression.

Mo Wentian stroked his beard, and the "I understand" smile on his face, far from disappearing, became even more brilliant.

Junior Brother is just shy!

After all, he had just finished an "in-depth" treatment of his Disciple when he was caught by his Senior Brother and the maids. Who wouldn't be embarrassed?

He cleared his throat, feeling it was time to show his responsibility as both the Holy Lord and Senior Brother.

"Ahem, Junior Brother, open the door. Your Senior Brother has serious business to discuss with you!" Mo Wentian shouted toward the door panel, lowering his posture significantly.

"No time. My serious business is sleeping," Lu Chen's muffled voice came from inside the room.

"This concerns the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Holy Land!" Mo Wentian said with increased emphasis.

Creak.

The door was pulled open a crack again. Lu Chen poked half his head out, looking at him with sleepy eyes.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly so I can go back to sleep."

Mo Wentian didn't mind. He rubbed his hands together and leaned in with a mysterious look.

"Junior Brother, I've realized it!"

Lu Chen looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"What have you realized? If you've realized something, shouldn't you go to sleep?"

"No, no, no!" Mo Wentian waved his hands repeatedly, lowered his voice, and said excitedly,

"Junior Brother, you shattered the Immortal Gate before but forcibly remained in the mortal world. The outside world is full of rumors that your Ascension failed, that you're heavily injured, and that your life is nearing its end!"

"So recently, every random nobody has dared to snoop around the outskirts of our Yunxiao Holy Land. Several Holy Lands and Ancient Clans that have always been at odds with us are even more restless!"

Lu Chen yawned, looking completely unconcerned.

"Oh, then let them be restless. It's better if they come to me; it saves me the trouble of seeking them out one by one later."

Mo Wentian slapped his thigh, his expression becoming even more excited.

"I knew it! Junior Brother, you really are thinking that way!"

He began a non-stop analysis.

"When you moved against the Everlasting Su Family earlier, injuring but not killing them, you were playing a grand game of chess!"

"I know you're playing the long game to catch the big fish! You're deliberately showing weakness to lure the snakes out of their holes!"

Lu Chen's mind was full of question marks as he listened.

How did I end up playing a grand game of chess?

This Senior Brother's ability to overthink things is a waste of talent; he should be writing novels.

"And so?" Lu Chen asked.

"So, I, your Senior Brother, have decided to give you a hand!" Mo Wentian puffed out his chest, looking like he was sharing Lu Chen's burdens.

"I propose we hold an unprecedented 'Disciple Recruitment Ceremony'!"

"Disciple Recruitment Ceremony?" Lu Chen's brow furrowed deeper. "Too much trouble. Not doing it."

"Junior Brother, let me finish!" Mo Wentian grew anxious.

"We'll use the occasion of you taking Leng Qingqiu as your Disciple to send out invitations far and wide, inviting all the top powers from the Eastern Desolation and even the entire continent to witness the ceremony!"

"Those with ill intentions will surely take this opportunity to come. They'll call it witnessing, but it's actually to test the waters! At that time, you only need to show a few moves under the gaze of the masses—like sneezing to death a few Saints or something..."

"That way, we kill the chicken to warn the monkeys! Let's see who dares to show even a hint of disrespect to our Yunxiao Holy Land in the future! You can then continue preparing for your Ascension!"

Mo Wentian became more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the grand sight of Yunxiao Holy Land returning to its Peak and ten thousand Sects coming to pay homage.

After Lu Chen finished listening, his first reaction was to refuse.

Too troublesome.

When there are many people, it gets noisy.

If it's noisy, how can he sleep in?

Besides, he didn't want to undergo Ascension. If he ascended, he'd have to mine for hundreds of years, then slowly climb up while dealing with social favors. There was no need. He could raise Disciples and let them go up and venture instead!

As long as the Holy Land had him, there was hope for the future. If others came to his door, he'd fight; if they didn't, he wouldn't.

"Not going. You go recruit Disciples yourself," Lu Chen said, about to close the door.

"Junior Brother!"

Mo Wentian grew frantic and blocked the door with his hand. His old face instantly collapsed, and his voice even carried a hint of a sob.

"Junior Brother, just take pity on your Senior Brother! You know the current state of the Holy Land—it's strong on the outside but hollow within! As the Holy Lord, I can't sleep at night, and I've even grown several white hairs!"

"You won't have to worry about a single thing regarding the ceremony! I'll handle everything! When the time comes, you're just responsible for sitting there, drinking tea, and acting cool—no, I mean, manifesting your divinity!"

Lu Chen remained unmoved.

Seeing this, Mo Wentian steeled himself and threw out his trump card.

"Junior Brother, have you forgotten our Revered Master?"

Lu Chen's hand, which was about to close the door, stopped.

In his mind, an unparalleled figure appeared—cold as ten-thousand-year profound ice, yet extremely doting toward him alone.

Ling Yuling.

His Revered Master.

The woman who had raised him from an orphan in another world and cultivated him into a Great Emperor.

The cold Revered Master who had tried to maintain her appearance and Lifespan while attempting a Breakthrough, but exhausted her life in the process, eventually having no choice but to lie in the cold undying divine coffin to await the end of her life.

He hadn't gone to see her for a very, very long time.

Because he was afraid.

Afraid to see that face which once captivated the world become withered, afraid that he would never again hear that most familiar call of "Little Chen."

Yunxiao Holy Land held his Revered Master's life's work.

Seeing the change in Lu Chen's expression, Mo Wentian knew it was working and immediately struck while the iron was hot.

"The thing Revered Master valued most was the Legacy of the Holy Land. Now that she is in the divine coffin, we as her Disciples cannot let her worry about Sect matters even in her slumber, can we?"

Lu Chen fell silent.

After a long time, he let out a long sigh, the laziness in his eyes replaced by a trace of complex emotion.

"Fine."

He let go of the door, his voice somewhat raspy.

"The ceremony can be held. When the time comes, I will take action."

Retiring in this world indeed required an absolutely stable environment.

Occasionally stretching his muscles and swatting those annoying flies to death wasn't such a bad idea.

"That's great!"

Mo Wentian was instantly overjoyed, nearly jumping with excitement.

"Junior Brother really does care about the Sect! I'll go arrange it right away!"

He rubbed his hands, his face full of admiration.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother! This time, I'll be responsible for luring the snakes out of their holes and letting them see for themselves!"

"In this world today, you are the only walking Great Emperor. As for those other old monsters, every single one of them is just like your Master, forced into an undying divine coffin to linger on!"

Hearing this, Lu Chen glanced at him and retorted irritably.

"You make it sound like your Master didn't go in. Even if one takes an Undying Medicine, so what? Lifespan in the Human Realm eventually comes to an end; it's the same for everyone."

Mo Wentian's smile froze on his face.

That hits hard, brother.

On the other side of Xiaoyao Peak.

Su Xuner and Su Qiyue overheard everything.

Su Qiyue's mind was filled with: "Disciple Recruitment Ceremony! There must be lots and lots of delicious food!"

But in Su Xuner's proud phoenix eyes, a sharp light flickered repeatedly.

Disciple Recruitment Ceremony?

Does that mean I'll have a chance in the future to go from a named maid to a formal Disciple of the Great Emperor?

Once I become a formal Disciple, I can walk with my head held high!

Mo Wentian had no idea what the two young girls behind him were thinking. He was already elated, humming a little tune as he turned to leave.

Junior Brother agreed! The plan is a success!

This ceremony won't just restore the prestige of Yunxiao Holy Land; I also have to scout out a few Dao Companions for Junior Brother!

Judging by that intimacy with his Eldest Disciple just now, Junior Brother likes that sort of thing!

Yes, that's what I'll do!