348: Chapter 348 First Disciple

Yet the tone that drifted from his lips remained his usual cold and indifferent self, without a ripple of emotion: " You are neither the second Disciple nor the third Disciple. "

As these words fell into Luo Xiaojiu's ears, her heart, which had been suspended, suddenly tightened and jumped to her throat.

Her tender, rosy face instantly fell, her mouth pouted in grievance, and the tip of her nose turned slightly red: " It couldn't be... it really is the fourth Disciple, right? Revered Master, that ' four ' character sounds... it always feels... it always feels a bit unlucky. "

" A bit unlucky? " Chu Changsheng rarely engaged with her remarks, his voice rising slightly at the end, laced with a slow, playful undertone. His clear, melodious voice blended into the breeze, rippling outward.

" Yes, yes! " Luo Xiaojiu nodded hurriedly, her little head bobbing like a pestle pounding garlic. Her watery eyes gazed longingly at the Revered Master before her, her small hands twisting her hem, her voice soft and sticky with warmth: " Although this Disciple does not care about the ranking, but... but if it could sound just a little bit better, that would naturally be the best thing ever! "

Chu Changsheng looked at her tangled expression—clearly full of concern yet pretending to be indifferent—and lowered his ink-colored eyes, finally shaking his head slightly. His tone was laced with a barely audible tease, as faint as catkins drifting in the wind: " What? Are you unwilling to be my Disciple? "

" No! Absolutely not! " Luo Xiaojiu was so startled she shivered, shaking her head like a rattle-drum, her earlobes instantly flushing a faint red. She waved her small hands hurriedly to explain, her voice growing urgent, filled with a flustered, soft tenderness: " To be Revered Master's Disciple is a heavenly blessing this Disciple has cultivated for several lifetimes! No matter what the ranking is, this Disciple is happy from the bottom of her heart and is completely willing! It's just... it's just... "

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, eventually becoming as faint as a mosquito's buzz. She peeked timidly at Revered Master's expression, and seeing no hint of anger on his handsome, refined face, she dared to add in a soft voice, a glimmer of hope hidden in her eyes: " It's just that if I could be the Senior Sister, it sounds, well, a little more impressive... "

Chu Changsheng watched her—cautiously hiding her little thoughts, yet unable to conceal the excitement in her eyes. The faint smile in his ink-colored eyes finally melted a little—just like a warm breeze sweeping across a frozen lake, though it vanished in an instant, leaving only a hint of softness at the corners of his eyes: " You! Such a mischievous one. Come, let me take you to see a good show. "

" A good show? " Luo Xiaojiu's curiosity was instantly piqued to the extreme; the ranking issue that had been worrying her was temporarily cast to the nine heavens. Her large eyes shone as if studded with stars, and she took quick, small steps to catch up, asking eagerly: " What good show, Revered Master? Is someone sparring or debating the Dao? Or has some Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure appeared? "

She followed closely behind Chu Changsheng, her small steps light and quick, her eyes sparkling like a curious little kitten, filled with a gaze of exploration.

Chu Changsheng did not stop walking. He lightly extended his wide sleeve, and a faint, flowing light gathered at his fingertips—the ancient bronze carriage turned into a gleam of light, which he nonchalantly tucked into his sleeve. His movements were fluid and natural, carrying a touch of the laziness and ease of an Immortal.

The next moment, their figures seemed to merge with the breeze, drifting toward the carved beams, painted rafters, and mist-shrouded jade towers. The speed was astonishing; the surrounding pavilions, towers, lush forests, and bamboo groves became blurred phantoms. Yet, their posture remained leisurely, like Immortals walking on the wind, their robes fluttering, untainted by the mundane world.

Luo Xiaojiu felt as if her feet were light, as if she were stepping on soft cotton clouds. The scenery around her retreated rapidly, and the breeze stirred by their movement brushed past her hair. She had to raise her hand to tightly grasp Revered Master's hem, stumbling as she followed behind, trying to adapt to this wondrous method of flight, while her heart couldn't help but drift back to the earlier topic of ranking.

" Revered Master, Revered Master~ " She leaned forward, her small body pressing against his arm, her voice soft, wrapped in a spoiled, ingratiating tone, the end of her sentence sweet and alluring: " You just said I am not the second, third, or fourth Disciple, then... then do you have other Disciples? Are they powerful? Where are they now? "

Chu Changsheng did not look back, his clear, melodious voice drifting with the breeze, as faint as the cool, murmuring spring water in a mountain stream, flowing over her heart: " There are indeed three lackluster Disciples. "

" Lackluster Disciples? " Luo Xiaojiu blinked her round eyes, secretly muttering to herself—this term did not sound like harsh criticism, but rather revealed a certain inexplicable closeness, making them seem not so unattainable. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, the stone hanging in her heart dropping halfway, but she couldn't help but ask: " Then what kind of people are they? Is their cultivation high? Are they more powerful than this Disciple? "

After asking, she was afraid Revered Master would think her too ambitious, so she quickly clenched her small fists, lifted her tender, rosy face, and spoke with a serious, determined tone, laced with a childish stubbornness: " However, this Disciple will definitely work hard to Cultivate with all her might, striving to surpass them as soon as possible! To be a true, impressive Senior Sister! "

She said this with great heroism, her little chest puffed out high, and her face filled with determination—evidently having already automatically placed herself in the position of " First Disciple " in her heart, and treating those three fellow Disciples she had never met as targets she would strive to surpass in the future.

Hearing her childish " bold words, " Chu Changsheng's forward steps seemed to pause imperceptibly for an instant. A hard-to-fathom expression flashed in his ink-colored eyes, appearing helpless, yet also finding it somewhat amusing. That faint smile rippled a bit more in his eyes, softening his brow: " Then you must work very hard. "

He spoke indifferently, his tone seemingly carrying some expectation, while also hiding an indescribable playfulness. His clear, melodious voice blended into the wind, growing a bit gentler.

Having received this seemingly encouraging remark from Revered Master, Luo Xiaojiu instantly felt as if she had been injected with chicken blood, full of energy. Her small chest puffed out even higher, and she nodded heavily, her voice crisp and full of certainty: " Yes! Revered Master, just wait and see! This Disciple will definitely not let you down! "

Her mind had already begun to wander wildly—once her Sacred Body reached Major Achievement and her cultivation reached the heavens, how she would " inadvertently " show off her Senior Sister's authority in front of those three " lackluster " Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. Should she feign depth and " offer guidance " on their cultivation? Or should she take them down the mountain to " see the world "? The more she thought, the more excited she became, and even her steps on the wind became lighter, her eyes filled with light of longing and anticipation.

" Oh, right, Revered Master— " She wrapped her arm around Chu Changsheng's again, her small hand gently tugging at his sleeve, asking in a soft voice, her eyes flashing with a cunning light, like a little kitten that had stolen some sugar: " You still haven't told this Disciple about their situation? That way, this Disciple can know herself and the enemy, and be victorious in every battle! "

Upon hearing this, Chu Changsheng turned his head to glance at the little Disciple beside him. Luo Xiaojiu was clutching her round little fists, her cheeks puffed out as if she had stuffed a honey date inside, her brows filled with the high spirits of a newborn calf—that eager-to-try appearance, clearly determined to " punch the Senior Brothers and kick the Senior Sisters, " her brave silliness revealing a touch of cute, naive charm.

A faint, imperceptible playfulness flashed in his ink-colored eyes, as clear as fragmented light rippling over a cold pool, but it vanished in an instant, leaving only the calm of a deep pool. His tone remained his usual, indifferent, and waveless self, as if he were merely speaking of such mundane matters as drinking dew in the morning or watching clouds in the evening: " Your Senior Brother is named Xuanyuan Zhanxian. He possesses the Taiji Yin-Yang Divine Body, is naturally close to the Yin and Yang Dao, can harmonize all methods, and reverse life and death in a single line. "

" By chance, he learned a ' Kunpeng Treasure Technique. ' Although he only obtained the incomplete scraps, he can still flap his wings and travel ten thousand miles in an instant, and with one rage, he can stir up thousand-foot waves in the North Sea. "

Luo Xiaojiu's head, which had been held high, nodded subconsciously when she heard " Taiji Yin-Yang Divine Body, " her little brows raising slightly—she secretly thought to herself that it was indeed top-tier aptitude, and he ought to be Revered Master's Disciple. Although powerful, it was still within the scope of her knowledge of the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, and she could still wrestle with him.

But the moment the four words " Kunpeng Treasure Technique " entered her ears—her round apricot eyes suddenly widened, her long eyelashes trembled violently, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and even her breathing paused for half a beat!

Kunpeng! This was the supreme existence at the head of the Ten Ancient Fiends, standing shoulder to shoulder with the True Dragon and the Divine Phoenix; overturning rivers and seas, swallowing stars and devouring the moon were but trivial matters! Even if it were just the incomplete scraps of the treasure technique, it was a supreme Legacy that others would wear out their iron shoes searching for and still be unable to obtain!

The air of certainty on her face instantly froze, her tender, rosy face stiffened, but she forced herself to lift her small chin, acting tough: " Xuanyuan Zhanxian... hmm, the name is quite intimidating. However, this Disciple possesses the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, with unparalleled aptitude, so I may not necessarily lose to him! Besides, Revered Master also said he only obtained a little bit of the scraps, so this Disciple will definitely be able to surpass him in the future! "

Though she spoke toughly, the small hand clutching Revered Master's hem quietly tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white—the certainty in her eyes had already faded a bit, hiding a trace of imperceptible panic.

Chu Changsheng was noncommittal. His fingertips lightly brushed the drifting clouds beside him, and the clouds softly dispersed as he continued to speak indifferently: " Your Second Senior Sister is named Jian Tanghuang. "

" She is the Reincarnation of a wisp of the Divine Phoenix Immortal Emperor's Origin, cultivating once more. She possesses the Divine Phoenix Tribulation Fire, is indestructible through ten thousand tribulations, and has an Immortal Divine Soul. She holds the complete ' True Phoenix Treasure Technique ' —Rebirth through fire, burning the heavens and boiling the seas are but trivial matters for her. "

" Divine... Divine Phoenix Immortal Emperor Reincarnation?! And the complete True Phoenix Treasure Technique?! " Luo Xiaojiu was truly shocked this time—she gasped, her small mouth slightly agape, unable to close it for a long time. The forced composure in her eyes was completely shattered!

Immortal Emperor! This was a supreme existence standing at the peak of the Immortal Dao, turning hands to make clouds and covering hands to make rain, overlooking the myriad living beings of the worlds—how could an ordinary Cultivator reach such heights? Let alone wielding the complete Ten Ancient Fiends Treasure Technique—this kind of configuration was simply Heaven-bestowed talent, born standing on the clouds!