21: Chapter 21 is too much! Can I just not watch this personal disciple?

Leng Ningshuang did not even bow to the Grand Elders on either side; her gaze remained fixed solely on Xiao Nianyin from beginning to end.

That gaze was cold and persistent, faintly carrying a trace of... questioning?

Looking at Leng Ningshuang, who had suddenly appeared before her, Xiao Nianyin furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly.

She naturally understood this most outstanding junior of the Sect deeply, and was even clearer about that... sentiment she had harbored for a long time.

As expected, Leng Ningshuang dispensed with any pleasantries. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice, like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, was crisp and cold, ringing throughout the silent plaza:

"Sect Master."

She paused, her gaze seemingly glancing at the disheveled Xu Ruyu below the stage. A faint trace of disgust and confusion flashed quickly through her eyes before she refocused on Xiao Nianyin.

"This Disciple has come presumptuously, only to ask one question."

Her voice was resolute, carrying an air that brooked no evasion:

"Has the Sect Master truly decided to take this person as a Disciple?"

As her words fell, the entire audience's gaze focused squarely on Xiao Nianyin.

Those elite Inner Sect Disciples, the Elders, deacons, and Disciples below, the failed candidates, and even the Grand Elders on the high platform, were all waiting for her answer.

Everyone knew the deeper meaning behind Leng Ningshuang's question.

This iceberg Senior Sister was proud and arrogant, possessed extraordinary talent in Cultivate, and deeply admired Sect Master Xiao Nianyin. For a long time, her greatest wish had been to join Xiao Nianyin's tutelage and become her Personal Disciple. This was no secret among the upper echelons of the Hehuan Sect.

Now that Xiao Nianyin had suddenly taken a nobody, even a male Mortal with "no Spiritual Root," as a Disciple, how could Leng Ningshuang be convinced? How could she endure it?

Xiao Nianyin was silent for a moment.

She could feel the persistence in Leng Ningshuang's gaze, and the surging undercurrents beneath that calm, icy surface.

She knew this question could not be avoided.

Finally, she spoke slowly, her voice calm yet clear, carrying the unique majesty of a Sect Master:

"That is correct."

She looked at Leng Ningshuang with a calm gaze, as if declaring to everyone:

"From this day forward, Xu Ruyu is the Personal Disciple of this Sect Master, Xiao Nianyin."

She paused deliberately, adding word by word:

"The only Personal Disciple."

The only one!

These three words were like three ice picks, stabbing fiercely into Leng Ningshuang's heart, and completely severing the fantasies of everyone present who might still harbor similar thoughts!

Xiao Nianyin's attitude was absolutely clear: I will only have one Personal Disciple, and that is him, Xu Ruyu.

Others need not think about it further.

Above and below the high platform, there was a collective intake of breath.

The few Grand Elders furrowed their brows even tighter, clearly feeling that Xiao Nianyin's statement was too absolute and might trigger unnecessary internal conflict.

The color seemed to drain from Leng Ningshuang's beautiful face for a moment, but then, a faint smile slowly bloomed on her ice-like countenance.

That smile had no warmth; instead, it made people feel a chill.

"The only Personal Disciple... Good, very good."

Leng Ningshuang muttered, repeating it once, then suddenly turned toward the stage below. Her cold gaze, like a tangible sword blade, instantly locked onto Xu Ruyu, who had just breathed a sigh of relief due to his Revered Master's clear stance!

Swept by her gaze, Xu Ruyu felt his hair stand on end; a sense of crisis, even more intense than when he was fighting for his life against Lei Xuan, suddenly descended!

This woman... is terrifying!

Leng Ningshuang lightly raised her jade hand and clenched it in the air.

"Hum—!"

The temperature in the plaza dropped suddenly!

In her palm, endless cold Qi gathered frantically, instantly condensing into a long sword about three feet long, with wisps of blue cold smoke winding around the blade!

Wherever the sword point aimed, the air seemed to freeze, emitting a faint cracking sound.

The ice sword formed. Leng Ningshuang pointed the sword at Xu Ruyu, her voice chilling to the bone, resounding through the clouds:

"Xu Ruyu, listen clearly!"

"According to the ancestral rules of my Hehuan Sect, the Sect Master's Personal Disciple is one of the candidates for the next Sect Master!"

"Since you are a Sect Master candidate, you are not just the Sect Master's private Disciple, but someone tied to the future Legacy of my Hehuan Sect!"

"Therefore, Article 8 of the Sect Rules clearly states: The Sect Master's Personal Disciple has the obligation, and must, accept public challenges from all True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples within the Sect! This is to test their ability and to convince the hearts of the masses!"

Her voice rose sharply, carrying an unquestionable determination and a biting Battle Intent:

"This battle has nothing to do with personal grudges; it is only for the laws of the Sect!"

"Since you have already become the Sect Master's Personal Disciple..."

Leng Ningshuang slightly raised the ice sword in her hand, the tip pointing toward Xu Ruyu's throat, her cold voice sounding like a final verdict:

"Then, now, immediately, prepare yourself!"

"Accept the challenge from me, Leng Ningshuang, and all the fellow Disciples of the Hehuan Sect present here!"

"Boom—!"

As these words came out, the whole audience was shocked, and then an uproar broke out, far more intense than any previous one!

A Sect challenge!

And it was a challenge directed at the new Sect Master's Personal Disciple!

According to the ancestral rules, such a clause did indeed exist, but there had not been a Sect Master's Personal Disciple for nearly a hundred years, so this rule had almost been forgotten!

Now, however, it was brought up publicly by Leng Ningshuang, and she was the first to attack!

Those elite Inner Sect Disciples who had been standing quietly in various places now had eyes burning with the fire of Battle Intent and curiosity.

Ning Caihe gripped his sword hilt, Liu Rufeng stopped playing with his Hehuan flower, and Zhao Yan, Mo Ling, and others also had their auras rising.

Challenging the Sect Master's Personal Disciple was an excellent opportunity to verify one's strength and make a name for oneself!

Moreover, they were already full of curiosity and dissatisfaction toward this Xu Ruyu, who had suddenly popped up and "repelled" all candidates in such a bizarre way!

Xu Ruyu stood on the stage, his whole body cold, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The fatigue from the wheel battles had not yet subsided, his injuries still stung, and although the power within him seemed a bit more active, it was still uncontrollable.

And before him were dozens of elite Inner Sect Disciples of the Hehuan Sect, whose auras were far stronger than the previous candidates and who had been famous for a long time!

The one leading them, Leng Ningshuang, gave him an even more terrifying pressure, like facing a prehistoric beast!

Still have to fight?

And fight against these people?

Are you kidding me?!

He could only barely support himself by dodging against the previous candidates; now, against these Inner Sect Disciples who were clearly more than one level stronger, what could he use to fight?

He would probably be taken out in one move!

He looked at Xiao Nianyin on the high platform for help, his eyes filled with despair and pleading: Revered Master! Help me!

This Personal Disciple position is too deadly! Can I refuse to be it?!

He even tried to use the rudimentary Divine Thought transmission method Xiao Nianyin had taught him earlier to weakly convey his thoughts, which were on the verge of collapse:

"Ma-Revered Master... this Personal Disciple... I... can I... not... not be one anymore?"

This weak message, like a candle in the wind, drifted toward the high platform.

Did Xiao Nianyin receive it? And how would she respond?

And Leng Ningshuang's ice sword was already gleaming with cold light.

Dozens of gazes filled with Battle Intent, like tangible shackles, firmly pinned Xu Ruyu to the center of the stage.

The real crisis had only just begun.