53: Apprentice who is three years older than him

Hearing the words that Lu Yi blurted out, both Elder Qian and Leng Ningshuang were stunned.

Leng Ningshuang, even more confused, repeated the phrase:

"What do you mean by... legal loli?"

"Cough..."

Lu Yi also realized his slip of the tongue and quickly coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment.

"Nothing, I was just talking nonsense. Don't pay it any mind."

Elder Qian didn't have the energy to delve into this strange vocabulary.

He sighed and continued explaining, following the topic from earlier.

The reason was almost exactly what Lu Yi had guessed in his heart.

Elder Qian's voice was filled with the vicissitudes of life and helplessness:

"The Spirit Race Bloodline is unique. Once we leave our ancestral Spirit Realm, our 'growth' stops forever. Whether it's the body, intelligence, or cultivation, everything becomes imprisoned."

"The only way to break this is... to absorb the Luck of others, using it to forcibly drive the growth of the Bloodline."

He glanced at the ignorant Qing'er beside him and continued:

"Only someone like Young Master Wu Yang, who possesses great Luck, can withstand the Luck absorption of the Spirit Race. If it were an ordinary cultivator, they would likely be drained of their lifelong Luck within a few short months, followed by constant misfortune or even instant death."

He spoke in a tone that sounded like self-justification:

"Therefore, I did not hesitate to consume my already dwindling Lifespan to perform deductions and find the person of destiny. On one hand, it is certainly for Qing'er's sake, but on the other... it is also for the sake of those innocent ordinary cultivators."

After hearing Elder Qian's account, Leng Ningshuang frowned and asked coldly:

"But in the end, isn't this still harming others to benefit oneself?"

"The State Preceptor has misunderstood."

Elder Qian hurriedly shook his head and explained:

"The Luck absorbed by the Spirit Race does not disappear into thin air. After our Bloodline is fully matured, the absorbed Luck will eventually be fed back to its source. It even becomes more refined due to the purification by the Spirit Race Bloodline."

"However."

His tone became heavy again:

"This process is very long. The provider of the absorbed Luck will experience an extremely difficult period of Luck deficit in the early stages, where nothing goes right and they are plagued by bad Luck. Most ordinary cultivators cannot survive that period and die from misfortune."

Having finished explaining everything, Elder Qian could no longer hold himself up.

He pulled Qing'er and knelt directly before Leng Ningshuang with a 'thud'.

"State Preceptor! Holy Son Lu!"

With tears streaming down his face, he pleaded in a raspy voice:

"I know my days are numbered. Qing'er... she is my only hope left in this world! I beg you both, no matter what, please take Qing'er in!"

Leng Ningshuang looked at the white-haired, dying old man before her.

Then she looked at the delicate young girl beside him who was trembling all over yet still holding back her tears.

Her heart couldn't help but soften.

At this moment, Lu Yi also spoke up at the right time to persuade her:

"Sister Ningshuang, I see that Elder Qian has gone to great lengths; it really hasn't been easy. Why don't you take Qing'er as your Disciple? It would fulfill the old man's final wish."

Seeing that Lu Yi had spoken up to help, Elder Qian immediately cast a grateful look toward him.

Leng Ningshuang thought it over carefully for a moment.

Looking at Qing'er's well-behaved and sensible appearance, she finally sighed and agreed.

"Fine. Elder Qian, please rise, I agree."

"Thank you, State Preceptor! Thank you, State Preceptor!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Qian wept with joy and was about to kowtow in thanks.

"However..."

Before he could lower his head, Leng Ningshuang continued:

"I can take her as a Disciple, but not under me, but under him."

She extended her slender finger and pointed directly at Lu Yi through the gauze curtain.

The smile on Lu Yi's face instantly froze.

He pointed at his own nose in disbelief:

"Me?"

"Correct."

Leng Ningshuang nodded, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

"This..."

Elder Qian also looked at Lu Yi hesitantly, not knowing what to do for a moment.

In his heart, Lu Yi couldn't help but fiercely complain about Leng Ningshuang:

This woman, isn't she just looking for trouble?!

Just wait until you fall into my hands, I'll definitely show you what's what!

However, after thinking it over carefully, it wasn't unacceptable.

Anyway, he was going to win over Leng Ningshuang sooner or later.

Whether Qing'er stayed by her side or his side, there wasn't much difference.

The remaining issue was how to reassure this Elder Qian who was about to "settle his final affairs."

Lu Yi coughed twice, puffed out his chest, and adopted a righteous and confident posture.

He said to Elder Qian:

"Elder Qian, please rest assured."

"My Master, Taichu Old Ancestor, you must have heard of him. He is also proficient in the Art of Heavenly Deduction."

Lu Yi began to talk nonsense without blinking:

"He once deduced my fate and said that my life is extraordinary, that I bear great Luck, and in the future... I even have the Bearing of a Great Emperor!"

He patted his chest and said confidently:

"Presumably, my Luck should be very thick and won't be drained so easily."

"Furthermore, if I really can't hold out when the time comes..."

He pointed to Leng Ningshuang behind the gauze curtain:

"I'll just send Qing'er to my Martial Aunt's side and let Wu Yang help share the burden. That's also an option."

"If Elder Qian trusts me, Lu Yi, then leave Qing'er to me."

"I, Lu Yi, hereby swear to the Heavenly Dao that I will take good care of Qing'er and never let her suffer even a bit of grievance!"

Seeing Lu Yi's righteous and confident posture.

And hearing that Heavenly Dao oath, Elder Qian's hanging heart finally halfway settled.

After thinking it over repeatedly, he finally nodded heavily:

"Good... good! In that case, I shall entrust Qing'er to Holy Son Lu!"

With that, Lu Yi successfully gained a 'legal loli' Disciple who was three years older than himself.

"Saint Son, State Preceptor."

Elder Qian stood up and said:

"I want to spend this final period of time properly with Qing'er. When my end is near, I will come to the State Preceptor's Residence to find you..."

Leng Ningshuang and Lu Yi nodded and said in unison:

"Alright."

Then, supported by Qing'er, Elder Qian left the room.

Once Elder Qian's presence had completely disappeared, the 'upright gentleman' expression on Lu Yi's face instantly vanished.

He walked directly through the annoying gauze curtain and came before Leng Ningshuang.

He reached out and 'slap', slapped the table in front of her.

He assumed a disrespectful posture.

"Sister Ningshuang! What is the meaning of this? Why did you make her take me as her Master?"

Leng Ningshuang was startled by his sudden action, but she quickly regained her cool.

She gave a light laugh, picked up her teacup, and said slowly:

"I once promised Wu Yang that he would be my only Disciple in this life."

She looked up at Lu Yi and continued:

"I have to consider his feelings, don't I? So, I can only trouble you a bit..."

"You certainly do consider his feelings."

Lu Yi curled his lip and said with hidden meaning:

"I'm just afraid... when the time comes, he won't consider yours..."

Leng Ningshuang tilted her head in confusion and asked:

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing..."

Lu Yi spread his hands and continued:

"When the time comes, you'll know."

Then, he didn't stay any longer and simply bid her farewell:

"I'm going back first, I won't disturb 'Sister' playing your zither anymore."

He left just like that, leaving behind a bewildered Leng Ningshuang.