Chapter 442 - 400: The Master-Initiation Ceremony

Chapter 442: Chapter 400: The Master-Initiation Ceremony

The master-disciple ceremony in the grand hall concluded, and Lu Qian let the guests rest for a while. Accompanied by Jiang Qingfeng, Yang Jiye, and the recently returned Wang Yu, they went to the back hall, where they and their disciples paid respects to the former masters, acknowledging their lineage.

"A master is as great as the heavens." From now on, the teaching and nurturing of true disciples would be entirely the responsibility of their respective masters. In practice, not even the Sect Leader could intervene, effectively removing them from the ranks of ordinary disciples.

For instance, true disciples are exempt from mundane duties and no longer have fixed task quotas.

Put simply, both inner and outer disciples have their designated jobs, such as fieldwork tasks like capture and patrol, escorting and alerting, and reception duties, as well as indoor tasks like managing servants, planting and breeding, talisman making and alchemy, construction and artifact refining. They must complete these tasks monthly, with free time available only after.

True disciples, however, are exempt from these duties, devoting more time to cultivation. Only extremely challenging tasks are assigned to them, and normally, they only need to complete tasks delegated by their masters.

Moreover, true disciples receive a monthly salary equivalent to sect stewards, along with additional resources from their masters. Coupled with rewards from freely completed tasks, their wealth far exceeds that of ordinary disciples.

With the ceremony over, Lu Qian asked Jiang Baitao and Wu Yan to stay behind, requesting all elders to take the disciples to greet the guests and celebrate at the banquet.

"What instructions do you have, Master?" Wu Yan, obedient and respectful, asked.

Lu Qian felt quite satisfied.

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, do you have gas—" Jiang Baitao pouted, clearly displeased, but seeing Lu Qian raising his hand threateningly, she quickly covered her head and changed her tone, "Just say what you have to say."

"Jiang Baitao, you seem quite dissatisfied," Lu Qian drawled.

Jiang Baitao hugged Lu Qian’s arm, whining pitifully, "Where’s my apprenticeship gift? Everyone else has one, except me. You’re such an unreliable Senior Brother."

Lu Qian laughed heartily, "Of course I wouldn’t forget yours, but you’re different from the others, so yours is special."

Wu Yan stood quietly on the side, watching their natural closeness, feeling a hint of envy in her heart.

Facing Baitao’s expectant eyes, Lu Qian lightly brushed the Sect Leader’s Ring and then opened his hand in front of Baitao.

"Taotao, do you recognize this?"

Jiang Baitao exclaimed in surprise and joy, grabbing the item from Lu Qian’s palm.

They were three six-inch-long, glittering silver needles, sparkling like starlight under the illumination of the Rootless Fire in the hall.

"Starlight Needles!" Jiang Baitao loved them dearly, examining them back and forth. She had not expected Lu Qian to give her the Starlight Needles.

These three silver needles were not made of rare materials and had no special effects. For their clever design in a set of three, they possessed sharpness and swiftness. In terms of value, they weren’t particularly precious.

Yet, these needles had accompanied Lu Qian’s growth, representing memories of great importance.

By giving Jiang Baitao the Starlight Needles, Lu Qian hoped she would not forget the hardships of her escape and would continue to strive diligently.

"To control the three Starlight Needles so they attack separately and spin according to your will, requires a powerful and refined Divine Sense, something you currently lack," Lu Qian said gently. "But from another angle, learning to control them is a way to train your Divine Sense. Combined with your cultivation of the ’Divine Illumination Immortal Ascension Technique’, with diligence and effort, you will one day control the Starlight Needles."

Jiang Baitao nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking at rice, while Lu Qian slowly withdrew his smile, taking out a small storage pouch from his robe, and handed it to Baitao with deep emotion.

"When your Divine Sense becomes strong enough, it will be time to use this."

Baitao opened the storage pouch, and with just one glance, she froze, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.

Inside were five small Command Banners in white, green, black, red, and yellow. Alongside the banners was a piece of non-silk, non-cloth Silver Cloth.

These were Master Xuan Ji’s remnants, his Array Base and Array Map.

"Taotao, today I accept disciples on behalf of the master, but you must remember in your heart, you have two masters," Lu Qian said solemnly. "One is the former master, Tongchenzi, the third generation Sect Leader of Yunshan Sect, and the other is Elder Zhou."

"You once said you would pass on Elder Zhou’s knowledge of the Array Dao, and for the past two years, I have been teaching you the basics of Arrays. But since you lack Consciousness Collection, it means you’ll need to work twice as hard to achieve anything in the path of Arrays."

"Keep it up, Taotao, I look forward to the day you wield this Array Base and Array Map and unfold the Five Elements Grand Array."

Jiang Baitao pressed her lips tight, keeping the storage pouch close, then wiped her tears and said resolutely, "I understand, Sect Leader Senior Brother."

Then, Baitao also went to join the banquet, leaving only Wu Yan in the grand hall.

A fleeting ethereal and dreamlike glow passed by as an enchanting beauty emerged with clouds and radiance, her features bearing a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to Wu Yan, but more mature and immortal.

It was the Primordial Pearl Spirit.

Before Lu Qian could speak, the Pearl Spirit slyly said, "Congratulations to Sect Leader Lu for obtaining such a fine disciple. Congratulations to Little Yan for having such a renowned master."

Lu Qian couldn’t help but smile and quickly clasped his hands, "Pearl Spirit senior, please don’t mind. Little Yan’s inheritance from Jichuan Profound Monarch remains intact. The Profound Monarch will always be her master. Since the Profound Monarch was a loose cultivator, Little Yan inheriting his teachings doesn’t affect her status as a Yunshan disciple. Moreover, since the Profound Monarch has already transcended, it is proper for Little Yan to accept me as a master."

The Pearl Spirit pouted, "You always have a bunch of reasons. I can’t argue with you. As long as Little Yan doesn’t forget my master, that’s fine."

Having resided in Wu Yan’s Dantian for so many years, the Pearl Spirit thoroughly understood this world and her thinking was now indistinguishable from an ordinary person.

Moreover, being confined in the Dantian as an observer, she seizes every opportunity to chatter incessantly and make candid observations.

Lu Qian laughed, "No, no, to have a grand master like Jichuan Profound Monarch makes me proud to be the secondary master."

Wu Yan quickly echoed, speaking coquettishly, "Dear sister, the Profound Monarch granted me his teachings, bestowed a Dharma Lineage, and left me with incredibly precious book treasures—"

"Which you practically gave all away," the Pearl Spirit interrupted Wu Yan unkindly, "Lu Qian, you sly fellow. Little Yan, you’re siding against me. Alas, it’s my naivety, having been tricked by you two."

"Oh dear, those books were gathering dust. Offering them to my sect strengthens it, which in turn aids my growth, doesn’t it?" Wu Yan said with a cheeky smile, "In any case, the grand master gave me a seed, the secondary master provided sunlight, soil, water, and air. Both masters have a place in my heart; how could I be disrespectful?"

The Pearl Spirit remained expressionless, "Why does it still sound like the secondary master is more important?"