Chapter 13: Phoenix Bloodline? Sorry, Still Not Qualified to Be My Disciple

"Nonsense."

Before Lin Feng could finish speaking, Su Wenjiu interrupted him with a loud shout, forcefully cutting off his words.

"I was clearly saying that your progress in cultivation is remarkable. I wanted to become your disciple, not the other way around," Su Wenjiu said with a flushed face, feeling flustered.

Su Wenjiu's words left Lin Feng bewildered. Scratching the back of his head, he blinked his eyes in confusion.

"Is that really what you said? Because I remember you didn't say that at all!" Lin Feng said with a puzzled expression. "You claimed to be from the Eastern Domain Sacred Grounds and said that joining the Sacred Grounds would be better than staying at Mu Mansion Peak."

"You must have misheard," Su Wenjiu hurriedly explained. "Although I mentioned coming from a sacred ground, I meant that I hadn't seen a disciple with such rapid progress in my sacred ground, so I couldn't help but want to join Mu Mansion Peak."

"Then what about offering me a Grade Eight sword?" Lin Feng asked again.

"That, uh, that was... that was a gesture of goodwill, I wanted you to help me with an introduction, and the Grade Eight sword was my reward."

In order to avoid offending Zhong Qing, Su Wenjiu resorted to extreme lies in this critical moment.

She was pulling out all the stops to survive.

Worried that Zhong Qing might not believe her, she quickly bowed respectfully and sincerely to Zhong Qing, saying, "Senior, it's true. When I saw this young man's rapid progress, I knew he must have an extraordinary master. So, I rashly followed him to Mu Mansion Peak, hoping to become your disciple. However, before I could meet you, I mistakenly entered the Sea of Bitterness. Nevertheless, I did not have your permission to enter the peak, so I apologize for my actions."

With that, Su Wenjiu knelt on both knees, sincerely kneeling on the ground.

"Pah, I've never seen such a shameless person in my life."

Hearing Su Wenjiu's words, the sword elder in the Abandoned Sword couldn't help but mock her.

"Hmph, I knew she didn't say that at all. Elder Sword, you also heard it. How shameless can she be?" Lin Feng's face was full of anger.

Just as he was about to expose the true face of this shameless woman to Zhong Qing, Zhong Qing waved his hand to interrupt. He wasn't a fool; he could see the truth without needing further explanation.

However, he wasn't particularly angry either.

Since activating the hundredfold amplification, Lin Feng's terrifying speed of cultivation would make anyone envious. Feeling the desire to take disciples was only natural. Moreover, this woman had undoubtedly suffered a lot by following him to Mu Mansion Peak and ending up in the Sea of Bitterness.

Furthermore, despite her lies, her attitude was still relatively sincere.

So, he didn't bother pursuing the matter further.

"Young lady, you may leave. Please refrain from coming to Mu Mansion Peak in the future," Zhong Qing waved his hand and said.

Su Wenjiu felt embarrassed.

From Zhong Qing's attitude, she could tell that he knew she was lying. With a flushed face, she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Senior. I lied just now. I shouldn't have done that."

"Blame my lack of insight for not recognizing your true worth and offending you," she continued, "The talent for cultivation possessed by your disciple is truly remarkable, and I am not qualified to be his master."

"However, Senior, what I said later about wanting to become your disciple was truly heartfelt. I hope Senior can grant my wish."

Su Wenjiu said respectfully.

Now that she had seen Zhong Qing, she had indeed developed the desire to become his disciple. Zhong Qing was the first person she had ever met who made her feel so unfathomable, not to mention witnessing the terror of the Sea of Bitterness and the terrifying methods used to fish out the monstrous creature from it.

So, wanting to become Zhong Qing's disciple was not wrong.

Su Wenjiu's words surprised Zhong Qing a little.

Although he didn't particularly like this woman's final honesty, he also no longer felt any hostility towards her. However, becoming his disciple...

Zhong Qing couldn't help but look at Su Wenjiu, observing her for a while before finally shaking his head.

"Young lady, you do not meet my criteria for accepting disciples. Please leave."

Just now, Zhong Qing had used his Divine Eye to observe her, and although her talent was indeed very good, she couldn't activate the Bonding. For him, she was of no use. Besides, he wouldn't be teaching anyone, so there was no need for either party to proceed with this disciple-accepting business.

"Not meeting the criteria?" Su Wenjiu repeated in disbelief.

She felt utterly defeated.

With her talent and strength, she had broken records in the history of Morning Glow Valley. Back then, the senior elders of various sects had even resorted to physical violence and brought out all sorts of hidden treasures to recruit her as their disciple, but in the end, none of them succeeded. No one was better than anyone else.

In the end, it was decided that everyone would teach her together, which calmed the storm.

It was precisely because of this that, strictly speaking, as the Saintess of Morning Glow Valley, she still didn't have a real master.

And she didn't disappoint anyone. At the age of just over twenty, her cultivation had already reached the Moon Profound Realm.

Without exaggeration, she was the future of Morning Glow Valley.

But today, in front of Zhong Qing, she didn't even have the qualifications to become a disciple.

However, the more this was the case, the less she wanted to give up. Because she understood that meeting Zhong Qing here today might be a disaster for her.

But it could also be an opportunity.

She was prepared to reveal her biggest secret.

This secret, except for a few people in Morning Glow Valley, no one else knew. Because before her strength grew, once it was leaked out, both she and Morning Glow Valley would be in danger of being destroyed.

She believed that after revealing this secret, Zhong Qing would change his mind and accept her as his disciple.

"Senior, besides my own talent, I actually have a hidden secret that no one knows..." Su Wenjiu took a deep breath, preparing to muster the courage to reveal this secret. But before she could say it, Zhong Qing spoke first.

"I know. There's a trace of ancient phoenix bloodline in your body," Zhong Qing said calmly.

When he used his Divine Eye to observe her just now, he had already seen it. Under the Divine Eye, one's strength, talent, and hidden qualities were all laid bare.

???

???

Su Wenjiu widened her eyes, her red lips forming an 'O' shape. She looked at Zhong Qing in disbelief.

The phoenix bloodline that she was proud of and believed was well-hidden had actually been known to him for a long time?

And he said it so casually?

"Miss, I'm sorry. Even if you have the blood

line of an ancient phoenix, you still don't meet my criteria for accepting disciples. Please leave."

Zhong Qing put away the fish he had just caught, feeling that he had accomplished today's goal of satisfying his appetite. He picked up the fish and prepared to leave.

"Disciple, see the guest off."

"Yes, Master."

Watching Zhong Qing leave, Su Wenjiu's face turned ugly.

Zhong Qing's words kept echoing in her mind.

"Even if you have the bloodline of an ancient phoenix, you still don't meet my criteria for accepting disciples..."

This sentence completely shattered her last trace of pride.