Chapter 8.02 – Why Not Accept Him As A Disciple

After running into Chen Shu Ze, Xiang Han was no longer interested in taking a walk in the forest. He quickly changed his direction and concealed his figure, sneaking outside the door.

Chen Shu Ze's cultivation base was only at the fifth rank of the Qi Condensation stage; even worse than Liu Meng'er. Thus, Xiang Han dared to peep without fear of being caught. Speaking of this, having a high cultivation base was truly useful at times like this.

This thought made Xiang Han strangely happy as he strolled through the outer-sect dwelling area without regard.

Chen Shu Ze and Chu Ming had gone to submit an assignment and had just returned. From afar, Xiang Han heard Chu Ming complain, "…What are you wasting your breath for? They are just a bunch of snobbish disciples. Since this mission isn't worth much, it's fine to give it up."

"Senior brothers have to publish and check through hundreds of tasks every day. I was a little irritated earlier, but I can actually understand," Chen Shu Ze said good-manneredly.

Chu Ming 'hmphed' lightly before replying with disdain, "They're always so cold towards us but so friendly towards Liu Meng'er."

Xiang Han quickly understood. It must be that when Chen Shu Ze went to submit his task, the disciple in charge of checking it had a poor attitude.

A frown appeared on his forehead. It was common for inner sect disciples to look down on outer sect disciples, and they would usually close an eye. However, when it came to Chen Shu Ze, he felt discomfort.

Perhaps he could accept Chen Shu Ze as his disciple. This way, he could protect and drag him away from the male protagonist's side.

In the midst of his deep pondering, the two had walked closer to where he was while Chu Ming lamented, "… Moreover, why did you choose the grain planting mission? It's so boring and unrewarding, it can't even be compared to planting spiritual herbs. In my opinion, they deliberately assigned such a dirty and tiring task to you…"

Chen Shu Ze was rather helpless. He took a couple of steps into the courtyard before looking up and abruptly freezing.

Xiang Han immediately had a bad feeling upon seeing such an expression.

Had he been exposed? It shouldn't be the case since Chen Shu Ze was only in the fifth rank of the Qi Condensation stage while Liu Han Zhou was already in the early ranks of the Golden Core stage. How could he have been discovered? Or did he not conceal himself?

Chu Ming was still chattering away at this time and didn't look his way at all, causing Xiang Han to feel a little uncertain, unsure if he had exposed himself. So, he simply looked at Chen Shu Ze unexpressionlessly.

The first time Chen Shu Ze saw Xiang Han, the sound of his heart beating rapidly beside his ear did not cease and gradually morphed into a sense of familiarity. At that time, he couldn't help but want to get closer. But when he met those indifferent eyes, his steps paused.

The other person resided in the inner sect. From his cold gaze to his immortal-like temperament, his cultivation was not on the same level as theirs. As for himself, he was just an outer sect disciple at the fifth rank of the Qi Condensation stage.

After leaving the inner sect, Chen Shu Ze remained as usual on the surface, but he was somewhat depressed in his heart. In fact, a person in the fifth rank of the Qi Condensation stage can also participate in the disciple selection competition and have the opportunity to enter the inner sect. But it was almost impossible for him because he had a pseudo-spiritual root, the legendary useless spiritual root. It meant that he may never be able to reach the Foundation Building stage in this life. So, even if he can get a good ranking in the competition, he will not be able to enter the inner sect.

Thinking of the disparity between them made Chen Shu Ze only more miserable, especially since he neither knew the name or clan of the other person.

Unexpectedly, he got to see that person again so soon. Chen Shu Ze's heart thumped rapidly in his chest and joy overflowed in his heart. He couldn't help overthinking it.

Why was he here? Did he come to look for me? Did he notice me? It must be! When he was leaving earlier, he had deliberately walked past me. Moreover, I'm not as reckless as Brother Chu, he must have a better impression of me…

With this in mind, he saw the other person sweep a cold glance over him. Chen Shu Ze's heart tensed.

He wanted to leave a good impression, so he hurriedly went forward to extend his greetings, but it was actually filled with stutters. "S-Senior…"

Xiang Han, who was consoling himself, finally gave up. Before he could speak, he saw Chu Ming suddenly stop his rambling and look around blankly. Then, he asked, baffled, "Shu Ze, who are you talking to?"

Xiang Han could no longer stay calm. Turns out he had concealed himself, but as a Golden Core cultivator, he was actually found by a junior barely in the Qi Condensation stage. It was too embarrassing!

What was going on with Chen Shu Ze? What happened to the trash spiritual root that they had agreed upon?

Hearing Chu Ming's words, Chen Shu Ze was also stunned. He instinctively pointed towards Xiang Han. "It's…"

Seeing that Chen Shu Ze was about to expose him, Xiang Han didn't know how he abruptly moved and appeared behind him. At the same time, he covered the other person's mouth. Chen Shu Ze froze, not daring to move a single inch. He only felt that his heart nearly stopped.

H-His senior was actually so close to him. He could even touch his skin, smell the lingering fragrance from his skin, his, his, his…

Chu Ming saw Chen Shu Ze's face redden and his expression turn dazed. He felt even more baffled. "What on earth is going on?"

Chen Shu Ze hurriedly shook his head, but in the next second, was stunned. He finally realised that Chu Ming couldn't see his senior brother. So, his senior specifically came to see him?

Chen Shu Ze's heartbeat started to accelerate once more; he had never been so happy. He didn't understand why, but he was just happy.

Xiang Han turned to him at this moment, raised his index finger and shook it.

Chen Shu Ze blinked rapidly a few times to indicate he understood. Senior had specifically come to find him and didn't allow Chu Ming to notice him, there must be a reason. So it turned out that he had left such a deep impression in his senior brother's heart.

Chu Ming stood by the side, his lips twitching. "Shu Ze, what's going on with you? Did your eyelids cramp?"

At this time, Xiang Han had already released him and Chen Shu Ze couldn't bear to part but he still replied coolly, "Nothing. I'm feeling a little unwell, so I'm going back to my room to rest."

Then, he turned back to look at Xiang Han with eyes full of anticipation.

Xiang Han gave a barely noticeable nod, causing Chen Shu Ze to feel overjoyed. He quickly walked in front.

No matter how Chu Ming looked, something seemed strange. Just as he was about to follow along, Chen Shu Ze's fiancee sent a summon to him. Instantly, guilt filled his heart. He glanced at Chen Shu Ze before slinking away.

Although Chen Shu Ze already knew about the ambiguous relation between him and Xiao Yue, he generously expressed that he had no feelings for Xiao Yue and was willing to bless them. But this was Chu Ming's first time digging at his sworn brother's corner. It was his brother's corner that was digging at, and most importantly, this brother was his future golden finger.

Chu Ming was not yet the arrogant male protagonist with a harem spanning the entire cultivation world, so he felt a little bad.

Chen Shu Ze didn't know the male protagonist's thoughts. After he brought Xiang Han to his residence, he suddenly looked a little embarrassed because this broken house was too shabby.

"S-Senior, how about… you go out and wait for a bit?"

"No need." Xiang Han immediately used a cleaning technique to help him tidy up the room and randomly found a place to sit down.

Chen Shu Ze's face heated up. His senior had personally cleaned his room…

He couldn't help taking a deep breath, feeling as if his senior's breath had permeated the entire room. He would probably not be willing to clean this room for an entire year. And he must definitely preserve the stone bench his senior was currently sitting on.

Chen Shu Ze secretly clenched his fists as he stared at the stone bench beneath Xiang Han with a scorching gaze.

Xiang Han was rendered uncomfortable by his gaze. He felt like his butt would burst into flames in the next second. It was just a stone bench, not something made of jade, was there a need to be so petty?

He coughed lightly and asked, "Why are you able to see me?"

Huh? Wasn't Senior here to look for him?

Chen Shu Ze was depressed, feeling as if his heart had sunk into the abyss. He struggled for a moment before replying, "This junior… does not know. But isn't Senior here to look for me?"

"…I was just passing through." Xiang Han's tone was calm. As a cold and aloof person, how could he admit he was here to secretly peep?

But if Chen Shu Ze didn't know the reason either, could it have something to do with his birth?

Chen Shu Ze's character setting in the early part of the plot was a person with a useless spiritual root in all five elements while his family was just an ordinary wealthy merchant clan. But in fact, he was not from the Chen family. To be precise, he was not from this world at all.

In the original plot, the human world was divided into three realms. The lowest is the realm Xiang Han was currently in. With a mixture of spiritual energy and scarce resources, it was already amazing if he could cultivate to the later ranks of the Golden Core stage. The situation in the middle realm was slightly better. Though there were also more cultivators in the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stage, few reached the immortalization and synthesis stage. Finally, the higher realm had the most abundant resources and spiritual energy. It was a place where cultivators in the immortalization stage were everywhere. Those in the Nascent Soul stage were simply lower than dogs.

Chen Shu Ze's father was an elder in a great cultivation sect in the higher realm. The title of that elder in his family was very different from that of Liu Han Zhou; He was a real Mahayana master and could easily crush a group of Golden Core cultivators to death with his fingers.

This was an important reason why Chu Ming was willing to befriend Chen Shu Ze. After all, he was quite familiar with the plot.

Xiang Han was still lost in thoughts when the depressed Chen Shu Ze suddenly mustered up his courage and asked nervously, "S-senior, how should I address you? Is, is there anything this junior can do to help?"

Xiang Han's thoughts were instantly interrupted. After he got up and glanced at him, he said calmly, "Liu Han Zhou."

Liu Han Zhou? Chen Shu Ze couldn't help repeating it in his heart.

"There's nothing to worry about, I just happened to pass by." Having been caught peeping, Xiang Han didn't want to stay a second longer. He immediately turned around and left.

When Chen Shu Ze saw him leaving like this, he felt reluctant but he also didn't know how to keep him here any longer. He was incredibly frustrated.

Luckily, Xiang Han only took two steps before turning back around. He asked, "Aren't you taking part in the disciple selection contest?"

Chen Shu Ze immediately fell silent upon hearing these words. He shook his head. "Senior, this junior only has a pseudo-spiritual root."

Since Xiang Han had already made up his mind to accept Chen Shu Ze as a disciple, he naturally wanted to persuade the other person to participate. So, he left a sentence.

"You have a good temperament. You can try, there might be some elders who may be willing to accept you."

Chen Shu Ze's eyes lit up in an instant. His senior praised him and encouraged him to participate in the competition. Sure enough, Senior had a good impression of him. Perhaps… he was even thinking of accepting him as a disciple.