Wanting to take her as an apprentice

The man's hair was tousled by the breeze, revealing his faint yet striking eyes.

The eunuchs recoiled, feeling a chill running through their bodies.

"Master, please, stop laughing. It's not like you at all," one of the eunuchs pleaded, sensing something unusual.

"Who has offended you? Call her out, and we promise not to harm her!"

Meanwhile, outside the palace, Elder Tu stood with his hands behind his back, anxiously pacing back and forth. When he saw the old man emerging from the palace, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly approached him. "Supreme One, you have finally come out."

"It's Tu Tian," the Supreme Elder, known as the national teacher, replied. He held a position of power and respect in the eyes of others, except for a slight lack of confidence when facing a certain prince. "How did your recruitment of martial cultivators go?"

Upon hearing the Supreme Elder's question, Tu Lao recalled the scene at the Phoenix Tower, and his excitement surged. His aged face turned red with the rush of emotions. "To be honest, Supreme One, during the test, I discovered an exceptionally rare genius!"

"Oh? Is that so?" The Supreme Elder chuckled, not particularly concerned. "The aptitude of your disciple, Murong Changfeng, is already quite good. If you find another disciple, Tu Tian, your accomplishments will be complete. Unlike me, who remains alone."

Tu Tian waved his hand dismissively. "Supreme One, please don't jest with me. Everyone in the Dragon War Empire knows about your discerning eye. If you were to lower your requirements even slightly, countless people would vie to cross that threshold."

The Supreme Elder smiled on the surface but didn't deny it in his heart.

He was merely being polite. In his eyes, even a martial cultivator like Murong Changfeng was nothing extraordinary.

However...

Who said that lowering requirements would result in a trampled threshold?

He himself was the one who visited others' thresholds every day, and that stubborn kid had shown no signs of yielding!

It was exasperating... One could shed tears from speaking too much!

"No, that's not what I wanted to say!" Tu Tian suddenly remembered his purpose for coming here. He pulled the black cloth off his whip, and his voice trembled as he continued, "That girl dismantled this thing in less than half an hour. Compared to her, my disciples are nothing but heaven and earth apart!"

The Supreme Elder saw a flash of silver before his eyes. Once he saw the item clearly, he abruptly reached out his hand, his eyes fixed on Tu Tian. "Where is the person you're talking about!?"

"I don't know... where she is!" Tu Tian, who had never seen the Supreme Elder with such an expression, swallowed hard and said, "When I arrived, she had already left with the silver runes."

Those words didn't dampen the Supreme Elder's enthusiasm. "What is her name? Who is her master?"

Upon hearing this, Tu Tian instantly regretted his oversight. He slapped his forehead with frustration. "I was too hasty and forgot to ask the girl's name. Damn it!"

The Supreme Elder paused, wearing a wry smile. "Tu Tian, how could you be so confused at such a critical moment!"

Without Tu Tian needing to say anything, the Supreme Elder also deeply regretted it. He pounded his fist into his palm while pacing around the palace.

The Supreme Elder lowered his gaze, as if speaking to Tu Tian but also to himself. "The Nine-Curves Silver Snake, besides that brat, there are few people in this world who can match her ingenuity. I truly wish to meet that girl and take her as my disciple..."

What?!

Tu Tian suddenly widened his eyes, looking at his friend in disbelief!

The Supreme Elder, who was revered by everyone in the Dragon War Empire, possessed martial cultivation skills that were more valuable than gold and silver. He was a treasure sought after by any warrior.

However, he was always free-spirited and carefree, to the point where even the emperor couldn't control him.

Countless people, from commoners to martial arts families, wanted to become his disciple and paid their respects at his door.

Yet, he never saw any of them.

Five years ago, he declared, "In this lifetime, I will only accept one disciple!"

However, after that, the Third Prince lost his martial power. Although he had the appearance, he was merely a figurehead, lacking the destiny to become the Supreme Elder's disciple...

And now, he actually mentioned taking another disciple!

When this news spreads, it will surely create a sensation throughout the capital...

...

Boom!

Helian Weiwei took a deep breath, feeling the warmth flowing through her meridians, spreading from her dantian to her limbs. She remained still, and yet, the invisible black energy caused the nearby stones to tremble!

"Woman, all the toxins in your body have been removed!" Yuan Xi smiled. "Soon, I will open up all your blocked meridians, and the pain will be a hundred times greater than now. Are you sure you can endure it?" He paused, his tongue moistening his dry lips. "Actually, you can choose the second option. If you give me your soul, you won't have to endure anything. I will personally fulfill all your desires. Why subject yourself to such suffering?"

Helian Weiwei rolled up her sleeves, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead. She raised the corners of her mouth and said, "Yuan Xiaoyu, drop the pretense of a rustic cowherd, and let me clarify—I'm not that foolish. I won't sell my soul. And most importantly, I will personally exact revenge for my grievances against the Yuan family."

Yuan Xi's pupils dilated, and he burst into laughter. "Woman, you truly are interesting."

He had encountered numerous humans, yet none could resist his manipulation. They all ended up as his delectable meals.

But this woman... Hehe, she was worth observing.

"Now that you've made your decision, I will begin opening all your meridians." Yuan Xi's lips curled up. "But be warned, it will be incredibly painful."

As soon as he finished speaking, Helian Weiwei felt as though her muscles were being sliced by a sharp blade. The chilling coldness swept through her entire body, and the cramping pain drained the color from her lips.

Despite the intense agony, she didn't cry out to stop. She clenched her fists, furrowed her brow, and endured it all!

When the piercing pain subsided, gentle waves of warmth enveloped her, bringing her tremendous comfort. It felt as if she were lying in a vast bathtub, surrounded by lukewarm water, in a state of utter relaxation and contentment...

"Congratulations, my contract master. You have succeeded!"

These were the first words Helian Weiwei heard as her senses returned. Following that, it seemed as though an endless stream of power flowed out from her blood, ultimately merging within her palm, intricate and harmonious.

A golden radiance enveloped her, like a cluster of rising stardust, emitting a scorching brilliance.

All of this, except for herself, remained invisible to others...