The Disciple Recruitment Assembly

Ye Xianyu rested one hand on the stone table and propped her chin with the other. Leaning forward slightly, her thin lips curved into a beaming smile. "How did you know I had something to discuss?"

Xu Xian glanced at her, maintaining the air of a saintly immortal gentleman who remained unmoved by temptation. He countered with a question of his own.

"Since I joined the sect, has there ever been a time you sought me out when you didn't have something for me to do?"

Ye Xianyu tapped her cheek with a slender index finger and thought about it. It seemed that was indeed the case, but then she reconsidered.

She retorted, "Why would I look for you if I didn't have anything? I'm not crazy."

Xu Xian was momentarily stunned.

Huh?

That made sense. Why would she seek him out for no reason?

He pursed his lips and said, "Fine, speak. What is it?"

Ye Xianyu leaned back, reclining into the rocking chair. Toying with a chess piece in her hand, she said nonchalantly, "It's nothing much. I was just afraid you'd be bored, so I found a job for you."

"What kind of job?"

"A good one."

Xu Xian’s expression clearly said he didn't believe a word of it. He went straight to the point. "Cut to the chase. How much does it pay?"

Ye Xianyu blurted out, "Nothing."

Without a second thought, Xu Xian refused. "Then I'm not doing it. I have a pile of things to handle; I don't have time to play house with you."

Ye Xianyu clicked her tongue and resorted to guilt-tripping him. "How long have you been in the sect? Fifteen years, right? For fifteen years, you haven't done a single thing. You've had enough time to run wild. What's wrong with asking you to do a little something for the sect?"

Xu Xian wasn't falling for that at all. He immediately argued back, "I haven't done anything? How can you even say that?"

Ye Xianyu lazily asked, "And what exactly have you done?"

Xu Xian laughed out of sheer exasperation. He began counting on his fingers. "I won't even mention the small things. Let's talk about the big ones. During those four years in Demon-Slaying City, how much money did I make for the Merchant Hall? How much of the Central Plains market did I seize? In the Demon Suppression Abyss, how many demons did I slaughter? How much blood did I shed?"

He raised a hand and pointed toward the roof, his tone intensifying. "And that thing up there—didn't I bring it back to the sect?"

Lu Yuan reluctantly shifted his backside on the roof, cursing inwardly. 'What do you mean "that thing"? Besides, what does this have to do with me?'

Ye Xianyu was momentarily speechless.

Xu Xian, pressing his advantage, said, "Is all that not enough?"

Ye Xianyu’s mind raced. The facts were as he said, and it seemed she couldn't win this argument. In that case...

She would just have to ignore the facts and play dirty.

"None of those count."

"Huh?"

"Because you did all of those voluntarily."

Xu Xian was shocked, his eyes widening like copper bells.

The Wendao Sword Sect really did have hidden experts—she was even more shameless than he was.

Ye Xianyu looked slightly smug as she issued her command directly. "Then it's settled. The sect's Disciple Recruitment Assembly is in a few days. I'm leaving the entire operation in your hands."

After speaking, she didn't forget to tease him. "Don't you love showing off? This is perfect. You can parade your skills in front of the whole world when the time comes. Oh, and bring Lu Yuan along too. It's time he saw how the world works."

Xu Xian was speechless... What did she mean, he loved showing off?

Lu Yuan was bewildered... Did she just say he hadn't seen the world?

Ye Xianyu stood up, flicked her long sleeves, and strolled away. She laughed softly, "I'm off. Feel free to visit the Peach Blossom Immortal Abode when you're free. Of course, don't bother coming if you're empty-handed."

Xu Xian's mouth twitched.

"What a piece of work."

Lu Yuan poked his head down and couldn't help but complain, "Is that senior sister of yours out of her mind?"

Xu Xian gave him a cool glance and scolded, "What do you mean 'that senior sister'? That is the Sect Master. She's your Martial Aunt. Show some respect; you have no manners at all."

With that, Xu Xian flicked his sleeves and went inside.

Lu Yuan was beyond speechless. He stood there stunned for a long while before cursing, "What is wrong with everyone in this Wendao Sword Sect? They're all freaking crazy."

From inside the house, Xu Xian's voice rang out again.

"Come in. I have something to discuss with you."

Lu Yuan rolled his eyes behind his ribbon and grumbled under his breath.

"You little"

Although Lu Yuan looked young, he certainly had a temper. He jumped down from the eaves, kicked open the door, and leaned against the frame with his arms crossed.

"What is it?"

Don't joke around. If you tell me to come in, I'm not just going to walk in. I'll stand right here at the door. What are you going to do about it?

He had originally wanted to say 'spit it out,' but his logic won over his impulse.

After all, Xu Xian was not someone to be trifled with, and Lu Yuan still held a certain wariness toward him.

Seeing his attitude, Xu Xian couldn't help but chuckle. The little guy was quite the grudge-holder. He didn't feel like arguing and didn't want to beat around the bush.

"I want to talk to you about Xiaoxiao's situation."

Lu Yuan's interest was piqued immediately. His casual attitude softened, and he naturally shifted his feet and walked into the room.

"Speak."

Xu Xian gave Lu Yuan a general overview of what had happened.

After listening, the confusion in Lu Yuan's heart vanished, and he realized what was going on.

Xu Xian continued, "The Taiyin Immortal Body is now complete, but a root of trouble has been planted. You know a lot—tell me, is there a way to resolve this?"

Lu Yuan furrowed his brows deeply. After a long silence, he spat out a single word.

"Difficult!"

Xu Xian also frowned. "I know it's difficult. I'm asking if you have a way to kill that wisp of yin qi. If that's not possible, forcing it out would work too."

Lu Yuan rubbed his chin and analyzed the situation seriously. "Forcing it out is definitely not an option. Once that yin qi leaves the girl's physical body, it will inevitably leave this realm and return to the River of Reincarnation. At that point, the Dao within the reincarnation cycle will notice. It will send down a tribulation to erase her and correct the error. It's a dead end."

"Tell me something I don't know," Xu Xian said.

Lu Yuan continued, "Therefore, the only way is for the little girl's divine sense to suppress that wisp of yin qi."

Xu Xian was exasperated and asked, "Do you think Xiaoxiao can beat it?"

Lu Yuan gave an honest assessment. "Definitely not. Back in the cauldron, when the yin qi was at its weakest, that was the best opportunity. Since it was missed, the possibility of success in the future... is almost zero."

Xu Xian let out a sigh.

He knew all of this.

Suddenly, Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, and he said quickly, "There is one more way!"

"Speak."

"Forge a sword and seal this yin qi inside it. Then, throw it into your Sword Tower. That tower of yours is extraordinary; it can conceal heavenly secrets and should be able to trap that thing. That way, you can protect the girl."

Xu Xian just stared at him silently.

Lu Yuan stared back at Xu Xian just as quietly.

The two of them remained silent for a long time.

Later, Lu Yuan walked out the door, and it slammed shut behind him. Lu Yuan had a long face, looking very aggrieved.

Inside the house, Xu Xian could only place his hopes on the Little Book Spirit.

Shuer thought hard and asked Xu Xian to give her some time. She needed to organize her fragmented memories to see if she could find a way to break the deadlock.

She also told Xu Xian not to worry too much.

There was still time. Even if the yin qi harbored ill intentions, the timing wasn't right for it to act yet. For now, she was safe.

Xu Xian exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

For now, this was all he could do.

If the Little Book Spirit didn't have a way, and the mysteriously-born Lu Yuan didn't have a way, there probably wasn't anyone in the world who did.

He would just have to take it one step at a time.

Since Xiaoxiao hadn't woken up yet, and his plan to build the third floor of the Sword Tower required preparation, he still had some time. The Disciple Recruitment Assembly was only a few days away.

Since his senior sister had asked...

He might as well put some effort into it.

After all, he was the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect, and he had made a promise to Senior Brother Yun Zheng.

The future of the Wendao Sword Sect didn't just depend on him; the strength of the younger generation also needed to be prioritized.

"It's just a Disciple Recruitment Assembly. It shouldn't be that hard."

"I'll do it."