After they passed the Heart-Interrogating Steps and had their identities verified, the successful disciples were quickly brought before them.
Speaking on behalf of Xu Haoguang, Zhong Lian was the first to address Wang Wanting. “Are you willing to join our main peak and take Sect Master Xu Haoguang as your master?”
Without any hesitation, Wang Wanting bowed directly to Zhong Lian and replied, “This disciple is willing!”
In just a brief exchange, this genius with a perfect ten-tenths supreme-grade mutated ice spiritual root had secured her master.
After speaking, Wang Wanting took a few steps forward and stood before Wen Jingshu.
The five-year-old girl was a full head shorter than the nine-year-old Wen Jingshu. Though she was soft, cute, and adorable, she wore a remarkably solemn expression.
Looking at the precocious Wang Wanting, Wen Jingshu couldn't help but think of herself.
Is this how I look to others right now?
No wonder her sister could never maintain a serious face around her.
Wang Wanting bowed to Wen Jingshu and said, “I have heard of your righteousness, Senior Sister, and I admire you deeply! If you do not mind, could we exchange transmission stones?”
Before arriving, Wang Wanting had already heard about Wen Jingshu's deeds in the mortal realm. Hearing how she had single-handedly slain ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in a row, turning the tide to rescue her fellow disciples as well as those of the other three great sects, her heart was filled with admiration.
The Wang family respected nothing more than such upright and righteous cultivators!
As for her actions in the mortal realm, Wen Jingshu hadn't actually thought too much of it. She had simply acted in accordance with her own Dao Heart and saved her fellow disciples along the way. It really wasn't as noble as they imagined.
Yet, one should judge a person by their deeds rather than their hidden thoughts, and Wen Jingshu's actions certainly merited their respect.
Wen Jingshu also felt a fondness for this future Eldest Senior Sister of the sect. Seeing her so solemn and serious, she couldn't help but want to tease her.
“Since you like me so much, Junior Sister, why don't you come with me to Hidden Star Peak?”
Wang Wanting hadn't expected Wen Jingshu to say this. The little girl was taken aback, looking a bit conflicted. “Senior Sister, I actually wanted to go to Hidden Star Peak as well, but Daoist Lord Beili has already declared that he will no longer accept personal disciples. I have my own pride; I do not wish to be merely an inner disciple.”
Hearing her solemn reply, Wen Jingshu couldn't help but burst into laughter. In this moment, she suddenly understood why Sui Qi had been so gentle with her when they first met.
Who wouldn't love a harmless, soft, adorable, and well-behaved little girl who tried so hard to act like an adult?
If it had been some scruffy old cultivator instead, Sui Qi probably wouldn't have had the patience to listen to a single word. It would have been a miracle if he hadn't just vaporized them out of sheer annoyance.
Having more patience, love, and care for small, beautiful things was simply the instinct of all living beings.
“Alright, I was only joking. I like you very much too, Junior Sister. Take these as a meeting gift from me.”
Wang Wanting accepted Wen Jingshu's storage bag, bowed to her once more, and then returned to stand behind Zhong Lian.
Among the remaining four geniuses, Gu Yang had also wished to take Beili as his master. However, since Beili was no longer accepting personal disciples, he could only join Jiuzang Peak under Hidden Star Peak, becoming a personal disciple of its Peak Master and a junior brother to Bai Han.
After much consideration, Mu Zhenxi joined Qingyun Peak.
As for Liang Xing, who possessed a fire spiritual root, they were coaxed into joining Pill Peak by Kong Zhengping.
When it was Wei Ruxue's turn, the little girl stubbornly insisted on becoming Wen Jingshu's junior sister, even if it meant being only an inner disciple.
Looking at her stubborn expression, Wen Jingshu knew this was an imprint complex. The girl regarded her as the most trustworthy person in the cultivation world.
However, the difference between a personal disciple and an inner disciple was vast, spanning not just prestige but also cultivation resources.
As a second-generation cultivator, Wen Jingshu naturally didn't care about such things. But Wei Ruxue had no family backing her; she would have to fight for all of her cultivation resources on her own.
Furthermore, she possessed a derived water spiritual root. It would be an absolute waste of such talent to remain merely an inner disciple.
“Junior Sister Wei, I understand how you feel right now. I can let you join Hidden Star Peak first, but you cannot disciple under my master for the time being.”
“We can give you time to consider your future. I believe the Peak Masters who sincerely wish to take you as their disciple will be willing to grant you this time as well.”
Wen Jingshu spoke tactfully, saving face for the Peak Masters who had been rejected. Upon hearing her words, the Peak Masters recalled Wei Ruxue's background.
The slight resentment they had harbored toward Wei Ruxue instantly dissolved into understanding.
Indeed, she was just a young child who had recently experienced a tragic separation of life and death. Since they truly wanted to take her as a disciple, they should show her a little more patience.
Wei Ruxue's mind was in a daze. She nodded blankly and followed Wen Jingshu back to Little Spirit Peak.
Seeing Wei Ruxue return with her, Xu Zhizhi and Luo Yunting couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Could this top-tier genius really be willing to settle for being a mere inner disciple?
They didn't dare to ask too many questions, and Wen Jingshu didn't feel like explaining either. Instead, she called Luo Yunting over for a private chat.
Originally, Wen Jingshu had only wanted to use Luo Yunting's spirit constitution to help her see through the secrets of Yun Xiange and Bai Han.
But after witnessing the Newcomer Ceremony, Wen Jingshu couldn't help but wonder if she should provide Luo Yunting with a better status.
For instance, letting Luo Yunting disciple under one of the Peak Masters to become a personal or inner disciple.
Although she could easily afford Luo Yunting's cultivation resources, Luo Yunting was a water spiritual root cultivator, while Wen Jingshu possessed a lightning and wood spiritual root. She wouldn't be able to guide her in her cultivation.
However, when Wen Jingshu shared her thoughts with Luo Yunting, the latter rejected the idea immediately.
“Miss, you once said that in the path of cultivation, a master only leads you through the door, while the actual practice depends on the individual. Besides, I wish to pursue the Dao of the sword, and you are a sword cultivator as well. If I have any questions in the future, I can consult you at any time.”
“Furthermore, not all cultivators have masters. Aren't the rogue cultivators in the cultivation world all self-made, forging their own paths through hardships?”
“Though I now have a single spiritual root, its value is simply too low. Even if you wanted me to find a master, no Peak Master would take me as a personal disciple. If I am to be only an inner or outer disciple, staying here on Little Spirit Peak is no different.”
“You wouldn't be stingy with contribution points and forbid me from attending lectures, would you, Miss?”
Hearing Luo Yunting's words, Wen Jingshu found them very reasonable. Most disciples in the sect did not have masters; they simply used contribution points to attend lectures.
The Peak Masters of the various peaks would also occasionally teach at Miscellaneous Peak, though the required contribution points were exceptionally high—far beyond what ordinary disciples could afford.
Wen Jingshu had only brought it up as a suggestion anyway. Seeing that Luo Yunting had no desire to take a master, she let her have her way.
From the moment she accepted Luo Yunting's Master-Servant Heavenly Law Contract, their karma had become intertwined.
Since she was the one who had brought Luo Yunting into the cultivation world, she would naturally look after her within reasonable limits.
In truth, if she wanted to, she could easily ask her sister for a Spirit-Tempering Pill to directly refine Luo Yunting's spiritual root value to its peak.
However, interfering too much in Luo Yunting's path might not be a good thing. The path of cultivation was inherently fraught with hardships. Raising her spiritual root value was the second hurdle Luo Yunting had to overcome on her immortal journey.
She had already helped Luo Yunting overcome the first hurdle—the heavily crippled spiritual root. As for the spiritual root value, that would have to depend on Luo Yunting herself...
Following the Newcomer Ceremony was the Sect Tournament. Due to her actual cultivation level, Wen Jingshu had no intention of participating.
With her current cultivation, fighting Qi Refining disciples would be pure bullying, while entering the Foundation Establishment matches would probably scare people to death.
A nine-year-old in the Foundation Establishment Stage...
Wouldn't that absolutely terrify everyone?
Besides, she had absolutely no use for the tournament rewards. It was better to leave the opportunities to those who needed them more.
She really was a kind-hearted person.
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