24: Leng Yanran was stunned: So Master was the real big boss.

"Trash?"

"Useless?"

Leng Yanran felt like she was hallucinating.

She stared fixedly at the look of disgust on the Youth in White Robes' face, the expression that clearly said, "This thing takes up space, take it away quickly," and her mind went blank.

That was the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art!

It was the supreme technique capable of devouring the Origin of all things and allowing one to attain the Dao of the Devil Emperor!

Not to mention in this tiny Eastern Wasteland, even in the Upper Realm and the Nine Heavens, the appearance of this Imperial Scripture would be enough to set off a storm of blood and gore, making even an Immortal King go crazy!

But now.

In this person's mouth, it had become... trash?

Leng Yanran felt her perception of reality being overturned, reshaped, and ruthlessly trampled into the dirt.

She reached out with a trembling hand.

She didn't climb off the bed; she rolled right off it.

"Hiss—"

The sharp pain from aggravating her wounds made her gasp, but she couldn't care less.

Using both hands and feet, like a humble insect, she crawled bit by bit to the rickety table.

Her eyes were fervent and devout.

It was like a traveler lost in the desert for three days and nights finally seeing an oasis.

She carefully extended two fingers, as if afraid of disturbing some deity, and gently pinched the ancient book pressed under the table leg.

Then, she pulled hard.

"Clatter."

The book was pulled out.

The already precarious table lost its support and collapsed with a crash, the teacups on it shattering all over the floor.

But no one cared about that.

Leng Yanran held the Demonic Scripture, which was more important than her own life, in both hands, her fingertips trembling.

On the cover, the four words "Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art" written in ancient demonic script emitted a terrifying demonic power that could devour one's heart and soul.

It was real!

It really was the authentic work of the ancestor!

She took a deep breath and, with the feeling of a pilgrimage, gently flipped to the first page.

"Boom—!!!"

A Demonic Path Law, vast as an abyss and domineering beyond compare, erupted from the pages like a bursting dam, fiercely rushing into her Sea of Consciousness!

"Ugh!"

Leng Yanran let out a muffled groan, feeling her soul overturned and the world spinning.

She seemed to see a primeval demon god standing tall between heaven and earth, sitting beneath the Nine Nethers, opening its mouth to inhale, and swallowing the sun, moon, and stars into its belly.

All things withered, the Great Dao collapsed.

The only one supreme!

This was the true Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art!

It was more than ten thousand times more powerful than the incomplete copy she had cultivated in her past life!

"Thump."

Leng Yanran could no longer hold on and collapsed to the floor, gasping for air, her body drenched in sweat as if she had just been fished out of water.

Merely opening the first page had almost caused her Sea of Consciousness to collapse.

If she were to actually Cultivate it, how terrifying would it be?

She was certain that if given ten years—no, five years! Just five years, she would have the confidence to return to her Peak, or even surpass her past life and become the strongest Empress in history!

Shock.

Ecstasy.

And... deep awe.

Leng Yanran slowly raised her head, her gaze passing through the broken window and landing on the courtyard.

In the courtyard.

Li Daoxuan was holding a handful of rice bran, feeding the chickens like an old farmer.

"Cluck, cluck, Flowery, eat more, eat well so you can lay eggs."

"Look at you, you've gotten skinny lately, the eggs you lay are getting smaller."

The reed-flower chicken called "Flowery" held its neck high, looking at the rice bran in his hand with disdain, instead stretching its neck to peck at a plate of spiritual fruits on the stone table nearby.

Those were the thousand-year Vermilion Fruits that Xiao Chen had just picked from the back mountain!

"Hey! You picky chicken!"

Li Daoxuan was so angry he blew his beard and glared, engaging in a battle of wits with the chicken.

One man and one chicken, under the glow of the sunset, formed an extremely harmonious, extremely... bizarre picture.

Leng Yanran watched this scene, her worldview collapsing once again.

She had seen it clearly just now.

When that chicken was pecking at the Vermilion Fruit, a flash of Phoenix True Fire appeared on its body!

Although very faint, it was definitely a true Phoenix Bloodline!

Raising a Phoenix descendant as livestock?

Using a complete Imperial Scripture to prop up a table leg?

Treating a Divine Pill that could bring the dead back to life as "damp candy beans"?

One scene after another that overturned her perception flashed wildly in her mind.

"This person... is definitely not some ordinary hidden expert!"

"He... he is simply a supreme god walking on earth!"

"Treating an Imperial Scripture as trash, raising a Phoenix as livestock... such means, such a state of mind, even an Immortal Emperor of the Upper Realm could not achieve this!"

A flash of inspiration struck Leng Yanran, and a bold thought sprouted wildly.

She finally understood!

Revered Master was not humiliating her, nor was he testing her!

All of this was God's will!

It was the guidance of destiny!

"Revered Master... he saw through my past and present life long ago!"

"He knows I bear a deep blood feud, he knows I am unwilling to accept this fate!"

"He saved me, not by accident, but was waiting for me specifically!"

"He took out the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art, not to prop up the table, but to enlighten me!"

"He is trying to... help me return to the imperial throne, even helping me take revenge!"

Thinking of this, Leng Yanran could no longer suppress the excitement in her heart.

What dignity of an Empress?

What backbone of a Devil Head?

In front of such a golden thigh thicker than the sky, that was all bullshit!

If she missed this opportunity, she would regret it for the rest of her life!

She hesitated no longer.

She struggled to get up from the floor and straightened her tattered clothes.

Then.

Facing the white-robed back in the courtyard who was still angry at the chicken.

With a "thump" sound.

She knelt on both knees and performed the five-body-prostration ritual!

"Disciple Leng Yanran, no, Disciple was wrong!"

"Disciple had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, and almost missed a heaven-defying Immortal Artifact!"

"Please, Revered Master, take me as your Disciple! Disciple is willing to serve by your side, to do anything for you, even if it means death!"

This shout was filled with genuine emotion and tears.

Li Daoxuan, who was struggling with the chicken, was taken aback by this sudden grand gesture.

He turned around, looked at Leng Yanran kneeling on the ground and kowtowing like a pestle, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

It was done.

The fish had taken the bait.

This wave of high-end showing off had a superb effect.

He was overjoyed, but kept his expression indifferent and aloof.

"Oh?"

"Didn't you refuse to become my Disciple?"

"What, you've thought it through?"

Leng Yanran raised her head, her face full of shame and devotion.

"It was Disciple who was foolish! I am willing to repay Revered Master's great kindness with everything I have!"

"As long as Revered Master is willing to take me in, I will do anything! Even if it means going to the back mountain to shovel manure, this Disciple will have no complaints!"

Li Daoxuan walked slowly back to the main hall with his hands behind his back.

He looked down at Leng Yanran kneeling on the ground and was silent for a moment.

Seemingly considering it.

Just when Leng Yanran's heart was in her throat.

Li Daoxuan finally spoke slowly:

"Since you are so sincere."

"Then, as your Revered Master, I will reluctantly accept you."

"From today on, you are the second Disciple of my Hidden God Sect."

"Thank you, Revered Master! May Revered Master be safe and sound!"

Leng Yanran was trembling with excitement and bowed heavily again.

Just as her forehead touched the ground.

In Li Daoxuan's mind, that long-awaited, beautiful notification sound arrived right on time.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the Host! Successfully recruited an SSS+ potential Disciple — Leng Yanran!]

[Disciple loyalty judgment: Completely devoted!]

[Distributing apprenticeship rewards...]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: extreme dao imperial weapon — Heavenly Devil Zither!]

Li Daoxuan's eyes lit up.

Heavenly Devil Zither?

This was a legendary Demonic Path treasure capable of confusing people's hearts and killing without a trace!

However.

Before he could finish rejoicing.

The System's voice sounded again, with an unprecedented sense of excitement.

[Detected that this apprenticeship target's potential value is off the charts!]

[Ten Thousandfold Return System, automatically triggered!]

[Performing ten thousandfold critical return...]

[Congratulations to the Host! Obtained Immortal Artifact — Nine Nether Soul-Suppressing Melody (Sheet Music + Original Item)!]

Li Daoxuan felt a massive stream of information flood into his mind, and at the same time, in the System space, an ancient zither made entirely of black Divine Gold, engraved with soul-suppressing immortal runes, was quietly floating.

That aura was even more terrifying than the immortal slaying sword!

Li Daoxuan suppressed his inner ecstasy, looked at Leng Yanran who was still kneeling on the ground, and felt secretly pleased.

"As expected of an Empress, she is truly powerful!"

"This wave was a huge profit!"

He cleared his throat and said indifferently to Leng Yanran, who was still immersed in the joy of becoming a Disciple:

"Get up."

"Since you have entered my Sect, stop thinking about those killing matters from now on."

"Starting tomorrow, follow your Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother to the back mountain to clear land and farm."

"Our Sect does not keep idlers."

Leng Yanran: "Ah?"