Chapter 2840 Take in a Disciple

“Unanimous decision?” Lin Xun asked in surprise.

Xuan Feiling nodded with a smile. “Yes. Even Fu Wenli, Qi Xiaoyun, and the other deputy pavilion masters agreed. You’ll be representing the Origin Sect in the Immortal Dao Battle.”

Lin Xun’s eyes flickered. “It seems this journey to the Shaman Sect Ancestral Court will be anything but peaceful.”

Xuan Feiling laughed heartily. “Aside from the danger within the Ten Directions Demon Realm, what other dangers do you think await?”

Lin Xun’s reply was calm and measured, “The forces of the Shaman Sect and Zen Sect will surely seize this opportunity to cause trouble. And as for Fu Wenli and Qi Xiaoyun...they’re not the kind to remain idle either.”

“You’ve missed one person.” Xuan Feiling reminded him.

“Yuan Changtian?”

“That’s right. This divine son from the Yuan Clan will be accompanying you this time.” Xuan Feiling’s tone grew serious. “Outwardly, he won’t dare act against you. But the human heart is treacherous, so you must remain vigilant.”

Lin Xun nodded. “Besides Yuan Changtian and myself, who else will be participating?”

“Elder Cao Beidou of the Origin Emptiness Pavilion, Elder Li Zhen of the Origin Clarity Pavilion, and Second Peak Master Yun Tianming,” Xuan Feiling replied.

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed.

Cao Beidou, one of Fu Wenli’s men, was a perfect Nirvana Spirit Immortal who had long shown open hostility toward him. Whereas, Yun Tianming, the Second Peak Master and clan elder of Yun Muzhe, wielded enormous influence within the sect.

It was clear to Lin Xun that these two would stand firmly behind Yuan Changtian once they set off for the Shaman Sect.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed. Among everyone chosen, only you are still at the initial Nirvana Spirit Stage. The rest have reached its pinnacle.” Xuan Feiling continued, “And if nothing goes awry, the participants sent by the other three ancestral courts, the Shaman Sect, Zen Sect, and Spirit Sect, will be of the same caliber.”

He glanced at Lin Xun. “So, how is it? Feeling any pressure?”

Lin Xun laughed lightly. “Pressure makes things interesting. Without it, this trip would be far too dull.”

Xuan Feiling grinned and raised his thumb in approval, “In courage and resolve, none in the Origin Sect can compare to you, Lin Daoyuan.”

Lin Xun gave a wry smile. “Elder, there’s no need for such politeness between us.”

“That’s not politeness,” Xuan Feiling said with mock irritation. “If it were anyone else, they’d be pacing restlessly, wracked with worry.”

Then his expression turned solemn. “This time, you may act with Elder Li Zhen in the Ten Directions Demon Realm. Fang Daoping and Yuan Xiliu will accompany you all there as escorts. With them overseeing the journey, there should be no danger along the way.”

Lin Xun nodded.

Xuan Feiling went on to remind him of many things. From their conversation, Lin Xun learned that in three months, the Origin Sect’s chosen participants would set off for the Shaman Sect Ancestral Court.

Before taking his leave, Lin Xun clasped his hands respectfully. ““Elder, There is one favor I wish to ask.”

Xuan Feiling raised a brow, curiosity glinting in his eyes. “Oh? And what might that be?”

Lin Xun straightforwardly explained that he intended to take Xia Zhi as his disciple.

“That’s a small matter,” Xuan Feiling said. “You’re now a deacon of the Origin Sky Pavilion and fully qualified to take on a disciple. Go to the Origin Clarity Pavilion and find Fang Daoping. He’ll handle all the arrangements for you.”

A sense of relief washed over Lin Xun. With this matter settled, Xia Zhi would no longer have to remain hidden in the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron.

......

On this day, news of Lin Xun’s release from confinement swept through the Origin Sect like wildfire. Almost at the same time, word spread that he had been chosen to represent the sect in the Immortal Dao Battle, and the entire sect erupted into discussion.

“Among the five participants, only Deacon Lin is still at the initial Nirvana Spirit Stage. With that cultivation, won’t he be at a disadvantage in the Ten Directions Demon Realm?”

“Nonsense! A heaven-defying monster like Deacon Lin can’t be judged by common sense.”

“Don’t forget, even Zhongli Zhe, a perfect Nirvana Spirit cultivator, had his entire cultivation crippled by Deacon Lin!”

“Still, this Immortal Dao Battle concerns our sect’s standing among the four ancestral courts. In my opinion, sending Deacon Lin may be risky...but perhaps he’ll become our hidden blade. Who knows? He might even deliver a miracle.”

While the disciples were abuzz with speculation, another shocking piece of news rippled through the sect.

“Deacon Lin has taken a disciple!”

“Who?”

“A woman named Xia Zhi. The Origin Clarity Pavilion has already approved it and issued her disciple token!”

“Xia Zhi? What’s her background?”

“That...no one seems to know.”

......

That day, Lin Xun’s dwelling was livelier than it had been in years.

“Deacon Lin, I heard you’ve taken in a disciple. My peak master has specially prepared a gift for you. Please accept it!”

Messengers arrived one after another, bearing congratulatory gifts on behalf of various elders and peak masters. Most of the offerings were related to cultivation, such as divine materials, rare elixirs and spirit herbs. All of which were of extraordinary worth.

Even Lin Xun couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. At the same time, the crowd finally caught sight of his newly accepted disciple.

She was a young maiden dressed in a flowing black gown. Her skin was pale as crystal and snow, her eyes bright and clear, and her beauty pure and ethereal. She was like a young girl untouched by the dust of the world.

Of course, this was not her true face. Lin Xun had deliberately altered Xia Zhi’s features. If the world were to see her real appearance, it would surely stir a storm throughout the sect. After all, in this world, beauty too perfect often becomes its own curse.

It was late at night when Lin Xun’s abode finally grew quiet.

“From now on, you can walk openly in the Origin Sect.” He spoke with a smile as he prepared food for Xia Zhi.

“I have no interest in that.” Xia Zhi sat quietly, savoring the food Lin Xun had made. The gentle sounds of her eating were as clear as spring water trickling through stone, soft and pure as a song of the heavens. Though her features have changed, her eyes remained large and luminous as ever, her beauty still serene and breathtaking.

“I know.” Lin Xun handed her a golden, perfectly roasted beast leg, its fragrance wafting through the room. “But I don’t want you staying cooped up in the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron all day.”

Xia Zhi hummed softly in reply, then she asked out of the blue, “Lin Xun, how old is Sister Jingxuan’s child now?”

The question caught him off guard. His gaze grew distant. “It’s been decades since I last left the lower world...Fan’er must have grown up long ago...”

An inexplicable guilt welled up in his heart. He remembered meeting his father, Lin Wenjing, in the Flowing Light Forbidden Zone, and how the old man had carried guilt for not being there during his childhood. Now, Lin Xun finally understood that feeling.

“Lin Xun,” Xia Zhi said seriously, lifting her head. “I want to give you a child too.”

Lin Xun nearly choked on his breath. Her clear eyes were fixed on him, leaving him completely flustered. He coughed awkwardly. “Xia Zhi, there’s...no need to rush. When the time comes, I’ll marry you properly, bring you into the family, and then...well, we can do it.”

Xia Zhi’s delicate brows furrowed, “Bring me into the family? What does that mean”

“It means marriage.”

“What’s that?”

“Uh...” Lin Xun felt a headache coming on. “Marriage means...we’ll stay together for the rest of our lives, never parting, sharing life and death.”

Before he could finish, Xia Zhi interrupted with a blank look, “Aren’t we already together now?”

Lin Xun’s lips twitched. “That’s different. Once we’re married, we’ll be husband and wife, and we’ll have an official bond. That way, our family and friends will know we belong together.”

“Can’t we just do that now?” Xia Zhi asked, genuinely puzzled.

Lin Xun said helplessly, “At the very least, we should let my parents and Jingxuan know first and get their blessing.”

Xia Zhi pondered for a moment, then sighed softly, “How troublesome. Forget having a child then. That way, I won’t have to deal with all this.” With that, she lowered her head and calmly resumed eating.

Lin Xun was speechless. What else could he even say? He could only think to himself,

I’ll have to find someone else to explain these things to her someday.

In the days that followed, he spent nearly all his time with Xia Zhi, wandering through the mountains of the Origin World, cooking her delicious meals and enjoying a peaceful, fulfilling life.

Time slipped away quietly. Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Now, there was only one day left before his departure for the Immortal Dao Battle. That night, Lin Xun sat with Xia Zhi for a long time, trying once more to persuade her to stay in the sect. Unfortunately, no matter what he said, she refused.

Finally, Xia Zhi snapped, “Lin Xun, are you trying to get rid of me?”

Her words silenced him instantly.

“Or, do you think I’m a burden now?”

Xia Zhi was clearly angry, yet her lovely face remained calm. Her clear, unblinking eyes locked onto him made him feel a rare sense of unease.

Lin Xun gave a helpless smile. “I just don’t want you living in fear and worry all the time.”

“If something happened to you, do you think I’d still want to live?” Xia Zhi asked.

Lin Xun rubbed his forehead and sighed, “Then...we’ll go together.”

Xia Zhi’s lips curved into a radiant smile. “Alright.”

Seeing that bright, infectious smile, Lin Xun couldn’t help but laugh as well.

The next morning, in the vast square before the Central Dao Palace of the Origin World, the atmosphere buzzed with quiet anticipation. When Lin Xun arrived, Yuan Changtian, Cao Beidou, Yun Tianming and Li Zhen were already there.

“Brother Lin, you seem to be in good spirits lately?” Yuan Changtian greeted him with a smile.

“Not bad,” Lin Xun replied with a similar smile.

“Deacon Lin’s new disciple is said to be quite the beauty. I hear the two of you have been wandering the mountains together every day. To outsiders, it’d be easy to mistake you for a couple. Of course, in our cultivation world, such things between master and disciple aren’t unheard of. It’s hardly a breach of morality or the dao, wouldn’t you say?” Cao Beidou remarked from not far away.

Lin Xun arched his brow, casting him a calm glance. “Elder Cao seems to have some opinions about me taking a disciple?”

“Haha, how would I dare?” Cao Beidou gave a faint smile.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Yun Tianming suddenly spoke, his face expressionless, “Deacon Lin, we are traveling to the Shaman Sect to participate in the Immortal Dao Battle. We bear the reputation of our sect. I hope that, in the days ahead, Deacon Lin will show a bit more restraint and not stir up as many disturbances as before.”

After a pause, he continued, “Within the sect, no one cares what storms you cause. But beyond these walls...if your actions bring shame to our sect, you’ll be remembered as its sinner.”

Lin Xun let out a low laugh. “Peak Master Yun, my conduct is hardly yours to judge.”