Chu Xingchen smoothly slipped the spatial ring from Cui Hao's hand into his sleeve, frowning slightly as he reprimanded him:
"But everything must be done in moderation—don't be too eager. How have you not learned the essence of being my disciple?"
"It's good to have the heart to contribute, but you must also preserve your dignity and leave a good impression. You can't treat everything as a one-time transaction."
Cui Hao's face instantly showed a look of receiving instruction, and he hurriedly nodded in agreement:
"Master's lesson is correct, I will definitely correct myself! Never again—I hope Master will forgive me this once."
Chu Xingchen nodded with apparent satisfaction upon hearing this:
"Since you're willing to admit it, your master will give you a chance to redeem yourself!"
Cui Hao was stunned upon hearing this, looking at his master with puzzled eyes.
Wasn't this just for show, to give everyone an explanation?
Why did he still need to redeem himself? Were the spirit stones not enough to make up for it?
How could Master conduct business so unscrupulously? Taking the spirit stones and then still turning against him.
Cui Hao cautiously asked: "Can I know first... what it is?"
Chu Xingchen turned back and called out: "Zhou Ping, come in."
As Chu Xingchen's voice fell, Zhou Ping walked in from outside the door with a slightly nervous expression.
Cui Hao frowned and looked at this Zhou Ping for quite a while before daring to confirm that the plainly dressed, somewhat naive-looking young man before him was not a hidden big shot from the Tianyan Sect.
After all, at first glance, the only things Cui Hao could see through were noobs and actual chickens.
This Zhou Ping was most likely the Tianyan Sect's one and only collector's item—a pure mortal.
Cui Hao asked puzzledly: "Master... this is?"
"Your master has deeply reflected and decided that besides you precious true disciples, there should also be some outer disciples."
"Master's decision is naturally wise and divine, but what does this have to do with me?"
"Naturally, I'm entrusting you with this important task—I'm giving you the job of mentoring and teaching the outer disciple first."
Cui Hao was stunned upon hearing this. Wasn't he himself just a newbie at cultivation, only at Foundation Establishment? Wouldn't teaching someone be misleading them?
"Master, are you sure someone at my level can teach others?"
Chu Xingchen reached out and patted Cui Hao's shoulder: "I'm not asking you to teach him cultivation yet. First, teach him to recognize characters, and顺便 teach him about meridians and such."
"Oh... teaching someone to read." Cui Hao nodded in understanding. "I can do that. But can I educate him simply like Eldest Senior Sister beat me? After all, sometimes pain makes memories more profound."
Chu Xingchen thought for a moment and then vetoed it: "No, your Eldest Senior Sister is too heavy-handed. Don't scare him."
Cui Hao's face showed slight indignation upon hearing this: "Master! You know Eldest Senior Sister is heavy-handed! Why didn't you stop her?!"
Chu Xingchen's gaze suddenly looked around: "Hmm... where did Luo Yu go?"
"Fourth Senior Sister was arranged by Senior Bai to go observe and study at another peak. But! Master, the way you change the subject is really awkward!"
"Alright, alright... Master promises that next time I see your Eldest Senior Sister, I'll give her a good scolding!"
"Really?! But Master, you can't say it was my request!"
Zhou Ping watched Chu Xingchen and Cui Hao, and his previously nervous mood gradually calmed down.
It seemed... he too was about to embark on an unknown path, not knowing where it led.
However, this was somewhat different from the immortal sect life he had imagined...
But the one thing he could be sure of was that the architecture and specifications of the immortal family truly made one feel as if in a dream.
"Achoo..."
Li Yingling suddenly sneezed, her expression immediately turning strange. As a Golden Core cultivator, how could she sneeze?
When something strange happens, there must be a reason.
Zhang Miaoyu, who was following beside Li Yingling, looked over anxiously:
"Leader, are you alright? Why did you suddenly sneeze?"
"Someone must be cursing me behind my back!" Li Yingling said with certainty.
Zhang Miaoyu found this strange upon hearing it: "Huh?! Would someone curse someone as good as the Leader?"
Li Yingling frowned slightly and replied:
"Don't think too much—it must be my junior brother cursing me."
Zhang Miaoyu's face showed confusion as she asked:
"Huh? Having a senior sister as good as the Leader is a heavenly blessing. How dare he curse the Leader?!"
Li Yingling laughed coldly: "No need to think—it's definitely Fifth Junior Brother. Before, he specifically wrote a task summary of over a hundred thousand words, of which a hundred thousand words were saying my decisions and thinking were problematic."
"How hateful! Even if he's the Leader's junior brother, I'm getting angry. When has the Leader's decision ever been wrong? Can this kind of person even be the Leader's junior brother? I'm so jealous!" Zhang Miaoyu said with an envious look on her face.
"Leader, does your sect still need people? Can I join? I'll serve you tea and water."
"Our sect can only be decided by Master. We'll talk about it when there's a chance."
Li Yingling looked ahead. Beyond this point was already the Central State boundary.
After the last mission ended perfectly, Li Yingling had disbanded her team that she had assembled all the way from South Jambu Continent to East Pangu Continent.
Too many people meant too many matters—Li Yingling had never been this busy even in the sect.
She had gained enough benefits. Besides the good scenery, East Pangu Continent didn't have much great fun anyway.
It was still more interesting staying by Master's side, though perhaps it was because Master himself was interesting.
After thinking it over, Li Yingling decided to make a trip to Central State. After all, she still carried the face-token that Master had given her.
She would stroll around, find Second Junior Brother to see how he was doing, then bring gifts back to the sect.
She had obtained quite a few decent things on this trip out.
She would give them all to Master to properly strengthen their sect.
This Zhang Miaoyu was actually quite a decent person—silly, but obedient.
Unlike Cui Hao, who was both silly and loved to jump around, and loved to criticize her!
If Master could accept her, she could perhaps arrange some position for her upon entry.
However, the reason Li Yingling chose to bring Zhang Miaoyu was actually because Zhang Miaoyu had latched onto her, crying and begging Li Yingling to take her along.
Because Zhang Miaoyu was exceptionally obedient, Li Yingling softened at the last moment.
Zhang Miaoyu didn't continue dwelling on this issue. She looked ahead—this was her first time coming to Central State.
For foreign cultivators, the minimum standard to mix in Central State was Golden Core.
But that didn't mean Golden Core cultivators could get along well in Central State. After all, there were also fierce demonic cultivators in Central State, plus connections that were rock-hard.
Those without backgrounds mostly only went to Central State after reaching Nascent Soul.
Zhang Miaoyu had thought about it—after all, as a cultivator, wanting to go further was absolute nature—but she also wanted to consider going to Central State only after Nascent Soul.
But Nascent Soul was somewhat distant for her, especially after meeting Li Yingling. She suddenly felt that she was truly trash.
She couldn't even feel envy toward Li Yingling; all she had was pure admiration.
Zhang Miaoyu suppressed the excitement in her heart. Although she had fear toward Central State, as long as Li Yingling was beside her directing, she could feel at ease:
"Leader, we're almost at Central State. What are the instructions for this trip?"
Li Yingling casually replied: "No particular instructions. Just wandering around casually, and also looking for my Second Junior Brother to see how he's doing."
"Wow! Your Second Junior Brother must be doing swimmingly in Central State, right? He must be famous. I'm afraid we can find out where your Second Junior Brother is just by asking around."
"Hmph, my Second Junior Brother is quite stupid. It would be good enough if he didn't suffer losses in Central State."
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