When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

As soon as he finished speaking, a few laughs came from the crowd.

After Chu Xianlan finished speaking, she turned around and casually waved to her fellow disciples who were watching:

"Have you drawn the talisman? Have you practiced your sword? Is there nothing else to do? Go do what you're supposed to do. If you're really bored, go for a run or two to loosen up your muscles."

The disciples who were watching bargained: "Involution is unacceptable; a balance between work and rest is essential."

"Senior Brother Chu, actually it feels quite comfortable to close your eyes while cultivating."

Chu Xianlan: "..." She's really getting addicted to watching the fun.

"Watch your words. Your Senior Brother Chu's master has come out of seclusion. He has someone backing him up." Xiao Huandu chuckled mischievously.

"We can't afford to offend them."

The disciples knew that the two of them could take a joke, so they started chatting on the spot.

The tense atmosphere that had been building up completely disappeared.

The crowd's attention was diverted, and no one paid attention to the neglected prince anymore. Ji Cheng'an was dumbfounded and gradually felt a burning sensation on his noodles.

He was pampered since childhood and had never left the palace. He ate high-grade pills worth thousands of gold and used the top-grade magic weapon sword. He was protected by his elder sister and brother and had servants and attendants to take care of him. He had always been domineering and had never met such an unyielding person before.

Chu Xianlan's attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, her smile was warm, and her words were not harsh, but Ji Cheng'an could still sense the...disdain in her tone.

That's right, it's underestimation.

It was as if he wasn't the noble fourth prince, but just a child fooling around in front of adults.

"How dare you play me!" Ji Cheng'an's anger flared up, and he rushed forward.

The movement was extremely fast and without warning.

The shadow guard's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, "Your Highness!"

In that split second, Chu Xianlan subtly flicked her finger, and a golden light flashed faintly in her hand.

The expected bloodshed did not occur; instead, there was a series of sharp, cracking sounds.

Everyone stared in disbelief at the unbelievable scene before them—

Suddenly, the black and yellow mirror at Ji Cheng'an's waist fell off with a "thud".

Along with the storage bag, the jade ruyi and five-element ring hanging from his chest fell to the ground with a clatter, and the protective beads hanging from his wrist rolled all over the ground. Even the jade hairpin that secured his soul in his hair came loose and slipped off, and his full head of black hair was scattered. In the blink of an eye, most of the dazzling magical artifacts around him fell off due to the chain reaction and spread out on the ground.

It's quite spectacular.

Ji Cheng'an remained frozen in place, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword trembling slightly.

That wasn't the end of it. Almost at the same time, the shadow guard who rushed forward stepped on the protective beads scattered on the ground, his body slipped uncontrollably, and he fell towards Ji Cheng'an.

The scene that followed was predictable: the onlookers all closed their eyes, unwilling to watch any longer.

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the sky.

The servants and attendants from the palace were the first to react. They were both surprised and panicked, shouting "Your Highness the Fourth Prince!" They rushed forward to rescue him, but dared not step on the priceless magical artifacts on the ground. They could only dodge left and right. Someone stepped on another's foot and fell down in a mess, making the scene even more chaotic.

Just then, the disciples who were there to meet Ji Cheng'an arrived in haste on their swords.

The disciple in charge stood frozen in mid-air for a moment, then stammered, "Excuse me, where is His Highness the Fourth Prince?"

"Look, over there." Xiao Huandu squatted down, suppressing a laugh, and pointed to the center of the chaotic crowd.

The servants dug and dug and dug, trying to rescue Ji Cheng'an.

The disciple in charge wiped his sweat: "..." A human wave tactic?

This is a dilemma. He was ordered to pick up people, but he didn't expect there to be a treasure-hunting process involved.

When he rolled up his sleeves and joined the excavation team, he saw the ground covered with magical artifacts, glittering with jewels.

The disciple's doubts deepened: "Is this... a stall?"

Xiao Huandu winked at his good friend, "What did you do just now?"

In fact, he had long been prepared to go to great lengths for his good brother, but he never expected things to end in such a ridiculous way.

But to be honest, if they really started fighting, the young prince might not be able to hold his own against his brother for more than a few moves.

After all, Chu Xianlan's cultivation method is quite special, and nine out of ten people who see it for the first time will suffer some hidden losses.

"Perhaps the Fourth Prince's magic weapon wasn't hung securely," Chu Xianlan said, feigning surprise.

What he just used was merely a minor spell commonly used by artifact cultivators when disassembling equipment. If cultivators want to wear multiple magical artifacts, they need to continuously channel spiritual energy into each artifact, which causes a significant depletion of spiritual energy over a long period.

Therefore, most people use a small magical artifact called "linking buckle" to directly link many pieces of equipment together. Only one spiritual power is needed to activate multiple magical artifacts, which is very easy and convenient.

Similarly, removing equipment only requires a single burst of spiritual energy.

Chu Xianlan had accidentally unfastened the main knot just now.

While others were not skilled in this art, some of the weapon cultivators from the Thousand Refinements Hall understood the operation. However, they saw no need to explain it and secretly chuckled to themselves, finding it quite satisfying and cathartic to watch.

Although Chu Xianlan is the personal disciple of Immortal Lord Jixue, she never puts on airs with ordinary disciples like them and often lends a helping hand. She is very popular and has always had a good relationship with the Thousand Refinement Hall.

Moreover, the way the fourth prince looked down on weapon cultivators was infuriating.

How come the repair tool is useless?

Even if we take a step back and say that the sword in your hand was forged by one of our weapon craftsmen.

So what if they have a little money and come from a better family? What's so special about that?

Even princes in the palace still have to obediently become apprentices and cultivate in other sects.

"Your Highness, please come to the main hall's guest room. Immortal Lord Jixue and Lord Yuan are both waiting for you." The disciple, who had finally managed to dig out Ji Cheng'an, bowed deeply, covered in sweat. "Please come with me immediately, Your Highness."

Ji Cheng'an looked disheveled.

Although he was furious, he still managed to prioritize and walked at the front, his face dark with anger, as if he were being pricked by needles.

The shadow guards silently followed behind him, picking up the magical artifacts that had fallen to the ground one by one.

As Ji Cheng'an passed Chu Xianlan, he stopped, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "After the apprenticeship ceremony, I will make sure my master kicks you out of Yujing Pavilion. Don't come crying to me then!"

Chu Xianlan smiled as she looked at this ill-mannered brat.

My palms are so itchy, I really want to type something.

He's probably fallen for her again.

He harbored murderous intent.

Ji Cheng'an and his entourage departed in a grand procession. Xiao Huandu remained stunned for a long while before suddenly grabbing Chu Xianlan's arm: "This can't be true, can it? Your master wants to see him!? Your master really... wants to take the Fourth Prince as his disciple!?"

"I don't know."

"You're not worried about something this big?! That guy doesn't seem easy to get along with. What if Immortal Lord Jixue really agrees... will you ever have a peaceful life afterward?!"

Xiao Huandu was disappointed and couldn't understand why Chu Xianlan seemed so lacking in a sense of crisis.

First, he went into seclusion for five years without any concern for her, and now that he has just emerged from seclusion, he may be taking on new disciples. No matter how you look at it, Chu Xianlan's position as the top disciple seems to be in jeopardy.

"What else? I'm just a disciple; I can't possibly interfere with my master's thoughts." Chu Xianlan simply smiled and patted his shoulder. "Do you think I'm going to go to my master and cry and wail on the ground, begging him not to accept the Fourth Prince as a disciple?"

Xiao Huandu imagined the scene, shuddered, and advised kindly, "Brother, remember, true heartbreak isn't about making a scene."

"Hmm, I've learned a lot," Chu Xianlan glanced in the direction Ji Cheng'an had left, and said in a low voice, "Let's go, come with me to Qianlian Hall to see how those mechanical birds are coming along."

-

The guest room was elegantly furnished, and the pear trees in the courtyard were in full bloom. The snow-white petals were blown into the room by the wind and landed perfectly in the teacup, swirling gently on the steaming tea.

Lord Yuan picked up his teacup and examined it carefully for a moment, then smiled and said, "Flying petals enter the cup, bringing a refined aroma. This is an auspicious sign that good things are about to happen. Since fate has brought us together, why not let things take their natural course?"

The envoy from the palace was sitting opposite the two leaders of the Taiyi Sect. Pei Fang'an picked up his fan and slowly waved it, speaking in a friendly and gentle tone: "Fellow Daoist Monkey is right. But this kind of fate is like the changing seasons, it will come when it's meant to... Ultimately, this matter still depends on Immortal Lord Jixue's decision."

Lord Yuan smiled as before, "Immortal Lord Anhe, my surname is Yuan."

Pei Fang'an gently patted his mouth: "Fellow Daoist Ape, my apologies."

"...Hehe, it's alright."

"Ha ha."

They kept going on and on about polite formalities.

Pei Fang'an understood Yuan Hou's purpose in coming.

Yi Chen had just emerged from seclusion yesterday when the palace immediately came to visit him with rare and precious treasures. Their urgency was undoubtedly to pave the way for the Fourth Prince to become his disciple.

The Taiyi Sect has always maintained a harmonious relationship with the palace, especially since the powerful Transcending Tribulation cultivator in the palace had a close friendship with the Taiyi Sect's leader, Zhiyue Zhenren, in his early years.

Master Zhiyue has been traveling around a lot in recent years and rarely comes back to manage affairs. Most of the sect's affairs have fallen on the shoulders of his eldest disciple, Pei Fang'an.

Pei Fang'an gently waved his fan, his movements elegant and refined. This Marquis Yuan was indeed quite sincere and could offer many benefits to the Taiyi Sect. However, there was something wrong with his junior brother's thoughts...

To be honest, Pei Fang'an was quite surprised that Yi Chen took the initiative to see Yuan Hou this time.

He had only complained to his junior brother a few times that Yuan Hou was troublesome and extremely smooth in dealing with people, a master at handling interpersonal relationships. Who knew that Yi Chen would think for a moment and then say that he wanted to come and meet this Yuan Hou together.

On the way here, Pei Fang'an repeatedly asked, "Junior brother, are you really alright?", "Junior brother, are you okay?", "Should we avoid you?", "If you regret it, just leave.", "You really want to come?", but all he got was a calm shake of the head.

He couldn't figure it out. Could it be that... his junior brother really wanted to take on a disciple?