Chapter 292: Are You Sure She's Your Disciple?

“Go with the feeling, huh...”

Wang Shouyi mulled over Her Eminence’s words.

Even if what she said sounded like it meant nothing, he was convinced there had to be a deeper meaning. The other Ascenders might not get it, but as Her Eminence’s personal gatekeeper disciple, he had to understand.

Her Eminence couldn’t be wrong.

She wouldn’t say anything useless.

“If I go with the feeling, then next, I’ll be joining the C Province Exorcist Division.” Wang Shouyi narrowed his eyes, then smacked his fist into his palm. “So that’s it. I get it. I understand now!”

“That means the ones who ambushed the formation are most likely within the C Province Exorcist Division—or at the very least, they’ll appear there in the future.”

“And as long as I join the Exorcist Division, I’ll catch them slipping sooner or later! That... that’s the real meaning behind Her Eminence’s words!”

Wang Shouyi didn’t even consider how others might interpret her instructions.

In his mind, he was absolutely certain.

“Should I tell Brother Chen about this? Let him keep his eyes open, make sure he doesn’t recruit anyone he shouldn’t. That way, we avoid potential disasters in the Exorcist Division down the line...”

Wang Shouyi paced along the edge of the cliff, chin in hand.

“But if I tell him, I might tip them off. That could make the targets wary and either stop them from joining or push the hidden ones into deeper cover...”

“Forget it.” He shook his head, gritting his teeth. “Brother Chen’s been good to me. I have to take Her Eminence’s orders seriously. I’ll keep it to myself for now! If Her Eminence ever turns her wrath toward the Exorcist Division, I’ll step up and take responsibility. That’ll be my way of repaying Brother Chen!”

“What’s up with Senior Brother Wang?”

“No clue. He’s just been muttering to himself over there like he’s possessed or something.”

The nearby disciples from Kunlun Immortal Palace and other Ascenders all exchanged weird looks as they watched Wang Shouyi act strangely.

They hadn’t gotten any useful information out of Her Eminence, nor did they understand what she meant.

In situations like this, the usual strategy was to bluff and go with the flow.

After all, “the law doesn’t punish the masses”—that principle applied here too.

…

The person Hua Jin sent to handle the aftermath was Wang Shouyi’s senior sister, Hong Li.

She and Wang Shouyi were both orphans who were lucky enough to be picked up by Her Eminence. The only difference was, Wang Shouyi already had a name.

Hong Li wore a flowing red dress, a gauzy veil hat on her head, and had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation.

The moment she descended on Mount Taishan’s peak, she gathered everyone for a meeting.

Aside from distributing the rewards for the Monster Hunting Tournament, they also had to deal with another issue—the sect leaders from all the hidden sects were confirmed dead. To avoid disrupting the post-tournament disciple recruitment plans, new leaders had to be appointed on the spot.

Once the Digital Girlfriend game’s warning disappeared, Chen Huaian removed his VR headset and brought Li Qingran and Lin Lingling along to the meeting.

He wasn’t really interested in the rewards—he just wanted to see how they were going to deliver that “enlightenment” to the Ascenders.

“Now, when I call your name, step up and submit your demon materials to exchange for points!”

Hong Li swept her eyes across the crowd, her tone stern.

At that, the faces of many Exorcist Division members and family clans turned glum.

They were only allowed to send a limited number of people to the tournament. Plus, it was originally scheduled for three days but got cut short by unexpected events—less than a day total. Some groups had only killed a few minor demons. The unlucky ones didn’t get anything at all.

…

“C Province Exorcist Division, step up and submit your materials!”

Soon, it was Chen Huaian’s turn.

Most of the sect disciples and family clans had already submitted their items before him.

The highest score so far was just over twenty thousand.

Chen Huaian wasn’t sure how many points he’d get.

Basically, every time they ran into demon creatures on the road, Li Qingran would finish them in a single sword strike. His job was just to collect their body parts as proof afterward.

When he pulled the materials out of his spatial storage, even he jumped in surprise.

Eyeballs, ears, and noses from demonic entities were now piled into a small mountain on the table.

“That many?!” Hong Li’s eyes went wide, staring between the materials and Chen Huaian like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

This guy—handsome to an excessive degree—was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator...

Mid-stage, sure, and not an Ascender—but still. That kind of kill count? Way off the charts.

“You killed all of these?” She squinted coldly at him.

“Not all of them. Some were killed by m—myself, and the rest by my disciple.” Chen Huaian gestured at Li Qingran beside him.

“Golden Core, disciple?” Hong Li sensed the early Golden Core aura coming from Li Qingran and gasped—reaching Golden Core stage during the early phase of spiritual revival, and not even an Ascender yet? That kind of talent was terrifying. No way she could’ve done it herself.

“You sure she’s your disciple?” Hong Li asked.

“Positive.” Chen Huaian nodded. “Is there a rule that a Master has to be stronger than their disciple? Who made that rule? You? Or was it Heaven?”

Hong Li was stumped.

True enough, there wasn’t any such rule.

It just went against common sense, that’s all.

She took a deep, thoughtful look at Li Qingran, silently memorizing her face.

Such an incredible talent—it would be a huge waste if the Kunlun Immortal Palace couldn’t bring her in. As for this C Province Exorcist Division Governor? He probably used some shady means to keep her around—calling her his disciple? Could he even teach her properly?

What a waste of a treasure!

“Alright, your total is 23,750 points—currently the highest score. Head over to the right and wait.”

She pointed toward a massive boulder on the east side of Mount Taishan’s peak, where some Ascenders were already setting up a formation.

Looked like they were prepping for a ‘transmission of techniques’?

“Do we have to accept this reward?” Chen Huaian asked.

“Are you stupid?” Hong Li rolled her eyes. “If you don’t want it, don’t take it! You think we’re begging you to accept it or something?”

Then she flashed a friendly smile at Li Qingran: “Sis, you’re welcome at the Kunlun Immortal Palace anytime. Her Eminence loves talented folks like you. She’ll pour every resource into nurturing you... Just don’t follow the wrong person and ruin your future.”

“I was born my Master’s person, and I’ll die my Master’s ghost.” Li Qingran raised four fingers to the sky, her expression solemn.

Hong Li’s face froze, forcing a stiff smile, and the look she shot Chen Huaian grew even sharper.

But Chen Huaian didn’t care.

He walked over to the boulder and carefully watched the disciples setting up the formation.

Watched for a good while—and still didn’t understand a thing.

But it was fine. He had cheats.

“Disciple, let me quiz you. Just by looking at these array patterns, what do you think this formation does?”

Ah, time for another pop quiz from her Master.

Li Qingran perked up—another chance to make a deal!

“Do I get a reward if I get it right?”

“Of course.”

“What kind of reward?” The corners of her lips lifted slightly, then pressed together again.

Like she was trying to hide her excitement, but the blush on her cheeks and the smile creeping up gave her away.

Chen Huaian glanced away at her glowing expression, clearly a little flustered.

“Whatever reward you want, just name it.”

“Then I want...” Li Qingran started to speak, then suddenly stopped, her cheeks blooming red.

“But Master, you can’t laugh at me when I say it!”

Chen Huaian immediately promised, “I absolutely won’t laugh.”

He watched as his little disciple’s lips moved, her teeth gently biting her lower lip in hesitation.

The shyness on her face was like ripples on a lake in spring, brushing across her fair cheeks.

She looked down, nervously fiddling with the hem of her skirt, her voice so soft it was barely a whisper.

“J-just... I want... I want Master’s bloomers size...”

…