Chapter 131: The Great Demon Demands Special Treatment

In her memories, the Great Demon Lord seemed to enter her divine spirit realm quite frequently, always appearing as if it were the most natural and comfortable thing in the world.

Ning Xianyu: [System, how do you think the Great Demon Lord gets into my divine spirit realm?]

The System replied: [I don't know. The author's design of this world is rather vague in certain areas; he didn't write it down, so I have no way of knowing.]

Ning Xianyu felt instantly dismissive.

[Do you think I could enter the Great Demon Lord's divine spirit realm?]

The System replied: [Perhaps. Do you want to go?]

Ning Xianyu felt as if she might have been there before, but she couldn't quite recall. Fortunately, she didn't care much about such things, so she let the thought go.

They entered the cave, and as Weinian kept saying they had arrived, she hurried to look ahead. The cave was vast and empty. Where the stone stele stood was a large, open space. At the forefront was a massive stele, and in front of it lay numerous stones of varying sizes. All these stones faced the stele, and though they ranged in size, every single one was much shorter than the monument itself.

Ning Xianyu asked, "Have these stones always been here?"

Weinian replied, "There weren't this many when I came before. They seem to be increasing." He then asked, "Disciple, do you have any observations?"

Ning Xianyu gestured toward them: "Look at these stones. Don't they look like a crowd gathered to listen to the stele, as if they are looking up at a great hero?"

Once she said it, it really did seem that way. The stele stood at the front, head held high, while the smaller stones gathered below, gazing up in adoration.

Su Yun'er chuckled, "But they are just ordinary stones. Surely they can't look up to anything, can they?" Although it is said that all things have spirits, stones are the most difficult to develop consciousness. These stones, in particular, appeared quite ordinary; it was impossible for them to harbor any emotions.

Ning Xianyu also felt she was overthinking it.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan told Yi Tianling to decide what he wanted to ask before approaching. The stele itself had no requirements; since they had already arrived, it would not make things difficult for the questioner.

Yi Tianling took a deep breath and thought for a moment. Su Yun'er held his hand and said, "Brother Yi, don't be nervous. If you don't get your answer, I still have one chance left; I can ask for you."

Yi Tianling smiled, "Yun'er, thank you for accompanying me here."

He stepped around the stones and slowly walked up to the stele. According to Weinian, one simply had to place their hand upon it.

He approached the stele slowly and offered a solemn bow: "I leave it to you, senior." Then, he sat cross-legged and tentatively placed both hands upon the stone.

The others watched him with bated breath, as if observing a sacred ritual. Su Yun'er was the most anxious; she had moved to the very front, crouching among the stones.

Ning Xianyu took a cushion out of her storage bag and found a spot to sit cross-legged. Seeing that the other three were still standing, she remembered she was now someone with a master and should show proper respect, so she took out another cushion.

"Master, let's sit and wait."

Weinian looked at his new disciple’s relaxed demeanor and then at the soft cushion, accepting it with a smile. Although this disciple was young and a bit greedy for wealth, she was quite respectful toward her master. He took the cushion and sat down.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan glared at Ning Xianyu, then turned and walked a bit further away.

Ning Xianyu began sharing food and drink with her master. "Master, do I need to serve tea for the apprenticeship?" As she had suddenly become a disciple, she wondered if there was supposed to be a formal initiation ceremony.

Weinian whispered, "No need. We at Shifang Mountain don't bother with such things. The moment the lineage was passed to you was the moment you became my disciple." It was so simple it felt a bit shabby; he worried his money-loving little disciple might look down on the sect.

However, Ning Xianyu gave a thumbs up with a smile: "Master, you are the best." She hated dealing with tedious formalities, so skipping the ceremony was perfect. Seeing her so easygoing, Weinian felt even more pleased. It seemed the founding master was right—those who join Shifang Mountain do so because they are destined to be there.

The master and disciple sat together happily, feeling very much like family. Xuan Yuan Tunhan, watching from afar, looked even more displeased. He occasionally glanced over, wishing he could carve a hole between them with his gaze. He had thought she disliked joining Shifang Mountain, but she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.

Ning Xianyu was oblivious, so the System had to remind her.

[Host, Host! Your Great Demon Lord is about to die of anger. You should check on him.]

*You really should look over. You’ve offended the Great Demon Lord; do you still want to live?*

Ning Xianyu stole a glance—or at least, she thought it was stealing a glance, though it was quite blatant. The Great Demon Lord was angry. He stood to the side, tall and slender, looking upright and aloof, but Ning Xianyu, who knew him well, could tell he was furious.

Was the Great Demon Lord angry because she didn't give him a cushion? But he always used to treat her with such disdain. Ning Xianyu pondered and decided that regardless of whether the "big boss" looked down on her, she, as a lowly employee, still owed him the proper courtesies. One must bow one's head when under someone else's roof.

To show her sycophancy, she brought over a larger cushion. "Old Ancestor, you must be tired of standing. Sit down."

Weinian had said that once one touches the stele, it takes a long time to see what one seeks, so they would have to wait here for quite a while. Standing was exhausting, so she thought he should sit.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan looked at her, then at the cushion, and let out a cold snort: "You really are fond of cushions. You carry them everywhere, and you offer one to everyone you meet." He had assumed the cushion was meant only for him, but it turned out she handed them out to everyone; anyone could get a cushion from her, even that newly met, cheap master of hers.

Ning Xianyu was used to his attitude, but hearing this, she felt he was angry because he wasn't receiving special treatment. This was a normal enough thought; as the Great Demon Lord, it was only natural for him to feel he should be treated differently from everyone else.

This time, Ning Xianyu took a chair directly out of her storage bag and laid a cushion on it. "Old Ancestor, if you don't like the cushion, that's fine. I have a chair. Sit, this is more comfortable."

Look how thoughtful she was—she had everything one could need, so the Great Demon Lord should really stop trying to choke her.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan looked at the chair—which clearly offered superior treatment—and then at Weinian sitting on the ground. A smile couldn't help but tug at the corner of his lips. "Put it down and move away."

*Alrighty then, I'm going.*

Ning Xianyu really did walk away, sitting back down next to Weinian and smiling at her master. See? She had even handled the most difficult Old Ancestor.

Weinian looked at his disciple, then at the Xuan Yuan Old Ancestor, and suddenly felt a strange sensation. What was the meaning of this odd dynamic between his disciple and the Old Ancestor? What was their relationship, exactly? And why did he have the sinking feeling that his disciple wouldn't remain his for long?