Chapter 217: I Knew It Would Be Like This

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: I Knew It Would Be Like This

"You were defeated too?"

Six figures slowly materialized beside the one they all acknowledged as the strongest. The Mo Family Disciple ranked second among them couldn’t help but ask. In his mind, the man before them was a monster.

"To be more precise, I was instantly defeated."

The young man, finally feeling his Spiritual Power return, patted the dirt off his clothes. He carefully recalled the experience. He had been patiently waiting for the next fight when eighteen dragon-shaped chains had suddenly appeared in his perception. By the time he came to his senses, he was already tied to a cyan bamboo stalk.

If his opponent hadn’t released the Magic at the end, he doubted he could have broken free on his own.

"Looks like we’re all in the same boat. We were tied up before we even saw a single person."

Someone revealed a relieved smile. If even the one called a monster within the Mo Family was instantly defeated, then their own defeat wasn’t too disgraceful.

His words resonated with most of them. Only the weakest Mo Family Disciple stood to the side, feeling out of place. ’If I remember correctly, I was almost killed instantly,’ he thought. ’Back then, I truly felt like I was going to die.’

He couldn’t remember anything that happened after that. When he opened his eyes again, he was already falling. Before he could even react, he got a mouthful of dirt.

Hearing how his own experience was so different from everyone else’s, this Mo Family Disciple chose to remain silent. He quietly listened as his peers, trying to hide their own embarrassment, deliberately exaggerated the skill of the person who had just defeated them. He would occasionally chime in with a vague, noncommittal agreement.

’Still, I guess I have a slight advantage,’ he mused. ’At the very least, I got a clear look at the Young Master’s disciple. If I run into him on the journey back to the Mo Family, my chances of making it back will be much, much higher.’

「Meanwhile, outside the Bamboo Garden.」

Liu Chen paused for a moment as he arrived. Eighteen Guards surrounded the garden. If not for the smiles on his master’s and his master’s wife’s faces, Liu Chen would have thought these black-clad men were here to raid the place.

It seemed the members of the Mo Family were fond of wearing black. In any case, all twenty-five people he had seen so far were dressed in black. ’If I were to judge by appearances alone, they definitely wouldn’t look like the good guys,’ Liu Chen thought. ’More like a demonic, unorthodox sect.’

Liu Chen didn’t feel the slightest threat from these Guards. This wasn’t because he was stronger than them. Rather, the gap between them was not something the Peak Path could bridge.

These people were at least Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with the entire Qi Refining Realm separating them from Liu Chen. The higher one’s Cultivation, the lower the chances of fighting across realms. Right now, Liu Chen had some confidence against a Qi Refining Beginner Cultivator, but against someone at the Qi Refining Early Stage, he would most likely have to flee.

"Open the gate and come in."

Mo Xuan watched Liu Chen from a distance with a smile on his face. The pawns selected by the branch families to become his disciples had all failed, and miserably at that. Under these circumstances, his own recruitment of disciples would no longer be affected.

’Even if others raise objections with the Old Man, I’ll have a perfect excuse now,’ he thought. ’Your hand-picked prodigies were beaten this badly, and you still have the nerve to interfere with the main branch’s disciple recruitment?’

Hearing this, Mo Jinyu, who was standing to the side and also sizing up Liu Chen, glanced at her big brother in surprise. This wasn’t as simple as just opening the gate. According to Mo Family rules, the first disciple taken is known as the First Disciple, and the Young Master’s First Disciple is destined to become the future Chief Disciple of the Mo Family.

Even if this person wasn’t from the Mo Family to begin with, after the transfer of power was complete and her big brother passed the Patriarch position to the next generation, this disciple could smoothly become the contemporary Grand Elder of the Mo Family.

However, recalling the battle she had glimpsed earlier, Mo Jinyu said nothing. With such strength, he was indeed worthy of being her big brother’s First Disciple. If he grew into his role and became the Mo Family’s Chief Disciple, there would be no issue with him representing the younger generation of the Mo Family.

Liu Chen pushed open the gate and walked into the Bamboo Garden. He didn’t really understand why they would close the gate when they were all already inside. That, combined with the Guards standing watch, gave him the feeling of being locked away.

"Kneel."

After Liu Chen entered, Mo Xuan pointed to the cattail mats that had already been laid out on the ground. Liu Chen had a vague idea of what was happening, so he didn’t hesitate and knelt directly on the foremost mat.

"You two, close the gate."

Mo Xuan glanced at Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong. He had no desire to return to the family and be saddled with a few more disciples before he had full control. Three was enough. As for any others, he couldn’t care less how outstanding their Talent was.

Although Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong were a bit surprised, they walked over and closed the two halves of the bamboo gate.

"Big Brother, are you sure about this? There’s no turning back."

Watching this, Mo Jinyu couldn’t help but offer a reminder. The competition among female disciples in the Mo Family was relatively peaceful, but the price was that when seeking a Daoist partner, they either had to marry for the family’s political benefit or could only choose another Mo Family Disciple.

Under such circumstances, a female disciple with a Daoist partner could never attain a truly high-ranking position, unless she remained single her entire life. And the requirements for the Young Master’s female disciples were even stricter.

’If these two become Big Brother’s Closed-door Disciples and then decide to find Daoist partners, and something unexpected happens to this Liu Chen fellow, the main branch will surely be affected. At that point, the crucial position of Grand Elder will fall into the hands of others. This could shake the very foundation of the Mo Family’s thousands of years of heritage.’

"Kneel."

Mo Xuan didn’t say anything in response. He had absolute confidence in Liu Chen, for one. But even if Liu Chen didn’t end up returning to the Mo Family, he wouldn’t accept any more disciples after going back. At that point, it wouldn’t be a pure master-disciple relationship, but a political balancing act between the various branches. If that was the case, he would rather have no disciples at all.

Normally, there was only one Closed-door Disciple. But he was the Young Master of the Mo Family, the future Patriarch. If he said he was taking two, he would take two.

Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong knelt on their mats. By now, they also understood what was happening. The three of them kneeling together could only mean one thing: a formal discipleship ceremony. Their master wasn’t usually this serious.

"I, Mo Xuan, a junior of this generation, today accept Liu Chen as my First Disciple, and Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong as my Closed-door Disciples. With blood as the guide, I invite the ancestors to bear witness."

Mo Xuan slit his palm, and a crimson pattern spread throughout the Bamboo Garden. Under the control of his Spiritual Power, the blood gradually converged, forming three crimson Spirit Contracts.

"I knew it would be like this."

Mo Jinyu shrugged, tossing a black Flood Dragon Seal into the air.

With a flick of Mo Jinyu’s finger, the seal landed directly on the three crimson Spirit Contracts. As it did, the Spirit Contracts began to resonate faintly. Liu Chen clearly felt several gazes coming from the floating Jade Seal, scrutinizing him and his two junior sisters before slowly fading away.

"Alright, sign the Spirit Contracts."

With the necessary ceremony complete, Mo Xuan let out a sigh of relief and returned to his usual tone. Beside him, Bai Qiulan shook her head helplessly. ’That man really can’t stay serious for long,’ she thought.

Without any hesitation, Liu Chen and the other two slit their palms and signed the Spirit Contracts.