Chapter Fourteen: Accepting Three Disciples

The silent grand hall was suffused with a subtle, inexplicable sense of oppression.

Nanluo sat upon the divine throne, gazing quietly at the three spirits below, saying nothing.

The sound of dripping water echoed through the hall like the tolling of a bell.

The three spirits knelt upon the ground, heads bowed low, sweat beading on their foreheads and slowly dripping onto the floor. The oppressive feeling in their hearts only grew stronger, and their divine hearts beat more violently.

After a long pause, Nanluo finally spoke, his voice calm yet commanding. “I wish to take you three spirits as my disciples.”

“Thank you, Great Deity!” The faces of the three spirits flushed with excitement, and they hurriedly bowed in gratitude.

At the dawn of the Wild Era, all beings in the primordial world abided by the raw and brutal law of survival of the fittest. The entire wilderness was shrouded in a curtain of darkness and chaos.

From individuals to entire races, all fought and struggled against one another for survival and dominance.

Every day, billions of beings were born. Every day, billions perished.

Even the mighty primordial gods and demons were not exempt; countless of their kind were slain in their infancy. As for ordinary innate spirits, the vast majority were slaughtered the very moment they came into existence.

The three spirits, as innate deities, had been hunted relentlessly since birth—by savage beasts, other living beings, and even their own kind.

It could be said that their survival up to this moment was nothing short of miraculous.

Now, fate had finally smiled upon them.

If they could successfully become disciples of Nanluo—cling to his mighty presence—their future growth would be secured.

Given the innate aptitude of the three spirits, if they were to mature smoothly, they would at least become gods themselves.

Of course, those thoughts were far from the minds of the three spirits. They only wished to hold onto Nanluo and survive.

“Though I wish to take you as disciples, the path to becoming my apprentices is not so easily traveled,” Nanluo’s golden eyes suddenly blazed with brilliant light as he spoke with solemn authority.

Since the beginning of the wilderness, all the mighty ones had abided by a single rule: the Way must not be lightly transmitted.

A master, in teaching skills to a disciple, thus formed a bond of fate with them.

Should a disciple encounter misfortune, the resulting karmic ties would surely implicate the master as well.

Thus, in choosing disciples, a master looked first to talent, then to character.

Those lacking in aptitude would never be accepted, for fear of wasted effort.

Those lacking in virtue would never be taken in, lest they prove incorrigible or even turn upon their teacher.

In terms of aptitude, the three spirits were beyond reproach. What Nanluo now sought to test was their character.

The three spirits, aware that apprenticeship was no simple matter, had already steeled themselves for what was to come. They bowed deeply and said with utmost respect, “We shall obey your every command, Great Deity.”

A phantom screen of light slowly materialized in the grand hall, appearing before the three spirits.

“This is the Spirit Platform Illusion,” Nanluo announced, pointing at the shimmering curtain. His voice was calm, yet it brooked no defiance. “Enter this illusion, and I shall know your hearts.”

The three spirits gazed at the spectacle before them, a spark of awe in their eyes—whether at the illusion itself or at Nanluo’s power, it was difficult to say.

Seeing their wonder, a faint smirk played at the corners of Nanluo’s mouth. His voice remained level and imposing. “However, those of insufficient character will die within the illusion.”

“Die?!” The pupils of the three spirits contracted involuntarily, revealing their fear.

“You may choose to enter and face the test, becoming my disciples—or die. Or, you may refuse, and I shall send you away,” Nanluo continued, the hint of a cold smile tugging at his lips as he watched their conflicted expressions.

The three spirits stared at the illusory screen with uncertain eyes, their hearts caught in agonizing struggle: should they risk everything for power, or choose to live on in humble obscurity?

In their terrified eyes, the screen no longer resembled a portal to success, but rather the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, poised to devour them.

“I will count down. If you have not decided by the end, you will be dismissed,” Nanluo declared, offering them no lengthy reprieve. He began to count, “Ten, nine, eight...”

“How do you choose?” asked Water Spirit, channeling divine thought to communicate with her companions, Fire and Wind.

“I choose to accept the trial. I no longer wish to be weak! I despise a life spent in flight,” Fire Spirit declared, eyes blazing with fierce determination as memories of their hunted past flashed through his mind.

“Indeed! I also choose to accept. I must become strong!” Water Spirit replied, her face just as resolute.

“And you?” Water and Fire turned to Wind, questioning her.

“I—I—I will accept the trial as well,” Wind Spirit answered in a timid whisper.

“Five.” Nanluo’s voice, like the roar of a wild beast, rumbled in their ears.

Having reached an agreement, the three stepped forward in unison, bowing and announcing, “We accept your test, Great Deity.”

“Very well.” With a thought, Nanluo transformed them into three rays of divine light and sent them into the illusion.

Seated on his throne, Nanluo watched their forms vanish into the screen and smiled. “Five seconds. These little ones have decent resolve.”

In truth, the test of character had already begun.

Their decisiveness had just been weighed.

If the three spirits made their choice within the first three seconds, their resolve was judged superior. If in the next three seconds, then merely good; in the last three, average; and if only at the final moment, poor.

“Still, that Wind Spirit hesitated. She only chose to accept after seeing her companions’ determination,” Nanluo mused, recalling the child’s timidity.

Within the Spirit Platform Illusion—

Upon entering, the three spirits were separated, forced to face their trials alone.

A savage beast, equal in strength to each spirit, materialized before them—eyes red and murderous, its roar echoing with madness.

The sight of the beast drained the color from their faces and struck terror into their hearts—it was none other than the very creature that had pursued them just moments ago.

The memory of their near-fatal encounter was still fresh.

“In three sticks of incense, slay this beast! Should you fail, you are eliminated.” Nanluo’s voice echoed throughout the illusion.

“Three sticks of incense? So be it!” Fire Spirit, staring at the bloodthirsty beast, put aside all fear. Divine flames blazed in his eyes as he roared and charged his foe.

After the allotted time, all three spirits lay gravely wounded, unable to rise.

A blue divine light descended from above, enveloping them.

In but a moment, its healing power restored each of them to full strength.

After nine such trials, they finally arrived at the tenth and final test.

“Congratulations—you have reached the final stage. Pass this, and you shall have succeeded,” Nanluo’s voice resounded in the illusion once more.

“Now, let us test your loyalty.” Upon the divine throne, Nanluo pointed into the illusory void.

Three beams of blue light struck the three spirits, and they fell unconscious.

When next they awoke—memories sealed—they found themselves as orphans, taken in by the head of a humble sect.

Twenty years passed. Their master was gravely injured by the leader of a great sect, and his end was near.

Chaos erupted within the sect as disciples scrambled for treasures, eager to pledge themselves elsewhere.

“Junior brothers and sisters, hurry and seize what treasures you can! Master is finished; we must find new allegiances!” A senior brother and sister approached the three spirits, offering their advice.

“Our master is dying! No—I cannot abandon the one who taught me for centuries,” the three spirits replied, their voices ringing with righteousness.

Unable to sway them, the senior disciples departed in resignation.

Amid the chaos, the three spirits, powerless to bring order, could only serve their ailing master with all their heart.

“Well, well! These little ones truly have respect and devotion for their teacher,” Nanluo observed with a growing smile as he watched their actions within the illusion.

With a gesture, Nanluo dismissed the Spirit Platform Illusion, and the three spirits were released.

Moments later, as they regained consciousness, they beheld Nanluo seated above and hurriedly dropped to their knees. “We greet you, Great Deity!”

Nanluo nodded. “I have witnessed your performance. I have decided—” He paused, letting anticipation build as the three spirits waited anxiously on their knees, hearts aflame with worry, not daring to speak.

“To take you as my disciples,” Nanluo finally declared, satisfied with their agitation.

At this wonderful news, the three spirits trembled uncontrollably, struggling to contain their excitement. With utmost reverence, they kowtowed and exclaimed, “Thank you, Master!”

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