Chapter 74

The Celestial Masters all looked as if the matter had nothing to do with them, and they were as silent as cicadas in winter.

Li Tianming knew that the person who had just walked in must be a major figure from the Heavenly Mansion, at least one of the Four Great Celestials.

Each of the Celestial Masters was a grandmaster-level figure in the entire nation.

However, the voice of the person outside was heavy and authoritative, exuding a domineering aura that made the Celestial Masters lower their heads.

This could only mean that this was a person revered by the Celestial Masters.

Even before he arrived, his presence had already dominated the Hall of Inheritance.

"Deputy Mansion Lord."

When the person entered, Li Tianming heard many people addressing him as such.

Li Tianming did not expect that the person who had come was the Deputy Mansion Lord of the Heavenly Mansion, the future Mansion Lord, Mu Yang.

Turning around, he saw a man in a blue brocade robe, a golden belt around his waist, and black boots on his legs.

He had a dignified and imposing figure, with eyes that shone like cold stars and eyebrows as dark as ink. His chest was broad, exuding a formidable presence.

He was not just a person of authority and dominance; his face was actually very kind, and when he smiled, he had an innocent and harmless look.

Even when he sounded angry, there was still a hint of a mischievous smile on his lips.

This made Li Tianming think of Master Mu Wan, and they truly lived up to being siblings, looking like the same person.

At the same time, he was also Lin Xiaoting's current Celestial Master!

As soon as he walked in, his gaze swept over Li Tianming, but his expression did not change much.

After he entered, all the Celestial Masters who were seated stood up.

Although the Inheritance Celestial King, Jun Yuanzang, had a lower rank than him, he was still an elder, and since they were familiar with each other, he did not stand up when Mu Yang arrived.

"Dear nephew, how do you have the time to visit my Hall of Inheritance?" Inheritance Celestial King Jun Yuanzang said with a smile.

"Uncle Jun, you say that, but even when I have nothing to do, I don't bring fine wine to pay my respects to you," Deputy Mansion Lord Mu Yang replied with a smile.

They exchanged pleasantries, but the other Celestial Masters looked a bit serious.

"However, let's get to the point. The ranking battle is a millennium-old tradition of the Academy, and it has always been fair and just."

"The reward for the top disciple is direct promotion to the Heavenly Mansion, which is our integrity and something the Heavenly Mansion must uphold."

"I disagree with the idea of sending away this top disciple today, Celestial Masters."

After exchanging pleasantries with the Inheritance Celestial King, Mu Yang immediately addressed the eighteen Masters.

His gaze swept over them, and they all lowered their heads, knowing that he would be the new supreme ruler of the Heavenly Mansion in a few years.

"I also think so, but the Celestial Masters have their difficulties. After all, this top disciple is indeed quite mediocre, almost a mediocrity," the Inheritance Celestial King explained.

"That's not acceptable. As long as the rules of the ranking battle haven't changed, we must keep our promise once he becomes the top disciple."

"I just want to ask, which of the eighteen Celestial Masters is willing to take this top disciple?"

Although Mu Yang spoke with a smile, Li Tianming could clearly hear the authority in his voice.

In fact, he didn't look at him much, but from his perspective, he couldn't let the Heavenly Mansion lose its credibility.

However, when he glanced at them, the Celestial Masters still shook their heads helplessly.

They were indeed being stubborn.

After all, no matter how powerful Mu Yang was, he couldn't punish all of them. Together, they were the backbone of the Heavenly Mansion.

"Since that's the case, let the top disciple choose. What's your name?" Mu Yang finally focused on him and asked.

"Li Tianming."

"Li Tianming, you can choose any of these eighteen Celestial Masters. I can guarantee that the Celestial Master you choose will be responsible for guiding you. This is the promise of the Heavenly Mansion."

Each word Mu Yang spoke seemed to carry immense power.

As the future Mansion Lord, he was the pinnacle figure in the Zhuque Kingdom.

In Li Tianming's eyes, he was not only powerful but also exuded a strong aura and authority.

Moreover, he possessed a quality that the other Celestial Masters lacked—integrity.

"Is what Deputy Mansion Lord said true? Can I choose freely?" Li Tianming asked.

"Of course."

The Celestial Masters were uncomfortable, but they had no choice at this moment.

It was time to test their luck. Among the eighteen, only one would be unlucky, and it probably wouldn't be them.

Since Deputy Mansion Lord had spoken, the roles of Li Tianming and the Celestial Masters had changed.

Now it was Li Tianming's turn to choose them, and it was truly a case of karma coming full circle.

Li Tianming looked around and finally fixed his gaze on Liu Xueyao, the Celestial Master of Mu Qingqing.

"Are you choosing Liu Xueyao?" Mu Yang asked.

Liu Xueyao had already noticed Li Tianming staring at her.

To be honest, her face was very cold, and her eyes had already given Li Tianming a subtle warning.

She thought that because of Mu Qingqing, Li Tianming was the least likely to choose her.

But if Mu Yang insisted, she really had no choice.

Moreover, with Mu Yang's character, if he assigned Li Tianming to her and she failed to teach him well, Mu Yang would hold her accountable.

Just as Liu Xueyao was a bit 'nervous,' Li Tianming suddenly smiled and said:

"Deputy Mansion Lord, to be honest, the eighteen Celestial Masters all look down on me, worried that I will disgrace them in the future."

"I thank Deputy Mansion Lord for giving me this opportunity, but since there is no master-disciple relationship, I think I shouldn't force it."

These words surprised all the Celestial Masters.

Because it was a very foolish move.

Mu Yang had backed him, giving him a chance to stay in the Heavenly Mansion, but he chose to give it up.

Of course, the Celestial Masters were very pleased with this foolishness.

Especially Liu Xueyao, who secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Are you sure?" Mu Yang's lips curled into a smile.

To be honest, it was only at this moment that he truly examined Li Tianming.

Before this, he hadn't paid much attention to the young man who had some 'history' with his third disciple.

"I'm sure," Li Tianming said.

"Then you might not be able to enter the Heavenly Mansion. Is it worth it?" Mu Yang asked, a bit curious.

"I won't lose my chance to enter the Heavenly Mansion," Li Tianming said.

"Why?" Mu Yang was even more curious.

"Because I don't want to be a disciple of the Celestial Masters, but—I want to be a disciple of the Deputy Mansion Lord."

Li Tianming looked up and met Mu Yang's gaze.

He had a maturity that was beyond his age.

So, even when facing a superhuman like Mu Yang, he could maintain a good tone and rhythm, speaking his words clearly.

To be honest, this made Mu Yang a bit stunned.

Pfft!

In the Hall of Inheritance, the first sound of laughter was small but particularly piercing, and it quickly spread.

Many of the usually solemn Celestial Masters couldn't help but smile, a rare sight.

They exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"The quality of this year's top disciple is truly far inferior to the one four years ago. It's like the difference between heaven and earth," Liu Xueyao said with a sigh.

Actually, she had wanted to take Lin Xiaoting under her wing through Mu Qingqing, but Li Tianming had ruined it.

Everyone knew that since Mu Yang had become Deputy Mansion Lord, he no longer took disciples.

Unless the new disciple's talent was at a level that could potentially make them a Mansion Lord, at least on the level of Lin Xiaoting.

At least, a super genius that the Zhuque Kingdom could produce only once in decades.

Even the son of the Yanhuang Palace Lord, Wei Guohao, and the Azure Princess of the Zhuque Kingdom, had not become Mu Yang's disciples.

For Li Tianming to say such things now was no different from a toad claiming to want to eat swan meat, or an ant trying to trip an elephant.

People couldn't understand why this guy always wanted to create a laughingstock.

Was it youthful arrogance or astonishing stupidity?

Anyway, the young disciples couldn't control their laughter, laughing so hard they almost choked.

"Li Tianming, stop fooling around and seize the opportunity!" Wei Zikun was very dissatisfied.

To be honest, he was happy and relieved that Mu Yang had appeared and given Li Tianming such a big opportunity.

This way, he could also give Mu Wan a satisfactory report.

After all, Mu Wan didn't want him to take the person back.

But when such a good opportunity was presented, he was about to suggest that Li Tianming choose a Celestial Master, and Li Tianming's decision to give up almost made him bleed from anger.

When Li Tianming said he wanted to be Mu Yang's disciple, even Wei Zikun laughed, a mix of anger and helplessness.

He felt embarrassed, as if he had brought in a fool.

He remembered that Li Tianming wasn't like this during the ranking battle.

Now everyone was laughing, but Mu Yang was a bit stunned and then asked, "Do you know who I am?"

"Deputy Mansion Lord, the future Mansion Lord, I naturally know," Li Tianming said.

"Then you still want to be my disciple?" Mu Yang asked with a smile.

"Am I not qualified?" Li Tianming asked.

This question left Mu Yang speechless.

Many people laughed again, and he wanted to laugh too, but he could see that this young man seemed to have a very strong spirit and was not joking.

Moreover, he seemed to have immense confidence and belief, which made Mu Yang unable to laugh.

He didn't want to mock Li Tianming and said seriously, "I can't see that qualification in you right now."

"Since you look down on these Celestial Masters but look up to me, and I've said publicly that I can't let you return to the Academy for training, here's what I'll do. When you truly show me that you are qualified, I will take you as my disciple. Until then, you can cultivate on your own in the Heavenly Mansion."

This was the best outcome for Li Tianming.

The Celestial Masters who were mocking him, to be honest, even if Mu Yang forced them, Li Tianming had his pride.

He didn't want to cling to others, and he didn't want to be a nuisance.

Now, Mu Yang not only gave him respect but also a hopeful promise, allowing him to smoothly become a disciple of the Heavenly Mansion without returning to the Academy.

However, without a Celestial Master to guide him, he would be very lonely in the Heavenly Mansion.

But, after all, the Azure Princess and Jiang Feilun were here, so Li Tianming still had friends.

Being able to stay in the Heavenly Mansion was already quite good.

However, he still wanted to ask, "Deputy Mansion Lord, with my current qualifications, what kind of performance would be considered qualified to catch your eye?"

...

[Preview] Tonight at 8 PM, the fourth phase of the new book event! For details, see the related information in the book, "10,000 RMB Red Packet Event for the New Book." The "exam" range: Chapters 55 to the chapters before 8 PM tonight.

Red packet: 2,000 RMB, 500 RMB per person!