C6 Accepting a Disciple

"Trouble at the Skyhaven Clan!"

Upon seeing the billowing smoke from Mistmantle Mountain, Qin Mu immediately grasped the gravity of the situation.

As the group made their way back, they discovered a house adjacent to the Skyhaven Clan ablaze. Ling Siying and her sister sprang into action to combat the fire. Chu Feng trailed behind Qin Mu, and upon entering the main hall of the Skyhaven Clan, they caught a man in black attempting to pilfer the treasures within.

Was the fire merely a distraction for the real motive—thievery?

The Skyhaven Clan's treasures were countless and extraordinary, none more so than the bronze sword mounted on the wall—a rare artifact that had absorbed the essence of the sun and moon over ten thousand years. Yet, out of all the treasures, the thief chose to steal the bronze sword.

"How dare you, thief! Drop it now!"

The thief spun around to face Qin Mu, who could already detect a sneer of mockery.

"What do you think you're doing, barging into the Skyhaven Clan's hall to steal my treasures? Do you really believe that I, Qin Mu, am so feeble that anyone can trample over me?"

Qin Mu readied himself for combat, but the intruder merely scoffed and charged at him.

As the assailant launched an attack, Qin Mu tried to defend himself but quickly realized the man wielded a mysterious power beyond his understanding.

It was then that Qin Mu saw an opportunity for Chu Feng to prove his worth, swiftly stepping aside.

"Chu Feng, handle him!"

"Yes, Master!"

Chu Feng, heeding Qin Mu's command, confronted the thief. But the adversary's strength was overwhelming; a single blow sent Chu Feng crashing into the wall, leaving him dazed and likely injured.

Struggling to his feet, Chu Feng leaned against the wall for support and wiped the blood from his lips.

Qin Mu inwardly berated himself—not for the thief's actions, but for Chu Feng's apparent helplessness.

Seeing Chu Feng at a disadvantage, Qin Mu stood up in a rage and demanded, "Who sent you here? We have no quarrel with you. Why would you attack my disciple so ruthlessly?"

The only enemy that came to mind was the Oathbreakers he had encountered earlier that day.

Chu Feng felt dejected after the beating. Why couldn't he handle a single defeat? This thought angered him, and it seemed there was no other way to settle the matter.

The stranger regarded Qin Mu with indifference, not grasping his meaning, and replied coldly, "No one sent me. I merely came to claim what's mine."

Qin Mu resolved to no longer endure such indignities.

"Nice words, but even if I were to let you leave, I doubt you'd make it past the threshold."

Qin Mu's words were laced with resentment. He had never sought trouble with them, yet because they coveted the Skyhaven Clan's treasures, he was subjected to their insults.

The man in black merely glanced at Qin Mu, harboring no qualms about his actions.

"The survival of the fittest is an unchanging truth. Since your disciple has lost to me, since he cannot defeat me, the bronze sword is mine to take."

Qin Mu observed him without any intent to cause harm, merely offering a scornful chuckle.

"Just because my disciple can't beat you doesn't mean I can't."

The man in black remained unimpressed.

"I warn you, put down the item, or don't even dream of escaping."

At that moment, Qin Mu's voice carried a full-throated threat, suggesting that if the thief didn't surrender the item, he wouldn't be spared.

The thief dashed toward the hall's entrance, ignoring Qin Mu.

Enraged, Qin Mu extended his hand, and in the next instant, his attack was poised to strike the thief.

Qin Mu had no other plans; he was set on ending this once and for all.

For Qin Mu, who had ascended to the Immortal Realm, catching a mere thief should have been effortless.

"Bang!"

The thief thought he could make a clean getaway, only to find the hall's entrance sealed by Qin Mu's barrier, which repelled him with its formidable force.

The thief was flung back to the ground, seemingly injured, yet he was ready to draw his bronze sword.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on activating a new mission: Recruit the thief as your disciple!"

[Mission Reward: A Ghost Reaver] [Mission Failure Punishment: No sleep for ten days!]

Qin Mu was left speechless by the system's announcement. The system was actually suggesting he recruit a thief as a disciple? That was absurd.

And there was a punishment for failure?

As Qin Mu was reeling from the revelation, the thief had already unsheathed the bronze sword.

With the sword drawn, it seemed unstoppable.

A purple glow emanated from within the hall.

Outside, Ling Siying ceased her magical efforts to extinguish the fire.

"Sister, what's happening?"

Ling Sixiao gazed at the light, then turned to her sister Ling Siying, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Ling Siying simply shook her head, speechless, and looked up at the glow.

Inside the hall, even the disheartened Chu Feng was distracted from his woes, captivated by the sight of the bronze sword.

"Kid, did you think you could handle the bronze sword?"

Qin Mu said, then with a light flick of his finger, a green light intertwined with the purple, creating a dazzling display.

The thief's face turned pale; he struggled to control the sword.

In a flash, the green light overpowered the purple, snaking along the sword like a luminous gecko towards the thief's arm.

"Ah!"

Struck by the green light, the thief dropped the bronze sword.

"Great hero, spare my life! Please, have mercy!"

His earlier bravado gone, the thief was now begging for his life, prostrating himself on the ground.

"Hmph, not only will I spare you, but you shall also become my disciple!"

Qin Mu found the words cringe-worthy even as they left his lips.

"Disciple Qing Shu pays respects to Master!"

Relieved at being spared, the thief quickly kowtowed and accepted Qin Mu as his master, barely concealing his glee.

"In the future, I'll present you with the bronze sword as a welcoming gift!"

This time, Qin Mu was truly magnanimous, gifting the bronze sword to the thief on the spot.

"Thank you, Master!"

Qing Shu was elated, yet Chu Feng was not. He had taken Qin Mu as his master but seemed to have gained no benefits from it. Still, he kept his discontent hidden.

The thought of having to deal with a thief in the future made Chu Feng feel somewhat scornful.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, on acquiring the Ghost Reaver!"

As the system announced, a radiant white sword materialized in Qin Mu's hand.

"Excellent, I love it!"

The white sword radiated an extraordinary power, leaving Qin Mu both astonished and delighted.

"Ancestor, the fire has been put out!"

At that moment, Ling Sixiao and Ling Siying rushed in, their cheeks smeared with soot, looking anxious.