lcionline Chapter 247 Merlin's Choice of Disciple: A Matter of Fate
Chapter 247 Merlin's Choice of Disciple: A Matter of Fate
When it comes to accepting disciples, each family has its own unique circumstances and methods.
In the past, the Meilin lineage selected disciples entirely based on the Thirteen Plum Blossom Oracle, a method of divination that was extremely accurate and passed down through generations.
Now that this inherited magical artifact has been destroyed, Elder Meilin pondered for a long time before finally deciding to spread the word about taking on disciples, setting up numerous challenges in order to select the truly destined person.
In the art of divination, innate talent is paramount; everything else is secondary.
Therefore, Elder Meilin was unconventional and unrestricted. Regardless of age, gender, or whether one was a mortal or a practitioner, anyone with a desire to learn was welcome to try.
This news immediately attracted many people from all directions.
On the day of accepting disciples, the foot of Wushan Mountain was bustling with activity and excitement.
As the master of the Mei Clan, one of the four major mountain ranges of Wushan, Elder Meilin's disciple-acceptance ceremony naturally attracts much attention.
Many people came from far and wide, wanting to catch a glimpse of the old man Merlin and to see what kind of person his newly accepted disciple would be.
Even people from the other three branches secretly came to try it; there were men, women, young and old.
In reality, there are many bystanders, and quite a few people with doubts choose to remain on the sidelines.
Many people felt that they were of mediocre talent and could not meet the eye of Elder Meilin. Therefore, the number of people who were truly determined to sign up and try their skills was less than expected.
Chu Lengyu and Yi Xiaoqi also arrived at the plum grove, ready to participate in this grand event.
This was Yi Xiaoqi's first time participating in such an event. She looked around curiously, her eyes filled with excitement, and she was secretly looking forward to it.
"Senior Chu, what do you think Elder Meilin's apprentice-acceptance ceremony will be like?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
Chu Lengyu smiled slightly and said, "You'll see soon enough."
Upon hearing this, Yi Xiaoqi nodded, but still couldn't help looking around.
In the plum grove nearby, the plum blossoms were blooming against the season, their fragrance filling the air.
People gathered or dispersed, exchanging ideas or admiring the plum blossoms, creating a lively scene.
The arrival of Chu Lengyu and Yi Xiaoqi did not attract much attention.
The two of them found a quiet place and waited quietly for the ceremony to begin.
Although Yi Xiaoqi felt a little uneasy, she was mostly looking forward to it.
Not long after, the old man Merlin slowly walked out, surrounded by several disciples.
He wore a dark green robe and held a wooden staff. He had a refined and scholarly air about him, and a touch of otherworldly elegance.
When the old man Merlin appeared, everyone calmed down and focused their attention on him.
The old man, Merlin, looked around and smiled warmly. He said slowly, "Thank you all for taking the time to attend my apprenticeship ceremony. I am deeply grateful."
Although his voice was not very loud, it reached everyone's ears clearly, and everyone listened intently, afraid of missing a single word.
"Today, I will accept a personal disciple here to inherit my mantle."
As Elder Merlin finished speaking, everyone's faces showed excitement, and they curiously guessed who would ultimately stand out and become Elder Merlin's only true disciple, the future master of the Merlin lineage.
The old man, Merlin, continued, "Before the ceremony begins, I have one more thing to announce."
Upon hearing this, everyone's attention became even more focused, eager to hear what Elder Merlin had to announce.
The old man's gaze slowly swept across the crowd, finally settling on Chu Lengyu.
Seeing that Chu Lengyu was keeping a low profile and not stepping out in front of others, he did not reveal her identity.
However, when his gaze fell on Yi Xiaoqi, he couldn't help but look at her a few more times.
Her breathing was slightly uneven, as if she had just consumed some rare and precious herbs, but had not been able to fully digest and absorb them.
The old man Merlin withdrew his gaze and continued, "To thank everyone for coming, I will share some insights on cultivation after the ceremony."
Everyone was even happier upon hearing this.
To hear the cultivation insights of a master of innate cultivation is a rare opportunity, and their trip was truly worthwhile.
Seeing that the crowd's emotions had been stirred, Elder Merlin announced the official start of the ceremony.
Several of Merlin's disciples then brought over a wooden table, placed several divination sticks on it, and stood guard to the side.
The old man Merlin said kindly, "I have pondered deeply and designed four checkpoints."
"This first challenge is extremely simple. All you need to do is come forward and draw a lot. If you draw a bamboo lot with a plum blossom drawn on it, you will pass the challenge."
“Each lot is the same, and you can choose freely. There are more than two hundred plum blossom lots in total, so the chances of drawing one are quite high.”
"Note that you can only draw a bamboo stick once, and you cannot go back on your word or exchange it with others." Old Man Meilin solemnly reminded everyone.
"Is it that simple?" Everyone was eager to try.
The first person to step forward and draw lots was a young practitioner.
He took a deep breath, pulled a bamboo stick from the divination tube, turned it over, and saw a small plum blossom mark drawn on the bottom.
"I won! I won!" The young cultivator waved the bamboo stick in his hand excitedly, his excitement overflowing.
Seeing this, everyone was even more eager to step forward and try it.
Following closely behind, the second and third people also stepped forward to draw lots, but unfortunately, they did not have the same good luck as the first young cultivator. They all drew blank bamboo slips and had to leave disappointed.
More and more people stepped forward to try, and among them were some lucky ones who drew plum blossom fortune sticks. They were overjoyed and excited.
However, many more people were eliminated. Holding blank bamboo slips, they dejectedly retreated to the side, filled with helplessness at the result, and secretly cursed that using a lottery as a hurdle was too frivolous.
Yi Xiaoqi looked at those who had passed the test with some envy and said in a low voice, "Senior Chu, I also want to try."
Chu Lengyu nodded and encouraged, "Go if you want to, there's no need to worry about the outcome."
Yi Xiaoqi mustered her courage and stepped forward to draw lots.
She took a deep breath and pulled a bamboo stick from the divination tube, only to find it empty.
Her heart tightened, as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
She quickly flipped it over and luckily found a small red plum blossom.
"I...I won!" Yi Xiaoqi exclaimed excitedly, overwhelmed by the surprise.
Chu Lengyu smiled and nodded, congratulating her.
Yi Xiaoqi was overjoyed. She hadn't expected to actually win the draw, which boosted her confidence.
Finally, after everyone who wanted to try had drawn lots, the old man Merlin announced the end of the first trial.
"Congratulations on passing the test. Next, you will enter the second test," said the old man Merlin with a smile.
Upon hearing this, everyone was excited and eagerly awaited what challenges would come next.