Cannon Fodder Cultivation Guide

Chapter 25 - The Struggle

No one could have predicted that the person who suddenly descended like a deity, bringing with him celestial music, would be Jiang Heng!

Who was Jiang Heng?

He was the peerless genius of the cultivation world, someone seen only once in a millennium. A super powerhouse who, before even reaching a thousand years of age, had already stepped into the Mahayana Realm. A figure whom the Yunxian Sect and all other cultivators could only revere in awe!

It wasn't just the other people who were momentarily unclear about what had just happened—even Qiao Chu found himself questioning his own ears. What did Jiang Heng just say?

He wanted to take Zhang Yiyi as his disciple?

Can someone please tell him if he heard wrong? Otherwise, why would his cheap senior brother, instead of staying in his cave to cultivate and striving to ascend to the upper realm to reunite with their master, come all the way here just to steal his disciple for fun?

"Senior Brother, why are you causing trouble? When did I say I wouldn't take her as my disciple? You already have two disciples, and now you want to fight me for this one? That's just not fair!"

Qiao Chu's face darkened as he looked at his smiling senior brother, pulling the dazed and frozen Zhang Yiyi behind him.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried. After all, with his senior brother's current cultivation, status, and position, no one could resist the allure and vanity of being personally accepted as his disciple.

Although Zhang Yiyi was exceptionally strong-willed, she was still young. It would be entirely normal for her to succumb to such an enormous temptation.

Rarely had Qiao Chu been so straightforward and anxious. His words immediately made the others realize that he had never actually been unwilling to take Zhang Yiyi as his disciple.

Moreover, the word "Senior Brother" reminded many people that Qiao Chu did indeed have an older Mahayana Realm senior brother. In fact, hundreds of years ago, his brilliance was no less than Jiang Heng's.

Could it be that the person who had just appeared, claiming to take Zhang Yiyi as his disciple, was truly Jiang Heng—the peerless genius who had reached the Mahayana Realm before a thousand years of age and was now the highest-ranked figure in their sect?

Just then, the sect master, Dongfang Bohong, along with several elders, hurried over upon hearing the news.

"Greetings, True Saint Jiang!"

Even the sect master and elders could not conceal their excitement and reverence upon seeing the rarely-seen True Saint Jiang.

The sect master's personal confirmation made Jiang Heng's identity undeniable.

The other disciples of the Yunxian Sect were beyond thrilled to know they had been fortunate enough to witness the appearance of such a powerful Mahayana cultivator.

"We greet True Saint Jiang!"

In an instant, everyone bowed to Jiang Heng, and the atmosphere of the competition arena was charged with excitement.

Zhang Yiyi would remember this scene for many years: Jiang Heng, like a god descended from the heavens, receiving the adoration of the masses, while Qiao Chu stood there, fuming with a scowl, completely ignored.

The contrast was painful.

"There's no need for such formalities."

Jiang Heng raised his hand slightly, signaling them to stop, before turning his attention to Qiao Chu and the young girl, Zhang Yiyi.

"You always keep your word, and since you said the girl must win the competition to become your disciple, you naturally can't go back on your word. I'll take her as my disciple on your behalf."

Jiang Heng was incredibly handsome, with lips that seemed to naturally carry a faint smile, giving off a constant warmth and approachability.

But Qiao Chu knew better—Jiang Heng was anything but approachable. Except for the few people he considered his own, Jiang Heng was nothing more than a smiling tiger to outsiders.

"That's a different matter. She had her reasons this time, and I can make an exception just once."

Qiao Chu, unlike the others, didn't show the same deference to Jiang Heng and spoke unhappily with a dark expression. "There's no need for you to take over this matter, Senior Brother. If you want to compete with me, then let's settle it the old way—with a fight!"

"Fighting won't do any good. Even if I suppressed my cultivation to the Nascent Soul stage, it would still be unfair to you."

Jiang Heng found it rare to see his junior brother so adamant about something. If it were anything else, he wouldn't argue, but accepting a disciple was too important, so he would owe his junior brother this time.

"Since we both want to take this young girl as a disciple, why not ask for her opinion and let her choose? Wouldn't that be fairer?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the petite and beautiful girl standing behind his junior brother.

The world of cultivation was indeed a place where appearances couldn't be trusted. Who would have thought that such a delicate girl would harbor such formidable strength and energy?

Before ascending, their master had divined that Jiang Heng would have two male and one "half-female" disciple in the lower realms—making three in total.

The reason for "half-female" was that this female disciple's fate was incredibly difficult to predict, with a life-and-death tribulation looming in her youth.

If she survived, she would naturally become his disciple. If she didn't, there would be no disciple to speak of.

After waiting so many years, Jiang Heng finally sensed the presence of his "half-female" disciple today, right within the Yunxian Sect. Her life-and-death tribulation had passed, and their master-disciple bond was now sealed.

Therefore, Zhang Yiyi was destined to fulfill his master's prophecy and become his disciple—it had nothing to do with his junior brother.

"..."

Qiao Chu was left speechless. Jiang Heng's proposal, which seemed fair but was utterly shameless, left him feeling utterly frustrated.

Fair? What fairness?

A Mahayana Realm True Saint standing beside a Nascent Soul cultivator, asking a little girl to choose—how was that fair?

Though he didn't think he was inferior to his senior brother, the gap in their current cultivation levels was undeniable, instantly putting him at a disadvantage.

People always aim higher. Anyone would choose the more powerful option. His senior brother was blatantly enticing Zhang Yiyi to "betray" him!

Yet, Qiao Chu was proud and knew that absolute fairness didn't exist in this world. If he couldn't accept this, how could he force himself to be her master?

"Zhang Yiyi, the choice is yours. Do you want to be my only disciple or his third?"

Qiao Chu turned to the dazed girl, forcing a smile that he believed to be kind.

His usual disdainful tactics were now fully employed. He emphasized that he would make her his "only disciple," contrasting it with his senior brother's "third disciple," highlighting the difference in importance.

He was making a public promise: if she chose him as her master, he wouldn't take any other disciples in the future, fully dedicating himself to nurturing her as his sole personal disciple.

The decision was hers to make.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Zhang Yiyi—the once unknown girl who was now so incredibly fortunate that even a Mahayana Realm cultivator was vying to take her as a disciple.