The Beloved Master's Mad Dog Disciple - Chapter 20

The White Jade Token glowed with a faint, pure radiance, its texture smooth and delicate, like moonlight gently enveloping it. Holding the token, a faint stream of Spiritual Qi flowed into her meridians, making it clear this was no ordinary treasure.

Bo Xuenong cradled the White Jade Token, gazing at Shen Yanting with confusion. “Master, what is this?”

“The Heavenly Talent Register.”

Shen Yanting’s palm brushed lightly across the token, and suddenly her name appeared on its surface.

Each character, framed in shimmering gold, blazed with extraordinary brilliance. The White Jade Token suddenly felt heavy in Bo Xuenong’s hands as she stared, lost in thought, at Shen Yanting’s name.

In the current Cultivation World, the Three Great Sects reigned supreme. These sects jointly established the Divine Pavilion to maintain order, staffed by Supreme Elders who rarely showed themselves, primarily serving as a deterrent. The Heavenly Talent Register was one of the tools used to keep cultivators in check.

The Divine Pavilion maintained over twenty rankings for cultivators across the realm, including the Top 100 Sword Cultivators, Top 100 Pill Cultivators, Top 100 Demon Cultivators, the Heavenly Pride Ranking, and the Weapon Ranking. By constantly updating these rankings, they reminded those with rebellious intentions that there were always greater powers beyond their own.

Every cultivator who has ever appeared on a ranking list possesses a White Jade Token, also known as the Heavenly Talent Register.

Crafted from a special spiritual jade, the Heavenly Talent Register contains abundant spiritual energy and unique properties. It allows cultivators to check the real-time updates of their ranking lists at any time. The more lists a cultivator has appeared on, the more rankings they can access. Those who haven’t made the rankings must purchase the information.

Rumor has it that the Divine Pavilion sells over twenty different ranking lists separately, pricing them according to their prestige. For example, information on the Heavenly Pride Ranking is far more expensive than that of the Spirit Root Ranking. Similarly, rankings of top-tier sword cultivators from various Zong are priced much higher than those of Pill Cultivators. Each ranking list also offers multiple purchase options. The cheapest paper version doesn’t update in real-time, while the low-grade spirit stone version vanishes once its spiritual energy is depleted, with inconsistent updates. All versions of the Heavenly Talent Register sold by the Divine Pavilion are bound to the purchaser, recognizing only the one who paid for it.

Because purchased Heavenly Talent Registers cannot be shared, the Divine Pavilion’s business remains perpetually lucrative.

The Divine Pavilion openly profited from its operations, yet it remained immensely popular. Every two centuries, the pavilion distributed rewards to all those listed in the Heavenly Talent Register—targeted rewards tailored to each cultivator’s path. Sword cultivators received rare materials for forging swords, while Pill Cultivators obtained rare spiritual herbs. The higher one’s ranking, the more valuable the rewards.

Drawn by these incentives, the Divine Pavilion’s business only continued to flourish. To climb the rankings, cultivators first needed to know who else was on the list.

Those who had fallen off the register and had their Heavenly Talent Registers revoked became even more eager customers, purchasing new registers to prepare for their next attempt to reclaim their spot.

The Heavenly Talent Registers personally issued by the Divine Pavilion were considered rewards in themselves. Not only could they be shown to others, but the top ten ranked cultivators retained permanent ownership of their registers, granting them access to the latest rankings. Those who reached the top five could view detailed profiles of all listed cultivators beyond just their names, while the number one ranked cultivator could even access historical rankings. Many strived to climb the ranks simply to gain access to information about the Cultivation World’s most powerful figures.

Shen Yanting was one such cultivator who had once striven for higher rankings.

Her fingertip lightly tapped the golden characters on the White Jade Token. Suddenly, the token held by Bo Xuenong emitted a dazzling golden light.

As the light intensified, the token transformed into a stack of jade paper.

The top sheet of jade paper listed the rankings. Bo Xuenong had expected to see Shen Yanting’s name on the Heavenly Pride Ranking and the Sword Cultivator Ranking, but there were also rankings for Talisman Cultivators, Formation Cultivators, Beast Tamers, Spirit Tools, Divine Artifacts… Shen Yanting had actually appeared on thirteen different rankings, including four related to the path of Cultivation alone.

While Cultivation emphasized specializing in a single path, many talented cultivators learned other skills as combat techniques. Even the notoriously weak Pill Cultivators sometimes practiced swordsmanship for self-defense, though they lacked a Lifebound Sword, treating swords as disposable weapons.

Bo Xuenong knew Shen Yanting had studied other skills alongside her sword cultivation, but she hadn’t expected her other abilities to rank so highly. Still, she adapted quickly, exclaiming in admiration, “Master, you’re on so many rankings! How incredible!”

To her, it wouldn’t have been surprising even if Shen Yanting had topped every ranking. After all, Shen Yanting was a revered immortal, and it was only natural for her to excel in every discipline.

Yet this peerless genius had, in the original story, committed suicide because of her.

She didn’t deserve her in the slightest.

Bo Xuenong recalled the book’s ending, feeling a surge of anger rise within her. She tapped the Heavenly Pride Ranking, and the jade paper immediately flipped open to the ranking page. The Heavenly Pride Ranking listed the top cultivators under a thousand years old. Shen Yanting had long surpassed that age, but as a former top-five contender, her Heavenly Talent Register still displayed the latest rankings.

In the book, the Male Lead appeared in Scale Mountain County during his cultivation journey as a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. He was also the personal disciple of the Nethergate Sect’s Supreme Elder, living under the watchful eyes of the Divine Pavilion. His name was undoubtedly on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, but… she wondered where he ranked.

Shen Yanting had once ranked among the top five on the Heavenly Pride Ranking. A simple tap on a name on the list would reveal detailed information about the individual.

Bo Xuenong’s eyes immediately landed on He Yongda, who held the top spot. No wonder He Yongshi had seen Shen Yanting’s portrait in his elder brother’s Heavenly Talent Register. No wonder he was so arrogant—his brother was the current number one on the Heavenly Pride Ranking.

Fu Yunqing and Feng Jin, drawn by curiosity, crowded around her. Fu Yunqing pointed at He Yongda’s name, exclaiming in astonishment, “Heavens! The current number one on the Heavenly Pride Ranking is from the Heavenly Cuisine Sect? Are there no talents left in the Three Great Sects?”

Bo Xuenong subconsciously glanced at Shen Yanting, and only when she saw no change in her expression did she continue examining the ranking.

As she frantically searched for the Male Lead, Feng Jin suddenly reached out and gently tapped a name on the jade tablet.

The moment Feng Jin touched the name, the jade tablet emitted a golden light that coalesced into a scroll. The scroll slowly unfurled, revealing a portrait of a young woman.

The woman possessed exquisite features, her face dignified and refined, yet her eyes held the icy chill of a frozen pool, making her seem unapproachable. Beside the portrait, a line of small characters read: “Yu Cenwan, eighth on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, 514 years old. Formerly a disciple of the Pitying Silk Sect, she became a disciple of Sect Leader Mo Tingshu of the Cloudmist Sect two centuries ago. Pill Cultivator, Fifth-Grade Pill Refiner in the Nascent Soul Stage…”

She was also a disciple of Mo Tingshu.

Upon closer inspection, Bo Xuenong noticed a certain resemblance between Yu Cenwan and Shen Yanting. Both possessed peerless beauty, but while Shen Yanting’s demeanor was as cool and refined as jade, Yu Cenwan’s was as cold and aloof as snow.

Too cold.

Even through a mere portrait, Bo Xuenong could feel the chilling aura.

She never experienced such a sensation when facing Shen Yanting; at most, she would unconsciously become more respectful.

Shen Yanting was also studying the portrait. When she saw that the woman was a disciple of Mo Tingshu, her eyes gradually filled with admiration. “Master… Sect Leader Mo has taken a new disciple.”

For five centuries, Shen Yanting had revolved entirely around Bo Xuenong. Had she not been about to descend the mountain, she would never have bothered to open the Heavenly Talent Register. This was the first time she had ever seen her Junior Sister.

Bo Xuenong could tell that Shen Yanting had almost called her “Master,” but changed it to “Sect Leader Mo” at the last moment.

Shen Yanting’s gaze held both admiration and a hint of nostalgia. It was clear she was thinking of her own Master. Bo Xuenong didn’t know what to say to comfort Shen Yanting, who had left her Sect and family for her sake. She could only mutter silently to herself: Master, just wait a little longer! Once I die, you’ll be free!

Her resolve to die was unwavering. Before she could even swear an oath, Feng Yingbo suddenly pointed at the portrait and exclaimed, “Hey! I know her! She saved me once!”

Bo Xuenong and Shen Yanting both turned to look at Feng Yingbo. Feng Yingbo gently bit the tip of her index finger, scrutinizing the portrait intently, and unconsciously shook her head. “This portrait isn’t right. I remember her being quite gentle, with vines twining around her skin and a green fruit on her head. Hmm…”

Hearing about the vines and green fruit, Bo Xuenong immediately realized:

Yu Cenwan is the Female Lead!

Did Feng Jin deliberately show me this?

Bo Xuenong instinctively glanced at Feng Jin, who nervously retreated several steps, fear evident in her eyes. Her inner thoughts echoed aloud:

Ahhh, why has Eldest Senior Sister been staring at me so much lately? It’s really terrifying! Don’t look at me, look at the Female Lead! Hurry up and remember that the Female Lead is Martial Aunt Shen’s Junior Sister! That way, she might not want to kill the Female Lead, right? The Female Lead is so pitiful! Because of the guilt from causing the Male Lead to lose his senses as a child, she died for him eight times! Just thinking about it hurts! I don’t think she loves the Male Lead; she just has an overwhelming sense of morality… But all of Mo Tingshu’s disciples seem to be like that. If Martial Uncle Shen had a weaker sense of morality in the book, he wouldn’t have needed to commit suicide. After all, the Male Lead wasn’t actually killed by the Eldest Senior Sister, was he?

Bo Xuenong’s intense gaze made Feng Jin increasingly uneasy, her thoughts growing louder and more chaotic.

Feng Jin lowered her head and hurried back to Shen Yanting’s side, swiping twice more across the Heavenly Talent Register.

Shen Yanting, sensing that Feng Jin wouldn’t act without reason, turned her attention back to the jade paper. This time, the paper projected an image of a young man, handsome and distinguished. Yet the moment Bo Xuenong saw his face, she felt a surge of irritation. Glancing at his information only deepened her annoyance.

Cheng Huaizhou, ranked 28th on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, 514 years old, personal disciple of Supreme Elder Sang Fan of the Nethergate Sect… the Male Lead!

No wonder he was so irritating—he was destined to die by her sword.

Bo Xuenong instinctively reached for the Suspended Ink Sword at her waist.

Her murderous intent surged, forcing her to lower her head to conceal it from Shen Yanting.

Though she tried to hide her reaction quickly, Shen Yanting still noticed.

Bo Xuenong unconsciously reached for her sword whenever she felt the urge to kill, a habit she herself likely hadn’t realized.

This sudden surge of murderous intent made Shen Yanting’s gaze linger on Cheng Huaizhou’s image. He appeared to be an unremarkable young cultivator. The most striking detail was the phrase “personal disciple of Supreme Elder Sang Fan of the Nethergate Sect.” The mention of Sang Fan’s name caused Shen Yanting’s eyes to turn icy.

Five hundred years ago, the Sect Leaders of the Three Great Sects convened to discuss the matter of raising Little Ferocious Beasts. Their initial consensus was that Bo Xuenong could live as long as she remained true to her nature and refrained from devouring humans. Other Little Ferocious Beasts with similar Bloodlines could then be gradually released. Most participants agreed, and the decision seemed settled. However, Sang Fan suddenly accused them of excessive leniency toward the feral beasts, stormed out of the meeting, and swayed some opinions. Ultimately, Bo Xuenong’s fate was altered to its current state.

Sang Fan was the Supreme Elder of the Nethergate Sect, and the Suspended Ink Sword had been gifted by the Sect Leader of the Nethergate Sect.

The Nethergate Sect…

Shen Yanting felt a growing sense of unease. She reached toward the Suspended Ink Sword at Bo Xuenong’s waist, but the moment her hand moved, Bo Xuenong sensed it and abruptly looked up. “M-Master!”

Bo Xuenong was genuinely startled by Shen Yanting’s attempt to touch her sword. She feared Shen Yanting had seen through her surging murderous intent and was trying to seize the blade. She dreaded that her Master would discover she hadn’t become the obedient disciple she had hoped for, but had instead been corrupted by her Bloodline into a bloodthirsty killer.

She loosened her grip on the Suspended Ink Sword, subtly pressing it against her waist with her arm. Her eyes flickered with confusion. “Master, what’s wrong?”

Shen Yanting saw through Bo Xuenong’s attempt to feign innocence. Instead of provoking her further by seizing the sword or exposing her pretense, she calmly withdrew her hand. Without answering Bo Xuenong’s question, she simply left her with a solemn instruction: “Nong’er, you must live.”

Bo Xuenong didn’t immediately nod as Shen Yanting had expected. Her pupils constricted sharply, and she looked up in astonishment. “Master, do I really have to live?”

Shen Yanting frowned and nodded firmly. “Absolutely.”

“Ah?” Bo Xuenong panicked completely, her hands fluttering between her knuckles and the hem of her robe, pleading in a flustered tone, “Master, I… can I not live? No, that’s not what I mean. It’s just that I…”

Shen Yanting watched Bo Xuenong’s helpless demeanor, suddenly realizing she might not understand her disciple as well as she thought.

Where did things go wrong? Why does Bo Xuenong seem reluctant to live?

Shen Yanting couldn’t pinpoint the reason, but she knew how to silence Bo Xuenong.

She took two steps forward, standing directly before Bo Xuenong, her calm, unwavering gaze reflecting only Bo Xuenong’s image.

Raising her hand, Shen Yanting gently stroked Bo Xuenong’s head, her fingers gliding through the soft strands of hair. “Nong’er, you must be good.”

The unique, cool fragrance wafted from Shen Yanting’s wrist. Bo Xuenong’s nose twitched slightly, her consciousness seeming to be completely bound. At the command to “be good,” she nodded frantically. “Master, I’m good! I’m very good!”