Chapter Twelve: The Eccentric Third Senior Brother

Ji Mo was swept up by Lei Wei, feeling a sudden lightness under her feet and darkness before her eyes. Her senses seemed blocked, and when she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing atop a grand, majestic peak. Steadying herself, she looked around. Aside from the summit beneath her feet, countless other peaks rose all around—some perilous, some magnificent, some lush and green, others fiery red. Mist and clouds curled between the peaks, layer upon layer, creating a landscape akin to a celestial realm.

The air here was imbued with an invisible flow of energy, and as it washed over Ji Mo’s body, all her pores opened in a sensation of indescribable comfort. She couldn’t help but close her eyes lightly, stretching out her hands to embrace the feeling, as if every pore was leaping with joy.

This must be spiritual energy, Ji Mo mused silently. In truth, spiritual energy existed throughout the land of the Azure Profound cultivation world, but in her home village, Zhao Family Village, which belonged to the mortal realm, it was so sparse it could be ignored. Compared to the Moonwatch Sect, the difference was vast.

“Well, little girl, are you satisfied with the environment here?” Lei Wei glanced at her, seeing her eyes closed with a look of bliss on her face. He reached out to tap her on the head, teasing with a laugh.

“I am satisfied. Now I finally understand why everyone wants to cultivate immortality. Even if one doesn’t gain much skill, just living in such an environment would prolong an ordinary person’s life by decades,” Ji Mo opened her eyes and spoke with an air of wisdom far beyond her years.

“Haha, little girl, the joys of cultivation aren’t merely about extending life. You’ll understand in time. By the way, I don’t think you’ve told me your name yet,” Lei Wei laughed heartily.

“Ji Mo,” she replied.

“Ji Mo? You’re not from Zhao Family Village?” Lei Wei was surprised.

“No, my parents were outsiders. They brought me to Zhao Family Village when I was very young, but I don’t remember anything from before. I don’t know where my ancestral home is. When I was five, my parents passed away from illness, and since then Uncle Zhao Changfeng has raised me,” Ji Mo briefly explained her background.

Lei Wei raised his brows slightly, silently regarding Ji Mo. When he didn’t respond for a while, Ji Mo couldn’t help but ask, “Immortal Elder, are you hesitating to keep me because my origins are unclear?”

“Little girl, has anyone ever told you that thinking too much makes children less adorable?” Lei Wei couldn’t help but laugh at her—though just eight years old, she acted with the gravity of a little adult. He flicked her forehead gently.

Ji Mo winced at the pain, glaring at Lei Wei, then answered solemnly, “No one has told me that. Before I was five, I had nothing to worry about and didn’t need to guess at others’ thoughts. After five, I became a fool. Only recently have I regained my wits, and haven’t yet had the chance to put my intelligence to use.”

“Haha, well, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to show your intelligence now. I have four disciples, all eccentric in their own ways. If you’re too meek, you’ll be bullied without recourse. As for your origin, with your talent, even in first or second-rate sects, many powerful cultivators would vie to take you as their disciple. While Moonwatch Sect enjoys some prestige in the Cloud Sea Dynasty, in the grand scheme of the Azure Profound cultivation world, it’s not much. Even if someone wanted to target Moonwatch Sect, they wouldn’t send a prodigy like you as a spy. So, little girl, you’re overthinking it,” Lei Wei laughed heartily, his eyes and brows full of mirth. His features were rugged and stern, intimidating when serious, but once he smiled, a strange charm blossomed about him.

Ji Mo felt thoroughly annoyed—was her comment really that amusing? But Lei Wei seemed unconcerned with her worries. When his laughter subsided, he took Ji Mo’s hand and strode toward a distant mountain peak. This peak was at least a hundred yards away from where Ji Mo stood, shrouded in clouds, with a deep chasm between them.

Ji Mo’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest, yet before she knew it, she had passed through layers of mist, her feet touching solid ground. Before her stood a three-story palace about twenty meters wide, built entirely from fiery red stone, with two courtyards front and back, occupying roughly five hundred square meters. Lei Wei pointed at the palace and said, “Ji Mo, this is your master’s residence.”

“Master’s residence? Immortal Elder, I don’t think I’ve performed the apprenticeship ceremony yet,” Ji Mo was momentarily stunned.

“Haha, on Thunder Peak we’re not so particular. The ceremony can wait. Since I’ve personally brought you here, it means you’re already my fifth official disciple. You have two senior brothers and two senior sisters ahead of you. But today, only Senior Sister Chu and Senior Brother Lin are on Thunder Peak; Senior Sister Feng and Senior Brother Su are away traveling,” Lei Wei laughed.

“Master, are there only five of us on Thunder Peak?” Ji Mo’s nose tinged with sourness. She had been taken as a disciple because of her unique, mutated dual spiritual roots, with no say in the matter, and hadn’t felt much excitement or attachment to Lei Wei. Yet after a brief encounter, she found this seemingly rough and domineering immortal to be a warm-hearted elder. In just a short time, she felt that perhaps having such a master wasn’t a bad thing after all.

“Of course not. Though I have only five disciples, besides me, Thunder Peak has five elders. Each elder has over a dozen disciples, and those disciples have their own followers. Altogether, Thunder Sect has hundreds of official disciples, and even more servant disciples,” Lei Wei explained.

“Oh, so my status on Thunder Peak is actually quite high? Hehe, at first I thought I’d be the youngest here, but now it seems when I meet the disciples of my senior brothers and sisters, they’ll have to call me ‘uncle,’” Ji Mo realized the implication, unable to suppress her laughter.

“Master, is this the little junior sister you fought so hard to bring back? Tsk, tsk, such a tiny thing, and already wants to be called ‘uncle’—what an appetite,” a lazy voice sounded behind them before Lei Wei could reply.

Ji Mo turned to see a young man, about twenty years old, with a roguish expression and a lazy demeanor, strolling over. Ji Mo tilted her head, sized him up curiously, and asked, “You’re Senior Brother Lin? Why do you look so much like you’re asking for a beating?”

“Haha, this rascal always looks like that. Xiao Mo, with your outstanding talent, as long as you train hard, it won’t be long before you can chase him all over the place,” Lei Wei laughed heartily once again at Ji Mo’s words.

“Master, your preference for the new over the old is truly swift. Back when you first brought me home, I was your treasure. But now, after just a hundred years, you toss me aside like worn-out shoes. How is your disciple supposed to bear it?” The lazy youth feigned heartbreak, clutching his chest dramatically.

Without a word, Lei Wei kicked him, sending him flying like a cannonball into a nearby peak with a thunderous crash. Still livid, Lei Wei scolded, “Brat, how many times have I told you—not to act like a sissy in front of me? Next time I see it, I’ll make sure you can’t take care of yourself for three years!”

The young man bounced back from the mountain, completely unscathed, dusted off his robe, and turned his gaze to Ji Mo, speaking slowly to sow discord, “Little junior sister, you see how fierce our master is? Don’t let his gentle appearance fool you.”

Ji Mo stared in shock. Was this really the way master and disciples interacted on Thunder Peak? Fierce indeed!