"Sorry, I'm not taking disciples!"
Mebius refused without even thinking about it.
What a joke. Take on a disciple?
She had come to the Luofu bearing a serious mission, not to play house with children!
Did Yunli even know how old this body of hers was? And she still wanted to become her disciple?
Instantly, Yunli's expression froze. She clearly had not expected to be rejected so bluntly.
Then a layer of mist swiftly gathered in her bright eyes.
"W-Why not?" Yunli's voice was already trembling, her lips pursed as she tried hard not to cry.
But acting pitiful was useless!
When Mebius said no, she meant no.
Wasn't it just a few little pearls falling from her eyes? If Yunli pushed her too far, she'd cry too!
And yet Yunli kept pressing her attack.
"Dragon Lady Sis, I'm really very well-behaved! I won't cause you any trouble! I can cook, I can clean, I can—I can do lots and lots of work!"
"I said I'm not taking you." Mebius bit off the last piece of bird skewer meat and casually tossed the stick aside. "You're not Vidyadhara. There's nothing I can teach you."
"Then you can teach me swordsmanship!" Yunli refused to give up and stepped closer again. "The way you used one finger to tap that Borisin just now—you definitely understand sword arts too, right?"
This time, Mebius gave Yunli a slightly more impressed look.
Ha, Yunli—you actually dare say something like that just to get a teacher?
"I don't, I don't, I don't!" Mebius still refused flatly.
Just as Yunli was about to try yet again, another figure arrived at the two girls' side.
It was an elderly man.
He had a lean frame and wore a dark gray short robe.
Yunli's footsteps stopped at once. "G-Grandpa?!"
The old man turned around.
It was none other than Huaiyan, the Zhuming's general.
"Yunli, are you alright? I heard there was trouble over here in Exalting Sanctum, so I rushed over as fast as I could."
"Grandpa, I'm fine!" Yunli answered immediately. "This Dragon Lady Sis is the one who saved me!"
Huaiyan's gaze shifted to Mebius. His cloudy yet still sharp eyes lingered on her for a moment, especially on the dragon horns peeking out from beneath her hood.
"So this is Miss Mebius, the one who came from Yuanqiao? A pleasure indeed."
As he spoke, Huaiyan bowed again, offering the young Dragon High Elder the courtesy of an equal. "This old man is Huaiyan, General of the Xianzhou Zhuming, and Yunli's grandfather."
"For what happened today, many thanks to Miss Mebius for lending aid."
Mebius raised her eyes and looked at him.
So Jing Yuan had already shared her information with him.
"No need to thank me. It was just a casual move. I'd have saved anyone if they were standing there."
Huaiyan smiled and did not bother with more empty pleasantries.
He shifted his gaze away from Mebius and back to his granddaughter.
But before he could say anything, Yunli jumped in first.
"Grandpa, Grandpa, help me persuade Dragon Lady Sis to accept me as her disciple, please!"
Yes, Yunli was trying to get her grandfather to plead for her.
After all, however much Huaiyan resembled an ordinary old man, his identity as one of the Marshal's Arbiter-Generals was real.
If her grandfather asked on her behalf, then maybe Dragon Lady Sis would actually agree.
It was a shameless tactic, sure, but Yunli couldn't help it—she had been completely captivated by Mebius's methods!
She was absolutely obsessed!
Yet Huaiyan, unlike how Yunli had imagined, did not indulge her.
"Yunli, do not be rude."
Yunli's mouth drooped immediately. The moisture in her eyes thickened, on the verge of spilling over.
"But Grandpa—"
"Taking a disciple is a matter of affinity and mutual willingness." Huaiyan reached out and gently patted Yunli's head, the warmth of his palm calming her slightly. "Since Miss Mebius said no, then the answer is no. If you keep pestering her here, you'll only lose your manners."
"And besides, do you even know how old Miss Mebius is?"
Yunli blinked, suddenly unsure what her grandfather was getting at.
A bad feeling rose in her heart.
Could it be that this Dragon Lady Sis wasn't a big sister at all, but some Dragon Lady grandma from the same generation as Grandpa?
A loli grandma?
The more Yunli thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
Yet it was Mebius who shattered Yunli's fantasy.
"I'm three this year," she said.
Yunli: !!!!!!
It was like a bolt of thunder had struck her from the sky. She nearly jumped on the spot.
"T-Three?!"
How could she possibly be only three?
Sure, this Dragon Lady Sis did look very small, but how could someone with strength like that actually be younger than her?
And that much younger?
The loli grandma had turned out to be a real loli.
Mebius calmly swallowed the last piece of bird skewer, folded up the oil paper wrapper twice, and tucked it into her sleeve.
"Modesty aside, I am three years old and already possess the cultivation of an Emanator."
Honestly, in this ridiculously belief-driven universe, there probably really wasn't anyone more of a genius than she was.
Not even the Trailblazer could compare.
At once, Yunli's expression became wonderfully complicated.
First came shock, then disbelief, then confusion, and finally everything turned into a deep sense of defeat rising from the depths of her soul.
Three years old.
She had just been pestering a three-year-old child to take her as a disciple.
And that same three-year-old had rejected her, and she'd almost cried over it.
Yunli's face turned bright red.
"Th-that, I—I didn't…" she stammered, trying to explain, only to realize she had no idea what to say.
"It's fine." Mebius was unusually magnanimous and waved a hand. "I'm used to it already. Besides, as a strong person, I'm very self-aware."
And she really was used to it.
Ever since she arrived on the Luofu, everyone made the same face when they learned her age.
First Bailu, then Jing Yuan, then Lingsha, and now Yunli.
Every last one of them acted as if a three-year-old Dragon High Elder was something incomprehensible.
"Yunli," Huaiyan said from above her, his tone carrying helpless affection, "do you understand now? Miss Mebius may be exceptionally strong, but in terms of age, she's far younger than you. If you took her as your master, what would people say if word got out?"
Yunli pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Of course she understood what her grandfather meant.
If she took a three-year-old child as her master, then once it got back to the Zhuming, her title of "once-in-a-century genius" would probably turn into one huge joke.
"But Dragon Lady Sis is really amazing!" Yunli muttered unwillingly.
"Grandpa, you didn't see it just now! That azure dragon was so huge and so long, coiling through the sky! With one sweep of its tail it boxed in all the Borisin!"
She spread her arms wide to mimic the size, stars practically sparkling in her eyes.
"And Dragon Lady Sis can fly! She stood on the dragon's head and flew! It was so cool!"
As Huaiyan listened to his granddaughter's description, his gaze lingered on Mebius for a few seconds longer.
Even though he hadn't personally arrived in time, he had still seen the enormous azure dragon Mebius summoned.
And judging from the aura it gave off, it had already surpassed the Zhuming's own Yanting-Jun.
One had to remember—that was merely her summon.
Huaiyan could hardly imagine what level of power this little Dragon High Elder would reach if she ever fought at full strength.
For a moment, Huaiyan became even more curious about Yuanqiao.
Still, right now, just after the Borisin attack, it was hardly the right time to continue chatting.
So the group parted ways there.
For Mebius, however, today had not really ended in a perfect fashion.
Sure, she had successfully shown off in public and made a grand display of herself on the Luofu.
But she had finally managed to sneak out on her own, only to have her good mood ruined by a bunch of Borisin.
Unexpectedly, after Mebius returned home, Lingsha did not say a single word about how Mebius had broken their agreement and slipped out behind her back.
Then again, it made sense. Mebius had technically gone out and done a righteous deed. Lingsha might be a bit of a mother hen, but she wasn't some fossilized old prude.
And yet, later that very afternoon, another group came calling.
There were three of them.
The one in front wore a dark teal robe embroidered at the hem with Vidyadhara cloud motifs. At his waist hung a white jade token marked with the characters for Vidyadhara.
Behind him stood two younger Vidyadhara, one male and one female, both keeping their eyes lowered while carrying several brocade boxes.
"My name is Tao Feng, of the Vidyadhara clan," the man announced from outside the courtyard gate. His voice was pitched just loud enough to be heard clearly within. "By order of the dragon elders, we have come to pay our respects to the Dragon High Elder who appeared in Exalting Sanctum today."
Hm… the Vidyadhara moved quickly.
Mebius, lounging in the courtyard, was a little surprised.
Of course, after her not-at-all-low-key performance at noon, she had already expected some kind of visit from them sooner or later.
But she truly hadn't expected those dragon elders to be so impatient.
She had only just finished cleaning up those monsters at noon, and now they were here in the afternoon. It really did seem like the Vidyadhara's current situation was not especially stable.
Still, Mebius had little interest in dealing with them personally right now.
So she decided to leave it to Lingsha.
Lingsha poked her head out from the kitchen, still holding a bunch of scallions she hadn't had time to wash.
She glanced at the three people standing outside the gate, then looked over at Mebius, who was sprawled on the daybed digesting her meal.
Very quickly, Lingsha understood the purpose of their visit, and her brows drew together slightly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.
At once, Tao Feng's attention shifted to Lingsha.
"Oh? Isn't this Danzhu?" he said. "It's been many years. I never expected that even you would return to the Luofu."
Lingsha frowned and finally looked more directly at the leading Vidyadhara.
She did have some vague memory of Tao Feng, but when she left the Luofu she had still been very young, so she remembered little.
If she had to say anything at all, it was only that he was some clansman over twenty years older than she was.
"Mr. Tao Feng, I'm no longer called Danzhu. You may call me Lingsha."
Tao Feng looked mildly surprised, though he didn't press it. "Ah, then I was the one being rude, Miss Lingsha."
Then he took two deliberate steps closer. "Still, since it's you here, that actually makes things easier."
"Would Miss Lingsha happen to be willing to tell us what exactly is going on with the Dragon High Elder inside?"
"I don't recall any of the other four High Elders from the other Xianzhou ships looking like this. Could this perhaps be some secret Alliance project?"
As expected, these people had come for Mebius, and with extremely clear intentions at that.
"Sorry, Mr. Tao Feng." Lingsha set down the scallions in her hand, her tone flat. "This concerns confidential matters of the entire Xianzhou Alliance. I have no authority to disclose them."
The smile on Tao Feng's face stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned. "Miss Lingsha jests. We are all Vidyadhara, and that lady is a Dragon High Elder. How could such a matter be considered confidential?"
"If the General has ordered it kept secret, then it is secret," Lingsha replied without giving an inch. "Please leave."
In truth, Lingsha understood their intentions all too well.
The current state of the Luofu Vidyadhara was rather delicate, and Bailu, though nominally Dragon High Elder, possessed only half the strength of one.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, the Luofu had gained another Dragon High Elder who was astonishingly powerful—and not one of the four currently known High Elders from the other ships.
Even if they had no schemes in mind, the dragon elders would still want to get to the bottom of it.
After all, the methods Mebius had displayed at noon were unmistakably of the same lineage as the High Elder Imbibitor Lunae in his prime.
But unfortunately for them, this concerned the Xianzhou Yuanqiao, and Jing Yuan had given special instructions. No matter what, Lingsha was not going to reveal a single word.
Tao Feng and the two younger Vidyadhara behind him exchanged glances, clearly not expecting to hit such a hard wall.
After a moment of silence, Tao Feng's gaze passed over Lingsha and landed on the small figure curled up on the daybed in the courtyard.
At that moment, Mebius turned over, presenting only her back to the gate, as though she hadn't heard any of the conversation at all.
"Well then, if Lingsha insists, we can only leave these humble gifts and hope the Dragon High Elder will accept them," Tao Feng said, signaling for the two behind him to set the brocade boxes down. His tone carried a faintly suggestive note.
"We will come to pay another visit on another day."
Lingsha did not stop them. She merely watched the three of them leave, and only once they disappeared around the corner did she bend down to pick up the boxes.
"Aren't you going to look inside?" Mebius's voice drifted over from the daybed.
Though, judging by the Vidyadhara's current state, Mebius didn't believe they could have sent anything truly impressive.
Lingsha opened one of the boxes. Inside lay a ginseng root of excellent quality, its fine roots perfectly intact, giving off a faint medicinal fragrance.
"They're all rare and valuable medicinal ingredients," Lingsha said as she shut the lid again, her tone unreadable. "The dragon elders were quite willing to pay a high price."
"Too bad I don't need them." Mebius rolled over and looked at her. "Where's Bailu? Did she go back?"
"Mhm. Yanqing escorted her back." Lingsha set the brocade boxes aside and sat down next to the daybed. "Miss Mebius, the commotion you caused in Exalting Sanctum today has probably spread through all of the Luofu by now."
"That's perfect," Mebius said, stretching lazily. "Saves me from having to meet everyone one by one."
Lingsha sighed and said nothing more.
Mebius might speak lightly, but Lingsha was not nearly so optimistic.
Jing Yuan had already implied enough to her regarding those dragon elders.
For centuries now, the dragon elders had held the real authority within the Luofu Vidyadhara. Bailu might bear the title of High Elder, but in practice she was constrained at every turn. She couldn't even leave the house without filing a report.
Now a foreign Dragon High Elder had appeared out of nowhere—one vastly stronger than Bailu, and beholden to none of the current factions. How could those old foxes possibly remain still?
And though Miss Mebius possessed power beyond what ordinary people could imagine, her age was, in the end, still only three.
If some ill-intentioned schemer really managed to trick or manipulate her, the consequences would be impossible to imagine.
"Lingsha," Mebius suddenly said, cutting into her thoughts.
"Hm?"
"What are we having for dinner?"
Lingsha froze for a moment, then laughed helplessly.
This little Dragon High Elder really did have the talent to ask the most grounded, mundane question possible at the least fitting times.
"You ate so much grilled meat at noon. Dinner should be lighter," Lingsha said, getting to her feet and walking toward the kitchen. "I'll make some porridge and stir-fry a couple small dishes."
"I don't want porridge." Mebius frowned. "I want meat."
"No," Lingsha refused again.
In the end, night gradually fell, and today, surely, would finish with another round of quarrelling between Mebius and Lingsha.
…As if.
A moonless night, dark and windy—such a perfect opportunity.
Rather than waste it sleeping, Mebius naturally intended to do something much more meaningful.
So, taking advantage of the fact that Lingsha had gone to sleep, Mebius slipped out once again all by herself.
She couldn't help it. She was just far too curious about what had happened at noon.
With the Luofu's Wardance ceremony about to begin, the only thing that should have been going on at this point—according to Mebius's memory—was the Borisin making some noise as they tried to rescue Hoolay, only to get elbow-dropped by Feixiao and end up as her experience points.
But judging from what had happened at noon, it looked like the Wardance had once again triggered hidden content thanks to her interference.
Without even having to think, she knew that with the Luofu's security—as famously permeable as a sieve—there had to be all sorts of Denizens of Abundance already mixed into the crowds.
Fortunately, Mebius had already anticipated this possibility.
She waved a hand grandly, and the blue dragon horns atop her head vanished instantly.
Then she temporarily shut down the Path of Permanence.
After that… she activated the Abundance she had borrowed from Cecilia.
Now—
She was the Saintess of the Denizens of Abundance!
My people, here I come!
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter250)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 80
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 70
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 80
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 57
The Uma Musume Who Became 55
I'm Definitely Not the King of 60
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 35
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 34
I, the Elden Sword Saint 27
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 24
No One Knows Pokémon Better 18
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 20
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