<h4>Chapter 59: First Disciple</h4>


    "You…wish to support me?" Asaeya was stunned by his deration, "Why? I mean, I do appreciate the support. But what made you decide it so quickly?"


    "Look at what you''ve drawn," In pointed at the rough sketches she was making and erasing on the palm-sized mud b, "All these are my techniques. Even without me teaching you anything, you were able to get this far. That means, with my support, you''ll grow even more."


    "You''re a princess and by far the most talented cultivator I witnessed." In spoke frankly, "If I decide to support you, I''ll be the first. Thereby, once you be the 43rd Settlement''s Lady Mother, my life will befortable."


    "So, a gamble, huh?" Asaeya muttered.


    "Not a gamble," In said in seriousness as he made eye contact, "I truly believe you can win the sessor race, Asaeya."


    "I don''t have a chance, not in the slightest." Asaeya sighed, "My older siblings are already in the Life Stage. They…"


    "They don''t have something that you will obtain." In pointed at her forehead, "You''re still a student. And there are still two years left until your graduation. As long as your contribution is significant enough, you''ll receive a reserve Pranic Beast egg that the n has been safeguarding."


    "That would at most be an Advance Silver Grade Pranic Beast egg." Asaeya shook her head, "All my oldest siblings possess one too."


    ''No, the Grim Knell is vastly stronger than any Silver Grade Pranic Beast.'' Of course, In didn''t reveal that. Instead, he expressed his sincerity, "Since your father hasn''t announced his sessor until now, it means he''s yet to be satisfied with the results brought by your older siblings. So, why not try to fight for it?"


    "Unless of course, you''re afraid." In made an expression as if he was disappointed, sighing grandly.


    "Huh? Excuse me? Who''s afraid?" Asaeya was triggered by his words, ring in anger, "Fine! I ept! And I''ll win the sessor race!"


    ''It doesn''t matter whether or not you win the sessor race. I want you to gain possession of the Grim Knell. That alone will make you one of the strongest in the Mammoth n.'' In thought. The majority of Pranic Beasts in Sumatra had a Primary Nature suitable for targeting their enemies individually.


    But the Grim Knell''s Primary Nature affected all targets in range. It was the perfect counter against creatures like the Mud Vipers and Zingers that attacked in swarms.


    Asaeya would obtain strategic value once she gains the power of the Grim Knell. Since he seeded in making her ept his proposal, In was content, ''Now, how do I best nurture her abilities?''


    In never worried about trust. He had a decentpetency in judging someone''s character. And with that, he realised that Asaeya wouldn''t betray him. He did feel bothered by her strangely high interest in him, almost bordering on a romantic level.


    He wasn''t a dense guy. But that didn''t mean he would reciprocate the emotion. Asaeya was barely a kid. His past life''s values forbade him from aiming for a kid.


    But In did notice that by the passage of every day, the greater he cultivated using the Mystic Bone Art, the more he was being assimted into this world''s culture, values, and mindset. Therefore, he felt that when Asaeya graduates from the Academy of Refinement and is considered an adult by the standards of this world, if she still decides to pursue him, his thoughts might change.


    ''Let''s not go that far with scenarios.'' In dumped all useless thoughts to the back of his head and focused on the task at hand.


    "Well, I''ll be frank with you, now that I''mpeting against my siblings." Asaeya calcted her position, "I''ll have to do a lot more than install some portraits at the academy. If I need to tick all the checks by the n, then…"


    After some murmurs, she stared at him, "Your working pace wouldn''t be sufficient."


    "That doesn''t matter." In smirked, "Two people can do it."


    "Two?" Asaeya was surprised, "There''s another person that can carve like you?"


    "Yeah," In pointed at her, "You''ll do it too."


    "I''ll teach it to you."


    "You…are you being serious?" Asaeya was serious.


    "Yup," In nodded, "You know what this means, right?"


    "Yeah,e here." Asaeya nodded and inched towards his face, intending to kiss him.


    ''I don''t want to go to jail!'' In shrieked mentally as he took a step back and behaved like he didn''t notice her actions—to avoid offending her. His brain spun into overdrive as he hurriedly looked at the ground and picked up a piece of mud.


    ''Am I that unattractive? Or is he dense?'' Asaeya quickly recovered as she coughed and adjusted the sleeves of her clothes, appearing unconcerned to hide her embarrassment.


    Mystic Bone Art—Sculptor!


    In worked on the piece of mud and transformed it into a badge. The badge was carved with the images of the four Spirit Weapons he used to carve. He granted it to Asaeya, "If you were to ept my teachings, it means you''ll officially be my disciple."


    ''Ah, that was what he was going on about.'' Asaeya sighed mentally, ''Mother, it seems it''ll take me a bit longer than I thought to make this guy fall for me. Well, he does have some charm. So, I''m not angry.''


    "Of course, it''s not just my carving skills. I''ll be teaching you many things since I am something of a genius myself." In boasted and extended the badge, "If you ept being my disciple, take this badge."


    A master-disciple rtionship was very valuable, since no master would ept someone else''s disciple under their tutge. This meant that for the rest of her life, Asaeya would only be able to inherit In''s skills.


    So, it had to be considered. She was a princess, Yahard Tusk''s daughter. In contrast, In was a mere Death Row Student, orphaned too. From an objective standpoint, she had nothing to gain from him. Instead, she''ll only lose out on a lot.


    ''But!'' Asaeya grabbed the badge and prostrated on the floor, offering her respects, "I greet my master."


    ''He isn''t boasting about being a genius. I can judge from his bodynguage that he truly feels that way. It means a lot,ing from a Death Row Student. Besides, just the uracy he disyed in his carving skills while using four Spirit Weapons is enough reason to be his disciple.'' Asaeya thought, ''Just by gaining that, I''m confident in surpassing my peers and eventually facing my oldest siblings.''


    "Great!" In grinned and sat down, motioning for her to sit across from him. "I''ll instruct you from the basics. There''s enough time and raw materials here for you to practice."


    With that, In began his sses, obtaining his first disciple in Sumatra.