19: Can I not have this apprentice?

The unique scent of sulfur mixed with blood from the Demon Realm hadn't completely dissipated yet. The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, carrying Lin Xuan, swiped its claws, tearing open another rift, and plunged into the next target: the Mortal Realm.

As soon as they landed, Lie Tian Divine Tiger took a deep breath, then its entire tiger face scrunched up into a bun: "Roar!"

Lin Xuan couldn't help but twitch his nose. The air was thick with an overpowering scent of incense, mixed with sandalwood, butter lamps, and... well, probably the smell of cassocks that hadn't been washed in centuries? As far as the eye could see, resplendent temples were everywhere, like they were free, covering the mountains. The glazed tiles on the rooftops shimmered blindingly in the sunlight. In the distance, on a colossal peak that pierced the clouds, stood a gigantic golden Buddha, reaching to the heavens, its Buddha's Light shining everywhere, with waves of Sanskrit chants buzzing into one's mind.

The Buddhist Realm? Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes instantly activated, scanning for the SSS-level fluctuation indicated by the system. This scan nearly blinded him.

The source of the fluctuation wasn't in some eminent monk's meditation room, nor in a dusty corner of the scripture repository; it was, surprisingly... at the foot of the mountain! In a bustling, noisy market filled with vendors and a strong smell of everyday life!

In the busiest part of the market, in front of a stall selling fried tofu balls, people were gathered three deep. In the center of the crowd, a shiny, bald little head was particularly conspicuous.

The young monk looked to be only thirteen or fourteen, wearing an old monastic robe, sitting cross-legged on a small stool, with a chipped, broken bowl in front of him. His small face was round, his eyes were huge, blinking, and he looked particularly innocent and harmless. But that mouth... oh my, it never stopped!

"Amitabha! Benefactor! I see darkness in your fortune, and a peach blossom calamity on your face. Have you recently encountered a bothersome female benefactor? Don't panic, don't panic! This humble monk has an enchanted Heart-Cleansing Talisman here, not for ninety-nine-point-eight, but for only nine coppers! It guarantees your heart will be calm and cool, and your peach blossoms will turn into fleeting clouds! Hey, hey! That female benefactor, don't leave! Your forehead is full and your jaw is square, a clear sign of a prosperous wife! Come, come, this humble monk will tell your fortune for free! Consider it building good karma... Oh! Benefactor, you stepped on my foot! Stepping on it is no big deal, but your shoe sole has cow dung on it, right? This is filth! Filth on a Buddha's body is a sin, a sin! This humble monk must recite the Pure Karma Mantra three times to ward off disaster for you, no extra charge, just one copper for my trouble..."

Good heavens! That little mouth just kept going, like a machine gun! His speaking speed was astonishingly fast, and the content was incredibly jumpy, from fortune-telling to selling talismans, from physiognomy to accusing someone of stepping on his foot, all without taking a breath! The key was, people were actually throwing copper coins into his broken bowl! Clinking and clanking non-stop!

Lin Xuan's Law-Breaking Sword Eyes saw it clearly. Inside this young monk, a golden Buddhist power origin, pure to the extreme, carrying a hint of compassion, yet subtly exuding great wisdom, was locked by an extremely profound and intricate Buddhist seal. SSS-level talent — Bodhi Buddha Heart! This talent, if placed within the Buddhist Realm, would absolutely be a Buddha in training! But this outward manifestation... Lin Xuan's mouth twitched violently. Is this a chatterbox monk? Or a highly capable street charlatan?

"Target confirmed, it's him." Lin Xuan inwardly lit a candle for the system. This disciple... his style seems a bit off?

Just as he was pondering how to approach and retrieve the person, a commotion suddenly erupted at the other end of the market!

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"

"Disciplinary Hall enforcement! Unrelated persons, step aside!"

More than a dozen bald warrior monks, clad in bright yellow monastic robes, wielding disciplinary staffs, and with fierce expressions, aggressively pushed through the crowd! The scarred warrior monk leader at the front pointed menacingly at the still-spitting young monk: "Kong Ming! It's you again, you little bald donkey! Incorrigible, spreading heresy and gathering wealth in the market again! Disgracing the reputation of our Great Thunderclap Temple! Seize him!"

Whoosh! The warrior monks pounced like wolves and tigers!

That young monk, Kong Ming, reacted incredibly fast! His round body, like a loach, slipped out from between two warrior monks in a flash, and while running, he didn't forget to shout: "Oh dear! Senior Brother Huichen! You're wrong! This humble monk is spreading the Dharma and saving all sentient beings! Sentient beings have doubts, this humble monk resolves them, and collecting a little money for my trouble to buy tofu, how is that accumulating wealth? Even the Buddha said to give according to one'sedge! This bowl of mine is theedge! Besides, your Disciplinary Hall always has such stern, fierce faces, scaring away all the pilgrims, and when the temple's incense money decreases, who does the abbot blame? Isn't it because you don't know how to manage! If you ask me, you should learn from me, put down your airs, go deep among the people, and mingle with the pilgrims..."

He ran incredibly fast, his mouth chattering like spilling beans, spewing a barrage of twisted logic that left the warrior monks dizzy and enraged, making Huichen's forehead veins throb: "Shut up! Catch him! Break his legs! See how he runs then! How he spouts nonsense!"

A dozen warrior monks howled and gave chase, their staffs flying. Kong Ming, relying on his small size and agility, dodged through the crowd, narrowly avoiding the staffs several times, his mouth still going: "Oh dear! Senior Brother Huichen! Hitting people violates the precept against anger! You'll go to the tongue-pulling hell! That scar on your face must be from being struck by lightning last time you violated a precept, right? Tsk tsk tsk, a lesson from the past! Listen to your junior brother's advice, put down the executioner's staff, and become a Buddha on the spot... Oh! Who threw that rotten vegetable leaf! Wasting food, the Buddha will be angry!"

The scene was utterly chaotic. Chasers chased, runners ran, scolders scolded, onlookers watched, it was exceptionally lively.

Lin Xuan held his forehead, feeling his temples throb. This disciple... even before entering the sect, he comes with both trouble and noise attributes? He took a deep breath, strongly suppressing the urge to turn and leave.

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger."

"Roar!"

"Retrieve him."

"Roar!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger let out a reluctant growl, carrying Lin Xuan, and transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, instantly appearing above the chaotic market!

The terrifying pressure of an ancient divine beast, mixed with Lin Xuan's late-stage Chaos God Transformation aura, descended like an invisible tsunami!

Buzz—!

The entire noisy market instantly fell silent! Everyone felt their hearts clutched by an invisible hand, their breathing stopped, unable to move! The warrior monks chasing Kong Ming were like they had been subjected to a body-fixing spell, frozen in place, their faces filled with boundless horror!

The young monk Kong Ming was currently hiding under an old man's candied hawthorn stall. Suddenly, he felt a shadow overhead, and the pressure descended. His small round face turned pale, and he subconsciously hugged the broken bowl in his arms, nervously peeking out half of his bald head.

He saw a magnificent giant tiger, burning with crimson-gold divine flames, carrying a young man in black robes, suspended in mid-air. The young man's face was calm, his eyes indifferent, and he was looking down at him... or rather, at the broken bowl in his arms?

"Se... Senior?" Kong Ming's small face was ashen, his voice trembling slightly. This pressure was a hundred times more terrifying than the Grand Elder in seclusion at the temple!

Lin Xuan's gaze shifted from the broken bowl to his shiny bald head. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes activated, and the sealed Bodhi Buddha Heart's origin was clearly visible. He strongly suppressed the urge to complain, trying to keep his voice calm and unruffled: "Kong Ming?"

"It... it's this humble monk..." Kong Ming swallowed hard.

"Your aptitude is passable." Lin Xuan paused, then added, "Just a bit talkative."

Kong Ming: "..." He blinked his big eyes, a bit bewildered. Talkative? Is that a flaw? He was clearly spreading the Dharma!

"Are you willing to become this Venerable's direct disciple?" Lin Xuan went straight to the point. Quickly retrieve him and be done with it!

Direct disciple?

The warrior monks and pilgrims on the ground, who were still frozen, nearly had their eyes pop out! This mighty figure... wants to take Kong Ming, that chatterbox young monk, as his direct disciple?

Kong Ming himself was completely dumbfounded. Was happiness coming too suddenly? No! It was shock coming too intensely! He looked at the awe-inspiring man and tiger in the sky, then down at the broken bowl in his arms and his faded old monastic robe... This style, it just doesn't match!

"Se... Senior..." Kong Ming spoke with difficulty, "This humble monk... this humble monk is from the Great Thunderclap Temple..."

"Noisy." Lin Xuan directly interrupted him, too lazy to listen to his babbling. He pointed his fingers like a sword, and with an aerial tap, aimed at Kong Ming's glabella!

Buzz—!

A Sword Intent, extremely condensed and imbued with chaotic stars, like a divine needle that split heaven and earth, instantly pierced into Kong Ming's glabella! Its target was the core of that Buddhist seal!

"Ugh ah—!" Kong Ming felt as if a red-hot branding iron had been shoved into his head! The intense pain made him scream instantly! That vast power brutally intruded, slamming hard into the seal!

Crackling—!

That intricate and profound Buddhist seal, in the face of the Chaos Origin Sword Intent, was like a paper lantern, instantly torn to shreds! Countless golden Sanskrit chains snapped inch by inch, dissipating into specks of golden light!

Boom—!

A pure, vast, and boundless golden Buddhist power origin, imbued with compassion and immense wisdom, like an ancient Buddha freed from its cage, erupted from Kong Ming's body! Soft golden light instantly enveloped him, washing away all dust! The old monastic robe on his body moved without wind, and his aura rapidly climbed! Mid-stage Foundation Establishment... Late-stage Foundation Establishment... Peak Foundation Establishment! A strange golden core, flowing with golden Sanskrit characters and containing the illusory image of a wise Bodhi, instantly formed in his dantian! Early-stage Golden Core! It all happened naturally!

Bodhi Buddha Heart, unsealed!

Ding! Successfully subdued SSS-level talent disciple — Kong Ming, Bodhi Buddha Heart!

Completed the 'All Heavens Evildoer Harvester' mission!

Received final reward: Sect Luck +10,000 points! All Heavens and Myriad Realms Lottery Chance x3!

Ten Thousand Times Return triggered! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Chaos Bodhi Heart (Origin Level 1)! Great Sun Tathagata True Scripture (Origin Level 1)! Pure Land of the Buddha (Micro Projection 1)!

Ding! Sect luck is flourishing! Host's cultivation realm breakthrough! Advanced to Chaos Void Refinement Early Stage!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three unimaginably vast origin torrents, like the Nine Heavens Star River pouring down, surged madly into Lin Xuan's body!

The Bodhi Buddha Heart transformed into a seed containing supreme wisdom and the essence of compassion, merging into the Chaos Nascent Soul's glabella, instantly enhancing its comprehension and focus, and dispelling all inner demons and illusions!

The Great Sun Tathagata Sutra transformed into countless golden Buddha projections and Sanskrit mantras, imprinted all over the Nascent Soul, enabling it to achieve an incredible mastery over Buddhist divine abilities and the laws of karma!

The projection of the Buddhist Pure Land, in turn, transformed into a miniature Pure Land space exuding peace, purity, and transcendence, hovering beneath the Nascent Soul, nourishing the soul and making it immune to all evil!

Lin Xuan's Chaos Nascent Soul expanded wildly! Its inch-tall body erupted with unprecedented brilliant light! A terrifying pressure, surpassing that of the Soul Transformation stage, as if it could pierce through space and control rules, uncontrollably spread out with a thunderous roar!

Crack! Crack!

The space beneath his feet groaned under the immense pressure, cracking into fine, dark lines! The entire marketplace was like a small boat tossed into a raging storm; everyone was pressed firmly to the ground by this pressure, unable to even lift their heads! The Lie Tian Divine Tiger also let out a low roar, its divine flames rising to their peak around its body, barely managing to stabilize itself!

The Chaos Nascent Soul underwent a violent transformation! Its aura surged wildly!

Late-stage Soul Transformation peak... half-step Void Refinement... early-stage Void Refinement!

Finally, it steadily stopped at the early-stage Chaos Void Refinement realm! A supreme power that controlled space and perceived rules flowed endlessly within Lin Xuan's body!

[Congratulations to Host for advancing to early-stage Chaos Void Refinement!]

Chaos Undying Body strength increased! Initially capable of regeneration from a drop of blood!

Law-Breaking Sword Eyes power increased! Can perceive Body Integration laws!

Divine sense coverage skyrocketed! A single thought can cover several mortal realms!

"Hoo..." Lin Xuan slowly exhaled a turbid breath, the terrifying pressure around him receding like a tide. He felt the unprecedented powerful force within his body, especially the clear control over spatial rules, and the corner of his mouth curved into a cold arc. Void Refinement... achieved!

However, this atmosphere, full of gravitas and awe-inspiring, was shattered in the next second.

"Mas... Master?" Kong Ming, who had just completed his breakthrough and was still bathed in golden Buddha's Light, suddenly snapped back to reality. He looked at the god-like figure in the sky, felt the unprecedented powerful force and clear wisdom within his body, and his small round face instantly erupted with an unprecedented excited glow! He sprang up from the ground with a 'whoosh,' disregarding any Buddhist etiquette, and scrambled to Lin Xuan's feet. Looking up with his small bald head, his lips moved at ten times the speed he had used to hawk talismans earlier, speaking frantically:

"Master! You're amazing! Even more amazing than the Buddha! No! The Buddha isn't as handsome as you! Or as domineering! You helped this disciple break through with a flick of your finger! And you even unsealed that damn seal! You are this disciple's parents reborn! No! Closer than parents! From now on, this disciple is yours in life and yours in death! I'll go through fire and water! I'll never flinch from a thousand deaths! Master, are you thirsty? Are you hungry? This disciple will go beg for alms... oh no! I'll buy the best vegetarian meal for you! Master, look at this broken bowl... oh oh! This disciple will throw it away immediately! From now on, when this disciple begs for alms... bah! When I do things for you, I must use a golden alms bowl! Only then will it be worthy of your status! Master, you..."

That speaking speed! That volume! That density! It was like ten thousand flies holding a concert simultaneously by his ear!

Lin Xuan's good mood from breaking through to Void Refinement instantly vanished. He felt his temples start to throb wildly again, his head buzzing. He suddenly raised his hand, and a stream of Chaos Qi transformed into an invisible palm, precisely covering Kong Ming's incessant mouth.

"Mmm! Mmm mmm mmm!" Kong Ming's big eyes blinked, looking at Lin Xuan with an innocent and wronged expression, as if asking: Master, this disciple is speaking from the bottom of his heart! Why won't you let me speak?

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to shove this little bald donkey back into his mother's womb. He frantically called out to the system in his mind:

"System! Come out! This disciple... can he be returned?"

"His mouth... is too damn talkative! This Lord fears that one day I won't be able to resist slapping him onto a wall so hard he can't be peeled off!"

"I'll pay extra! Returning half the Destiny Points is fine too!"

Warning! Once a disciple is bound, no returns or exchanges are accepted!

Note: Host can try using the 'Mute Barrier' (requires 100 Sect Destiny Points/hour) to physically silence him.

Additionally: Detected Host has completed the 'All Heavens Demon Harvester' quest, triggering the ultimate hidden quest: Unification of All Realms!

Quest Content: Integrate the mortal realms controlled by Host, making the All Heavens Star Palace the sole sacred land of all realms!]

Quest Reward: Unknown

Quest Failure Penalty: Host will receive the ultimate Chatty Aura, permanent effect!

Lin Xuan: "..." He looked at the bright red 'Ultimate Chatty' aura penalty on the system panel, then looked down at the little bald-headed Kong Ming on the ground, who was still 'mmm mmm mmm-ing' non-stop with his mouth covered, his eyes darting around... A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

Return him? Return a hammer! This scamming system!

"Heaven Splitting!" Lin Xuan's voice carried a hint of imperceptible... indignation?

"Roar?"

"Let's go! Back to the sect!"

"Roar!"

A flash of crimson-gold divine flame, and the Lie Tian Divine Tiger, carrying the life-weary Lin Xuan, tore at the void with its claws, and a spatial tunnel instantly formed! Lin Xuan grabbed at the air with his other hand, lifting the still 'mmm mmm mmm-ing' Kong Ming like a chick, and plunged into the tunnel without looking back!

Leaving behind a dead silent marketplace, and the martial monks and pilgrims who were dazed and bewildered by the pressure. In the direction of the Great Thunderclap Temple, several powerful Buddhist thoughts had just probed out, but upon sensing the lingering terrifying spatial fluctuations and Void Refinement aura, they quickly retreated like startled rabbits.

All Heavens Star Palace.

Lin Xuan, carrying Kong Ming, stepped out of the tunnel and landed on the plaza in front of the Star Palace. He released his hand, and Kong Ming fell to the ground with a "thump," his hand covering his mouth also loosening.

"Cough cough... Master! Your grip is really strong! This disciple almost thought I was going to achieve nirvana! But it's okay! This disciple is tough! Resilient! Master, you can cover my mouth whenever you want in the future! This disciple will never complain! Oh! Is this our sect? Goodness! This grand hall! These starlight glows! This spiritual energy! Much grander than that broken temple of the Great Thunderclap Temple! Tsk tsk tsk! Master, you truly have good taste! What material are these pillars made of? They look like Star God Gold! And these floor tiles... Oh my! They even have a self-cleaning formation? Advanced! So advanced! ..."

As soon as Kong Ming landed, he started up like a clockwork toy, his little mouth spewing words at a terrifying speed! Saliva flew everywhere as he began to examine the pillars and floor tiles of the Star Palace, chattering endlessly.

Lin Xuan clutched his forehead, feeling a throbbing pain in his brain. His gaze swept over Yun Qingyao, Chu Xinghe, Leng Yuechan, Su Yuan, Linglong... who had rushed over at the sound... as well as Huang Yan, who was hiding behind Yun Qingyao, peeking out half her head with an expression of enjoying the show.

When he saw Linglong's peach blossom eyes, filled with the excited light of "finding a kindred spirit," Lin Xuan's heart sank. It's over! Chatterbox + little devil? Will this sect... ever have a peaceful day again?

"Master! You're back! And this is..." Yun Qingyao looked at the little bald monk scampering around, still chattering non-stop, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

"Kong Ming! Your junior brother! A direct disciple!" Lin Xuan almost gritted his teeth as he said it. He pointed to Kong Ming, who was currently trying to pick at the formation patterns on the floor tiles with his fingernail, "Qing Yao! Arrange a residence for him! The further from the main hall, the better! Preferably... with a soundproof formation!" He specifically emphasized the word "soundproof."

"Ah? Master! Don't!" Kong Ming immediately scurried over, hugging Lin Xuan's leg, his small face contorted like a bitter gourd, "This disciple is new here, unfamiliar with the place! If I'm too far from Master, this disciple will be scared! This disciple wants to listen to Master's teachings day and night! Serving tea and water, kneading shoulders and beating backs, this disciple is good at all of it! Master, look..."

"Shut up!" Lin Xuan's veins throbbed on his forehead, and a stream of Chaos Qi transformed into an invisible rope, tightly binding Kong Ming's mouth! "Mmm! Mmm mmm mmm!" Kong Ming's big eyes instantly filled with wronged tears.

"Take him away!" Lin Xuan waved his hand at Yun Qingyao, utterly exhausted.

Yun Qingyao looked at Kong Ming, who was tied up like a dumpling and still struggling with "mmm mmm mmm," then at her Master's life-weary expression. Suppressing a smile, she replied, "Yes, Master." She stepped forward, picked up the still-flailing Kong Ming like a chick, and turned to leave. Chu Xinghe and Su Yuan followed, stifling their laughter. Leng Yuechan was expressionless, but the corner of her mouth seemed to twitch as well.

Linglong skipped over to Lin Xuan, looking at Kong Ming being led away, a mischievous glint in her peach blossom eyes: "Master~ This little bald monk is quite interesting! The sect will be lively from now on! Should this disciple go take care of him? I promise to make him feel the warmth of home!" She specifically emphasized the words "take care."

Lin Xuan glanced at her but said nothing. He simply silently brought up the system panel, found the exchange option for the Mute Barrier at one hundred Destiny Points per hour, and then... unhesitatingly exchanged for ten hours' worth! Target: Kong Ming's residence!

Peace! He needed absolute peace! Even if it meant using up all his Destiny Points!

He looked up at the dome of the Star Palace, where Chaos Star Glow flowed, feeling the immense power of the Void Refinement stage within him. He then remembered the system's ultimately scamming 'Unification of All Realms' quest and the 'Ultimate Chatty' penalty... The road ahead was long and arduous... Lin Xuan let out a long sigh. This path to victory, why did it feel more and more disheartening the further he walked?