2: Su Yi

Hearing Yu Zhen's words, the young man's hand, which had been pulling at him, paused. He then looked at Yu Zhen, his originally impatient expression turning calm.

The breeze stopped, and the quiet mountain forest was once again filled with the sound of countless cicadas.

The sudden cicada chirps surged like a tide, drowning out the three people in the clearing.

Meanwhile, Yu Zhen looked at the young man, his eyes shining brightly like those of a child.

"Give me your hand!" The young man's tone was flat, yet it carried a weight that brooked no refusal.

Yu Zhen obediently raised his hand, letting the young man place his hand on his wrist.

"Your Meridians are shattered, your Dantian is withered, and your Primordial Spirit is both congealed and dissipated... Your Lifespan is nearing its end, yet you still neglect your body like this?" the young man asked in a low voice.

No anger could be heard in his voice, but Yu Zhen and the youth behind him could clearly feel the young man's fury.

The surrounding air felt as if it had been vacuumed away as a towering Aura rose from the young man.

Like a mountain rising higher and higher before collapsing toward them, it brought a sense of suffocating despair.

The youth, who had never cultivated before, had never seen such a sight. He slumped to the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably as he looked at the young man in horror.

Just by standing there, the young man gave him a feeling of powerlessness, as if he were a lamb to the slaughter, forced to surrender!

"Junior Martial Uncle, there's still a child here!" Yu Zhen pulled at the young man's sleeve and said softly.

The young man did not withdraw his Aura; instead, he looked at Yu Zhen calmly, waiting for him to answer the question.

"It was my own wish to seek death. Please don't ask about it, Junior Martial Uncle. After all, I've already lived an extra dozen years; I could die at any moment!"

Yu Zhen spoke of his own death with indifference, having already put life and death aside.

The more he acted this way, the more silent the young man became.

Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Yu Zhen hurriedly said with a chuckle, "So, Junior Martial Uncle, I have come this time for two things!"

"The first thing is that I hope you will look after this child after I die, Junior Martial Uncle. After all, in my state, I really don't have much time left." Yu Zhen glanced at the youth slumped on the ground and then looked back at the young man.

"This has nothing to do with me, and I do not take on Disciples," the young man replied, shaking his head in refusal.

Yu Zhen did not follow that line of conversation, instead continuing with the second matter on his own: "As for the second thing, I ask that you use your supreme methods to extract Master's Legacy from my body!"

Upon hearing Yu Zhen's words, the young man frowned and scolded sharply, "Shut up! What nonsense are you talking?!"

Yu Zhen continued to look at the young man with a smile. To still be able to hear a senior's scolding at his age was, in a way, a blessing for him.

"Is Junior Martial Uncle afraid that I will die once Master's Legacy leaves my body?" Yu Zhen asked softly.

The young man pursed his lips and remained silent, merely frowning at Yu Zhen to see what other nonsense would come out of his mouth.

"Junior Martial Uncle, I began practicing the Dao at the age of five, and it has been two hundred years since then. Your nephew is dull-witted; in my entire life, I have barely stepped into the Eighth Rank. I have no hope for the Ninth Rank in this lifetime, and the Land Immortal Realm is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of. Whenever I think of this, I feel I have failed Master and failed you!" Yu Zhen said with a sigh.

"That was something he was willing to give you, not something for you to feel indebted for!" the young man scolded, his brows furrowed.

Yu Zhen continued to murmur to himself, "Now I am like decaying wood with little time left. I have failed Master and failed you. Even if I die, I will not be able to rest in peace!"

"I beg you, Junior Martial Uncle, extract Master's Legacy from my body. Fulfill a wish for Master, and for me!"

Having said that, Yu Zhen stumbled to his knees and performed a formal bow to the young man, prostrating himself and weeping bitterly.

Seeing the Taoist Grandpa kneeling and sobbing uncontrollably, the youth was overcome with grief. He didn't say any words of entreaty but gritted his teeth, straightened his back, and knelt behind the old Taoist, kowtowing desperately to the young man.

Looking at the two kneeling on the ground, the young man remained silent for a long time before shaking his head. "My staying out of worldly affairs is for your own good. Go back."

"Junior Martial Uncle!" Yu Zhen looked up at the young man in despair. He wanted to speak further, but he saw the young man turn and walk toward the depths of the forest.

Steeling his heart, Yu Zhen pushed away the youth who was trying to help him up and kowtowed once more, pleading with the young man:

"Uncle, what if it is Xiao Zhen who begs you?"

Hearing this form of address, the young man's figure stopped in its tracks. He let out a long sigh, turned around, and walked to Yu Zhen's side, looking at the tearful man.

The wrinkled old face was covered in snot and tears. For someone of his age, he really didn't know how to maintain his dignity.

The young man tilted his head as he looked at Yu Zhen, who was staring back at him, then glanced at the youth. He asked with a hint of disdain and confusion, "This kid looks a bit dim-witted. Why did you pick him to be your successor?"

Seeing the young man turn back, Yu Zhen knew he had moved him. He immediately pulled the youth and urged, "Child, quick, give your hand to Junior Martial Uncle!"

The youth seemed frightened. Under Yu Zhen's urging, he looked at the young man and cautiously extended his hand.

The young man reached out and placed his hand on the youth's wrist. His expression shifted slightly, and he then looked at Yu Zhen with some surprise.

"Innate Sword Body?"

Seeing the young man's expression, a trace of a smile appeared on Yu Zhen's face. He nodded to the young man and then bowed once more.

The young man fell silent for a moment. Releasing the youth's hand, his tone lightened as he said to Yu Zhen, "Get up. If I do you this favor, how will you thank me?"

"How will I thank you?" Yu Zhen was stunned for a moment, then, as if struck by inspiration, blurted out, "...Then... then how about I catch a sparrow for you to eat?"

The young man burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you brat! When you were little, you always liked to act like a little adult. Now that you're old, you've actually learned how to act young!"

Yu Zhen gave an embarrassed smile, but a large hand pressed down on his head.

Rubbing Yu Zhen's silver-haired head, the young man said softly, "Xiao Zhen, you've worked hard all these years! I know it's been difficult for you, but I truly have my reasons!"

Yu Zhen's eyes grew brighter, as if he were seeing his Master. He murmured softly, "Master, Junior Martial Uncle, I'm a little tired!"

The expression on the youth's face changed from apprehension to terror. He saw that the Taoist Grandpa's body was slowly fading!

But in the face of the opportunity the Taoist Grandpa had worked so hard to obtain, the youth didn't dare to speak up and interrupt, no matter how terrified he was.

It wasn't until Yu Zhen's figure turned into specks of starlight and completely vanished before the eyes of the young man and the youth.

The youth slumped to the ground as if all his strength had been drained. He looked blankly at the spot where the old Taoist had disappeared and murmured, "Grandpa... the Taoist Grandpa is gone..."

The young man stood up and looked down at his palm. To his surprise, a White Lotus Seed had appeared there.

He then looked at the youth sitting on the ground and asked in a strange tone:

"What is your name?"

"Gu... Gu Wanquan, Old Immortal!"

"Referencing Gu Wanquan? It's a fine name. Here, this is what Yu Zhen left for you!"

A white light flashed, and a White Lotus Seed floated before him.

Gu Wanquan looked at the White Lotus Seed and wanted to reach out to touch it, but he was a bit timid. The White Lotus Seed then directly merged into Gu Wanquan's body.

The youth touched his chest in surprise and looked at the young man, asking, "Old Immortal, what is this?"

The young man did not answer but looked at Gu Wanquan and said:

"My name is Su Yi. From now on, I am your Master. Come with me!"