14: Apprenticeship

Night fell, and the stars and moon revolved.

Li Xingyan came to the back mountain alone.

After confirming that no one was around, Li Xingyan suddenly took off the ring on his finger, threw it heavily on the ground, and shouted, "Old man, get out!"

An aged voice, filled with helplessness, rang out, "Haven't this Old One already discussed it with you?"

A somewhat transparent old man, with an Immortal-like demeanor, appeared in mid-air.

"Discussed what egg?!" Li Xingyan's expression was furious, and he cursed, "If it weren't for the wrong occasion then...

Plus, this great Revered Master needed your help, did you think this great Revered Master would forgive you so easily?"

"Three years! Do you know how I've spent these three years?"

"Do you know?"

Li Xingyan's voice was somewhat hysterical, as if he wanted to vent all the grievances he had accumulated over the past three years.

Three years. From a Genius to a good-for-nothing in just one night, and he had endured three years of ridicule.

Fire Old was a bit embarrassed, as it was indeed his fault, but he still spoke profoundly, "Kid, always look on the bright side."

"To achieve great things, Heart-Nature comes first."

"Although you've suffered ridicule these past three years, it has also tempered your Heart-Nature."

"What's more, hasn't this Old One already promised to help you return to your Peak?"

"Not enough!" Li Xingyan shook his head expressionlessly.

"What a cunning boy." Fire Old smiled and tempted him, "Would you like to become an Alchemist?"

"Alchemist?" Li Xingyan's eyes lit up.

One must know that Alchemists are the most respected profession in the Cultivation world, and also the most lucrative.

Just one Medicinal Pill could sell for thousands, or even tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.

In fact, Li Xingyan also knew that the die was cast; no matter how angry he was, his Cultivation would not return.

Therefore, his recent performance was merely to extort some benefits.

After all, to defeat Tian Linfeng in three years, he would still need Fire Old's help.

A glint of successful trickery flashed in Fire Old's eyes, then he smiled and said, "That's right, an Alchemist."

"As for you, with your wood and fire Spiritual Roots, you barely have some talent, enough to be an Alchemist."

"Then let's start now!" Li Xingyan beamed with joy, appearing somewhat impatient.

Fire Old said, exasperated, "First, the conditions aren't right now.

And you haven't even taken me as your Revered Master yet!"

"Take you as my Revered Master?" Li Xingyan said, troubled, "Why do I need to take you as my Revered Master?"

Fire Old was speechless, glaring at Li Xingyan, "The knowledge of every Alchemist is a priceless treasure. You haven't taken me as your Revered Master and you expect me to teach you everything? What are you thinking?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingyan also felt it was reasonable. The old man before him was not only terrifyingly strong but also an Alchemist.

To become strong quickly, Li Xingyan could only reluctantly kneel and bow, "Disciple Li Xingyan, greets Revered Master!"

Looking at Li Xingyan's somewhat standard Revered Master-taking ceremony, Fire Old said contentedly, "My name is Fire Old, as I've told you before. I won't tell you my specific Alchemist rank, lest you overthink it."

"You only need to know that the world calls me Lord of Myriad Fires!"

Lord of Myriad Fires, what a grand statement!

Li Xingyan's eyes darted, knowing that he had not chosen the wrong Revered Master.

Taking a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, Li Xingyan fawned, "Then Revered Master, when will you start teaching me to Cultivate?"

"After all, Disciple is currently only at the third level of Qi Condensation, and that Tian Linfeng is already at the eighth level."

"If, in three years, Disciple cannot defeat him, it will be the reputation of you, Lord of Myriad Fires, that is lost."

Looking at the dramatic Li Xingyan, Fire Old was somewhat exasperated, but still smiled and said, "Although you are currently at the third level of Qi Condensation, you did once Cultivate to the seventh level."

"It won't be difficult to Cultivate back; you just need to pair it with some Medicinal Pills."

"As for teaching you Alchemy, I can impart it when we are refining Medicinal Pills."

"But to refine Medicinal Pills, you need to buy Spirit Medicine and a Pill Furnace." Li Xingyan interjected, troubled, "The key is, I'm practically penniless right now!"

"Don't worry ~" Fire Old gave Li Xingyan a reassuring look, then said profoundly, "This Old One has his own methods."

"What methods?" Li Xingyan fawned like a sycophant.

"Don't you think your Li Family Old Ancestor is a bit off?" Fire Old asked back.

"What's off?" Li Xingyan was even more puzzled, then suddenly a flash of insight, he said somewhat fearfully, "Are you saying, Old Ancestor... he wants to harm the Li Family?"

"What are you thinking?" Fire Old smacked Li Xingyan's head, exasperated.

"Then where do you say he's off?" Li Xingyan rubbed his head discontentedly, but dared not resist.

Deep down, Li Xingyan was a person who respected his Revered Master and the Dao.

Even though he had only just taken him as his Revered Master, Li Xingyan's attitude had already undergone a tremendous change.

Fire Old was also very satisfied with Li Xingyan's attitude, so he smiled and said, "Haven't you noticed that your Old Ancestor is a bit too old?"

"He's an Old Ancestor, isn't it normal for him to be old?" Li Xingyan was still a bit confused.

But since Fire Old had said so, Li Xingyan also realized, "Are you saying, Old Ancestor... his body has a problem?"

"The boy can be taught!" Fire Old nodded in satisfaction, then said, "The Lifespan of a Golden Core True Person is eight hundred years, but your Old Ancestor is only two hundred and fifty years old now and is already so aged. Do you know why?"

"I don't know!" Li Xingyan shook his head honestly.

Fire Old didn't expect Li Xingyan to answer, so he continued, "That's because his Golden Core is already shattered!"

"What?"

Li Xingyan was a bit surprised; even though he was only a Qi Condensation Cultivator, he knew what a shattered Golden Core meant.

Therefore, he quickly and anxiously asked, "Since Revered Master says so, do you have a solution?"

Li Xingyan still had a good impression of this Old Ancestor.

Not only because he grew up listening to the legends of Li Xiangyun, but also because the other party had helped him as soon as he returned.

Especially with a Golden Core Old Ancestor in the Family, whether it was his father, grandfather, or himself, everyone would benefit.

Therefore, if there was an opportunity to save him, Li Xingyan would naturally not shirk his responsibility.

"No!" Fire Old shook his head decisively.

"Then you?" Li Xingyan was a bit disappointed and puzzled.

Fire Old smiled and said, "Although I cannot cure him, I can delay his injuries, and perhaps in the future, there will be a way."

"But wouldn't that expose you?" Li Xingyan hesitated.

After all, he was just a third-level Qi Condensation boy; even if he came up with a way to delay the Old Ancestor's injuries, no one would believe him!

Upon hearing this, Fire Old was somewhat relieved and explained with a smile, "Don't worry, your Old Ancestor is quite interesting; he has already sensed my existence."

"Since he didn't expose me at the time, he probably has no ill intentions."

Hearing this, Li Xingyan immediately beamed with joy and said, "And a Golden Core True Person casually giving out some things should be enough for my Cultivation needs."

"That's right!"

Subsequently, the Revered Master and Disciple laughed heartily.

"Hahahaha ~"

"Hehehehe ~"