31: Chapter 31 Would you be willing to become my disciple?

[18 years old: In the Outer Sect competition, you defeated all opponents, including Su Qinghan, with overwhelming dominance, winning the championship and becoming famous in one battle. Your name resounded throughout the entire Outer Sect of the Azure Cloud Sect, becoming a legend revered and worshipped by countless Disciples.]

[On the day the competition ended, you received a summons from Liu Changfeng, the Sixth Elder of the Pill Hall.]

[You did not hesitate. After tidying up a little, you took the token and headed to Danxia Peak, located in the core area of the Inner Sect.]

[Danxia Peak, as the residence of the Pill Hall Elder, was shrouded year-round in rich medicinal fragrance and pure fire-attribute Spiritual Qi. Rare Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicine were planted along the mountain roads, cranes chirped amidst the clouds, and spirit deer frolicked in the forest. It was a scene of an immortal dwelling, far incomparable to the poor, rugged terrain of the Outer Sect.]

[You were filled with emotion. Is this the Inner Sect? Just standing here and breathing, you could feel your cultivation rising steadily.]

[You arrived in front of the Elder's Immortal Cave at the mountain Peak and announced your name. Soon, a young attendant led you into the Immortal Cave.]

[The main hall of the Immortal Cave was extremely spacious, with a huge Pill Furnace placed in the center. The furnace fire was raging, emitting astonishing heat. An old man wearing a crimson Daoist robe, with white hair and beard but a ruddy Face like a middle-aged man, was sitting cross-legged in front of the Pill Furnace, closing his eyes to rest.]

[You only glanced at him, and you felt as if your Soul was about to be crushed by that invisible pressure.]

[This is definitely the Core Formation Stage! Your heart trembled. You quickly restrained your mind and bowed respectfully: "Outer Sect Disciple Tang Xun, pays respects to Elder Liu."]

[Liu Changfeng slowly opened his eyes. In those seemingly turbid eyes, stars seemed to be revolving. His gaze fell on you like two invisible sharp swords, wanting to see through you from the inside out.]

["You are Tang Xun?" Liu Changfeng's voice was very calm, showing no joy or anger.]

["Yes, this Disciple is indeed Tang Xun." You bowed your head and answered neither servilely nor overbearingly.]

["Raise your head."]

[You raised your head as instructed and met his gaze.]

[Liu Changfeng looked you over carefully, his brows slightly furrowed.]

["Qi Refining Seventh Layer?" He seemed a little surprised. "In the finals, you easily defeated Su Qinghan of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. Moreover, you withstood Zhao Lei's Thunder Hand head-on, completely unscathed."]

[Your heart stirred; you knew the main act was coming.]

[Before coming, you had already thought of your excuse. You used the Breath Concealment Technique to cleverly display your cultivation at the Peak of the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.]

[This cultivation level could explain why you were able to defeat Zhao Lei without being too shocking, making people wonder if you had been subjected to Possession by some old monster.]

["Replying to Elder, this Disciple is indeed at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer," you answered respectfully. "As for being able to defeat Senior Sister Su and Senior Brother Zhao, it is not that this Disciple's strength is truly stronger than theirs, but rather that I took advantage of my Cultivation Technique and Spiritual Root."]

["Oh?" A hint of interest flashed in Liu Changfeng's eyes. "Tell me about it."]

[You organized your words and began your "performance".]

["This Disciple possesses a Five Elements Spirit Root, which I believe the Elder already knows. The world says that the Five Elements Spirit Root is a waste Spiritual Root, and the cultivation speed is extremely slow. But by chance, this Disciple discovered that as long as one can make the Five Elements magic power in the body form a perfect cycle of 'Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, Earth generates Metal, Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood', the cultivation speed is actually not much slower than those Disciples with a Heavenly Spiritual Root."]

[While speaking, you quietly circulated the magic power in your body. A wisp of five-colored light flowed at your fingertips, forming a profound and perfect cycle, emitting an aura of endless life.]

[Liu Changfeng's eyes lit up instantly! As a great power of the Core Formation Stage, his knowledge was extensive, and he saw the exquisiteness of your Five Elements cycle at a glance.]

["Five Elements generating each other, perfectly round and flawless... Good! What a great Five Elements cycle!" He couldn't help but praise, "Although this method is theoretically feasible, to actually achieve it, the requirements for magic power control and Divine Sense are ridiculously high! Ordinary people simply cannot do it! You brat, you are truly a genius!"]

[You chuckled inwardly, but your Face remained humble.]

["This Disciple was also lucky to succeed. And because of this, the five-attribute magic power in my body, after being tempered by this cycle, is more than five times more condensed and pure than an ordinary Cultivator of the same level!"]

["Therefore, although Senior Brother Zhao's thunder magic was fierce, my magic power density was far superior to his. Hard-resisting it just looked scary, but I didn't suffer any substantial damage."]

["And although Senior Sister Su's sword technique was exquisite, this Disciple relied on deep magic power to forcibly break her technique with strength, and thus luckily won by a move or two. In the end, it was just opportunistic."]

[Your explanation was reasonable and well-founded, and you put yourself in a relatively low position, making it sound logical and seamless.]

[Liu Changfeng listened and was silent for a moment.]

[He reached out his hand and signaled for you to come over.]

[You walked up to him as instructed. He stretched out his finger and lightly rested it on your wrist. A gentle yet vast Divine Sense probed into your body.]

[Your heart tightened, but you did not resist.]

[Liu Changfeng's Divine Sense swam through your Meridians, focusing on your Dantian.]

[A moment later, he withdrew his finger, and the expression on his Face changed from the initial scrutiny to undisguised shock and ecstasy!]

["Sure enough! It really is so!" He stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth in the hall, muttering to himself, "Magic power condensed like mercury, pure and flawless! Meridians are wide and tough, far exceeding ordinary people! Five Elements Spirit Root, it can actually be cultivated like this! Our Azure Cloud Sect is about to produce a true Dragon!"]

[He looked at you as if he were looking at an unpolished piece of peerless jade, his eyes full of burning heat.]

[You felt a little creeped out by his gaze, muttering in your heart: "Old man, your look is not right. I am not into men."]

["Tang Xun!" Liu Changfeng suddenly stopped and looked at you solemnly, "Are you willing to take me as your Master?"]

[Hearing this, you were overjoyed. Success! The biggest backer has arrived, hasn't it?]

[But on your Face, you wore a look of being flattered, even a little at a loss, and stammered: "Take... take Elder as Master? This Disciple... this Disciple, what virtue or ability do I have..."]

[Liu Changfeng was even more satisfied seeing you look so "unsophisticated". Your talent is superb, yet your Heart-Nature is so simple; you really are a piece of unpolished jade.]

["Hahaha, no need to be self-deprecating!" Liu Changfeng laughed, "Your talent is enough to be my, Liu Changfeng's, Disciple! However..."]

[His tone changed, and his expression became serious.]

["According to the rules of the Sect, I can only accept you as a Named Disciple first. After you successfully reach Foundation Establishment and become an Inner Sect Disciple, you can perform the formal apprenticeship ceremony and become my Personal Disciple. Do you understand?"]

["This Disciple understands!" You nodded quickly, calculating in your heart. A Named Disciple is fine; at least the status is set. In the future, in this Sect, whoever wants to touch me will have to weigh Elder Liu's Face.]

["Good!" Liu Changfeng was in a great mood seeing you agree. "From today on, you are my, Liu Changfeng's, Named Disciple. This is your identity token. Take it and go to the Inner Sect management office to select an ownerless mountain Peak as your Immortal Cave. The monthly allowance for Inner Sect Disciples will also be issued to you as usual."]

[He handed you a crimson jade plaque with the word "Liu" engraved on it, which also carried a faint medicinal fragrance.]

["In addition, since you have joined my Sect, I naturally will not treat you poorly regarding cultivation resources." Liu Changfeng handed you another Storage Pouch. "Inside, there are five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone, three bottles of 'Qi Condensation Pill' which are very beneficial to Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators, and a basic Five Elements Cultivation Technique, 'Five Elements Essentials'. Take them and use them first. If you have any questions about cultivation, you can come to Danxia Peak to find me at any time."]

[You took the Storage Pouch, laughing wildly inside. Good fellow, this Master is worth it! Five hundred Spirit Stone! That's enough for someone like Zhang Peng to rob for a hundred months! There are also Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Techniques. It's a one-step, nanny-level service.]

["Many thanks, Master!" You bowed respectfully with "excitement". This "Master" was called with genuine feeling.]

["Hmm." Liu Changfeng stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction. "You just finished the competition, so you must be tired. Go back and rest well, and stabilize your cultivation. Remember, avoid arrogance and impatience. The road of cultivation requires one step at a time to go far."]

["This Disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings!"]

[You bowed again, and then, led by the medicine boy, you exited the Immortal Cave.]

[Walking down the mountain, you felt the fresh air and rich Spiritual Qi in the mountains, and your mood was extremely comfortable.]

["The feeling of having a backer is really different." You weighed the Storage Pouch in your hand, your mouth almost grinning to your ears.]

[You decided not to choose an Immortal Cave first, but to return to the dilapidated cave in the Outer Sect. After all, your secret was still hidden there—those mysterious black seeds.]

[19 years old: With the token and resources given by Liu Changfeng, you chose a mountain Peak with rich Spiritual Qi and a relatively remote location in the Inner Sect area as your new Immortal Cave.]

[You carefully transplanted everything from your Outer Sect Immortal Cave, including those few mysterious black seeds, into the spirit field next to your new Immortal Cave.]

[After doing all this, you hung up a "Closed-door Cultivation" sign and began a year of hard cultivation.]

[You didn't rush to take the foundation establishment pill, but used the Qi Condensation Pill given by Liu Changfeng, as well as the blessings of the [Epiphany] and [Effort Will Be Rewarded] traits, to crazily polish your Foundation.]

[Your magic power became more condensed and pure over this year.]

[In this year's trait draw, you obtained a new green trait.]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the rare-grade trait — Ageless Male God!]

[Trait: Ageless Male God (Green)]

[Function: Your appearance will forever remain at your Peak moment, and time will not be able to leave any traces on your Face.]

[You looked at this trait and were silent.]

["System, are you implying that I was a ninety-year-old man in my previous life?"]

[The System did not answer.]

[You curled your lips. Although this trait has no combat power, what man doesn't want to be young and handsome forever? You are very satisfied.]

[20 years old: After a full year of precipitation, your Foundation has been polished to be extremely solid, and your cultivation has naturally reached the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.]

[You feel that the time for Foundation Establishment has come.]