444: Chapter 444 Nine Disciples

Chen Xuan left a solid Clone on the deck of the guixu immortal ferry boat, waiting for the arrival of several Disciples.

Only then did Shen Mutao lead the way toward the second floor of the ferry boat. Just as he stepped onto the second floor, a strong visual contrast caused a flicker of surprise to flash in his eyes.

The space on this floor was far more grand and magnificent than the first floor, yet it lacked any complicated furnishings, being instead extremely empty.

Below was a water surface as deep as ink, and above was a clarity as bright as day; the boundary between black and white was distinct, as if the Yin and Yang Qi of heaven and earth were condensed here.

Across the sky, countless light runes drifted down leisurely like willow catkins, dense and scattered, as if all the world's techniques had turned into rain, pattering into the Void Realm at the junction of black and white, splashing fine sparks of spiritual light, truly living up to the wondrous sight of "techniques raining upon the mortal world."

Shen Mutao had finished her Peach Blossom Cake and explained crisply, "Revered Master, this floor mainly contains things like Cultivation Technique Secret Realms, Divine Ability manuals, Pill Formulas, and Formations."

"Revered Master, look over there."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and pointed ahead to a light screen outlined by Buddhist Script. "This is where I usually rest."

Chen Xuan's gaze fell upon that light screen, and he asked casually, "Are the Cultivation Techniques and Divine Abilities you Cultivate also learned here?"

"Huh?"

Shen Mutao was stunned for a moment, then immediately shook her head. "My Cultivation Techniques and Divine Abilities were taught to me by Revered Master."

Chen Xuan was momentarily speechless.

He scanned the surroundings, searching for the figure of that second person. To reap the benefits of a bystander, he first had to figure out the other party's level. If it was someone with a powerful background, he would need to weigh the pros and cons.

Soon, his gaze locked onto a blurry figure standing still in the shadows at the junction of black and white to his back right.

"Let's go take a look."

Chen Xuan whispered, lifting his feet to walk toward the figure.

At this moment, Xu Muchen was staring at the light screen ahead, a faint spiritual energy lingering at his fingertips as he secretly deduced the path to the third floor.

His core goal in boarding the guixu immortal ferry boat this time was to find the Heavenly Book that knew all the world's secrets, and the predicament of this second floor was clearly a necessary path.

He had already noticed the movement when Chen Xuan and the other entered the second floor just now.

Although he didn't expect anyone else to comprehend the method of boarding the boat so quickly, he soon composed his thoughts.

Xu Muchen was always cautious in his actions; even on this guixu immortal ferry boat, he had already laid down three Formations to obscure his figure and another three Formations to hide his aura after arriving at the second floor. Unless the opponent's understanding of the Dao of Formations far exceeded his own, it was impossible to notice him.

Thinking this, he intended to continue his deduction, but in the next moment, from the corner of his eye, he saw the Man in White Robes walking straight toward him.

Wait!

Xu Muchen's heart suddenly tightened, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He forced himself to remain calm and comforted himself secretly, "It's just a coincidence, it must be a coincidence. This is the entrance to the third floor; it's not surprising they would come here."

Chen Xuan walked straight to Xu Muchen's side and stood still, looking at the man before him with a calm gaze.

[Name: Xu Muchen]

[cultivation base: Body Integration Level 3]

[Spiritual Root: Peak-grade Earth Spiritual Root]

[Physique: Myriad Formations Dao Body]

[Aptitude: Caution Keeps the Ship Sailing for Ten Thousand Years]

[Myriad Formations Dao Body: When encountering a Formation, one can see directly into its core logic, instantly locking onto the Formation Eye and skillfully avoiding lethal moves. When setting up a Formation, it resonates with the Dao laws of heaven and earth, requiring no tedious Formation Base, forming at extreme speed with a natural boost to the Formation's power.]

Looking at the System panel appearing in his mind, Chen Xuan was secretly delighted.

He hadn't expected to encounter two people who met the System's Disciple recruitment standards just after boarding the guixu immortal ferry boat.

It seems this Secret Realm trip is truly not in vain, truly not in vain!

He felt refreshed, and a faint smile unconsciously curled at the corners of his mouth. Now, how should he trick this kid into the Sect?

"Revered Master!"

Shen Mutao blinked her eyes, somewhat puzzled as she watched her Revered Master smiling at an empty space. "What are you laughing at? Why did we come here?"

Hearing Shen Mutao's words, Xu Muchen's hanging heart immediately settled, and he breathed a secret sigh of relief.

It seemed the other party indeed hadn't seen through his Formation and had just happened to walk here. He shifted two steps to the side, intentionally making way for this extraordinary Man in White Robes, his thoughts turning, "A chance meeting; better to avoid trouble. Moreover, this person has an extraordinary bearing and clearly isn't a simple character; it's best not to provoke him."

Seeing this, Chen Xuan also shifted two steps, blocking him once again.

Xu Muchen was stunned for a moment, a trace of bewilderment flashing in his eyes, and he shifted two steps to the side again.

Chen Xuan still followed closely and stood before him again, speaking indifferently, "What are you doing, Fellow Daoist?"

"Huh?"

Xu Muchen was completely stunned, a stiff smile squeezing onto his face; the meaning of the other party's words was already more than obvious.

Xu Muchen took a deep breath and cupped his hands in a salute, "So Your Excellency had already seen through the Formations laid by this Junior. This Junior was blind and failed to recognize Your Excellency's profound cultivation. May I ask which great expert Your Excellency is?"

With a thought from him, the six Formations shrouding his body instantly dissipated, and his hidden figure and aura were suddenly revealed.

It was a young man wearing a Grey-green Daoist Robe with a handsome face; it was Xu Muchen himself.

Beside him, Shen Mutao suddenly cried out in surprise, her eyes wide open, "Wow! So you were hiding here. No wonder I couldn't find you earlier."

Chen Xuan raised his hand and patted the top of Shen Mutao's head, signaling her to stay calm. His gaze remained on Xu Muchen as he said straightforwardly:

"I am the Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, Chen Xuan!"

"Young friend, you truly have an extraordinary constitution, a once-in-a-million talent for Formations. I wish to form a Revered Master-Disciple bond with you. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

"Take me as a Disciple?"

Xu Muchen's pupils shrank slightly. After a moment of deep thought, he shook his head, his tone firm, "Thank you for your high regard, Your Excellency, but the words 'Revered Master and Disciple' carry a weight of a thousand pounds; this Junior does not dare to accept lightly."

Chen Xuan had expected this, and there wasn't the slightest displeasure on his face.

Although the cultivation world didn't lack those who killed their Revered Masters to prove their Dao, the relationship of Revered Master and Disciple was indeed not something easily settled. Li Pingan, Ye Hao, and the others were cases of perfect timing and involved a sense of gratitude.

Right now, there was no rush. If the other party had agreed immediately...

Chen Xuan would have to worry if he had some ulterior motive, or if he was the same kind of person as Qin Tianxing.

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to rush your answer. A Revered Master-Disciple bond is not something achieved overnight."

"However,"

Chen Xuan's tone shifted, carrying a bit of confidence, "Fellow Daoist can think it over carefully. Since I was able to see through the Formations you laid earlier, it shows that in the Dao of Formations, you still have room for improvement. You are a natural genius; if there is no one to guide and point the way, it would be a waste of such talent."

Xu Muchen's heart skipped a beat; the other party wasn't wrong about that.

He had always been confident in his own ability to set up Formations, and he had even observed that great Formation in the Rain God Continent.

If given ten days, he might not be unable to replicate one.

"Your Excellency has a Wisdom Eye like a torch; this Junior is impressed. However, the matter of apprenticeship is of great importance, and this Junior indeed needs time to deliberate."