No wonder the people from Chixiao Peak said that Li Qingran was cultivating slowly.
It would be strange if someone with a Water Spirit Root was able to cultivate Fire-attribute heart techniques quickly.
They probably only wanted Li Qingran to join Chixiao Peak but didn’t consider whether there was a suitable heart technique for her. Coincidentally, the reward for reaching the peak of Qi Refinement in the Battle Order was the Chaosheng Formula, which perfectly matched her Water Spirit Root and could be used as her foundational heart technique.
While Chen Huaian was pondering this, Li Qingran had already finished dispersing her cultivation.
She stood there timidly, like a stubborn little flower, smiling brightly at Chen Huaian.
For any cultivator, dispersing their cultivation meant losing all progress.
No one would casually discard the realm they had painstakingly cultivated.
Li Qingran didn’t know about the Chaosheng Formula waiting for her.
She just wanted to help Chen Huaian, not just by words, but by taking immediate action.
Everything has its own destiny.
Chen Huaian took out a jade slip with wave patterns: “This is the Chaosheng Formula, a Water-attribute heart technique. Since you no longer have an internal cultivation heart technique, you will train this from now on. Once you reach the peak of cultivation, I will give you something even better.”
Li Qingran did not take the Chaosheng Formula but tilted her head, her eyes full of anticipation: “Senior, are you going to take me as your disciple?”
“Huh?” Chen Huaian was stunned.
How could he, a fake Transformation Stage cultivator, become Li Qingran’s teacher?
Of course, he wasn’t undervaluing himself; after all, he was a paying player and would eventually rise. He planned to take Li Qingran as his disciple once he had achieved something. This way, he would have a straight back and strong voice, not fearing exposure.
“Senior hesitates.” Li Qingran lowered her head and smiled sadly, “That’s right. Senior already has over a hundred female disciples who need nurturing. There’s no energy to add another small disciple…”
Chen Huaian slowly made a question mark.
Over a hundred? Female disciples? And, needing nurturing?
When did this happen?!
“I don’t have any disciples.”
Li Qingran knelt down with a long bow, refusing to rise: “Master, please accept this disciple’s obeisance!”
Chen Huaian: “…”
Just changed her address? He hasn’t agreed yet! What if it gets exposed in the future?!
But since things have come to this point, it’s hard to refuse. The affection level is already eighty, refusal would definitely decrease it.
“Alright.” Chen Huaian straightened his face, pretending to stroke non-existent whiskers, and solemnly said, “From today onwards, you will be my senior disciple! As a legitimate direct disciple, I will teach you wholeheartedly, and you must also diligently cultivate, improve your realm and lifespan, live long and prosper, and not disappoint my expectations.”
“Yes, Master! Qingran remembers!”
The two looked at each other and smiled.
In this ordinary tavern in the mundane world, they formed a contract spanning two worlds.
…
“In this world, all things have cause and effect, and it is precisely because of these causes and effects that we continually draw closer to each other.” Chen Huaian took off his VR headset, and involuntarily, a sentence appeared in his mind, causing him to nod and shake his head.
The ceremony wasn’t grand; Li Qingran improvised, borrowing tea from the tavern to offer as a gift.
When asked how she would pay homage to other sects after having a master.
Li Qingran simply said, “The master is the master, and the teacher is the teacher.”
Many sects in Cangyun Realm do not have particularly strict rules.
Of course, for disciples who already have a master, sects generally do not impart the most core cultivation methods. Joining a sect doesn’t necessarily require becoming a disciple; most disciples neither have nor qualify for a master. Their knowledge comes from the sect’s scripture pavilion and the teachings of elders who lecture daily on the training ground.
Chen Huaian gave all the Thunderfire Talismans to Li Qingran as a defensive measure, then exited the game.
Li Qingran’s goal was Spirit Intuition Valley.
On the map, all cultivators in Heavenly Spring City’s Spirit Intuition Valley were green dots, indicating absolute friendliness.
Such a sect could be trusted completely.
Sects like Yu Ling Sect, Zen Sect, and Solar Crown Pavilion were less reliable.
Cultivators’ dots were half yellow and half green, clearly not to be trifled with. Besides, the cultivators with green friendly dots included Sword Pavilion, but Sword Pavilion only recruited one new cultivator, looking quite bleak.
“Qingran is going to visit the mountain, and I should go earn money.”
Chen Huaian glanced at the time, realizing it was getting late.
He changed clothes and prepared a bowl of plain rice for Ba Ji, then opened the door and felt something outside.
Looking down, he saw two packages.
[Thunderfire Talismans] and [Qingran’s Spiritual Tea]—the labels on the packages read.
Chen Huaian fell silent, slowly making a question mark.
So, the main quest’s Thunderfire Talismans were given to him?
But what use were they!
Anyone seeing this would think he was crazy!
Chen Huaian opened the packaging; inside were indeed ten Thunderfire Talismans, finely crafted, with the scent of vermilion ink detectable.
“Not sincere, all common items.” Chen Huaian sighed.
These could only be used for decoration.
He stuck one on the window and door, complementing the Black Scaled Sword on the wall, instantly giving the luxurious suite an eerie vibe.
“Not bad, it has the right feel.”
Though he wasn’t satisfied outwardly, he still found it quite good.
Chen Huaian opened the package for the spiritual tea.
Inside was tea, surprisingly, it was actually a cup of warm tea. The lid and cup were sealed with vacuum film, which he tore open and removed, revealing the tea inside was still warm.
“Oh my god! These people must live nearby!”
In ancient times, there was Guan Yu warming wine to slay Hua Xiong. In modern times, the game offered warm tea as rewards.
To provide the best gaming experience for paying players, they spared no effort.
Genuine sincerity!
Chen Huaian didn’t doubt it and raised the cup to his lips, ‘gulp,’ swallowing the spiritual tea.
As he brought the cup close to his nose, he smelled the same fresh fragrance as the amulet and bracelet.
Chen Huaian was enchanted.
So detailed!
Even drinking ordinary tea, he felt his body light and his mind sharp.
Unbeknownst to him, numerous prompts were flashing in the game.
[Your remaining lifespan is 45 days]
[Your remaining lifespan is 84 days]
[Your remaining lifespan is 79 days]
The prompts flashed incessantly, the lifespan jumping like an EKG.
Finally, it settled at [Your remaining lifespan is 78 days].
After finishing the tea, Chen Huaian placed the cup under his pillow. Taking two steps, his expression changed as he looked down at his leg.
“My leg, can I walk again?”
He moved it, removed the cast, and discovered he could indeed walk.
The saying goes, “Recovery takes a hundred days after a bone injury.”
For someone with his condition, recovery would likely take forever. But now, the fractured area had healed, and he felt more comfortable moving than before.
“What the heck! Something’s wrong…”
Chen Huaian stroked his chin, pondering.
What could be the reason?
Fengchun Needle? Kaimai Needle? Cancer cells activating genetic potential?
Had cancer cells transformed him into a superhuman vampire?
Chen Huaian immediately grabbed a blade and pricked his finger.
Blood seeped out, quickly clotting.
Chen Huaian was shocked, then overjoyed, hands on hips.
“Damn, am I turning into a superhero?!”
“Hahahaha! I am a superhero!”
…
A slit opened in the shoebox.
Ba Ji peeked at Chen Huaian with cat-like eyes.
[What the heck! Why is this big shot so happy? It’s just that the circulation of spiritual energy in the body accelerates the healing of both internal and external injuries. He has immortal artifacts and a long sword, doesn’t he know these basic things?]
[I can’t stay here. Although there’s an opportunity, everything seems strange…]
[I’ve just awakened, I can’t die here…]
As a Taotie hatchling that had possessed a newborn black cat,
Ba Ji grew stronger by eating.
He thought following the big shot would bring good food, but ended up eating plain rice every day. Moreover, this big shot seemed to be showing signs of mental imbalance.
Dangerous, extremely dangerous!
He had to leave!
If he didn’t leave soon, he’d be trapped!
His gaze locked onto the door.
Once this person left, there would be no place in the world he couldn’t go.
He just needed to keep eating and eventually grow into an unparalleled existence.
Jiejiejiejie!
He could already imagine that day.
Ba Ji’s lips curled into a sinister smile.
