Chapter 150: Taking a Disciple

Liu Junhuai smiled and bowed to the three elders. “You were quite right. When the Taifeng Estate first opened, I received Senior Miao Taifeng’s inheritance. It was certainly a fortunate coincidence. I sincerely welcome you to join the Myriad Forms Sect. With you here to oversee things, the sect will be able to grow more steadily!”

Qian Chongyi smiled. “I originally said that a position as deputy sect master would be enough for me, but these two old brothers absolutely refused to agree. So I took advantage of my age and accepted. If Sect Master Liu has other arrangements, just say so. My dearest granddaughter is under your care, after all. Whatever you decide, I’ll understand.”

Liu Junhuai hurriedly replied with a smile, “Grandfather’s arrangement is excellent. And with your cultivation, it would be unthinkable to make you merely a deputy sect master. When the Myriad Forms Sect faces danger, we’ll be relying on you!”

“From now on, Sect Master Liu, don’t call me ‘Senior.’ Xueying is a generation below you, and since your grandfather and I are sworn brothers, I’m already getting the better of you. Just call me Uncle Qian or Elder Qian. Hearing ‘Senior’ over and over makes my ears ache.”

Fang Keyin laughed heartily. “Then Brother Qian is a generation younger than Brother Yan and me. That won’t do.”

Qian Chongyi waved a hand. “We can each use our own terms. Cultivators have never had such rigid distinctions in forms of address. And, Sect Master—no, I think I’ll call you Junhuai. Junhuai, I get along very well with these two old brothers. They’ve held nothing back from me, either. I greatly admire what you’ve done against the Bloodslayer Alliance. When they told me about the fiercest parts, I could hardly keep myself from joining the fight.

“But Junhuai, you must be wary of the Bloodslayer Alliance’s retaliation. This organization is a vile, shadowy faction, and they’ll use any means necessary to take revenge. Although you’ve nearly wiped out the Alliance in the Western Regions, the cultivators there are far weaker than those beyond the region. It’s only wise to prepare your defenses early!”

Liu Junhuai nodded in agreement, then outlined the alliance’s next steps. They discussed what precautions should be taken while he was away, and by the time they finished, it was already afternoon.

Just then, Wu Yaohan and Wan Xingyun arrived. Seeing Liu Junhuai’s improved cultivation, they could not help expressing their amazement and emotion.

“More than two thousand people came to the recruitment today,” Wu Yaohan said. “It looks as though the numbers will dwindle over the next few days. Do you think the Myriad Forms Sect should continue recruiting? Yesterday, following your list, we accepted forty-six disciples, not counting the father and son you personally recruited.”

At that, Liu Junhuai remembered the mischievous little boy. “Grandpa Wu, I don’t think we need to take in any more new disciples. We don’t even have enough people to train the ones we already have properly. Let’s wait until the Myriad Forms Sect is on a stable footing. Also, I’ll be away for a few days. I’ve already made the necessary arrangements with the three Grand Elders. If anything comes up, go to them. You can stay here and chat; I’m going to see that child.”

The boy had an impressively grand name: She Wudi. At the moment, he was bustling about behind Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini, trailing after them like a little shadow.

He had been lively and full of energy, but the moment Liu Junhuai appeared, She Wudi fell quiet. There was even a hint of fear in his eyes.

Puzzled, Liu Junhuai quietly asked Shen Duoduo, “Duoduo, why is the child so afraid of me? Did you two tell him something?”

“How could I say anything bad about Brother Junhuai?” Shen Duoduo laughed. “It’s because of what you did on the plaza that day, when you killed that Golden Core cultivator with one blow. Tens of thousands of people saw it. What was there for us to tell him?”

Liu Junhuai thought she had a point. He had a fearsome reputation, after all. It was only natural that a little child would be frightened after hearing so many stories.

“Wudi, go call your father to the council hall. I have something good for you both!” Liu Junhuai said with a beaming smile.

She Wudi answered timidly and ran off.

Liu Junhuai released his spiritual sense, located Suoyang Fengxu, and asked Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini to bring the couple to the council hall.

After Liu Junhuai had made a round of the grounds, the others were already waiting there when he reached the hall.

“Fengxu, I’ve prepared the medicine for your wife,” Liu Junhuai said. “Take me to your home in a moment. I’ll stay and watch her take it before I leave. You must remain by her side and keep an eye on her. After all, your wife has no experience with cultivation.”

The couple were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Liu Junhuai turned to She Qinshan. “I’ve prepared your medicine as well. I’ve grown very fond of Wudi, and his five-element mixed roots are the same as mine. I’d like to take him as my disciple today. What do you think?”

She Qinshan hurriedly replied, “It would be a great blessing for Wudi. How could I object? Wudi, hurry and kneel to kowtow to your master!”

Before he could finish, Suoyang Fengxu rushed forward and dropped to his knees before Liu Junhuai with a thud. “Master, please take us both as your disciples today. At least while you’re away from the sect, I can supervise Wudi’s cultivation and save you some worry!”

Liu Junhuai thought it made sense. Without someone to help, he could not feel at ease about Wudi’s cultivation; the boy was still so young. Suoyang Fengxu also had excellent dual spiritual roots, so there was no doubt he would make his master proud in the future.

With that in mind, Liu Junhuai looked at Suoyang Fengxu. “Have you thought this through? I have a great deal to do and may not be at the Myriad Forms Sect often. Most of the time, you’ll have to cultivate on your own. You need to be prepared for that.”

“Don’t worry, Master!” Suoyang Fengxu replied at once. “You needn’t concern yourself with me too much. Teach me whenever you have the time.”

Liu Junhuai nodded, then looked at She Wudi. “Wudi, don’t just do as your father says. Tell me honestly: do you truly want to become my disciple?”

She Wudi glanced at Suoyang Fengxu, then asked Liu Junhuai, “I do. But, Master, can you tell me how strong you are?”

Liu Junhuai thought the boy was rather bold, questioning his master like that. “I broke through to the early Nascent Soul stage just yesterday. Am I qualified to be your master?”

“Wow!” Shen Duoduo blurted out in astonishment before She Wudi could even respond.

Everyone present except She Wudi was stunned. The story of how Liu Junhuai had reached the late Golden Core stage had spread far and wide, and now, after just a few days, he had advanced again. Even Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini, who were accustomed to his astonishing feats, were left speechless.

Suoyang Fengxu and She Qinshan were even more quietly grateful. Judging by Liu Junhuai’s current rate of progress, he was certain to ascend to the Immortal Realm one day—and he was only sixteen or seventeen years old.

Liu Junhuai shook his head helplessly. Whenever something happened to him, he had to face these same expressions again and again. At first, he had felt proud, but after so many times, even he was tired of it. He was beginning to suffer from admiration fatigue.

In the end, Wu Bini urged them, “Stop gaping and hurry up and kowtow to your master! Does your master have to tell you to do everything?”

Only then did Suoyang Fengxu come to his senses. He hurriedly pulled She Wudi over, and the two of them kowtowed three times before Liu Junhuai.

“This was rather sudden today, and I haven’t prepared your gifts yet. I’ll make it up to you another day. Fengxu, they’ll be taking their medicine at your place, too. Do you have room?”

“Of course, of course! There are three rooms there!”

Liu Junhuai nodded and followed him to a courtyard. First, he took out Earth Spirit Pills and handed them to Zhang Yunyi and She Qinshan. Then he said to Suoyang Fengxu, “These are Earth Spirit Pills. Find a room and have her take one. Prepare some clean water and stay by her side to watch over her. You know the techniques for the Qi Refining stage. After she takes the pill, teach her how to circulate the techniques and absorb its medicinal power. Once the power is used up, it will force the toxins out of her body. Do the same for Wudi’s father. Just find a room for each of them.

“Also, I’ll record your junior brother’s cultivation method on a jade slip. He can’t read it yet, so you’ll need to keep an eye on his practice. I’m leaving tonight. You must teach all three of them how to cultivate, including Wudi’s father. I’ll give you further instructions when I return.”

She Wudi looked up at Liu Junhuai. “Master, when will you come back? What if I develop my spiritual roots before you return?”

“It won’t happen that quickly,” Liu Junhuai said with a smile. “It’ll take at least a year or so. I’ll be back in just a few days!”

As he spoke, Liu Junhuai took out the Golden Bell Body Shield he had obtained from Fu Chengyun of the Bloodslayer Alliance during the Battle of Pingdu City. He said to Suoyang Fengxu, “This is a body-protection technique of Heaven Grade, low tier. Start by practicing this. This one is the Wind-Piercing Shadowless Art, a Heaven Grade, high-tier technique. Watch carefully.”

As he spoke, Liu Junhuai activated the Wind-Piercing Shadowless Art. His figure abruptly vanished from where he stood. The people in the room looked all around, but could not find him anywhere.

A moment later, Liu Junhuai reappeared. “This is a technique focused on movement, especially effective for concealing your tracks. Also, here are some pills. Take them while you cultivate. As my disciple, you won’t be shortchanged. The pills I have can ensure that you cultivate all the way to the Great Ascension stage.”

Shen Duoduo giggled as she watched Suoyang Fengxu’s stunned expression, then whispered something to Wu Bini. Wu Bini began giggling, too.

With a clatter, Liu Junhuai took out a heap of weapons, ranging from Earth Grade, low tier to Heaven Grade, high tier—more than a hundred in all. “There’s something here for everyone. Pick out a few you like for now, and later I’ll find suitable techniques for you.”

Shen Duoduo let out a yelp and rushed over first, crouching down to rummage through the weapons. Wu Bini rushed over after her.

Leaving the others to stare at the weapons with blazing eyes, Liu Junhuai went out into the courtyard. He took out some formation flags and several hundred high-grade spirit stones, intending to set up a small spirit-gathering formation.