Chapter 110: Accepting a Disciple

"Many thanks, Immortal! Many thanks for your grace!" The old man, overjoyed, picked up the fist-sized spirit stone and knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing in the direction where Jiang Xiaoxiao had departed.

Though the old man had long since grown indifferent to wealth, he was alone, and his only grandson had already entered the Qingyun Sect to cultivate immortality. Aside from this grandson, he had no other worldly attachments. Knowing he did not have many years left to live, he had ceased to care for material possessions.

However, what Jiang Xiaoxiao had given him was a spirit stone—something his grandson had often spoken of.

Spirit stones were resources for cultivators, capable of curing all illnesses and extending one's lifespan. His grandson had always wanted to procure one for him, but being a lowly outer-sect disciple, he had no way to acquire one.

The person who had just passed by had actually bestowed a legendary spirit stone. If he gave this to his grandson, his cultivation would surely improve! The old man thought, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

High in the sky, two long rainbows streaked across, one after the other.

"Xiaoxiao!" Ye Wuya called out.

"Ancestor, I am here," Jiang Xiaoxiao replied promptly.

"Investigate the regional power distribution and cultivation levels of the Yan Kingdom," Ye Wuya said calmly. He trusted that the Xianyue Pavilion, an entity under the Xianyue Holy Land, was spread across the entire world and would be able to uncover such information.

The Xianyue Pavilion was an entity directly under the Xianyue Holy Land, as Xian Yuexiang had once told him. It encompassed auctions, sales, banking services similar to a treasury, intelligence gathering, and assassination.

"Please wait a moment, Ancestor," Jiang Xiaoxiao replied with a nod, taking out a piece of jade and manipulating it.

After a few breaths, the palm-sized jade began to glow.

Jiang Xiaoxiao sensed the information for a moment and said, "Ancestor, I have found it."

"Good, read it to me," Ye Wuya commanded.

"Yes, Ancestor!" Jiang Xiaoxiao replied respectfully and recited: "The Yan region spans 108,000 miles. The major powers are the Yan Imperial Family, the Qingyun Sect, and the Lieyang Sect. The retired Emperor of Yan, Yan Bazhou, is at the Four Poles stage of the Golden Core realm. The Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect, Nalan Susu, is at the Four Poles stage of the Golden Core realm. The Sect Master of the Lieyang Sect, Master Lieyang, is also at the Four Poles stage of the Golden Core realm. Ancestor, these three are the most powerful cultivators in the Yan region."

Jiang Xiaoxiao finished reciting the data at a steady pace and waited for Ye Wuya's next command.

"Explain the divisions of the Golden Core realm to me; I have forgotten," Ye Wuya said casually.

"Ancestor, the Golden Core realm—where one successfully condenses their cultivation into a core, which acts as a nexus connecting the four limbs and the hundred bones—is divided into three stages. The first is the Five Viscera stage, consisting of five sub-stages: the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, and spleen. The second is the Four Poles stage, consisting of four sub-stages: cultivating the four limbs until one's hands and feet can reach the heavens and move the earth, making every movement a profound technique. The final stage is the Dragon Bridge, consisting of nine sub-stages: cultivating the spine until each vertebra is as firm as a pillar of heaven. When the secret realm reaches perfection, the spine transforms into a dragon; an ordinary cultivator is considered to have achieved minor success once they reach this stage. Ancestor, that is all for the Golden Core realm," Jiang Xiaoxiao explained.

"What is your current level?" Ye Wuya asked.

"Reporting to Ancestor, Xiaoxiao is currently within the Five Viscera stage of the Golden Core realm," she said, her expression turning solemn.

"Among the three people you mentioned, who can you defeat?" Ye Wuya asked blandly.

"Reporting to Ancestor, in a backwater place like this, I would dare to fight not just one, but all thirty of them!" Jiang Xiaoxiao declared with immense arrogance, as if this were the pride befitting a Saintess of the Xianyue Holy Land.

Ye Wuya felt somewhat surprised. He had thought that if she could defeat one, it would be impressive, but it seemed this girl's combat power was not to be underestimated. He realized a truth: cultivation level and combat power were not directly proportional. A lower-level cultivator with high combat power could still hold their own. If two people of the same level fought, the one with greater power and more magic artifacts would undoubtedly have the upper hand.

"In that case, I shall test you. We are going to barge into the Qingyun Sect," Ye Wuya said with bold confidence.

"Yes, Ancestor!" Jiang Xiaoxiao responded.

"Stop at that mountain ahead," Ye Wuya directed. The two of them came to a silent halt upon a mountain peak.

"Change your attire. You are going to fight, and this look won't do," Ye Wuya said, pointing at her immortal robes.

"Yes, Ancestor!" Jiang Xiaoxiao replied, heading toward the forest behind them.

Ye Wuya waited quietly. A moment later, Jiang Xiaoxiao emerged from the trees. She was clad in golden phoenix battle armor and golden flowing-cloud boots, with a one-meter-long fiery red cape billowing in the wind behind her. The armor accentuated her lithe figure, and she held a two-meter-long golden painted halberd. She looked majestic, like a golden goddess of war.

*Holy crap! Holy, holy crap!* Ye Wuya exclaimed inwardly. It was too cool—what man didn't want to be like a general conquering the battlefield? What man didn't have a dream of being a general?

"Not bad. This is the look. We must be high-profile," Ye Wuya said with a serious expression.

"Thank you for the praise, Ancestor," Jiang Xiaoxiao said.

"From today on, call me Master," Ye Wuya said suddenly.

"An—Ancestor, you..." Jiang Xiaoxiao was startled. She knew that the Ancestor had never taken a disciple, and this sudden command left her stunned.

"Hmph! What, are you unwilling?" Ye Wuya let out a cold snort.

"No, no, no! Ancestor—no, Master is above, please accept this disciple's kowtow!" Realizing what had happened, Jiang Xiaoxiao tossed aside her golden halberd, her armor clanging with a resonant metallic sound as she fell to her knees. She performed the grand ritual of three bows and nine kowtows. The eyes visible above her veil shone with intense excitement.

Although she had already been a disciple of the Rakshasa Witch, Xian Yueshang, the Rakshasa Witch and the Ancestor were husband and wife, so there was no issue of betrayal in changing masters. To be a disciple of an Ancestor with boundless power from six thousand years ago was an opportunity many in the Great Wilderness would kill for. Even if the Blood Demon Ancestor had a bad reputation, he was still a legendary figure—who would dare to object?

"Good, rise," Ye Wuya said, his expression softening. He had acted on a whim, leveraging the Blood Demon's identity to say those words. But to gain a disciple who could protect him? Why not?

"Yes, Master!" Jiang Xiaoxiao climbed to her feet, overjoyed. She had never been this excited in her life.

"Remember, from today on, our identity is that of rogue cultivators. You do not need to change your name; keep it as it is," Ye Wuya said gently.