Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

Chapter 205: Chapter 135: Zhou Xun Pays Respects to His Master

Early in the morning, after eating Spirit Rice, Zhou Xun left his home and headed to Master White Cloud’s Cave Mansion.

Just entering White Cloud Mountain, he encountered an elderly man with gray hair, accompanied by a middle-aged man.

”Greetings, Master Hongyu!”

Upon seeing the old man, Zhou Xun cupped his hands and gave a slight bow.

”Zhou Xun, what are you doing here!”

Upon seeing Zhou Xun’s figure, the middle-aged man frowned.

This man was precisely Master Hongyu’s eldest son, Lv Jingwen.

When Zhou Xun first arrived at White Cloud Immortal City and began to make a name for himself, this man had once sent someone to recruit Zhou Xun, but was rejected by Zhou Xun.

Later on, Zhou Xun grew close to their rival Zhou Buqi, and they opened Danhai Pavilion, which became a competitor to the White Cloud Pill Workshop under their control.

All these added up, making him see Zhou Xun as an enemy.

”This is White Cloud Mountain, the core of our White Cloud Immortal City. Be careful not to trespass into places you shouldn’t or offend those you shouldn’t. It’ll be disastrous if it costs you your life and cultivation!”

The middle-aged man said with full mockery.

Offending those you shouldn’t was naturally referring to past events.

”What does Daoist Lv think?”

Zhou Xun smiled lightly, directly ignoring Lv Jingwen and directed his gaze at Master Hongyu, Lv Qingyuan.

The former Zhou Xun wasn’t intimidated by Master Hongyu’s family at all, and now that he had become a Tier Two High-Grade Alchemist and was about to be accepted by Master White Cloud, he cared even less.

”Jingwen, watch your words!”

He softly rebuked his eldest son, then cupped his hands toward Zhou Xun.

”Please pardon my son’s rudeness, Junior Martial Brother!”

”Since you are about to become a disciple under our master, we will naturally be family in the future, and I didn’t know about past matters, Junior Martial Brother, please don’t blame us!”

Master Hongyu spoke with some difficulty.

He had heard about Master White Cloud’s evaluation of Zhou Xun.

If it were just himself, even if Zhou Xun became a Quasi-Third Tier Alchemist, he wouldn’t be afraid.

But he had a whole family behind him.

With only a few decades of life left, if both he and Master White Cloud were to pass away, Zhou Xun would be able to easily manipulate his descendants if he wished.

Hence, he put aside his pride to apologize.

But Lv Qingyuan, having been in power for so long, found it truly difficult to adapt to apologizing to someone a hundred years his junior.

His tone was somewhat stiff, and his motions were somewhat unnatural.

If he were smarter and more scheming, he could have apologized to Zhou Xun publicly, with great ceremony, declaring an apology for past matters.

By doing so, he could have incited the other disciples to feel indignation over perceived favoritism.

”Zhou Xun hasn’t even formally entered the school yet, and he’s already so arrogant to bully his seniors; would he do the same to us in the future?”

This might have stirred public anger and possibly made Master White Cloud reconsider.

Unfortunately, Lv Qingyuan lacked such tactics, or he wouldn’t have been easily suppressed by Zhou Buqi in the White Cloud Pill Workshop.

Seeing this, Lv Jingwen was initially stunned, then full of disbelief, and stood in shock.

”Father... Father, you just called him... called him Junior Martial Brother?”

”He... has become a disciple of our Grandmaster!”

”How is this possible!”

Seeing his son’s reaction, Lv Qingyuan sighed, then nodded.

”My lack of discipline over my son has embarrassed you, Junior Martial Brother!”

He then instructed his eldest son:

”Hurry and apologize to your Junior Martial Uncle Zhou!”

Lv Qingyuan may have lacked strategy, but he wasn’t stupid and understood some aspects of human nature.

Hearing this, Lv Jingwen’s face turned bright red, and he even began to breathe heavily.

In terms of age, Zhou Xun was decades younger than him; in terms of status, he himself was a Tier Two Alchemist at the White Cloud Pill Workshop.

Now, having to apologize to a younger person and even perform the courtesy of a junior?

How could he possibly accept this?

His face changed from red to white, finally settling on green, and he said nothing.

Seeing his son’s hesitation, Lv Qingyuan urgently communicated through sound transmission:

”Unfilial son, do you want to destroy our Lv Family? This man is not yet sixty and already a Tier Two High-Grade Alchemist, about to join our master. In the future, he will certainly stand at the top of our White Cloud Immortal City.”

”And with my limited lifespan, once I’m gone, if he seeks revenge, could you resist? Could the Lv Family resist?”

”I understand, Father!”

Lv Jingwen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly took two steps back, faced Zhou Xun, and bowed deeply to the ground.

”In the past, as a junior, I was blind and offended Junior Martial Uncle. I hope you won’t take offense and will forgive me!”

As he spoke, his shoulders trembled continuously, and his tone carried a hint of resentment.

Hearing this, Zhou Xun laughed heartily, seemingly ignoring his body’s reactions, and helped him up with both hands.

”What are you saying, Daoist Lv? It was just a small matter in the past, no need to dwell on it. From now on, let’s interact as peers!”

He then looked at Lv Qingyuan.

”Master, there’s no need for this. As fellow Alchemists, we should interact more in the future!”

After all, there was no life-and-death conflict with Lv Qingyuan’s family, just a difference in standpoints.

Neither had they attempted any clandestine harm to Zhou Xun.

At most, Lv Qingyuan’s second son had mocked Zhou Xun a few times in the past.

But he got what he deserved and ultimately perished.

Zhou Xun naturally wouldn’t hold a grudge against a dead person, nor would he harm others because of it.

Moreover, they had already shown such humility.

Considering Master White Cloud and his other disciples’ feelings, this was the best opportunity for Zhou Xun to let bygones be bygones.

Seeing Zhou Xun’s sincere gaze, not appearing to fake it, Master Hongyu nodded slightly, impressed by Zhou Xun’s generosity.

”Thank you, Junior Martial Brother. Today, go first to meet our master. I’ll visit you at your place in the future!”

Speaking, the two of them laughed and chatted as they headed toward Master White Cloud’s Cave Mansion together.

Meanwhile, Lv Jingwen went to the Library Pavilion.

...

Once more arriving at Qingshui Cave.

Zhou Xun took out a Sound Transmission Talisman, whispered a few words, and sent it toward the stone wall.

In a moment, the stone wall fluctuated and revealed a passage.

Soon after, a young man in white clothing, handsome and elegant, walked out.

It was none other than Xing Huai’an, the youngest disciple of Master White Cloud.

”Ah, Senior Brother Lv and Alchemist Zhou have arrived. Please come in, Master is already waiting inside!”

The man’s voice was loud and vibrant, clearly someone full of confidence and spirit.

When he mentioned Zhou Xun, he glanced at him several more times, displaying a look of familiarity.

”Little Junior Brother!”

”Daoist Xing!”

Zhou Xun and Master Hongyu both cupped their hands in salute, then followed Xing Huai’an inside.

It was the same pavilion as last time, where Master White Cloud sat, holding a jade scroll.

”Disciple pays respects to Master!”

”Junior pays respects to Elder White Cloud!”

As they approached, Zhou Xun and Master Hongyu both bowed deeply in greeting.

Since Zhou Xun had not formally become a disciple, he naturally did not take liberties and continued to address him as Elder.

”Haha, no need for such formalities!”

Master White Cloud seemed to be in a good mood today, his smile wider than last time.

He then pointed toward Zhou Xun, introducing him to Xing Huai’an beside him:

”Huai’an, this is Alchemist Zhou, Zhou Xun, you should get to know each other well!”

”Master, I’ve already heard of Alchemist Zhou’s excellent alchemy skill, and I met him over twenty years ago!”

Xing Huai’an said with a smile.

”Oh? You two actually know each other?”

Master White Cloud said in surprise.

After all, under his arrangement, Xing Huai’an rarely operated within White Cloud Immortal City, spending most of his time cultivating elsewhere, thus the likelihood of knowing Zhou Xun seemed low.

”During the last trip to Golden Cloud Valley, Alchemist Zhou also went as part of the support team, thus we briefly met there!”

”It’s a pity, with my poor eyesight, I didn’t recognize Alchemist Zhou’s capabilities; otherwise, I should have visited long ago. It’s truly my fault, my fault!”

He cupped his hands toward Zhou Xun as he spoke.

These words gave Zhou Xun a lot of face.

”Daoist Xing over-praises me!” Zhou Xun returned the greeting.

”One of you is the most talented disciple under me, destined to be a future True Pill Cultivator, and the other is the most gifted alchemist in the Immortal City,”

”both are pillars of my future White Cloud Immortal City!”

Master White Cloud patted both of their hands.

This intimate gesture even made Master Hongyu a little envious.

It made sense for Xing Huai’an to receive such treatment; he was the most promising disciple in Master White Cloud’s eyes and a descendant of his own sister,

yet it was the same for Zhou Xun.

Even Master Hongyu, having been a disciple of Master White Cloud for years, had never received such personal commendation.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for restraining his actions at the foot of White Cloud Mountain.

He could almost be certain.

If he had indeed clashed with Zhou Xun, Master would not side with him.

He silently resolved that after alchemy, he must accompany a substantial gift and personally visit Zhou Xun’s Cave Mansion to make amends.

As they joked and chatted, Zhou Buqi and Master Yufeng, Liu Bo’an, also arrived.

After greeting Master White Cloud, Master Yufeng also turned his gaze toward Zhou Xun.

”Greetings to Master, decades have passed, yet Master remains as impressive as ever,” Zhou Xun said with cupped hands.

”Haha, is this to be our future junior disciple?”

Liu Bo’an beamed, carefully examining Zhou Xun.

Back then, when they were stationed outside Golden Yuan Valley together, he’d met Zhou Xun, who had average cultivation and aptitude, only his alchemy talent was noteworthy.

He never would have thought Zhou Xun would catch the eye of his master; he truly misjudged.

This was a difficult comment for Zhou Xun to respond to, so he simply cupped his hands in return.

”Bo’an is not wrong, I indeed have the mind to take him as a disciple, but as the saying goes, ’The master chooses the disciple, and the disciple also chooses the master!’”

”Zhou Xun, would you be willing to accept me as your teacher?”

Seeing this, Master White Cloud straightforwardly spoke.

The matter concerning the Crystal Condensing Pill was crucial, and taking Zhou Xun as a disciple now would also help in keeping the matter confidential.

Otherwise, it would be a pity to extinguish such an asset.

Initially, Master White Cloud had intended to eliminate Zhou Xun after refining the pill.

Indeed, only the dead can truly keep secrets.

”I would be most willing!” Zhou Xun immediately knelt, performing the ceremony of apprenticeship.

”Disciple Zhou Xun pays respects to Master!”

”Very well, very well. After the alchemy, we shall hold a grand apprenticeship ceremony for you!” Master White Cloud nodded slightly, his gaze satisfied and appreciative as he looked at Zhou Xun.

”Congratulations, Master, on acquiring such a fine disciple. Our White Cloud Immortal City gains yet another pillar for the future!”

Upon witnessing this, Zhou Buqi, Xing Huai’an, and the other senior brothers all offered their congratulations.

”Hahaha!”

Master White Cloud was filled with joy.

Thereupon, a scene of harmonious teacher-student affection unfolded.

The group lingered in chatter for a long time before finally commencing the alchemy.

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