Myriad Dragon Divine Sovereign

”Forget it. So what if I take you as my disciple? Wen Qingye, I accept you,” Zhang Zhilin said firmly, shooting to his feet.

Zhou Da couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. ”Oh? Peak Master, you’re really taking him? I heard that because you don’t have enough resources for your three disciples, two of them are still hovering at the Destruction Realm Fifth Layer Heaven, and the other is only at the Destruction Realm Second Heaven. At this rate, I’m afraid that when resources are distributed again, you’ll give them to Wen Qingye and hold back your three somewhat talented disciples.”

How could Wen Qingye not understand the sarcasm laced in Zhou Da’s words? He silently committed the name Zhou Da to memory, but his expression remained impassive.

Zhang Zhilin nodded, his face impassive, before breaking into a violent fit of coughing. ”COUGH COUGH COUGH. Since none of you are willing to take Wen Qingye as a disciple, then I suppose I will. With Qingye’s aptitude, I’m certain his talent won’t be squandered under my tutelage.”

Wen Qingye looked at Zhang Zhilin and sighed inwardly. ’There are things I must say, but now is not the time.’ At this thought, Wen Qingye glanced at the other three masters, a chill creeping into his heart.

Ren Yu shook his head and said bluntly, ”I had hoped to find a disciple to inherit my legacy, but Wen Qingye...”

Zhang Zhilin stood up. ”That’s enough. There’s no need to say more...” He coughed again. ”COUGH COUGH COUGH. I’m taking Qingye. I’ve troubled you three. You may take your leave.”

”Very well, we’ll take our leave then.” Ren Yu rose and departed immediately, as if he couldn’t bear to stay a second longer.

Elder Huaa and Zhou Da also rose, cupped their fists in a brief salute, and departed.

Seeing the three of them leave, Zhang Zhilin turned to Wen Qingye, his expression softening. ”In three days, we will hold the apprenticeship ceremony.”

Wen Qingye refused, ”Thank you for your kindness, Peak Master, but I can cultivate on my own.”

Zhang Zhilin’s tone was firm and resonant. ”You cannot. The path of cultivation requires guidance to clear the way. COUGH COUGH COUGH... Without a master to guide you, your journey will be unimaginably difficult.”

Wen Qingye looked at Zhang Zhilin’s earnest expression and fell silent, saying nothing.

Zhang Zhilin heaved a heavy sigh and said no more.

...

「Three days later, inside the Life Hall.」

After preparing incense, offerings, and other ceremonial items, Wen Qingye looked at the rows of Spiritual Positions before him. They belonged to the Ancestral Masters of the Celestial Profound Sect. Zhang Zhilin stood before them, holding incense with a solemn and dignified expression.

Zhang Zhilin looked at Wen Qingye and smiled. ”Alright, you may kowtow now.”

Wen Qingye nodded and slowly performed the full kowtow.

”Good! From now on, you are my, Zhang Zhilin’s, youngest disciple!” Zhang Zhilin walked to Wen Qingye’s side, patting his shoulder excitedly.

”Of my three disciples, my eldest is away serving as an Inspection Disciple. My second and third disciples are here with me. My second disciple, Zhang Dong, is also my son—you’ve met him, I believe. The other is my third disciple, Sunx Li.”

As Zhang Zhilin finished speaking, two figures entered. One was Zhang Dong, the one who had received Wen Qingye. The person next to him, whose cultivation was at the Destruction Realm Second Heaven, smiled at Wen Qingye but said nothing, seeming to be a man of few words.

Seeing Wen Qingye, Zhang Dong smiled. ”Junior Brother.”

”Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother,” Wen Qingye said with a slight smile, cupping his fists.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhilin stroked his beard and laughed. ”Qingye, now that you are my disciple, come with me. I have something to discuss with you.”

Afterward, Zhang Zhilin led Wen Qingye to a rear hall. He looked at Wen Qingye, nodded, and said, ”Now that you’ve joined Life Peak, there are some things you should know. This peak is home to many experts from the Celestial Profound Sect. Although I am the Peak Master, my actual control over them is quite weak. Most of the residents here are eccentrics with peculiar tempers. You must be careful. Do not wander about the peak without good reason.”

Wen Qingye nodded in understanding.

”COUGH COUGH COUGH...” Zhang Zhilin broke into another fit of violent coughing before continuing, ”Still, I trust your character. I know you cultivate the Sword Dao. The main path of our Celestial Profound Sect is the Dao of Profound Destruction, ranked 627th among the Three Thousand Great Dao. I doubt you have much interest in learning it, and I’m not familiar with the Sword Dao myself. However, I have a Token here. It was given to me by the previous Peak Master of Cloud Conceal Peak. With this Token, you can go to the Sword Forest on Cloud Conceal Peak and cultivate for three days. Take it.”

After speaking, Zhang Zhilin handed Wen Qingye a Token.

”If you have any questions about cultivation, you can come ask me anytime. Alright, I have nothing else for you. You may go.”

”Then I shall take my leave, Master.”

Wen Qingye nodded, then slowly rose and left.

As soon as he came out, he saw Sunx Li.

Sunx Li seemed to have been pacing by the door for a long time. Seeing Wen Qingye emerge, he hurried over and asked, ”Junior Brother, I heard your meridians are severely injured?”

”Yes, they’re a little injured,” Wen Qingye nodded, not quite understanding why Sunx Li was asking.

”Oh, is that so,” Sunx Li nodded, falling into thought. Then he smiled. ”Well then, Junior Brother, you must be busy. I won’t disturb you.”

After speaking, Sunx Li walked away.

Wen Qingye found it a bit strange, but he left the Life Hall anyway. Looking at the Token in his hand and recalling Zhang Zhilin’s words, Wen Qingye thought to himself, ’I will remember this kindness.’

He and Zhang Zhilin were fated to be master and disciple in name only, not in substance. Yet for Zhang Zhilin to be willing to give him this Token showed that he cared for Wen Qingye a great deal.

.......

Returning to his Cave Mansion, Wen Qingye walked toward the Artifact Refining Room. Even before entering, he could feel a scorching heat.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The flames surged wildly, like a giant beast roaring in fury.

Wen Qingye stared at the fire before him. Through the roiling flames, he could clearly see the glowing red Celestial Heavy Stone, Nine Dragon Ore, and other ores, all of which seemed to have melted.

Looking at the scene, Wen Qingye couldn’t help but murmur, ”It seems it will still take some time. I overestimated the power of my Spiritual Fire.”

From the looks of it, the Celestial Heavy Stone had not yet been completely refined by his Spiritual Fire; it would still require more time.

’In that case, I’ll refine this Coffin Fungus first,’ Wen Qingye thought.

He exited the Artifact Refining Room, went straight to the bed in his room, and sat down cross-legged.

He opened the Soul-Sealing Bottle, and a cloud of gray gas rushed out. A powerful suction seemed to emerge from Wen Qingye’s Qi Sea, pulling the gray Coffin Fungus directly into it.

BOOM!

The Coffin Fungus rushed into his two Qi Seas. Instantly, the entirety of his Qi Seas seemed to erupt. The Primordial Qi, as if drawn by the Coffin Fungus, surged madly toward it.

CRACKLE! POP!

As the Primordial Qi slammed into the Coffin Fungus, it emitted strange sounds. The surrounding dark, sinister aura began to dissipate bit by bit, gradually revealing an exceptionally clear and pure power.

Wen Qingye saw that the Coffin Fungus had drawn in most of his Primordial Qi. He knew that this meant he had lost access to the majority of his power, leaving him with very little Primordial Qi to command. He was in an extremely dangerous state.

But once the sinister aura on the surface of the Coffin Fungus was completely stripped away by the Primordial Qi, that would be the moment Wen Qingye’s cultivation would soar. It just needed a little more time.

’I suppose I’ll practice my Sword Dao in the meantime.’