The moment Tie Ma Zhenren spoke, the entire square fell silent.
Some were awed by the might of a Nascent Soul True Person; others were stunned by what he had said.
A Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivator had offered to take someone as his disciple in front of so many fellow sect members, despite that person already having a master. His resolve was plain to see.
If Luo Chen agreed, the resources devoted to cultivating him would surely exceed anything ordinary people could imagine.
Many put themselves in Luo Chen's place.
They found it surprisingly hard to imagine refusing.
Yet, to most people's surprise, Luo Chen merely cupped his hands.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Martial Uncle, but I have no wish to change masters."
He had refused!
A buzz of conversation rose across the square.
Tie Ma Zhenren frowned. "If you're worried about what your master Yao Xi might think, there's no need. I'll visit her and explain in person."
Luo Chen shook his head.
Tie Ma Zhenren looked at him with pained regret. "You possess supreme talent for cultivation. Junior Sister Yao Xi has reached a crucial point in her own cultivation and needs to enter a lengthy seclusion. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one seclusion by a Nascent Soul True Person could last half your lifetime. Do you truly mean to let your years slip away like this? Under my guidance, you would receive all manner of cultivation resources, not to mention the best possible instruction in the Taiyi Geng Metal Myriad Transformation Profound Chapter. Xuan Luo, don't lead yourself astray!"
Even so, Luo Chen refused.
What Tie Ma Zhenren saw as drawbacks were advantages to him.
He had once cultivated to the Spirit Transformation Realm. He had no need for anyone to guide him.