Qian Gu Dongfeng's Outstanding Acting, Return Imminent

"You've joined the Spirit Pagoda and become my disciple, so I should arrange a position for you within the Spirit Pagoda. Tell me what position you want. Even if you want to become a Soul Envoy of the Spirit Pagoda, Teacher can arrange it for you," Qian Gu Dongfeng said generously.

On the way, Vice Tower Master Li had told Shiyu a great deal about the Spirit Pagoda, with its various positions receiving particular emphasis.

Even without viewing things from a god's perspective, he knew how lofty the position of Soul Envoy was.

"I'm not really interested in those positions. I just want to cultivate hard and grow stronger. If I can reach the Limit Realm sooner, I can retire sooner too. Then I can go wherever I want, live in seclusion in the mountains if I feel like it. How free would that be?" Shiyu said with a yearning look.

"It's good to aspire to reach the Limit Realm, but those ideals of yours afterward..." Qian Gu Dongfeng looked at Shiyu strangely. His ideals were difficult to comment on.

"Maybe it's because of my parents' influence, but I'm not very interested in status or position, and I don't want to be bound by them. I just want to improve, become stronger, and then live freely," Shiyu said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"That's actually quite good too." Qian Gu Dongfeng smiled. The other party's lack of grand ambition was rather pleasing to him.

"As your Master, I'll do my utmost to help you achieve your goal of becoming stronger. I won't spare resources in helping you increase your Soul Power. You won't need to worry about Soul Spirits or Battle Armor either. You only need to focus on cultivation," Qian Gu Dongfeng said.

"Thank you, Teacher," Shiyu said happily.

"I'm your Teacher. It's only right," Qian Gu Dongfeng said with a kindly smile.

After saying a few more things, he had someone take Shiyu to the residence prepared for him.

"None of the lines I prepared came in handy." Lying on a new bed in a new room, Shiyu felt rather surprised.

The Qian Gu Dongfeng he had imagined should not have been so easy to deal with. Nor had he shown any wariness because of Shiyu's talent. He seemed genuinely prepared to spare no effort in nurturing him.

Had he judged a gentleman by the measure of a petty man?

With that thought in mind, Shiyu stayed at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters for two days.

During those two days, he practically lived in the Spirit Pagoda's library, displaying an intense thirst for knowledge.

This also fit his persona. After all, he was a child from the mountains who had not read many books. It was perfectly reasonable for him to be curious and want to read more.

He looked through this and that, silently memorizing the books that interested him so he could borrow them all at once when he left.

"The Pagoda Master wants to see you," someone who had come to the library said to Shiyu.

"I'll go right away." Shiyu left the library and pondered what Qian Gu Dongfeng wanted from him as he walked.

As he neared Qian Gu Dongfeng's office, voices came from within.

"I firmly oppose your nearly cost-no-objective plan to cultivate Shiyu."

"There's no denying that he's talented, but he only joined the Spirit Pagoda recently. Is he worth your wholehearted investment?"

"Setting aside whether his talent can be turned into actual strength, do you think his loyalty to the Spirit Pagoda warrants such immense trust?"

"Your cultivation plan is completely treating him as someone absolutely loyal to the Spirit Pagoda."

"That isn't appropriate. He hasn't been in the Spirit Pagoda long, and who knows what thoughts he may have in the future? He may not be worthy of such trust."

"Moreover, your decision to take him as a disciple was far too irresponsible."

"A Pagoda Master's disciple is essentially the future successor of the Spirit Pagoda's Pagoda Master. Do you think it's suitable to make him the Pagoda Master's successor just like that?"

"Perhaps his cultivation talent is high enough, but becoming Pagoda Master isn't something strength alone can accomplish. He also needs strong management ability. Otherwise, the Spirit Pagoda may fall into unprecedented chaos."

Shiyu heard the argument inside with perfect clarity and suddenly understood. He had known he should not have misjudged Qian Gu Dongfeng.

So this was all an act he had arranged, waiting for Shiyu to walk into it.

Calling him over was most likely deliberate, so that he could overhear this argument.

By this point, Shiyu could already guess what Qian Gu Dongfeng would say next.

Nothing more than how much he trusted Shiyu as his disciple and how he was willing to vouch for him.

Then, after hearing it, Shiyu would naturally be moved to tears, enter the room, declare his loyalty, and let them trust him without reservation.

Quite a few tricks, Shiyu inwardly complained, silently reciting the lines he had prepared.

They had their routine, and he had his script. Life was a play, and it all depended on acting.

"Teacher." Having heard enough, Shiyu pushed open the door and entered with a deeply moved expression.

Qian Gu Dongfeng had just happened to say that he would trust Shiyu unconditionally.

"You heard it all?" Qian Gu Dongfeng frowned, as though he truly did not want Shiyu to know about this.

"Yes, I heard everything." Shiyu nodded, clenching his fists as he glared indignantly at the old man arguing with Qian Gu Dongfeng.

"Although I only joined the Spirit Pagoda recently, everyone in the Spirit Pagoda has treated me very well and helped me greatly. I'm deeply grateful."

"I will never do anything that harms the Spirit Pagoda, much less betray it."

"If you don't believe me, I can swear upon my Martial Soul that I will never betray the Spirit Pagoda."

"I also won't seek to become some so-called successor to the Pagoda Master through my status as the Pagoda Master's disciple. I have no interest in that. My only ambition is cultivation."

Shiyu spoke forcefully, utterly furious.

The old man was somewhat satisfied with Shiyu's declaration, but it was not enough.

"I'm not deliberately making things difficult for you. It's simply that the status of the Pagoda Master's disciple is no small matter and carries great significance, so we must be cautious."

"Since you have no interest in the position of Pagoda Master, I hope you can make a promise and sign a written pledge. After the Spirit Pagoda has nurtured you, you will devote yourself entirely to assisting the new Pagoda Master and will not participate in the struggle for the position of Pagoda Master," the old man said.

"Elder Yun, aren't you going too far? What if Shiyu displays enough talent to manage the Spirit Pagoda in the future? Wouldn't such a promise hold him back?" Qian Gu Dongfeng said angrily.

Though Shiyu saw through everything, he did not expose it. Instead, he spoke first. "Teacher, I truly have no desire to become Pagoda Master. I only want to live freely."

"But the Spirit Pagoda will have the grace of nurturing me, and I will need to rely on its resources to forge Battle Armor. I should naturally repay the Spirit Pagoda."

"I can swear that I will do my part whenever the Spirit Pagoda needs me, and I will do my best to assist the new Pagoda Master."

"I can be a guardian of the Spirit Pagoda rather than a manager."

"You truly don't need to go this far," Qian Gu Dongfeng sighed, though he was very satisfied with Shiyu's answer inwardly.

The old man called Elder Yun revealed a smile and nodded in satisfaction. "You truly are a good child. It seems my own thoughts were rather unpresentable."

Though he said that, the oath was still sworn, and the written pledge was still signed.

After this little episode, Shiyu was actually much more at ease. He was not afraid of Qian Gu Dongfeng restraining him like this; what he feared was Qian Gu Dongfeng blindly trusting him, which would have made him even more uneasy.

After gaining Qian Gu Dongfeng's trust, Shiyu's authority within the Spirit Pagoda increased considerably.

He made full use of those privileges to obtain what he wanted.

Time quickly reached the final day of his seven-day journey. A Soul Tool Car drove out from the Spirit Pagoda headquarters toward Eastsea City.

Shiyu was in the car, supposedly going home to see his parents. Driving was a Spirit Saint sent by Qian Gu Dongfeng to escort and protect him.

Sitting in the back seat, Shiyu boredly rubbed the storage rings on both his middle fingers, the corners of his lips unconsciously curling upward.

Today's third chapter. This is the first bonus chapter, and there'll be another one tonight, so please wait a little. New Book Sets Sail, and I hope everyone can add it to your collections and cast some Recommendation Tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Thank you so much.

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