Great Bamboo Peak.
Shou Jing Hall.
"Ma'am."
"The other child is called Zhang Xiaofan."
A hint of imperceptible amusement flashed through Ye Xuan's eyes.
The protagonist, huh?
Although he looked utterly ordinary right now, like a wooden lump.
The luck surrounding this fellow was on the level of the Heavenly Dao's own favored son.
Even without Puzhi transferring his cultivation to him, and without the Blood Devouring Pearl, this boy was still a promising prospect.
Most importantly, Great Bamboo Peak was short of someone who could cook well.
"This Zhang Xiaofan... His aptitude is quite ordinary."
Ye Xuan spoke honestly.
"Ordinary?"
"My Great Bamboo Peak doesn't accept useless... Ahem, mediocre talents."
"Since his aptitude is ordinary, then let him remain a commoner and live a peaceful life. That would be fine too."
Tian Buyi instantly lost interest.
There were already more than enough mediocre talents at Great Bamboo Peak.
He did not want to accept another utterly ordinary disciple.
"Master."
"In the path of cultivation, aptitude is certainly important, but one's temperament is even more crucial."
"I observed that Zhang Xiaofan. His temperament is as steadfast as a boulder. Though he appears dull, he is actually wise in a foolish-looking way."
"Moreover..."
"I've studied physiognomy. From this boy's tremendous fortune, I can tell that he is a lucky general."
"If we take him in, even if he cannot become a great talent, he can still stabilize Great Bamboo Peak's fortune and ensure the prosperity of our branch."
Ye Xuan lowered his voice, as though he were revealing some secret of heaven and earth.
The corner of Tian Buyi's mouth twitched.
Physiognomy?
You cultivate the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. When did you switch careers and become a fortune-teller?
If anyone else had said such things, Tian Buyi would definitely have slapped him.
But these words had come from Ye Xuan...
Twelve years old, yet already in the Shangqing Realm.
This boy himself was a miracle.
His words carried considerable weight.
"Very well."
"Since you put it that way, we'll take him in."
"Whether it's one sheep or two, they still have to be herded."
"As for that Lin Jingyu, if he really is as good as you say, I'll personally teach him."
"As for that Zhang Xiaofan..."
"If he truly cannot understand anything, send him to the kitchen to help out. Sixth has looked rather exhausted from cooking every day."
A moment later.
Tian Buyi slowly spoke.
He did not believe in talk of fortune, but he trusted Ye Xuan.
"Song Daren."
Then Tian Buyi bellowed.
The shout was so full of vigor that the roof tiles seemed to jump.
Within moments.
A tall, burly figure hurried in.
"Master, you called?"
Song Daren scratched his head sheepishly.
"Go to Caomiao Village."
Tian Buyi cleared his throat and put on a master's bearing.
"Caomiao Village?"
Song Daren froze for a moment.
It was a small village at the foot of Qingyun Mountain.
Aside from occasionally buying vegetables and fruit, they rarely had any dealings with it.
"Bring the children from two households up the mountain for me."
"One is called Lin Jingyu, and the other is Zhang Xiaofan."
At this point.
Tian Buyi paused, as though weighing his words.
When accepting disciples in the past, they were either orphans brought back by chance or children selected through a unified examination.
This was the first time Tian Buyi had specifically gone to a mortal village to "snatch" people.
"Remember."
"Be polite."
Tian Buyi emphasized his words.
"Bring some gold, silver, and valuables. Then go to the storeroom and take two bottles of body-strengthening pills."
"Explain things properly to their parents."
"Tell them that these two children have extraordinary bones, are fated to join the Qingyun Sect, and that I want to take them as disciples and teach them the way to immortality."
"If their parents refuse..."
Tian Buyi narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of danger.
Song Daren's heart gave a jolt.
Does Master want me to use force?
"If they truly refuse, then wear them down!"
"Stay shamelessly at their gate and refuse to leave until they agree!"
Tian Buyi blew out his beard and glared.
That Lin Jingyu was a rare genius among ten thousand.
Once this opportunity was gone, it would never come again.
If that old fellow Cang Song of Dragon Head Peak found out, he would pounce like a mad dog to snatch him.
The early bird got the worm, while the late one got nothing.
Tian Buyi understood that principle better than anyone.
"Ah?"
Song Daren's mouth fell open, his face blank with shock.
A dignified cultivator was going to shamelessly loiter at a mortal's gate?
This was too...
"What are you 'ah'-ing about?"
"Why aren't you going yet?"
"If you can't bring them back, don't come back either. Stay in Caomiao Village and farm!"
Seeing Song Daren's astonished expression.
Tian Buyi kicked him in the backside.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"This disciple will go at once!"
Rubbing his sore bottom, Song Daren scrambled out.
Though he did not know why his master had suddenly become so concerned about two village children.
A master's orders could not be disobeyed.
And judging from how hurried his master was acting.
Those two children really might be extraordinary treasures.
"Buyi, you're being too anxious."
"Since they're people Seventh took an interest in, they won't get away."
Watching Song Daren's disheveled back as he left.
Su Ru covered her mouth and chuckled.
"What do you know?"
"That old Cang Song has a nose sharper than a dog's."
"If he finds out there's a fine piece of jade beneath the mountain, he'll fly straight down on his sword to snatch the person."
"Enough about that."
"I need to go to Heaven-Piercing Peak first."
"We must discuss Puzhi's matter with the Sect Leader Senior Brother."
Tian Buyi snorted.
After saying that.
He walked to the doorway with his hands behind his back and flicked his sleeve.
The Crimson Flame Sword left its sheath.
Tian Buyi mounted the Crimson Flame Sword and headed straight for Heaven-Piercing Peak.
After Tian Buyi left.
Shou Jing Hall instantly fell quiet.
Only Su Ru and Ye Xuan remained.
Su Ru turned around, her gaze settling on Ye Xuan.
Her originally gentle eyes now held a hint of scrutiny and tenderness.
She slowly walked up to Ye Xuan, extended her slender fingers, and gently pinched his shoulder and arm.
"You've lost weight."
"You must have suffered quite a bit while you were out there this past year, right?"
Su Ru sighed, her voice filled with concern.
Although Ye Xuan was now a powerful cultivator in the Shangqing Realm.
In Su Ru's eyes, Ye Xuan was still that child Song Daren had brought back.
"Ma'am, I'm not a mortal."
"At my level, I'm immune to cold and heat. How could I have suffered?"
Hearing Su Ru's words.
Ye Xuan smiled and shook his head, then helped Su Ru sit down.
Naturally, he could not say that he had enjoyed an exceedingly comfortable life during the past year.
With the skills rewarded by the system.
He had become an alchemy master, an artifact-refining master, and a formation master.
With those abilities.
All he needed to do was stay at home, and people would come knocking to deliver treasures.
Was that called tempering?
It was basically lying down while reaping benefits.
But he could not say those things.
If he did.
Where would Ma'am's overflowing maternal love go?
"You really are stubborn."
"Tell me, what did you encounter along the way?"
"Did you run into any danger?"
"If anyone bullied you, just tell me."
"Although I haven't fought in a long time, my strength hasn't diminished."
"..."
Su Ru rolled her eyes at Ye Xuan.
But her tone was filled with concern.
Protecting their own was an excellent tradition of Great Bamboo Peak.
From Tian Buyi to Su Ru and then to the disciples below, it had been passed down through the entire branch.
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