Is being good-looking useful?

After class, Wei Yuan returned to the small courtyard and saw Zhang Sheng.

After he paid his respects, Zhang Sheng asked a few questions about his studies, then smiled and said, "Today, the Patriarch specifically came out of seclusion and wants to see you. You've brought a lot of honor to our Azure Hall this time, and the Patriarch is very happy. Let's see what good treasures we can get from him later!"

Hearing Zhang Sheng say this, Wei Yuan was also looking forward to it. He washed up and tidied his appearance. Zhang Sheng then released a flying sword. The flying sword immediately grew from palm-sized to twenty feet long. Zhang Sheng took Wei Yuan onto the flying sword and they soared into the sky.

This was Wei Yuan's first time flying on a sword. He was both excited and terrified. Looking at the rapidly shrinking courtyard and valley below, Wei Yuan felt his legs go weak and shaky, as if he might fall off at any moment.

Zhang Sheng gently patted Wei Yuan's back, and Wei Yuan felt as if he were soaking in hot water, an indescribable comfort washing over him. Moreover, the flying sword seemed to become one with him; he was the flying sword, and the flying sword was him. He no longer had to worry about suddenly falling.

Zhang Sheng didn't fly too fast. People flew past them from time to time, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Wei Yuan stood on the flying sword, flying higher and higher, straight towards a suspended peak in the sky. After a moment, they finally landed on a jade-green square at the foot of the mountain.

Zhang Sheng retracted the flying sword and led Wei Yuan up a winding stone path. They passed through forests and crossed streams, finally stopping in front of a grand hall. The most striking feature of the hall was two large red jade pillars, within which flames continuously rose, emitting waves of heat that Wei Yuan could feel from a distance. Fortunately, a wisp of green rain appeared around Zhang Sheng, shielding Wei Yuan within it, which made him feel a little better.

At this moment, the hall doors opened without any wind, and a deep, resonant voice came from inside: "Enter!"

Wei Yuan felt both anticipation and trepidation. In the past couple of days, in between classes, he had heard many rumors about the Azure Hall. True Monarch Xuan Yue had rarely made a move in recent years, and when he did, it was always earth-shattering. Among the True Persons under him, True Person Fen Hai had the most legendary deeds and the most brilliant record. His Daoist magic of burning the heavens and boiling the seas was almost unstoppable. Thinking of meeting such a legendary figure, Wei Yuan couldn't help but feel excited.

Zhang Sheng led Wei Yuan directly through the main hall and into the back courtyard. There, Wei Yuan saw an old man in Daoist robes feeding fish by a pond. However, the pond was not filled with water, but with blazing earth fire. The fish swam in the earth fire and lava, appearing quite at ease.

The old Daoist slowly turned, his gaze falling upon Wei Yuan. Wei Yuan felt a stream of scorching fire enter from the crown of his head and instantly travel throughout his body, nearly igniting him from the inside out!

Just then, a jade toad appeared in Wei Yuan's sea of consciousness. With a great gulp, it actually swallowed the stream of fire that had entered his body. The jade toad's body immediately turned red, but a few wisps of black energy flashed in its eyes. The red faded, and its body gradually turned a lustrous white, leaving only a red line on its back.

In that instant, white steam began to rise from Wei Yuan's head, and he broke out in a sweat. His mouth was incredibly dry, but his body felt much lighter and more transparent.

The old Daoist was greatly surprised and said, "The heavenly fire I used to temper your foundation was actually swallowed by you in one gulp?"

Both the old Daoist and Zhang Sheng had clearly seen the anomaly in Wei Yuan's sea of consciousness. Zhang Sheng had never witnessed such a transformation and was momentarily bewildered. The old Daoist stepped in front of Wei Yuan and scrutinized him from head to toe. His gaze was like a sword, piercing through Wei Yuan completely.

Wei Yuan looked up and finally saw the old Daoist's appearance clearly. The Daoist was not tall, even a bit thin, and his features were ordinary, except for a dark red mark at the corner of his eyebrows. Other than that, he looked like an ordinary old man from the mountains and wilds, bearing no resemblance to the renowned True Person Fen Hai.

As he looked, a smile slowly spread across the old Daoist's face. He said, "His foundation hasn't been formally established yet, but the visualization diagram already possesses a divine aura. This child is good! My disciple, you haven't been wasting your years by finding him."

Zhang Sheng said, "Wait, what do you mean?"

True Person Fen Hai said, "The future prosperity of my Azure Hall will depend on this grand-disciple of mine!"

Zhang Sheng was stunned. "So, with a grand-disciple, I'm no longer important?"

True Person Fen Hai's gaze remained fixed on Wei Yuan, and he smiled so broadly as if a flower had bloomed on his face. "The waves behind the river push the waves before, and the front waves... well, you are the front wave. This is the general trend! My disciple, just accept it!"

Zhang Sheng's expression turned quite unpleasant. "Are you saying you're not the front wave either?"

True Person Fen Hai stroked his beard and said, "It's fine. It will take decades for this little back wave to grow up! That's not a long time, and I, your master, can wait!"

Saying this, True Person Fen Hai scooped Wei Yuan up. "Come, my good boy! Let your grand-master hug you!"

However, True Person Fen Hai was not tall, and Wei Yuan was quite tall, so the hug was a bit awkward.

Zhang Sheng's sword-like eyebrows shot up, and he said irritably, "You don't have to be so obviously biased! What makes this kid better than me?"

True Person Fen Hai replied without turning his head, "He's better looking than you!"

"Uh..." Zhang Sheng almost choked. His long hair rose without wind, and faint green sword qi flickered in his eyes. He said angrily, "This is just my vessel, my vessel! Is it interesting to compare him to my vessel?! How about comparing him to me in person?"

True Person Fen Hai was still examining Wei Yuan. "Alright, I won't talk about looks, lest you feel inferior. This child swept the Martial Assessment, making all the noble families unable to hold their heads up. This is the first time in a thousand years. This isn't just bringing honor to me, but to Xuan Yue Patriarch. Don't you understand the significance of this?"

"If I hadn't created Heaven and Earth Madman, he'd be sweeping what ghost! Also, what do you mean 'lest I feel inferior'? When it comes to looks, how am I worse than anyone else?!" Zhang Sheng was completely losing his composure.

True Person Fen Hai said leisurely, "Although you created it, you can't use it yourself!"

Zhang Sheng's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, completely speechless. True Person Fen Hai's mouth was as famous as his heavenly fire.

True Person Fen Hai finally put Wei Yuan down and said, "This child's external fortune is extraordinary, but it's hard to say whether it's good or bad yet. So, teaching him the Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Diagram is the right thing to do. Converting the fortune into additional foundation is beneficial and harmless. However, external fortune doesn't belong to our world, so the foundation converted will inevitably be somewhat superficial and require extra effort to supplement."

True Person Fen Hai stroked his beard and pondered. After a moment, his face showed a look of heartache. "How about this: I have three Chonglou Dinghai Pills here, which are very effective for supplementing the foundation. After taking them, you must also take one Peiyuan Pill every three days. You, as the master, will have to figure out how to get them!"

Zhang Sheng said irritably, "I'm not as good-looking as him, and I still have to prepare pills for him?"

True Person Fen Hai glared at him. "So what? Did I mistreat you when you were young? To forge your Dao Foundation, I humbled myself and begged from everyone, barely managing to gather the materials. I spent a full three years repaying the Immortal Silver I owed!"

Zhang Sheng's heart softened, and he sighed, "Alright, I'll find a way."

True Person Fen Hai snorted. "That's more like it. Oh, right, that Heaven and Earth Madman has already been submitted to the palace, but it's unlikely anyone can use it, so the reward won't be too much."

Zhang Sheng said, "That was created in a moment of inspiration, and I only intended for Yuan'er to use it. Has the Patriarch come out of seclusion yet?"

"On the day of your exam, the Patriarch argued with someone and fought three against one, sustaining a minor injury. Otherwise, how would those noble families have allowed you to take first place?"

Zhang Sheng was surprised. "Three against one? How did I only sense two opponents?"

True Person Fen Hai snorted. "Bao Manshan of the Bao family launched a sneak attack from beyond the heavens, so you naturally couldn't sense him."

Zhang Sheng fell silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "Good! I'll remember this. Yuan'er, you remember it too!"

Wei Yuan nodded vigorously.

True Person Fen Hai's old face broke into a smile again. "Hey, what are you doing? Don't corrupt the child! Our Azure Hall isn't a vengeful sect!"

True Person Fen Hai looked at Wei Yuan, liking him more and more. He couldn't help but stroke his head and say, "Child, a True Monarch's revenge is never too late, even after three hundred years. We'll talk about this when your Daoist magic is perfected. At that time, if you encounter Bao Manshan again, don't go too far. After all, you've known each other for so many years. Just breaking a few legs should be enough to make a point!"