The Seal

Zhao Nan looked at Sathius, who was lying on the ground yet remained stubbornly defiant. After a moment's thought, he spoke again. "Sathius, since you don't want to become my disciple's contracted magical beast,

I can see you have good potential. How about becoming my disciple?"

"Become your disciple?" Sathius was taken aback by Zhao Nan's words. After repeating them, he asked, "You may be a Saint-level powerhouse, but you don't seem to know how to teach magical beasts to cultivate, do you?

After all, magical beasts and humans cultivate in different ways!"

"Haha.

The difference between the cultivation methods of magical beasts and humans only applies before reaching the Saint level.

Before reaching the Saint level, a magical beast only needs a powerful enough bloodline. As long as it quietly absorbs energy, it can grow to the highest level its bloodline allows.

But once they reach the Saint level, humans and Saint-level magical beasts are essentially the same.

You're already a Level Nine Magical Beast, and you're just one step away from reaching the Saint level. Teaching you won't be much different from teaching anyone else.

So, how about becoming my disciple?"

"If I become your disciple, you won't make me become someone else's contracted magical beast, will you?"

Feeling the pressure lift from his body, Sathius raised his head and asked Zhao Nan.

"If I made you my disciple's contracted magical beast, I'd also take you on as my disciple.

But since you're unwilling, I'll have you form a contract with him instead.

Still, you'll have to look after your senior brother from now on!" Zhao Nan explained.

At the words "senior brother," a hint of displeasure crept into Sathius's fearsome gaze. "Why does he get to be the senior brother?

Is he stronger than me?"

"Not at all. He's only a third-level mage right now, nowhere near as strong as you." Zhao Nan glanced at Ace's status panel and revealed his current level.

Hearing that Ace was only a third-level mage, Sathius exclaimed, "Impossible! The great Sathius will never become the junior brother of a weak third-level mage!"

"Oh? From what you're saying, does that mean you agree to become my disciple?" Zhao Nan asked, his interest piqued.

Sathius didn't deny it. Instead, he said outright, "You're strong enough, and you said you can help me become a Saint-level Magical Beast. Of course I'm willing to become your disciple.

But as a Level Nine Magical Beast, I absolutely refuse to bow to someone weaker than me."

"Your potential is indeed no worse than that of my other disciple. But you know the difference between the way magical beasts and humans cultivate.

You may be stronger than him now, but you have to believe that he'll surpass you soon.

When he's stronger than you, what will you do?"

Sathius answered without hesitation, "Then I'll call him senior brother."

Zhao Nan couldn't be bothered to argue about it.

Although he had bound the Apprentice System, Zhao Nan didn't want to be his disciples' babysitter. At most, he would help protect them and clear the way for them.

For example, he could help Ace intimidate the other family;

or help Linley deal with some trouble.

But Zhao Nan didn't want to interfere in conflicts between his disciples. After all, he would take on more and more disciples in the future, and they would inevitably have all sorts of personalities.

While he was around, everyone might get along just fine. But what would happen if conflicts arose when he wasn't there?

In that case, it was better to follow the unspoken rule of the Coiling Dragon World: the strong were respected.

So Zhao Nan didn't try to change Sathius's mind. He simply let things be.

As he thought this over, Zhao Nan looked around the cave.

Zhao Nan knew that the reason the cave was filled with an endless supply of elemental energy was that there was a magic array—or perhaps a sealed area—somewhere inside.

He searched the cave, but found nothing.

Then Zhao Nan tried to recall the details from the original story.

After thinking for a while, he suddenly remembered: the sealed area had been revealed when Linley transformed into a Dragonblood Warrior and repeatedly attacked the walls of the cave.

As the thought crossed his mind, Zhao Nan began striking the cave ceiling with his palm.

Sathius watched Zhao Nan's actions in utter confusion, wondering what his newly acknowledged master was up to.

Zhao Nan moved quickly. In just ten minutes, he had smashed through the rocks in the cave ceiling.

A huge black circular platform was revealed above.

The black platform was embedded in the cave ceiling, with plenty of stones still obscuring its edges.

Its surface was covered in intricate magical patterns.

And in the very center of those patterns was a purple longsword.

Zhao Nan coveted the purple longsword, but he knew it was sealing Dylan inside. He would never pull it out.

Still, he coveted this place too.

For no other reason than the fact that the elemental energy here was nearly a hundred times more concentrated than outside, Zhao Nan couldn't bear to give it up.

But he had other things to take care of, so he spread his hand. A dense surge of Earth Element energy gathered and quickly sealed the black platform away.

After concealing the platform, Zhao Nan turned to Sathius, who was still somewhat dazed. "All right, I'm done here. I'll take you to meet your fellow disciples.

As for the order of seniority, you can figure it out among yourselves!"

With that, Zhao Nan turned and headed out of the cave.

Sathius still hadn't recovered from his shock at the appearance of the black platform, but he quickly followed Zhao Nan out of the cave.

Once they were outside, Zhao Nan waved his hand, and a dense surge of Wind Element energy gathered, lifting Sathius into the air. Zhao Nan then stepped into the sky and headed for Wushan Town.

On the way to the Misty Valley, Zhao Nan had spent three days searching for it. But on the return trip, he reached Wushan Town in less than a day.

Since he was bringing Sathius with him this time, Zhao Nan didn't enter Hogg's home. Instead, he landed in the back hills.

As soon as Zhao Nan touched down, he sent a mental message to Linley, the other disciples, and Hogg, telling them to come to the back hills.

When Hogg and Linley and the other disciples arrived, they all took half a step back at the sight of the enormous Sathius.

But when they saw Zhao Nan, they stopped in their tracks.