That bow was crisp and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. His voice rang loud and clear, carrying across the entire entrance to the Prefecture Academy.
Beigong Mo was taken aback for a moment. Then a brilliant smile spread across his face, and even his beard trembled slightly with excitement.
He hurried forward and helped Chen An to his feet with both hands. His voice held a faint, barely perceptible tremble. "Good! Good! Good! Get up! Get up!"
He had lived for over two hundred years and taken dozens of disciples in his lifetime, many of them exceptionally gifted.
But he had never encountered a disciple with such heaven-defying comprehension—someone who could summon the Extinction Blade Intent at the age of seventeen.
"Hahaha! Congratulations, Brother Beigong, on taking such an outstanding disciple!"
Shen Canglan stroked his long beard and laughed heartily, his eyes full of sly amusement. The significance of that wink from earlier was now plain for all to see.
He stepped forward, patted Chen An on the shoulder, and said to Beigong Mo with a smile, "Brother Beigong, I'll leave this child in your hands!"
"But I'll say this upfront: you mustn't shortchange him. Make sure you give him those eight million Yuan Crystals on time each year."
"Besides that..."
Shen Canglan changed tack and looked at Chen An, his expression warm. "Since you've called me Great-Grandfather, I can't let you do so for nothing."
"How about this? Great-Grandfather will give you seven million Yuan Crystals a year. Add that to what Brother Beigong is giving you, and you'll have fifteen million Yuan Crystals a year!"
"Also, the Shen Family's scripture library, armory, and pill room will be open to you at all times. Take whatever you need!"
"Furthermore, from now on, if it's merely competition or sparring between