Intending to Take a Disciple

Looking at the strange behavior of Elder Qian and Elder Bai before him, Xiao Li took a silent step back. Surely these two big shots weren't suspicious of his background and dragging him in for an interrogation?

The Two Elders Qian and Bai: "...Are you serious about that half-step back?"

The Two Elders Qian and Bai felt their pure, well-meaning hearts—which only wanted to nurture the youth—had been wounded.

Elder Qian gave a dry cough. "You are Xiao Li, correct?"

Xiao Li nodded cautiously. "I wonder what the seniors require of me?"

Elder Qian didn't respond, instead patting Xiao Li on the shoulder. "That's good. Kneel down and take us as your masters."

Xiao Li: ?

Elder Bai was speechless at Elder Qian's impatient demeanor. He rolled his eyes; they were both big shots with reputations to uphold, so could they please not be so embarrassing?

Xiao Li's mouth twitched. He trusted the character of these two, but what kind of operation was it to demand a kowtow and apprenticeship the moment they met?

Xiao Li frowned. "Two seniors, a teacher for a day is a father for life. One does not simply take on a master. Please forgive this junior for being unable to comply."

A ripple of astonishment passed through Elder Qian's heart. Good lad. Those words truly struck a chord with me. To know one is a powerhouse yet remain unswayed by flattery—his character is excellent.

As the thought flashed through his mind, Elder Qian's smile grew even gentler. "Bai Lie and I have spent our lives in bitter cultivation. Now that we are older, we wish to find a disciple to inherit our mantle. You needn't be so resistant; we can take it slow."

Xiao Li did not agree rashly. Just as he had said, taking a master was akin to finding another father; it could never be treated lightly.

If he were to simply kowtow and submit just because the other party was powerful, he might as well take the Tuoshe Ancient God Jade and trade it for resources with Hun Tiandi right now.

Seeing Xiao Li's firm attitude, Elder Qian sighed inwardly. I was too reckless this time.

Elder Bai was more composed. His eyes darted around as a plan formed. "Every year, we take the strongest newcomer of the Jianan Inner Academy under our wing for a year of training. Otherwise, we worry these good seedlings will be crushed by the Inner Academy."

Elder Bai gave Elder Qian a wink and sent a voice transmission: "He just entered the Inner Academy; what does he know of the rules? With our strength, we'll have this brat crying and begging us to take him as a disciple within a year."

Xiao Li blinked. Had he missed something when reading the book? Was there really a rule about these two providing training?

Looking at the Two Elders Qian and Bai, who were radiating faint anticipation, Xiao Li suddenly understood. These two big shots intended to groom him; their sudden demand for an apprenticeship had just caught him off guard.

"Er... two seniors..."

The eyes of the Two Elders Qian and Bai focused on Xiao Li, waiting for what came next with a tension no less than that of a man confessing to his goddess.

"Many thanks. This junior will certainly follow the two seniors and cultivate with all his heart."

The Two Elders Qian and Bai beamed. "Excellent. Hu Gan gave you a Two-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, right? Absorb it here. We will protect you."

"You can rest assured. I have already spoken with Hu Gan; there is no need to worry about the time."

Seeing the Two Elders Qian and Bai acting as if they had expected this all along, Xiao Li gave a helpless, bitter smile. There had never been any room for him to refuse what these two big shots wanted to do from the very beginning. Not having to kowtow as a formal disciple was already the best outcome.

It wasn't that Xiao Li didn't want a powerhouse as a backer, but he really found it hard to accept two old men suddenly popping up and demanding he become their apprentice. Anyone would find that hard to handle.

Taking a step back, what if they were just eyeing his talent and intended to perform a soul-possession to start over?

In Martial Universe, did Lin Dong take the Azure Dragon King as a master before receiving the cultivation technique and the power transfer? Even then, they didn't address each other as master and disciple.

Looking at these two perverted old men who had suddenly jumped out to be his masters, Xiao Li's smile was somewhat strained. "Two elders, where are we going to train?"

Elder Qian felt a jolt in his heart. Damn it. I was so focused on taking him as a disciple, I haven't thought about how to teach him.

"Cough. Well, you should absorb the Two-Pattern Green Spirit Pill first. Afterward, I will show you something that will be of great benefit to you."

Elder Qian smiled smugly. Fortunately, he had the foresight to bring the Dean's cultivation insights and travel journals.

Xiao Li nodded. Fine, I'll just go along with it. At the very least, they shouldn't be trying to harm me.

With a flick of his finger, a cyan pill surrounded by two pill patterns appeared between his fingers.

Taking out the pill, Xiao Li sat cross-legged on the spot and quickly entered a state of cultivation.

Elder Qian waved his sleeve, solidifying the space around Xiao Li to prevent any accidents.

Seeing Xiao Li fully immersed in his breakthrough, Elder Qian secretly took out the lightning-attribute cultivation insights and began to study them hurriedly.

Not long after Xiao Li closed his eyes, the calm space around him began to ripple quietly, as if a stone had been thrown into a still lake. Wisps of visible energy currents seeped out from the void, transforming into thousands of energy threads that surged toward Xiao Li.

Once this energy entered his body, it was easily controlled by Xiao Li's mind. As it circulated along the path of his cultivation technique, the impurities were thoroughly purified, leaving only a small amount of refined energy to be poured into his cyclone.

As he slowly absorbed the external energy, a while later, once everything was stable, Xiao Li flicked his finger against the Two-Pattern Green Spirit Pill held between his fingers. With a deft force, he flicked it into his slightly parted mouth.

The Two-Pattern Green Spirit Pill melted upon contact. Before Xiao Li could even react, it rapidly transformed into two waves of refined energy, each stronger than the last. Like a rushing river, they surged down his throat, roaring as they poured into his meridians.

"Bang!"

Hearing the faint muffled sound from within his body, Xiao Li let out a low grunt. A flush of red surged onto his face. He changed his hand seals, and his mind began to guide the two streams of energy—now stripped of their sharp edge by his Dou Qi—to circulate rapidly along the path of his technique.

The lightning within his body surged, wrapping around the energy and tempering it into thousands of strands of pure power.

The effect of the Two-Pattern Green Spirit Pill was related to the flames used in its refining; the fire used for this pill must have been relatively mild, sparing Xiao Li some suffering.

As the two streams of energy circulated along the path of the technique, they merged perfectly into a single, dual-colored energy.

With this fusion, the volume of the energy surged dramatically. The previously somewhat illusory energy had now completely transformed into a dual-colored liquid...

Inside his body, countless tiny streams of energy charged forward with unstoppable momentum, savagely rushing into narrow meridians Xiao Li had never reached before. The energy roared through like a river, causing the tight meridians to expand rapidly.

A feeling of pain mixed with pleasure flooded his entire body. A savage arc curled at the corner of Xiao Li's mouth. His grimacing expression made the Two Elders Qian and Bai find it amusing, though they did not speak to disturb him.

The intense pain in those tiny meridians gradually ceased, and the liquid energy, which resembled a small lake within his cyclone, began to rotate around the Na Ling at its center.

Elder Qian raised an eyebrow. "It's done."