Snatching a Disciple

"You piece of trash, want to take me on?"

A chill filled Meng Yao's eyes as she glared at Gui Xing, her expression hostile. A faint ripple of energy spread from her swaying figure.

Gui Xing refused to back down. He sneered. "What a joke. None of you stepped forward earlier because you didn't want to lose face, so I was the only one who came out. Now that you've seen his talent, you all want to make a move? You people really have some nerve!"

Meng Yao replied coldly, "Did I ever say I wouldn't make a move? Where's your proof? I didn't say a single word before you cut in!"

Gui Xing froze. Meng Yao really hadn't said anything before he stepped forward. For once, even he was left awkwardly speechless.

"Ahem. Well, let's just leave it at that. You've already got four or five disciples. Don't try to steal him from me!"

Meng Yao didn't care. "So what if I have five or six? Those disciples of mine are all useless. After all these years, not one of them has become a Grandmaster. How could they compare to Yang Chen?"

Gui Xing looked a little displeased. At that moment, Elder Wang chuckled. "Everyone, are we already fighting over him? Besides, the person in question has to agree, doesn't he?"

Elder Wang stood up and walked over to Yang Chen with a smile. He sent a stream of spiritual energy over Yang Chen, enveloping him before it sank into his body.

Yang Chen immediately felt a warm current flow through his meridians and circulate through his body. The weakness vanished, replaced by a surge of strength.

Yang Chen got to his feet and brushed the dust off himself. It was only after fighting Gui Xing that he understood how terrifying a Grandmaster truly was.

Even though his body had reached the Grandmaster level, he was still far weaker than a true Grandmaster!

Still, he had held something back during the fight—his Devour Ability, for example!

Everyone present was a Grandmaster from Number 98, but if his Devour Ability were exposed, he might never make it out of this building.

There was no telling who might covet his ability!

Yang Chen had overheard Gui Xing and Meng Yao's conversation. He gave a wry smile. "You seniors are too kind. I'm not worthy of becoming your disciple."

What he meant was that he didn't want to become any of their disciples!

Chen Tianxin's brows twitched slightly. He glanced at Yang Chen in surprise, then smiled.

Well, well. He was pretty arrogant.

Did he think none of the people here were qualified to be his master?

That was exactly what Yang Chen thought. After all, he had the system. All he needed was enough time to keep checking in. Why would he need a master?

He could become a strong fighter through check-ins alone without even training!

"Kid, do you know how the Grandmaster realm is divided?"

Chen Tianxin took a sip of coffee, then spoke slowly.

The Grandmaster realm had divisions?

Yang Chen paused. He really hadn't known that the Grandmaster realm had different stages. He'd thought Grandmaster was the highest realm!

But judging from Chen Tianxin's words, that clearly wasn't the case.

"How is it divided?"

"Grandmaster is simply a general term for those above S-Class ability users. There are many stages within the Grandmaster realm. Otherwise, how would you tell how strong one Grandmaster is compared to another? Only S-Class ability users are normally allowed to know about these stages. But you already have a Grandmaster Body, so you've reached the threshold of the Grandmaster realm. You can know about them too."

Chen Tianxin paused, then continued. "The Grandmaster realm is divided into Grandmaster, Shackle, and Heaven Gate."

"Grandmaster is the realm above S-Class, but above Grandmaster are the Shackle and Heaven Gate realms. Breaking through each stage grants you immense power!"

Yang Chen's heart stirred. So there were so many stages within the Grandmaster realm. It seemed he'd underestimated this world, where Spiritual Energy had recovered. He'd thought Grandmasters were invincible.

"Of the five of us, three are in the Shackle Realm, one is an ordinary Grandmaster, and fewer than ten people on Earth have reached the Heaven Gate Realm."

"As for your Grandmaster Body, it's only barely reached the early Grandmaster stage. Gui Xing was already in the Shackle Realm, so it's perfectly normal that you couldn't beat him. If you'd fought an early-stage Grandmaster, you might not have lost!"

Chen Tianxin smiled as he explained.

Yang Chen nodded, finally understanding.

So that was why he'd felt completely outmatched when he faced Gui Xing.

Gui Xing was actually in the Shackle Realm!

"Geh heh heh! Kid, how about it? I'm in the Shackle Realm. I'm qualified to be your master, aren't I? That little girl Meng Yao is only a Grandmaster!"

Gui Xing looked delighted.

He genuinely admired Yang Chen's talent. To reach A-Class at such a young age was remarkable. Even Gui Xing hadn't reached A-Class until he was twenty-five or twenty-six.

And Yang Chen wasn't merely A-Class—he also had a Grandmaster Body. Gui Xing didn't know how he'd managed it, but that was a talent in itself!

"What does it matter if you're a Grandmaster? You're in the Shackle Realm? My man has reached Heaven Gate!"

Meng Yao immediately bristled. Hands on her hips, she started berating Gui Xing.

Gui Xing gave an awkward smile. Clearly, he didn't dare provoke this woman too much. He couldn't deny it: Meng Yao's man really was in the Heaven Gate Realm.

The kind of powerhouse who was invincible on Earth!

Yang Chen didn't answer Gui Xing. Instead, he stared at Chen Tianxin with burning eyes, licked his lips, and asked, "Grandmaster Chen said three of you are in the Shackle Realm and one is an ordinary Grandmaster. Does that mean you're the last one? Are you in the Heaven Gate Realm?"

A knowing look appeared in Chen Tianxin's eyes. He smiled. "That's right!"

"Boss, that's not fair! Didn't you say you weren't taking on any more disciples?"

Gui Xing immediately protested, looking at Chen Tianxin with faint displeasure.

"You have a problem with that?"

Chen Tianxin's expression darkened as he stared at Gui Xing, clearly ready to throw down if he did.

As expected, Gui Xing fell silent the moment Chen Tianxin said that. He shut down completely.

Yang Chen ignored them. His eyes remained fixed on Chen Tianxin. "Then would you be willing to take me as your disciple?"

Yang Chen hadn't been particularly eager to find a master before, but after hearing Chen Tianxin's explanation, he felt that having one wouldn't be a bad idea after all.

There were so many realms above Grandmaster, and Chen Tianxin was a Heaven Gate expert. Whether as a teacher or as a shield, he'd be a good choice.

Just imagine—if he went out and said he was Chen Tianxin's disciple, he'd enjoy plenty of special treatment even without training!

Yang Chen rather liked the sound of that.

Chen Tianxin smiled faintly. "I don't take disciples."

The moment he said that, even Gui Xing was stunned. So all that talk had been for nothing? And why explain all that if he wasn't going to take a disciple?

Yang Chen felt a little disappointed, but quickly recovered. If he couldn't have a Heaven Gate master, a Shackle Realm master would still be a good choice.

"However, I can help you find a suitable master!"

Chen Tianxin's voice rang out again.

Yang Chen abruptly looked up at him and saw him smiling.

Gui Xing's hopes immediately faded. If Chen Tianxin had said that, then Gui Xing had no chance.

But when he remembered that Meng Yao's chances were just as slim, he felt a little better.

Well, it wasn't so bad!

If neither of them got Yang Chen, heh heh!

"May I ask who you have in mind, Grandmaster Chen?"

Yang Chen asked solemnly.

Yang Chen wanted to choose a reasonably good master. His cultivation was already decent. Though he was weak among Grandmasters, he was absolutely invincible below that level!

And among his peers, there was no one who could compare to him.

So he had some standards when it came to choosing a master.

Chen Tianxin smiled faintly. He could guess what Yang Chen was thinking. After all, all geniuses wanted powerful masters. He'd been the same way when he was young.

"Don't worry. He's definitely up to the task. He'll be coming to Jiangnan in a few days. I'll take you to meet him then. He's no weaker than me!"

Yang Chen finally felt a little reassured. Chen Tianxin was a Heaven Gate expert, so anyone no weaker than him was surely one too.

The other Grandmasters exchanged glances. Even Gui Xing fell silent. Shan Shou, of all people, turned his gaze to Yang Chen and studied him carefully before looking away.

"By the way, you haven't joined Number 98 yet. Have Elder Wang take you to sign up later, then complete the mission. That'll make you an official member of Number 98."

Chen Tianxin seemed to remember something. "Elder Wang, give him that mission. Since it's him, we shouldn't give him an ordinary one. It'll give that person a chance to see what he can do. Otherwise, he might not think much of him!"

He'd made that quite clear.

Yang Chen's brow furrowed. That person might not think much of him? Who was this person, anyway?

If he had such high standards, Yang Chen would make sure he saw what he could do!

His competitive spirit flared up at once.

"Sure thing!"

Elder Wang chuckled and led Yang Chen out of the room to take care of the formalities for joining Number 98.

After Yang Chen left, Chen Tianxin rubbed his chin, smiling.

"I've found you a fine disciple. You'd better treat me to a good meal!"