Becoming Yao Chen's Disciple

"Then I'll be off," Lin Xiaoyu said.

"Going back so soon? Why don't I treat you to a meal?" Tang Wulin looked surprised.

Lin Xiaoyu smiled. "All right, no need. I know you have plenty of money now, but I'm going to the Eastsea City Tang Sect branch to pick up the pill recipes you left there. Otherwise, Grandpa will be waiting anxiously."

"Oh! Right, right, I almost forgot about that. Then hurry along! Don't keep Elder Lin waiting," Tang Wulin said hastily.

"Goodbye, Little Wulin."

"Goodbye!"

Lin Xiaoyu waved with a smile, then slowly disappeared from Tang Wulin's sight.

Just then, Xie Xie suddenly appeared behind Tang Wulin.

"Who's Elder Lin?"

"Ah!" Tang Wulin jumped in fright at Xie Xie's sudden appearance. He rubbed his eyes and said, "Xie Xie, why are you eavesdropping on people?"

Xie Xie slung an arm around Tang Wulin's shoulders and raised his chin. "How can you call us 'people'? We've been through life and death together, after all. We're good brothers."

Tang Wulin covered his forehead and smiled helplessly. "By the way, I won't take you guys to the Blacksmith Association today. I just remembered I have something to do."

"What could you have to do that you can't take me along for?"

"Xie Xie, I don't want to lie to you, but I promised an elder I'd keep certain things about this matter confidential," Tang Wulin said earnestly.

Seeing how serious Tang Wulin was, Xie Xie understood that there were things he didn't know. He knew someone Tang Wulin hadn't told him about was helping him; otherwise, even Tang Wulin's Thousand-Year Soul Ring would be hard to explain.

"I get it. I'll head back to the dorm first. Remember to come back early," Xie Xie said, patting Tang Wulin on the shoulder.

"Sorry, Xie Xie... If I can, I'll explain everything to you someday."

"Hey!" Xie Xie said with an unconcerned expression. "What's the big deal? Who doesn't have a few secrets?"

"Let's go, Gu Yue. We're heading back!"

Xie Xie turned and called to Gu Yue.

"What's wrong?" Gu Yue stood up, looking puzzled. "Aren't we going to the Blacksmith Association?"

"Gu Yue, I have something important to take care of, so I won't be going to the Blacksmith Association today. I'll take you guys another time," Tang Wulin said apologetically.

"Okay," Gu Yue nodded.

"Gu Yue, aren't you curious about what Tang Wulin's going to do?" Xie Xie leaned close to her and asked.

"What's there to be curious about?" Gu Yue replied coolly.

"All right, then. I'm off. You two can head back on your own!"

With that, Tang Wulin waved and turned away, gradually disappearing from their sight.

Of course, Tang Wulin didn't go far, nor did he need to. He went to Mang Tian's workshop in Eastsea City. It was also where he had absorbed the first layer of the Golden Dragon King's seal.

Standing before the forge, Tang Wulin carefully took out the Storage Soul Tool Lin Xiaoyu had given him.

He sent Soul Power into it, and the contents immediately came into view. With a thought, he placed everything on the forge.

Millennium Dragon Scale Fruit, Millennium Blue Tendon Vine, Millennium Earth Dragon Tendon, Millennium Sea Dragon Marrow.

These four spirit medicines were precisely the ones Old Tang had left in his memories as necessary for breaking through the second layer of the Golden Dragon King's seal.

Beside the four spirit medicines lay a jade-green scroll.

This had to be the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Herb Chapter Elder Lin had mentioned. It recorded the existence and properties of every herb on the continent.

Just then, the Spirit Ring on Tang Wulin's hand flashed with white light, and Yao Chen slowly appeared beside him.

"Elder Yao!"

Tang Wulin greeted him, picked up the scroll, and offered it to Yao Chen.

"Elder Yao, this should be the most complete compendium of spirit medicines on the entire Douluo Continent."

Yao Chen nodded slightly and took the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record from Tang Wulin.

"The Tang Sect's greatest strengths are its Hidden Weapons and poison."

Tang Sect—Tang San.

As soon as Yao Chen opened the scroll, those words met his eyes.

"It was Ancestor Tang San!" Tang Wulin recognized the signature at once.

"Is he famous?" Yao Chen asked.

Tang Wulin nodded. "There are probably few people in the entire Federation who don't know of Ancestor Tang San! They say that two thousand years ago, Ancestor Tang San founded the Tang Sect. It started from humble beginnings, then gradually rose to become the most powerful sect on the continent. He's also the only person confirmed to have ascended to the Divine Realm and become a deity. His Martial Soul was the Blue Silver Emperor. It wasn't Blue Silver Grass, but he and I are both of the Blue Silver Grass lineage!"

"The Divine Realm? But I can't sense the existence of any higher plane in your world," Yao Chen said.

Tang Wulin shook his head. "I don't know."

"Tang San's surname is Tang, and so is yours. Your Martial Souls are so alike, too. Do you think you might be his descendant?"

"Th-that..." Tang Wulin was taken aback by Yao Chen's idea. He smiled. "That can't be likely, right? There are so many people surnamed Tang on the Douluo Continent, and Trash Martial Souls like Blue Silver Grass are as common as dirt. How could Ancestor Tang San and I possibly be related?"

Yao Chen smiled and said no more on the subject. He continued reading the scroll.

"Poison can also be called medicine. Since there is poison, there are naturally spirit medicines as well. Poison can be refined into spirit medicine, and spirit medicine can likewise be refined into poison. It all depends on how the person refining them combines the herbs."

"This is the Herb Chapter of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. It contains my records of the herbs found across the Douluo Continent, gathered during my travels. I hope they will be of help to future generations of Tang Sect disciples."

The entries on herbs began as Yao Chen turned further into the scroll.

"Aromatic Silk Beauty, the bane of all poisons."

"Properties: Whoever possesses this herb will be immune to all poisons within a ten-meter radius. Once consumed, it can neutralize any poison. Its medicinal effects are extraordinarily powerful."

"Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng: It can bring the dead back to life and restore flesh to bare bones."

"Properties: When taken with suitable herbs, it can save anyone who still has a single breath left. The older the herb, the more potent its effects."

Yao Chen skimmed a few entries in the scroll, his smile growing wider.

"How is it, Elder Yao?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Excellent!" Yao Chen replied with a smile. "The scroll contains an abundance of information, including records of many rare herbs with powerful effects. With this scroll, I'm sure I can make further progress in alchemy. And improving a few pill recipes will be child's play. Give me a little time, and I can refine every recipe I know."

"Really?" Tang Wulin brightened, too.

Yao Chen nodded. "Starting today, you'll learn alchemy from me!"

"Ah..." Tang Wulin exclaimed. "Elder Yao, there's no need, is there? Your alchemy skills are already so impressive. Why would you need me?"

Tang Wulin already had to cultivate Soul Power and practice forging. He really didn't have much energy to spare!

"Do you still look down on the path of alchemy? You should know that once an alchemist reaches a certain level, the pills they create will be fought over by tens of thousands. With the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, I believe I can even devise pill recipes to improve the strength of your Soul Masters."

"Besides, don't you want to grow stronger so you can save your parents? Alchemy is another path to strength. The power of a top-tier alchemist is beyond your imagination. And I agree that resurrecting me will require a high-grade pill. I'm only a spirit right now, so my alchemy skills are limited. I'll need you to help me refine pills in the future!"

Tang Wulin pondered for a while, considering many things, then finally agreed to Yao Chen's suggestion.

"All right, Elder Yao. I'll learn alchemy from you. I'll work hard to grow stronger and save my parents, and to restore your body!"

Yao Chen smiled from the bottom of his heart. "Then you can become my disciple!"

Tang Wulin was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood. He stepped back half a pace, then dropped to both knees, his expression solemn. He crossed his hands and pressed them to his forehead before bowing.

"Elder Yao, please accept me as your disciple and teach me alchemy. From this day onward, I, Tang Wulin, will treat you as my father. I'll never betray you or turn against my master. I'll study alchemy diligently and never betray your trust."

Watching this scene, Yao Chen was suddenly lost in thought. Back then, he had accepted Han Feng as his disciple in much the same way, yet Han Feng had betrayed him for personal gain. Still, Yao Chen believed Tang Wulin would never do such a thing.

Yao Chen solemnly helped Tang Wulin to his feet. "Get up, good child."

Tang Wulin stood, his eyes shining brightly.