Ten-Thousandfold Returns for Taking Disciples: Starting from Battle Through the Heavens

Upon hearing about this return, Qin Hao grew suspicious and immediately checked the system space. He soon discovered a crystal radiating a dense aura of spatial origin power. It was clearly the World Crystal.

Immediately afterward, information about the World Crystal's uses appeared in Qin Hao's mind.

"A treasure for crafting and upgrading World Rings... I see!"

Qin Hao quickly understood its purpose. Without hesitation, he directly absorbed the World Crystal into the World Ring.

The instant the World Crystal entered the World Ring, he clearly sensed the space within the ring beginning to expand continuously.

Originally, his World Ring was only around one hundred kilometers in length, width, and height. After fusing with a World Crystal, all three dimensions had expanded to roughly one hundred and ten kilometers.

After all, this World Crystal was only a thousandfold return from a high-grade storage ring. Achieving this much was already quite good.

"Let's go. It's time to leave!"

After putting away Profound Ice Venerable's remains, Qin Hao spoke to Qinglin and Xiao Yixian.

After all, the corpse of a seven-star Dou Zun still had some value.

After leaving the space within the mountain's belly, Qin Hao glanced at the sky and found that it was already nearing noon.

Without another word, the three of them climbed onto the Twin-Winged Scarlet Qilin King's back and headed straight for Wutan City.

Near dusk, Qin Hao's group successfully arrived at Wutan City and found an inn to settle down in temporarily.

Qin Hao did not immediately visit the Xiao Clan. He decided to gather information first.

The Xiao Clan itself was nothing noteworthy. Its strongest member was only a Da Dou Shi. However, the Ancient Clan's little princess was living within the Xiao Clan.

In the original story, Gu Xun'er only had a high-ranking Dou Huang, Ling Ying, by her side. However, Qin Hao did not truly believe that the Ancient Clan's little princess would be protected by only one Dou Huang.

If nothing unexpected had happened, even stronger experts were secretly protecting her. They had simply never revealed themselves. Therefore, Qin Hao did not intend to openly approach the Xiao Clan before Canaan Academy's recruitment team arrived.

He would not even take the initiative to contact anyone from the Xiao Clan. He would wait for the Xiao Clan to come to him.

There were only three days left until the date he had agreed upon with Mentor Ruolin. He planned to remain here for the time being, use the opportunity to guide Qinglin and Xiao Yixian in their cultivation, and also thoroughly investigate the Xiao Clan.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Over those three days, Qin Hao thoroughly learned about Wutan City's current situation. It was roughly the same as the information he had obtained in the imperial capital, only more detailed.

The hottest topic was naturally the Xiao Clan. A month ago, the Xiao Clan had held its annual clan competition. The Xiao Clan's Third Young Master had once again become the laughingstock of both the clan and all of Wutan City with his third-stage Dou Qi.

Xiao Yan was now exactly thirteen years old.

As for the rest, they were mostly developments concerning the other major clans and factions. The only matter that caught Qin Hao's attention was that the Mittel Auction House in Wutan City had acquired a new manager and chief auctioneer a few months ago.

Because of her seductive and gorgeous appearance, she had drawn the admiration of many people in Wutan City.

On this day, Wutan City became incomparably lively once more, eclipsing all previous topics of discussion.

The reason was none other than Canaan Academy's recruitment team arriving in Wutan City. For a time, it attracted a massive number of cultivators under eighteen from Wutan City and the surrounding cities.

For cultivators with talent but ordinary backgrounds, Canaan Academy could be said to be their best path forward.

When Mentor Ruolin and her group began recruiting students, Qin Hao appeared with Qinglin and Xiao Yixian.

"Greetings, Elder Qin Hao!"

Upon seeing Qin Hao, Mentor Ruolin hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

"Mentor Ruolin, you are too courteous. You must have had a tiring journey!"

Qin Hao said with a wave of his hand.

"You flatter me, Elder Qin Hao. This is simply my duty!"

Mentor Ruolin replied. Then her gaze fell upon Qinglin and Xiao Yixian beside Qin Hao.

A trace of curiosity appeared on her face. "Elder Qin Hao, these two are...?"

"These are my two newly accepted disciples, Qinglin and Xiao Yixian!"

Qin Hao introduced them.

"They are actually Elder Qin Hao's disciples. To be favored by Elder Qin Hao, they are truly fortunate!"

After hearing Qin Hao's words, Mentor Ruolin revealed a hint of envy.

Qin Hao was a sixth-tier alchemist. Countless people wished to become his disciples.

Very soon, news that an inner academy elder was accompanying Canaan Academy's recruitment team spread throughout Wutan City.

Especially since that elder was a powerful sixth-tier alchemist.

The news swept through all of Wutan City like a storm.

Seeing this, Qin Hao revealed a satisfied expression. This was clearly the effect he wanted.

The bait had been cast. Now he only needed to wait for the fish to bite. He believed that once the Xiao Clan learned of this news, they would certainly not miss such an excellent opportunity.

Things unfolded exactly as Qin Hao had expected. After learning that Canaan Academy's recruitment team included a powerful sixth-tier alchemist like Qin Hao, members of the Xiao Clan, especially Xiao Zhan, clearly could not sit still.

Just as in the original story, the Xiao Clan's eligible juniors all participated in the recruitment assessment, but only Xiao Yu passed.

Xiao Zhan went directly to the First Elder and asked Xiao Yu to make an introduction, hoping to meet Qin Hao rather than visiting him directly.

After all, the Xiao Clan was different from the major factions in the imperial capital. Even the weakest of those factions had Dou Lings overseeing them, while their strongest member was merely a Da Dou Shi. For someone of that level to seek an audience with a sixth-tier alchemist was undoubtedly a fool's dream.

The First Elder did not refuse Xiao Zhan's request. Unlike in the original story, Xiao Yan had only begun losing his cultivation a year ago, and quite a few people in the Xiao Clan still held hope for him.

It was not like the original story, where aside from Xiao Zhan and Gu Xun'er, almost everyone had completely given up on Xiao Yan.

Soon afterward, Mentor Ruolin found Qin Hao and explained the Xiao Clan's request.

Naturally, Qin Hao did not refuse. He had Mentor Ruolin reply to the Xiao Clan and tell Xiao Zhan to bring Xiao Yan to meet him.

"Elder Qin Hao! Xiao Clan Head Xiao Zhan has arrived with his son, Xiao Yan!"

Early one morning, Mentor Ruolin arrived at the courtyard where Qin Hao was staying and spoke.

After Canaan Academy's recruitment team arrived, Qin Hao had left the inn with Qinglin and Xiao Yixian and moved into the temporary residence prepared by Wutan City's officials for Canaan Academy's group.

"Let them in."

Qin Hao spoke indifferently.

Just after Qin Hao's words fell, two figures appeared in the reception hall shortly afterward.

At the front was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties or forties. His features were resolute, but the tension and anxiety on his face could not be concealed.

Behind him stood a youth dressed in black, with a somewhat despondent expression.

"I am Xiao Zhan of the Xiao Clan. I have brought my son, Xiao Yan, to pay respects to Master Qin Hao. Please forgive us for this presumptuous intrusion! This is a small gift from the Xiao Clan. I hope Master Qin Hao will not disdain it!"

After speaking, Xiao Zhan took out a box from his storage ring. When he opened it, a medicinal herb emitting a faint medicinal fragrance appeared before Qin Hao.

"Bloodred Lingzhi. Not bad. Clan Head Xiao, you are thoughtful."

Qin Hao glanced at the item inside and nodded lightly.

What Xiao Zhan had brought out was a blood-colored lingzhi the size of a palm. It was Bloodred Lingzhi, a medicinal ingredient commonly used in refining fourth-tier pills.

Compared to the meeting gifts presented by the major factions in the imperial capital, Xiao Zhan's gift was undoubtedly rather shabby. However, Qin Hao also knew very well that this was definitely a major expense for the current Xiao Clan.

"This junior is Xiao Yan. Greetings, Master Qin Hao!"

At the same time, Xiao Yan stepped forward from beside Xiao Zhan and respectfully bowed to Qin Hao. A trace of hope flashed in his eyes as he looked at Qin Hao.

As a transmigrator, Xiao Yan's first eleven years had been smooth sailing. He had been successful and full of confidence, practically holding the script of an invincible chosen one.

Yet at the height of his glory, fate had played such a huge joke on him.

The experiences of this past year had made Xiao Yan's life incomparably agonizing.

In his previous life, he had merely been an ordinary office worker. He possessed the mentality of an ordinary person as well. One could imagine how devastating it was to fall from the clouds into the abyss.

"No need for formalities. Rise."

Qin Hao said, lightly sweeping his hand.

"Master Qin Hao, I leave my son's matter to you! So long as you can resolve my son's problem, the Xiao Clan is willing to pay any price!"

Xiao Zhan's voice immediately followed.

"Clan Head Xiao, you are too courteous. I have also heard of your son's situation. This is the first time I have encountered such a case, so I am likewise rather curious."

Qin Hao said with a wave of his hand.

"Then I will have to trouble Master Qin Hao!"

Upon hearing Qin Hao's words, Xiao Zhan's face immediately revealed joy, and he hurriedly spoke.

Seeing this, Qin Hao did not waste any more words and directly gestured for Xiao Yan to step forward.

Qin Hao then grabbed Xiao Yan's arm. The Dou Qi within his body poured directly into Xiao Yan's body and circulated through it once.

It had to be said that Xiao Yan truly possessed impressive talent to become the protagonist of this world. In particular, the resilience of his meridians far surpassed that of ordinary people. Perhaps this was also one of the reasons he could withstand the refinement of Heavenly Flames.

Of course, when compared to Qinglin and Xiao Yixian's absolute talents, Xiao Yan's aptitude fell considerably short.

If Xiao Yan had not encountered Yao Chen and had not cultivated the Flame Mantra, then with his talent, becoming a Dou Huang would not have been difficult. If he were lucky, he might even have had a chance to enter the Dou Zong realm.

However, that would have been nearly his limit. Qinglin and Xiao Yixian were different. To them, Dou Zong was merely the starting point.

At the same time, while examining Xiao Yan's condition, Qin Hao's gaze also fell upon the black ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

Having read the original story, he naturally knew that this was the true culprit behind Xiao Yan's declining cultivation.

Xiao Yan Takes a Master! Inheritance of an Emperor-Tier Alchemist!

However, Qin Hao did not rashly use his soul power to examine the situation inside the ring.

At his peak, Yao Chen had possessed a Heaven Realm soul. Even though he had suffered grave injuries and damage to his origin, his perception would still be extraordinarily sharp. A rash investigation might alert him.

However, just because Qin Hao could not use soul power to investigate him did not mean he had no other means. One should not forget that he possessed Double Pupils.

Compared to soul power, his Double Pupils were clearly more powerful in terms of observation and perception. More importantly, they would not attract Yao Chen's attention.

Qin Hao silently activated his Double Pupils and quickly discerned Yao Chen's true condition.

After understanding Yao Chen's current state, Qin Hao finally let out a sigh of relief inwardly.