Proposal

This guy needs a proper discussion; you've given him too much credit!

Sensing the faint hostility emanating from Yao Chen, Lin Qing narrowed his eyes. Instantly, a terrifying aura spread around him, covering the entire Small Courtyard with Spatial Barrier.

"Senior Yao Chen, I know most of what happened to you, including your parents, your confidantes Hu Jiujiu and Han Shanshan Shan, the miraculous Cultivation Technique you obtained, and the betrayal you suffered at the hands of your disciple and the Soul Hall. But let's talk about that later. Let's discuss my cousin's matter properly!"

They sensed the aura emanating from Lin Qing, as well as the faint killing intent emanating from him.

Yao Chen had no choice but to put aside his hostility, but what puzzled him even more was who Han Shanshan was? He felt she was familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was!

"Yes! Old man, let's talk about how you've wasted three years of my life!"

Although he learned that the culprit behind the humiliation he had suffered for the past three years was the ring his mother had given him, Xiao Yan quickly recovered from his out-of-control state.

Now that his talent had returned, there was no need to be angry anymore. The thought of his talent returning filled Xiao Yan with joy.

Thinking about his talent returning and his chance to finally shed the label of "good-for-nothing," Xiao Yan's body felt almost reborn, and the hateful old man in front of him didn't seem so bad anymore.

Some things, we only realize their value when we lose them! And when we get them back, we cherish them even more!

However, compensation is warranted, after all, he wasted three years, or rather several years, so asking for some compensation isn't unreasonable, is it?

Following his usual style of pressing the issue further, Xiao Yan began to make Lion demands.

Thinking back to his cousin's words, he understood the Old Yao's strength in his lifetime: Peak Dou Venerable, Eighth-Rank Alchemist. It wasn't unreasonable for him to want a powerful Cultivation Technique and Dou Technique, was it?

Besides, he needs to stay far away from this old guy in the future; he doesn't want his Dou Qi to be scattered again.

"Hehe, little kid, do you want to become stronger? Do you want to be respected by others?"

Although Xiao Yan wasn't the best solution, he was still a promising talent I'd been watching for three years, and my future resurrection depended entirely on him.

If he really doesn't want to become his disciple, then he will make amends, because Lin Qing is watching from the side!

Such a prodigy, his teacher must be extraordinary, and he knows so many of my secrets. If I weren't outmatched and had so many powerful people around him, I would really want to capture him and interrogate him thoroughly, or even destroy the evidence.

Although he had already mentally decided to avoid the old man, Xiao Yan's heart still skipped a beat upon hearing his words.

"Now that I know the reason for the disappearance of my Dou Qi, with my talent, do I still need you to become stronger?" Xiao Yan took a slow breath and said calmly. He knew in his heart that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and taking such a powerful person of unknown origin as a master was not a wise decision.

Because the person who could turn a Dou Venerable into this state must be an even more powerful one, and he didn't want to have another powerful enemy for no reason.

"Little one, your talent is certainly excellent, but you must know that you are already 15 years old, and your Dou Qi is only at the third level. To break through to Dou Zhe again, it will take at least three years, but do you really have that much time? A person's golden cultivation time is only a little over ten years. Are you sure you want to waste so many years? Become my disciple, and I guarantee that I will help you break through to Dou Zhe within a year!" Yao Chen coaxed patiently. At this moment, his wrinkled old face resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Damn it! If it weren't for you, I would be like this now!" Xiao Yan's face darkened again, and he cursed through gritted teeth in anger.

After a furious outburst, Xiao Yan slumped down again. At this point, no amount of cursing would help. The foundation of Dou Qi cultivation is extremely important. Back then, he Qi Refining Dou Qi at the age of four and it took him six whole years to reach the ninth level of Dou Qi. Even though his talent has now been restored, breaking through to the Dou Zhe quickly is not an easy task.

Perhaps becoming an apprentice to the person before him would be an opportunity. With a sigh of frustration, Xiao Yan glanced at the seemingly profound, transparent old man in front of him.

Now that things have come to this, rage is useless; the only thing needed is to seize what is rightfully theirs. So Xiao Yan tentatively asked:

"You help me break through to the Dou Zhe within a year, and then you compensate me with a set of high-level Cultivation Technique and Dou Technique. In return, the matter of you dispelling my Dou Qi will be wiped clean. How about it?"

"Hehe, little one, you're quite the schemer."

"Heh! Same here!" Xiao Yan sneered. If the person in front of him was unwilling, he could only lower his standards a bit, but it was absolutely impossible for him to take him back by his side. He didn't want an old man watching him all the time.

"You don't seem like a fifteen-year-old boy at all. It seems you've really grown a lot in these three years. Can this be considered me reaping what I sowed?" Looking at Xiao Yan, who was somewhat unyielding, Yao Chen was taken aback, then shook his head with a wry smile.

Xiao Yan shrugged and said calmly, "You hurt me, so you should give me some compensation, right? I'm sure these things are nothing to a Dou Zun expert like you!"

"What a sharp-tongued little brat. Alright, alright, what can I do when I need your help, you little rascal?" Yao Chen nodded helplessly, descended to the ground, and looked Xiao Yan up and down several times. A wicked smile of triumph flashed across his face before disappearing.

Yao Chen hesitated for a moment, then seemed extremely reluctant to speak, "Do you want to become Alchemist?"

"Alchemist?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression froze for a moment, then his brows furrowed deeply. "In the Dou Qi Continent, everyone wants to become Alchemist, but is Alchemist something that just anyone can do? Those stringent requirements..."

For example, my cousin, because of his outstanding talent, was noticed by a high-level Alchemist and became that Alchemist's apprentice. In just a few years, he has already reached the Dou Zong. And this Venerable is a legendary Eighth-Rank Alchemist. If I could become his apprentice, even if I couldn't surpass my cousin, I wouldn't fall too far behind, right?

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan felt a surge of joy. He suddenly paused, then looked up sharply, his mouth agape. "I achieved it?"

Admiring Xiao Yan's expression, a mixture of shock, anticipation, and ecstasy, Yao Chen stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, then looked him up and down before sighing with a hint of difficulty:

"Although I barely qualify, I still owe you a favor. Oh well, I guess I'll just consider it repaying a debt of gratitude..."

Lin Qing glanced at the pretentious Yao Chen, and seeing that Xiao Yan also seemed somewhat interested, he said, "Cousin, although Venerable Yao is not as good as my teacher, he is still an Alchemist whose soul has reached the Heaven Realm. As long as he is resurrected and breaks through to the Dou Sheng realm, he will immediately become Tier 9 Grandmaster. Therefore, he is still very suitable to be your teacher."