He had just finished talking to his filthy-minded system.
A deep, resonant voice sounded lazily beside him.
"What are you standing here for?"
Tang Yan looked at Xiao Jixue, who was walking toward him.
"I got up and saw you weren't home, so I was just about to ask those three."
Home?
For some reason, that word brought a faint surge of joy to Xiao Jixue's heart.
His lips curved. "I went to see my master. A-Yan, I'd like you to become his disciple. What do you think?"
They still had no leads on a cultivation method suitable for Tang Yan.
So Xiao Jixue had thought of having him become his master's disciple. First, he would officially join the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, giving him another layer of protection out in the world.
On the Immortal Spirit Continent, disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were notorious battle maniacs. One disagreement and they drew their swords; without another word, they would start throwing punches and beat someone black and blue.
The Ten Thousand Swords Sect was also notorious for protecting its own.
As a result, cultivators on the Immortal Spirit Continent would never provoke those battle maniacs unless they had absolutely no other choice.
Second, once A-Yan became his master's disciple, he would be Xiao Jixue's junior brother and could remain in the Ten Thousand Swords Sect with every right to do so.
Tang Yan considered it, then nodded. "I have nowhere to go. Becoming the Sect Leader's disciple would be the best way forward. But would he be willing to accept a cripple like me?"
His concerns were not unfounded.
In the original plot.
After Xu Zhenzhen saved Tang Yan, she brought him back to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Having lost his cultivation, he could only stay by Xu Zhenzhen's side as a completely useless pretty face.
Xu Zhenzhen did not treat Tang Yan particularly well. When she was in a good mood, she would spare him a smile.
When she was in a bad mood, especially after suffering a setback with the male lead, she would find all sorts of ways to torment Tang Yan.
Tang Yan endured three years of humiliation before finally encountering an opportunity that allowed him to cultivate again.
With his extraordinary talent and formidable perseverance, his cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds once he started again.
In just three years, he broke through to Golden Core once more.
Countless cultivators spent their entire lives stuck at the peak of Foundation Building, unable to reach Golden Core even by the time they died.
Someone like Tang Yan, who had become a cripple yet cultivated back to Golden Core in just three years, might not appear even once in a thousand years.
His astounding talent also drew the attention of Xu Zhenzhen's father, Xu You, who then accepted Tang Yan as his disciple.
[With everything the original owner went through, put him in a male-targeted novel and he'd absolutely be some swaggering, overpowered harem protagonist spouting, "Fortunes rise and fall—never underestimate a young man," and "Now that I'm back, I'll reclaim everything that belongs to me!"]
[How did that line go again?]
[Oh, right. The three-year wait is over. Welcome back, young master.]
Xiao Jixue: "..." Why did hearing those thoughts make him feel just a teensy bit embarrassed? He almost wanted to do something as undignified as curl his toes into the floor!
Although he was already used to this man's wildly incongruous inner thoughts from time to time.
At that moment, however, his composed expression nearly cracked.
"Ahem... I've already spoken to my master about accepting you. He knows all about your Talents and your past achievements.
"Even though you no longer have your cultivation, my master still thinks highly of you. I came back to take you to become his disciple."
Tang Yan's eyes sparkled at that. "Really?"
Xiao Jixue said, "Yes, really."
The two left Purple Dawn Peak together. Just then, Tang Yan suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Senior Brother Xiao, back when I was still the Tang Family's young master, I heard that the Huo Family's young master, Huo Zherui, liked bringing people he picked up outside back home."
"I wonder whether Huo Zherui ever investigated their identities and backgrounds. The Huo Family has plenty of enemies, and the Lian Family has always been eyeing them like a tiger stalking its prey."
"Even a mighty dam can collapse because of an ant nest. I think you should warn Huo Zeyu and tell him to keep an eye on those people of unknown origin his elder brother brings home."
[I'm only saying this because Huo Zeyu is your friend. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.]
Warmth spread through Xiao Jixue's heart, and he nodded solemnly.
"Your concerns are reasonable. I'll warn him."
But he's already heard your thoughts...
So Xiao Jixue thought.
Tang Yan followed Xiao Jixue to the Council Hall on Main Peak.
He found Sect Leader Fu Shouci there, along with every Peak Master except the Peak Masters and elders who were in seclusion.
Quite a few of the Peak Masters' personal disciples had come as well.
The moment Zhu Hua and the others saw Tang Yan, their eyes lit up with excitement.
If their elders and the venerable masters had not been present, they probably would have leaped over to give Tang Yan a great big bear hug.
"Sect Leader, venerable masters."
Under everyone's rather intense gazes, Tang Yan respectfully bowed.
[It's just accepting a master. Is all this pomp really necessary?]
[Is it because this is the first time the Ten Thousand Swords Sect has accepted a useless disciple, so everyone came to gawk at the novelty?]
Fu Shouci snorted inwardly.
Gawk, my foot. These idle fools all came sniffing around for juicy gossip!
How did I never notice what a bunch of gossipmongers these brats were?
Indeed, ever since Tang Yan had dropped that bombshell about Xu You in the Council Hall last time.
Word that Tang Yan was a gold mine of gossip had spread through practically the entire circle of senior members and personal disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Of course, they could not disclose a single word about that gossip, nor could they write it down.
Even Divine Sense communication was impossible. They could only communicate through looks.
They had even gone to their eldest senior brother's Purple Dawn Peak to test it and discovered that only cultivators at Golden Core or above could hear Tang Yan's thoughts.
And now for the most, most, most important part!
That treasure Tang Yan possessed, the one capable of uncovering secrets, had an artifact spirit!! An artifact spirit named Xi Tong!!
After they discovered that only those at Golden Core or above could hear his thoughts.
That overbearing artifact spirit, Xi Tong, entered their Sea of Consciousness that very night.
In an imperious, sinister tone, Xi Tong said, "If Tang Yan catches even a hint that you can hear his thoughts, you're dead! Hmph!"
Xi Tong entered their Sea of Consciousness as though strolling through an empty field. Even Fu Shouci, the strongest among them, could not resist.
What else could they do?
Naturally, they hastily agreed, then happily indulged in the gossip!
After that artifact spirit left, Fu Shouci and the senior members of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect held a meeting overnight.
They surmised that the treasure Tang Yan possessed had to be a Heaven-and-Earth Supreme Treasure, born and nurtured by heaven and earth, far more incredible than a Divine Artifact.
An ordinary Divine Artifact could never possess such power.
Fortunately, for the time being, the supreme treasure only wanted to pry into people's private lives and toy with the cultivators of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
All they could do was cooperate, enjoy the gossip, and watch the show. Sigh.
Before you continue