A little over two hours later...
Wang Yan emerged from Venerable Gray Three's cave abode, with Bing Ning accompanying him out...
"Senior Sister Bing Ning, I'll take my leave!" Wang Yan said to her, his expression respectful.
"Mm! Take care!" Bing Ning had become much more courteous toward Wang Yan, nodding as she spoke. It was not because accepting his gifts had softened her attitude. Rather, Venerable Gray Three had not only received Wang Yan but spent so long instructing him, and had even allowed him into his Library Vault to choose a cultivation art. His regard for Wang Yan was plain to see. Still, she found it rather strange. She had been with Venerable Gray Three for so long, yet she had never seen him treat any disciple so well, let alone a nominal disciple...
Of course, Bing Ning knew nothing of what had happened on the day the disciples were selected. Venerable Gray Three had boasted that he would train Wang Yan to surpass the disciples of the other peaks, so naturally, he had to give him extra guidance...
"...!" Watching Wang Yan's retreating figure, Bing Ning's expression took on an inscrutable look.
Wang Yan walked along the mountain path with his brows furrowed, seemingly pondering something.
As it happened.
Word had already spread of how Dai Hao and the others had tried to extort Wang Yan on Yellow Cloud Peak that day, only to be intimidated themselves. Naturally, no cultivator dared trouble Wang Yan anymore.
"Tsk! All right! The Heavenburning Art it is!" Wang Yan finally decided aloud. He was already almost back at the temporary cave abode he had rented.
Indeed.
His meeting with his master, Venerable Gray Three, had gone quite smoothly. Venerable Gray Three had shown no intention of looking down on Wang Yan.