Successfully Taking a Master

Yao Lao wanted to take them as disciples?

Xiao Mo could hardly believe his ears. He stared at the old man before him in shock.

"You want to take both of us? Isn't it supposed to be just him?"

Yao Lao shot him a scornful glare.

"Shut up. Your unusual talent happens to make you an excellent support for Xiao Yan. Why can't I take you too?"

Yao Lao turned his gaze back to Xiao Yan.

"I do owe you this, so I'll repay you with a promise. I can increase your Dou Qi and make you far stronger than that damned Nalan Yanran!"

"In three years, I'll make you outstanding among your peers. You could even stand above the Misty Cloud Sect. It all depends on whether you're willing."

A gleam flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes. He was clearly tempted.

He had already declared that he would make Nalan Yanran regret her actions, and Yao Lao's promise was truly enticing.

"What are your conditions? And what can you teach us?"

With a faint smile, Yao Lao opened his palm before them.

"Look. What are these?"

At the sight of the pills in Yao Lao's hand, Xiao Yan's eyes widened in surprise.

"How do you have so many pills?"

Yao Lao tapped his chest.

"I'm an alchemist. I can casually produce medicinal pills you couldn't even afford to buy. If you become my disciples, you'll be able to refine whatever pills you want yourselves in the future."

That offer was exceptionally tempting.

Xiao Mo was still lost in the delighted surprise of actually being chosen by Yao Lao.

Noticing that Xiao Yan was still hesitating, he stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and pressed him down onto his knees.

"You'll be able to refine your own pills! Think about it. Once you become a master alchemist, that Pill King won't be worth a damn. Will your Xiao Clan ever have to worry about running out of pills again?"

"If you're still hesitating over something this good, that just proves there's something wrong with your head. Hurry up and accept him as your master!"

Xiao Yan was cautious by nature and had originally intended to ask what Yao Lao's true purpose was.

But Xiao Mo's interruption made him completely forget to pursue the question, and he unconsciously followed him in kneeling and bowing to Yao Lao.

Seeing the two accept him as their master so respectfully, Yao Lao nodded in satisfaction.

"You both possess exceptional talents and will surely achieve great things. My name is Yao Lao, and you may address your master that way from now on. Xiao Mo is the senior disciple, and Xiao Yan is the junior. Be sure to remember the order of seniority and show the proper respect."

Xiao Mo had no interest in such empty formalities. He went straight to the point.

"Yao Lao, you said you could help Xiao Yan achieve mastery of his cultivation art. Can you give us some direction now?"

[Ding! Main quest activated. Please help Xiao Yan reach Dou Zhe!]

With a system quest now in hand, he was even more eager to help Xiao Yan break through to Dou Zhe as soon as possible.

Yao Lao did not beat around the bush with them either.

"It's easy enough to explain. But if you want to achieve mastery of your cultivation arts, the help I can offer is to make you alchemists as quickly as possible."

"To become alchemists, however, you must first become Dou Zhe, and the Dou Qi cultivation arts you practice must be fire-attributed."

Xiao Mo was instantly dumbfounded. His constitution was the Ice Soul Body, which had nothing whatsoever to do with fire-attributed Dou Qi cultivation arts.

The art he needed to practice was the Ice Cold Art. That thing could not refine pills, so what exactly did Yao Lao intend?

Seeing Xiao Mo's utterly bewildered face, Yao Lao smiled faintly.

"Xiao Yan is an excellent prospect for becoming an alchemist. Your constitution, however, is perfectly suited to supporting him. Since pill refinement involves fire-attributed Dou Qi cultivation arts, accidents can happen very easily."

"With you assisting beside him, your Ice can naturally help steady his mind, allowing him to successfully refine purer pills."

"That's why I'm taking both of you as disciples. You can work together, and your strength will reach even greater heights in the future."

"..."

Xiao Mo wanted to curse. So he had come to the Battle Through the Heavens World purely to be a healer-and a lifelong one at that.

Every quest the Good Brother System gave him involved helping Xiao Yan greatly improve his abilities. Even after taking a master, he was still supposed to play support and help Xiao Yan refine pills.

He felt deeply indignant. Why did he have to be a supporting character?

[Ding! Side quest activated. Help Xiao Yan obtain a cultivation art. Rewards: Ice Soul Art ×1, 100 points, 1 point of Good Brother Intimacy.]

Xiao Mo's eyes lit up. His cheat really was powerful. A hundred points could be exchanged for quite a few good things.

And that was on top of an Ice Soul Art cultivation technique.

He immediately stared unblinkingly at Xiao Yan beside him, making a chill run down his back.

"Xiao Mo, why are you looking at me like that?"

He did not answer. All he could see was a bright future stretching out before him.

He would help Xiao Yan reach the pinnacle, and the system would shower him with rewards. Even if he could only play support, his own strength would climb toward the summit, level by level.

There was absolutely no losing out on this deal.

At that thought, he unhesitatingly threw an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulders and pulled him against his chest.

"No problem, Master. I have no objections. But Junior Brother, if you refine any pills, half the credit goes to me. If I'm there, I get half."

He still had to claim the benefits he was owed, and he absolutely could not settle for less.

Xiao Yan had not expected him to be so generous. After all, Xiao Mo would only be providing support, while the main achievements would belong to Xiao Yan.

Had their positions been reversed, Xiao Yan might not have agreed to sew another man's wedding robes. Yet Xiao Mo had not only agreed without the slightest resentment, but still treated him as a good brother.

A piece of ice in his heart began to melt.

Over the years, he had endured far too many grievances and had always been looked down upon. Had most people not held back out of consideration for Xiao Zhan, he would have long since been trampled into the dirt.

Yet at this lowest point in his life, Xiao Mo's sudden appearance had given him hope. Not only had he helped his cultivation rise by three stages, he was even willing to support him and remain his brother.

At that moment, Xiao Yan silently swore an oath in his heart.

Xiao Mo, you're my brother for life too. Whatever happens in the future, I'll walk through boiling water and fire for you, no matter the cost.

Xiao Mo had no idea that he had already found his way into Xiao Yan's heart.

He was still lost in his delight over the rewards.

Seeing that both had agreed, Yao Lao smiled until his eyes narrowed.

"Since you've accepted me as your master, naturally, the next step is to teach you cultivation arts."

Without hesitation, Xiao Mo immediately pushed Xiao Yan forward.

"Master, pick out a top-grade Heaven Tier cultivation art for my junior brother first!"

Yao Lao's eyes widened, and he shot Xiao Mo a fierce, exasperated look.

"Do you think cultivation arts are pebbles you can pick up just by crouching down? Still, I do have a Yellow Tier cultivation art I can teach you."

"..."

Xiao Yan took a step back and grabbed Xiao Mo beside him.

"This old man's a fraud. Let's go. We'd be better off going back to the clan and finding my father, Xiao Zhan, than taking him as our master!"