Yao Lao's gaze lingered on Xiao Mo a moment longer. He had never seen anyone with such peculiar talent.
One day, his strength might still be at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, and by the next, he might be just a hair away from breaking through to the eighth.
His strength rose in an extremely strange fashion. Whenever Xiao Yan made a breakthrough, he would follow right behind him and climb another stage.
It was as though he already possessed the strength to climb higher, yet insisted on waiting there for Xiao Yan.
Yao Lao's gaze grew even more affectionate. Xiao Mo seemed to have taken his words firmly to heart, and his cultivation art and talent appeared even more formidable than Xiao Yan's.
"It's just a pity that he has an ice soul body. If only he belonged to the fire element, I could help him climb another rung."
"He might even attain greater strength than Xiao Yan. Sadly, he doesn't follow the same path as me. Could I actually be holding back his growth?"
Yao Lao felt some regret. Perhaps he should not have kept this child bound to his side, but sent him to a master better suited to him.
Yet, guilty as he felt, he also understood that as long as Xiao Mo was around, Xiao Yan's future pill refining would have fair winds and smooth sailing.
A disciple he could take such pride in was rare. He truly could not bear to give him up or change things.
"Xiao Mo, your master can only say he's let you down. But in the future, I'll do everything I can to find a cultivation art that suits you, so you too can bring your cultivation to fruition as soon as possible."
Xiao Mo had no idea that Yao Lao harbored so much guilt toward him. On the contrary, he never tired of what he was doing.
Over the past year, aside from strengthening his physique, he had spent little time cultivating to raise his level.
After all, as long as he completed the system's missions and kept Xiao Yan's strength rising, the system would gleefully shower him with rewards and pills.
Without much effort on his part, his strength climbed right alongside Xiao Yan's. Moreover, because he had spent longer practicing his foundational cultivation art, his strength was more stable.
Compared with Xiao Yan's fire-element cultivation art, his ice-element art advanced steadily on solid footing. Whenever they sparred, he always came out a cut above.
Xiao Yan had also steeled himself, taking Xiao Mo as his target and training desperately every day.
Seeing Xiao Yan like this, he almost wanted to stop him and tell him there was no need to push so hard. Even if he worked himself to death, he could not catch up-Xiao Mo had the system as his cheat, after all.
Still, he swallowed that last part.
After all, he could never explain the system clearly to anyone, and he did not want to expose his hidden trump card.
During this time, Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan grew closer and closer. They were practically inseparable, spending almost every part of their daily lives together.
On top of that, Xiao Mo was always checking on Xiao Yan's well-being, caring for him in almost every conceivable way. Their fellow disciples had begun looking at the two of them rather strangely.
One day, Xiao Xun'er even dragged him aside, her eyes sharp as she laid her sword straight across his neck.
"You're not allowed to fight me for Brother Xiao Yan."
How on earth did she leap to that conclusion?
Xiao Mo was speechless. He could only repeatedly assure her that his feelings for Xiao Yan were purely brotherly. After spending so much time together, he had come to see Xiao Yan as his little brother, which was why he took extra care of him.
Only then did Xiao Xun'er nod, still half doubtful, and say nothing more.
Xiao Mo was utterly speechless inwardly. He was a thoroughly straight man and had no interest whatsoever in men.
If constantly boosting Xiao Yan's affection did not earn him good brother points, he would never bother trailing after him every day like a mother hen.
That evening, just as Xiao Mo and Xiao Yan were preparing to head back, the system's notification suddenly sounded in his ears again.
[Ding! Please help Xiao Yan obtain the Flame Mantra. Rewards: Ice Snow Art ×1, 1,000 shop points, 10 good brother affection points.]
His eyes immediately lit up at the notification.
At last, after an entire year, Yao Lao was finally willing to hand over his Flame Mantra.
But what did it mean by helping Xiao Yan obtain it?
Yao Lao was extremely fond of this young disciple. Surely he would not hide it away and refuse to give it to him?
While Xiao Mo was puzzling over this, the two arrived at Yao Lao's cave. Yao Lao gave them a mysterious smile, then suddenly spoke.
"Xiao Mo, you've now reached the Dou Zhe level, and Xiao Yan, your strength is already at the eighth stage, with Dou Zhe soon within reach."
"So, in keeping with the promise I made to you back then, I'm ready to teach you that special cultivation art."
As Yao Lao spoke, a booklet appeared in his hand. He placed it directly on the table.
Then he turned to look at Xiao Mo.
"Xiao Mo, I've been your master for a year, and I feel deeply guilty. Your strength is primarily rooted in the Ice Cold Art, which differs from my own cultivation art."
"If you could study under a more suitable master, perhaps your cultivation would flourish, and you would soar into the heavens as effortlessly as a fish takes to water. Your master and junior brother have held you back."
An ominous premonition stirred in Xiao Mo's heart. Why did it feel as though he was about to be expelled from his master's tutelage?
The next moment, Yao Lao raised his head and looked at him.
"So now, I'll give you a choice. If you remain determined to take me as your master, I will certainly make arrangements for you in the future and find more suitable cultivation arts to teach you."
"Of course, you would still have to support your junior brother and help him become a great master one day. But your talent might be buried as a result."
A flicker of guilt crossed Yao Lao's eyes when he finished. He raised his head to look at Xiao Mo.
"But if you're unwilling, we can end our bond as master and disciple now. You can seek a place better suited to you."
"As your master, I can only offer you this past year's guidance in laying your foundations. Beyond that, I truly lack the ability to help."
Yao Lao laid the choice before him.
Xiao Mo could barely suppress the urge to roar.
Of course I don't have a choice! There's only the first option. If I don't stay beside Xiao Yan, how am I supposed to improve my strength?
Even if he found a suitable master, his talent would indeed allow him to perfect his cultivation art one day. But the moment he thought of the countless treasures in the System Shop and the prize wheel...
His gaze instantly became resolute, as though he were about to join the Party, and he simply dropped to his knees before Yao Lao.
"Master, a teacher for a day is a father for life. You've already accepted me as your disciple. Of course I have no reason to leave your tutelage."
"Besides, when I began cultivating, I was already prepared to support my junior brother and help him become a favored son of heaven. So I beg you to let me remain your disciple."
"I'm willing to choose the first option. Please bestow the cultivation art upon my junior brother now. I will find every possible way to cultivate and help him succeed in his studies."
At these words, Yao Lao's eyes widened in astonishment. He stared at Xiao Mo in disbelief, clearly never having expected him to make such a choice.
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