Lu Xuan's presence had vanished, utterly undetectable. Not even the Ye family's Old Ancestor could possibly perceive him. “Master’s treasures really are top-notch,” Lu Xuan murmured, pleased.
Once inside, Lu Xuan found the Ye family compound sprawling. Pavilions rose everywhere, grand mansions spread far and wide. Under the shroud of night, towering structures glowed with brilliant spirit patterns, an invisible, oppressive aura constantly circulating. Lu Xuan felt a thrill. Where was his precious disciple? He couldn't wait. As for how to win Ye Chen’s trust, Lu Xuan already had a plan.
Soon, he located a specific residence. “Young Master’s Residence!” A massive plaque hung above the entrance, its gilded characters radiating a grand, imposing aura. The buildings within were majestic and beautiful, yet regrettably, few figures moved about, giving the place an air of desolation. Lu Xuan understood. A disgraced Young Master, after all!
Lu Xuan glanced around, then stepped directly into Ye Chen’s room. “Oh?” He blinked at a table laden with a feast. Not a single chopstick had touched it. Only a wine cup and several bottles of spirit wine sat nearby. Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “It seems Ye Chen and I are truly fated. He knew I was coming and prepared dinner for me.” He was starving, so he immediately tucked in. As he ate, Lu Xuan critiqued, “This spirit chicken is good, and the spirit rabbit is perfectly fine.”
Not long after, a soft creak echoed as the door gently pushed open, and Ye Chen slowly entered. The moment he saw Lu Xuan, Ye Chen froze. Then, he retreated a step. Did I take a wrong turn? The next second, Ye Chen walked back in. This was definitely his room; no mistake. But… Who was this man in white? His features were handsome, his brows like sharp swords, his eyes like shining stars. An ethereal aura emanated from him, so profound it seemed to merge with the very world around them, as if a divine scion had descended, graceful and otherworldly. Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slightly. He closed the door. “Who are you?”
Lu Xuan wiped his mouth, getting straight to the point. “Ye Chen, I am a Peak Master of the Grand Dao Sect, and I wish to take you as my disciple.” Ye Chen blinked. “You’re not, perhaps, a charlatan?” A Grand Dao Sect Peak Master? Why would one personally come to the Ye family to take a disciple? The Grand Dao Sect was a renowned, hegemon-level power in the Southern Barrens! Even if a Peak Master were to take a disciple, they’d contact the Old Ancestor, not suddenly appear in his room… devouring his dinner? With that thought, Ye Chen’s expression turned cold. “You have three sentences to explain yourself. If I’m not satisfied, the experts of my Ye family can arrive at any moment.”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, speaking languidly. “Ye Chen, deep down, you’re actually quite eager.” At these words, Ye Chen’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. Ever since he’d been afflicted by that eerie power, he’d felt like a drowning man, constantly grasping for a straw. A fortuitous encounter! Of course, his heart yearned for some kind of miracle! Even a heaven-sent opportunity! It was just that now, with such a so-called opportunity right before him, he found it hard to believe.
At this, Lu Xuan directly tossed out a token. “The Grand Dao Token!” It was indeed his Peak Master’s token from the Grand Dao Sect. Whoosh! An incomparably ancient token floated before Ye Chen. Ye Chen’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared intently at it. Three characters were etched upon it: “Azure Mystery Peak.” An arcane, primal power emanated from the token, profoundly mysterious. Lu Xuan chuckled softly. “Inject some spiritual energy. Try it.”
Ye Chen hesitated. After a moment, he gritted his teeth, summoned his courage, seized the Grand Dao Token, and directly infused a wisp of spiritual energy. Boom! Before Ye Chen’s eyes, a terrifying illusory world materialized. It was a miniature replica of the Grand Dao Sect’s vast territory, stretching for tens of thousands of miles, its essence imprinted as a power of Dao patterns through a miraculous art of creation. He saw countless peaks rising and falling, an endless array of immortal caves, rays of auspicious light shooting forth, immense divine radiance continuously surging, and brilliant Dao patterns flowing and intertwining without end. One by one, the Grand Dao Sect’s ultimate treasures appeared: the Trial Tower, the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds… Suddenly, an incomparably ancient voice resonated. “Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao!” The Grand Dao Bell boomed. Six reverberating “Dao” characters, like thunder, pierced his ears. They were profoundly mysterious, indescribable, seemingly the power of transcendence, the ultimate power, echoing the might of heaven and earth, transforming into a torrent that surged towards Ye Chen. It continuously battered his body! Profound! Utterly profound! It was like a sudden enlightenment! Ye Chen broke out in a cold sweat. Instantly, he withdrew from the illusory vision of the Grand Dao Token. His body was drenched. Shock! He stared at the man in white, utterly stunned. He was now eighty percent certain that Lu Xuan was indeed a Grand Dao Sect Peak Master.
Ye Chen’s body trembled slightly as he respectfully returned the Grand Dao Token. He couldn't discern the cultivation realm of the man in white. But he knew that if this man wanted to kill him, a mere thought would likely suffice. Still, a question lingered in his heart. Why had he been chosen?
At this, Lu Xuan’s right hand slowly unfolded, and a wisp of the Grand Dao Scripture’s power gradually emerged. A profound aura began to drift towards Ye Chen, swirling around him. Ye Chen was stunned. This aura was too transcendent! He had never felt anything like it, not even from his Old Ancestor! “S-senior, what kind of power is this?” Ye Chen asked respectfully. He felt this power making his mind and body incredibly comfortable, and for a fleeting moment, he even felt a wisp of spiritual energy surge within him. Unprecedented! This power could actually counteract the eerie force within him?
Lu Xuan smiled. “This is precisely the Grand Dao Scripture, the Grand Dao Sect’s foundational cultivation technique!” Ye Chen gasped in shock. “The Grand Dao Scripture!” He knew the Grand Dao Scripture was a household name in the Southern Barrens, a top ten Emperor-tier cultivation technique! It was said that once one comprehended its mysteries, they could step into the legendary Ultimate Realm! As the Young Master of the Ye family, he naturally had some understanding of the Southern Barrens’ major powers. His resolve was starting to waver. Could this man in white actually have come specifically to take him as a disciple?
Immediately, Ye Chen’s expression became respectful. He clasped his fists and offered a bitter smile. “Senior, seven years ago, an eerie power suddenly emerged within me, causing my cultivation to plummet. Even my clan’s Quasi-Emperor Old Ancestor was helpless.” He lowered his gaze. “How could I be worthy of becoming your disciple?” Ye Chen was now certain. This man in white was definitely a powerful expert of the Grand Dao Sect! Such an opportunity certainly stirred his heart, but he wanted to know the reason behind it.
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, his face perfectly composed. “Taking disciples is all about fate and destiny.” He paused. “I was merely traveling the Southern Barrens, happened to pass through Qingcheng, and heard about your situation. You and I are fated, so I shall take you as my disciple!” He leaned in slightly. “You should know, besides you, I have only ever taken one other disciple.” As the words fell, Ye Chen froze. Traveling the Southern Barrens! Taking disciples purely by fate! This was precisely the style of a true master! And he’d only ever taken one disciple before! Just how high were his standards? And he would be the second! Thinking this, Ye Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He entertained a possibility: perhaps this man in white was simply curious about the eerie power within him. After all, that eerie power was something even the Ye family’s Quasi-Emperor Old Ancestor had been helpless against! His father even speculated that only a true Great Emperor could resolve it!
Ye Chen cautiously asked, “Senior, are you perhaps a true Great Emperor?” Hearing this, Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “I am not an Emperor.” A flicker of disappointment crossed Ye Chen’s heart. If he was merely a Quasi-Emperor, he likely couldn’t completely resolve this eerie power! But then, Lu Xuan spoke languidly, “But Great Emperors are my disciples.” Ye Chen froze again. He understood. This man in white was simply being humble. If even Great Emperors were his disciples, how could he not be an Emperor? Especially after only taking one disciple for so many years!
At this point, seeing that the iron was hot, Lu Xuan slowly rose, divine radiance stirring in his eyes, his gaze profound as he looked at Ye Chen. “Ye Chen. Take me as your master, and the Emperor realm will be but a stepping stone.” His voice sharpened slightly. “In the family gathering seven days from now, do you wish for the entire Ye family to witness your defeat? Can you accept Nangong Baixue descending upon the Ye family to humiliate you with an annulment? Take me as your master! In the family gathering seven days from now, you can effortlessly defeat Ye Liangchen! Crushing Nangong Baixue will be no problem either!”
Hearing this, colossal waves churned in Ye Chen’s heart. Seven days—could he truly surpass Ye Liangchen? Crushing Nangong Baixue was something he currently dared not even dream of! Nangong Baixue was at the initial stage of Profound Emperor! This sounded like sheer fantasy. Yet, the power of the man in white was undeniable. With such a terrifying opportunity laid out before him, how could he not seize it? This was the only straw he could grasp right now! With that thought, Thump! Ye Chen directly knelt before Lu Xuan, respectfully performing the disciple-acknowledgment ceremony. “Your disciple, Ye Chen, greets Master.” Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “Good. From now on, you are my second disciple.” “Rise.” Ye Chen slowly stood, his gaze burning as he looked at Lu Xuan.
Just then, the System’s voice echoed. “Ding! Congratulations to Host for completing the limited-time disciple recruitment mission: Take Ye Chen as a disciple!” “Ding! Congratulations to Host for receiving a disciple recruitment gift package!” Ye Chen felt a flicker of anticipation. What would the disciple recruitment gift package contain? “Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining a massive amount of cultivation foundation!” “Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining a 1-star Emperor Weapon: Grand Dao Lock!” “Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining a 6-star Emperor-tier Heavenly Abyssal Fire Seed: Bone Chilling Ethereal Fire!” “Ding! Congratulations to Host for obtaining a Heaven-Tier Marrow Cleansing Pill!”
As the voice faded, Boom! An incomparably pure spiritual energy surged into Lu Xuan’s body, continuously impacting his limbs and bones, like an overwhelming tsunami. A wave of comfort washed over him. Lu Xuan’s cultivation took a giant leap forward, directly advancing towards Late-stage Profound Sovereign! Lu Xuan sat down, a little excited, and began to inspect the System’s other rewards. Beside him, Ye Chen stood respectfully. He could tell his Master was experiencing some emotional fluctuation, and he dared not disturb him.
Lu Xuan began to examine the System rewards. “What is this ‘Grand Dao Lock’?” Lu Xuan murmured. The System immediately provided a prompt: “Grand Dao Lock: Follows the Dao of nature, using the power of the Grand Dao to seal eerie power and ominous forces!” It added, “However, the current Grand Dao Lock is 1-star Emperor-tier, only capable of sealing a small amount of eerie power and ominous forces!” Lu Xuan understood. This was tailor-made for Ye Chen. Because Ye Chen had eerie power within him!
Next, Lu Xuan began to examine the Bone Chilling Ethereal Fire. He murmured, “That name sounds familiar…”