CHAPTER 192: THE DESIRE TO TAKE A DISCIPLE

"Senior Suitian, you may refuse such formalities, but as a junior, I must still act my part. That was the lesson in propriety my grandpa taught me," Lu Chen said, casting a glance at Ancestor Suitian before kneeling and offering a solemn bow. "You are Little Jun's ancestor. As a junior, it is only proper that I kneel before you."

Ancestor Suitian laughed heartily and, for the first time, rose to help Lu Chen to his feet. "Hehehe, well said, young one. These days, juniors with both talent and a steady heart like yours are rare indeed."

He patted Lu Chen's shoulder, motioned for him to sit beside him, and asked, "Young one, may I call you Little Lu?

"Your talent is remarkable. Have you already joined a sect? Do you have a master guiding your cultivation?"

"I met my master a few months after stepping into cultivation," Lu Chen replied with a respectful bow. "You know him personally. He is Little Jun's second uncle, Jun Wudi."

"Ah, Young Jun. No wonder you ended up here."

Jun Laoye stared at Lu Chen in shock. "Little Lu..."

Then, realizing his reaction was too strong, he quickly leaned in and whispered, "Little Lu, you've only been cultivating for a few months? You gained all your current strength in just that time?"

"Uh... yes, more or less," Lu Chen scratched his head. "I only started six months ago. When I returned to my village, I found my people slaughtered. Since then, I've been traveling constantly, cultivating while searching for my grandpa.

"Back then, my progress was painfully slow. At times, it took me half a month just to advance a single step, and at other times an entire month for one breakthrough. Avenging my village felt hopeless. A month ago, I planned to head to the Demonic Beast Forest for secluded cultivation. There, I happened to encounter you.

"You already know what happened after. I entered the Green Emperor's secret realm, my cultivation soared, I slew the leader behind the massacre, and then followed Uncle Jun here to the Heavenly Mandate Hall."

He explained it all in one breath, carefully omitting certain details. When he finished, he looked up to find everyone staring at him wide-eyed.

From the high-ranking black-robed cultivators to Ancestor Suitian's followers, everyone looked at Lu Chen like he was some monstrous being.

Only Ancestor Suitian, who had survived since the great battle between the Seven Children and the Abyssal Demonic Spirits, showed no excessive surprise at hearing that Lu Chen had reached the Qi Regulation Realm in mere months.

"Little Lu, if we calculate seriously, you reached the Qi Regulation Realm in a single month. 'Ten years to absorb qi, a hundred years to regulate it'... You compressed all of it into one month." Jun Laoye gave Lu Chen a helpless look. "And here I thought I was a continental prodigy for reaching Qi Regulation in five years. Compared to you, I'm nothing. You're nearly at Qi Condensation already, aren't you?

"When I told you back then that I reached perfect mastery in Qi Absorption in five years, the look you gave me was because I was too slow, wasn't it? Comparisons like this are enough to kill a man with just frustration."

His complaint drew nods from the surrounding cultivators, who followed along like chicks pecking at grain.

"It's all a matter of fate. If I'd succeeded in the baptism at nine, I too would have cultivated for ten years by now. In that sense, it took me about the same time to reach Qi Absorption."

Lu Chen paused, offering an awkward smile. "When I first started cultivating, my clan had been massacred, and I didn't know where to go. By chance, I met Little Jun and Uncle Jun. Seeing my background and recognizing my potential, Uncle Jun took me in as his disciple."

"Hehehe, what a story! Seems I've lost the chance to claim you as mine. To reach Qi Regulation in just a few months... You would have been a prodigy even in my era."

Listening to Lu Chen, Ancestor Suitian shook his head lightly. "No matter. Since you are Young Jun's disciple, that makes you half a member of the Jun Clan. You have the right to call me Ancestor, and I have the right to guide your cultivation."

Lu Chen's heart leapt. Bowing respectfully, he said, "I humbly thank you, Ancestor!"

Beyond Ancestor Suitian's kindness, the fact that he stood at the Human Core Realm, widely considered this era's peak cultivation, meant Lu Chen now had one more powerful, invisible backer.

Ancestor Suitian patted his shoulder and laughed heartily. "Alright. First, take a good look around. Daoist Tian Ji from the Celestial Oracle Sect prophesied that the fog would surge in the next few days at the latest. It will be the last, and greatest, surge in history. Once this is settled, I will teach you my secret arts."

"Yes, ancestor," Lu Chen replied as he settled cross-legged on the mat, slowly releasing his divine sense. This time, aside from a few cultivators whose depths were unfathomable, nothing blocked his perception.

With the rest of the area laid completely bare, Lu Chen pushed his awareness to its limits, scanning the crowd for any trace of the five academies' disciples. Watching the attention Lu Chen received, Nantian Yijian glanced about nervously before edging closer to the ancestor.

"Ancestor!" Excited, Nantian Yijian rushed forward but tripped and fell flat on the ground. Looking around in embarrassment, he simply remained where he was and performed a full kowtow. "Ancestor, please judge my potential. Could I become the King of Ten Thousand Arts?"

Wind Dragon hovered above Lu Chen. Hidden from sight, he showered Nantian Yijian with a string of curses, but Nantian Yijian didn't care. His gaze remained fixed on Ancestor Suitian, desperate for even a word of approval.

"You? You've only just stepped into the Qi Regulation Realm. Compared to Little Lu, you fall short. Still, given the thin spirit qi of this age, your progress is commendable. One might even call you a prodigy. Hm...

strange. Something seems off about your innate talent."

For the first time, Suitian's brow furrowed as he examined Nantian Yijian. "Why is the spirit qi in your Heavenly Pool so weak? So weak that it shouldn't even have carried you into the Qi Regulation Realm. And yet, you still managed to break through. How is that possible?"

"Ancestor, you really think so?" Nantian Yijian rose to his feet, crestfallen. "Looks like I truly can't become the King of Ten Thousand Arts. But, Ancestor, please think of a way! I really want to change my cultivation potential."

"You little brat, you're finally giving up now?" Wind Dragon sneered above his head. "I told you. Aside from the Lord of Rituals' techniques, you can't cultivate anything else. Don't tell me you still don't believe me?"

"I... I do..." Nantian Yijian lowered his head, speaking through voice transmission. "But so many years have passed since your era. I just want to see if the ancestor here might know another way."

As Nantian Yijian fretted, Ancestor Suitian suddenly said, "There is a way... but it's nearly impossible to achieve."

"Really? There's a way?" Nantian Yijian exclaimed, flinging Wind Dragon aside. "Ancestor, tell me! No matter the danger, I'll do anything to change my potential!"

"The method lies below..."

"Below? Ancestor, do you mean beneath the cliff?" Nantian Yijian peered downward. "Is there a treasure there that could restore my potential?"

"Yes, right there," Ancestor Suitian replied, gazing toward the cliff. "A few days ago, you should have seen a golden Spirit Body leap from here."

"A golden Spirit Body?" Nantian Yijian's eyes widened. "You mean the Spirit Body of Heaven and Earth, the one that can greatly enhance a cultivator's potential?"

"Oh? You know of it. But such a thing isn't something ordinary cultivators should even comprehend," Ancestor Suitian said, casting a sidelong glance at Lu Chen. "It is unimaginably precious. I might be able to spare a fragment for you, but with so many top-tier cultivators gathered here, I cannot be certain I could even seize it."

Nantian Yijian muttered in defeat, "Sigh... then I really can't change my potential. Seems like it really is impossible for me to become the King of Ten Thousand Arts."

Wind Dragon smirked. "You're finally giving up? As for a Spirit Body of Heaven and Earth being able to change one's potential... I've never even heard of such a thing."

He perched atop Nantian Yijian's head, tail flicking. "If we get the chance, we can try. With me and Red Fox, we might still hold an edge over these black-robed cultivators."

At that, Red Fox cracked open her eyes, swept her gaze across the crowd, then curled back into Nantian Wan'er's arms and drifted once more into deep sleep.

"Really?" Nantian Yijian's face lit up with joy. "That's perfect! With boss's ridiculous luck, we're bound to secure some of the Spirit Body of Heaven and Earth."

Just then, Ancestor Suitian's expression sharpened. He sensed a ripple in the surrounding spirit qi. "Hmm... someone is hiding their presence."

His Divine Eye snapped open, dark lightning crackling within, locking straight onto Wind Dragon.