CHAPTER 473: CORE DISCIPLE

The old man was none other than Elder Wren, the Sect Elder who was in charge of the Cultivation Families and some Secret Realms under the Greenfire Sect.

Once the Azure Serpent Leaders blocked the entrance of the Azure Serpent Realm, Elder Wren had to stay there and observe the changes happening in the realm.

However, other than that, Elder Wren bitterly shook his head whenever he thought of Kai, the talented youngster whom he personally recruited into the sect.

’Such a talented youngster... meeting his end in the Azure Serpent Realm... I hope I am wrong.’

Although he didn’t spend much time with ’Kai’, Elder Wren could tell that the youngster had a great cultivation talent.

The first time he met ’Kai’, he was just a Level 1 Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator.

The second time was during the Beast Extermination Trial, which was held one month after their first meeting. At that time, ’Kai’ had already achieved a Level 4 Foundation.

For the third time, it was also one month after his second meeting, where Kai had already become a Sect Disciple and lived in the Greenfire Realm.

At that time, he had already reached Peak-Level 7 Foundation Establishment Realm.

Thus, Elder Wren’s hopes for ’Kai’ had greatly increased, and he felt his future could be changed thanks to the youngster he recruited.

’I personally sent him into the Azure Serpent Realm for his training in the hopes of quickly breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, and things turned out to be the way they are.’

’Damn it... the sect has already given up. If only they came forward to negotiate with the Azure Serpent Leaders... he might have still been alive.’

The more he thought about it, the more frustrated Elder Wren became.

It was because the Sect clearly had the ability to save ’Kai’ as they could easily negotiate with the Azure Serpent Leaders, who were greedy for Cultivation Resources.

’I know they won’t care about a disciple who is yet to reach the Golden Core Realm, but... no matter how much I say, they are not listening to me.’

Elder Wren sighed as he swore, ’If you come back alive, I will personally use all my savings to nurture you into a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator.’

"Huh? The entrance to the Azure Serpent Realm is fluctuating. Is it one of the Azure Serpent Leaders?"

Elder Wren suddenly noticed the movement in the portal to the Azure Serpent Realm and stood up, thinking it was one of the Azure Serpent Leaders.

"T-this..."

However, the moment he saw the one walking out of the portal, Elder Wren froze in his steps.

"Kai... you... are..."

Elder Wren didn’t even finish his words as his eyes turned misty, as many thoughts flashed in his head.

’Haha... the Heavens didn’t abandon me.’

’I still have hope to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.’

’This youngster is the rope for me to climb higher in this world.’

.

.

.

.

Due to his excitement, Elder Wren was unable to move from his place and was lost in his thoughts.

"Elder Wren, are you waiting for me?"

Ethan rushed to Elder Wren and excitedly asked him.

"N-no... Yes, I was waiting for you."

Elder Wren was about to say that he was standing here because of the Sect’s orders; however, he quickly changed his words to make ’Kai’ feel special.

"I begged the Sect to negotiate with the Azure Serpent Leaders, and spent a lot of cultivation resources, in order not to harm you. Thankfully, they have kept their word."

"If not, I would have personally rushed into the Azure Serpent Realm to kill all those Azure Serpent Leaders."

Elder Wren rambled on about all the nonsense, trying his best to make sure Ethan owed him.

"T-this... thank you... thank you very much, Elder Wren. I don’t know how to repay you for your kindness."

Ethan acted like he was shocked and hurriedly bowed, repeatedly thanking Elder Wren.

’I thought this b*stard is good... but he is another one of those selfish b*stards who are trying to use me.’

At the same time, Ethan’s good impression of Elder Wren disappeared completely as he cursed Elder Wren.

Ethan already knew Elder Wren was waiting at the entrance of the Azure Serpent Realm on the Sect’s orders to observe the changes in the realm.

Forget about negotiation, there were no words between the Azure Serpent Leaders and the Greenfire Sect for a month, other than the time when the Azure Serpent Leaders announced the temporary closure of the Azure Serpent Realm for a while.

Moreover, if Elder Wren had personally entered the Azure Serpent Realm to kill the Azure Serpent Leaders, he could not even get the chance to fight the Azure Serpent Leaders because he had to fight his way through their minions.

Nevertheless, Ethan didn’t bother to say anything; instead, he went with the act because he still had some things to do in the Sect.

"Elder Wren, I have good news to share."

In the next second, Ethan released his full cultivation aura of Level 1 Golden Core Realm, greatly shocking Elder Wren.

It’s been a month since Elder Wren saw ’Kai’, and he was expecting him to perfect his Foundation; however, he was not expecting ’Kai’ to reach the Golden Core Realm directly.

No matter how fast a cultivator’s cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was extremely difficult for him to break through to the Golden Core Realm within just a month... unless he encountered a Heavenly Treasure.

’What kind of treasure did he encounter to make him reach the Golden Core Realm in just a month?’

’Since no one knows about him, should I just interrogate him about that treasure using my methods before killing him?’

’No... most Heavenly Treasures are one-type resources, and since he reached the Golden Core Realm, he must have already consumed it... damn it.’

’Forget it... I will just make sure he owes me a great favour and then, I will get the necessary cultivation resources through him.’

Many thoughts flashed in his head; however, he quickly suppressed them and started acting.

"T-this... you have reached the Golden Core Realm? Congratulations."

As though he was recovering from his shock, Elder Wren quickly congratulated Ethan as he muttered, ’This youngster is really my ladder to climb higher in this world.’

Whether it was the Greenfire Sect or the other two top sects, they would generously reward the Sect Elders who recruited talented youngsters.

As the youngsters progress through each major realm in their cultivation, the Sect will continue to reward them.

Since ’Kai’ has broken through to the Golden Core Realm, Elder Wren will receive good rewards. So, thinking about those rewards, he became excited.

"Kai, let’s go to the Sect and inform the Sect. Reaching the Golden Core Realm before the age of 20 will directly upgrade your status as the Core Disciple of the Greenfire Sect."

Elder Wren tried his best to control his excitement before urging Ethan to go with him to the Greenfire Sect to report his achievements.

Of course, he wanted to ask how Ethan broke through to the Golden Core Realm and also wanted to know what was happening inside the Azure Serpent Realm.

However, Elder Wren believed that asking too many questions might make Ethan defensive and might not answer his questions truthfully.

Therefore, he decided to bring Ethan back to the sect and slowly get answers to all his questions.

"Core Disciple?"

On the other hand, hearing Elder Wren’s words, Ethan was truly excited from the bottom of his heart.

Ethan obviously knew about the Core Disciple, and the reason why he was going through all this nonsense was to become a Core Disciple of the Greenfire Sect.

The disciples of the Top Three Sects are classified as:

[1) Servant Disciples, who are not permitted into the Secret Realm in which the Sect was established.]

[2) Outer Disciples are permitted into the Secret Realm, but they have to pay for their residence inside the Secret Realm.]

[3) Inner Disciples are given a cave abode on one of the selected peaks inside the Secret Realm.]

[4) Core Disciples are considered as the future of any Sect because they are the candidates that would become the Supreme Elders and even the Sect Leaders, continuing the core legacy of the Sect. They are given exotic cultivation resources and even a whole peak for themselves.]

’As long as I become a Core Disciple, I can have access to many things... especially the Secret Realms.’

Although there were many benefits to being a Core Disciple, Ethan was mainly interested in the Secret Realms.

The Greenfire Sect owns many Secret Realms, and other than the Secret Realms like Azure Serpent Realm, which has limited uses and the Primordial Beast Realm, which was corrupted, there were many Special Secret Realms under them.

Entering them was impossible unless you were a Core Disciple or a Supreme Elder.

Although Ethan has Supreme Elders from the Greenfire Sect as his subordinates, using them to enter such Secret Realms would catch the eyes of other Supreme Elders.

Therefore, Ethan decided to become a Core Disciple of the Greenfire Sect.

"Yes, you are qualified to become a Core Disciple."

Elder Wren subtly urged Ethan once again, "Shall we go to the Sect now?"

"Elder Wren, before we go to the Sect, I want to visit my parents. Can you please allow me to do it?"

However, Ethan shook his head, saying, "I don’t know how many times I thought I would die inside the Azure Serpent Realm. So, please, Elder Wren, I want to visit my parents and spend some time with them."

No matter how excited he was to become a Core Disciple, Ethan didn’t forget to act like a youngster who went through who knows how many Life and Death situations in the last one month.