Chapter 118

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Chapter 118: Ten Years

The giant turtle with a small red flower on its head began to roar towards the sky, its voice echoing across Hidden Spirit Island, causing all the attacking beasts to retreat like a receding tide.

“Alright, that settles it,” Xu Fan said, clapping his hands.

Storing away his two sets of armor, Xu Fan landed on the giant turtle’s head.

“Let me see where your nest is. There are no Nascent Soul stage beasts in the Ten Thousand-Mile Giant Lake, right?”

“Or did you swim over from the distant Luotian River?”

Xu Fan sat cross-legged on the giant turtle’s head, squinting as his mental strength penetrated the turtle’s mind.

“Ah, there’s a hidden river. You came here today to pick up the eggs you laid fifty years ago on Hidden Spirit Island.”

“Perfect! You and your family should stay here and settle down,” Xu Fan said with a smile, realizing he now had a protective spirit beast under his wing.

At that moment, Xu Fan received a report from Grape, stating that a nest of twelve little turtles had been discovered.

Before long, a flying puppet arrived next to Xu Fan, carrying all twelve turtles.

“From now on, you’ll stay here with your little ones,” Xu Fan said.

The giant turtle nodded lightly, understanding that its fate and that of its children were in the hands of the man above it.

Xu Fan returned to Hidden Spirit Island, where many tool puppets were cleaning up the battlefield along the shore. They collected valuable items and tossed the worthless ones into the distant lake, where the beasts would take care of them later.

Several disciples gathered around Xu Fan, discussing the situations in their areas.

“Master, can I learn that divine ability that turns beasts into flowers?” Xu Gang and Xu Yuexian asked eagerly, their eyes shining. Who wouldn’t want such a beautiful and powerful technique?

“Do you know how to grow a flower with seven-color petals?” Xu Fan asked.

“No, we don’t,” everyone replied, shaking their heads.

“Then that proves you’re not destined for this technique, and it’s not suitable for you,” Xu Fan said, shaking his head.

Xu Fan had created secret techniques for each attribute. The wood-based technique he used to defeat the beasts was called Infinite Flower Sea, and it was the same technique that subdued the giant turtle. As for the small red flower, it was just a name he casually mentioned.

“Oh,” the two of them said, visibly disappointed.

“Master, during that battle, I had an epiphany. After I finish challenging the puppets, I can advance to the Golden Core Stage,” Wang Xiangchi said.

“Master, I had an epiphany too,” Li Xingci added.

Xu Fan gave Li Xingci a meaningful look. This kid had always been holding back. He could have advanced to the Golden Core Stage long ago but had been waiting to support Wang Xiangchi.

“Great! Soon, our Hidden Spirit Sect will have four Golden Core Stage experts. This is a significant leap in our sect’s power,” Xu Fan said, deciding to enter a semi-seclusion state soon with the goal of reaching the Golden Core Stage.

“Master’s words are so fake,” all four of Xu Fan’s disciples thought simultaneously.

Three months later, almost at the same time, the eldest, third, and fourth disciples began their seclusion training.

Xu Fan and Xu Yuexian were at the Upper Spirit Peak of the sect, a peak specifically established for cultivation breakthroughs. The spiritual energy concentration inside was nearly a hundred times that of other places in Hidden Spirit Sect.

“Your brother and your junior brothers have all broken through. Aren’t you anxious?” Xu Fan asked.

“What’s there to be anxious about? Am I afraid they’ll steal my position as the sect leader?” Xu Yuexian joked.

“Fine, I won’t pressure you. After your older brother and junior brothers break through, if you want to go treasure hunting and training, just go ahead.”

“Have you been feeling cooped up lately?” Xu Fan said with a smile.

Since the benefits left, he realized it was time to move on. He thought about going out; staying at the sect didn’t seem meaningful anymore.

“After you leave, your third junior brother and fourth junior brother will probably leave too.”

“Disciples have their own fortunes. Maybe you’ll have some extraordinary encounters out there and return as respected elders in no time,” Xu Fan joked.

“Master, don’t worry. I’ll just be treasure hunting on the central continent. I can come back anytime; I won’t go too far,” Xu Yuexian said, suddenly feeling a bit guilty for leaving her master with just her older brother.

“The central continent is enough; where else do you want to go?” Xu Fan shot a glare at Xu Yuexian.

At that moment, an unusual phenomenon appeared in the sky. A giant nine-zhang tall figure appeared, resembling Xu Gang. As the giant slowly shrank, it seemed like celestial music filled the air, celebrating the birth of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Having transformed into a small figure the size of three inches, Xu Gang directly dove back into his own body. Thus, the first Nascent Soul cultivator of the Hidden Spirit Sect was born.

“Celestial music in celebration, I suppose that’s good enough,” Xu Fan nodded in agreement.

Just then, Xu Gang emerged from the cultivation room and respectfully bowed to Xu Fan. “Master, I have reached the Nascent Soul stage.”

“Good. Now, quickly return and stabilize your cultivation. Once stable, don’t rush your training; spend time with Little Xi,” Xu Fan advised, pleased that he had provided them with techniques that worked well. Two months ago, Little Xi was already pregnant.

Compared to the commotion of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, the news of advancing to the Golden Core Stage was much quieter.

“Master, I have successfully advanced to the Golden Core Stage,” Wang Xiangchi and Li Xingci said together.

“Good.”

Xu Fan looked at his four disciples beside him, realizing that his own cultivation was again the lowest, not counting the newly accepted disciple.

“If you wish to go out and train, do so, but it must be limited to the central continent. If you truly intend to venture beyond the central continent, you should at least master the final thunder technique before you go.”

Xu Fan handed each of Wang Xiangchi and Li Xingci a jade slip.

“Inside are the secret techniques you will learn after reaching the Golden Core Stage. Once mastered, you won’t be invincible among your peers, but you’ll surely be at a top-tier level.”

Three days later, the sect leader, accompanied by the two peak masters, left amidst Xu Fan’s expression of a lonely old man.

“Sigh, now in the sect, there are only three of us who are adults at eighteen,” Xu Fan lamented.

“Master, in ten years, when the children grow up, our sect will be lively again,” Little Xi said. During this time, she had been taking care of the group of children, becoming the big sister to all the disciples.

“Hmm, yes, in ten years, these little rascals will have grown.”

Time flew by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

On the surface of the Ten Thousand-Mile Giant Lake, Xu Fan sat cross-legged on a giant turtle with a shell diameter of ten meters, fishing, while two young men stood behind him.

“Elder Xu, the spiritual pill production line you asked the department to research has been successful. They are currently discussing how to set up the production line with three artifact masters.”

“Yesterday, the spirit rice planted following your method was harvested, yielding a thirty percent increase over last year.”

“I just received news that the Huansoul Peak master has appeared in Lin Sen Fairy City with two ten-year-old children. They are expected to arrive at the sect shortly.”

“Good, I understand. If you have matters to attend to, go ahead,” Xu Fan replied, looking at the meticulous young man before him with an approving gaze.

This young man, named Qiu Ziyuan, was a management talent discovered by Xu Fan. Since handing over the sect’s matters to Qiu Ziyuan five years ago, Xu Fan no longer needed to worry about anything.