Chapter 32

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Chapter 32: Taking Disciples

While the siblings were undergoing their trial in the illusionary realm, Xu Fan took the opportunity to assess his own condition.

“Even though I managed to devour the Soul-Eating Bug, I still lost nearly half of my spiritual power,” he thought.

“Both my spiritual energy and mental strength are under greater strain now; it’ll take at least six months to recover.”

Xu Fan wasn’t too worried about his injuries, though. They weren’t permanent, and as long as he could recover, that was all that mattered.

“Let’s set a small target: I won’t leave the sect for the next ten years.”

“And I’ll stay far away from the protagonist,” he added with a hint of amusement.

As he spoke, he waved his hand, summoning a set of teaware. He pulled out a jar of spirit tea, known for its calming properties, and began preparing it.

He poured spiritual water into the teapot, and a small flame flickered to life beneath it.

“Once I’m back, I’ll need to craft more puppet battle beasts. If I ever have to leave the sect again, I’ll need better protection,” he mused, sipping his tea and contemplating the future.

Just then, an old man entered the little boy’s home, clutching half a bag of millet and wearing a troubled expression.

The moment he stepped inside and saw Xu Fan sitting there, sipping tea, he immediately dropped to his knees.

A gentle force lifted the old man before he could fully kneel.

“There’s no need to kneel, old man. You’re the one who saved my life; I should be thanking you,” Xu Fan said kindly. He already knew the full story of what had happened.

“To have the chance to save an immortal is a great fortune,” the old man replied quickly, his heart swelling with relief and joy.

The immortal’s gracious demeanor confirmed that his gamble had paid off.

“You saved me, and now I must repay you. That’s the way of cause and effect,” Xu Fan said.

“What is it that you desire?” he asked slowly. Xu Fan didn’t feel superior to ordinary people; in his eyes, everyone was just a piece in the grand game of life. Even cultivators couldn’t escape the passage of time.

“I have no children or grandchildren. All I want is for my wife and me to live out our remaining years in peace, free from illness,” the old man said without hesitation, his request simple and heartfelt.

Xu Fan nodded, appreciating the old man’s practicality and reasonableness.

With a wave of his hand, a bottle of longevity pills appeared. These pills could extend a mortal’s life by 10 years and keep them free from illness. Xu Fan had crafted an extra bottle during one of his pill-making tasks, and now it had found its purpose.

“There are 10 longevity pills in this bottle. You and your wife should take one every two years,” Xu Fan instructed.

“Go home and prepare. Once the two children wake up, you’ll come with me to Que Tian Gate. I’ll arrange for someone to take care of you there,” he added. It had already been half a month, and he still didn’t know what was happening back at the sect.

“Immortal, what about these two children?” the old man asked, glancing at the unconscious siblings.

“They’re receiving the inheritance of immortality,” Xu Fan replied casually.

“Ah, I see. I’ll go home and get ready, then,” the old man said before leaving the little boy’s house.

Not long after, the little boy stirred and woke up.

Xu Fan looked at him with satisfaction. While the boy’s talent might be lacking, his honest, loyal nature and his care for friends and family were qualities Xu Fan deeply admired.

In the illusion, the little boy had faced trials that tested his understanding of human nature, and his pure heart had even moved Xu Fan.

As the little boy’s eyes flickered with a hint of complexity, a hand glowing with white light gently rested on his head.

“You’re a good kid.”

It didn’t take long before the little boy fell into a deep sleep.

“When you wake up, everything will be different.”

After making sure the little boy was settled, Xu Fan turned his gaze to the little girl, his eyes filled with a mix of surprise and admiration.

“She’s truly a rare talent for cultivation,” Xu Fan remarked, still amazed by the little girl’s performance in the illusion. It had been nothing short of extraordinary.

In Xu Fan’s eyes, she was like a female version of Han Tianzun—clear about her goals, aware of her strengths, kind-hearted but not overly naive, incredibly wealthy yet humble, daring yet incredibly detail-oriented.

She was just one step away from being the protagonist, lacking only a golden finger.

The little girl slowly woke up, and without saying a word, she shared a knowing look with the little boy.

“What a wonderful pair of siblings! In the future, I’ll be counting on you two to have my back.”

Xu Fan carried one child in each arm as he stepped out of the small hut.

A small Spiritual Wind Boat materialized from Xu Fan’s body, landing on a nearby patch of flat ground and expanding into a ten-meter-long spirit boat.

An old man arrived, accompanied by an elderly woman.

Once everyone was settled, Xu Fan gave a wave, and the Spiritual Wind Boat soared toward Que Tian Gate.

At Que Tian Gate, just outside the protective barrier, Wang Yulun sat with a look of deep sorrow.

After hearing from Ye Xiaoyao about Xu Fan’s misfortune, Wang Yulun had returned to the sect and stationed himself here, waiting.

“Big Brother Xu, I’m so sorry.”

“You’re always so cautious, and it’s rare for you to leave the sect. I never imagined that this time, when you finally did, it would end like this…” Wang Yulun said, his voice heavy with regret. Even though Ye Xiaoyao had assured him that Xu Fan was alive, Wang Yulun couldn’t shake the guilt.

A part of him even resented Ye Xiaoyao for insisting that Xu Fan accompany him.

Just then, a graceful figure approached Wang Yulun.

A bowl of plain congee and a few small dishes were placed in front of him.

“Dear husband, Big Brother Xu is a man of extraordinary talent. He’ll be fine.”

“He’s probably somewhere recovering right now. Once he’s healed, he’ll come back to us,” Murong Qianer said softly, her heart aching as she looked at Wang Yulun’s gaunt face.

“You don’t need to comfort me. I just feel so guilty.”

“Since the day I met Big Brother Xu, I’ve never seen him leave the sect. I never thought he’d do it for me…”

“Qianer, I’ll wait here for another half a month. I still owe Big Brother Xu a red envelope, and I want to give it to him in person,” Wang Yulun said firmly. In his heart, Xu Fan was more than a friend—he was a mentor, a guiding force. Without him, Wang Yulun would still be just another outer disciple.

“Alright, I’ll wait with you, dear husband.”

Meanwhile, in a fairy city outside Que Tian Gate, Xu Fan had arranged for the elderly couple to stay at an inn under the Pang family’s commercial association. They would rest there until someone came to assist them.

Back at Que Tian Gate, in the Outer Sect’s administrative hall, Xu Fan led the curious siblings into a large room.

“Senior brother, I’m here to register my disciples.”

Xu Fan handed his identity token to the steward at the front.

“Do you understand the requirements for taking disciples?” the steward asked, glancing at Xu Fan’s token.

“Yes, the minimum requirement is four spirit roots,” Xu Fan replied.

“Good. You’ll need to provide the resources for your disciples yourself. If you want the sect to train them, it’ll cost 2000 spirit stones per disciple.”

“Also, for your disciples to officially join Que Tian Gate, they must reach the Foundation Establishment Stage before the age of 40.”

“If your disciples excel, the sect will offer additional rewards,” the steward added, giving Xu Fan a curious look. After all, most cultivators who took disciples were those with little hope of advancement, no family, and nearing the end of their lives.

They sought someone to carry on their legacy, and the sect encouraged this practice.

“If you understand everything, take your disciples to test their spirit roots first, then head to the Heart Seeking Hall.”

“Once everything’s done, come back here to collect their identity tokens.”

“Thank you, steward.”

With that, Xu Fan led the two children toward the spirit root testing area.