Volume 1 Chapter 4
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Volume 1 Chapter 4: Becoming a Student
"Your talent is just ordinary, so even if an old man accepts you as a student, your achievements in this life will be limited."
Xu Fan was stunned by the words from the "immortal." A wave of sorrow washed over him, and a feeling called despair began to take over his heart.
Could it be that even if he learned magical skills from an immortal, his life would only have limited achievements? Would he never be able to take revenge for his parents’ murder and the destruction of his home? Thinking of this, even Xu Fan, who usually never showed his emotions on his face, could no longer hide the despair that darkened his expression, and his eyes began to grow wet and blurry.
Looking at the young man, who seemed somewhat downcast from his words, the mysterious old man suddenly remembered something. A spark of brightness flashed in his eyes, and he slowly began to speak, "Actually, with your current condition, there is a way for you to slightly improve your magical abilities."
The old man’s words were plain, but to Xu Fan, they were like a thunderbolt. "Is what you said true?"
"First, tell me, why do you want to become my apprentice so much?" the old man suddenly asked.
"I want to take revenge," Xu Fan answered without hesitation. Then he slowly told the old man about his experience in Xu Family Village. As he spoke of the tragic moments, the pain he had been holding back for days could no longer be contained, and tears streamed down his face.
"Is it only for revenge?" After quietly listening to Xu Fan’s story, the old man asked again.
Xu Fan was slightly taken aback by the old man’s question but thought for a moment. After wiping away his tears, he continued to speak softly, "It’s not just for revenge. I’ve studied various poems and books with the Second Elder since I was a child and learned a lot about the matters of immortals. I have long been very fascinated by the abilities of cultivators and the wonders of the cultivation world. So even without this matter of revenge, I would still want to be your apprentice."
The old man slightly nodded after hearing Xu Fan’s words, seeming to be quite pleased. His tone was not as cold as before, "If you are not seeking immortality and power, but only pursuing interest and revenge in becoming my disciple, then it is possible."
Hearing this, Xu Fan felt immensely joyful. He was about to kneel again to greet his master, but the old man added, "Do not rush to kneel yet; listen to me first. If after you hear me out you still wish to become my disciple, then it is not too late to kneel."
In Xu Fan’s questioning gaze, the old man continued, "My name is Lu Huayan, and I am the thirty-seventh elder of Jiuhua Gate. Because I have practiced the wood-type cultivation method ‘Changchun Grand Method’ for many years, those in the cultivation world call me Changchun Zi. Unfortunately, I am not very talented, and I have not succeeded in my cultivation. No matter how hard I try, I have not achieved much, only maintaining my youth for six hundred eighty years. Twenty years ago, my body began to age rapidly. In these past twenty years, my power has not progressed, and I have tried everything but cannot return to my youthful state. Now, I can say I am not far from death."
After hearing the old man’s words, Xu Fan was greatly shocked. He hadn’t expected that the cold-looking elder before him was already over seven hundred years old and had maintained his youth for six hundred eighty years! The cultivation methods of immortality truly were extraordinary.
As for Changchun Zi’s words about his ‘lack of talent’ and ‘failure to cultivate,’ Xu Fan certainly did not naively believe them, nor would he compare his own talent. Xu Fan understood that his notion of ‘lack of talent’ was likely just modesty or a comparison to those with extraordinary gifts. If he truly lacked talent, he would not be able to maintain his youth for seven hundred eighty years.
Lu Huayan ignored Xu Fan’s wandering thoughts and continued, "But there is always hope. During my journey out of the mountains, I unintentionally obtained a fragment of the wood-type method ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ from the Laoshan Sect. Although the Laoshan Sect was destroyed by a group of demons nine hundred years ago, its methods are still unique. While it may not be more sophisticated than my ‘Changchun Grand Method,’ if I can understand its uniqueness and combine it with my own, my power can certainly advance, and I would be able to survive for some more years."
"Unfortunately, when I began to practice ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish,’ it seemed that because it was only a fragment, the method was incomplete, which caused a conflict with my own ‘Changchun Grand Method’ and nearly led me to a state of Qi deviation. Therefore, I cannot rely on my own practice to understand ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ and improve my powers to extend my life."
"So, Master, what will you do?" Although Lu Huayan had not yet agreed to accept him as a disciple, Xu Fan had already started to address Lu Huayan as his master.
"That is why I suddenly thought of taking you as my disciple," Lu Huayan said slowly. "Even though you were not born with a natural talent for cultivation, by chance, you have gathered the Wood-type Qi accumulated by the Mountain Spirit Wood Monster for thousands of years and swallowed the essence of the Green Snake Dragon. Thus, your body is filled with Wood-type Qi. If you become my disciple, I will teach you the fragment of ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ to refine the Wood-type Qi and the essence of the Green Snake Dragon in your body. If you can refine all the Wood-type Qi within you, you might just barely stand in the Immortal Realm. But I must make it clear to you, my reason for teaching you ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ is simply to gain insights from your practice; I do not genuinely wish to take you as my disciple. Moreover, this ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ is only a fragment, and the method is incomplete. Practicing it may pose a danger of Qi deviation. With that said, do you still wish to persist in becoming my disciple?"
Originally, Lu Huayan thought that Xu Fan would scold him for being selfish and hypocritical, or at least hesitate and think about it. However, he was surprised when Xu Fan simply asked, "Excuse me, if a disciple practices ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish’ successfully, can he kill that Blue-eyed Cloud-hoofed Beast?"
Lu Huayan did not expect Xu Fan to ask this, but he still explained carefully, "Although with your talents, after refining the Wood-type Qi in your body, it may be difficult for you to improve your skills further in this life, you should be strong enough to deal with the Blue-eyed Cloud-hoofed Beast."
Hearing Changchun Zi say this, Xu Fan sighed with relief, no longer hesitating. He knelt down before Lu Huayan and said loudly, "Master, please accept my bow!"
Lu Huayan looked at Xu Fan kneeling before him, full of surprise, but this time he did not let Xu Fan rise. Instead, he asked, "The reason I take you as my disciple is only to seek longevity for myself. There is a greater chance that this will put you in danger of Qi deviation. Do you have no complaints about bowing to me as your master?"
"I know my talents are limited. Being taught by Master not only allows me to enter the cultivation world I have always yearned for, but also gives me hope for revenge for my family’s destruction. How could I complain? Moreover, my life was saved by Master. Without you, I would likely have been possessed by that Mountain Spirit Wood Monster and lost myself forever. Besides, I have learned since childhood that a teacher is like a father for life, so to help Master improve his skills, what does a little risk matter?" Xu Fan quickly replied upon hearing Lu Huayan’s question.
Hearing Xu Fan’s words, Lu Huayan’s surprise deepened. He carefully observed Xu Qingfan’s expression and saw that he looked sincere, not at all like someone pretending. Satisfied, he was also moved by Xu Fan’s pure heart. He said seriously, "Since you have this intention, I will naturally teach you earnestly. If anything unexpected happens while you practice the fragmented ‘The Formula of Wither and Flourish,’ I will personally go to the Xu Family Village you mentioned, find that demon beast, and take revenge for you!"
Pleased with Xu Fan’s performance, Lu Huayan now began to refer to himself as "Master," which naturally meant he agreed to Xu Fan’s request to become his disciple.
Xu Fan felt great joy upon hearing Lu Huayan’s promise and bowed again, saying, "Thank you, Master."
"Get up," Lu Huayan said, raising his right hand gently towards Xu Fan, who felt a soft force lifting him up.
"Yes." Under the soft force, Xu Fan did not dare to resist and thus stood up naturally.
Although he knew that Lu Huayan took him as a disciple only to seek immortality, and that he was merely a test subject, at least it gave him hope for revenge. Moreover, Lu Huayan did not hide his intentions from him, which was much better than those hypocrites. So, even though he knew that following Lu Huayan to practice the so-called "The Formula of Wither and Flourish" might plunge him into a never-ending crisis, Xu Fan, despite his discontent, could not feel any hatred.
"It is getting late; we should hurry back to Jiuhua Gate," Lu Huayan said. The green silk scarf he had just collected changed into a cloud-like mist, appearing beneath their feet. With a wave of his sleeve, the remains of the Green Snake Dragon and Mountain Spirit Wood Monster were also gathered into his sleeve. Once everything was done, the cloud-like mist slowly rose and then swiftly carried the two of them eastward.