Chapter 176: A Gift to Forge a Bond

A short while later, Murong Chao emerged from his room. The disturbance from his breakthrough had not only startled the disciples of the Spirit Field Valley but had also temporarily pulled the attention of Chang Aotian and Xu Qing away from Little Gold.

Seeing Murong Chao walk out, his face glowing with a radiant light, Chang Aotian asked the attendant thoughtfully, “Senior Brother Attendant, this junior brother looks exceptionally intelligent. His aptitude must be quite good, no? Could he be a Gray Seed?”

Beside him, Xu Qing, hearing that this boy was a Gray Seed, looked at Murong Chao with astonishment, thinking to herself, I never expected the Taichu Sect to have also recruited a Gray Seed disciple! No wonder their expressions were so calm when they were invited to the Tree Transformation Banquet. It turns out they have no worries about their lineage continuing.

Although a Gray Seed was the worst of the colored seeds, if a sect possessed one, even if it couldn’t lead the sect to great prosperity, it could ensure the continuation of its lineage for several hundred years. The Sect Master of the Taichu Sect, Huanglong, was himself a Gray Seed, and he had now monstrously cultivated to the Dao Fruit Realm. It was rumored that, given time, he might even advance one step further.

The attendant was inwardly shocked by Chang Aotian’s sharp eye. To be able to see a disciple’s aptitude like that was no easy feat. Even the elders of the Elder’s Council couldn’t guarantee they could be one hundred percent accurate. The Gufeng Sect had indeed sent a disciple with exceptional perception; they clearly had a plan.

The attendant smiled faintly. “Senior Brother Chang has a good eye. This disciple’s name is Murong Chao, and he is indeed of the Gray Seed aptitude.” With that, he beckoned to Murong Chao, calling him over.

Although the attendant was no elder, he was known throughout the sect as the Sect Master’s trusted confidant, so Murong Chao hurried over when summoned.

“Murong Chao, this is Senior Brother Chang and Senior Sister Xu of the Gufeng Sect. In nine days, when you ‘Enter the Mortal World,’ you will be leading a team of disciples to the Gufeng Kingdom. These two will be with you. At that time, it will coincide with the Tree Transformation Banquet of their sect’s Uncle-Master Zuo Long. Senior Brother Chang and Senior Sister Xu’s cultivation is profound; you should interact with them more and ask for their guidance.”

The moment the attendant finished speaking, a wave of gasps went through the crowd. Murong Chao was going to lead a team to the Gufeng Sect’s banquet! For any sect, a Tree Transformation Banquet was an extremely important grand ceremony, almost like a cultivation conference. At such an event, one could meet many high-level seniors and the outstanding disciples of various sects. To befriend such a group would make one’s future path much smoother.

Murong Chao’s face lit up with joy. He certainly knew what a Tree Transformation Banquet meant. He never thought he would be the one to lead a team to such a conference. He immediately bowed deeply to Chang Aotian and Xu Qing. “I ask for your guidance, Senior Brother Chang and Senior Sister Xu.”

His gaze fell, almost imperceptibly, on Qin Haoxuan. To be so highly regarded by the sect’s elders and entrusted with such a great responsibility, he thought, my future path will surely be smooth sailing. The gap between myself and Qin Haoxuan is finally about to widen, and my distance from Xu Yu will grow shorter. In time, when my cultivation has greatly increased, as long as Xu Yu is not a fool, when she chooses a cultivation partner, she certainly won’t choose Qin Haoxuan, who is inferior to me in both cultivation and prestige.

Chang Aotian smiled good-naturedly and said with great warmth, “Junior Brother Murong is too polite. We are all cultivators with the same goal of vying for life against the heavens. This foolish elder brother just started cultivating a few years before you; I cannot speak of giving guidance. If you have any difficulties, as long as I can answer them, I will do my best. The Gufeng Sect and the Taichu Sect have been on good terms for generations; you and I should also become close friends.”

Murong Chao bowed deeply again but was stopped by a wave of spiritual energy from Chang Aotian. “Junior Brother Murong, you are too polite. There is no need for such formalities between us.”

Xu Qing, who had been silent, also chimed in with a laugh. “Exactly! In a few days, we’ll be going to the Gufeng Kingdom together. We’ll have plenty of time together. If you’re so formal, we won’t be able to stand it!”

Chang Aotian and Xu Qing were no fools. Murong Chao was a new disciple with a low cultivation level, but with his Gray Seed aptitude, the sect’s elders would surely nurture and guide him. In time, he would certainly become a rising star in the cultivation world. He had a high chance of becoming the next Sect Master. Building a good relationship with such a promising disciple would only bring benefits.

In the crowd, Zhang Yang heard their conversation, and his heart filled with even more venomous resentment. His snake-like eyes landed fiercely on Qin Haoxuan.

He cursed silently in his heart, For such an important matter, they didn’t even consider me! It’s intolerable! Murong Chao only got this good opportunity because he’s close to Qin Haoxuan! That bastard Qin Haoxuan sent his monkey to manage Murong Chao’s spirit field for free, allowing him to free up his time to cultivate, and they’re both so close to Xu Yu! The Sect Master must have sent him for this reason!

Although Zhang Yang couldn’t deal with Xu Yu, and for the time being couldn’t harm Murong Chao, who was also a Gray Seed, Qin Haoxuan was just a weak seed. He silently vowed in his heart, If I cannot remove this thorn in my eye, this spike in my flesh, then my own good aptitude and noble status will have been for nothing!

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Murong Chao, Chang Aotian’s gaze returned to Qin Haoxuan. Only then did he sense how extraordinary he was. Before, his attention had been completely focused on Little Gold, and his first impression of Qin Haoxuan had been very poor. A weak seed who was still sleeping at this hour, completely ignorant of the principle that diligence can make up for a lack of talent; he had subconsciously categorized him as a common disciple with no future.

When Murong Chao had appeared, his keen senses had told him he was a Gray Seed at the Fifth-Leaf. But when he looked at Qin Haoxuan again, he was shocked by his cultivation level. According to the attendant, he had also joined last year. In just over six months, he had actually reached the Fourth-Leaf of the Spirit Sprout Realm.

For a Gray Seed disciple to reach the Fifth-Leaf in six months was normal; Chang Aotian was not surprised at all. But Qin Haoxuan was just a weak seed. For a weak seed to reach the Fourth-Leaf in six months! What a firm Dao Heart, what unwavering perseverance, how many sleepless nights of hard work, and what great fortuitous encounters must he have had!

Chang Aotian quickly concealed the surprise on his face. He said to Qin Haoxuan, “Junior Brother Qin’s Little Gold is truly extraordinary. But since you are unwilling to part with him, I will not force the issue. Here are a few spirit stones as compensation for taking up your cultivation time. In addition, here are a few paper cranes. I have left my aura on them. If you wish to contact me, just write a letter on one, and it will automatically fly to my side.”

He took out two second-grade spirit stones and three snow-white paper cranes from his robes and handed them to Qin Haoxuan.

Qin Haoxuan refused without hesitation. “Senior Brother Chang, I cannot accept a reward for no merit. I absolutely cannot take these spirit stones.” The other disciples’ eyes went wide. Those were two hundred low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to more than a year’s income for a Twentieth-Leaf disciple. And this fool was refusing such a good thing?

Chang Aotian smiled faintly and resolutely placed the stones in his hand. “Don’t be so polite, Junior Brother Qin. If you must have a reason, then consider them a meeting gift.” Just then, the attendant also spoke up. “Senior Brother Chang is a high-level cultivator, but he has not forgotten his roots and likes to support his juniors. You should accept them.”

With the attendant’s words, Qin Haoxuan reluctantly accepted the stones. Although he had gained two second-grade spirit stones, the favor he now owed was worth far more.

Sure enough, Chang Aotian cupped his hands and said, his gaze lingering on Little Gold, “If you are ever too busy with your cultivation in the future and cannot take care of Little Gold, please notify me with a paper crane. I will certainly offer a satisfactory price. I have taken up much of your cultivation time today; I hope you do not mind.”

Qin Haoxuan just smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor refusing, and said, “Farewell, Senior Brother Chang.”

After they parted, the attendant said to the visitors, “Senior Brother Chang, Senior Sister Xu, the day is still young. Would you like to stroll around some more?”

“Of course,” Chang Aotian said with a hearty laugh. “The Great Islet Mountain is a land of heroes and beautiful scenery. To walk in such a picturesque immortal realm is a truly delightful thing.”

Under the attendant’s guidance, they walked towards the Immortal Cloud Cart station. Just as they had taken a few steps, Chang Aotian turned back and walked over to Qin Haoxuan. “Junior Brother Qin, this foolish elder brother has one more presumptuous request.”

“Please speak, Senior Brother Chang.”

“Could you give me a few of the monkey’s hairs? Although Little Gold is not a spirit beast, I feel that its intelligence has not yet fully developed. It’s possible it’s a wild spirit beast. If you give me a few hairs, I can study them when I return. If I find that he is, I will notify you with a paper crane, so that you can adjust his rearing method. It would be a true waste to raise a spirit beast like a common wild animal.”

Qin Haoxuan nodded slightly. In their brief interaction, he felt that this person was quite good. Although he had an air of arrogance, that was a common flaw among high-level disciples. He didn’t seem to have any bad intentions.

Qin Haoxuan was in a bit of a dilemma. Giving him a few hairs was not a problem, but they belonged to Little Gold. Just then, Little Gold reluctantly pulled a few dark golden hairs from his own body. Qin Haoxuan patted his head in thanks and handed them to Chang Aotian, who received them as if they were a great treasure. His eyes fell on the monkey again as he praised him silently in his heart, What an intelligent monkey! Even if it isn’t a spirit beast, it’s definitely extraordinary. I’ll study these when I get back. If I could find a monkey like this for myself, that would be wonderful.

Chang Aotian once again bid farewell to Qin Haoxuan and then left with the attendant.

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