Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 19

Volume 7 Chapter 19: Wang Li (Part 3)

"I greet the Island Master."

Although surprised that there were only Xu Qingfan and four disciples in the Clear Heart Hall, Shen Gang remained calm and steady. After bowing to Xu Qingfan respectfully, he quietly stepped aside.

Seeing Shen Gang’s calmness and poise, Xu Qingfan’s eyes showed a hint of appreciation. After observing him for three years, he found that Shen Gang truly matched his character well. If Wang Li had a similar experience to Xu Qingfan, then Shen Gang was even more like Xu Qingfan in character, displaying qualities of a great leader and determination even more than Xu Qingfan did at his age.

After looking at Shen Gang for a moment, Xu Qingfan suddenly asked, "Shen Gang, I have been observing you for these years. I think you are a good person. Now, I ask you: Would you be willing to join my school and become my named disciple?"

Upon hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, even with his calm and steady nature, Shen Gang couldn’t help but feel a wave of joy. After Xu Qingfan made a special statement about him three years ago, he had not spoken a word to him since. At that time, he had asked Dongfang Qingling to bring him to meet Xu Qingfan, but later, for some reason, they never met. Shen Gang had originally thought Xu Qingfan would take him as a disciple, but over the past three years, that hope had faded. As he understood more about Xu Qingfan’s status as a master and his own qualifications, the expectations of that year felt more like a fantasy.

Fortunately, Shen Gang was a down-to-earth person. Although disappointed, he had been serious about learning alongside Wang Zegang over the years. He felt that even though he had not gained the chance to become a master’s disciple, as long as he worked hard, there could still be accomplishments in the future.

However, Shen Gang never expected that Xu Qingfan would suddenly make this request when he had completely given up on such thoughts. Now that he knew Xu Qingfan was a top expert in the cultivation world, ranked in the top ten, becoming a disciple of such a master would be an incredible opportunity. Shen Gang was clearer about this than ever; his surprise and excitement were even greater than three years ago. He quickly knelt down and bowed to Xu Qingfan, saying, "Master, please allow your disciple to pay my respects."

What Shen Gang did not know was that his performance over the past three years was one of the important reasons Xu Qingfan decided to take him as a disciple. If Shen Gang had given up or complained even a little during these three years, the outcome might have been different now.

Xu Qingfan smiled slightly and nodded to the side. Zhang Ningmei then handed the prepared tea for becoming a disciple to Shen Gang, and Shen Gang respectfully offered it to Xu Qingfan. After Xu Qingfan took a sip, he gestured with both hands, and Shen Gang involuntarily stood up.

At this moment, Shen Gang had recovered from his surprise. His expression returned to its usual calmness, but he became even more respectful towards Xu Qingfan. Xu Qingfan nodded in satisfaction, and with a wave of his sleeve, he produced a piece of ancient coral found in the Quitting Snake Cave years ago, handing it to Shen Gang. He said, "This is a gift for you to celebrate becoming my disciple. Take it to Senior Old Beggar, and he will help you refine it into a top-grade magical item. However, this piece of coral has been around for at least ten thousand years, and once it is refined into a magical item, it will at least be of heavenly level. Your current cultivation is insufficient to handle it, so I hope you will work hard in your training in the future."

"I will carefully follow my master’s teachings."

Shen Gang took the coral Xu Qingfan offered with both hands and said even more respectfully.

Xu Qingfan smiled and nodded. With a movement of his hands, a green light entered Shen Gang’s mind. Shen Gang’s body trembled as he felt a new cultivation method in his mind. It was surprisingly related to the method he had been practicing for years, though with some differences. However, he was unable to discern its effectiveness given his current knowledge and cultivation.

"This cultivation method is tailored for you based on your qualities and personality over these past three years. In fact, you began practicing this method three years ago, but it was not fully developed then. After my reflections over the past three years, I have filled in some key aspects. With it, you will surely make smooth progress before reaching the Golden Core Stage."

Shen Gang heard what Xu Qingfan said, and gratitude flashed in his eyes. He silently knelt before Xu Qingfan and bowed respectfully.

Three years ago, Shen Gang realized that the cultivation method he was practicing was very different from that of his friends. It seemed that this particular cultivation method suited him very well, allowing him to progress quickly and rarely worry about Qi deviation. He did not expect that Xu Qingfan had started preparing this for him three years ago.

Thinking of this, all his confusion and doubts about Xu Qingfan’s indifference over the past three years vanished, leaving only deep gratitude and respect.

※※※※

Normally, a master of Xu Qingfan’s level and status would announce when he took on a disciple during peaceful times, and all the Grandmasters and sects would come to witness the event. Even during times of great upheaval, it would still be a significant occasion. Although Xu Qingfan had secluded himself on Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, he should have called all the cultivators there to witness him accepting Shen Gang as a disciple. However, Xu Qingfan believed that everyone on Rainbow Spirit Island was busy with their own matters, and it would be too much to disrupt their plans just for one disciple. Thus, the whole process of accepting Shen Gang as a disciple was very simple, just like when he took in Zhang Ningmei and others.

However, after Shen Gang received congratulations from his four senior brothers and sisters and was forced by Bai Yu to call out "senior brother" ten times, he left the "Clear Heart Hall" in a daze. The joy that he had been trying to hold back finally erupted, overwhelming his entire body and mind.

To be a master’s disciple! What an honorable identity! Even a sect leader would treat him with respect, as one’s status and power would rise above other experts of the same level. More importantly, in the cultivation world, being taught personally by a master meant that even registered disciples never fell below the Golden Core Stage in cultivation level.

Shen Gang may not have realized all of this, but he could clearly sense that his fate was about to change at this moment.

Although Shen Gang was usually calm, he couldn’t help but feel incredibly happy at that moment. He wanted to find a few close friends to share in his joy. After a slight hesitation, he flew toward the edge of Tianshu Island, where sixteen friends who had grown up and cultivated with him were waiting.

"Xu Mancang, Li Wei, You Wu… I have good news for you… The Island Master has just accepted me as his student."

Shen Gang landed in front of the house where he usually gathered with his friends, took a deep breath to keep his expression from looking proud, and then pushed the door open. With a cheerful but calm tone, he said to everyone inside the room.

"Really? You’ve become the Island Master’s disciple?"

"Haha, Brother Shen, the future is bright for you!"

"I knew it! Someone as talented as Brother Shen would definitely be accepted as a disciple by the Island Master."

But Shen Gang worried too much; with his usual reputation and good relationships, no one would think he was showing off. Everyone knew about Xu Qingfan’s skills and status, and Shen Gang becoming Xu Qingfan’s disciple made all the younger brothers, who had always been cared for by Xu Qingfan, feel only pride and happiness.

Amidst everyone’s congratulations, Shen Gang’s body suddenly stiffened.

He had been too excited before and hadn’t noticed that Wang Li was also inside.

Although Wang Li did not have the talent for cultivation, at his request, Dongfang Qingling still assigned him to Tianshu Island, where he usually handled some chores. He would occasionally spend time with Shen Gang and the others but did not say much. Even though he knew he had no talent for cultivation, he listened seriously, as if he had been practicing a cultivation method that was completely useless to him for the past three years.

If Shen Gang had known that Wang Li was here, he would never have spoken up like that, but unfortunately, it was too late.

Wang Li’s already gloomy expression became even darker at that moment. He stood up and quietly left the room. Shen Gang wanted to catch up and comfort him, but he was surrounded by others who were congratulating him. After finally escaping, Shen Gang searched all over Tianshu Island but could no longer find Wang Li.

Tianshu Island is surrounded by the sea. Where could Wang Li have gone?

※※※※

Wang Li has been missing for two days. Although Shen Gang searched through the seven islands, he could not find any trace of Wang Li and was very worried.

That night on Yuheng Island, Xu Qingfan sat by the window, playing with an eye-like object left behind by a monster, looking lost in thought.

The eye-like orb shone with a deep light in the moonlight, reflecting on Xu Qingfan’s face and giving him a somewhat eerie appearance.

Bringing the monster back to the world to fight against the "Spirit Eater," which could return at any time, was a decision Xu Qingfan made three years ago.

However, after countless failed experiments over the past three years, Xu Qingfan finally realized that although this eye-like orb contained the essence left by the monster, it was not so easy to bring the monster back to the world.

At first, Xu Qingfan thought that as long as there was enough dead energy supply and creatures to consume, the demons could use this orb to bring their world back to life. However, Xu Qingfan overlooked one crucial thing: although the orb contained the essence of the demons, it lacked one very important thing—a soul!

Without a soul, what the orb created was just a demon’s body, hardly even a walking corpse.

But Xu Qingfan did not have a suitable soul in hand. Even if he had one, placing the soul into the demon’s body would be a very difficult task.

After thinking it over, Xu Qingfan realized he had only one option: to find a host for this eyeball-like orb, allowing it to transform the host’s body until the host became another demon.

However, what troubled Xu Qingfan now was: who should he choose as the host? It is important to note that, according to Xu Qingfan’s plan, once the host transformed into a demon, they would need to perish along with the "Spirit Eater."

To endure the pain of this orb’s transformation, one must possess an incredibly strong will. They must accept the terrifying body after the transformation and have a very cold heart. Moreover, for Xu Qingfan’s plan, they must be ready to make a sacrifice.

With these three conditions together, Xu Qingfan found that despite having many followers, none were suitable. Even those who barely met the criteria were very close to Xu Qingfan, making it hard for him to bear transforming them.

Just as Xu Qingfan hesitated, he suddenly noticed someone slowly approaching his room. Before entering his room, the person knelt down and remained silent, quietly waiting for Xu Qingfan to notice.

"Is that… Wang Li? How did he come here?"