Chapter Eleven: Reward for Taking on a Disciple

System: “Ding! Congratulations to the host on successfully accepting disciples. Reward granted: 10 million cultivation experience points, 1,000 supreme spirit weapons—Rainbow Flash Swords, 1 million third-grade supreme foundation-building pills, 1 million supreme marrow-cleansing pills, one divine-level cultivation manual ‘Heavenly Dao Formation,’ and one sect mission tower. Rewards have been distributed; please check your inventory accordingly.”

Liao Chen did not expect the system to be so prompt with the rewards. The greatest benefit of accepting disciples this time was the ten million cultivation experience points; the other items were of little significance to him.

Next, Liao Chen turned to the two curious female disciples and said, “Jiang Qian, this is our first meeting, and a gift is indispensable. I present you this Rainbow Flash Sword. Moreover, judging by your extraordinary constitution, you possess a Formation Dao Body, one in ten thousand. Therefore, I gift you the divine-level cultivation manual ‘Heavenly Dao Formation.’ I hope you cultivate diligently. Now, as my direct disciple, you may select any mountain peak to carve out a cave dwelling for your cultivation. Elder Qinglong will assist you with the recommendation.”

“Thank you, Master!” Jiang Qian bowed in gratitude and then took her leave.

Liao Chen then looked at Jiang Yue: “Jiang Yue, your talent is not as exceptional as Jiang Qian’s, so I cannot accept you as a direct disciple. From now on, you will serve as an outer sect disciple. If you perform well and cultivate earnestly, you may have the chance to enter the inner sect and become an inner disciple. Here is a supreme marrow-cleansing pill as a reward for joining my sect. You may leave now; Elder Zhu will arrange your residence.”

“Thank you, Sect Master!” Jiang Yue bowed and departed.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qian, guided by Little Dragon, toured the sect. The spiritual energy throughout the sect was so dense that Jiang Qian felt she could break through to the peak of the Qi Sea Realm at any moment.

She had initially thought her master was merely the head of a small sect. But upon hearing from Little Dragon that he was an Imperial Realm Great Demon, and that besides him, there was also Zhu Wuneng, another Imperial Realm Great Demon; that the inner sect had four Grand Saint Realm protectors; that the outer sect had dozens of Saint Realm elders and over a thousand Emperor Realm protectors—Jiang Qian was utterly speechless.

Such power! With such a mighty sect, how strong must her master be? At this thought, Jiang Qian vowed that as her master’s direct disciple, she must never bring shame upon him, or else she would be unworthy of his tutelage.

“Elder Qinglong, I want to find a cave dwelling immediately to cultivate. I cannot disgrace my master!”

Elder Qinglong nodded in response and led her to a mountain peak adorned with blooming peach blossoms.

“Jiang Qian, carve out your cave dwelling here. For any cultivation resources you need, come to the Elder Pavilion and seek me out.”

“Yes, Elder Qinglong!”

After Elder Qinglong left, Jiang Qian grasped the Rainbow Flash Sword and gently channeled her energy, carving out a simple cave dwelling. Without the sword’s aid, such a feat would have been difficult for her current level of cultivation.

Sitting cross-legged, she quickly began cultivating according to the ‘Heavenly Dao Formation’ manual given by Liao Chen. Given that her body was a Formation Dao Body, cultivating this manual was perfectly suited to her. As the formation operated, her cultivation advanced rapidly, breaking through the Qi Sea Realm to reach the first level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

On the other side, Liao Chen had planned to rest when suddenly the system’s voice sounded.

“Ding! Congratulations, disciple Jiang Qian has broken through to the first level of the Nascent Soul Realm. Reward: 1 million cultivation experience points.”

“Ding! Congratulations, disciple Jiang Qian has broken through to the second level of the Nascent Soul Realm. Reward: 1 million cultivation experience points.”

...

Liao Chen did not expect his newly accepted disciple to break through continuously in less than the time of a tea cup’s worth of cultivation. Though his own cultivation had not improved, he gained several million cultivation experience points. If this continued, his breakthrough to the Grand Saint Realm was only a matter of time.

“System, show me if there are any other nine-star talent disciples in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range. I’m eager to recruit more disciples now.”

System: “None currently. If the host wishes to improve cultivation, you may travel to Wanxiang City. Should a nine-star disciple appear, this system will notify the host.”

Liao Chen sighed and decided to rest first, waiting a while before continuing.

Time passed swiftly—three days later.

Jiang Qian’s cultivation reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm. Such speed was beyond genius; even prodigy could not describe it adequately. The demon cultivators of the sect murmured in astonishment at the rapid progress of Liao Chen’s direct disciple.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yue’s cultivation had also advanced swiftly, though slightly slower than her sister Jiang Qian. She had now reached the peak of the Qi Sea Realm. After consuming the supreme marrow-cleansing pill gifted by Liao Chen, the impurities in her body were removed, and her spiritual vein level elevated to the innate spirit type. According to the sect’s assessment, she now possessed five-star talent.

Such talent made her a prodigy on the Qianyuan Continent, highly sought after by major sects. However, this was still not enough to become Liao Chen’s direct disciple. Seeing the young woman’s constant melancholy, Elder Zhu Wuneng comforted her gently, “Little Jiang Yue, there’s no need to frown every day. It’s alright if you cannot become the sect master’s direct disciple. You can accept me as your master. After all, I am a Grand Emperor Realm expert!”

“Elder Zhu, is that true?” Jiang Yue’s eyes widened in surprise. If it were so, becoming his disciple would be an advantage, since he was a Grand Emperor Realm cultivator.

“Do you think I would lie to you?” Zhu Wuneng said solemnly. He valued talent; a five-star talent human prodigy, once matured, could very well become a Grand Emperor.

Typically, even in the entire Tianyuan Sacred Domain, the majority of cultivators possessed only one-star talent. Those who reached two-star talent were already considered promising seedlings nurtured by great families.

If one’s spiritual root reached three-star talent, they were the focus of major family cultivation efforts. Four-star talent disciples were fiercely competed for by the greatest sects. Five-star talent disciples were candidates for direct discipleship.

As for six-star disciples, the major sects might even regard them as saint sons and daughters, nurturing them with utmost care. Therefore, Zhu Wuneng understood Jiang Yue’s potential. Though he might find it difficult alone to cultivate her into a peer of his strength, with sect resources, it was only a matter of time before Jiang Yue became a Grand Emperor Realm expert.

“Greetings, Master!” Without hesitation, Jiang Yue knelt to accept him as her master.

“Ha ha ha! Good disciple, rise! Since you are my disciple, I shall not hold back. These foundation-building pills, marrow-cleansing pills, and heavenly spirit pills are yours. I have no further use for them.” Zhu Wuneng took out a stack of pills and handed them over, a hundred of each type. Though these pills were trivial to him, to Jiang Yue they were a tremendous resource.

Now that Jiang Yue’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Qi Sea Realm, with the help of foundation-building pills, she could successfully establish her foundation. With heavenly spirit pills, reaching the Spirit Realm would be only a matter of time.

“Thank you, Master, for these pills!” Jiang Yue accepted them with great joy.

Zhu Wuneng nodded, instructing her to cultivate diligently and not bring him shame. Jiang Yue nodded in return and turned to commence foundation building.