Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 12 mainly focuses on talent.

Yu Ding fell into deep thought.

Because Yuan Hong's lineage in the Investiture of the Gods is unknown, no one knows where he learned the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts.

But this time, Yuan Hong found him here, and he did indeed have the Heavenly Book of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts.

To pass it on or not to pass it on, that is the question.

Yuan Hong's appearance in the Investiture of the Gods after mastering a profound skill indicates that he was destined to acquire this skill, and that he could most likely master it after studying it.

He might try it out and perhaps find the secret to mastering the profound skill.

only……

Yu Ding hesitated for a moment because there were many heretics in his Uncle Tongtian's Jie Sect, and many of them lacked virtue, which made his master, Yuanshi Tianzun, very dislike them.

His master is about to find out that he passed on the Chan Sect's protective magic to Yuan Hong...

That's it!

Yu Ding looked at the white ape, a resolute glint in his eyes. He decided to wait and see what kind of character Yuan Hong had before making a decision.

If someone has a good character, then even if the master blames him for passing on the skill, he can still pass it on; but if someone has an evil heart, then even if he can't master it himself, he will never pass it on to him.

"So that's how it is. Well then, this can be considered a connection between you and me."

Yu Ding said, "It just so happens that my Jade Spring Mountain is sparsely populated and quite quiet, so you may stay here!"

Yuan Hong's face lit up with surprise and excitement. He quickly kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Master."

"Wait a minute, don't rush to call me master. I only allow you to stay on Jade Spring Mountain, but I didn't say I would take you as my disciple."

Yu Ding gave Yuan Hong a deep look: "As for whether or not I will take you as my disciple, that depends on my mood."

He stood up and walked towards Jinxia Cave.

Depends on her mood, so capricious...

The white ape stood there, lost in thought.

After taking a few steps, Yu Ding suddenly stopped: "I do not consider background when accepting disciples, but only their character. Therefore, you do not need to feel constrained by your origins."

"This little demon will remember."

The white ape's expression changed, and it bowed again to the back of the jade cauldron.

"Get up, the master has left."

Qingyun walked over and said unhappily, "You tricked me so badly."

Yuan Hong transformed into human form and apologized, saying, "It was indeed my fault for not mentioning this beforehand. I apologize to the fairy boy."

Qingyun raised an eyebrow and glanced at the spirit peach tree beside him, saying, "If you want me to forgive you, fine, but from now on you'll have to take care of the spirit peach tree, cultivate the spirit herbs, and chop firewood..."

Yuan Hong quickly smiled and said, "I'll do it."

Qingyun's face showed a look of "this kid is teachable," and he patted Yuan Hong on the shoulder, saying in a mature tone, "Don't you dare steal any food!"

Yuan Hong glanced at the spirit peach tree, his lips twitched, and he said guiltily, "No, no!"

Next, Qingyun and Yuan Hong set up a dwelling in the mountains and settled down.

In the days that followed, Qingyun practiced swordsmanship and Taoist arts every day.

Yuan Hong took over Qingyun's previous work, carrying water, chopping wood, and weeding for the spirit peach tree every day, and cultivating by absorbing the spiritual energy of Yuquan Mountain in his spare time.

Spring has passed and autumn has come in the blink of an eye.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Yu Ding really didn't teach Yuan Hong any Taoist arts or techniques.

During this time, Yuan Hong worked diligently and completed Qingyun's tasks. In his spare time each day, he would stare at Qingyun practicing his skills in a daze.

Of course, he did not ask Yu Ding to teach him the Dharma.

That day, Yu Ding had a conversation with Yuan Hong, mainly to find out about the grudges between Yuan Hong and the Xuan Tian Sword Sect.

Then the story Yuan Hong told was a completely new version, different from that of the Xuan Tian Sword Sect.

Basically, he came from the Southern Continent to the Eastern Continent in search of the Dao, but because he couldn't hide his demonic aura, he was hunted down by human cultivators wherever he went.

Later, he was seriously injured and was rescued by an orphan from a mountain village. The orphan's parents died in a battle with a mountain spirit that broke into the village and ate people.

He became good friends with the kind child, who would bring him food to the cave every day.

But one day, the child suddenly stopped coming.

After he recovered from his injuries, he went to the mountain village and learned that the villagers and the mountain spirit had reached a reconciliation. They would hold a sacrifice once a year, and the mountain spirit would not disturb the villagers.

The offerings were a one-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl.

The mountain spirit needs to use the essence and flesh of children to cultivate itself, and promises the people in the village that once it helps it become a mountain god, it will protect their village for generations to come.

Unfortunately, that orphan without parental protection became the sacrifice that year.

"And then?" Yu Ding paused for a moment.

This story is somewhat heavy.

He also believes there are many more such cases.

Yuan Hong grinned: "I sent everyone from that mountain stronghold to accompany my friend, and then I was hunted down by that Sword Sect for half a month..."

"Do you regret it?" Yu Ding glanced at him.

Yuan Hong laughed and said, "Since it's already done, what do you say?"

Yu Ding said, "But have you ever considered that because you told the truth, I would refuse to teach you the Dharma because of your cruelty?"

"I've thought about it!"

"Then why did you say it in the first place?"

"With the abilities of an immortal, you only need to calculate these things with your fingers. What would be the point of me lying to you?"

Yuan Hong chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Besides, I don't think I did anything wrong, so there's nothing to hide."

Yu Ding: "..."

This line of reasoning is so powerful that I'm speechless.

Unfortunately, I can't calculate anything now.

"Even if I lose the opportunity to pass on my immortal techniques to you, you won't regret it?" Yu Ding asked.

Yuan Hong hesitated and said, "Does the Master want to hear the truth?" "Of course!"

"Okay, now that you've said that, I think I regret it a little. But things happen in sequence. If I had met you first, this wouldn't have happened."

"What if that happens again?"

"I would still do it, it's just a pity..."

"What's a pity?"

"It's a pity I couldn't defeat that wretched mountain spirit; it's still alive today," Yuan Hong sighed.

He had a little ulterior motive in saying this; perhaps the immortal would be so excited that he would impart the secret techniques to him.

Yu Ding could obviously sense the hidden meaning, but he ignored it and chose not to respond. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly said, "By the way, you said you came from Meishan. Are there a few powerful spirits on Meishan?"

"As expected of a real person, even he knows this."

Yuan Hong was taken aback and couldn't help but feel fortunate for his foresight. Indeed, one cannot tell a lie in front of such an immortal.

What is your relationship with those spirits?

“Meishan is very large. Not only are there spirits cultivating, but also human Qi cultivators. However, everyone usually cultivates on their own and there is basically no communication between them.”

Yu Ding nodded, stood up without saying anything, and returned to Jinxia Cave.

Watching Yu Ding's departing figure, Yuan Hong couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

It seems... his cleverness backfired!

That night, Yu Ding stayed up all night again.

I sat quietly on the cloud bed all night, thinking all night.

The next day, Yu Ding went straight to Yuan Hong, who was chopping wood, and stared at him with bloodshot eyes.

"Good morning, Real Person."

Yuan Hong was startled by Yu Ding's gaze.

"follow me!"

Yu Ding said, then put his hands behind his back and left.

Yuan Hong looked at Qingyun, who was practicing swordsmanship.

Qingyun said speechlessly, "Why are you looking at me? The master didn't call for me."

Yuan Hong realized what was happening and quickly followed.

This journey, however, led down the mountain.

Yuan Hong followed behind Yu Ding, and although he had doubts in his heart, he did not dare to ask. In this way, the two arrived at the foot of Yuquan Mountain.

A mountain gate bearing the three golden characters "Yuquan Mountain" stands prominently in front of you.

After Yuan Hong left the mountain gate, Yu Ding suddenly said, "Let's go back!"

After saying that, he turned around and led the way through the mountain gate, heading up the mountain.

“This…” Yuan Hong was dumbfounded.

Why did the Jade Cauldron Immortal lead him down the mountain and then go back up?

Shaking his head, Yuan Hong sighed and stepped back into the mountain gate.

As one foot stepped over the mountain gate, Yuan Hong suddenly froze, looking up at the gate and then at his feet: "Stepping through the mountain gate... entering the sect, becoming an initiating disciple..."

Yuan Hong's face lit up with ecstasy.

He understood, and as he looked again at the figure silently walking up the mountain, his eyes gradually welled up with tears...

It's been three years!
Finally, it happened; thankfully, he didn't give up.

"What are you doing? Why aren't you following?"

Yu Ding frowned, turned around, and urged.

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Yuan Hong wiped his reddened eyes, responded, and quickly followed.

Not long after, inside Jinxia Cave.

Yu Ding sat upright on the cloud bed, with Qing Yun standing beside him.

Yuan Hong knelt down under the cloud bed with joy and kowtowed, saying, "Disciple Yuan Hong greets Master."

“Yuan Hong, over the past three years, I have observed that although you are of unusual birth, your character and temperament are acceptable, and you have some potential. Therefore, I have decided to take you under my wing.”

Yu Ding's expression turned solemn: "However, I will also make things clear beforehand today. After you learn my skills, I do not expect you to bring benefits to the region, but you must never harm the world."

If I find out that you are using what you learned from me to act recklessly and harm others, then don't blame me for coming to cleanse your sect.

Yuan Hong's expression hardened, and he bowed deeply, saying, "Disciple will remember Master's teachings and will never forget them!"

Yu Ding nodded and took out the Heavenly Book of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts from his bosom, saying, "This Heavenly Book is suitable for your cultivation. Take it and study it!"

Qingyun stepped forward, took it, and presented it to Yuan Hong.

He also recognized the book in his hand as the one that the master often held in his hands and read with great interest.

Yuan Hong quickly accepted the teachings with both hands, glanced at them, and said, "Disciple thanks Master for imparting the Dharma."

This disciple has had the privilege of glancing at this celestial book, but its contents are obscure and profound, utterly perplexing. May I ask, Master, if there are any secrets to its cultivation?

"Of course!" Yu Ding nodded.

Yuan Hong's eyes lit up: "May I ask, Master, what is the secret to cultivating this heavenly book...?"

"Listen carefully, the secret lies in..."

Yuan Hong listened attentively, holding his breath and not daring to utter a sound.

Qingyun, who was standing nearby, also perked up his ears.

Yu Ding glanced at the two expectant faces and uttered five words: "It mainly depends on talent!"

Yuan Hong: ━=()
Qingyun: "..."

The old man's answer never disappoints me.

(End of this chapter)