Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 45: Chen Minghui accepts a disciple and gives him a treasure, and the Yellow Maple Valley returns with a full load
Chen Minghui's gaze was like two blazing flames, darting back and forth over the disciples of the Yellow Maple Valley. He then walked straight up to Lin Fan and said, "I promised you that if you completed the task I assigned to you, I would accept you as my disciple. Are you willing to become my disciple?"

These words were like a thunderclap, instantly exploding all around. The previously noisy atmosphere suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The other disciples of the Yellow Maple Valley gasped, their eyes filled with envy and wonder, as if they had witnessed the most enviable wonder in the world. They all looked at Lin Fan in unison, as if they had witnessed the most enviable wonder in the world.

When Lin Fan heard this, his heart felt as if it were being violently grasped by an invisible yet powerful hand. Instantly, an indescribable tremor spread from the depths of his heart. Excitement and surprise surged like surging waves, one after another, overwhelming him like a tidal wave, making it almost impossible to control himself.

He knew clearly in his heart what a rare opportunity it was to become the direct disciple of a Jindan-stage master. The path of cultivation was always thorny and full of obstacles, like groping forward in the dark, each step filled with uncertainty and hardship.

Now, if I could receive the Grandmaster's personal teachings, it would be like lighting a bright lamp in this long night. From now on, no matter what bottleneck I encountered in my cultivation, I could always receive the Grandmaster's careful guidance and instruction. Those confusions that were once as hard as ice would be easily resolved with just a few words from the Grandmaster.

Furthermore, becoming a direct disciple also means gaining access to opportunities unattainable by ordinary people, including precious and rare cultivation resources. Top-tier cultivation manuals, each containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth and the mysteries of cultivation, once only known through legends, are now available for you to peruse. Rare elixirs can boost your cultivation by leaps and bounds, making overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles no longer a distant fantasy.

This kind of opportunity is what countless immortal cultivators dream of throughout their lives, pursuing at all costs. If missed, there might be no hope of ever finding success again. And yet, now, it lay so vividly before him. More importantly, from now on, he had an incredibly powerful backer. In this world of immortal cultivation, where the strong prey on the weak, having the support of a Jindan-stage expert was undoubtedly a sturdy haven amidst the turmoil, providing a measure of confidence and security in the face of countless conflicts and dangers.

But Lin Fan was always calm and composed. Even though his heart was churning like a tsunami, threatening to overwhelm him, he forcibly suppressed the surge of emotion. His face remained respectful, without a trace of loss of composure, as if what he had just heard wasn't life-altering news, but rather ordinary words.

Instantly, he reacted swiftly, landing firmly on one knee with a "thump" on the loess, stirring up a cloud of dust. Then, he clasped his hands together, leaned forward, and spoke in a resonant and resolute voice, "Disciple Lin Fan, I am grateful for the ancestor's kindness. I wish to become your disciple. I will dedicate myself to cultivation and live up to your expectations!" He then slowly lowered his head, his movements steady and reverent.

At this moment, Lin Fan's heart was filled with longing and anticipation for his future path of cultivation. In his mind's eye, he seemed to see a bright and dazzling road slowly unfolding beneath his feet. The road, shimmering with light and lined with blossoming flowers, seemed to be guiding him step by step towards a higher realm of cultivation, embarking on a new and hopeful journey of cultivation.

"Good, good, good!" Chen Minghui couldn't contain his inner joy, uttering three "good"s in quick succession. His face was as bright as a blossoming spring flower, filled with relief and joy. His steps were brisk, and he strode forward like a gust of wind. He reached his hands steadily under Lin Fan's armpits, and with gentle, yet somewhat intimate movements, he slowly helped Lin Fan to his feet.

Then, Chen Minghui deftly reached into his storage bag. Instantly, a flash of light shone, like a brilliant star rising suddenly from the night sky, illuminating the small patch of space around him. He carefully removed two treasures from the bag. The first thing that caught his eye was a top-tier magical weapon—a flying sword called the "Cold Star Sword." This flying sword possessed a unique shape, its slender blade resembling a pool of autumn water, radiating a cool, cool glow. A dense, almost tangible spiritual energy lingered around it, swirling like wisps of green smoke. The runes on it resembled ethereal snakes, winding along the blade's veins, their light flickering and fading. It was clear at a glance that this was no ordinary artifact, having undergone countless refinements and rituals, imbued with immense power.

Then, he produced another talisman. It was covered in dense, intricate patterns, resembling mysterious ancient texts or patterns imbued with the fundamental principles of heaven and earth, emitting a deep and mysterious light. It was the "Earth Escape Talisman," a high-level, intermediate-level talisman. At a crucial moment, this talisman could harness the power of the earth, allowing one to instantly burrow into the ground and escape danger. Chen Minghui handed the two treasures to Lin Fan with great anticipation, saying earnestly, "Disciple, this top-tier magical weapon is incredibly sharp. It will help you blaze through obstacles on your long journey of cultivation, vanquishing demons and protecting you at all times. This 'Earth Escape Talisman' is crucial to your survival. In the event of danger, crush it and harness the power of the earth to escape unscathed. You must diligently cultivate and practice diligently, and do not let your master down."

"Yes, Master." Lin Fan quickly extended his hands and respectfully accepted the treasure. His voice was filled with deep gratitude and respect, like a clear stream, yet brimming with sincerity. He carefully placed the powerful spiritual instrument and precious talisman into his storage bag, as if storing the most precious thing in the world.

"Let's go," Chen Minghui said, raising his hand and gently waving it in the air. A brilliant light instantly blossomed from his palm. With a gentle humming sound, a magical spaceship slowly flew out from his sleeve, gradually growing larger until it hovered steadily before everyone's eyes. The spaceship resembled a massive spiritual vessel, its size astonishing, its slender hull, its flowing and elegant lines like a giant beast awakened from its slumber, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

The Spirit Boat was engraved with dense runes, some ancient and vigorous, others ethereal and graceful. Their varied forms echoed each other, forming a mysterious and complex pattern. A faint light flickered above the runes, like the twinkling stars in the night sky, each ray imbued with immense spiritual power. These runes, like living spirits, continuously channeled their spiritual energy into the Spirit Boat. Nourished by this spiritual energy, the Spirit Boat seemed imbued with a soul, its hull trembling slightly and emitting a deep, powerful hum, as if proclaiming its extraordinary power.

Chen Minghui turned to face the disciples, his gaze gentle and kind. He raised his hand and gestured, "Come aboard! We'll be heading back soon." His voice was steady and powerful, gently echoing through the air with a reassuring power. Upon hearing this, the disciples, unable to contain their excitement and curiosity, stepped onto the spirit boat in an orderly fashion. Their eyes were filled with wonder and awe, and from time to time, someone reached out to gently touch the runes on the boat's hull, sensing the mysterious and powerful fluctuations of spiritual energy.

After all the disciples had boarded the spirit boat, Chen Minghui was the last to step onto the deck. He stood at the bow, his posture erect, his sleeves fluttering in the wind, radiating the demeanor of a master. He formed seals with his hands, muttering something to himself. With his movements, the runes on the spirit boat glowed brighter, and the fluctuations of spiritual energy grew stronger. In an instant, the spirit boat slowly rose, accelerating, carving a brilliant arc through the air as it sped away towards Yellow Maple Valley. Only a gradually dissipating cloud and mist remained behind, witnessing their departure.

The group embarked on their return journey, traveling day and night for several days. The spirit boat sped across the sky like a brilliant meteor, streaking across the heavens. The scenery along the way passed by like a picture scroll, towering mountains and rushing rivers, but most of the people, eager to return, had no time to appreciate it.

Finally, after several days of traveling, the spirit boat slowly landed on the sect's square. Everyone disembarked from the boat one after another. Although their faces showed some fatigue after so many days of traveling, they were more filled with the relief and satisfaction of having completed their mission.

Chen Minghui stood before the crowd, his gaze sweeping over each disciple one by one. A gentle smile flashed across his face as he said, "Thank you all for your hard work on this trip. This great victory in the gambling game is inseparable from your efforts. Now, everyone should disperse and have a good rest. As for this reward, the sect will distribute it to everyone within three months."

Upon hearing this, the disciples nodded, anticipation on their faces. Then, everyone headed back to their respective residences. Soon, only a handful of people remained in the square. As the crowd gradually faded, this gambling adventure came to a temporary end, and the sect would calmly await the next major event.

(End of this chapter)