Immortality begins with raising apprentices

Chapter 207 Master and Disciple Reunite, Zhiwei's Secrets
Gift?

Nearly half a month of intensive practice has allowed Chen Ye's tense nerves to relax slightly.

Upon hearing this, he became curious and stepped out of the quiet room, where he saw a huge wooden box prominently displayed in the center of the courtyard.

Bu Feifan was circling the box, stroking his chin in surprise, and said:
"Strange... I think I heard breathing."

"Breathing sounds?"

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat, sensing something was wrong, and he probed with his divine sense.

There was a familiar aura lurking inside the box, quietly waiting.

"Nonsense! What a nonsense!"

Chen Ye's face instantly turned ashen!

He disregarded everything else, strode forward, and abruptly lifted the heavy box lid!
Inside the box was a soft brocade quilt, where his eldest disciple was quietly curled up. Her long, black hair cascaded down, making her small, palm-sized face appear even paler.

She had fallen into a deep sleep, her long, curled eyelashes casting a soft shadow under her eyelids, her breathing steady.

It seems that the journey from Linsong Valley to Lingyin Sect took several days, and the long journey caused her to fall asleep unintentionally.

Even in her sleep, a faint sorrow lingered between her brows, and wisps of cold sweat were still visible at her temples.

Chen Ye bent down and reached out, trying to wake her up.

But before her fingertips even touched her cheek, her tightly closed eyes opened.

"Master..."

As soon as Fang Yi saw her master, the little girl with black hair had her obsidian-like eyes filled with tears.

His voice was hoarse, which was heartbreaking.

"you……"

Chen Ye instinctively wanted to scold his reckless disciple, but when he met those pitiful eyes, the words died in his throat.

"Zhiwei, what's going on?"

He never expected that the gift Mao Qingzhu mentioned would actually be his disciple... It was more of a shock than a gift.

Zhiwei struggled to sit up from the box; compared to the enormous wooden box, her body appeared small and frail.

“It was Aunt Mao who told me that you were in the sect… Then, I begged Aunt Mao to take me to find you. Aunt Mao then had a Foundation Establishment cultivator escort me here.”

Chen Ye opened his mouth, wishing he could find Mao Qingzhu and give her a good scolding.

His current situation is fraught with danger and peril.

If Zhiwei comes to his side, she will not only be of no help, but will only increase the danger. It would be far better for her to stay safely in Linsong Valley!
He sighed deeply: "Do you know how dangerous this is? This is no safe place!"

"Knowing the subtle signs reveals the danger, but..."

The little girl stubbornly raised her face, staring steadily back at her master, and said clearly, word by word,
"I cannot leave Master here alone. Your disciple has come to serve you, no matter what lies ahead, whether it be a mountain of knives, a sea of ​​fire, or an abyss..."

Before she could finish speaking, the black-haired little girl was given a hard tap on the forehead by her master!
Tears welled in her eyes from the pain as she looked at her master, who had suddenly gone into a fit of rage.

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Chen Ye scolded her impatiently, and seeing his disciple's tragic and fearless appearance, he couldn't help but flick her forehead with his finger again.

"Um... Master..."

Zhiwei was jolted back by the bounce and pouted.

Although she was much more mature than Qingjun, even she would feel wronged and confused if her master knocked her twice without explanation.

"What kind of abyss could a little girl like you possibly go to?"

Chen Ye reached out and steadily supported his eldest disciple under her armpits, lifting her high from the wooden box.

"I'm not dead yet, why should you be buried with me? If you say such unlucky things again, see how I deal with you."

"But...but isn't Master going to Songyang Cave Heaven?"

The eldest disciple, who had been lifted high, continued to ask questions, unwilling to give up.

Chen Ye sighed inwardly.

He knew that when the girl said those words, it meant that she had already made up her mind to go to the grotto with him.

But as his master, how could he bear to let his disciple be in such a dangerous situation?

"Yes, Zhiwei should just stay home and wait for her master."

"Family?"

Zhiwei stubbornly shook her head, looking intently at her master.

"Home is where your master is."

"Nonsense!"

Chen Ye's brows furrowed tightly.
"The cave is fraught with danger; even Foundation Establishment cultivators face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death! What are you, a mere Qi Refining stage child, doing going there? Are you going to your death?!"

"But Master's cultivation level is also at the Qi Refining stage..."

The little girl with black hair said softly, accurately hitting the vital point.

I was hit hard...

Chen Ye blushed and emphasized, "Master is at the ninth level of Qi Refining! The pinnacle of Qi Refining!"

"Ninth level of Qi Refining, isn't that the Qi Refining stage? Besides, Master's cultivation is restricted, and his strongest magic weapon has been taken away."

Zhiwei stubbornly replied, "It seems I can't persuade this little girl."

"Silly girl, what if your master dies inside? Wouldn't it be up to you to inherit his mantle and avenge him?" Chen Ye had no choice but to take a roundabout approach. "Don't you want to seek justice for your master? Kill all those people from the Lingyin Sect who framed your master!"

He stopped lifting her up and instead pulled her into his arms, gently patting her tender back as if comforting a cub.

Zhiwei's face was pressed tightly against her master's warm chest, and a muffled voice came out:

"First of all, regardless of whether Master is injured or not, Zhiwei will avenge Master. Secondly..."

"Zhiwei doesn't understand the greater good; she only wants to stay by her master's side as much as possible. As for revenge, let Qingjun handle it."

What a selfish eldest disciple.

Chen Ye felt a pang of pity and a sigh, and couldn't help but tug at her soft, small ear. But even when he tugged at her ear, he couldn't bear to use force, and just gently rubbed it.

He finally understood.

It's pointless to reason with this stubborn girl.

"Fellow Daoist Bu."

Chen Ye then remembered that there were still outsiders in the courtyard. He turned to look at Bu Feifan and said apologetically,
“From now on, my little apprentice will be staying at Luoli Courtyard. After all, she is a girl, and there are many inconveniences that may cause you a lot of trouble.”

"No, no, this is Fellow Daoist Chen's home!"

Bu Feifan knew this was Chen Ye's way of subtly asking him to avoid suspicion.

During this period, he lived casually by the lake, accustomed to sleeping under the open sky, and was indeed quite carefree.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, rest assured, I do not wish to disturb your rare reunion. It just so happens that I have recently had some insights and wish to find a quiet place to meditate on them. From now on, I will move to the wooden house in the backyard to live."

There is indeed a small courtyard behind Ryūri-in, with a simple wooden hut inside that is usually used to store miscellaneous items.

Chen Ye nodded without any formalities.

…………

With Zhiwei by his side, Chen Ye felt inexplicably at ease.

At the same time, their fighting spirit is rising higher and higher.

At night, he continued to try to cultivate the Mysterious Light of Withering and Flourishing.

During the day, he would begin practicing the Azure Wave Sword Control Technique.

The sixth level of the Azure Wave Sword Technique is called Condensing Abyss. Once you break through to the sixth level, even if you haven't reached the Foundation Establishment stage, you will still have Foundation Establishment level lethality with the spiritual power of the Qi Refining stage!

Six days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Chen Ye had been trying to cultivate the Azure Wave Sword Control Technique under the constraints of the Soul-Locking Nails.

It wasn't until the sixth day that they found some shortcuts. "Zhiwei, watch carefully. The sword technique your master practices is called Azure Wave Sword Control. He once taught it to both of you."

Chen Ye did not forget to continue teaching his apprentice; his expression was solemn.

"I am about to break through to the sixth level. This level emphasizes the condensation of sword energy, the concealment of its sharpness, the stillness of an abyss, and the steadiness of a mountain..."

Zhiwei immediately and obediently took out her little flying sword, gripped it tightly with both hands, held her breath and concentrated, and nodded her little head solemnly.

Chen Ye took a deep breath and remained silent.

Although his spiritual power was limited and his sword technique was not as strong as before, the profound mystery of the sword intent was still real.

Moreover, just like that technique, as long as you practice it, you will naturally improve and increase your proficiency.

He started with the most basic moves, demonstrating each one in turn, allowing his apprentice to review and improve from the ground up.

The sword light sometimes resembled raging waves crashing against the shore, with immense power and weight; this was the fourth level of the Overturning Sea technique.

At times, it was as fast as lightning; before the sword even arrived, thunder had already roared—it was the fifth level of Thunderclap.

In an instant, the entire Luoli Courtyard was filled with his incomparably sharp sword intent.

Chen Ye sighed inwardly, "What a pity. In the art of flying swords, light is still the most effective. Iron swords, on the other hand, always lack that intuitive and clear sense of movement where the sword's light arrives instantly with the thought..."

Thinking of this,
Wei Shu's sinister old face suddenly appeared in his mind.

A hint of killing intent flashed in Chen Ye's eyes.

How could he not know that the old scoundrel Wei Shu would surely try to kill him inside Songyang Cave?
Even assuming Wei Shu doesn't provoke a conflict...

Chen Ye will surely finish off this fiend in the secret realm and reclaim the Flying Light Sword!
"Master... is so amazing."

The little girl with dark hair blinked her eyes and her cherry-pink lips were slightly open.

Although she knew that her master's sword intent was extraordinary, she subconsciously believed that it was mostly due to the support of profound spiritual power that he was able to have such a soul-stirring power.

But right now, Master's dantian is clearly imprisoned by the Spirit-Locking Nail, yet his sword moves still exude a murderous aura and are exceptionally fierce.

When he saw his master suddenly freeze, pouring all his energy and spirit into the iron sword in his hand.

Zhiwei held her breath. She felt as if the iron sword was a bottomless abyss, swallowing up the surrounding light and air.

Could this be the sixth level of the Condensed Abyss?
"Om-"

Suddenly, the black iron sword let out a mournful cry of being unable to bear the weight, and the terrifying sword intent gathered on it instantly dissipated!
Chen Ye groaned, his body swayed, and his face paled even more.

Forcibly controlling this sword intent, which exceeds the limits of the Qi Refining stage, is also a great burden for him.

"Master..." Upon seeing this, Zhiwei quickly stepped forward and handed over the tea and towel that had been prepared.

"It's alright." Chen Ye waved his hand, took the tea and drank it all in one gulp, showing no sign of discouragement in his eyes.

[Azure Wave Sword Control Technique Perfected: 170/400]

He knew from the progress in his proficiency that there was still a long way to go.

Today's failure is to be expected.

The cave has only been open for two months, so there is more than enough time to break through to the limit.

"I wonder, if Qinglan's sword control technique breaks through its limits, will she be able to break free from its constraints?"

Chen Ye pondered. He originally planned to use the Ku Rong Xuan Guang Jing to gather the five spiritual objects and cultivate a great cycle, so as to slowly wear down the restrictions of the Spirit Locking Nail.

Alternatively, he could find a weapon refiner in the grotto-heaven to remove the curse.

However, both the former and the latter are troublesome to implement and depend heavily on luck.

After all, Chen Ye wasn't sure if he could gather all five spiritual items.

It is even more uncertain whether one can truly encounter a weapon-refining master skilled in breaking through the Spirit-Unlocking Nails within the cave.

"Master, what are you thinking about?"

After serving tea to his master, the eldest disciple stood by, his gaze fixed on his face.

Recently,
Whenever he had a spare moment, the eldest disciple couldn't help but talk to his master.

It's as if you want to say everything you haven't said before, all at once.

But this little girl is really curious. Even when her master is in a daze, she is eager to know what he is thinking.

Chen Ye stroked his chin, feigning deep thought, and smiled slightly under Zhiwei's expectant gaze:
"Master is thinking about what Zhiwei will look like when she grows up."

"Master..."

Sure enough, upon hearing this, two shy blushes immediately appeared on the eldest disciple's fair face. She lowered her head, her gaze restlessly fixed on her toes.
"So what does Master think?"

This girl insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

Chen Ye had a headache, but he tried to cheer her up by saying, "Master thinks that Zhiwei will definitely be a beautiful girl when she grows up."

What woman doesn't love to hear compliments on her beauty?
Zhiwei was no exception. She smiled slightly, but put on a stern face: "Master, nonsense! Zhiwei is clearly an adult now, how could she still be a little girl... But even if she is an adult, she is still Master's disciple, and will always be Master's disciple!"

Chen Ye chuckled. Why was his disciple always so concerned about age?

Perhaps it was what she had just said that stirred her emotions.

The eldest disciple glanced at his master, feeling inexplicably sad: "Master, do you think we'll still be master and disciple in the next life?"

Why do you always feel like your master and disciple are going to their deaths in the grotto?

Before Chen Ye could answer, Zhiwei seemed to have seen through his thoughts and said seriously, "Master, there's no need to comfort Zhiwei. Zhiwei just wants to know."

"You have no ambition at all, all you want is to be your master's disciple?"

Seeing this, Chen Ye had no choice but to go along with her.

The eldest disciple was stunned and said urgently, "Master, you mustn't think such things!"

“Master insists on thinking that maybe in the next life you will be Master’s daughter. That way I can watch you grow up.” Chen Ye grinned mischievously.

Zhiwei's face suddenly fell; she was unhappy: "Master, is your daughter more important than your disciple?"

This strange focus of attention...

Chen Ye had nothing to say.

But Zhiwei clung to her, asking, "Master, which is more important, your disciple or your daughter?"

Chen Ye sneered: "Master doesn't even have a daughter, yet you ask such unfounded questions. Besides, how can you compare a disciple to a daughter? They are equally important!"

"What if we have to decide who's better?" Zhiwei persisted, tilting her head back with a serious look in her eyes.

"Then the master's wife is the most important! Once Master reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, I'll find you ten master's wives!"

Chen Ye deliberately teased her, giving the little girl a disgruntled glare.

Zhiwei chuckled to herself: "Master is lying, Master can't find Master's wife at all!"

"Damn it, how come no woman would be interested in Master once he reaches Foundation Establishment?"

“That’s not what Zhiwei meant… Master is very likable. But if Master wanted to find a Daoist partner, he would have done so long ago. The reason he hasn’t found one yet is because Master only wants to find someone he truly loves… But in this world, who is worthy of Master’s true love?”

The little girl with black hair spoke with great conviction and clarity.

Moreover.

The master doesn't need a Daoist partner.

Since the master already has disciples to accompany him, why would he need anyone else?

Chen Ye clicked his tongue; what the girl said did make some sense.

He was a time traveler, and his values ​​were shaped early on.

Although he didn't establish a moral high ground for himself, he wasn't a man who fell in love with every woman he met and only thought with his lower body.

but,

Seeing his eldest disciple's confident expression, Chen Ye felt a rebellious streak.

That wretched disciple!
He genuinely believed from the bottom of his heart that his master would never find a Daoist partner in his entire life!
Then Master, I'll find one for you to see properly!
(End of this chapter)