Chapter 16 Yanghua Cloud Sea (Part 3)
Wei Feng lived in Yanghua Sect for nearly seventeen years, but never met his parents or had a master.
He had a poor memory and only started remembering things when he was seven or eight years old. He lived in the disciples' quarters with the younger disciples. In his spare time, he would run wild all over the mountains and fields. The rest of the time, he would go to Baiyu Peak to attend classes. However, he was mischievous and not well-liked. He couldn't understand what the elders were teaching. Seeing that his playmates all had their own masters and separate residences, he couldn't help but feel envious and fantasize.
Among the many elders in the sect, none were willing to take him as a disciple. The sect leader had considered taking him as a disciple, but Wei Feng had caused a great disaster at the time, so the matter was dropped. Later, the sect leader gave him the property and mountain left by his parents and let him go as he pleased.
With no one to discipline or restrain him and an endless supply of spirit stones, Wei Feng was happy and carefree.
But having a master still makes one feel constrained.
"Then why did you agree so readily?" Xuan Zhiyan looked at Wei Feng, who was sitting slumped on the flying boat, muttering to himself. "Your 'I agree' was full of energy; the Vice Sect Master's face turned green with anger."
“I was just—” Wei Feng straightened up, stared at him for a long time, then guiltily looked away, “Who told him to be so good-looking.”
She was far more beautiful than all his cronies, both female and male.
"Alright then." Xuan Zhiyan said helplessly, arms crossed. "Wei Feng, you actually really want to find a master, don't you?"
"I didn't!" Wei Feng retorted irritably, "Am I crazy? I want a master!"
Xuan Zhiyan looked at his brother's ears, which were slightly red from excessive excitement, and decided not to challenge his brother's fragile self-esteem. After all, no matter how handsome the master was, he could only be the master. In the past, Wei Feng would never attend the apprenticeship ceremony in the sect, but afterwards he would often hide in his room to watch Bi Ying Shi's videos and stare blankly for a long time while hugging the quilt.
A teacher is like a father, and in the cultivation world, a master is even more important than family. Wei Feng has no family since childhood, so he naturally hopes to have a master.
He had been hoping for this for many years, but he never got to meet an elder who truly loved him.
“I know, I know.” Xuan Zhiyan hooked his arm around his neck. “But before you go crazy, you need to prepare the things needed for the apprenticeship ceremony.”
“I know that.” Wei Feng immediately perked up, stroking his chin as he said, “I’ll have someone go to Yunshang Pavilion to order a new robe. The apprenticeship ceremony is in ten days, so there’s still time to get it made. Then I have to offer tea and kowtow to my master, and he’ll bestow a name and a scripture upon me. What else? Oh right, my master will also give me a hairpin, so I need to wash my hair clean… By the way, Zhiyan, do you think I should also order a robe for my master to wear at the ceremony? But I don’t know his measurements. Would it be too conspicuous if I prepared a lavish apprenticeship gift? What kind of gift do you think my master will prepare for me? It seems like I’m his only disciple.”
"..." Xuan Zhiyan looked at his friend, who was talking non-stop and whose eyes were shining, and teased, "At the ceremony, it will be all elders accepting disciples, no one will pay attention to what you wear."
“My master can see it,” Wei Feng grinned. “With his discerning eye, I’ll definitely make sure he accepts his disciple in a grand and glorious way!”
Xuan Zhiyan patted him on the shoulder, "As long as you're happy."
Compared to Wei Feng's excitement, Jiang Gu remained completely unmoved.
Looking at the hilltop covered with miscellaneous trees and flowers, Wu Tuo said with dissatisfaction, "The Yanghua Sect really looks down on us. How could they give us a place like this without even a palace?"
"I picked it myself," Jiang Gu said.
Wu Tuo paused for a moment, then said, "The scenery is beautiful, which is nice."
“There’s a very thick spiritual vein underground here, but it’s too far from the main peak and too remote.” Jiang Gu stopped in front of a mountain wall and casually opened a cave. “This place is perfect for cultivation.”
He went inside with his hands behind his back, and Wu Tuo hurriedly followed. "Master, aren't you planning to build a cave dwelling and palace?"
“What use are those dead things?” Jiang Gu found a clean spot, sat cross-legged, and set up several barriers. “It would be better to accumulate more spiritual veins in the Purple Mansion.”
This spiritual vein is quite good.
Wu Tuo seemed to see through his thoughts and cautiously asked, "Master, do you remember why we came here?"
Jiang Gu gave him a cold glance. "Of course I know."
"When Wei Feng arrives, you'll let him stay here?" Wu Tuo whispered, "I've been asking around in the sect for a long time. I heard that this young master is very arrogant. The floor in his room is made of white jade, and the bedding can only be made of silk and brocade. He is extremely particular about his food, clothing and daily necessities."
“He wasn’t this particular when he was dying,” Jiang Gu said coldly. “He only reached the Qi Refining stage in sixteen years. I’d like to see how he did it.”
“Master, he is your Daoist partner.” Wu Tuo immediately felt a headache coming on, and added under his cold gaze, “He will be in the future.”
Jiang Gu gave a cold laugh.
Wu Tuo felt a chill run down his spine from Jiang Gu's laughter. He felt that Jiang Gu wasn't thinking about being affectionate with his future Daoist partner, but rather about how to kill his wife to prove his Dao.
Unfortunately, Jiang Gu didn't give him time to gossip and quickly immersed himself in cultivation.
——
Wei Feng looked up at the rugged mountain road in front of him, reached out and flicked the pendant on his earlobe, and the phonograph inside flashed red twice.
“Ancestors.” Xuan Zhiyan sighed deeply.
Wei Feng scratched his head vigorously. "Maybe I should wait until the apprenticeship ceremony to talk about it."
"You've already dragged this out for six days," Xuan Zhiyan said through gritted teeth. "My master has already started teaching me how to break through in cultivation, and even the new disciples are already doing their homework. Aren't they all eagerly going to find their master? Are you really going to wait until the elders come down the mountain to find you in person? Young Master Wei, wake up!"
"I know." Wei Feng vigorously wiped his face. "No, this mountain is so dilapidated! I can't even find a decent road. I'd better go back to my flying boat—"
"Climb up."
"What!?" Wei Feng exclaimed in surprise.
"You can't even master sword control at this level of Qi Refining, so what are you doing flying a boat?" Xuan Zhiyan said.
"That's way too high." Wei Feng frowned and looked up. "Besides..."
It's a bit embarrassing.
"You feel ashamed, don't you? Why aren't you ashamed when you're not cultivating? Your master's cultivation level is so high, how could he not know your true cultivation level?" Xuan Zhiyan said ruthlessly, "Stop talking nonsense, start climbing now!"
The euphonium went out.
Wei Feng took a deep breath and resignedly began to climb.
The mountain path was steep and rugged, sometimes even a sheer cliff. Wei Feng fell several times, and his new disciple robes were torn by tree branches. Several times he wanted to give up and let whoever wanted his master take him, but in the end he gritted his teeth and climbed to the top of the mountain.
Clouds and mist drift across the mountaintop, ancient trees stand tall and lush, and birds sing amidst the fragrance of flowers.
There's no one here.
Looking at the desolate mountain peaks before him, Wei Feng wiped the sweat from his brow and asked in confusion, "Where are they?"
He took out the map again, and was even more puzzled. "It's Qingping Peak, right...?"
Wei Feng flipped the map over and muttered to himself, "It seems to be here even upside down."
Jiang Gu had already sensed Wei Feng's presence when he arrived at the foot of the mountain, but it wasn't until almost dark that the guy finally climbed up, covered in dust, and began studying the map.
"Master—Master, are you there?" A bright, cheerful voice came from outside. "I am Wei Feng—"
Jiang Gu closed his eyes, stood up, and prepared to leave.
"Master," Wu Tuo said, hooking his sleeve, "You absolutely mustn't hit him."
Jiang Gu smiled faintly. "Of course."
Utuo then released his grip.
"Master, your disciple has come to see you—" Wei Feng was shouting energetically when a white figure suddenly appeared in front of him, startling him so much that he jumped three feet away.
Perhaps because of the mountain climb, he was covered in dust and dirt. Jiang Gu's sudden appearance startled the boy, who stared wide-eyed. The extra red rope around his neck swayed in the mountain wind like a homeless puppy.
"What is it?" Jiang Gu looked at the extra red rope with displeasure, and his tone was not gentle.
Wei Feng was startled by his cold tone, swallowed hard, and said, "Have I disturbed you?"
"No." Jiang Gu turned and walked towards the cave.
Wei Feng hesitated for a moment before following. After seeing the bare cave, he was stunned for a long time before he realized that this was not the entrance to any cave. He then obediently sat down in the lower seat.
"The apprenticeship ceremony is in four days. What are you doing here?" Jiang Gu was interrupted from his cultivation and looked displeased.
Wei Feng rubbed his sleeves awkwardly, his forehead beaded with sweat from nervousness. "I came to see you, Master."
“…Hmm.” Jiang Gu responded indifferently.
Seeing that he did not object to the title "Master," Wei Feng was overjoyed. He hurriedly took out many things from his storage bag and said sweetly, "Master, this is a robe I made for you from Yunshang Pavilion. I didn't know your size, so I made it so that it can change shape. Oh, and this is the Four Treasures of the Study from Moyuxuan. It's not very valuable, so please use it as you see fit. And these are some medicinal herbs that just came from Longyun City..."
He enthusiastically introduced the things he had brought, his fair and jade-like cheeks flushed slightly with happiness, and his slightly drooping eyes sparkled. Every now and then, he would casually glance at Jiang Gu's expression. If he had a tail, it would be wagging very fast right now.
"...Master, if you need anything else, just tell me to buy it." Wei Feng said obediently and respectfully.
"Just leave it there." Jiang Gu patiently listened to him finish his rambling. If Wu Tuo hadn't stopped him, he would have swept everything, including the person and the things, out with a single sweep of his sleeve.
"Yes, Master!" Wei Feng smiled broadly, revealing a small canine tooth on his right side.
It didn't quite resemble a tiger's tooth; it was more like a miniature version of a mermaid's fang. However, it was missing on the left side. Jiang Gu belatedly realized that he had accidentally broken off the left fang during his time in the Chaolong Secret Realm.
However, Wei Feng seemed completely unaware.
Jiang Gu mustered a little more patience and clumsily imitated the kind and approachable manner of his teachers, asking, "What is your current cultivation level?"
"First level of Qi Refining," Wei Feng said guiltily, afraid that the other party would look down on him, and added, "Originally, I was at the sixth level of Qi Refining."
If it weren't for that damned old pervert, his cultivation level wouldn't have plummeted.
Jiang Gu looked up in surprise, "First level of Qi Refining?"
He knew that Wei Feng's cultivation level would drop after leaving the secret realm, but he didn't expect that he could remain unmoved even after his cultivation level dropped to the bottom. As for why he didn't realize that Wei Feng was only at the first level of Qi Refining, the difference between the sixth level and the first level was not significant to him.
Wei Feng just grinned foolishly at him.
Jiang Gu's eyes hurt from his laughter. "Hold out your hand."
A dirty paw was spread out in front of him, with two blisters from climbing the mountain. The skin on his hand was broken. Jiang Gu really didn't want to touch it, so he put two fingers together and lightly placed them on his wrist, injecting some spiritual energy to probe.
His sea of consciousness was only the size of a walnut, his dantian was loose, and his dual spiritual roots of wind and fire were incredibly weak, but overall his aptitude was not bad.
"Your aptitude is decent, so why is your cultivation level so low?" Consultant Jiang was direct, giving the answer before he could even speak, "Yin deficiency and yang excess, excessive thoughts of lust, stagnant spiritual energy in your body, and you haven't cultivated for nearly half a year."
Wei Feng opened his mouth awkwardly, his handsome face flushing red, "I...I didn't—"
Jiang Gu gave him a cold look.
Wei Feng immediately dared not argue anymore. The shame was like being stripped naked and paraded through the streets. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into and disappear. He shouldn't have come here!
“However, since the primordial yang is still intact, it's not beyond saving.” Jiang Gu withdrew his hand.
Wei Feng wished he could bury his face in the ground, and upon hearing this, he weakly hummed in response.
Stop talking and just kill him!
Jiang Gu asked, "Do you know the most basic Qi refining techniques?"
"Yes." Wei Feng nodded in a muffled voice.
"From today until the apprenticeship ceremony, you must cultivate to the second level of Qi Refining," Jiang Gu said.
"Really?!" Wei Feng looked up in shock. "Reaching the second level of Qi Refining in just four days?! How is that possible?"
Jiang Gu looked at him expressionlessly, "Your aptitude is decent, and you have both spiritual root, dantian, and sea of consciousness. How is that impossible?"
“But…but I…” Wei Feng said dryly, “I have never cultivated to the first level in four days.”
Let alone reaching the first level of Qi Refining in four days, it would be quite impressive if he could cultivate it to the next level in four years.
Jiang Gu was furious at his hesitant and stammering manner, and said, "Then let's start from today."
From the moment he entered the cave until now, in less than a quarter of an hour, Wei Feng's emotions had been on a rollercoaster. Even Jiang Gu's stunningly handsome appearance had become terrifying. He cautiously probed, "Master, could we begin after the apprenticeship ceremony is over?"
Jiang Gu gave a cold laugh.
Wei Feng immediately dared not haggle any longer. "Yes, Master, then I'll go back and repair it first—"
boom!
After a series of explosions, a small cave, just big enough for one person, appeared in the mountain cave. Amidst the flying debris and dust, Wei Feng swallowed hard, his expression filled with terror.
"From now on," Jiang Gu said, as if he had seen through his little scheme, "you will cultivate here."
“…Yes.” Wei Feng turned around and looked at the simple and messy little pit, feeling like crying. He slowly walked in, his feet hurting from the broken stones.
This master is not gentle at all!
And a bit fierce!
He shouldn't have impulsively agreed to become an apprentice!
Looking at Wei Feng, who was squatting in the cave digging through rubble with a pitiful expression, Wu Tuo thoughtfully reminded him in his mind, "Master, he is, after all, a pampered young master. I heard that he has seventy or eighty servants on the mountain alone."
“Spoiled children are unlikely to achieve great things.” Jiang Gu frowned slightly. “What exactly are the people from the Yanghua Sect good for?”
Utuo immediately fell silent.
Wei Feng finally cleared a place for himself to meditate, and diligently moved all the rubble out of the cave. While Jiang Gu was meditating, he reached out from outside the cave and activated the communication talisman, "Zhiyan, quickly help me think of something—"
"Wei Feng." A cold voice sounded behind him.
Wei Feng stiffly turned around and saw Jiang Gu, who was more than a head taller than him. He gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Master."
Jiang Gu looked down at the jade pendant by his ear, and under Wei Feng's surprised and uncertain gaze, she reached out and took it off for him. Perhaps the action was too rough, because the boy's fair earlobe was pulled red.
Jiang Gu shifted his gaze from his earlobe, "Go back and cultivate."
Wei Feng returned to the small cave dejectedly.
This was far from what he had imagined. He was supposed to present a gift, and his master would be overjoyed, praise him, and then he could go back and have a good time for a few days before preparing to become his disciple. Finally, his master would patiently and gently begin to teach him little by little.
Instead of simply and brutally forcing him to cultivate!
Wei Feng sulked for a long time, reluctantly trying to recall the incantation for Qi refining. His consciousness gradually began to blur. Had the immortal venerable in the storybook last night actually broken through to the Golden Immortal realm...?
Wu Tuo quietly emerged from Jiang Gu's sea of consciousness, looked up at Wei Feng, and whispered, "Master, why is his spiritual energy so calm when he cultivates?"
“Because he’s asleep,” Jiang Gu said coldly.
Utuo's lips twitched violently. "I'll wake him up."
"No need." Jiang Gu's fingertips flickered with spiritual energy, and he re-tied the red rope formed from the blood of Wei Feng's heart around his neck. This time, there were no loose threads to get in the way, but a perfectly fitting loop of rope.
Wei Feng was fast asleep when a sharp, itchy pain suddenly shot through his neck, making him open his eyes immediately.
Meanwhile, Jiang Gu was meditating and cultivating on the other side with his eyes closed.
Wei Feng silently breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he hadn't been caught slacking off and sleeping. After practicing diligently for a while, he started to feel sleepy again. Just as he was about to fall asleep, the itching and pain on his neck struck again, and his drowsiness vanished instantly.
Wei Feng touched his neck in alarm. After trying it a few times, he discovered the pattern: it would itch and hurt whenever he dozed off, but there would be no problem when he was awake.
What on earth is this thing?!
"It will not harm your body," Jiang Gu said with his eyes closed. "Continue your cultivation."
“…Oh.” Wei Feng scratched his neck vigorously, his eyes darted around twice, and his hand reached for the storage bag at his waist.
This place is not safe to stay for long.
It's better not to take this master as your teacher!
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