Chapter 7 Unsuccessful Apprenticeship
Chang Hao was confident that as long as he kept it a secret, Hongjun would never know that the person in the chaos was him. It wasn't a deep-seated hatred to begin with, and they could still be good teachers and friends.
Hongjun did not accept the gaudy robe that he found too flashy, and instead chose another one that he liked, as a way of accepting Chang Hao's good intentions.
Amazed Chang Hao's eyes lit up. To Hong Jun, the defense of this set of clothes was practically nonexistent, but when he wore it, the clothes suited him perfectly, like a snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains, untouched by any dust.
"Put it on." Hongjun pointed to the robe that had absorbed merit and, with the blessing of being the 'first,' transformed into a supreme treasure acquired later in life.
But for Chang Hao, the defense was so strong that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal couldn't penetrate it, and he wasn't afraid to fight against others, so he happily put it on.
When Hongjun returned, he did not interrupt Chang Hao's cultivation. As planned, Chang Hao picked up his sword again.
Occasionally, he would venture out of Zixiao Palace, using his sword to shatter the chaotic and violent energy, and build an impenetrable defense with his sword energy.
The vastness of time blurred the passage of years. When Chang Hao came to his senses, he noticed that, without realizing it, that small peach tree had multiplied into an entire peach orchard.
Chang Hao practiced his sword every day, becoming one with his sword. The only pink and white peach blossom on the branch trembled. When Chang Hao looked up, he saw that the peach grove in the backyard was instantly covered with peach blossoms.
A knowing smile appeared. It resembled a peach blossom from later generations, only with more delicate patterns. Unfortunately, there were no peaches yet.
I wonder how the peaches taste now?
A branch fell straight to the ground. Chang Hao bent down to pick it up and hesitated before looking at the peach tree, asking, "Is this a gift for me?" Wasn't it said that this peach tree had no chance of taking human form?
The peach blossoms on the tree moved swiftly without wind, as if responding to Chang Hao's words.
"Thank you then. This branch is perfect for forging a peach wood sword to ward off evil and bring good fortune." Chang Hao stroked the peach wood branch, already planning how to forge it.
A path appeared leading to the front hall, where a cloud couch already stood. The character "Dao" written by Hongjun himself was hanging from the beam on the wall, quietly placed to the side, forming a secluded courtyard for immortals.
This is where Chang Hao most often meditates and cultivates, where he is well-versed in Daoist principles and possesses extraordinary abilities.
It was better to consult Hongjun from time to time about sword techniques than to try to figure things out on your own. Fortunately, after careful consideration, Hongjun would always provide practical and feasible directions, preventing Chang Hao from stumbling and falling.
Holding the jade tablet containing his cultivation insights, Chang Hao occasionally glanced at Hongjun. There was something he wanted to test whether it would work.
Chang Hao's carefree gaze was direct and intense; how could Hongjun not notice it?
"Speak your mind." Hongjun closed his eyes slightly, remaining as still as a mountain.
"The peaches in the backyard that have been growing for three thousand years are ripe. Would you like to try some?" Chang Hao invited.
“Alright.” Hongjun was a decisive person. With a flicker of his body, he instantly arrived at the backyard.
On the jade table in the backyard, there was a plate of washed peaches. The Three Lights Divine Water was gently applied to the fine fuzz. As Hongjun looked at them, he suddenly felt a pang of appetite, wondering what peaches tasted like.
As he ate the cleaned peaches and looked at Chang Hao beside him, Hongjun wondered what Chang Hao was so conflicted about today. He just wanted to see how long Chang Hao could keep it up.
Seeing that Hongjun had eaten a peach, Chang Hao handed him a handkerchief to wipe his mouth. Deeply ingrained habits are not so easy to change.
"Speak." Hongjun took it, not knowing what Chang Hao meant by handing him the handkerchief, and just held it loosely.
Chang Hao's eyes held a hint of hope: "I have been a gatekeeper for ten thousand years. I wonder if I will be fortunate enough to be promoted."
"Promotion?" Hongjun was puzzled. "How do you want to be promoted?" How else could he be promoted?
"Are you interested in taking me as your apprentice?" Chang Hao gritted his teeth and asked directly, leaving no question unanswered.
"Disciple?" Hongjun sensed something and immediately connected with the Heavenly Dao. The future Dao became increasingly clear, and it turned out to be the Dao of Union.
Hongjun's eyes darkened. After achieving Dao, he could not guarantee that his mind would be clear and independent. He felt a deep hatred in his heart and wanted to kill Luo Hou as soon as possible.
“We have no master-disciple relationship.” Hongjun shook his head. The Great Dao clearly showed that he and Chang Hao had no master-disciple relationship, and the Heavenly Dao… the Heavenly Dao would not allow him to take on disciples at will.
Hearing the expected rejection, Chang Hao was not discouraged and still tried to persuade her: "Fate is determined by heaven, but destiny is determined by man. As long as the Dao resides in one's heart, why should one care about the ethereal existence of fate? If you agree to my request, then the absence of fate will be the presence of fate."
Hongjun was intrigued and asked if he would be willing to take Chang Hao as a disciple. Of course, he was willing, but after calculating, he realized that he didn't have Chang Hao as a disciple...
"No need for further words." Hongjun closed his eyes to calm his mind, clearly indicating that he did not want to hear any more.
Chang Hao felt a chill in his heart. Becoming a disciple was merely a calculated move to test his importance in Hongjun's heart. Although he knew he didn't hold much weight in Hongjun's heart, he was still disappointed when Hongjun refused without hesitation. After hundreds of years of companionship, if it were his first life, he would have been reduced to ashes.
"If you don't accept me, I can only go and become someone else's disciple." How could he possibly continue to shamelessly linger here without any title or status? Once Hongjun accepts a true disciple in the future, where will he find a place to stand? He might as well go back!
"Stop fooling around," Hongjun's usually indifferent eyes showed a rare hint of annoyance. "Whatever you want to learn, I will teach you myself. There's no need to be so particular about titles." He thought Chang Hao was just being petty again. In this vast world, how could there be another person who could catch Chang Hao's eye and make him want to become his disciple?
Chang Hao turned his face away, "I wasn't making a scene."
He really didn't cause trouble. If Hongjun didn't accept him as a disciple, Chang Hao wouldn't stay in Zixiao Palace any longer, lest he be looked down upon in the future.
More importantly, he held no place in Hongjun's heart. If Hongjun discovered that the person in the chaos was him, he would not hesitate to kill him as a sacrifice. Whether he was a disciple or not was very important at this time.
Chang Hao made up his mind: if things didn't work out, he would have to find a way to leave Zixiao Palace.
The atmosphere between the two was tense. Hongjun hesitated for a long time and was about to give in when a smug voice came, "Hey, Hongjun, how come I didn't know you had a kid?"
"If Hongjun won't accept you as his disciple, why don't you consider me? I'm no worse than that guy Hongjun. What he can do, I can do too. What he can't do, I can do as well," Luo Hou tempted, his voice carrying his unique Daoist charm, easily causing those with weak wills to waver and bewitch their minds.
Chang Hao turned his head and was terrified when he saw what was happening. How could he be so unlucky? Two of the three people he had stabbed during the Chaos era had appeared. He wouldn't be surprised if the unlucky guy whose Primordial Purple Qi he had stripped away at the last moment appeared in front of him one day.
Hongjun originally wanted to stop Luo Hou's bewitching, but seeing that Chang Hao was not affected, he withdrew his hand. Appropriate training would be beneficial and harmless to Chang Hao.
Luo Hou stared at the exceptionally handsome young man, his gaze lingering almost imperceptibly for a few more moments. He was indeed the most handsome man he had ever seen, and there was a sense of déjà vu about him.
But the next second when he saw Hongjun, he knew why he seemed so familiar—it was just a miniature version of Hongjun.
“Tsk,” Luo Hou said with a sneer, “Why don’t you learn anything but bad things from Hongjun? They’re all flashy and impractical, even more vain than Zu Feng.”
To be fair, it was truly pleasing to the eye. Looking at Chang Hao's four sleeves, each a different color and adorned with exquisite patterns, and the jade tassels hanging down from the gold-edged jade belt, which perfectly weighed down the hem of his robe, and his hair, which was tied up with a strand of silk with scattered starlight and draped down his back, every detail perfectly embodied the phrase "showy but impractical."
Luo Hou twitched his lips. What a weirdo, wearing four layers of clothes at once, yet not getting in the way during a fight. He could pierce them all with one shot.
Chang Hao knew that this was a chaotic situation and he had no right to spout nonsense and make a fool of himself. He was only secretly on guard against this uninvited guest, who had been plotting against people behind their backs since the beginning of Chaos and was capable of anything.
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