In front of a mountain ridge, three figures slowly emerged—two Taoist priests and a handsome young boy.
“We finally made it!” exclaimed the young Taoist with a long sigh.
Tian Fan looked ahead. A long staircase led up the mountain, and faintly visible at the end of the steps was a large temple-like building.
“Is that the Great Sealing Sect?” Tian Fan asked the young Taoist.
“Yes, that’s right. Up there is the Great Sealing Sect. We’ve been walking all day—I’m exhausted! I’m starving!” The young Taoist patted his stomach and nodded toward Tian Fan.
Smack!
Just as the young Taoist finished speaking, he received a slap. The elder Taoist, holding a whisk in his right hand, looked at the young Taoist, who was rubbing his head in pain, and said with frustration, “You may be the only personal disciple of the Great Sealing Sect’s Supreme Master, but you should show some ambition!”
After hearing the elder Taoist’s reprimand, the young Taoist’s face immediately filled with disdain. “You talk about ambition, yet you—” Before he could finish his sentence, the elder Taoist quickly covered his mouth and said, “Ah, since you’re hungry, there’s no need to say more. Let’s head up the mountain and get something to eat.”
Without giving the young Taoist a chance to resist, the elder Taoist pushed him forward and motioned for Tian Fan to follow. Seeing their interaction, Tian Fan couldn’t help but smile, understanding that the master and disciple shared a very close relationship.
“Senior Brother Li—oh, Master Uncle, you’re back!” As the three of them reached the top, a young disciple in a gray robe quickly ran over.
The young Taoist, named Li Yunyang, had reached the Spirit Condensation stage, so he was referred to as Senior Brother. The young disciple greeted the elder Taoist respectfully and then looked at Tian Fan with confusion before asking the elder Taoist, “Master Uncle, who is this?”
The elder, dressed as a Taoist, glanced at him and then patted Tian Fan on the shoulder, laughing heartily. “Haha, this is the disciple I recently took in during my travels. How about it? Not bad, right?”
“I…”
Seeing the elder Taoist’s sly expression, Tian Fan felt like hitting him. He had been tricked and taken advantage of, but after thinking about it, he realized he probably couldn’t beat the old man.
“Master Uncle, you truly are amazing. Even though you rarely take on disciples, each one is outstanding and talented.”
This disciple, currently at the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment, obviously couldn’t gauge Tian Fan’s current cultivation level. Since he couldn’t see through it, it meant that Tian Fan’s cultivation was far beyond his own, so he immediately flattered Tian Fan.
“Haha…” Hearing the young disciple’s words, the elder Taoist’s face broke into a broad smile, as if he were overjoyed.
“Alright, is there still food in the kitchen? We’ve been traveling all day and are a bit hungry.” Li Yunyang, finding his master’s behavior somewhat embarrassing, quickly changed the subject, though he was genuinely hungry as well.
“Yes, Senior Brother Li,” the young disciple replied with a smile.
“Good. You can continue with your tasks. We’ll head to the kitchen to eat now.” After Li Yunyang spoke, he, his master, and Tian Fan headed toward the Great Sealing Sect’s kitchen.
The food at the Great Sealing Sect was very bland, so much so that it could be considered pig feed compared to the cuisine of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, but Tian Fan found it surprisingly delicious. It seemed that when you’re in a good mood, anything tastes good.
“Ah, I’m full.” Li Yunyang stretched lazily and then asked Tian Fan, “Brother, what should I call you?”
“Tian Fan. Just call me Tian Fan,” Tian Fan replied as he continued eating.
“Oh, old swindler, go arrange a room for Brother Tian Fan.” Li Yunyang looked at the elder Taoist, who was drinking wine.
“Whoosh…”
As Tian Fan was drinking his tea, he spat it out upon hearing those words. Although he did consider the unscrupulous old Taoist a swindler in his heart, he would never say it out loud. And yet, Li Yunyang, who was actually the old Taoist’s disciple, called his master an “old swindler” so casually… Tian Fan was speechless.
“Dammit, am I the master, or are you the master?!” the old Taoist shouted angrily.
“Dammit, you’re the one who brought him here!” Li Yunyang retorted, not backing down. The two of them stared at each other in a standoff, and seeing these two clowns, Tian Fan felt utterly helpless.
“Alright, alright, I give up. I’ll go make the arrangements,” the unscrupulous old swindler finally conceded, walking out the door with his wine gourd in hand.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You talk to your master like that? Aren’t you afraid the old man will beat you?” After the old swindler left, Tian Fan pulled Li Yunyang aside and asked in confusion.
“Not at all. Although my master has many bad habits, he’s a good person at heart. Besides, this is just how we are with each other,” Li Yunyang replied, taking a sip of his tea.
A short while later, Tian Fan and Li Yunyang left the kitchen together.
The old swindler had informed Li Yunyang that he had arranged a place for them to stay and told them to go there and settle in.
Li Yunyang, being very familiar with the place, led Tian Fan to the location mentioned by the old Taoist.
Along the way, Tian Fan saw many disciples practicing, but to him, it looked like they were just sunbathing.
The strongest among them seemed to be at the early stage of the Spirit Condensation period, just like Li Yunyang. Tian Fan’s room was arranged next to Li Yunyang’s in a row of small wooden huts. However, only their master and disciple lived there.
A few days later, Tian Fan received word that the Great Sealing Sect’s head wanted to see him.
“Damn it, that old swindler!” The moment Tian Fan received the message, he knew exactly what was going on and cursed out loud.
Not long after, Tian Fan was brought to the entrance of a large hall. Of course, this so-called large hall was nowhere near as grand as those in the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, but it was somewhat decorated, making it far superior to anything in the mortal world.
After bringing him here, the person who led him left.
“Young man outside, please come in.”
A middle-aged voice with a steady and powerful tone echoed from within the hall. Tian Fan didn’t need to think twice to know that the person inside was a formidable figure. Although the Great Sealing Sect was a small sect, nothing compared to the two great dynasties and the four great families, anyone who could become the sect leader would undoubtedly have significant cultivation.
Tian Fan took a deep breath to steady himself and pushed open the door to enter. The first thing he saw was a middle-aged man sitting at the top of the hall. The man wore a long cyan robe, exuding a strong and overwhelming aura, far surpassing that of the old swindler. Without a doubt, this middle-aged man’s cultivation must have reached the level of the Primordial Unity.
As Tian Fan shifted his gaze, he noticed the old Taoist sitting to the side, grinning mischievously. Instantly, Tian Fan felt an urge to grit his teeth in frustration. The old swindler, seeing Tian Fan’s gaze, immediately tilted his head towards the ceiling, pretending not to notice.
“Tian Fan? That’s your name, right?” the middle-aged man at the head of the hall asked calmly.
“Yes,” Tian Fan replied. Faced with such a stern sect leader, he didn’t dare to act as casually as Li Yunyang.
“I heard you’ve become a disciple under my junior brother, Lin Yunzi?” the middle-aged man asked.
“Honored Sect Leader, actually…” Tian Fan began, trying to explain.
Before he could finish, the old swindler interrupted, “Senior Brother Sect Leader, my second disciple is a bit shy. Please don’t mind him.”
Tian Fan quickly opened his mouth to clarify, “No, actually…”
But once again, he was cut off by the middle-aged man at the head of the hall, who said, “Hmm, it’s normal for young cultivators with lower cultivation to feel this way. Just focus on cultivating diligently in our Great Sealing Sect, and the sect won’t treat you poorly!”
“No, actually…” Tian Fan tried once more.
“Enough. I have important matters to discuss with your master. Go cultivate on your own now, and if you have any questions, you can ask your senior brother.” With that, the middle-aged man didn’t give Tian Fan any more time to speak. He simply waved his sleeve, sending Tian Fan out of the hall, and the door automatically closed behind him.
“Damn it! I curse your entire lineage!” Tian Fan was momentarily stunned as he was ejected from the hall, then immediately began cursing. He suddenly paused, realizing how rude he’d become. It must be the influence of Li Yunyang and his deceitful master, he thought to himself as he walked back to his quarters.
Back in the Great Sealing Sect’s main hall, the middle-aged sect leader burst into loud laughter, “Wahaha! Junior Brother, you really have a good eye! You’ve tricked—uh, I mean, recruited another outstanding young man.”
If Tian Fan had been present, he would have been utterly dumbfounded. The previously solemn and dignified sect leader was now behaving just like that unscrupulous old swindler, looking every bit like a petty rogue. There wasn’t a trace left of the majestic demeanor of a sect leader.