Chapter 245: Apprenticeship

Lingxu Zi said directly, "Daoist friend, what you're doing is excessive; someone taught Gu Fan a secret method, but that fellow Daoist was being talent‑loving, and you doing this is a bit excessive, right?"

Xu Ping, seeing Lingxu Zi speak, instantly adopted a respectful expression and said, "Daoist friend, you misunderstand. It's just that Gu Fan lacks proper mindset and is hard to control; I feared that after his cultivation deepened he would turn to the Demon Path, so I didn't teach him the technique to breakthrough the Nascent Soul stage—not targeting Gu Fan."

"What's wrong with our Demon Path? Do you have objections to our Demon Path?"

The newly appointed sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Lin Kaitian, said coldly.

Xu Ping was startled in his heart.

This is a living Yan King.

They can't match Qin Yang, but beating them is a piece of cake.

If the Heavenly Demon Sect truly keeps a grudge, they can just wait for their extermination.

"I didn't mean that; the 'demon' I refer to is an evil demon, not a practitioner of the Demon Path."

Xu Ping quickly explained.

Lin Kaitian let out a cold laugh and said, "Hmph, that's about right."

Xu Ping wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and his gaze at Gu Fan grew even more indifferent.

This guy truly is a disaster star.

He indeed brought disaster upon himself, just as his junior disciple said; this time he must completely eliminate the threat posed by Gu Fan.

After a fierce battle, that demon blade was shattered.

And the Daoguo strongman who rushed forward also came to his senses.

He wanted to concede, but it was already too late.

Gu Fan defeated the opponent and, before they could admit defeat, killed them outright.

Meanwhile, his own body bore numerous scars, and his complexion was somewhat Cāngbái.

After all, having just broken through, slaying a not‑weak Daoguo strongman was a huge drain for him.

"I no longer have the strength to fight; I forfeit."

Having said that, Gu Fan stepped down from the arena.

At that moment, Xu Ping rushed over and slapped Gu Fan directly.

"Accursed disciple, you stole another's cultivation method, violating the sect rules; today I will nullify your cultivation."

Everyone couldn't help but be somewhat shocked.

Xu Ping's move was too ruthless, essentially giving Gu Fan no chance of survival.

Gu Fan seemed to have anticipated Xu Ping's action; he sidestepped, evaded the attack, and instantly teleported to another spot.

Xu Ping's gaze hardened; he hadn't expected Gu Fan to dare dodge.

Without any hesitation, he pursued.

Releasing the momentum of the Return Void stage, Xu Ping said coldly, "You accursed disciple, how dare you defy the master's will—die!"

His murderous intent was overwhelming; he truly intended to strike the killing blow.

Gu Fan gritted his teeth and took a hard hit.

He opened his mouth, spitting a mouthful of Xiānxiě, and his body was flung far away, severely wounded.

This made the onlookers' faces change.

This Xu Ping truly dealt a ruthless blow.

Such an outstanding disciple—what is his reason?

Gu Fan struggled to stand, still spitting blood foam, and said to Xu Ping, "Master, the life‑saving grace of those years, this palm repays you; from now on, I and the Yang Shen Sect owe each other nothing."

"What are you saying? Are you betraying the sect?"

Xu Ping said coldly.

Gu Fan chuckled self‑deprecatingly and said, "I've never entered a master's gate; how can I betray a sect?"

Xu Ping grew even angrier.

Gu Fan replied, "Since you rescued me and brought me into the sect, you never taught me cultivation methods, nor provided resources; even my meals I earned by labor. May I ask, is this the treatment a sect disciple should receive?"

"How audacious, Gu Fan, what nonsense! Without a master's nurturing, how would you have attained this cultivation?"

A young man stepped forward and scolded loudly.

Gu Fan let out a cold laugh and said lightly, "Senior Brother, don't you think the cultivation method I practice differs from the sect's?"

"Ordinary, nothing special—what's different?" Lu Youcai said coldly.

"Of course it's ordinary; this is a basic technique of the cultivation world's common streets, not our sect's, just a stray cultivator pitied me and taught it."

Gu Fan laughed self‑deprecatingly.

"It really seems to be the cultivation world's most basic method, 'Fundamental Technique'; how did he use it to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage?"

The crowd was stunned.

"Without resources, guidance, even unable to eat enough, yet he cultivated a Nascent Soul—truly a peerless genius; such talent, the Yang Shen Sect fails to cherish."

"It's sheer waste of talent; if he entered my sect, in twenty years he'd probably reach the Return Void stage."

Lin Kaitian also sighed.

They looked at Xu Ping as if at a fool.

"Gu Fan, join my Heavenly Demon Sect; I will accept you as a direct disciple, and later you will become the Holy Lord of my Heavenly Demon Sect," Lin Kaitian said.

He is a Tribulation‑Crossing stage strongman; taking Gu Fan as a disciple would be a step to the heavens.

"Gu Fan is a member of my Yang Shen Sect; please, Daoist friend, do not break the rules."

Xu Ping gritted his teeth and said.

Lin Kaitian merely gave him a glance, his expression disdainful.

Gu Fan said coldly, "Since the kindness has been repaid, from today I am no longer a member of the Yang Shen Sect; I, Gu Fan, expel myself from the sect."

He said this, gave a bitter smile, noting that he had never even entered a sect, let alone been expelled from one.

Xiǎng dào zhèlǐ, his gaze grew even more resolute.

Xu Ping's eyes flashed with a sharp light; he coldly said, "If you dare betray the master gate, I will kill you and cleanse this wretched sinner."

After speaking, Xu Ping immediately Dòngshǒu.

At this moment, Gu Fan was already wounded.

If struck by Xu Ping, death would be certain.

Some people's faces changed dramatically, showing a hint of regret.

Such a prodigy dying like this is indeed a waste.

But no one chose to act; they also saw that although Gu Fan had expelled himself from the master gate, he had no intention of joining their sect.

Since that's the case, they have no need to make an enemy of the Yang Shen Sect over someone who is not their own sect disciple.

At that moment, a figure stepped in front of Gu Fan.

All of Xu Ping's attacks landed on the other party, yet caused not a ripple.

"Qin, Qin Yang."

Xu Ping felt a void inside; a person's name, a tree's shadow.

Qin Yang's reputation stood there, filling him with genuine Jìngwèi.

Qin Yang glanced at him, gave a faint smile, then turned to Gu Fan and said, "Kneel, kowtow, and become my disciple."

Hearing Qin Yang's words, Gu Fan was stunned for a moment, then rejoiced greatly.

He realized the one who had just instructed him was Qin Yang, and he now wished to choose Qin Yang.

Only Place: Baiyun Guan dares to break the cultivation realm's rules and accept a traitor like him.

Gu Fan originally only thought that becoming Qin Yang's subordinate was already a tremendous blessing.

He never expected Qin Yang would actually take disciples.

Gu Fan immediately knelt and performed three kowtows.

"Get up. From now on, you are my senior disciple of Place: Baiyun Guan. If anyone dares to bully you, I will annihilate them."

After speaking, Qin Yang directly grabbed Gu Fan and walked toward his seat.

"Companion, isn't this excessive? Are you really willing to disregard the cultivation realm's rules for this little brute?"

Xu Ping's angry voice rang out.

Qin Yang suddenly turned back, his icy gaze falling on Xu Ping, instantly giving him a shiver.