Chapter 776

"What's wrong with you? Yesterday you already saw Master Uncle take Fei Mian as a disciple, yet you still dare to talk back to him!"

Luorongchang simply had no idea what his son was thinking.

"I think you've been living too comfortably lately, you dare to disrespect your teacher and neglect the Dao!"

Luo Yi Ping couldn't explain, could only lower his head and endure the scolding.

Xie Xi, however, raised his head and said crisply: "Master, don't scold eldest senior brother; he's only doing it to protect me."

"You still have the nerve to say that? If it weren't for your repeated bad attitude toward Fei Mian, how could it have come to this?"

Facing Xie Xi, Luorongchang's tone, although he had said a lot less, still carried obvious anger.

This is completely different from the favor shown to Fei Mian by the Lingxu Venerable Elder just now.

Xie Xi felt another sense of disappointment in his heart.

He bit his lip, but his heart grew ever more disgusted with Fei Mian because of this.

If only Fei Mian weren't here.

Who knows, the disciple the Lingxu Venerable Elder takes might be me!

"Alright, you three, go back and reflect behind closed doors; when you realize your mistakes, you may resume training."

Luorongchang also didn't want to pursue it further, flicked his sleeve to conclude, and said: "Yi Ping, come with me, Father."

"Yes, Father."

Luo Yi Ping got up and followed, turning back to signal Xie Xi to hurry back and rest.

He will go deliver the ointment again tonight.

Xie Xi nodded unwillingly, angrily got up and ran back.

Even the Zhang Guang two brothers behind him didn't want to bother.

——

"Master… are you very angry?"

After returning to Mu Yun Peak, Fei Mian glanced at Jin Chen, who seemed colder than usual; although there was no difference in how he treated him, Fei Mian just felt unhappy.

He had practiced a bit, then trotted over, grabbing the Master's robe corner and looking up to ask.

His cheeks were flushed, still sweaty.

"Not at all, no need to think too much."

Jin Chen casually picked up a handkerchief, pinched his chin to wipe his face, and finally a smile flickered in his eyes.

"We only practiced basics today, why are you drenched in sweat?"

"Because I'm too tired……"

Fei Mian rubbed his palms; although he complained of being tired, he was very earnest during practice.

"Master, teach me how to use the spiritual root; I don't know how."

What I figured out on my own ultimately isn't that powerful.

There are only three months; although I'm confident I can beat Xie Xi, I lack confidence to win the newcomer's first-place honor.

Before, perhaps I didn't feel anything.

But now he is a disciple of the Lingxu Venerable Elder, and doesn't want to lose face for his Master.

"The five elements' spiritual roots mutually generate and overcome; Xie Xi has a water spiritual root, water produces wood, so in the contest three months later, the main attack will be wood spiritual mystic arts."

Jin Chen's tone was cold and gentle as he rubbed Fei Mian's head top, saying: "But dark spiritual mystic arts also require practice; one must not be lax."

Having said that, he stood up, took Fei Mian's hand, and went to the back mountain to personally teach.

"Verdant Leaf Spirit Canon……"

Fei Mian began practicing as the Master instructed: leaves moved with his mind, true qi transformed into verdant leaves, using pure wood spiritual root attacks.

Within the bamboo grove was indeed a natural spiritual formation.

Among the pine trees in the forest, mist permeated.

White robes fluttered, bamboo leaves encircled the body; every move bore the spirited vigor of a wandering dragon youth, dazzling and eye-catching.

Jin Chen watched for a while, the smile at the corner of his lips becoming increasingly evident.

After two hours, mystic qi surrounded the bamboo grove.

Fei Mian felt a warm surge in his dantian, astonished he lifted his gaze to the Master, who nodded with a smile, whereupon he hurriedly sat cross-legged.

The Qi Refining stage is the foundational stage; each layer must be especially solid.

But Jin Chen had no worries at all about the youngster's rapid progress.

Now his body is filled with mystic power, his basic skills are also very solid; for him, reaching the third layer of Qi Refining is the expected level of ability, no need to worry.

"Master! I've progressed again!"

When the tumultuous mystic power inside his body calmed down, Fei Mian could no longer hide his inner joy; he sprang up and leapt into Jin Chen's embrace.

"I haven't made progress in a long, long time."

I don't know why; clearly my mystic power is abundant, yet I just can't break through to the next level.

"Very impressive."

Jin Chen caught him, lifted him into a hug, rubbed his nose, and his tone was indulgent.

"Fei Bao is very impressive."

His delicate little face flushed with excitement, white turning red; hearing the Master's endearment made him overjoyed.

Both arms tightly wrapped around the Master's neck, rubbing gently, speaking softly.

"Master, I really like you!"

Seeming to feel this expression wasn't enough, he tilted his head, thought for a moment, and kissed the Master's cheek.

"Mwah!"

Very loud.

Jin Chen blinked slightly, then his icy handsome face filled with an irresistible smile; he pinched the child's cheek softly without using force.

He will act coquettishly.

Master wasn't angry; Master even smiled.

Fei Mian twisted his body, then snuggled into the embrace with a silly smile.

Master probably also likes me, right!

——

Fei Mian originally thought he would cultivate at Dusk Cloud Peak until three months later for a competition.

Who knew that just after half a month, Master said he would go to Heavenly Spirit Peak to give a lecture, and he also wanted to follow to study.

The lecture content is for outstanding new disciples, teaching cultivation techniques and mystic arts.

Upon hearing this news, Fei Mian suddenly felt an indescribable little emotion well up in his heart.

It's like he especially likes a particular snack that everyone knows is his own, yet suddenly he has to share a piece with someone else to eat.

He doesn't want to share it with others.

Moreover, he worries that if Master sees an outstanding disciple, Master might also take him as an apprentice...

Not knowing whether this little emotion should arise, Fei Mian didn't dare tell Jin Chen, and just obediently agreed.

That night, when trying to sleep, he felt unsafe again, clinging to Jin Chen to sleep together.

After over a month, the number of times Fei Mian slept in his own room could be counted on one's fingers.

However, Jin Chen also enjoyed indulging him, didn't refuse too much, and had already tacitly allowed two sets of bedding to be placed on the bed.

"Master...... if, if tomorrow you see a very talented disciple, would you take him back as an apprentice?"

He agonized half the night, and while curled up in Master's embrace sleeping, he still couldn't help but grab the corner of Master's chest clothing and look up to ask.

He didn't say it out loud, but felt very wronged inside.

It won't happen, don't overthink.

Jin Chen covered him with the blankets, then waved his hand to extinguish the light, gently patting his back to lull him to sleep.

Only you will be there.

Master is a very trustworthy person; what he says will surely be fulfilled.

One sentence dispelled all of Fei Mian's little emotions.

He closed his eyes in peace, finally no longer agonizing.

【Host! I'm back!】

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 60!】

The tone was very excited; the matter of shedding fur has been resolved.

【No more shedding?】

Jin Chen saw the little rascal asleep, and also lost the thought of getting up to meditate; he closed his eyes to rest.

【Hehe, the boss said the shedding period is normal; although I'm still a system, my original form was an auspicious beast, and after shedding I'll become even stronger!】

It chattered away, then took a deep breath.

【Host, I'm hungry!】

【……】

Jin Chen collected some jade stones inside.

It seems the first thing to become stronger is the appetite.

Truly an exhilarating, thorough growth.