Chapter 21: Worry About the Rear

Refuse or not refuse?

This is a dilemma.

However, she had no time to overthink; lingering too long would arouse suspicion, so she decisively accepted.

"Thank you, Master."

"Good." Gongsun Ming, seeing Luo Yao accept the cultivation method, his expression softened considerably. He waved his hand, interrupting Luo Yao's bow, "If you have any cultivation-related questions, you may ask me."

Luo Yao also breathed a sigh of relief; in fact, while she hesitated, she had clearly sensed a trace of Gongsun Ming's dissatisfaction, which prompted her to choose acceptance.

Although she accepted, whether to practice it or not was her own business.

Luo Yao nodded and mentioned the gift Elder Gongsun had given her.

Luo Yao sent several Sound Transmission Talismans, but Fang Qingyan did not respond, so Luo Yao had to walk in herself; although Fang Qingyan had set up an Array, she had told Luo Yao the password and the hand seals.

Hearing this, Fang Qingyan couldn't help but give a bitter smile; words were one thing, but take an example: if one specializes in the Dao of Alchemy, one needs to refine a vast amount of Pills.

Luo Yao's heart tightened. "Master, what must I do..."

Fang Qingyan felt no jealousy; instead, she was happy for Luo Yao, but upon hearing of the "Heavenly Yin Art," her brows furrowed; it seemed she had heard of it somewhere before.

In short, as long as one does not give up and finds one's own direction, one will surely succeed.

This favor was a huge debt.

Seeing Luo Yao enter, Fang Qingyan was not angry; instead, she said happily, "Xiao Yao, you're back? How did it go? Did you succeed in becoming a disciple?"

Alone in her Cave Abode, Fang Qingyan muttered to herself; obviously, it was due to recent events, not jealousy of Xiao Yao, but rather anxiety stemming from her own weakness and inability to help.

Talent is something that cannot be seen when one's strength is weak, but once one's cultivation rises, it becomes very obvious.

After all, he was the Alchemy Grandmaster and Puppet Grandmaster of the Xuanyuan Sect.

It must be known that previously, Luo Yao had wanted to give up countless times because no matter how hard she tried, she had achieved nothing, still stuck at the Qi Refining First Layer.

Luo Yao did not want to become an Immortal only to be alone, wandering the world in solitude; having a companion would prevent loneliness, and Yan Jie was the best choice.

She treats me well, is content and not greedy, kind yet strong...

"Plans?" Fang Qingyan was stunned, then quickly realized Luo Yao had heard her muttering just now, so she gave a bitter smile.

"Right now, you only need to cultivate well; you are too weak to help!"

Moreover, among the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, each is a Great Dao; some specialize in Arrays and still become Immortals, some specialize in the Dao of Alchemy and still become Immortals, some specialize in the Path of Puppets and still become Immortals...

"Yan Jie, it's fine; if you can't remember, just forget it."

"By the way, Yan Jie, what are your future plans?"

"Yan Jie, as long as you don't give up, there will always be hope," Luo Yao comforted her. "I have always been waiting for you to protect me."

Seeing this, Luo Yao then said, "I spoke with Master; he will introduce you to Xu Zhanglao to help out..."

However, whether it is an Alchemy Furnace or a Spirit Herb, both are extremely precious; without sufficient financial support, success is simply impossible.

If the Golden Finger could drop an Immortal Pill, perhaps Yan Jie could also become an Immortal.

Only then did Fang Qingyan perk up.

Luo Yao's resentment toward Elder Gongsun for rejecting her three years ago thus vanished.

Although it was just doing menial work and not making Xu Zhanglao take Fang Qingyan as a disciple, there were still many benefits.

So, as soon as Luo Yao entered, she heard Fang Qingyan muttering to herself and fell silent for a moment.

"What plans could I have? With my talent..."

Luo Yao smiled; with Yan Jie at Xu Zhanglao's place, Zhao Yang would not dare to make a move, and she could cultivate in peace and improve her strength.

Luo Yao bowed respectfully, then quickly descended the mountain to tell Yan Jie this good news.

Therefore, Luo Yao made up her mind in her heart to find a way to solve Yan Jie's talent problem; at worst, she would provide Yan Jie with a huge pile of Pills.

Now, Luo Yao returned the words Fang Qingyan had once used to encourage her.

This time, Luo Yao was truly grateful; Xu Zhanglao knew it, and he was also a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder of the Xuanyuan Sect; moreover, unlike other Elders, Xu Zhanglao was an existence in the Sect whom almost no one dared to offend.

"Then alright." Fang Qingyan nodded, her face resolute. "Then I will definitely cherish this opportunity and will not let you down."

"Yan Jie, you cannot give up on yourself; you must know that I was able to persist until now because of Yan Jie's encouragement..."

"This..." Fang Qingyan did not show joy; instead, she said with worry, "Xiao Yao, you just became a disciple; will this make your Master think poorly of you..."

Luo Yao opened her mouth; the spiritual energy here was indeed more dense than at the foot of the mountain, but leaving Yan Jie alone at the foot of the mountain made her uneasy, because Zhao Yang would absolutely not let go of such a good opportunity.

When Luo Yao left, she transmitted a sound to her, telling her she was going to become a disciple.

"Thank you, Master!"

"Not only can I not protect Xiao Yao, but I will only drag her down."

After Gongsun Ming finished speaking, the door of the Stone Room closed, and his entire figure vanished before Luo Yao.

"My talent is poor; when the gap between me and Xiao Yao grows wider and wider, what should I do?"

Some cultivators break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in just forty or fifty years; some take eighty or ninety years; some even cannot break through until they die.

Yan Jie was actually right; although my talent is poor, because of the Golden Finger, my talent will improve, but Yan Jie does not have one, and my Golden Finger can only affect myself and my own things; it is simply impossible to change Yan Jie's talent.

"Now Xiao Yao's cultivation is stronger than mine, and she has a Foundation Establishment Stage Master; she doesn't need my protection."

"However..." Elder Gongsun suddenly said sternly, "To gain something, one must give something!"

Hearing Gongsun Ming's words, Luo Yao naturally had many cultivation-related questions; now that she had the opportunity, she naturally asked them one by one.

So, as time passed, the gap between herself and Yan Jie would widen.

Fortunately, Fang Qingyan encouraged her, giving her many examples; in the Immortal Cultivation World, there were not no cultivators with poor talent who cultivated to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage.

Half an hour later, Luo Yao's confusion was all answered; after confirming there were no other questions, Gongsun Ming dismissed her to leave and told her to cultivate here at Yunhai Peak from now on.

"It's fine." Luo Yao interrupted. "Yan Jie, Master is very easy to talk to, and Master has already transmitted a sound to Xu Zhanglao..."

Inside the Stone Room, Gongsun Ming clutched his chest, a wisp of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, a trace of black qi flashing across his face; he sighed, "Time is running out."

"I always feel it is somewhat familiar, but I can't remember?"

…………

Keeping this matter in mind, Luo Yao woke Fang Qingyan.

"By the way, Sister Yan, when we have free time, let's spar! It will hone our sword techniques and increase our combat experience!"

Seeing Luo Yao hesitate, Gongsun Ming understood at a glance. "If you are worried about your friend, I can recommend her to do odd jobs under Xu Zhanglao."

"Great!"

Fang Qingyan had always been obedient to Luo Yao, so naturally she would not oppose her suggestion.

PS: Is anyone reading? I've lost the motivation to type (-----___-----)

(End of this chapter)