Chapter 44

Master, you prepared to take the little junior brother as a disciple, for this you went to the Capital City once and lost twenty years of yang lifespan; how could you suddenly not want to take the little junior brother as a disciple?

Not to mention Liu Dongzhu, even Zhang Guihua, Wang Lin, Guo Xuesong, and even Yuanliang all find it hard to understand how Xuanqing Daoist Master would suddenly say such words.

Especially Yuanliang, upon knowing that Xuanqing Daoist Master, in order to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple, not only killed the steward of the Prime Minister's mansion, but also went to the Capital City once and directly lost twenty years of positive lifespan, he could not possibly say in his heart that he had no objections to Wang Ping'an, for who made him care so much about Xuanqing Daoist Master.

Of course.

It is precisely because he cares so much about Xuanqing Daozhang that, even if he had huge objections to Wang Ping'an, he also knows Xuanqing Daozhang's thoughts and thus would not say anything else.

He can only bury his objections to Wang Ping'an deep in his heart.

Who would have known.

His master, Xuanqing Daozhang, would suddenly change his mind and not prepare to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple.

This is something he cannot figure out no matter what!

You know, his master lost twenty years of yang lifespan to take this boy as a disciple; suddenly not preparing to take a disciple—isn't that just wasting his yang lifespan for nothing?

Zhang Guihua exclaimed in doubt: 'Xuanqing Daozhang, you went to the Capital City once and lost twenty years of yang lifespan to take this boy as a disciple and to stand up for our family; how could you suddenly not prepare to take this boy as a disciple? Could it be that our Ping'an has something that displeases you?'

As for Xuanqing Daozhang, a person who has accomplished cultivation, preparing to take her family's Ping'an as a disciple and not obstructing it, her family's Ping'an marrying and having children, she is actually myriad satisfied in her heart, not only because Xuanqing Daozhang is capable.

In the future, her family's Ping'an cultivating the Dao with Xuanqing Daozhang would have the ability to protect himself, no longer needing to worry about being harassed by demons and monsters.

This also shows how much Xuanqing Daozhang cares for her family's Ping'an, being able to lose twenty years of yang lifespan; if this is not caring, what is?

With such a master, how could she not be satisfied?

'Lady Zhang, you have misunderstood; I have no dissatisfaction toward your grandson, but am rather very satisfied!'

Saying this, Xuanqing Daozhang paused his speech, lifted his head and glanced at Wang Ping'an in Liu Dongzhu's embrace, a bitter smile appearing on his face, and said: 'But precisely because I am too satisfied, I cannot take him as a disciple!'

He actually wanted to say that no one had taught Wang Ping'an the scriptures for praying for blessings; it was merely that he saw his family's disciple recite them a few times, and he actually learned them, and moreover this child had only been born not long ago, which is enough to show his terrifying talent in cultivation, as monstrous as a monster.

Just that.

They don't know whether the Wang Family Members will understand, whether they can be persuaded, but they know it would pose great danger to Wang Ping'an and even Liu Dongzhu.

Don't think his trip to the Capital City, even though it cost him twenty years of yang lifespan, will make the prime minister's daughter stop acting against Wang Ping'an and Liu Dongzhu; but if she learns of Wang Ping'an's terrifying cultivation talent.

First of all, they will not let Wang Ping'an nor Liu Dongzhu get away!

Liu Dongzhu, looking bewildered, said: "Xuanqing Daozhang, since you are pleased with our family's Ping'an, why have you suddenly decided not to accept our family's Ping'an as a disciple?"

Xuanqing Daozhang self‑deprecatingly said: "Because my abilities are limited, I don't want to hold up your young master!"

"Limited abilities, I don't want to delay!"

Guo Xuesong, who had been idly chatting—though it could hardly be called idle talk—about Wang Ruhai with Wang Lin, heard Xuanqing Daoist Master's words, could no longer stand still, leapt forward and said:

"You are at least an accomplished cultivator and a Daoist from Ziyang Palace; perhaps this kid Ping'an has great cultivation talent, even though I can't see it, but with your abilities, teaching a child would be more than enough?" Considering the price Xuanqing Daozhang paid—twenty years of yang lifespan—to accept Wang Ping'an as a disciple, he would never, under any circumstance, believe that Wang Ping'an's cultivation talent is ordinary.

It's incomprehensible; when Xuanqing Daozhang learned that the Wang Family Members were willing to let Ping'an become his disciple, he was especially delighted, so how could he suddenly decide not to take this kid as a disciple?

Suddenly.

A flash of insight flickered and vanished in Guo Xuesong's mind, and he said thoughtfully: "Could it be that you, Daoist Master, misjudged before, and after re‑examining Ping'an just now, you concluded he isn't a good cultivation seed, thus you decided not to accept him as a disciple?"

Although he also wanted to take Wang Ping'an as a disciple because of Wang Ruhai, and even though he dislikes Wang Ruhai's actions, he still somewhat believes the principle 'offspring of a dragon will be a dragon, offspring of a phoenix will be a phoenix', and thinks Wang Ping'an may have a talent for studying.

Perhaps he could outshine his master!

He has lived more than half his life, enough to say he's lived enough; his own talent for studying is limited, so he no longer expects any achievement in the imperial examinations. His greatest current hobby is cultivating scholarly seeds.

However.

Facing the heavy price Xuanqing Daozhang paid to accept Wang Ping'an as a disciple, his fondness for Ping'an is clear; how could anyone wrest that away?

"Scholar, you misunderstand; Ping'an's cultivation ability can no longer be described as a good seed—it is a talent born for cultivation itself!"

Xuanqing Daozhang shook his head, could not help but sigh, and said earnestly: "It is precisely because this kid's talent is so great that I cannot take him as a disciple, lest I hinder his future development."

At this point, Xuanqing Daozhang paused, his face full of self‑deprecation, and said again: "Just as you, Scholar, just said, I am merely a wandering Daoist; my abilities are limited, and I cannot produce any outstanding disciples!"

You have arrived at this novel.

"Xuanqing Daozhang, do not underestimate yourself. Since you settled in Hutou Gou, the demons and monsters that caused trouble have all perished by your hand, not to mention you are also from Ziyang Palace!"

Guo Xuesong saw that Xuanqing Daoist Master was not joking, felt deeply shocked, found it hard to understand what cultivation talent Wang Ping'an possessed that would make Xuanqing Daoist Master say such words, and urged again:

"Even if your strength is limited, taking Ping'an as a disciple is only to give him an initiation; once he has learned all your abilities, couldn't you recommend him to Ziyang Palace? Did you just say that your ability to send your own disciples to study at Ziyang Palace is a lie?"

Xuanqing Daozhang shook his head.

He was sent to Ziyang Palace to study from childhood; although his talent and strength were limited, making him unremarkable among the many prodigious demons in Ziyang Palace, he still earned the palace's permission through his own effort.

He could found a sect and affiliate under Ziyang Palace.

If a talented disciple is discovered or received, he can be sent to Ziyang Palace for training.

In the past.

The head of Ziyang Palace is not without origins from other small Taoist temples.

"Since that's the case, why do you still refuse to take Ping'an as a disciple?"

Guo Xuesong snorted coldly: "Could it be that you lack confidence, unable even to provide proper initiation?"

Xuanqing Daozhang gave a wry smile, wanted to shake his head, but thinking of Wang Ping'an's terrifying cultivation talent, he truly worried that he might not even be able to give proper initiation.

(End of Chapter)