Chapter 93

A mere hidden jade talisman—only someone worthless like you would treat it as a treasure; you're about to lose all face for our Luo family!

Luo Quan snorted coldly, completely ignoring Luo Liang's increasingly ugly expression, and said: "Madam Wang, I see your child is a fine seed for cultivation; I wish to take him as my disciple. What do you think?"

Luo Quan, this child already has a master; if you go stealing disciples from others and it gets out, you'll only lose face for our Luo family!

Luo Liang reminded.

Luo Quan ignored Luo Liang's reminder, treating it as mockery; his gaze toward Luo Liang grew more contemptuous, and he spoke again:

Madam Wang, rest assured; if your child becomes my disciple and learns my skills, I will surely pass on all my abilities to him. Once he has mastered everything I know, I will send him to a higher sect for cultivation, guaranteeing him a bright future.

At this moment, he felt a deep hatred for Luo Liang, gritting his teeth—not because he was angry Luo Liang might mock him opportunistically, but because he was furious that Luo Liang was blind to talent, failing to see even someone as promising as Wang Ping'an.

Not only did he fail to take him under his wing, he even allowed such a promising seed to be taken in by a wandering Daoist, and now he has the nerve to mock him here.

He couldn't see anything extraordinary about Wang Ping'an at all!

On the way here, he had already asked Luo Liang about Wang Ping'an's situation; although it was only a few brief words without detail, he clearly knew Wang Ping'an must be quite extraordinary.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for an Evil Cultivator to risk his life to harm him!

Just that.

Only when he saw Wang Ping'an with his own eyes did he realize he had still underestimated him.

Lord Luo...

Liu Dongzhu was about to speak and refuse when a loud voice sounded from outside the courtyard.

I disagree with this!

Upon hearing this, Luo Quan instinctively turned his head and saw an old Daoist approaching from not far away, his face grim, his tone unfriendly: "Who are you? Do you have the right to speak while I'm talking with Madam Wang?"

The newcomer, he had actually guessed, was likely Wang Ping'an's master—the wandering Daoist who had once been fortunate enough to study at Ziyang Palace, but merely an ordinary Daoist, perhaps with some skill.

However, he could only fool rural villagers!

Otherwise.

If he truly had ability, how could he possibly be running a humble Daoist temple in these poor mountains and backwaters instead of taking the Immortal Official's great exam, or entering the court's Daoist organization via other routes, or joining other Daoist clans, or even other Daoist sects?

Currently.

One could say it's a flourishing age for Daoists, with countless paths suitable for each practitioner, yet Xuanqing Daozhang hasn't achieved any of them, suggesting he may have some talent but simply hasn't been noticed by other organizations.

He has seen plenty of this kind of Daoist!

I am Ping'an's master; if you want to steal my disciple, do you think you have the right to speak here?

Xuanqing Daozhang's face was grim; he glanced disapprovingly at Luo Liang and said in an unfriendly tone: "Immortal Official Luo, I don't know who this person is, but how rude!"

Actually.

He had long known Luo Quan's identity; when Luo Liang brought Luo Quan to Hutou Gou, someone had already informed him, even telling him Luo Quan's identity.

It was no one else—it was Luo Liang himself.

Originally.

He had thought Luo Liang notified him to come help perfect the news of Luo Liang slaying an Evil Cultivator; he never imagined that upon arriving at the Wang household, such a thing would happen.

Xuanqing Shixiong, sorry, this is my younger clan brother; in our Luo family he is a first-rate Daoist genius, beloved by all the elders—even I, his older clan brother, haven't been looked upon by him. I didn't expect him to do something like this; please don't lower yourself to his level! Luo Liang said apologetically, though it sounded more like mockery: "He's just like that, but he's not a bad person."

Luo Quan ignored the furious Xuanqing Shixiong, paid no heed to the sarcastic Luo Liang, and spoke again: "Madam Wang, what do you think?"

Lord Luo, sorry, my Ping'an has already taken Xuanqing Daozhang as his master; I can't have him take you as well...

Before Liu Dongzhu could finish her words, Luo Quan interrupted her slightly displeased: "Madam Wang, it's my oversight—I forgot to introduce my identity and our Luo family's situation; why don't you wait till I finish speaking?"

Liu Dongzhu said solemnly: "Lord Luo, although I don't know what your identity is or what your family is like, regardless of who you are or your family background, our Ping'an will never take you as his master."

A flash of anger crossed Luo Quan's eyes as he asked: "Why is that?"

Liu Dongzhu said: "Lord Luo, you may not know, but Xuanqing Daozhang sacrificed twenty years of his yang lifespan for our Ping'an; therefore our family cannot do anything that would disappoint him—please understand."

Really?

Luo Quan exclaimed in surprise, thinking his attitude had been the cause of Liu Dongzhu's firm refusal; he never expected there to be such a reason, and he glanced oddly at Xuanqing Daozhang, saying:

Is doing that worth it?

Twenty years of yang lifespan—how many twenties does a life have?

Although Daoists are longevity practitioners, their lifespans far exceed ordinary people's by who knows how much, yet twenty years of yang lifespan is still no small number.

This novel you have reached

Moreover, for an ordinary Daoist like Xuanqing Daozhang, his increased lifespan couldn't be that great.

He couldn't imagine what quality Xuanqing Daozhang saw in Wang Ping'an that would be worth sacrificing twenty years of his yang lifespan.

Xuanqing Daozhang's face was full of pride as he said: "Naturally it is worth it!"

Luo Quan opened his mouth, intending to sneer a few remarks, but seeing Xuanqing Daozhang's proud demeanor, the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

He turned and left.

Clan brother, clan brother, where are you going? Aren't you going to continue investigating the matter of your elder brother slaying the Evil Cultivator?

Luo Liang watched Luo Quan's retreating back, shouted loudly, his face full of pride, then turned to Xuanqing Daozhang with an apologetic expression and said:

Xuanqing Shixiong, sorry, this dog of a thing just has that temperament—nostrils pointed at you, not even I, his older clan brother, have ever been looked upon by him!

Having said that, Luo Liang rose and gave chase; after he and Luo Quan left Hutou Gou together, he smiled and said:

Clan brother, what were you thinking? How did you come to take an infant as a disciple, especially when he already has a master?

Actually.

There were even more vicious words he hadn't uttered; merely looking at Luo Quan's demeanor, he feared speaking them would provoke a fight.

Could it be you haven't noticed that child's extraordinary qualities?

Luo Quan looked at Luo Liang with contempt and sneered: "Indeed, if you had any discernment, you couldn't possibly be stuck in these poor mountains and backwaters as a lowly Immortal Official, having muddled along for years without promotion, still spinning your wheels..."

Luo Liang shouted angrily: "Enough!"

Luo Quan snorted coldly, no longer continuing his mockery, but let out a faint sigh and said regretfully:

That child, as soon as I laid hands on him, I noticed something unusual—his whole body was filled with spiritual energy, and sword intent twined around him; he is very likely to have a Primordial Sword Body.

If he becomes my disciple, with my guidance and the Luo family's resources supply, can you imagine his future prospects?

Not to mention letting our Luo family rise another level; at the very least it could keep our Luo family at its peak without decline.

(End of chapter)