10 Taking Disciple
"Young master... You're standing again. Have you recovered?" Xiao-Ke headed straight to his young master's side and gave his body, leg, and shoulder a pat to make sure he's not dreaming.
"I cannot believe that the old master's medicine is so powerful... Does this means my young master no longer needs to use the wheelchair anymore?" Xiao-Ke is totally misunderstood.
Instead of getting doubtful of Qin Lan, he was more than willing to convince himself that this miracle is made happen by the Fiery Pear Flower given by Qin Tian.
"Xiao-Ke, come and have a seat first. Xiao Yun too. But make sure that you lock the door this time." Qin Lan held and moved Xiao-Ke over to a chair as he made him sit. Xiao Yun followed and took another seat.
"Listen to me..." Qin Lan repeated what he told Xiao Yun once more while both of them patiently listened. Although he kept his real identity as a reincarnated person a secret, Qin Lan hardly leaves a flaw in between his story for them to be suspicious.
In the morning the next day, the trio behaves regularly. But only Qin Lan knows that from today onward, their lives are going to undergo a qualitative change.
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"Listen carefully, Xiao Yun. From today onwards, you shall be given the surname (Lu/Dew) to memorialize the fact you're now a member of the long lost Kuangshan Lu Sect." Qin Lan used the fresh blood from the white marten yesterday to write a sophisticated inscription on both of her arms.
Once the last stroke of the demonic inscription language was drawn, the blood seeps inside Xiao Yun's body. A layer of crimson-red protective layer soon appeared before Xiao Yun's undeveloped Golden Core located on a little lower of her navel.
"You will receive the name (Lu Qing Yun, Azure Cloud) from the master of Kuangshan Lu Sect. Using the rights bestowed to me, I'll transfer to you the first chapter of Clear Cloud Lotus Art to start preparing a stable cultivation foundation." Qin Lan said as he totally immersed himself in the act.
"As for you, Xiao-Ke. You shall be given the same surname as well. From today onwards, you'll be called (Lu Yi, Dew / Upright) of the Kuangshan Lu Sect. Using the same right that was bestowed to me, I'll transfer to you the Heaven Firmament Art." Qin Lan repeated the same thing as he did on Xiao-Ke, and gave him a much proper name.
Reading the content of the cultivation art for them to memorize, Qin Lan guided both of them as they started. It was also chosen on purpose because Qin Lan intended to create two proper foundations as he grooms both of them.
He continued to monitor their progress as he brings the morning mist inside his body. As his body is now similar to a spiritual energy container, sucking in all the available morning mist is nothing but a mere task for him.
Out of a sudden, a hint of spiritual fluctuation within his body brings out a smile on his face.
The sculpting process of perfecting his right leg has finally completed, leaving only seven imperfections from the previous nine. Additionally, his overall physique now developed to the second-level of Flesh Refining Layer, which is comparable to Kun Ning's strength.
But if they met, Qin Lan is confident that it won't take him more than ten moves to defeat the so-called Rainbow Palm expert.
As someone who's already at the first-level of Flesh Refining Layer, Lu Yi's adaptability can be said to be a level above Lu Qing Yun. Although Lu Qing Yun's comprehension is considerably fast, they're merely half of what Lu Yi can do.
The Spiritual Energy fluctuates around Lu Yi before they formed into needles pricking into his flesh. Impurities started to ooze outside of his body, a drop at a time as more and more Spiritual Energy was used.
It was a painful process for Lu Yi. But for him to achieve the threshold of Middle-Attainment Rank before they passed 17 years old, such a measure is needed.
Meanwhile, Lu Qing Yun's cultivation feedback is more serene. But deep inside her mind, it was like getting entrapped in a maze of clouds without an exit.
Between them, he would have to put in more effort on Lu Qing Yun because overusing her spiritual and mental strength could cause her mind to collapse.
"Clear your mind from other thoughts. Only a lotus with clear surroundings could you see further." Qin Lan whispered.
"Do not rush, as there's nothing behind you.
Do not stop, as the exit is not before you.
And do not give up because you're still searching."
The mantra he taught her has repeated over and over again. It takes her close to two-third of the incense stick of time to found her path once more.
When Lu Qing Yun opened her eyes again, some of her doubt has been cleared. She started to grasp the meaning behind the three rows of mantra Qin Lan taught her.
"We're done for today. Let's continue tomorrow." Qin Lan said. In his mind, adequate training is the best for both of them to start.
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"Again!" a lady in her fifteenth years old shouted. Right before her is a group of fighters panting from fighting nonstop for close to two hours.
She's dressed in a body-hugging-attire that perfectly showcases all the goods on her body, top till the leg. Covering her from overexposing all her goods is a cloak made from a demon beast.
"Lady Hu, why don't we stop here today?" a female butler with the beauty matching up to this maiden stopped her from continuing.
"No! There's less than a month for the Annual Hunting Festival. Only by advancing to the third-level of Flesh Refining Layer can I be confident about winning the Foundation Advancement Pill." Lady Hu or Hu Jia replied.
"Get up! Enough rest for all of you!" Hu Jia ignored what her female butler is going to say and continue to force the servants to spar against her.
"Aii... Our young lady's temper is too fiery. If she kept behaving like this, until when our old master has to wait before she willingly gets married?" the female butler sighed while walking closer to a wounded servant near her.
"Water Goddess Palm," she gave the servant a few slaps on his body as she moves to another. It took her less than five minutes to accomplish what Hu Jia was struggling to achieve.
"Th - Thank you," the servants sat down quickly to direct the energy from her Water Goddess Palm to mend their external injuries.
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"Go back to rest. I'll have to sneak outside of the Qin Family Manor to meet our teacher." Qin Lan ordered them to rest as he prepared to leave the manor secretly.
"Servant understands." Lu Qing Yun excused herself as her room was located at the other end of the private courtyard. As for Lu Yi, he sat in a meditating position after swallowing a Flesh Foundation Pill.
Qin Lan left his room through a window carefully and took the shortest route to the outside of the Qin Family Manor.
With a cultivation achievement of second-level of Flesh Refining Layer, he's capable of moving around the Fu-Rong Town with twice the speed compared to before.
The wall separating the town from outside is no longer an obstacle to him as a few jumps are all he needs to reach the other side. He charged straight into the Western Demon Forest without a hint of hesitation displayed on his face.
"That's it. Time to get crazy while I take a small share of what you guys have." Qin Lan scattered some crumbles from a hardened dough all over the ground as he tossed the remaining further away with the corpse of the white marten he butchered this morning.
He made a jump onto a nearby tree as he anticipated their reaction.
Less than a minute later, a swarm of insects came out from all opening of their nest as they attacked the irresistible treat scattered by Qin Lan. But little did they know that it was on purpose.
Using the opportunity while the insects are digesting the food they've eaten, Qin Lan went to their nest as he unearths some of the soil. It was an attempt filled with gambling essence as the nest was built below the surface. Hence, it is harder for him to locate the treasure trove he desired.
And frankly speaking, there are not many people who dare to mess with the nest of the Foul Essence Ants. Just like their name, those who were unlucky enough to be bitten by a Foul Essence Ant could put themselves at risk of hallucination and poisoned.
They are also one of the few types of demon insects with a smaller population. With a body of about the size of an infant's head, a nest of Foul Essence Ants usually housed close to a hundred to two hundred of them.
His first attempt resulted in a failure as Qin Lan failed to find the core of their nest.
More food was scattered around the swarm of close to two hundred Foul Essence Ants. If Qin Lan still failed to unearth the spot he's looking for, his effort for today will be for nothing.
Luckily, heaven favors those with preparation.
The part of the soil he was going to remove is exceptionally denser around here, which demanded Qin Lan and all of his strength.
"Aargh!" he forcefully removes a part of the hardened soil that's likely processed by the Foul Essence Ant's bodily fluid and saliva. And Qin Lan wanted to laugh right at this moment.
That's because he was greeted by a pool of viscous liquid. But instead of looking black and purple like the Foul Essence Ants, they came in a beautiful silver color, like it was a pool of liquid silver.
"What luck! Even taking a few bottles of the essence here would be enough for me to get wealthy from selling the amulets!" Qin Lan chuckled.
