Chapter Four: Successful Apprenticeship

If it weren't for the extraordinary stroke of luck, Jiang Chen feared he might never come across a disciple with the Ten Thousand Calamities Mortal Body, who had already faced the last tribulation of love!

As long as he passed this final trial, Chen Fan would become the most invincible prodigy.

"This disciple, I've decided."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, urging the Thunderbird to descend into the mountain village.

Before him, Chen Fan, a mortal born and bred, untouched by the deceit of cultivation, his nature akin to a blank canvas. After overcoming the final calamity, his aptitude would shine like uncut jade. Such a disciple— How could Jiang Chen possibly let him slip away?

...

In the mountain village, Chen Fan hugged the lifeless body of his beautiful wife, tears streaming down his face.

Just this morning, he and several villagers went hunting in the mountains. Unfortunately, they returned empty-handed and had to resort to gathering firewood for sustenance.

Little did they know, upon their return, the village had been raided by bandits. The children, adults—everyone in the village—had been brutally slaughtered. Many women had been violated, and several had gone missing, likely taken away by the marauders.

His childhood playmate, his newlywed wife, his eternal love— In order to avoid being defiled, she chose to hang herself.

Every memory flashed before Chen Fan's eyes— Her charming smile, Their promise to build a future together, Their efforts to move to the nearby town, Her words of encouragement.

Everything raced through Chen Fan's mind as tears streamed down his face. With the desperation of a madman, he rushed towards a nearby boulder, intending to end his own life.

The other villagers remained numb, lost in grief.

This was Chen Fan's insurmountable trial of love. To die for love—how could one hope to overcome such a tribulation?

At this moment, a sigh echoed, and an invisible force halted Chen Fan's charge towards the boulder.

"Alas..."

Chen Fan felt as though he were frozen in place, unable to move forward. He looked up, following the direction of the voice, only to see Jiang Chen descending from a giant bird, landing not far from him.

An immortal!

Chen Fan immediately recalled the tales of immortals he had heard as a child, confirming the identity of the figure before him.

The other villagers were equally stunned by the sight.

"A heart set on death, but unwilling to seek revenge for your wife?" Jiang Chen said calmly.

"Immortal!" Chen Fan hurriedly prostrated himself, tears streaming down his face. "Please, accept me as your disciple!"

The other villagers followed suit, kneeling and pleading for Jiang Chen to accept them as disciples, to teach them how to seek revenge and gain skills.

However, Jiang Chen ignored their pleas, focusing only on Chen Fan.

"Chen Fan, do you wish to be my disciple?" Jiang Chen's voice rang out.

Chen Fan looked up at Jiang Chen, torn by conflicting emotions. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "Younger one...Immortal, the younger one only wishes to avenge his wife. After that, the younger one intends to accompany Lotus... The younger one fears he cannot cultivate and attain immortality to serve the Immortal faithfully, thus failing to live up to the Immortal's guidance."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen's opinion of Chen Fan grew even higher.

This was Chen Fan's trial of love. Without suitable means, even if he accepted Chen Fan as his disciple, after seeking revenge, Chen Fan would still seek death.

The trial of love— This deep love was an invincible tribulation, even the most formidable Emperor would struggle to avoid it.

Fortunately, Jiang Chen had already prepared his words.

"Chen Fan," Jiang Chen said, "if you cultivate and attain immortality, you can resurrect Lotus. Why seek death? Why not seek life and fulfill your wish?"

"Is it true? Can cultivating and attaining immortality resurrect Lotus?!" Chen Fan's heart trembled, hope igniting in his tear-filled eyes.

"Indeed," Jiang Chen said with a faint smile.

In this world, even the mightiest Immortal Emperor could not escape the river of time. However, it was said that beyond the Immortal Emperor realm, there existed a state where one could transcend time, much like the mythical Great Dao. At that realm, resurrecting a mortal soul would be as easy as breathing.

Although such a realm had rarely appeared throughout history, it did exist.

The Ten Thousand Calamities Mortal Body might also reach that realm!

...

"Master, please accept this disciple's obeisance!"

Chen Fan's eyes sparkled with hope as he bowed down, blood streaming down his forehead. "Please teach me, and I shall learn diligently. I vow to serve Master for eternity."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, using an invisible force to lift Chen Fan to his feet. "Rise. From now on, you are the grand disciple of my Taiyi Sect."

Chen Fan respectfully addressed him as Master.

The other young men

The other young men, seeing this scene, were all moved and knelt down again, pleading for Jiang Chen to accept them as well.

However, Jiang Chen refused, saying, "You are not destined to be with me. I am going to eradicate the bandits. You can rest assured and seek your own path for vengeance."

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of light flashed, and Jiang Chen had already appeared on the back of the Thunderbird with Chen Fan. With the flapping of the Thunderbird's wings, they slowly flew into the sky.

The group of young men watched as the Thunderbird turned into a speck in the distance, their hearts filled with envy for Chen Fan.

Little did they expect that Chen Fan, who was usually the most honest and modest, would encounter such celestial fortune!

But they did not.

The envy and jealousy in their hearts momentarily made them forget about the grief and hatred within them... It's no wonder Jiang Chen said they were not destined to be with him.

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