Chapter 767 - 366: The Jellyfish that Master Once Lived In?

"Venerable, why have we never heard that you’ve taken a disciple before..."

The City Lord stood behind the Austere Venerable, seeing the silence, he initiated conversation.

"Must I announce it to the world when I take a disciple?" The Austere Venerable didn’t turn back, still gazing intently at the swirling entrance of the secret realm, "He’s my disciple undergoing training in the mortal world. Keeping a student on the exalted Divine Mountain all the time won’t teach them well."

Qi Tai and Li Ming exchanged a glance, understanding in their hearts that this disciple’s talent in sorcery had already been proven. Given such a high level of cultivation talent, even if this disciple’s identity were false, he was certainly a junior valued by the Austere Venerable.

"What the Venerable says is indeed enlightening, and has given me much to ponder. I always thought to keep my son on the Divine Mountain, but in this vast world, the Divine Mountain is just a single mountain after all," Qi Tai lamented.

After speaking, he suddenly felt a chill to his heart as he saw the Austere Venerable turning his gaze towards him, his eyes icy and unfamiliar.

"Mind your words." The Austere Venerable uttered these chilling four words before turning away again.

Qi Tai felt a weight lifted off his shoulders yet was still shaken, a cold sweat forming. It was then he realized that, following the Austere Venerable’s lead in conversation, he had unwittingly disrespected the Divine Mountain. Just that sentence alone could have cost him everything.

He sneaked a glance at this flamboyant Venerable, suddenly feeling a bit fearful. Was this flower-like Daoist intentionally leading him to speak?

"Have you ever entered this secret realm?" the Austere Venerable suddenly asked.

"I have..." Qi Tai responded.

"With your Lower Feather Transformation Realm skills, do the dangers in this secret realm pose a threat to you?"

"I barely escaped with my life," Qi Tai admitted.

"Even you barely escaped, yet you managed to obtain treasures?"

"This secret realm is quite peculiar. The stronger you are, the more severe the backlash. I sent two villagers inside and they came out unharmed."

"So, did you deliberately withhold this pattern to send my disciple to his death?" the Austere Venerable turned back, a smile on his face that made others feel like they were standing on needles.

"No, of course not... I thought that if I could come out, then... then surely the Venerable’s disciple could too... After all, he’s your disciple," Qi Tai replied trembling, though deep in his eyes, there wasn’t much fear evident.

The Austere Venerable suddenly laughed loudly, leaving both the City Lord and the shopkeeper baffled. After a long laugh, he said:

"I must admit... to launder such money, the person behind you is truly willing to put in such a costly effort... Creating this secret realm in two days is no simple feat."

Upon hearing this, Qi Tai and Li Ming were struck as if by lightning, their faces turning ashen.

"Venerable, you’ve wronged us; this secret realm is indeed here, we didn’t deceive you!"

Their voices, filled with tears, appeared genuinely wronged.

The Austere Venerable didn’t even glance at the cowering City Lord. "If it’s just for this bit of tax silver, there’s no need to go to such lengths. He’s willing because this isn’t just a demonstration of force for me, but also a greeting gift..."

Qi Tai’s previous timid demeanor faded somewhat, seeing as the Austere Venerable had already uncovered everything, he saw no point in pretending.

Actually, from the beginning to the end, he was never truly afraid of this Void Realm Venerable before him, even though the latter could destroy him with a single hand.

"My master has said, the Austere Venerable is one of the rare wise individuals in this world, and my master greatly respects you. Two thousand years ago, the art of sorcery flourished in Beiao Continent, but gradually declined due to not aligning with Beiao’s nature. Nowadays, few walk this path in Beiao. However, my master boldly predicts that with your presence, the art of sorcery in Beiao Continent will one day rival that of Nanyang Continent."

"Stop," the Austere Venerable suddenly interrupted Qi Tai’s narrative, "As for my master’s evaluation of me..."

Qi Tai was momentarily stunned, thinking perhaps he had flattered too excessively, and expected the Austere Venerable to express humility. But the next words of this flower-like Daoist left him astonished.

"It’s actually quite fair. Did he really say that himself?"

"I wouldn’t dare fabricate my master’s words," Qi Tai replied with an accommodating smile.

"He has a good eye for people, but unfortunately, he’s not a fortune teller and made an incorrect prediction."

"Wrong? In what way?"

"If I live to be five hundred, I wouldn’t just catch up with those old mules of Nanyang Continent, but surpass them," the Austere Venerable declared with hands clasped behind his back, exuding pride and satisfaction.

Qi Tai tugged at the corner of his mouth, momentarily speechless at the Austere Venerable’s shamelessness and boastfulness.

"The Austere Venerable is truly a genius, having secured a position at the Ancestral Temple of Immortals while still in the Feather Transformation Realm speaks volumes," Qi Tai shifted the topic, "The value of the object before you exceeds five years of taxes from Shuocheng. By presenting this to you, Venerable, you are sure to earn great merit. This is a special gift my master prepared for you, hoping the Venerable would gladly accept it."

"What if I refuse?" the Austere Venerable raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing, "If my disciple were to die tragically inside, and I, in trying to save him, caused the secret realm to collapse. Including Snow Village Tea, all the inexplicable commodities can be explained using this untraceable secret realm, and you could even turn the tables, claiming I disrupted the rise of your Shuocheng?"

Qi Tai pondered silently, acknowledging that the Austere Venerable lived up to his reputation; he saw through everything clearly. Yet, what puzzled him was why the Austere Venerable, knowing his master’s intentions, would still risk his disciple’s life in the process.