Chapter 465 - 460: Your Genius Disciple? No, My Genius Disciple

Du Youqian deliberated.

’In the future, I’ll definitely need a lot of talented people to assist me.’

’Never mind the time before I achieve Enlightenment.’

’Even after I achieve Enlightenment and command immense power, I can’t possibly handle every trivial matter myself.’

’Therefore, cultivating a retinue is still essential.’

This was the very reason he had diligently managed Ruihan City and the Four Principles Sect.

On one hand, he needed these two factions to gather resources and pay tribute to him.

On the other hand, he also needed these factions to be a constant source of new talent. For instance, there was the couple Sui Yu and Rong Qiao’er from Ruihan City, and the Four Principles Sect... ’Well, the Four Principles Sect hasn’t produced anyone useful yet, but it’s still possible in the future, right?’

Besides, for the individuals within these two factions, they could shelter under Du Youqian’s protection to get through their fragile Juvenile Stage. They would have their family or Sect provide a stable supply of resources, and the guidance of their elders would help them avoid pitfalls, allowing them to grow and flourish...

All in all, the pros outweighed the cons for them as well. It wasn’t as if Du Youqian was just leeching off them.

’If I take Deng Maoyu out of here,’ Du Youqian thought, ’with his talent and determination, Core Formation is a certainty. The likelihood of him achieving Nascent Soul Formation is also quite high. His chances of advancing to Divinity Transformation even far exceed those of any of the juniors in my two current factions.’

’It’s truly worth making an effort for this boy in exchange for his sincere allegiance.’

However, Du Youqian hadn’t been lying before. Traversing that passage alone was already fraught with peril for him. ’Protecting a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator at the same time?’

’That would be a death wish.’

’I’ll have to think of another way.’

’Then again, since Deng Maoyu’s aptitude is so outstanding, why didn’t the Chongzhen Sect send him away?’

’Or did the Chongzhen Sect want to, but the Holy Blood Sect and the Taihe Sect wouldn’t allow it? Or maybe the people in the Human World rejected him?’

Du Youqian had originally planned to return to Momenan within a few days.

But now he had changed his mind.

’I won’t go back just yet. There’s nothing urgent in Momenan anyway.’

’I’d better get to the bottom of this first.’

A genius with an Abnormal Attribute, a Thunder Attribute Celestial Spirit Root, was worth his effort and investment.

If he could solve this problem... in the future, Momenan would provide him with a steady stream of talent.

’And I won’t be taking just any ordinary talent.’

’Anyone without an Earth Spirit Root need not even apply.’

’Just like the old teleportation standards, for the peerless geniuses that appeared once every two or three hundred years, feats like Golden Core Cutting at the Foundation Establishment Realm or Nascent Soul Cutting at the Golden Core Realm were merely the most basic requirements.’

As a thousand thoughts flashed through Du Youqian’s mind and settled into place, only a few seconds had passed in the outside world.

"Deng Maoyu!"

Deng Maoyu started. "I am here, True Monarch."

"Your devotion to the Dao is sincere, and I do appreciate talent. However, with your current Cultivation, attempting that passage would mean certain death. Therefore, I will think of another solution. In the meantime, you will stay by my side. Also..."

"Please, give your instructions, True Monarch!"

Du Youqian said, "If I take you out of here, you will be one of my people. No matter how well the Chongzhen Sect has treated you in the past, you can only serve me. Do you understand?"

Deng Maoyu dropped to his knees at once. "Master, please accept this disciple’s bow of respect!"

’This kid...’ Du Youqian was stunned for a moment, then he chuckled.

’Decisive when it counts. His disposition is quite good!’

"Get up," Du Youqian said with a smile. "For now, I’ll take you on as a Registered Disciple. If you pass my assessment, I will formally accept you as my true disciple in the future."

Now that Deng Maoyu was his disciple, he was naturally more generous with his smiles and adopted a gentler demeanor.

Deng Maoyu then asked, "Master, do I have any other senior brothers or sisters?"

Du Youqian was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Not anymore."

Deng Maoyu noted his wording: "Not anymore."

It implied that he had disciples in the past.

Du Youqian, for his part, recalled Shen Miao, his first disciple.

Although he, too, had only been a Registered Disciple.

He had put some effort into training him back then, but unfortunately, Shen Miao’s aptitude just wasn’t quite enough.

It wasn’t that he was bad, just that he wasn’t good enough.

~~~~~~~~~~

「Wu Kingdom, Woniushan Mountain Range.」

A persistent drizzle, typical for this time of year, left the sky a hazy gray, as if shrouded in mist.

Through this misty rain, Du Youqian’s Flying Boat arrived at the Chongzhen Sect.

The few Supreme Elders of the Chongzhen Sect who were not in seclusion all came out to greet him. Many Sects only had one Supreme Elder—either their strongest member or the one with the highest prestige.

But in other Sects, like the Chongzhen Sect, all Core Formation Masters were granted the title of "Supreme Elder."

Back when Du Youqian used to Garrison the Wu Kingdom, the Chongzhen Sect had five Core Formation Cultivators.

In even earlier years, they had boasted seven.

They had been stronger than Ruihan City was before it had risen under Du Youqian’s influence.

Unfortunately, their glory had now faded into dust.

The great Chongzhen Sect now only had three Core Formation Cultivators left, one of whom was a Fake Pill Cultivator with little time left to live.

Moreover, all of them were figures from the previous generation.

Just like other Sects, no one from the Chongzhen Sect had managed to reach Core Formation in the last century.

"We respectfully welcome you, True Monarch! May the True Monarch live for ten thousand years!"

The Core Formation Masters bowed deeply, stopping just short of kneeling.

They even brought out their Sect’s most luxurious Jade Chariot for Du Youqian to ride in.

Du Youqian recalled how Master Wan Shi had welcomed him all those years ago and the brief friendship they had shared. He then thought of Elder Tao, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of wistfulness.

It was a good thing Elder Tao didn’t care for empty fame and incense offerings.

Otherwise, Du Youqian would have definitely found a way to grant him the title "One of the Ancestral Masters of the Chongzhen Sect" and had him enshrined in the Sect’s Ancestral Hall to receive the disciples’ worship.

Inside a grand hall of the Chongzhen Sect, Spirit Wine and Spirit Fruits were served while Kun Cultivators in Daoist Robes performed a Sword Dance.

After a few rounds of wine, Elder Ruan Xiu of the Chongzhen Sect asked with an ingratiating smile, "May I ask what business brings the True Monarch to our humble Sect?"

This Daoist Nun was quite beautiful, far more so than Master Wan Shi had been.

But Du Youqian felt that Master Wan Shi had been more memorable.

Ruan Xiu’s disposition was simply lacking something.

Master Wan Shi had possessed a tranquility and effortlessness that resonated with the very Dao Essence, making her a pleasant and comfortable presence.

This was also an indirect sign that as the Spiritual Qi thinned, all the Major Sects, including Second-class Sects like the Chongzhen Sect, were in a state of desperation.

Even their Supreme Elders could no longer maintain a dignified front.

Logically speaking, in this era of declining Spiritual Qi, any Cultivator who could still achieve Core Formation should have an aptitude superior to that of their predecessors.

But while their aptitude might be better, their disposition had clearly declined.

Du Youqian smiled. "I don’t have any particular business. I just came to chat. There is something I’d like to ask you."

Elder Ruan Xiu quickly replied, "Please speak, True Monarch. I will tell you everything I know and hold nothing back."

Du Youqian’s expression was casual. In front of these people, he had no need to put on airs or consider their feelings.

"Your Sect has a disciple named Deng Maoyu."

Ruan Xiu started. "Has that troublesome disciple caused problems for you, True Monarch? I apologize on his behalf. Please be magnanimous."

Du Youqian smiled. "So he’s your disciple? He is very impressive. However, from now on, he is my disciple."

Ruan Xiu’s expression froze. Another Core Formation Master beside her immediately communicated with her via Divine Sense for a moment. She quickly forced a smile. "For the True Monarch to appreciate his talent is Ah Yu’s greatest honor. I am not skilled at teaching and was worried I would hold back such a genius. Please, True Monarch, guide him well from now on."

Du Youqian’s tone was indifferent. "I will naturally teach my own disciple well. There is something I must ask you. With Deng Maoyu’s aptitude, why did you not report his situation to the Taihe Sect and have them teleport him to the Human World? By keeping him here, you’ve buried his talent. You should know, if this boy were to go to the Human World, he would have at least a fifty percent chance of achieving Nascent Soul Formation."

Ruan Xiu looked startled and confused. "Teleport to the Human World? How? Don’t tell me the Taihe Sect has a Teleportation Array that leads to the Human World?"

Only then did Du Youqian remember that this secret was known only to the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect.

"Never mind that. Forget what I just said," Du Youqian said, changing his tack. "According to the rules, if any Sect discovers a peerless prodigy, they must report it to a First-class Sect. I ask you, did you follow the rules and report to the Taihe Sect that Deng Maoyu is a peerless genius?"

Ruan Xiu replied, "We did report it, of course. The Taihe Sect even ordered us to bring him to Sui Shou Mountain once he reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Unfortunately, a problem arose later on."

"What kind of problem? Speak freely. If the Taihe Sect is at fault, I will take it up with them myself."

Ruan Xiu quickly explained, "It’s not that the Taihe Sect did anything wrong. *Sigh*... The situation is rather complicated, True Monarch. Please allow me to explain in detail."

Du Youqian picked up a Spirit Fruit and began to savor it. "I’m in no hurry. Take your time."

"I’ve heard that you were an old acquaintance of Senior Jie Yu from the Taihe Sect, is that correct?" Ruan Xiu asked tentatively.

"That’s right," Du Youqian said, spitting out the fruit pit. He then took the Bronze Wine Cup from the beautiful Daoist nun attending him. "And I also know that she went to the Human World eighty years ago."

Ruan Xiu said, "Since you already know about that, True Monarch, this will be easier to explain. If I may be so bold as to ask, do you know why she went to the Human World?"

The Beautiful Daoist Wu Ai certainly knew the reason, but she had been about to enter the Celestial Five Declines. Du Youqian had only exchanged a few words with her before personally helping her dissolve her physical body to preserve her soul. There had been no opportunity to talk about Jie Yu.

Afterward, it had never occurred to him to ask anyone else from the Taihe Sect about it.

"I do not. You may explain."