Chapter 530: This Is a Meeting Gift From Your Master

Chapter 530: Chapter 530: This Is a Meeting Gift From Your Master

Cheng Yuan looked at Liu Hong expressionlessly. "Zhong Mingtang has already sworn his allegiance to me, yet you’re trying to pin all the blame on him. Do you really think that’s wise?"

Liu Hong shuddered violently, kowtowing to Cheng Yuan over and over again!

"Immortal Master Cheng, I am also willing to swear allegiance to you!"

Cheng Yuan smiled. "Liu Hong, you can’t possibly think I’ll accept just any piece of trash, can you?"

Liu Hong’s face flushed red at Cheng Yuan’s words, but he didn’t dare to lash out. He could only look at Cheng Yuan with a pitiful expression.

"Immortal Master Cheng, I beg you... just give me a quick and painless death..."

Cheng Yuan snorted. "Killing you would dirty my hands. That Nine Dragon Plate—what was the price you offered for it just now?"

"Two billion."

"Let’s make it two billion, then. Two billion to buy back your life."

Liu Hong was ecstatic. "Please rest assured, Immortal Master Cheng. Even if I have to sell everything I own, I will scrape together those two billion."

Cheng Yuan nodded. "I’ll give you one month. Write down my bank account information. The bank is the Industrial and Commercial Bank, the account holder is Cheng Yuan, and the account number is 621226..."

"As you command, Immortal Master Cheng."

"Go on."

"Yes, I’ll be taking my leave now!"

Constantly bowing and scraping, Liu Hong backed away toward the door just as Zhong Mingtang had. Then he turned and ran for his life, cursing his parents for not giving him two more legs!

After such a major incident, there was no way the Magical Artifact exchange meet could continue.

One by one, the attendees made their excuses and left, eager to get away from the hornet’s nest.

Liao Hufa, well aware of his own meager strength, didn’t dare try to cozy up to Cheng Yuan. He simply bowed respectfully and announced his departure.

Chen Juzheng, however, was rather confident in his own Cultivation and aptitude. With a THUD, he fell to his knees before Cheng Yuan. "Immortal Master Cheng, I implore you to take me as your disciple! I will follow you from this day forward and await your every command!"

Unfortunately, Cheng Yuan couldn’t care less about Chen Juzheng’s meager aptitude and Cultivation.

Cheng Yuan said flatly, "Master Chen, our Xuanyuan Lineage places great importance on aptitude and constitution. You are lacking in both. I’m sorry."

Getting desperate, Chen Juzheng turned and shot a pleading look at Miao Shijie.

Miao Shijie also wanted to strengthen his connection with Cheng Yuan, so he quickly stepped in to put in a good word for the man.

"Immortal Master Cheng, Master Chen only started on this path in his forties. In just ten years, he successfully achieved Entering the Dao and has even touched the threshold of a True Master. There’s absolutely no problem with his aptitude."

As he spoke, Miao Shijie turned his pleading gaze to Duan Lang.

Miao Shijie had already sworn his allegiance, so he was one of their own now. Duan Lang couldn’t very well refuse to speak on his behalf.

"Third Uncle, seeing as Master Chen is so sincere, can’t you make an exception?"

Cheng Yuan sighed. "Fine. Since both Xiaolang and Shijie are speaking up for Master Chen, I’ll do them this favor. An Inner Disciple is truly out of the question; I cannot go against my lineage’s rules. However, the requirements for a Named Disciple aren’t nearly as strict."

To Cheng Yuan’s surprise, Chen Juzheng didn’t seem to mind in the least. In fact, he looked rather delighted.

’After all, I’m already over fifty. If I really became one of Cheng Yuan’s Inner Disciples, I’d become a laughingstock among my peers in the Jianghu.’

’But if it’s just a Named Disciple, that’s much more acceptable.’

’After all, an Inner Disciple is expected to care for their master in old age and arrange their funeral!’

’They’re practically half a son!’

’A Named Disciple, on the other hand, is more like a modern student-teacher relationship.’

’There’s no obligation to care for them until the very end.’

"I am willing to become your Named Disciple, Honored Master! Please, Honored Master, accept this tea!"

Chen Juzheng knelt on one knee, offering the tea with the utmost respect.

Cheng Yuan accepted the gesture without hesitation. He took a small sip and said gently, "Juzheng, you may rise."

Chen Juzheng rose and said respectfully, "Honored Master, please allow me to return home and settle my affairs. I will then come to your side to receive your instruction."

Cheng Yuan said gently, "There’s no rush to leave, Juzheng. A Named Disciple is still a disciple. As your master, I have a welcoming gift for you."

Chen Juzheng repeatedly tried to refuse. "Absolutely not! I haven’t even presented my tuition gift yet. How could I dare accept a welcoming gift from you, Honored Master?"

Cheng Yuan’s expression darkened slightly. "Juzheng, are you going to defy your master’s wishes?"

Chen Juzheng bowed his head. "I wouldn’t dare! Thank you for the gift, Honored Master. I gratefully accept!"

Cheng Yuan nodded in satisfaction. He picked up the nearly destroyed Nine Dragon Plate and said gently, "Juzheng, wait a moment. Your master will repair the nine dragon patterns on this plate for you!"

’Repair the dragon patterns?’

Duan Lang and Miao Shijie didn’t grasp how incredible a feat this was, but Chen Juzheng was so stunned his voice trembled.

"Honored Master, you can repair the dragon patterns?"

"Of course. Is there a problem?"

Chen Juzheng’s face flushed with excitement. "The Nine Dragon Plate is an Upper Grade Magical Artifact! Only a Divine Level Refiner could possibly repair it! In the entire Dragon Country Ancient Martial Realm, the only one is Zhuge Changqing, the Supreme Elder of the Lu Ban Sect! Could it be... Honored Master, are you also a Divine Level Refiner?"

’A Divine Level Refiner?’

Duan Lang and Miao Shijie instinctively swallowed. They didn’t quite understand the implications, but they knew it was something extraordinary.

Of course, Cheng Yuan was no Divine Level Refiner. But he possessed the Double Pupil. When it came to repairing Array Patterns, he was in no way inferior to a Divine Level Refiner!

Cheng Yuan answered truthfully, "I am not a Divine Level Refiner, but I can repair the dragon patterns."

With that, Cheng Yuan took out his Broken Blade and began to trace the lines of the dragon patterns.

Streams of Celestial Witch True Essence surged into the Nine Dragon Plate, mending the breaks in the dragon patterns.

Suddenly, one of the dragon patterns on the Nine Dragon Plate flared brightly!

Two!

Three!

...

Nine!

In less than ten minutes, all nine dragon patterns were glowing brightly!

With a mere thought from Cheng Yuan, the nine dragon patterns sprang to life. They leaped from the Nine Dragon Plate, twisting and turning in the air. They even began to fight amongst themselves, each clash releasing a terrifying burst of energy!

It seemed as if they would destroy the entire Yunxiang Celestial Palace!

Chen Juzheng trembled with excitement!

"The Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne! It’s the Nine Dragons Struggle for the Throne! The Nine Dragon Plate is truly repaired!"

Duan Lang and Miao Shijie were also trembling with excitement!

’This is insane!’

’Third Uncle (Immortal Master Cheng) is just too incredible!’

’He actually repaired the dragon patterns on an Upper Grade Magical Artifact!’

Cheng Yuan possessed the even more powerful Five Thunders Sword, so he casually handed the Nine Dragon Plate to Chen Juzheng. "This Nine Dragon Plate is my welcoming gift to you."

With another THUD, Chen Juzheng fell to his knees and kowtowed three times, his forehead striking the floor audibly.

"I will never forget your immense kindness, Honored Master! I swear I will cultivate with all my might! One day, I will surely impress you enough to become your Inner Disciple!"

Cheng Yuan gave a slight wave of his hand. "Go."

Chen Juzheng rose, accepted the Nine Dragon Plate with utmost reverence, and turned to leave.

He had to settle his affairs at home as quickly as possible so he could return to his master’s side and receive his teachings.

After Chen Juzheng left, Miao Shijie also made to leave. "Immortal Master Cheng, Brother Lang, I’m taking off, too! I have to get back to the Miao Village and report on my mission."

Duan Lang nodded, but Cheng Yuan suddenly stopped Miao Shijie. "Shijie, don’t go just yet."

Miao Shijie started, then quickly asked with an ingratiating smile, "Immortal Master Cheng, what can I do for you?"

"Bring me your Magic Flute."