BXBX NOVEL Chapter 50 - 50: Becoming an Apprentice_1
“This youngster…”
Gongsun Yun’s face revealed a hint of a smile.
It was a fortunate matter that Tianxuan Mountain has gained a promising talent. Unfortunately, his emergence came at an inopportune time; had he appeared a hundred years earlier, perhaps Tianxuan Mountain could have witnessed the birth of a second Grandmaster.
Now with the situation being so unpredictable, there simply wasn’t enough time for a genius to grow.
After the inner courts’ grand assembly ended, the numerous disciples dispersed. Han Li had intended to return immediately to Lingjun City. He had achieved his goal of coming to Tianxuan Mountain, but Qiu Shuilin suddenly appeared, announcing that the Sect Leader wished to see him.
Feeling Qiu Shuilin’s meaningful smile, Han Li’s scalp tingled slightly, and with a thump in his heart, he wondered, what could the Sect Leader suddenly want with him?
Since joining Tianxuan Mountain, he had only seen the Sect Leader from a distance a few times, but now he was being summoned alone. It definitely wasn’t without reason; the Sect Leader must have discovered something.
Han Li soon calmed down, realizing there wasn’t much to worry about. Other than concealing his cultivation level, he hadn’t done anything to wrong Tianxuan Mountain.
Qiu Shuilin’s Spiritual Sense had been secretly observing Han Li, and he nodded to himself approvingly at Han Li’s reaction, although he did feel a pang of regret.
Upon returning to the sect, he had thought about taking Han Li as his disciple, wanting to observe him a little longer first. Little did he expect Han Li to be so adept at hiding his true potential, and now the Sect Leader had snatched him away.
Han Li had deliberately hidden his cultivation level, and even Qiu Shuilin, who was in the late stages of the God Refining Realm, hadn’t noticed anything odd. Had it not been for the Sect Leader informing him, he would have continued to think that Han Li was merely at the fifth level of the Pihai Realm.
Peak of Gangyuan Realm, among all the disciples of the current Tianxuan Mountain, such a cultivation level was enough to rank him first.
Qiu Shuilin had seen Han Li’s records—eighth-grade talent, failed to break through the Pihai Realm and descends the mountain, only managing to break through the Pihai Realm as his lifespan neared its limit.
If the intelligence was accurate, then Han Li had advanced from the first level of Pihai Realm to the Peak of Gangyuan Realm in less than twenty years. Such a speed of cultivation was truly frightening.
It was uncertain whether the testing of Han Li’s talent had been mistaken earlier or if he later encountered some great opportunity that greatly improved his cultivation talent.
Qiu Shuilin harbored no greed; he just regretted not being able to take on a good disciple. With Han Li already at the Peak of Gangyuan Realm and on the verge of advancing to the God Refining Realm, with a future hope of becoming a Guru in the Hollow Void Stage, becoming a disciple of the Sect Leader was the best choice.
After escorting Han Li to the Xuantian Hall, Qiu Shuilin left for the inner court’s grand hall, thinking that he needed to have a serious talk with Jiang Cheng.
Having left Jiang Cheng to wallow in depression for decades, he still had not seen through his emotional entanglements. If this continued, the hope of advancing to the God Refining Realm would become increasingly slim.
Inside the Xuantian Hall.
As Han Li entered, he saw a figure standing at its deepest end, clad in a purple jade robe, standing tall with an extraordinary demeanor, hands behind his back, facing away from him.
“Greetings, Sect Leader.”
Han Li said while bowing, deliberately showing a mix of panic, surprise, excitement, and confusion on his face.
“Come forward.’
Gongsun Yun’s indifferent voice came through, causing another thump in Han Li’s heart. What did the Sect Leader mean by this?
At that moment, Gongsun Yun turned around, looking at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Still pretending in front of me?”
He had indeed been seen through by this old man.
Han Li inwardly sighed; he didn’t know what gave him away and attracted the Sect Leader’s attention.
He had a Secret Technique that allowed him to conceal his cultivation level. With his cultivation at the Peak of the Gangyuan Realm, it was nearly impossible for someone in the God Refining Realm to see through him, and even a Guru in the Initial Stage of the Hollow Void Realm wouldn’t notice unless they looked carefully. Only a Grandmaster in the intermediate stage of the Hollow Void Stage or higher could see through it at a glance.
“The Sect Leader is wise indeed.”
Having been seen through, Han Li no longer pretended and said with a chuckle.
The Sect Leader’s demeanor didn’t seem to indicate he would harm him, so Han Li felt quite relieved.
Gongsun Yun was very pleased with Han Li’s behavior, saying,
Upon discovering Han Li, Gongsun Yun reviewed the Sect records pertaining to him.
Last time Han Li returned to Tianxuan Mountain, he had just broken through to the Pihai Realm. Gongsun Yun’s Spiritual Sense had swept over Han Li, but he hadn’t paid it much attention. At that time, even if Han Li had concealed his power, he was still in the Pihai Realm.
However, this time Han Li returned, he had advanced to the peak of the Gangyuan Realm, which was too conspicuous. With his cultivation at the late stage of the Void Realm, Gongsun Yun saw through it at a glance, a level of power that he could not help but take seriously.
Even when accounting for Tianxuan Mountain’s hidden strength, being at the peak of the Gangyuan Realm could be ranked within the top ten.
Looking at Gongsun Yun’s expression, full of smiles around his eyes and brows, Han Li knew he was lying. A slight difference? More like a world of difference!
“May I ask why the Sect Leader has summoned me?”
Han Li cut to the chase and was inwardly on guard. Even though the Sect Leader seemed amiable, who knew if it was pretense?
He did not know Tianxuan Mountain’s Sect Leader very well. The outside world spoke of the Sect Leader as a handsome and chivalrous gentleman, fair in his dealings and with a good reputation. But appearances can be deceiving, and caution is paramount.
After all, he had many secrets on him. If the Sect Leader didn’t match his outside reputation and found out any of these secrets, he might be attacked; he had to be vigilant.
In a short period of time, Han Li had already planned out his actions. Should the situation turn sour, he would immediately activate the Body-Cultivating Furnace to withstand an attack from the Sect Leader, then use the momentum to fly backwards, immediately seizing an important person to negotiate for his life.
Gongsun Yun had been observing Han Li all the while, taking in all his reactions. He smiled, unconcerned, as he indeed harbored no ill intentions toward Han Li.
No matter what opportunity Han Li had seized or what secrets he held, those were his own. If Han Li did not speak of them, Gongsun Yun wouldn’t pry.
Although Han Li had concealed his cultivation, he hadn’t done anything detrimental to Tianxuan Mountain and rarely returned.
Gongsun Yun could tell Han Li seemed reluctant to stay at the Sect. If it wasn’t for the summons, which called back all inner and core disciples, Han Li would likely have continued to lay low in the small region of Lingjun City.
“I have summoned you because I wish to take you on as a disciple. Are you willing?
Gongsun Yun looked at Han Li with keen eyes, a hint of hope flickering within. He hoped even more that Han Li would agree.
Under his guidance, Han Li stood a good chance of being promoted to the Hollow Void Stage within fifty years, providing another pillar of strength for the future of Tianxuan Mountain.
If Han Li were unwilling, he wouldn’t press the issue. He could let Han Li be. After all, a Guru in the Void Realm wouldn’t be of much help in this storm.
Upon hearing this, Han Li fell silent and didn’t answer right away. Gongsun Yun did not rush him, allowing him the time to make his decision.
To be honest, as a representative figure who could “outcompete everyone by lying low,” Tianxuan Mountain wasn’t of much help to Han Li. Had he awoken with a “golden finger” upon crossing over, he might not even have considered joining the Sect.
But given the unpredictable nature of the situation, and that his cultivation was not high, having yet to grow, the patronage of a Void Realm Grandmaster would still be useful.
After some thought, Han Li asked, “If I become a disciple, will the Sect or the
Sect Leader force me to do anything?”
It It meant being torcecl to do certam tmngs—llke navmg to stay at tne sect, focusing only on cultivation, eschewing romance, handing over opportunities, or being thrust into conflicts—Han Li would absolutely refuse.
“Everything is at your discretion,” Gongsun Yun shook his head.
He saw it clearly; for someone like Han Li, binding him by force was impossible. The best approach was to bestow favors and invest in him early on.
“Disciple pays respect to the Master.”
Without further hesitation, Han Li paid respects again, his tone now filled with respect.
This was his first time accepting a master in his life, and perhaps it would be the last.
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