16
Xiao Qing did not deliberately restrain the aura of his Heaven Realm Soul, which he had just broken through to and could not yet perfectly control.
This aura naturally permeated the area within a range of over a zhang around his body, like an invisible Domain.
"Congratulations to Grandmaster Xiao Qing on your successful breakthrough and seclusion! I, Cao Tian of the Cao Clan, have brought my daughter, Cao Ying, here specifically to offer our congratulations!"
Cao Tian stepped forward immediately, bowing in salute, his voice trembling slightly from excitement.
Feeling that invisible soul pressure at close range, he felt as if his own Late Stage Spirit Realm soul was like a flickering candle in the wind, small and fragile; the shock in his heart reached its peak.
This young man...
He was no longer someone an ordinary person could compare to!
Xiao Qing swept a calm gaze over Cao Tian and nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting.
His gaze then fell upon the young girl beside Cao Tian.
The moment Xiao Qing's gaze made contact with Cao Ying, her petite body trembled violently, and her face instantly turned pale.
She felt as if her soul had been cast into a boundless starry sky—vast, majestic, and inducing an urge to kneel and worship.
Cao Ying bit her lower lip hard, stubbornly raising her head to meet Xiao Qing's gaze.
In those large eyes, the original arrogance had been washed away completely, leaving only the purest adoration and yearning!
This was... the youngest Grade 8 Alchemist Grandmaster on the continent!
Was this the power of a Heaven Realm Soul?
It was not just Cao Ying; everyone nearby who felt this aura, including those Pill Tower Elders, felt a palpitation deep within their souls and a sense of awe originating from the level of life itself.
The gazes they directed at Xiao Qing were filled with complex emotions: shock, disbelief, and a trace of yearning for a higher Realm mixed with a sense of powerlessness.
"Heaven Realm Soul... a genuine Heaven Realm Soul!"
A white-haired Pill Tower Elder spoke with a dry voice, his aged eyes filled with emotion.
"I have been trapped in the Middle Stage Spirit Realm for a hundred years; only today do I realize how vast the Heavenly Realm truly is..."
"This young man is truly a monstrous talent!"
Seeing the atmosphere subdued by Xiao Qing's invisible pressure, Cao Tian hurriedly pulled his daughter over, his face full of smiles as he introduced her:
"Grandmaster Xiao, this is my daughter, Cao Ying. She is naughty and ignorant; please forgive her lack of manners."
"However, she does have a little bit of talent in Alchemy. She is only fourteen this year and can already barely refine Grade 5 Medicinal Pills. I hope Grandmaster can offer her some guidance in the future."
"Cao Ying..." Xiao Qing's gaze lingered on the young girl, a subtle ripple flashing deep within his eyes.
His surprise was not because of her "fourteen-year-old Grade 5" talent.
To someone like him who possessed many heaven-defying Opportunities, such talent, while top-tier, was not unique.
Xiao Qing instantly recognized this girl who, in the original timeline, held the title of "Pill Tower monstrous talent." She was the heaven-favored daughter with an exceptionally unique soul talent and extraordinary future achievements.
That uniqueness, that innate spiritual affinity with soul power, left Xiao Qing with no doubt.
"Hmm, not bad." Xiao Qing's expression returned to indifference as he offered a casual compliment.
His tone was flat, as if he were merely evaluating an ordinary object. Yet, these three simple words sounded like the most beautiful music in the world to Cao Tian, who was overjoyed and stammered excitedly:
"Grandmaster, you flatter her, you flatter her!"
"For my daughter's insignificant abilities to catch the eye of a Grandmaster like yourself is already her greatest honor!"
Cao Ying took a deep breath, suppressing her inner excitement and the invisible pressure. Under her father's encouraging yet nervous gaze, she stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Xiao Qing.
With an unusually firm tone, she said:
"Grandmaster Xiao! Ying'er has admired your demeanor and Alchemy for a long time. Seeing you today, I realize even more that there is no end to learning! I implore you to take Ying'er as your disciple!"
"Ying'er will surely study and practice diligently day and night, follow Shifu's teachings, and will never fail to live up to the grace of your guidance today!"
The young girl's voice echoed clearly across the plaza. In an instant, the entire place fell silent.
Everyone's gaze focused on Xiao Qing like a spotlight.
Xuan Yi and the others looked surprised, wondering if that guy Yao Chen was about to have a grand-disciple? Then they watched Xiao Qing with interest, wanting to see how he would decide.
Grand Elder Lin had also arrived nearby at some point, stroking his beard as he stood there with a calm expression, clearly having left the decision entirely to Xiao Qing.
He had heard of this Cao Ying; although her talent could look down on her peers, compared to Xiao Qing, it was like the light of a firefly compared to a bright moon.
Cao Tian held his breath, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it might jump out of his throat. He stared at Xiao Qing, his palms covered in cold sweat.
Xiao Qing's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. In the air, the invisible Heaven Realm Soul pressure seemed to solidify.
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, like the stillness before a storm. Cao Ying maintained her bowing posture, feeling the surrounding air become viscous.
That invisible pressure made her petite body tremble slightly, and fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead. But she stubbornly maintained her posture, unwilling to retreat even half a step.
Xiao Qing was silent, his thoughts racing as he weighed the pros and cons.
Cao Ying's talent and the potential of the "Pill Tower monstrous talent" were unquestionable.
Her unique soul spirituality meant her future achievements would be limitless; if guided with care, she would surely become a great talent.
Having received a message from his teacher, Yao Chen, the Heavenly Court had just been founded, and the task of resisting the Soul Hall was arduous.
As a core leader, Xiao Qing could not personally refine every Medicinal Pill. Especially for the low-to-mid-tier pills needed to supply the vast Alliance, as well as some high-tier ones.
The Heavenly Court urgently needed to establish its own loyal and reliable Alchemist team and cultivate core Alchemy power.
Accepting a Genius like Cao Ying was a key step in reserving top-tier Alchemy talent for the Heavenly Court.
The Ninth Grade Golden Pill Inheritance of Ancestor Danyang needed to be carried forward; it could not stop with him alone.
Accepting a peerless Genius seed like Cao Ying was both a continuation of Ancestor Danyang's Inheritance and a way to bind the Cao Clan—one of the five major families of the Pill Tower—more deeply to the Heavenly Court's ship.
This was fully in line with the overall strategy of the Heavenly Court to integrate the forces of Central Plains and jointly resist strong enemies.
A few breaths of silence felt like a long time. Finally, Xiao Qing's tightly knitted brows slowly relaxed, and the heavy soul pressure around him quietly dissipated, like spring rain.
Looking at the young girl before him, whose small face was tense with nervousness but whose eyes were filled with stubbornness and anticipation, Xiao Qing spoke in a deep voice. His tone was calm yet carried a hint of majesty:
"Your soul talent is indeed rare in this world, with innate spirituality."
"Very well, considering your sincere heart toward the Dao and the fact that my Heavenly Court has just been established and needs to recruit talent, I will make an exception and take you as my disciple."
As Xiao Qing's words fell, it was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake!
Cao Ying was stunned for a moment, and then immense ecstasy surged into her heart. An uncontrollable smile bloomed instantly like the most brilliant summer flower.
She immediately performed a respectful apprenticeship ceremony, her voice trembling slightly from excitement, yet incredibly crisp and sweet:
"disciple Cao Ying greets Shifu! Thank you, Shifu, for your grace!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Cao Tian was trembling with excitement, repeating the word 'good' three times.
His face was full of wild joy that almost spilled over. He bowed repeatedly to Xiao Qing, incoherent: "Thank you, Grandmaster Xiao..."
"No, thank you, Respected Shifu! Thank you for your great kindness!"
"For my daughter to be able to study under Respected Shifu is the blessing of several lifetimes!"
"My entire Cao Clan will surely look to Shifu Xiao as our leader and hold the commands of the Heavenly Court in highest regard!"
Cao Tian cried out in his heart.
Success! A complete success!
The Cao Clan had not only hitched a ride on Xiao Qing, a true Dragon destined to soar into the Nine Heavens, but had also indirectly gained the Medicine Saint Yao Chen, the entire Starfall Pavilion, and the emerging "Heavenly Court" Alliance as a solid backing!
With Xiao Qing being such a young Heaven Realm Soul and a Two-Star Dou Zun, it was almost certain he would surpass his teacher, Yao Chen, in the future!
The glory of the Cao Clan was just around the corner!
A chorus of gasps and exclamations of shock immediately erupted from the surroundings.
"Hiss... The Cao Clan has really struck great luck this time!"
"Grandmaster Xiao... no, Respected Shifu Xiao has actually taken a disciple!"
"And it's the little witch from the Cao Clan... the future of this Cao Ying is simply limitless!"
"With such a backer, the Cao Clan's status in the Pill Tower and even the entire Central Plains will likely leap forward; no one will be able to compare to them!"
"With the Medicine Saint and Respected Shifu Xiao sitting in the Heavenly Court, and now adding such a Genius disciple, their power will surely rise like the midday sun. I fear they will truly become the premier transcendent force on the continent!"
Everyone looked at the Cao father and daughter with undisguised envy, and even a trace of jealousy.
Grand Elder Lin stroked his beard and smiled, nodding inwardly at Xiao Qing's decision. This move could both strengthen the future Foundation of the Heavenly Court and deepen the connection between the core families of the Pill Tower and the Heavenly Court—killing two birds with one stone.
Xiao Qing accepted Cao Ying's bow calmly and said indifferently: "Since you have entered my sect, you must be diligent and tireless, and follow the sect rules."
"In the path of Alchemy, the Foundation is the most important; do not be ambitious and pursue superficial things."
"Come back to Starfall Pavilion with me in a moment; let's first see what your Foundation is really like."
Although the words were plain, they carried the demeanor of a strict teacher.
In his heart, he had already begun to plan the future cultivation direction for this newly accepted disciple with infinite potential.
The Inheritance of Ancestor Danyang might, in the hands of this disciple, bloom with a brilliance different from his own.
Cao Ying replied obediently: "Yes, Shifu! disciple will surely follow your teachings!"
She stood up and stood beside Xiao Qing, looking up at this teacher who was excessively young yet already standing at the pinnacle of the continent, her eyes shining with immense excitement and infinite yearning for the future.
A simple seclusion, a sudden apprenticeship, had already quietly influenced the future landscape of the continent.
The Heavenly Court, this newly born giant ship, had increased its Foundation by another point due to the addition of this new member.
Chapter 165: Little and Big Fairies; Zi Yan: Little Cao, come quickly and pay respects to your Martial Aunt!
Xiao Qing nodded to bid farewell to Grand Elder Lin and the three, including Xuan Yi, as the Spatial Power surged silently.
Carrying his newly accepted disciple Cao Ying, he took a step out, and his figure instantly blurred, disappearing from the spot like ink melting into water.
On the plaza, except for Grand Elder Lin, who could capture the subtle spatial ripples like water waves, everyone else was dumbfounded. They felt a blur before their eyes, and the Shifu and disciple were gone, as if they had vanished into thin air, drawing a chorus of gasps and shocked whispers.
Starfall Pavilion, entrance to the Star Realm. The space twisted slightly, and the figures of Xiao Qing and Cao Ying appeared.
Yao Lao, who had been waiting there for a long time, came up to meet them. His gaze fell immediately on the bright and lively purple-robed girl beside Xiao Qing. Yao Lao stroked his beard, a playful glint flashing in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile, as if to say: