Chapter 16: Personal Disciple

"Qin Guan, mind your manners!"

Hearing Qin Guan's words, Nan Yunqi was so startled that his whole body trembled, and he immediately scolded him.

"Insolent wretch!"

The white-robed elder gave no opportunity to respond. With a sweep of his sleeve, a fierce sword Qi instantly slashed toward Qin Guan.

Bang!

Qin Guan casually waved his hand in return, and the incoming sword Qi shattered instantly.

The white-robed elder was mildly surprised. "I underestimated you. So you're a Martial Artist."

With a light snort, the elder continued, "Do you know that I only used twenty percent of my strength just now? Considering you are a junior and a Martial Artist who has trained through hardship, I shall spare you this once."

"Many thanks for your magnanimity, Senior!" Upon hearing this, Nan Yunqi hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, then pulled Qin Guan to the side.

"Boy, they're from Spirit Sword Academy. Luyun City is nothing but dust in their eyes — don't act recklessly!"

He tugged at Qin Guan but couldn't budge him, so Nan Yunqi leaned close to his ear and urged him urgently.

Qin Guan was about to say something when a burst of laughter suddenly rang out from not far away.

"Spirit Sword Academy's nose must belong to a dog — how did you get here so fast?!"

Everyone turned toward the sound. A gray-robed elder was hurrying over with more than a dozen disciples dressed in blue attire.

"Chen Guanxiang — those are people from Yunlan Sect," a disciple beside the white-robed elder said in a low voice.

In Qingzhou, Spirit Sword Academy and Yunlan Sect had always been at odds, and their disciples frequently clashed.

"What a lively gathering!"

The Yunlan Sect group hadn't even arrived yet when another dozen or so people appeared in the distance. Leading them was a woman in a fiery red brocade robe and a white-haired elder.

The woman was strikingly beautiful, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, giving her a crisp and capable air — like a heroic female general. Behind the two of them followed more than a dozen soldiers clad in black armor, exuding a faint killing intent.

The newcomer was Wei Kingdom's Ninth Princess, Wei Hongyan.

Wei Kingdom was a small nation to the west of the Longyun Empire, bordering it directly, and happened to be situated near Ten Thousand Demon Valley outside Luyun City.

"Late, late again!"

Soon, yet another group arrived in a hurry — it was Tianbao Pavilion, led by none other than Jiang Lianyue and Elder Xu.

Watching one major power after another arrive, Nan Yunqi spoke to Qin Guan in a gentle, placating tone:

"Son-in-law, your father-in-law knows you're a formidable fighter. But no matter how capable you are, you can't possibly take on all four of these major powers by yourself. Our Nan Family is already teetering on the edge — we can't afford to offend any of them!"

Qin Guan glanced at the nearly pleading Nan Yunqi and said indifferently, "Father-in-law, don't worry. I already sized them up earlier — not a single one of them is worth fighting. Today, the Nan Family can claim the entire area around this tree."

Huh?

Hearing Qin Guan's words, Nan Yunqi's scalp went numb. In front of the four top powers of Qingzhou, Qin Guan still wanted to monopolize the tree. He grabbed Nan Rou and pulled her over urgently. "Rou'er, quickly talk some sense into your husband!"

The Nan Family members had all heard the exchange between Qin Guan and Nan Yunqi. Now, faced with so many powerful figures, whatever confidence and grand ambitions they had built up instantly crumbled. They realized they had absolutely no footing to stand on against these mighty forces — they were like ants on the ground before them.

Nan Rou took Qin Guan's hand and whispered, "Husband, stop frightening Father."

Nan Yunqi's expression darkened at Nan Rou's words. A son-in-law frightening his father-in-law — what a joke. I'm doing this for the Nan Family!

Hearing this, Qin Guan gave a slight nod. Monopolizing the tree was indeed a bit overbearing — he couldn't afford to offend everyone and block the Nan Family's future path.

After a moment's thought, Qin Guan looked at the Nan Family members. "Are you all certain you want to give up this advantageous position?"

Nan Qiao suddenly seemed a little reluctant. "What choice do we have? It's not like we get a say. We might not even be allowed to stay in the outer area later."

Having already tasted the sweetness of the pure Spiritual Energy, she was a hundred percent unwilling to yield the spot to others.

At this moment, Jiaquan respectfully addressed Qin Guan:

"Son-in-law, I know you're doing this for our sake. But honestly, we've already cultivated for four hours more than anyone else — that's more than enough!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Qin Guan was a Martial Artist who couldn't gather Spiritual Energy to cultivate, yet he still wanted to fight for their benefit — they were deeply grateful. But now that all four major powers of Qingzhou had arrived, refusing to yield would be suicidal.

"Alright then, it's your call." Qin Guan nodded.

Soon, the area around the tree was occupied by the four major powers, and all their members began greedily absorbing Spiritual Energy to cultivate.

Nan Yunqi led his dozen or so people to sit cross-legged in the outer area to cultivate. Though the Spiritual Energy there wasn't as dense and pure as near the tree, it was still far superior to anywhere else.

Time passed little by little. Many family clans who had received word also rushed over. Upon seeing the four major powers, they all obediently settled down in the outer area to cultivate.

An hour later, more and more family clans arrived. With the great tree at the center, the area was packed with people — several hundred in total. However, a ring thirty meters wide had been left empty behind the four major powers, and no one dared approach them.

Gradually, space began to grow scarce. Seeing some weaker family clans positioned ahead of them, many other families grew discontented.

"Senior Brother Cangyuan!"

Just then, Xiao Yun, the patriarch of the Xiao Family, arrived at the spot where Spirit Sword Academy was gathered.

"Junior Brother Yun, it's been a long time!" The white-robed elder who had earlier clashed with Qin Guan looked at Xiao Yun and smiled.

"Indeed, Senior Brother Cangyuan — we've both grown old." Xiao Yun clasped Cangyuan's hand with excitement.

"Junior Brother, call your clan members over here to cultivate. I've been keeping a spot for you." Cangyuan stroked his beard and smiled.

"Many thanks for your generosity, Senior Brother!" Xiao Yun immediately waved eagerly toward the crowd in the distance.

The dozens of Xiao Family members rushed over at once. Nan Shunda, Nan Yuantong, and the more than twenty others who had defected to the Xiao Family also benefited, excitedly settling down to cultivate behind the Nan Family members. They bowed and scraped, their faces plastered with fawning smiles directed at the Xiao Family members.

Seeing this, everyone looked on with envy. Having connections truly made all the difference — a single greeting had earned them such a tremendous advantage.

"Those traitors — acting like a bunch of Pekes."

On Nan Yunqi's side, watching Nan Shunda and the others trail behind the Xiao Family, everyone was grinding their teeth with fury.

"Young Hero Yang, come over here!" At this moment, Xiao Yun called out into the crowd.

Yang Ao, seeing that Xiao Yun was about to introduce him to someone, hurried over.

"Senior Brother Cangyuan, let me introduce a young man to you."

Xiao Yun smiled at Cangyuan.

"Junior Yang Ao greets Senior Cangyuan!" Yang Ao bowed respectfully, his manner extremely humble.

"And who is this?"

"His name is Yang Ao. He recently awakened the True Dragon Sword Intent. Junior Brother hopes that Senior Brother will take him as a disciple." Xiao Yun spoke up.

"What — True Dragon Sword Intent?!" Cangyuan was instantly stunned.

Upon hearing "True Dragon Sword Intent," everyone raised their heads to look toward Yang Ao. The elders from the other three major powers couldn't help but scrutinize him as well.

Suddenly the center of attention, Yang Ao couldn't help but straighten his back, a look of pride spreading across his face.

"Senior Brother, he is a year older than the usual age limit, and his Sword Dao has only just broken through to the Sword Apprentice level. However, his comprehension is exceptional, and he has awakened the True Dragon Sword Intent. What do you think?" Xiao Yun asked with a smile.

"Of course, no problem at all. Would it be possible for this old man to witness the True Dragon Sword Intent?" Cangyuan nodded eagerly.

"Yes, Senior!"

Yang Ao slightly curled his five fingers. In his palm, a golden sword Qi carrying a faint draconic roar spun rapidly, releasing a sharp cutting sound as it sliced through the air.

"Remarkable — worthy of the True Dragon Sword Intent. Even freshly awakened, its power is already this formidable!"

Cangyuan let out a cry of admiration, then looked at Yang Ao. "Are you willing to become this old man's Personal Disciple?"

Upon hearing "Personal Disciple," Yang Ao immediately dropped to his knees. "Disciple pays respects to Master!"

"Ha ha, excellent! Excellent!" Cangyuan stroked his beard and laughed heartily. He hadn't expected that this trip to the Secret Realm would bring such a pleasant surprise — he had taken on a disciple who had awakened the True Dragon Sword Intent.

Everyone present was filled with envy. Even becoming a student of Spirit Sword Academy was an incomparable honor; yet Yang Ao had gone straight to becoming an elder's Personal Disciple. His future prospects were limitless!

In the distance, watching Yang Ao bow before Cangyuan as his master, Nan Yunqi felt a wave of dread, and the rest of the Nan Family grew uneasy as well.

"Ahem!" At this moment, Yang Hongmei suddenly coughed.

Nan Yunqi, who hadn't spoken to Yang Hongmei in three days, suddenly grabbed her hand:

"Hongmei, if Yang Ao comes looking for trouble with us later, you must put in a good word for us!"

"Nan Yunqi, weren't you so tough earlier? How is it that now you're…"

"Mother!"

Just as Yang Hongmei was about to say more, Nan Qiao suddenly shot her a meaningful look.

Seeing this, Yang Hongmei reined in some of her arrogance and said in a lukewarm tone, "I can vouch for the Nan Family members, but for those of a different surname, I can't make any promises."

As she spoke, Yang Hongmei's gaze drifted — seemingly by accident — toward Qin Guan.

"What do you mean 'different surname' — everyone here is part of the Nan Family," Nan Yunqi said irritably.

"Mother, please look after Qin Guan as well. He is your son-in-law, after all." Nan Rou looked at Yang Hongmei and pleaded.

Yang Hongmei shook her head and sighed helplessly. "It's not that I don't want to help. The problem is that he killed Ao'er's cousin. How am I supposed to plead for him in that matter?"

"Husband, let's just leave. We don't have to explore the Secret Realm, alright?"

Nan Rou suddenly took Qin Guan's hand and wanted to leave. Although Qin Guan was powerful, now that Yang Ao had taken a Spirit Sword Academy elder as his master, the might of Spirit Sword Academy was beyond imagination.

"Don't worry."

Qin Guan patted Nan Rou's small hand, then looked at Yang Hongmei:

"On our wedding day, I spared his life. If he dares to cause trouble later, even if you plead for him, I will still kill him."

Hearing that Qin Guan intended to kill Yang Ao, Yang Hongmei let out a cold laugh. "Ha — quite the bold words. Yang Ao is now the Personal Disciple of a Spirit Sword Academy elder. If you dare kill him, his master will not let you off!"

"Then I'll just kill his master along with him." Qin Guan smiled faintly, as calm and unhurried as a breeze leaving no trace.

"Where is the Nan Family?! Where is Qin Guan?!"

Qin Guan had barely finished speaking when Yang Ao's voice — arrogant, domineering, and laced with the desire for revenge — rang out across the entire gathering, reverberating through the whole area.