Chapter 764: The Self Desires to Establish a Foundation
Chapter 764: The Self Desires to Establish a Foundation
"You can count on me, Sect Master," Fang Zaiji declared, thumping his chest. "I've got this."
"My eye for talent is far sharper than Old Liu's," he continued. "I never make mistakes. I'd wager that every one of these youngsters is a peerless prodigy, the kind you find once in a lifetime."
"I scoured more than a dozen provinces just to find this small group. That should tell you how arduous the task was."
Fang Zaiji lamented.
"Don't tell me you just snatched these children away without so much as a word," Liu San said, his expression darkening as he looked at the huddle of weeping toddlers.
"Ridiculous," Fang Zaiji scoffed, shooting Liu San a disdainful look. "To walk the path to immortality is a chance countless mortals would die for. I'm graciously leading them onto this path. Am I supposed to ask their parents for permission?"
"Besides," he added, "the Medicine King Sect is still in seclusion. We have to act discreetly."
His words left Liu San speechless.
"Unlike in ancient times, there aren't countless sects sending cultivators across the land to select disciples. The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance has a hands-off approach, leaving it to fate who gets to walk the path of cultivation. As a result, countless gifted individuals must be falling through the cracks."
"This could be an opportunity for the Medicine King Sect."
At these words, Liu San's eyes brightened. "The Sect Master has a point."
"In that case, I'll have to ask you to take care of these disciples, Elder Liu. First, teach them the methods of cultivation. Once they reach the Qi Refining stage..."
Xu Bai was in the middle of speaking when inspiration suddenly struck.
He paused in thought for a moment, then changed his mind. "When you first teach them how to cultivate, don't mention anything about 'borrowing the wonders of heaven and earth to establish a foundation'."
"Instead, tell them only this: 'Forge a foundation from the crucible of your own self'!"
Liu San and Fang Zaiji were both taken aback.
Neither man was slow-witted; they instantly grasped Xu Bai's intention.
"Brilliant!" Fang Zaiji exclaimed, slapping the table in approval. "This way, if any of them manage to establish a foundation, it will have to be 'Foundation Establishment Through Oneself'!"
Liu San, however, hesitated. "Sect Master, isn't this... a bit much?"
Xu Bai smiled gently. "If they truly cannot establish their foundation and are on the verge of giving up, it won't be too late to tell them the truth then."
Hearing this, Liu San had no choice but to nod in agreement.
After explaining the details of 'Foundation Establishment Through Oneself' to Liu San once more, Xu Bai suddenly asked, "By the way, where is Elder Jiang? I haven't seen her."
"I could have sworn I sensed her return."
Fang Zaiji's face lit up with unconcealed glee. "She got into a fight and was utterly crushed. It hit her hard, so now she's locked herself away in secluded cultivation."
"Haha, and get this—her opponent was another woman. Prettier than her, too, and apparently mocked her mercilessly. It's a miracle Yushan didn't completely lose her mind."
"Finally, I'll have some peace and quiet without her shrill voice for a while," Fang Zaiji added, looking immensely relieved.
But Liu San's expression faltered. "What? Old Fang, why didn't you tell me something so important sooner? Is Yushan hurt?"
Anxious, Liu San completely forgot the task Xu Bai had just given him. He immediately flew off to check on Jiang Yushan.
Fang Zaiji pursed his lips. "I'll never understand what he sees in that woman."
"Since Elder Jiang is occupied with her cultivation, the task of creating the Terminal Discs falls to you, Mister Fang," Xu Bai said, breaking into Fang Zaiji's thoughts.
"With your expertise, that shouldn't be a problem, correct?" Xu Bai asked, looking at him expectantly.
Far from being annoyed at being given the grunt work, Fang Zaiji was overjoyed. "A problem? Of course not! The Terminal Stone Disk... it's practically on par with an immortal artifact! I've always felt Yushan was a bit too crude in her handling of it."
"You can rest assured, Sect Master. I will treat it with the utmost care."
Fang Zaiji gazed at Xu Bai with eager eyes.
Xu Bai smiled and tossed the Terminal Disc to him.
Without waiting for another word, Fang Zaiji took the treasure and hurried away, brimming with excitement.
Only then did Xu Bai turn his attention back to the children in the square.
Had his original self been present, he would have found their wailing unbearably grating.
But this clone, Xu Bai, felt no such impatience as he watched the clamoring children.
On the contrary, a feeling of compassion and protectiveness welled up within him.
Xu Bai silently observed the source of these emotions welling up from his physical form.
A faint smile touched his lips as he floated gently down to the children's side.
His celestial beauty and incredibly gentle presence.
Instantly captivated all the children. In a heartbeat, they fell silent, their wide eyes fixed on him in unison.
Xu Bai began to speak with the children, his tone exceptionally kind.
Amidst the flurry of voices, it only took a few moments.
For Xu Bai to learn all their names and their individual aptitudes for cultivation.
"Truly worthy of someone who could evade the pursuit of major sects in ancient times. Fang Zaiji certainly has his methods."
"The potential of these children is nearly on par with that of Zhang Haobo."
"And then there's Gu Xinghan..." Among the children, Xu Bai spotted a familiar name.
It was the same name as the cultivator from his previous life who had been the first to issue a public denunciation, revealing the truth of the Heavenly Profound Spirit Locking Array to the world.
That magnificent, impassioned ten-thousand-word treatise instantly resurfaced in Xu Bai's mind.
He looked again at the five-year-old child before him.
The two figures slowly merged into one.
"It really is him. How interesting."
In the previous life, Gu Xinghan had been one of the leaders of the Heaven Overturning Association. He led countless cultivators against the Array's network but was never captured by the Heaven Alliance.
His capabilities were undeniable.
"Perhaps this boy might have a few surprises in store for me."
Xu Bai gently patted Gu Xinghan on the shoulder, his smile deepening.
A short while later, Liu San returned, looking utterly dejected.
He had evidently failed to even see Jiang Yushan.
He could only force himself to rally his spirits and face the children with a stern expression.
After Xu Bai's earlier reassurances, the children were far more cooperative.
As Xu Bai departed, they all waved and called out their goodbyes.
Liu San watched on, clicking his tongue in amazement.
Instead of returning to Tianling Province, Xu Bai first made his way to a secret chamber within Longevity Valley.
He felt uncertain about an idea that had suddenly surfaced in his mind.
He needed to quiet his mind and consider it carefully.
"Should I use this body to perform the ritual... and enter the Fallen Immortal Realm?"
This was the thought that had suddenly occurred to him while he was with the children.
*He's so kind to children. Mr. Bai must be a 'good person,' just like Xu Ke said.*
*If that's the case, what would happen if I entered the Fallen Immortal Realm with this body?*
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