Chapter 484 Eldrin (Person Name) Takes a Disciple

"He's just a snot-nosed kid. Why waste your breath talking to him?"

The burly man sneered coldly, a flicker of murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he prepared to strike the young child.

At that very moment, the air suddenly grew stagnant. The 3 of them felt an overwhelming terror seize their hearts, finding themselves completely unable to move even an inch.

A figure clad in snow-white robes strode forth, descending into the courtyard like a banished immortal gracing the mortal realm—an vision of unattainable perfection.

Eldrin landed in the courtyard, first glanced at the old man's corpse, then looked toward the child whose bone age barely reached 5 years, before finally fixing his gaze upon the trio.

In that instant, he grasped the entire sequence of events—the elderly man was the same aged cultivator who had guided him that day.

This man, with his remaining lifespan dwindling, still toiled tirelessly just to accumulate some resources for his grandson. Fortunately, he received a reward from Eldrin (Person Name).

However, shortly after obtaining the spirit stones, they caught unwanted attention. These 3 individuals, who happened to be their neighbors, coveted the spirit stones in their possession. Taking advantage of their vulnerable state as an elderly survivor and a young heir, they bullied them relentlessly, ultimately causing the old cultivator’s death.

"Preying on the bereaved?"

Eldrin's gaze turned icy, a flicker of rage flashing through his heart.

The old man’s disciples and children had all fallen in battle, a lineage of heroes through and through. Yet who could have foreseen such an ignoble end?

Had he not sensed something amiss by chance, this young child would likely have fallen prey to their covert schemes, leaving them all utterly slain on the spot.

"He deserves to die."

With that thought, Eldrin flicked his sleeve, reducing the 3 to ashes of calamity.

After slaying the 3 men, he gazed at the old man’s remains and murmured to himself, “Did I make a mistake by giving him that sum of 32,000 spirit stones?”

"It's not you who is wrong."

Lyra stepped forward and said consolingly, "This world is inherently cruel. Among cultivators, it is truly the survival of the fittest."

"Those cultivators backed by clans and sects can still retire in comfort with someone to care for them, but for wandering cultivators, how many truly live to see a peaceful end?"

Eldrin listened quietly, understanding in his heart that this was reality.

Even a Nascent Soul True Lord, if unable to nurture disciples to inherit their legacy, would see the spiritual veins and treasures they leave behind become seeds of calamity for future generations after their earthly demise.

A cultivator wishing to ensure the safety of their descendants must settle their affairs before death, entrusting most of their treasures to trusted friends and old acquaintances. In exchange, they secure protection for their lineage from these allies.

Suppressing his inner thoughts, Eldrin turned his gaze toward the young child, his eyes slightly widening in surprise.

"What superb natural talent!"

"Is it an immortal?"

The child’s mind reeled with awe as he watched the white-robed figure descend from the skies like an exiled immortal. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the 3 sworn enemies were utterly annihilated—a display of power that, to his eyes, could only be the work of a celestial being.

As the celestial being stepped forward, he finally snapped out of his daze and promptly knelt down, saying, "Thank you, Immortal, for avenging me. This humble 1 kowtows in gratitude!"

"There is no need for formalities."

Eldrin (Person Name) maintained a placid expression as he carefully examined the other a few more times, then said, "What is your name?"

The young child was momentarily taken aback, replying somewhat uncertainly, "My name is Ye Qingfeng. Grandfather said he hopes I'll resemble a 3-foot Qingfeng Sword—possessing unyielding pride that would rather break than bend."

"Ye Qingfeng, a fine name."

Eldrin gave a slight nod and continued asking, "Do you still have any living relatives?"

Ye Qingfeng raised his little face upon hearing this and declared, "I still have parents. Grandfather said they went to a faraway place—they were great heroes who vanquished demons and eradicated monsters."

"When the day comes that the human race has fought its way back to the distant seas, Mother and Father will return to see me."

The Distant Sea...

Eldrin's gaze flickered slightly, a tremor passing through his heart as he rose to his feet. "Then stay by my side from now on," he said, "until the day your parents return for you."

"Following the immortal..."

The young child’s expression froze for a moment as he recalled his grandfather’s past instructions. A sudden clarity dawned upon him, and he dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. “Your disciple, Ye Qingfeng, pays respects to his master.”

Unexpectedly, Eldrin did not refuse.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed calmly at Ye Qingfeng and said, "If you wish to become my disciple and pledge yourself to my tutelage, you must first comprehend 1 fundamental truth."

"A man may refuse to kneel before heaven and earth, disdain to bow to immortals and demons, and reject submission to power, but he must understand gratitude."

"I have guided you onto the path of cultivation—a grace of Dao attainment that demands 3 ceremonial kowtows!"

"Understood, Master!"

Ye Qingfeng knelt upon the ground, performing 3 solemn kowtows before completing the ceremonial rites of a disciple. Only then did he speak: "My grandfather taught me that even for a drop of kindness received, 1 should repay with a flowing spring. For the grace of enlightenment bestowed, 1 must repay even if it requires shedding blood and tears."

"Disciple pays respects to the Master today. This humble apprentice shall forever remember the Master's teachings."

Eldrin finally revealed a smile. Though Ye Qingfeng was young, he had inherited Old Man Ye’s principles and displayed rather decent upbringing.

At this thought, he said with some affection, "Today, you have performed the threefold kowtow to acknowledge me as your master, forging the bond of mentor and disciple. Henceforth, you shall be the founding disciple under my tutelage."

"As you well know, my disciple, your master is named Eldrin (Person Name), revered as the Daoist of the Returning Abyss, and ruler of the State of Chen in Jizhou within the Eastern Wastelands (Location)."

"Your disciple understands." Ye Qingfeng bowed once more.

Eldrin helped him to his feet before saying, “I, your master, have come from the Eastern Wastelands. You shall journey with me across the lands, and we shall return to the Chen Kingdom together in due time.”

Cultivators live by the principle of simplicity. The 2 assisted Ye Qingfeng in laying his grandfather’s remains to rest, then brought him back to the cave abode.

After settling Ye Qingfeng, Lyra (Person Name) smiled and said, "This child possesses the Pure Yang Dao Body, 1 of the supreme physiques, coupled with his 5 Spiritual Roots aptitude. He is truly suited to inherit your legacy."

Eldrin nodded slightly. Whether it was Ye Qingfeng’s astonishing fortune or Eldrin’s own serendipity, fate had indeed guided him to such a fitting inheritor of his orthodox lineage.

Ye Qingfeng was merely 5 years old this year. His Pure Yang Dao Body had yet to manifest, making it undetectable to ordinary cultivators.

Only with a divine sense no weaker than a true monarch's could Eldrin (Person Name) detect the deeply concealed Pure Yang Dao Body within him.

If it were a few years later, if Ye Qingfeng were still alive, and his Pure Yang Dao Body gradually manifested, then even Lord Jiuchuan would likely be stirred, taking him in as his final disciple.

Because Dao Bodies were also divided into 3 grades and 9 ranks. Ordinary Dao Bodies could, at most, elevate 1 Life-Bound Spiritual Treasure, while mid-grade Dao Bodies could refine 2 or 3 Life-Bound Spiritual Treasures as early as the Golden Core Realm.

A superior constitution like the Pure Yang Dao Body could even allow 1 to advance prematurely to the legendary Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) during the late Nascent Soul stage through the constitution’s innate nourishment.

This point could be considered absolutely crucial, for if a Nascent Soul cultivator possessed a Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) as their lifebound artifact, their chances of breaking through to the Spirit Transformation realm would be vastly increased.

Ye Qingfeng's Pure Yang Dao Body, combined with his 5 Spiritual Roots aptitude, if properly nurtured, would grant him a significant chance to break through to the Nascent Soul Dao Lord. In the future, he might even harbor a sliver of hope for attaining immortality.

All these years, the reason Eldrin had never taken on any disciples was primarily because he could not find a suitable successor.

For investing too much emotion and effort into nurturing disciples often leads to their premature demise, which in turn brings profound sorrow.

For a cultivator like him, who aspired to attain immortality, taking on disciples was ultimately inconsequential. Accepting a personal disciple would only deplete considerable resources needed for their training.

Ascending to immortality was an arduous path to begin with, and the resources consumed in nurturing a personal disciple were immense. This might very well diminish a cultivator's hope of achieving immortality.

Yet even so, after meeting Ye Qingfeng, he still decided to take him as his first disciple, the inheritor of his dao lineage.