"Tch, truly cold-natured by nature."
Wang Ran sighed, stepped up to the guard, and looked down at the man's ashen face with a soft sigh. "Was it worth it? Throwing your life away for the likes of him."
The burly man kept silent, instead casting his gaze toward Teng Long. "Young Master... you must take care of yourself from now on."
With that, he closed his eyes and awaited death.
Wang Ran looked at the burly man with a trace of bewilderment. He could not comprehend what kind of mindset drove such blind loyalty.
"You need not harbor superfluous thoughts," Lu Ming's voice echoed in his mind. "Guards like this one rarely serve their masters out of genuine devotion; rather, their lives and livelihoods are entirely in the hands of the Teng Family. In a situation like this, sacrificing themselves for the head family is the best outcome for both them and their families. Given this young man's temperament, even if we were to spare them, they would undoubtedly meet a violent end sooner rather than later. And this guard has certainly committed his share of atrocities while acting as an accomplice; he deserves no pity. Remember this, disciple: deception and treachery are constant in the world of cultivation. Therefore, when dealing with enemies, you must sweep them away completely, like autumn leaves scattering before the wind. A moment of misplaced mercy or saintly compassion will ultimately bring endless disaster."
Wang Ran did not fully grasp the word "saintly," but he nonetheless suppressed the pity stirring in his heart. He began to follow the method taught by his master, placing his hand atop the burly man's head.
As a surge of emerald-green spiritual energy poured forth, the burly man's entire body rapidly turned to wood, terrifying cyan patterns blooming across his face.
A moment later, the man's body withered rapidly. His life force was absorbed by the patterns on his face until those markings blossomed like flowers.
In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the man's physical form vanished completely, replaced by an alluring green flower and a seed floating above it, resembling a gemstone.
"Is this an Immortal Seed?"
Wang Ran's heart stirred. Feeling the familiar botanical aura, countless thoughts churned within him.
"My master's methods are neither wholly righteous nor entirely evil, entirely unbound by worldly conventions. Yet if outsiders were to witness this, they would undoubtedly brand Master as a peerless demon lord once in a millennium. This seed carries the aura of an Immortal Seed, yet it differs somewhat in both color and essence. Does Master intend to give this seed to him? For such a green seed to be produced through methods so bizarre, Master must have other plans in mind."
Having spent a long time in his master's company and receiving daily lessons in the doctrine of prudence, he already understood a fair bit about his master's nature.
"Master is no heinous villain, but neither is he a softhearted do-gooder. This member of the Teng Family cannot be killed just yet; this seed is likely Master's contingency plan."
As he pondered this, Lu Ming's voice rang out in his mind once more. "Next, say this."
A moment later, Wang Ran plucked the green seed. The fully bloomed, alluring flower instantly turned to ash and scattered in the wind.
He crouched down before Teng Long and sighed. "Ah, who knows what kind of incredible fortune brought you to catch my master's eye? Let me ask you: do you wish to see your cultivation skyrocket overnight? Do you wish to wash away the reputation of good-for-nothing once and for all? Do you wish to trample your enemies beneath your feet and tell those who look down on you that thirty years flourish on the east of the river and thirty years on the west, never bully a youth for being poor?"
Teng Long's previously terrified eyes now revealed an expression of sheer disbelief. Although he was no paragon of virtue, he was not a child. Of course he wanted such things, but how could it possibly happen?
Countless questions swirled in his mind. Why was this ordinary-looking fellow able to easily shatter the trapping array, leaving both him and Wu Ye completely helpless? Furthermore, how did this fellow—or rather, the master hiding in the shadows—come to know his past, and know that he bore the title of a good-for-nothing within his clan?
His cousin, Teng Li, was only a year older than him, yet had already reached the second stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Teng Li frequently humiliated him, and had he not been of the Teng Family's direct lineage, he truly would have died at Teng Li's hands long ago.
Did he want to rise to fame overnight? Did he want his cultivation to surge?
Of course he did, but natural talent could never be made up for by sheer effort alone; with his triple mixed Spiritual Root, his fate had been sealed since birth.
That was why he had abandoned all hope and chosen to wander outside. The family was not even willing to send a competent guardian to protect him—such was the sorrow of a good-for-nothing.
"What... what on earth are you trying to do? There is no need to toy with me and humiliate me like this."
He raised his head, his eyes filled with humiliation. Having accepted reality for the moment, he swore silently in his heart: *No matter who you are, as long as I can make it back alive this time, I will find a way to kill you with my own hands.*
Seeing this, Wang Ran shook his head and sighed. "So be it. My master has a cultivation manual to impart to you. Whether you learn it or not is entirely up to you."
With that, following his master's instructions, he placed his palm upon Teng Long's head, and a faint green light suddenly pierced into Teng Long's mind.
Teng Long felt as though he were suddenly adrift in a vast ocean of green grass, where great golden characters flickered in and out of existence before him.
*Taiyi Immortal Scripture*
Like a newborn infant, he stared at this wondrous and bizarre cultivation manual.
"Take the Purple Palace as soil, plant the Immortal Seed within the abdomen. Upon minor success, cast off acquired Spiritual Roots and give birth to congenital spiritual wood."
He had no idea how much time had passed. When he finally opened his eyes, the vines that had bound him had vanished, leaving only Wang Ran looking calmly down at him.
"Greetings, Senior Brother. May I ask your esteemed master's name?"
He lowered his gaze, his expression unfathomable, his eyes flashing in a way that concealed his true thoughts.
Wang Ran nodded calmly. "It seems you aren't entirely a fool. Today I was merely acting on my master's behalf to teach a lesson to a profligate wastrel like you. My master's name cannot be spoken; come ask me again after you have reached Foundation Establishment. For now, you are not worthy. Since you have made your choice, I give you this Immortal Seed."
With that, he handed the seed forward.
"Uh... Senior Brother?"
Teng Long raised his head. Seeing Wang Ran holding the green Immortal Seed out, yet showing no intention of actually handing it over, a look of puzzlement crossed his face.
"Ahem, where is my Storage Bag? And aren't you going to offer a gift to your master? Leave behind everything of value you have, and I will personally deliver it to him on your behalf."
Wang Ran wore an embarrassed expression. Hearing this, Teng Long froze for a moment before hurriedly handing over a Storage Bag.
"It is only right. All of Senior Brother's treasures are inside this bag. Furthermore, there are one thousand low-grade Spirit Stones and some pills, which this junior brother offers as an apology to Senior Brother. I ask Senior Brother to inform Master that once I return home and prepare proper gifts, I will come to kowtow and formally apprentice myself."
Wang Ran took the Storage Bag with pleasant surprise. A sweep of his spiritual sense confirmed that the pills and the butterfly hair clip he had bought were still inside, and he couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief.
"No need. Master said you are still under a probationary period; only after you reach Foundation Establishment will he consider taking you into the sect. Moreover, word of today's events must never reach anyone else's ears, or you know full well what the consequences will be."