NOVEL NEXT Chapter 162: Master's Offer
Wen Ran's eyes rested on his master with an unmistakable look, one usually reserved for dead weight. Xiao Lingyun felt a sour lump rise in his throat as bitterness surged within him. He knew perfectly well that his survival up until this moment was thanks to Wen Ran's effort, and though that was a hard truth to swallow, he still couldn't shake the painful sensation of being useless. A bitter smile briefly flickered on his lips as old memories flooded his mind. He had once been young, fierce, arrogant—chasing after glory and immortality with unwavering pride. If only he could relive those days, he would surely choose differently. But life granted no second chances.
"I can move just fine," Xiao Lingyun barked impatiently, shaking off the heaviness in his heart and trying to reclaim a shred of his former pride. "Now quickly, loot their spirit pouches and toss them over—I'll remove their tracking seals." The look on his face was serious, as if he already knew something was inside there.
"Fine." Wen Ran replied curtly, clearly unhappy at being ordered around. Yet he grudgingly acknowledged that he wasn't strong enough to freely vent his arrogance—at least, not yet. But at that thought, a mysterious ripple stirred deep within him. It rose from his soul, subtle but impossible to ignore. It was defiant, rebellious, as if someone or something deeply disagreed with the idea of him yielding to anyone. However, before Wen Ran could grasp the feeling fully, the ripple faded as quickly as it came.
Shaking off the odd sensation, Wen Ran skillfully and swiftly collected the two men's spirit pouches, along with their swords, which would undoubtedly fetch a nice price later. With a casual toss, he threw everything toward his master, who promptly formed a complex seal with his fingers. The items hung suspended in mid-air, surrounded by ethereal strands of spiritual energy. A gentle glow enveloped them, gradually purging any hidden tracking formations.
In the next breath, the cleansed treasures shot back toward Wen Ran, who effortlessly caught and stored them safely into his own spirit pouch.
"Consider these my thanks for saving my life," Xiao Lingyun said calmly, stepping forward despite his frail appearance. His hand reached beneath his robe, pulling out two ancient-looking manuals, their presence causing the air to shift immediately. One emanated an icy aura, cold enough to freeze souls, while the other radiated intense heat, akin to molten iron waiting to be forged anew.
"These are?!" Wen Ran's eyes widened in shock. It made sense for the old man to give him a fire cultivation manual—but ice? How the hell did he know? Suddenly, suspicion surged in his heart.
"Your friend left this one behind when she visited last night," Xiao Lingyun said, his lips curling into a grin that carried an unspoken story. For a fleeting instant, a hint of deep longing flickered in his eyes, something that didn't escape Wen Ran's sharp gaze. Yet he had no interest in exploring whatever drama hid behind that look. He silently accepted the crystal-blue cultivation manual, feeling its cold aura resonating with his very core.
Could it really be that woman?! How the hell is she connected to this old pile of bones? Wen Ran cursed inwardly, frustrated that his secret had been revealed so carelessly, as if fate itself was mocking him.
Wen Ran's other hand moved instinctively toward the fiery-red manual, but Xiao Lingyun quickly pulled it away.
"This one, however, is from me—but it's not free," Xiao Lingyun declared, his smile widening into something devilishly cunning, enough to make Wen Ran's heart drop.
What the hell is this old demon plotting now?
"I'll ensure you're not disturbed within our sect, and even our sect master will fight fiercely to protect you," the old man continued, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "However, you must agree to openly reveal your dual cultivation paths. A cultivator possessing both fire and ice is incredibly rare. To be honest, I haven't heard of someone like you emerging for thousands and thousands of years. That's why you'll be responsible for bringing our sect glory at the upcoming Gathering of Immortals from the upper realms two hundred years from now."
"You think I give a damn about that?" Wen Ran laughed, already preparing himself to give up on the cultivation manual. He'd find another one sooner or later without having to forever shackle himself to this sect.
"Heh… you demon brat, I knew you'd say that," Xiao Lingyun chuckled knowingly, playing his cards skillfully. "But this gathering is special. It's not just immortals from upper realms gathering this time—the gods' messengers themselves will appear. If you impress them, you might even have the chance to instantly ascend to realms most cultivators wouldn't even dare to dream about."
Xiao Lingyun didn't know, but mentioning the gods was enough to ignite Wen Ran's determination instantly.
"Hand me that damn manual already, old man! Where do I sign up?!" Wen Ran blurted, his voice now eager, practically on the edge of impatience.
This brat… Xiao Lingyun could hardly believe how swiftly this kid's mood shifted. Shaking his head, he stepped forward, casually waving his hand to ignite the two corpses. The flames roared briefly before swiftly reducing them to ashes, destroying any evidence of their identities.
Turning back to Wen Ran, Xiao Lingyun spoke seriously, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "Let's go. I'll need a bit more time to recover before I can open a rift for teleportation. For now, we'll have to travel on foot in secret."
He didn't bother waiting for Wen Ran's reply, immediately moving forward. His expression grew tense as his eyes searched the sky, narrowing as if sensing the presence of something—or someone—lurking unseen.
Wen Ran noticed his master's cautious gaze, causing him to also extend his senses around them. Yet with his current strength, he was quickly disappointed, unable to sense anything unusual. Without further delay, the two of them swiftly headed west, hoping to lose whatever pursuers were tailing them in the vast mountain range ahead.