Chapter 37: The Grand Elder’s Unexpected Demeanor

Yue Feng and his companions led the old beggar into the private room. Once Yue Feng had finished ordering and the waiter had departed, Wang Yu prepared to voice her questions.

However, the old beggar sat calmly, exuding an imposing aura without needing to display anger. With a composed demeanor, he interrupted Yue Feng.

“I know what you’re about to ask,” he stated. “But before that, I have something very important to do. Could you please wait for me for a moment?”

Yue Feng and Wang Yu exchanged a stunned glance, then nodded. Given the old man’s request and his solemn expression, it must be quite significant.

To their astonishment, the old beggar expertly pulled out a remote control. With lightning speed, he cranked the settings to maximum and began frantically pressing the buttons, leaving Wang Yu and Yue Feng utterly bewildered.

“Ahhhhh!” A truly miserable shriek from Xiaoke pierced their ears.

The old man continued to press the buttons, muttering curses under his breath.

“Do you think I’m still the same person I used to be? I’m older, but I’ve grown stronger, do you understand? Did you truly believe I wouldn’t retaliate after you tricked me?

Not once have I suffered such humiliation since you left, being called an old beggar and even having someone say I was an eyesore. I’m telling you, you’re finished!”

Despite enduring an endless barrage of electric shocks, Xiaoke remained unyielding.

“I wasn’t the one who cursed you! What kind of skill is it to hit me? If you’re so brave, go hit that shopkeeper! If that’s too much, just get rid of that foolish second young master!”

“Would I have dressed up as a beggar if you hadn’t told me it would be convenient to meet the Haotian Daoist Venerable’s successor?”

The old man—or rather, Zhang Xiaoyou—spoke with indignation. “This is convenient? You just wanted to trick me, didn’t you?”

After a thorough venting session, Zhang Xiaoyou tidied his appearance. He no longer looked so disheveled, now possessing an air of immortal grace. With a benevolent expression, he inquired,

“Might I ask which of you is the successor of the Haotian Daoist Venerable? I am Zhang Xiaoyou, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Palace Institute.”

The stark contrast in the old man’s demeanor left Yue Feng and Wang Yu speechless.

“Master, is this the Zhang Xiaoyou, the foremost expert of this era, a master at the Great Completion of the Emperor Realm?” Yue Feng felt his dreams somewhat shattered.

“To be honest, it feels like meeting him is worse than the reputation precedes him.”

Shi Yang also grumbled, “Believe me, he wasn’t like this before. I don’t know why his personality changed so drastically.”

Wang Yu hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Well, if you’re referring to someone who has cultivated Haotian’s techniques, then that would likely be me.”

“Oh,” Zhang Xiaoyou turned his gaze to Wang Yu.

“As expected of one chosen by the Haotian Daoist Venerable. What a lovely young woman, possessing an extraordinary temperament at first glance.

If I may be so bold as to ask, are you from the same place as the Haotian Daoist Venerable?”

Wang Yu nodded, inwardly grumbling, ‘So, what does my extraordinary temperament have to do with that deviant Haotian?’

The old man’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. He cleared his throat and, with a serious expression, asked, “Young lady, do you have any dreams?”

Wang Yu shook her head blankly. A lazy person like her didn’t need dreams.

The old man awkwardly cleared his throat. “That doesn’t count. Let’s try again. Young lady, do you yearn for knowledge?”

“No!” Wang Yu added silently, ‘I yearn for breasts.’

The old man paused, then, after some thought, cautiously inquired, “Then do you aspire to establish a sect, to hold a position above ten thousand people?”

Wang Yu shook her head. “Too troublesome Ծ‸Ծ. I detest trouble.”

The old man was left speechless, racking his brain for anything that might entice Wang Yu.

Yue Feng, seeing the pitiable old man, felt a pang of sympathy. He understood the elder wished to take on a disciple, but Wang Yu was clearly not receptive. He reluctantly asked Wang Yu, “Then, Yu’er, what do you yearn for?”

Wang Yu replied without hesitation, “To sleep until I naturally wake up, and count money until my hands cramp!”

Yue Feng covered his face. ‘As expected,’ he thought, unable to bear witnessing the old man’s inevitable disappointment.

Zhang Xiaoyou was momentarily stunned. Seeing a reaction from the loli, he became excited.

“No problem at all! That’s too simple! Here’s my business card.

Perhaps my reputation, Zhang Xiaoyou, means little in your ‘homeland’s’ sacred land, but here on the Xuan Continent, there’s no one who doesn’t know my name.

Grand Elder of the Heavenly Palace Institute, the continent’s universally recognized gold-medal lecturer, an all-around professor, and the foremost expert in cultivation realm in this era.

I’m not boasting, but every single one of my disciples is now a pillar of various major forces. The current head of Yuan Xing was taught by me, and even elders and sect masters of other sacred lands call me ‘teacher.’

Young lady, I tell you, become my disciple, and a hundred million will be a small goal for you. You’ll be able to sleep until whatever time you wish!”

Wang Yu’s heart stirred! Her eyes sparkled. “Really? It’s that simple, just becoming your disciple?”

“Indeed!” Zhang Xiaoyou said with an excited expression. “My prestige, my grand reputation—”

“Oh, give it a rest,” Xiaoke interjected, indicating he still had some fight left. “You’re just a junior. Master, I have only one thing to say about this: he was taught by me.”

The old man’s mouth twitched. He immediately slapped Xiaoke onto the wall. “Can you not go a day without talking?”

He didn’t deny it? Wang Yu looked at the old man in surprise. Taught by Xiaoke? Wang Yu’s expression immediately soured.

Zhang Xiaoyou panicked. He vowed that once they returned, he would research another hundred sets of torture devices for Xiaoke, the first of which would be a treasure that silenced it.

For now, the most pressing matter was to salvage his reputation.

Indeed, in the past, the Haotian Daoist Venerable, engrossed in his research projects, didn’t have much time to teach him. Any time he did have was spent filling the pits Xiaoke had dug.

Thus, in his early years, most of his knowledge was passively acquired from Xiaoke; if he hadn’t learned, he truly would have been ruined. But he was absolutely not in league with Xiaoke; he was famously a paragon of teaching.

‘A witness, I need a witness!’ Zhang Xiaoyou thought to himself. He scanned the room, finding no one who could testify for him. Just as he was about to lament his impending doom, he suddenly spotted a familiar face.

“Ahem, ahem.” Zhang Xiaoyou coughed, more than he had in the past fifty years combined. “Little Shi Yang, come out. I know you’re here.”

“Sigh.” Shi Yang thought, ‘You two can argue all you want; I already have a disciple, why bother me?’ But since he had been called out, he couldn’t very well remain hidden.

“Greetings, Elder Zhang,” Shi Yang said respectfully.

“No need for ‘Elder Zhang, Elder Zhang,'” Zhang Xiaoyou replied, beaming. “You and Zhao Ritian both attended my classes back then; you’re essentially my students.”

“???” Shi Yang looked at this familiar yet strange Zhang Xiaoyou, thinking, ‘You certainly didn’t say that back then.’

Zhang Xiaoyou circled Shi Yang’s soul form. “How did you end up like this? You and Zhao Ritian both disappeared one after another and were listed as legends on the Xuan Continent. Did you encounter powerful enemies?”

Shi Yang shook his head. “No. Old Zhao returned home. As for me, I was too eager for quick results, made a mistake in my cultivation, and later encountered a strange black mist, which led to my current state.”

Zhang Xiaoyou spoke with a sagely air.

“You were practicing the Grand Clarity Art that you and Zhao Ritian created, weren’t you? Zhao Ritian told me about it; that technique absolutely cannot be rushed. One wrong step, and the entire game is lost, with extremely severe consequences. However, I’m not familiar with the black mist you mentioned.”

“Sigh,” Shi Yang lamented. “I know I shouldn’t have been so impatient, but my failure doesn’t mean the technique is flawed. It was the culmination of mine and Zhao Ritian’s efforts, and I hope someone can carry it forward and make it shine.”

“So you found a disciple to pass it on to, teaching them directly?” Zhang Xiaoyou glanced at Yue Feng. “Is it him? I can feel the primordial energy within him, shining like the sun, without a single flaw.”

“Yes,” Shi Yang said with a smile. He was very satisfied with his disciple, except for when he occasionally became quite frivolous.

“Oh, right, you little scamp over there, why did you act against that good-for-nothing earlier?” Zhang Xiaoyou asked curiously. “You should know that while the good-for-nothing himself isn’t much, his guards are all top-notch, certainly not someone your kind can handle.”

Yue Feng bowed.

“Because I learned that this hotel in the center of Hearth City has a history of over a thousand years. Although the rulers of Hearth City have changed many times, this hotel has always stood firm.

Hearth City is a gathering place for cultivators, yet this hotel dares to set a rule that troublemakers, regardless of their status, are all refused service, which indicates its profound background.”

“Of course,” Yue Feng smiled, “I also didn’t expect it to be run by people from Yuan Xing.”

“Shi Yang found himself a clever disciple,” Zhang Xiaoyou said with a chuckle.

“Not only this tavern, but many other industries are assets of Yuan Xing. Its influence spans across the continent, with its every move impacting the entire continent’s economy.

It’s known as the uncrowned sacred land. It’s a pity that if it weren’t for their ancestors owing debts to the entire continent, who knows how developed they would be by now.”

“Oh dear, I forgot about the main business!” Zhang Xiaoyou pulled Shi Yang’s soul form closer, pointing at Xiaoke. “Come, come, you prove that I’m not affiliated with that trickster!”