“This matter cannot be delayed. You must go and pay your respects to the Ancestor as soon as possible,” Fan Tianchong urged, then sighed. “In all my years of cultivation, I’ve only seen the Ancestor once. You’re truly fortunate to have the chance to meet him frequently in the future… I really don’t know what he sees in you! Sure, your cultivation is fast, but you’re only at the tenth layer of the Chaos Realm.”
The tenth layer of the Chaos Realm would make one an absolute overlord in those second- or third-rate nations.
But for the lofty ‘Ancestor Fan,’ taking on a disciple was an exceedingly rare occurrence. Many Cosmic Gods couldn’t even dream of becoming his disciple. When he chose disciples, it depended on both the disciple and his own mood. If he wasn’t pleased, no matter how talented or monstrously gifted the candidate was, he wouldn’t bother.
“Though I have confidence in myself, I am ultimately a citizen of the Southcloud Nation,” Dongbo Xueying said. “The Ancestor’s favor is misplaced.”
“Misplaced?”
Fan Tianchong’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t expected this outcome.
“Do you even understand who my Ancestor is? Do you realize what it means to become his disciple?” Fan Tianchong couldn’t help but exclaim, his eyes wide. “If you join his lineage, you could walk unopposed across all the surrounding nations! Even the so-called Southcloud Monarch wouldn’t dare slight you.”
Dongbo Xueying still shook his head lightly.
“I admit, the Southcloud Monarch is wealthy, with treasures aplenty, and he’d likely bestow many upon you. But those are just external possessions!” Fan Tianchong snapped. “Treasures are easy to come by! The Dao, however—there are no doors to knock on for that! The secret teachings leading to the pinnacle are never shared lightly. Take the Southcloud Monarch—he was once hunted like a dog, scrambling everywhere just to survive.”
“Brother Tianchong, that’s going too far,” Dongbo Xueying frowned.
Fan Tianchong couldn’t hold back. “Fine, I went too far. But your monarch did flee everywhere back then. It was only by sheer luck that he stumbled into an ancient ruin, obtained the original copy of the supreme art *Three Lifetimes Technique*, and acquired an incredibly powerful treasure, the *Two Realms Blade*. It was only with the *Two Realms Blade* that he attained his current strength and status! Though he obtained the *Three Lifetimes Technique*, it’s a supreme art of the Time Path. You, Ying Shan Xueying, follow the Void Path—that technique is utterly useless to you.”
“Do you know how precious a secret transmission leading to the pinnacle is? Your monarch got lucky to reach his current status. If you joined the Ancestor’s lineage, you’d immediately receive the most suitable secret teachings for you.” Fan Tianchong stared at Dongbo Xueying. “If you refuse now, given my Ancestor’s temperament, you’ll never have another chance to become his disciple.”
“I understand,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.
Fan Tianchong watched him.
Dongbo Xueying smiled. “The Ancestor’s favor is misplaced.”
“Ah.”
Fan Tianchong shook his head lightly. “Well, I’ve said what I needed to say. I’ve done my part for you, Brother Xueying. If you regret this in the future, don’t blame me.”
“Of course I won’t blame you, Brother Tianchong. This is my own decision,” Dongbo Xueying replied.
“Really, I just don’t understand you…” Fan Tianchong muttered, still unable to let it go.
Dongbo Xueying remained calm and smiling.
The main reason he refused to join Ancestor Fan’s lineage was to learn the *Doppelganger Technique* as soon as possible—so he could send a clone back home the moment he became a Cosmic God.
Another reason was the spearhead that the Ying Shan Matriarch had gifted him when he’d only displayed the sixth layer of the Unity Realm. The Matriarch, after all, was only at the tenth layer of the Chaos Realm. She might have some treasures, but they were usually exchanged for weapons best suited to her. So while a tenth-layer Chaos Realm expert could be considered wealthy, they could also be quite poor.
Take Dongbo Xueying himself—he was rich, with his *Redcloud Divine Spear* worth nearly ten billion cosmic crystals! Yet he couldn’t bear to sell it. Aside from that spear, his other possessions were pitifully few. It was only after slaying the Blood Bat Demon and three other Chaos Realm experts that he’d accumulated a modest stash. Otherwise, he’d still be poor.
So…
The spearhead was a small factor, too.
Of course, it was only a minor reason. If the Fan Clan could directly grant him the *Doppelganger Technique*, Dongbo Xueying would have been willing to join despite his slight guilt toward the Matriarch. He could always repay her in other ways later.
Unfortunately, the Fan Clan was too rigid, its rules too strict. They wouldn’t bend them for a mere youngster like him.
To them, Ancestor Fan’s willingness to take on a disciple was already an immense grace. After all, the other two great clans of the Summerflame Kingdom looked down on outsiders—no matter how talented, they’d never accept them. Only their own people.
—
**Southcloud Nation, Imperial Palace.**
The Southcloud Monarch sat cross-legged on a patch of black grass, the ground covered in peculiar dark weeds. Behind him stretched a deep pool about a hundred zhang wide, its emerald-green waters churning, the surface wreathed in white mist that drifted through the air.
“Ancestor Fan is taking on a disciple?”
The Southcloud Monarch frowned.
He possessed countless treasures and connections everywhere. In the Six Great Kingdoms, he had extensive networks, and in the Summerflame Kingdom—the closest to Southcloud—he’d spent great effort to befriend many. Yet Ancestor Fan had actually nodded and actively sought to take Ying Shan Xueying as a disciple… This had caused quite a stir among the Fan Clan’s upper echelons. Though none dared oppose the Ancestor, some had leaked the news to the Southcloud Monarch.
“A mere Chaos Realm youngster, even if monstrously talented, is still an outsider. Yet Ancestor Fan is personally recruiting him?” The Southcloud Monarch could hardly believe it.
The peak experts of the Summerflame Kingdom tended to look down on the surrounding nations.
Though the Fan Clan mingled widely, they still carried the superiority of being part of the Summerflame Kingdom. Even their guest elders, who’d already joined the Fan Clan, faced subtle discrimination.
“Ancestor Fan…”
The Southcloud Monarch fell silent.
If Ancestor Fan was recruiting, he had little confidence left.
“Monarch, Fan Tianchong has met Xueying, but Xueying still insists on becoming your disciple,” the Ying Shan Matriarch transmitted, her voice tinged with imbalance. She’d anticipated the Fan Clan’s recruitment, but not *Ancestor Fan* personally taking him as a disciple. Yet Ying Shan Xueying was adamant about joining the Southcloud Monarch, leaving her no choice.
The Southcloud Monarch was surprised.
Was Ying Shan Xueying that devoted to him? Was it youthful admiration, or simply inexperience with hardship?
“Regardless, this is good news.” The Southcloud Monarch smiled. At least this talented ally would remain in the nation. If he’d joined the Fan Clan, he’d have been at their beck and call.
“I didn’t interfere. It was the boy’s own choice to refuse your Fan Clan.” A faint smirk tugged at the Southcloud Monarch’s lips.
—
The news quickly spread back to the Fan Clan’s inner circles, eventually reaching Ancestor Fan himself.
Ancestor Fan sat by a babbling brook in a vast wilderness. His appearance shifted depending on who beheld him.
Some saw him as an exquisitely beautiful, enchanting woman.
Others perceived a dignified elder.
Or perhaps an adorable infant, a towering mountain-like giant whose breath shook the heavens, or a saintly figure radiating compassion…
Countless forms.
Each reflection stemmed from the observer’s heart. Different souls saw different visages.
Even in the profound depths of the Heartwind Continent, he stood at the very pinnacle, an invincible existence who, alongside two old friends, had founded the Summerflame Kingdom.
“Refused?”
Ancestor Fan gazed at the stream.
Its waters reflected scenes of Dongbo Xueying’s cultivation journey—from his childhood to the present, every hidden effort laid bare before Ancestor Fan’s eyes. Even Dongbo Xueying’s mastery of the *Illusory Realm Path* at the Chaos Realm level was laid bare.
“Such rapid progress, now cultivating both the Void and Illusory Realm Paths.” Ancestor Fan chuckled softly. “This little fellow… must be a reincarnated outsider from another source world, permitted by Yuan.”
Reincarnation was no secret at his level.
Take the strongest of the Six Great Kingdoms, the *Myriad Realms Kingdom*—even mightier than the Summerflame Kingdom. Its name, “Myriad Realms,” stemmed from its founders, all reincarnated from other source worlds. At first, such cultivators kept it hidden, but once they reached a certain level, secrecy became unnecessary.
“An outsider from another source world… In his past life, he might’ve already been a Cosmic God. To earn Yuan’s permission, his talent must be exceptional.” Ancestor Fan wasn’t bothered. A refusal was just a refusal.
He’d only acted on a whim.
It was only because he, unlike others, cared about the outer nations and sought to absorb talented outsiders that he’d taken notice. And what he’d seen in Dongbo Xueying had intrigued him.
But since the boy refused, so be it.
“*Hah.*” Ancestor Fan closed his eyes, dismissing the matter. At his level, taking on disciples was merely a passing fancy.
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