Chapter 680: Becoming a Disciple

Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, Dongbo Xueying, having drawn his sword, took a single step and instantly transformed into a blur of motion.

**Boom!**

Flames even flickered across his body, forming an arc-like trail—a clear sign of his terrifying speed.

“Thunderfire has manifested!” Many clan disciples, guards, and maids watching the battle widened their eyes in awe. The Seventh Prince, in particular, was exhilarated. To generate Thunderfire purely from flight speed was something only a Fourth Heaven Realm God could typically achieve. For many present, this was a rare sight to behold.

The nine-headed demonic puppets roared in unison as they lunged forward.

**Swish.**

A moment later—

A crimson thread of light streaked across the sky, zigzagging three times midair, precisely slicing across the necks of all nine puppets.

**Whoosh.**

Dongbo Xueying reappeared in the distance, casually sheathing his sword.

Only then did the puppets’ necks split open, nearly severed halfway. Their internal mechanisms faltered, forcing them to halt as their wounds slowly regenerated.

“Did I win?” Dongbo Xueying glanced at the Second Elder.

“Such formidable swordsmanship,” the Second Elder remarked, his eyes gleaming as he nodded with a smile. “No wonder Guest Elder Feixue wishes to learn the *Six Slaying Sword Techniques*.”

The other two guest elders and the remaining two elders—mere Fourth Heaven Realm Gods—were inwardly stunned. They could tell that this level of combat prowess was far beyond an ordinary Fourth Heaven Realm God; it likely rivaled that of an average Great Power.

However—

In this world, Fourth Heaven Realm Gods matching Great Powers was relatively common, as supreme techniques were easier to master here.

“His strength may be on par with our clan elders,” the two elders mused. Guest elders needed to earn great merits to learn supreme techniques, whereas clan elders had direct access.

“Perhaps he’s still holding back. He’s not to be underestimated.”

They quickly reached their conclusion.

“Tonight, we shall host a banquet in honor of Guest Elder Feixue,” the Second Elder announced loudly.

Many in the crowd buzzed with excitement.

Defeating nine demonic puppets with a single sword strike was a rare feat.

“So incredible, absolutely incredible!” The childlike Seventh Prince’s eyes sparkled. He could still vividly recall the crimson thread zigzagging three times—the trajectory of the sword. To him, it was more beautiful than a rainbow. “I want to learn the sword—from Guest Elder Feixue himself.”

—

Time flowed swiftly.

Before long, over a year had passed since Dongbo Xueying joined the Chong Clan.

“Lord Feixue.”

The guardian of the library bowed respectfully.

Dongbo Xueying gave a slight nod before entering, browsing through the collection. As a guest elder, his status granted him access to many restricted areas, including the library, which housed cultivation methods, Realm God-level secret arts, ancient formations, and more—all available for guest elders to study. Of course, the clan’s most core secrets remained beyond his reach. For now, the supreme technique he sought most—the *Six Slaying Sword Techniques*—eluded him.

He needed to earn significant merit first.

“Three Sacred Grounds, Nine Great Clans,” Dongbo Xueying murmured as he flipped through the texts.

Over the past year—

He had devoured countless books and occasionally conversed with other guest elders and clan elders. Their discussions ranged from Dao debates to tales of perilous ruins and even the broader state of the world. Having interrogated the ‘Black Sky Palace Master,’ Dongbo Xueying could speak knowledgeably about many dangers, avoiding suspicion. He even feigned ignorance, claiming, *”I’ve spent my years in secluded cultivation, knowing little of the world.”*

Soon, he learned that the twelve most dominant forces in this world were the *Three Sacred Grounds* and the *Nine Great Clans*.

They stood at the pinnacle, ruling the entire realm.

“In this world, the Three Sacred Grounds are unshakable. Just beneath them are the Nine Great Clans—the Chong Clan being one of them, with four Great Powers among their ranks,” Dongbo Xueying mused. “But the number of supreme techniques here is staggering.”

Each of the Nine Great Clans possessed at least two supreme techniques, with some boasting as many as five.

The Three Sacred Grounds were even more formidable, their depths unfathomable. With a single command, they could dispatch their elite disciples to study the techniques of the Nine Great Clans—who dared not refuse. From the scattered clues, it was clear the Sacred Grounds were immensely powerful, undoubtedly housing Venerable-level existences.

“The Demon Ancestor left behind the ancient star map, guiding me here—but for what purpose?” Dongbo Xueying pondered. “The Three Sacred Grounds are shrouded in mystery. No rush. First, I must obtain the supreme technique of the Slaughter Dao.”

From his gathered intelligence—

He had yet to hear of any supreme techniques related to the Void Dao.

But for the Slaughter Dao, he had learned of two: the Chong Clan’s *Six Slaying Sword Techniques* and the Fu Mo Clan’s *Scripture of Great Annihilation*.

“Lord Feixue, take care.” The library guardian bowed as Dongbo Xueying departed.

“Elder Feixue! Elder Feixue!” A child’s voice rang out.

Dongbo Xueying rubbed his forehead and sighed, turning to see a young boy sprinting toward him, trailed by two maids. “Elder Feixue, please! Accept me as your disciple! I truly wish to learn swordsmanship from you!”

“Seventh Prince, the Ancestor has already arranged your training. Listen to him and stop troubling me,” Dongbo Xueying replied helplessly. The Seventh Prince was the child of the Chong Clan’s Ancestor—a figure of unique status. He couldn’t scold or discipline the boy, only persuade. For now, he preferred to obtain the supreme technique through conventional means rather than force.

A little extra time was a small price to pay. He had plenty.

“Hahaha! Brother Feixue, the Seventh Prince has set his sights on you. Just give in!” A red-nosed man swayed over, clutching a wine gourd.

“Drunkard, if you’re not taking disciples, then shut it,” Dongbo Xueying retorted. The drunkard was another guest elder of the Chong Clan.

“I’d teach him, but the Seventh Prince doesn’t want me!” The red-nosed man cackled.

“Elder Feixue, I’m sincere!” The Seventh Prince stared up at him with wide, pleading eyes.

“I’ve said it before—if the Ancestor agrees, I’ll take you as my disciple,” Dongbo Xueying said, exasperated. “Stop making this difficult for me.”

With that, he took a single step—

**Whoosh!**

—and vanished, fleeing faster than anyone could react.

“Honestly, when have I, Dongbo Xueying, ever been this flustered—cornered by an eight-year-old?” He sighed. Over the past year, the Seventh Prince had persistently charmed him. Dongbo Xueying had grown fond of the unspoiled child and wouldn’t mind teaching him. But the Ancestor had other plans.

The Ancestor preferred sending his son to the Three Sacred Grounds for superior training. After all, the Chong Clan already had four Great Powers. Why settle for a Fourth Heaven Realm God when the Sacred Grounds offered far greater masters?

—

“Father, Father! I told you—I only want Elder Feixue as my master. No one else!” The Seventh Prince shook his head stubbornly.

Seated on the main throne, the purple-robed man sighed.

As the clan’s strongest, he was powerless against the whims of an eight-year-old.

“You could have the chance to study under a Sacred Lord, yet you refuse—insisting on a Fourth Heaven Realm God as your master,” the purple-robed man muttered.

“Ancestor,” the steward interjected softly, “perhaps it’s best to let the Seventh Prince remain in the clan.”

The purple-robed man glanced at him.

“First, even if the Prince enters the Sacred Grounds, there’s no guarantee he’ll be accepted by a Sacred Lord—and the trials are arduous. Second, Guest Elder Feixue’s swordsmanship is extraordinary, his realm no weaker than an average Great Power. Third, with you here, Ancestor, you can personally oversee the Prince’s training. Moreover… after over a year of the Prince’s relentless pleas…”

The purple-robed man nodded slowly, convinced. Keeping his son within the clan meant he could watch over him at all times.

The Seventh Prince stared eagerly at his father, hope shining in his eyes.

“Very well. I permit you to take Guest Elder Feixue as your master,” the purple-robed man relented.

“Ha! Thank you, Father!” The boy cheered, darting forward to hug him and planting messy kisses on his cheeks. The purple-robed man chuckled—perhaps this was the right choice after all.

He shot a glance at the steward and transmitted a message: *”Inform Guest Elder Feixue—if he can train my son to become a Realm God, the* Six Slaying Sword Techniques *will be his.”*

“As you command,” the steward acknowledged.

—

Dongbo Xueying stared blankly at the Seventh Prince kneeling before him. The boy looked up and declared, “Disciple greets his master!”

“This…” Dongbo Xueying was caught off guard.

The steward beside him smiled. “Guest Elder Feixue, the Ancestor has yielded to the Seventh Prince’s persistence. He has consented to the Prince becoming your disciple.”

Dongbo Xueying blinked.

He had come to this world to uncover its secrets—yet in such a short time, he had somehow ended up with a disciple instead.