Taoist Purple Cloud

"Respected… respected Eremite!" Ouyang Li could only grit his teeth and bow deeply toward the accused senior. "Congratulations on your recent promotion!"

"Promotion my ass! I haven't had a breakthrough in centuries! You, on the other hand… it seems that your inborn talent hasn't stopped you. It's only been a short time, and you are already a Steward!"

Ouyang Li smiled politely. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes. However, his heart was filled with vile thoughts.

Of course, I'm faster than you, you old prick! Even a pig can ascend with a Mysterious Bead bound to its soul! Even though I haven't cultivated that much, I'm already on the verge of reaching later stages of the Immortal Foundation Realm.

"Well, I'm glad to be praised by you, senior." Ouyang Li said after a moment. "The techniques that you have recommended back them proved to be of immense help to me during my journey. It was thanks to them that I survived and managed to get my current cultivation base"

"So, it is like that… I see." The man nodded and waved his hand. Immediately, a strange barrier appeared surrounding the two. Then, something isolated them in this space.

Inconceivable powers emerged. The old Eremite activated some talisman, and they were both transported to another place!

Ouyang Li was shocked. This unexpected teleportation not only caused his senses to be cut off, but it also made his body reel! He was now trying to get rid of his stomach's content. However, the problem was that he hasn't eaten in months! As a result, there was only some gall getting out!

At once, he was on his fours, gasping for breath. However, suddenly, the old man pushed something onto him.

It was an invisible pressure, something that Ouyang Li felt only a few times!

It was the absolute suppression of a higher-level cultivator. The man must be at the peak of the Golden Core Realm at the very least!

Ouyang Li first felt his bones breaking. Then, blood started to seep from his seven orifices. At this point, Ouyang Li felt like he's going to die. Next thing, his true cultivation unfolded. It was almost automatic. Even though he knew it was stupid, his body reacted instinctively, and his bead stopped fluctuating.

"Speak! Why are you hiding your true cultivation base? How come you are capable of deceiving my senses? If it wasn't for the hunch I had…"

Seeing that Ouyang Li was rapidly paling, the old man stopped his mumbling and withdrawn part of the pressure. Still, some strange force griped his heart, seemingly measuring his every heartbeat.

"This senior… It's all because I'm too weak! Also, I'm afraid of trouble. Actually, I only want to cultivate peacefully. However, if my realm cultivation base was to be discovered, there would be too many questions. After all, my talent isn't good. I'm afraid I would be forced to do many troublesome things as well. So, I've decided to hide it!"

At his point, all he could do was tell the truth. After all, who knew what this crazy old man was capable of? Ouyang Li could only endure.

The Eremite looked thoughtful. After a moment, he out some kind of a pill and forcefully put it into the boy's mouth.

"Well, that doesn't explain your abnormally fast growth. No wonder these old masters suspect you. Now, let's see how you deal with my poison…"

"Senior!" Ouyang Li felt the pill properties rapidly invading every part of his body. "Have some mercy! It's all because I've had a lucky encounter…"

Intense weaves of incredibly mighty divine senses scanned throughout his body. However, the man remained dissatisfied.

Then, he channeled his Qi into the surrounding walls and activated some mysterious artifact. Powerful fluctuation emerged, and a small spirit appeared in the air. It was covered by a hood and looked creepy. It then silently pointed at the boy's hand.

Suddenly, the old man's eyes narrowed. He moved his hand, and Ouyang Li completely lost control of his already half-paralyzed body.

"That is interesting…" The man weaved, and a small, partially cracked bracelet left the boy's wrist. "I can indeed believe part of your words now."

Ouyang Li was shocked. This was what the previous body owner left! Could it really be some sort of treasure?

He wore the bracelet, hoping to discover its secrets. But so far, he had no luck. There was nothing as the bracelet seemed to be broken.

"Alright, let's get you back on your feet." The Eremite once again stuffed a few pills into his throat. Then, he used some kind of healing technique that helped him digest the medicinal properties. "That should do it. I will give you another token now."

"Please, don't make me go to any fortune-tellers, senior!" Ouyang Li was still a little bit muddle-headed, so he spoke his mind without thinking.

"Pfff!" The man snorted while pocketing Ouyang Li's bracelet into his spatial ring. "From this moment on, you are my, Taoist Purple Cloud's, fourth disciple!"

What? Ouyang Li was shocked. Actually, he was panicking! He really didn't want to have a master. After all, that would mean having to constantly look behind his shoulders. Could it be that this man is really insane? Who wants to be your disciple!?

"What are you waiting for? Quickly kowtow and accept me as your master, boy!"

Still, it's better not to be targeted by this guy… Ouyang Li shuddered, thinking about his previous encounter with this cheap master of his. And now, the first thing he did after proposing this discipleship was steal his treasure!

Although reluctantly, Ouyang Li slowly went through the ceremony. He kowtowed to the man three times. Then, he looked around. It turned out they was in a basement. Luckily, there was a tea-making set on a nearby table, so he quickly served the madman a cup.

"Good! You are my fourth disciple now. For now, only an in-name disciple. However, as your three senior brothers are already dead, you'll be the only one to continue my lineage."

Ouyang Li once again shivered, fearing to ask how they died.

"However, you must become an Elder as soon as you make a breakthrough to the late stages of the Immortal Foundation Realm. Otherwise, don't tell anyone you are related to me!"

"Master, perhaps we could wait until I condense my Golden Core? This way, I could peacefully wait out the upcoming storm in my Waste Disposal Pavilion. Besides, I'm happy being a Steward…"

"Absolutely not! Waste disposal? It can't be! You are my disciple now. These old fellows might suspect you to be of the devil Tao, but I remember that the first time I saw you. You were clearly a newbie. You didn't have a high cultivation base back then. Otherwise, I would sense it much earlier!"

Ouyang Li could only silently nod his head. The way he saw it… The less he interacted with this powerful Eremite, the better.

"You must come to me as soon as you achieve the latter stages of the Immortal Foundation. Then, I will forcefully raise your cultivation base to the peak of the realm. I will also help you break through to the Golden Core Realm despite your low-grade Spiritual Roots. This is your opportunity!"

"Thank you, master!" The boy swallowed hard. "This Ouyang Li is very happy to be given this chance."

"Remember, you must first become an Elder. Don't even think about evading responsibility! Do you hear me?"

"Yes, master! I have a question, though."

"Speak." The man reluctantly consented.

"If senior can wear both silver and black robes, could it be that I can also pretend to be an Outer Disciple? And even if I'm a silver-clad Elder, can I still pretend to be a Steward?"

"You dare! Such things are punishable by death. Not everyone can be like your master. If you want to hide, I will give you False Invisibility Technique. This way, the ants will see an illusion of different colors…"

Ouynag Li was speechless. This man was truly shameless to circumvent the rules in such a way.

The Eremite activated his spatial artifact. Then, he retrieved two dusted books from inside. Ouyang Li's eyes widened. After all, it was rare to see a technique that wasn't recorded on a jade slip.

False invisibility…. That name doesn't sound very promising… He thought in his heart. Still, he readily accepted the books and bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

"Get out and don't bother me anymore. The sect is not at its best at the moment and I don't have an easy time either. Don't you dare to slack off anymore! I will check up on you later because there will be a huge opportunity…"

"How so?" Ouyang Li asked curiously. He didn't know what to think now, so he could only go with the flow.

"You see, I'm half-a-step Nascent Soul cultivator. Now that the sect's situation is slowly becoming desperate, these old fellows cannot remain stingy anymore. The Patriarchs will be forced to open up the sect treasury and our Mystic Realm as well. It would never be done in times of peace. However, as the sect is being threatened, they will need more Heavenly Lords. So, they will naturally grant me a few remaining Heavenly Panaceas from the times of the Heavenly Court. This way, your master's path will no longer be cut off, and I won't have to stay in this dusted space!"

The man laughed out crazily, and his eyes suddenly became unfocused. Ouyang Li could only sigh in his heart and wait to receive the madman's attention once again.

Ouyang Li was speechless. Actually, it took his master an entire incense worth of time to get back to the present moment!

These old monsters are extremely dangerous! Most of them must be mental. Who knew how many of their loved ones had already left this world? The whole cultivation civilization is simply crazy!

"Now, don't think your master is bragging. This is an important piece of news. And, of course, you can also gain something from it. After all, everyone with the Immortal Foundation cultivation and above will get to enter the Mystic Realm. Take your time but make ample preparations. After all, it won't be long before the sect market starts to fluctuate."

"Thank you for your reminder, master. I will not disappoint you. If there is nothing else, then this Ouyang Li will now take his leave."

"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Take this book with you. This is your master's second gift to you. This way, you will understand some things about the sect's current situation. And worry not, our Gentle Wind Valley survived even more difficult tribulations..."

Then, the man retrieved a few high-grade spirit stones. He once again activated the array formation.

The patter under the Ouyang Li's feet lit up and his body started to shift.

Before he had time to prepare for another round of nausea, he disappeared in a bright flash of lights.