Zero Yuan, the true master, had developed a desire to take on disciples. He became the deputy head of Bai He Sect precisely because he had never taken on a single disciple throughout his life—despite holding the highest rank within the sect, he had to yield the position of headmaster to his senior brother. His senior brother, throughout his life, had widely recruited disciples, with dozens of direct students, plus numerous junior disciples from the outer halls, forming a vast and thriving Bai He Sect. Qin Feng was used to traveling alone and always believed that advancing in cultivation rank was an effortless matter; while others might take years or decades to achieve, he found that simply sharing beds with young women was enough to accomplish it easily. Thus, he had never considered the need for a master. "Sorry, I have no interest in becoming a disciple," he said, not at all modest. "Nor do I have any interest in Bai He Sect." The old man continued to offer his terms: "As long as you take me as your disciple, I promise you the most potent pills, the finest flying swords and magical implements, and the best cultivation techniques. Simply say what you desire, and I'll provide it!" Qin, the young master, smiled: "Old man, how could you possibly be so confident and bold in claiming to be my teacher? What level are you currently at?" "Peak of the Ki-Tian Stage," the old man replied with pride. "Ki-Tian, that sounds quite impressive," he mused, counting on his fingers. "Yet I've already reached the peak of the Hua-Zheng Stage. There's only one stage of Void between us—how can you possibly be my teacher?" He had expected the old man to look embarrassed upon hearing this, but instead, the old man remained completely unfazed. In the cultivation world, even among peers of the same level, as long as one's strength surpasses another's, the former can serve as the mentor. Indeed, it's quite common for a disciple to surpass their master in rank. "Then, as long as you're willing to become my disciple, I guarantee you'll break through to the Perfected Stage within one year, reach the Mid-Void Stage within three years, and become a skilled Master of the Sky-Perceiving Stage within ten—no, fifteen years. How about that?" "He laughed so hard his stomach hurt and said, 'I suggest you find a more practical disciple. I really just don't fit the bill. You're not leaving, are you? Then fine—let's go. Goodbye for now!' Saying that, he pulled at He Muqing's little hand and prepared to take her with him. 'Wait!' Zero Yuan the True said firmly. 'You're not leaving! I give you two choices. First, you simply become my disciple and all the conditions I mentioned earlier stand. Second, we'll go head-to-head—hostile from the start—because you've deliberately framed three of my disciples. As Deputy Master, I have a duty to challenge you!' 'For heaven's sake!' Qin the Young man exclaimed, furious. 'Don't think because you're older you can act superior. I'm not buying it. If you want to fight, I'll fight right along. If you see me as an enemy, then the entire White Crane Sect becomes my enemy. From now on, you'll never enjoy a single moment of peace!' "Old man," chuckled the elder, "you truly are bold! Today, I'll show you what a true master of the cultivation realm is all about!" With that, his flying sword shot forth toward Qin Feng, moving so swiftly it even left trailing streaks. At the same time, Qin's younger brother mentally summoned He Muqing, who instantly flew into the small cauldron. He himself stepped onto the flying sword and began executing wide, agile evasive maneuvers, testing just how much he fell short of a Kui Tian-level master. A defeat was certain, but we have this cauldron in our hands—what could they possibly do against us? Though Zero Yuan's sword moved with remarkable speed, no matter how energetically Qin's younger brother darted and leaped ahead, he could never escape its reach. He frantically pressed and shattered over a dozen scrolls, launching fire balls, fire dragons, ice spears, and lightning bolts at the sword. Yet the sword remained unyielding, effortlessly piercing through the network of spells and attacks, and continued its relentless advance. The old man stroked his beard, murmuring, "Indeed, a promising talent—brave too. He dared to face me, a peak Kui Tian stage, at the level of a peak Hua Zhen stage. Though somewhat unwise, his courage is commendable. Much better than the younglings from Bai He Gate! When they heard they'd have to fight me, they all panicked, running around like chickens with their heads down!" He reached out and embraced the beautiful woman, smiling, "Let that old man stand outside like a headless bee for a while, and besides, I've left him a wonderful gift!" The beautiful woman asked curiously, "What gift?" "Heh, you'll find out soon," he said, pausing to let Xiao Ding transmit the image from outside and project it onto their view. Zero Yuan, the True Master, commanded his flying sword to dart around, uprooting trees and scattering stones as it went. After a few minutes, he was certain that Qin Feng had escaped. "I should have gone all out from the start—instead of holding back, I should have struck him down with a decisive move," the old man muttered angrily, turning sharply and suddenly noticing a circular conical object lying on the ground not far away. On closer inspection, it resembled a military projectile—smooth gray baked finish, with several white decorative lines and a few rows of English letters. "Who dropped this?" The old man scanned the surroundings, saying, "Could it be the boy's? Unlikely—he wouldn't have any shells, would he? Are these even shells?" As he looked at them more closely, he found himself instinctively reaching out with his right hand and touching them. Boom—the old man was engulfed by the explosion and then thrown high into the air by the shockwave, his hair and beard completely charred.