Listening to Bai Xingyan's account, Shu Han couldn't help but sigh. The downfall of a once glorious family was indeed a poignant fate. No one could guarantee that a sect or clan would prosper eternally.
Shu Han remarked, "Bai Yunxuan is my master. I can intervene in the matters of the Bai family. The Jiang family is trivial to me, and I can annihilate them with a flip of my hand. However, I'll give you a choice. You can ask me to directly wipe out the Jiang family for you, or you can choose to personally exact revenge for the Bai family."
Bai Xingyan hesitated, "I'm not naturally gifted, and the old monster from the Jiang family is at a peak mid-stage level. I have the desire but lack the strength."
Shu Han chuckled, "You're my disciple. If you're merely at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage, what's there to be afraid of?"
Gazing into Shu Han's determined eyes, Bai Xingyan clenched his fists, "Since Master believes so, I certainly wish to take revenge personally. Please guide me!"
Shu Han nodded approvingly, "Good. It's the Bai family's matter, and a Bai should settle it. For a clan to flourish, it must rely on its own members. I can protect the Bai family for now, but not forever. Only when you grow stronger can the Bai family regain its former glory."
Shu Han then handed over the cherished Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual to Bai Xingyan, stating, "This manual has benefitted me greatly. Now it returns to its rightful owner. I've added many of my own refining insights to it. I hope it will be of use to you."
Patting his shoulder, Shu Han asked, "Since you wish to personally seek revenge for the Bai family, the path ahead will not be smooth. It will be challenging. Are you prepared?"
Bai Xingyan nodded seriously, "I await Master's instructions!"
With a wave of his hand, the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword carved out a small chamber within the cave dwelling. Shu Han casually placed an alchemy furnace inside and set up the Stellar Wish Formation around it.
"Begin with alchemy and artifact refining!"
Shu Han tossed a few storage bags to Bai Xingyan, saying, "Inside, there are 300 bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, 300 spirit stones, and ample low-level alchemy and artifact refining materials. Enter this chamber and hone your skills following the guidance of the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual."
Bai Xingyan took the storage bags and was dumbfounded by the vast amount of materials inside, murmuring, "Master... Isn't this too much?"
"Too much?" Shu Han laughed, "Compared to my expectations of you, it's not much! I want you to constantly refine with the pill fire in the chamber. Don't worry about wasting materials, just refine and see what you get. Don't concern yourself with your spiritual power running out; once it's depleted, use the Qi Gathering Pill and spirit stones to restore it. If you aren't feeling pushed to the limit, then refine even harder!"
Bai Xingyan was speechless. Was this really a way to train disciples?
"When you manage to craft three top-grade magic tools and one thousand Fire God talismans, you can come out and face my next challenge."
"What!" Bai Xingyan swallowed hard, "Master, you must be joking! I'm currently struggling even with crafting low-grade magic tools, let alone top-grade ones. And one thousand Fire God talismans... That's just too..."
Shu Han patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, as long as you're persistent, you will achieve it. Once you've passed these challenges, you should have reached the twelfth level of Qi Refining. Ideally, complete this within three years. By then, you can participate in the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect's Earth Fire Leaderboard Competition. If you secure first place, the sect leader will bestow upon you the Fiery Cloud Baptism!"
Listening to the roadmap Shu Han laid out for him, Bai Xingyan was in disbelief.
Is this a feat a human can achieve?
"Can... can I really accomplish this?"
Shu Han responded, "Three years should be sufficient. After all, the conditions I've provided are far better than what I had during my time. Plus, I've written all my refining experiences into the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual. As for the Earth Fire Leaderboard, with your Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation, three other top-grade magic tools, and a thousand Fire God talismans, getting first place shouldn't be a big problem! If all else fails, I'll craft some secret treasures for you. If we have to, we'll 'buy' our way to the top!"
Hearing this, Bai Xingyan shuddered, thinking, why is my master so rich?
He obediently held onto the storage bags and entered the chamber, commencing a seemingly endless and monotonous refining journey.
Watching Bai Xingyan enter the chamber, Shu Han sealed it with the Celestial Formation.
"My disciple, don't blame your master for being harsh. To survive in this cultivation world, it's not enough to just have strong cultivation skills. One must have a matching temperament and perseverance. These three years of tedious refining are meant to temper your spirit. If you can withstand loneliness and uphold solitude, with my help, you'll shine brightly on your own. If you can't, then it simply means you're not fit for higher positions. Just lead an ordinary life. Being unfit for higher positions might bring about deadly disasters in the future. I can't protect you forever, and who knows, I might have to flee someday."
After arranging everything for Bai Xingyan, Shu Han took a deep breath, preparing to address his own health issues. While he had narrowly escaped danger in Elder Lu's alchemy furnace and successfully absorbed the Heavenly Fire's essence, bolstering his own cultivation, it also left him with several side effects.
The makeshift Heavenly Fire conversion formation he devised wasn't mature enough. The essence of Earth Dragon Fire wasn't completely purified, with remnants still disturbing his body. Shu Han had to perfect this formation to fully absorb these wandering Heavenly Fires.
Moreover, the after-effects of consuming numerous spirit elixirs began to manifest. Shu Han felt the diverse medicinal powers inside him conflicting and repelling each other. Fortunately, these powers were sealed in a few major acupoints by Tang Shan'er, preventing them from tearing his body apart.
The spiritual elixirs in the alchemy furnace, acquired by Elder Lu through all his savings, were extremely rare. The resulting medicinal power was more than what Shu Han could handle in a short period. He urgently needed to vent this power.
After some thought, Shu Han remembered the Grand Yin Jade Rabbit. He quickly touched his jade pendant and released the little rabbit.
Upon coming out, the rabbit tilted its head and looked at Shu Han, immediately dashing into his embrace, nuzzling him with its tiny head in an affectionate manner.
Surprised, Shu Han patted its head, saying, "What's the matter? It's only been a few days, why are you acting so clingy? It's a bit awkward!"
The Jade Rabbit seemed to have sensed danger when Shu Han had given his jade pendant, hung on the Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation token, to Bai Xingyan. The rabbit had been anxious inside the pendant for days.
Seeing it clinging to his clothes, Shu Han laughed, "Thought I was dead? Your master isn't so easy to kill!"
With a swift motion, he playfully tapped the rabbit on its head.
The Jade Rabbit covered its head, its small eyes shimmering with tears, squeaking as if saying, "I was so worried about you, and you hit me as soon as you saw me?"
Grinning, Shu Han said to the Jade Rabbit, "Cabbie, I have an opportunity for you!"
The rabbit, suddenly terrified by Shu Han's smile, tried to run away but was quickly caught by Shu Han and firmly held in his palm.
"Don't run! It's a good thing! Definitely a good thing!"
Listening to Bai Xingyan's account, Shu Han couldn't help but sigh. The downfall of a once glorious family was indeed a poignant fate. No one could guarantee that a sect or clan would prosper eternally.
Shu Han remarked, "Bai Yunxuan is my master. I can intervene in the matters of the Bai family. The Jiang family is trivial to me, and I can annihilate them with a flip of my hand. However, I'll give you a choice. You can ask me to directly wipe out the Jiang family for you, or you can choose to personally exact revenge for the Bai family."
Bai Xingyan hesitated, "I'm not naturally gifted, and the old monster from the Jiang family is at a peak mid-stage level. I have the desire but lack the strength."
Shu Han chuckled, "You're my disciple. If you're merely at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage, what's there to be afraid of?"
Gazing into Shu Han's determined eyes, Bai Xingyan clenched his fists, "Since Master believes so, I certainly wish to take revenge personally. Please guide me!"
Shu Han nodded approvingly, "Good. It's the Bai family's matter, and a Bai should settle it. For a clan to flourish, it must rely on its own members. I can protect the Bai family for now, but not forever. Only when you grow stronger can the Bai family regain its former glory."
Shu Han then handed over the cherished Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual to Bai Xingyan, stating, "This manual has benefitted me greatly. Now it returns to its rightful owner. I've added many of my own refining insights to it. I hope it will be of use to you."
Patting his shoulder, Shu Han asked, "Since you wish to personally seek revenge for the Bai family, the path ahead will not be smooth. It will be challenging. Are you prepared?"
Bai Xingyan nodded seriously, "I await Master's instructions!"
With a wave of his hand, the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword carved out a small chamber within the cave dwelling. Shu Han casually placed an alchemy furnace inside and set up the Stellar Wish Formation around it.
"Begin with alchemy and artifact refining!"
Shu Han tossed a few storage bags to Bai Xingyan, saying, "Inside, there are 300 bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, 300 spirit stones, and ample low-level alchemy and artifact refining materials. Enter this chamber and hone your skills following the guidance of the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual."
Bai Xingyan took the storage bags and was dumbfounded by the vast amount of materials inside, murmuring, "Master... Isn't this too much?"
"Too much?" Shu Han laughed, "Compared to my expectations of you, it's not much! I want you to constantly refine with the pill fire in the chamber. Don't worry about wasting materials, just refine and see what you get. Don't concern yourself with your spiritual power running out; once it's depleted, use the Qi Gathering Pill and spirit stones to restore it. If you aren't feeling pushed to the limit, then refine even harder!"
Bai Xingyan was speechless. Was this really a way to train disciples?
"When you manage to craft three top-grade magic tools and one thousand Fire God talismans, you can come out and face my next challenge."
"What!" Bai Xingyan swallowed hard, "Master, you must be joking! I'm currently struggling even with crafting low-grade magic tools, let alone top-grade ones. And one thousand Fire God talismans... That's just too..."
Shu Han patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, as long as you're persistent, you will achieve it. Once you've passed these challenges, you should have reached the twelfth level of Qi Refining. Ideally, complete this within three years. By then, you can participate in the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect's Earth Fire Leaderboard Competition. If you secure first place, the sect leader will bestow upon you the Fiery Cloud Baptism!"
Listening to the roadmap Shu Han laid out for him, Bai Xingyan was in disbelief.
Is this a feat a human can achieve?
"Can... can I really accomplish this?"
Shu Han responded, "Three years should be sufficient. After all, the conditions I've provided are far better than what I had during my time. Plus, I've written all my refining experiences into the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual. As for the Earth Fire Leaderboard, with your Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation, three other top-grade magic tools, and a thousand Fire God talismans, getting first place shouldn't be a big problem! If all else fails, I'll craft some secret treasures for you. If we have to, we'll 'buy' our way to the top!"
Hearing this, Bai Xingyan shuddered, thinking, why is my master so rich?
He obediently held onto the storage bags and entered the chamber, commencing a seemingly endless and monotonous refining journey.
Watching Bai Xingyan enter the chamber, Shu Han sealed it with the Celestial Formation.
"My disciple, don't blame your master for being harsh. To survive in this cultivation world, it's not enough to just have strong cultivation skills. One must have a matching temperament and perseverance. These three years of tedious refining are meant to temper your spirit. If you can withstand loneliness and uphold solitude, with my help, you'll shine brightly on your own. If you can't, then it simply means you're not fit for higher positions. Just lead an ordinary life. Being unfit for higher positions might bring about deadly disasters in the future. I can't protect you forever, and who knows, I might have to flee someday."
After arranging everything for Bai Xingyan, Shu Han took a deep breath, preparing to address his own health issues. While he had narrowly escaped danger in Elder Lu's alchemy furnace and successfully absorbed the Heavenly Fire's essence, bolstering his own cultivation, it also left him with several side effects.
The makeshift Heavenly Fire conversion formation he devised wasn't mature enough. The essence of Earth Dragon Fire wasn't completely purified, with remnants still disturbing his body. Shu Han had to perfect this formation to fully absorb these wandering Heavenly Fires.
Moreover, the after-effects of consuming numerous spirit elixirs began to manifest. Shu Han felt the diverse medicinal powers inside him conflicting and repelling each other. Fortunately, these powers were sealed in a few major acupoints by Tang Shan'er, preventing them from tearing his body apart.
The spiritual elixirs in the alchemy furnace, acquired by Elder Lu through all his savings, were extremely rare. The resulting medicinal power was more than what Shu Han could handle in a short period. He urgently needed to vent this power.
After some thought, Shu Han remembered the Grand Yin Jade Rabbit. He quickly touched his jade pendant and released the little rabbit.
Upon coming out, the rabbit tilted its head and looked at Shu Han, immediately dashing into his embrace, nuzzling him with its tiny head in an affectionate manner.
Surprised, Shu Han patted its head, saying, "What's the matter? It's only been a few days, why are you acting so clingy? It's a bit awkward!"
The Jade Rabbit seemed to have sensed danger when Shu Han had given his jade pendant, hung on the Heavenly Quadrant Sword Formation token, to Bai Xingyan. The rabbit had been anxious inside the pendant for days.
Seeing it clinging to his clothes, Shu Han laughed, "Thought I was dead? Your master isn't so easy to kill!"
With a swift motion, he playfully tapped the rabbit on its head.
The Jade Rabbit covered its head, its small eyes shimmering with tears, squeaking as if saying, "I was so worried about you, and you hit me as soon as you saw me?"
Grinning, Shu Han said to the Jade Rabbit, "Cabbie, I have an opportunity for you!"
The rabbit, suddenly terrified by Shu Han's smile, tried to run away but was quickly caught by Shu Han and firmly held in his palm.
"Don't run! It's a good thing! Definitely a good thing!"
