Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Chapter 716 - 642: Secret Disciple

In such circumstances, it was already no easy feat for the remaining members of the Fire Cloud Sect to survive.

To try to amass wealth, raise the grade of their Spirit Veins, widely recruit disciples, and revive the Sect...

Was no different from a fool’s daydream.

The council ended amid a stifling atmosphere.

The disciples left one after another, each harboring their own thoughts.

After the other ten disciples had departed—

Zhong Sumin reported with a heavy expression, "Master, news just came: another three disciples left Flame Island without informing anyone. One of them is Junior Brother Liu Moyan, who just formed his Dao Foundation."

Ming Shen True Master’s body paused slightly.

Only after a long moment did he shake his head and sigh.

"Each person has their own aspirations. We cannot force them. Let them go."

It had been ten years.

He had led the Sect’s most promising young disciples and fled far to Flame Island in Yue Country.

He had hoped to preserve a spark of fire and restore the Sect.

Yet reality was cruel, resources were scarce, and the future was bleak.

The group of over a hundred from back then now had only a little more than fifty left, still struggling to hold on.

Every year, a few disciples would slip away without a word.

This matter was like a sharp needle lodged in his heart.

Searching his conscience, he knew he had poured his heart and blood into these young disciples.

He had done his utmost, sparing no effort to support their growth.

But with the Fire Cloud Sect fallen to such a state...

It was hard to see any hope.

These young disciples had quite decent aptitude and Talent.

Other Cultivation Influences were constantly tempting and luring them in secret.

As time passed...

The problem of disciples leaving the Fire Cloud Sect grew ever more severe.

He did wish to open the mountain gates wide and recruit some promising Immortal Seeds.

Only, given the current state of the Fire Cloud Sect, how could there be any spare capacity, when they could not even fully provide for the cultivation expenses of the disciples they had left?

How could there be any strength left to nurture those Immortal Seeds?

Moreover—

Compared to the surrounding Cultivation Influences...

The Fire Cloud Sect was clearly lacking in appeal.

At this moment, a Foundation Establishment disciple on duty hurried into the Cave Mansion, holding a visiting card in both hands and presenting it respectfully.

"Master Ming Shen, someone outside the island has sent in a card requesting an audience."

Ming Shen True Master gathered his thoughts and took the visiting card.

The card’s material was ordinary, with nothing special about it.

However, when his gaze fell upon the signature at the end, his face was full of disbelief.

"Secretly transmitted disciple of True Master Primordial Fire of the Fire Cloud Sect, Shen Haoming."

He was the foremost among the Sect’s many True Pill True Masters.

His status was only beneath the three Golden Core elders.

He had been acquainted with True Master Primordial Fire for four hundred years.

He had never heard that True Master Primordial Fire had a secret disciple.

"Is this Senior Brother Primordial Fire’s backhand arrangement?"

...

In the secret chamber.

Spiritual Light shone on Shen Xuan and Ming Shen True Master sitting opposite each other; the atmosphere was subtle.

Ming Shen True Master’s gaze was scorching as he asked in a deep voice, "Nephew Shen, are you truly Senior Brother Primordial Fire’s secretly transmitted disciple?"

This matter was of great importance; he had to verify it.

At these words, Shen Xuan did not answer directly. He smiled faintly, his expression composed.

He extended the index finger of his right hand and quietly circulated his Spiritual Power.

At the fingertip, a wisp of flame tinged crimson with drifting cloud patterns silently ignited, emanating a blazing pure-yang aura as it gently danced.

Though small, the flame radiated a trace of refined, overbearing Dao Rhyme of destruction.

"It really is Crimson Cloud Primordial Fire!"

Ming Shen True Master sprang to his feet; brilliant joy burst in his eyes, and his voice trembled with excitement.

With a single glance he naturally recognized that the ball of flame condensed at Shen Xuan’s fingertip was exactly True Master Primordial Fire’s origin True Flame.

Yet before he could calm his surging emotions, a sudden change occurred.

Shen Xuan’s aura abruptly shifted.

An immense and vast Spiritual Pressure spread out without warning, bone-piercingly cold, instantly enveloping the entire secret chamber.

The moisture in the air condensed into fine ice crystals, pattering down.

The Spiritual Pressure was so strong it had clearly reached the Middle Stage of the Golden Core realm.

Moreover, it was supremely yin and supremely cold, the complete opposite of the Crimson Cloud Primordial Fire from just now.

"Who exactly are you?"

Ming Shen True Master was greatly shocked; the joy on his face instantly turned into terror.

He instinctively retreated a step, putting three zhang between himself and Shen Xuan.

With his fingers as a sword, he pointed out, and a crimson Flying Sword wreathed in blazing flames was instantly summoned, hovering before him, its tip aimed straight at Shen Xuan.

The scorching sword radiance forced back some of the chill in the air.

He stared fixedly at Shen Xuan as though facing a mortal enemy.

This man bore Senior Brother Primordial Fire’s origin True Flame, yet possessed such powerful, pure Ice Spiritual Power.

His strength was no less than his own.

He could not help but be extremely cautious and guarded.

Facing Ming Shen True Master, who treated him like a great foe, Shen Xuan remained seated, still wearing a faint smile. He cupped his hands in salute and said, "Brother Ming Shen, there is no need to panic."

"I am Shen Xuan, True Master Profound Ice of the Cyan Cloud Sect."

"Fellow Daoist Profound Ice of the Cyan Cloud Sect?"

Ming Shen True Master was first taken aback, then seemed to recall something; the wariness in his eyes faded, and he suddenly understood.

"You are Fellow Daoist Profound Ice, who joined Senior Brother Primordial Fire in repelling the Demonic-Wing Roc?"

"Precisely I."

Shen Xuan inclined his head slightly.

Having confirmed his identity, Ming Shen True Master let out a long breath of relief and put away the Ming Shen Sword.

After sitting back down, Ming Shen True Master gave a wry smile. "So it was Fellow Daoist Profound Ice in person! Fellow Daoist Profound Ice’s Daoist Techniques are profound, mysterious as gods and ghosts. I am old and misjudged what I saw."

"When I travel abroad, it is inconvenient to expose my identity. I ask Brother Ming Shen’s forgiveness."

Shen Xuan expressed his apology.

Once Ming Shen True Master’s emotions had steadied, Shen Xuan briefly recounted how True Master Primordial Fire failed in forming a Nascent Soul, suffered backlash, and in the end passed away in seated meditation.

Ming Shen True Master sighed at length, deeply regretful.

Shen Xuan then took out two of True Master Primordial Fire’s relics.

A Primordial Fire Sword wreathed in flowing crimson radiance, and an ancient-looking Storage Pouch.

"These two relics of Brother Primordial Fire are returned to their rightful owner today. I was fortunate that Brother Primordial Fire did not disdain me, passing on a Profound Technique and gifting me an Anomalous Fire. I agreed to him that I would do my utmost to help the Fire Cloud Sect regain its strength."

Shen Xuan spoke calmly.

Ming Shen True Master received the Primordial Fire Sword and Storage Pouch with both hands, looking at Shen Xuan with gratitude.