Nominal Disciple!

Chapter 167 Nominal Disciple!

Time slips away silently, like sand through your fingers.

The bluestone pavement of Baishafang has been worn smoother by countless feet.

The old locust tree at the alley entrance has added ten more rings.

The tea stall at Fangshikou had a new owner, but it still sold the same kind of coarse tea with a bitter taste.

The small shop of "Zhou's Talisman Making" still stands quietly deep in the alley. The pine wood signboard above the door is almost illegible, with only a few carvings of varying depths remaining, as if telling the story of the years.

Twenty years have passed.

Twenty years have passed since Zhou Ding left Tianxing City and came to this remote White Sand Islands.

Twenty years is almost a quarter, or even a third, of a cultivator's lifespan at the Qi Refining stage.

Many of the Qi Refining stage cultivators who were contemporaries of Zhou Ding have either turned to dust, are still struggling at the threshold of Foundation Establishment, or have long since left the island and disappeared without a trace.

Zhou Ding, on the other hand, still guards his small shop, like an old tree rooted there, standing firm against wind and rain.

As time went by, the age he publicly revealed naturally increased to around fifty.

Zhou Ding's hair has turned gray; originally, only his temples were slightly frosted, but now half of it is completely white.

The wrinkles on my face have deepened, there are obvious crow's feet at the corners of my eyes, and there are also shallow horizontal lines on my forehead.

His back was no longer as straight as it had been in his youth; it was slightly hunched, bearing the weariness left by years of working at his desk making talismans.

His cultivation level remained at the Qi Refining Perfection stage, showing no signs of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

This is perfectly reasonable.

After all, it would be strange if an old rogue cultivator with mediocre talent, who barely makes a living by selling low-level talismans, could actually succeed in establishing his foundation.

Over the past twenty years, the title "Uncle Zhou" has gradually spread among the low-level cultivators of Baishafang.

Those young rogue cultivators, whether they were newbies just entering the world of cultivation or seasoned veterans who had been licking blood from the edge of a knife for many years.

When people come to Zhou Ding's shop to buy talismans, they will usually greet him warmly as "Uncle Zhou".

This is not only because Zhou Ding's talismans are the cheapest and of the most consistent quality.

It's also because although Uncle Zhou is taciturn, he is kind and honest, and never shortchanges anyone.

Occasionally, when they encounter young people who are short of money, they will give them credit or give them an extra one or two bills.

Over time, "Uncle Zhou" became a reassuring symbol.

On this afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the wooden floor of the small shop.

The air is filled with the faint, fishy smell of talisman ink and the grassy aroma of yellow paper. This smell has remained unchanged for twenty years, permeating every inch of the shop's wood and becoming a part of it.

Zhou Ding sat on the old wooden chair behind the counter, which had been worn smooth and shiny, holding a yellowed jade slip in his hands.

He had found this jade slip a few days ago at a secondhand bookstore in Fangshikou. It contained some miscellaneous notes about the history of the Chaotic Star Sea. The author was unknown, and there were many errors in the content, but it was good for passing the time.

Zhou Ding was engrossed in reading it, his fingers gently stroking the smooth surface of the jade slip, as if touching a piece of history that had been sealed away for centuries.

"Master, have some tea."

A childish and obedient voice rang out beside him.

Zhou Ding looked up and saw a little boy, about eight or nine years old, carefully handing him a steaming cup of coarse tea.

The little boy was wearing a faded blue cloth shirt with several patches, but it was clean. His hair was tied back with a simple cloth band, revealing his delicate little face.

His eyes were large, clear and bright, revealing a maturity and composure beyond his years.

This child's name is Xia Xiaoxing.

His grandfather was Xia Tu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was nearing the end of his life and often came to Zhou Ding's shop to reminisce about the past.

Three years ago, Xia Tu's time finally came. In the last days of his life, his body was withered and frail, and he needed a cane to walk. But he still managed to hold on and, one evening, brought his five-year-old daughter, Xia Xiaoxing, to Zhou Ding's small shop.

The sunset that evening was exceptionally red, casting Xia Tu's shadow long and thin.

He stood in front of the counter, his cloudy eyes fixed on Zhou Ding. After a long silence, he spoke in a hoarse and weary voice, "Brother Zhou—I need your help with something."

Zhou Ding was organizing the talismans on the shelf when he heard this. He turned around and saw Xia Tu's eyes, which seemed to have burned out completely. He had a premonition.

He put down the talisman in his hand, said nothing, and just looked at him quietly.

Xia Tu pushed the timid Xia Xiaoxing in front of him and gently placed his withered hand on the child's thin shoulder.

His voice was soft, yet carried a solemnity of entrusting everything: "My time is up, I don't have many days left. In my life, I haven't achieved much, nor have I left behind any wealth, except for this one grandson. His parents passed away early, and I raised him single-handedly."

He paused, a complex and unfathomable light flashing in his cloudy eyes. "Brother Zhou, I don't know why, but I always have a feeling that you are no ordinary person. I entrust Xiaoxing to you, not asking for him to become rich and powerful, but only asking that you—ensure he grows up safely and teach him some principles of life. If—if he has some talent and can embark on the path of cultivation, then that will be his good fortune; if not, it would be good if he could live a peaceful and ordinary life."

Zhou Ding remained silent at that moment.

He looked at the frail old man before him, and then at the child hiding behind his grandfather, his big, dark eyes curiously observing him. A feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up inside him.

Having lived as a mortal for twenty years, he had witnessed too many partings and deaths, and thought he had long since become accustomed to them. But when this heavy trust and entrustment were placed before him, he was still moved.

Zhou Ding didn't know where he had given himself away, which made Xia Tu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, see something "unusual." Perhaps it was a certain aura he occasionally revealed, or perhaps it was his eyes that didn't match his age.

But in any case, he could not refuse the last request of a dying man.

Zhou Ding nodded and said only one word: "Okay."

Xia Tu is gone.

Three days later, he was found on a hillside outside the market. He was sitting cross-legged under an old pine tree, smiling, but he was no longer breathing.

His body was cremated on the spot according to his last wishes, and his ashes were scattered into the sea.

From then on, Xia Xiaoxing moved into Zhou Ding's small shop.

There was a small partitioned room behind the shop, which was originally filled with miscellaneous items. Zhou Ding spent several days cleaning it out, built a small bed for Xia Xiaoxing, and nailed a simple desk out of wooden boards.

At first, the child was a little shy and would cry secretly at night, calling for his grandfather.

Zhou Ding didn't coax him. Instead, he would sit by his bedside every night before he went to sleep and tell him strange and wonderful stories about the Chaotic Star Sea, including those distant and bizarre tales.

Gradually, the child stopped crying and began to get used to this taciturn but reliable "Uncle Zhou," and later started calling him "Master."

What truly made Zhou Ding consider taking on a disciple was after he began teaching Xia Xiaoxing some rudimentary cultivation techniques.

He originally only wanted his child to be physically strong and have some ability to protect himself, so as not to fail Xia Tu's entrustment.

However, when he guided Xia Xiaoxing to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth using the simplest and most basic methods, the result surprised him greatly.

Wood-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root!

This seemingly ordinary child from a poor background actually possesses an extremely rare single-attribute celestial spiritual root!

Moreover, it's a wood element with extremely high purity! What does this mean?

This means that this child will achieve twice the result with half the effort when cultivating wood-attribute techniques, and his cultivation speed will far exceed that of ordinary people. As long as he does not die prematurely, he will at least reach the Core Formation stage in the future, and may even have the potential to break through to the Nascent Soul stage!

With such talent, any major sect would nurture him as a core disciple, showering him with resources and placing high hopes on him!

Zhou Ding's feelings at that moment were extremely complex. He never expected that while he was undergoing a period of spiritual refinement in the remote Baishafang, he would unexpectedly encounter such a talented and beautiful person.

He considered taking on apprentices, but ultimately restrained himself.

He is currently at a crucial stage of his transformation into a mortal being, and his state of mind is not yet fully perfect. Therefore, it is not convenient for him to openly accept disciples and pass on his skills, so as not to disrupt this hard-won state of mind.

Therefore, he decided to first take Xia Xiaoxing as a disciple under a nominal name, and teach him some basic skills and principles of conduct. He would then formally hold the apprenticeship ceremony when Xia Xiaoxing achieved enlightenment.

"Master, the tea is getting cold."

Seeing Zhou Ding lost in thought while holding the jade slip, Xia Xiaoxing whispered a reminder in a clear, melodious voice, like a mountain stream.

Zhou Ding snapped out of his daze, looked at the sensible child in front of him, and a gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

He took the teacup, took a small sip, and found the tea slightly bitter but warm, flowing down his throat and into his heart.

He put down his teacup, reached out and patted Xia Xiaoxing's head, asking, "Have you finished your homework today?"

"It's done!"

Xia Xiaoxing nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling: "I can already complete a small circulation of Qi, just like Master taught me yesterday!"

"Oh?" Zhou Ding raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

The talent of a Heavenly Spiritual Root is indeed extraordinary.

He nodded. "Hmm, not bad, but don't be arrogant. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Laying a solid foundation is the most important thing. Go on, practice a few more times on your own."

"Yes, Master!"

Xia Xiaoxing obediently responded, turned around and walked to a futon in the corner of the shop, sat down cross-legged, closed her eyes, and began to cultivate seriously.

The small figure appeared exceptionally focused in the afternoon sunlight.

Looking at his serious expression, Zhou Ding felt a strange feeling welling up inside him.

This feeling is different from the mutual support he shared with Xin Ruyin, and also different from the close dependence he had on Xiaomei; it is a kind of responsibility to pass on.

He looked at the child as if he were seeing a seedling growing strong under his care.

"Twenty years have passed—" Zhou Ding shifted his gaze from Xia Xiaoxing to the window.

Outside the window, the streets of Baishafang were as bustling as ever, with crowds of people, hawking their wares, haggling over prices, and exchanging greetings, all blending together into a vibrant symphony of everyday life.

His self-illumination became somewhat distant, as if it had pierced through two thousand years of time and seen into a more distant place.

In the twenty years of transforming his mind and refining his character, he experienced and learned so much.

Zhou Ding witnessed Chen Mu's growth from a passionate young man to a hero in his twilight years, and Acheng and Xiaorui's transformation from sweet lovers to parents. He also witnessed countless faces, some joyful, some sad, some angry, and some desperate, passing before his eyes.

He has experienced the joy of helping others, and the helplessness of being powerless; he has felt the warmth of being trusted, and the chill of being deceived.

These experiences, bit by bit, are like trickles of water that converge into a river, constantly washing away and refining his Daoist heart, making it more and more rounded, clear, and resilient.

He could clearly feel that the bottleneck between the third and fourth layers of the Great Evolution Technique had become as thin as a cicada's wing.

It is no longer an indestructible rock, but a thin layer of ice. With just a little more power, it can be completely shattered, ushering in a whole new world.

"Breaking through to the fourth level of the Great Evolution Technique will happen around this time," Zhou Ding thought to himself, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the opportunity was drawing ever closer.

Just then, a steady, powerful footstep sounded, approaching from afar, and stopped at the entrance of the small shop. A tall figure blocked the sunlight from the entrance, casting a shadow inside the shop.

"Uncle Zhou!"

A loud and energetic voice rang out, filled with undisguised excitement and pride.

Zhou Ding raised his head and looked at the person who had come. It was a young man of about thirty years old, tall and upright, with dark skin, a angular face, and bright, piercing eyes that exuded determination and confidence.

He was dressed in a brand-new blue robe, with a jade pendant hanging at his waist, symbolizing his status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Standing there, he resembled a javelin, exuding heroic spirit.

It's Chen Mu.

Twenty years ago, the boy who would come to the store every few days to buy talismans and clench his fists saying he wanted to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator has now truly entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

His aura was calm and refined, clearly indicating that he had only recently broken through and his realm was not yet fully stable, but the pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment cultivator was already naturally emanating from him.

"Uncle Zhou!"

Chen Mu strode to the counter, a bright smile spreading across his face. His smile held excitement, pride, and an undisguised gratitude. "I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage! I really have!"

He was like a child who had finally achieved a long-cherished wish, eager to share his joy with his closest loved ones.

Chen Mu stood in front of Zhou Ding, his chest puffed out, as if waiting for praise from an elder.

Zhou Ding looked at him, a hint of gratified smile in his eyes.

He slowly put down the jade slip in his hand, stood up, walked to Chen Mu, looked him up and down, and then nodded, his tone calm but sincere: "Congratulations, Chen Mu, Foundation Establishment is not easy, you have done it."

Upon hearing these words, Chen Mu's eyes suddenly reddened.

For twenty years, he has teetered on the brink of life and death countless times, and wanted to give up countless times, but in the end he persevered through gritted teeth.

His success today is not only due to his own efforts, but also inseparable from Uncle Zhou's support over the years.

Before each of his demon-hunting expeditions, Uncle Zhou would sell him the best talismans at the lowest price, sometimes even giving him extra life-saving defensive talismans. He silently remembered these kindnesses.

"Uncle Zhou, I will definitely continue to work hard!"

Chen Mu clenched his fist tightly, his eyes burning with fierce fighting spirit, a light even more intense and resolute than it had been twenty years ago. "Foundation Establishment is just the first step! My goal is Core Formation! To become a Core Formation True Person! When that time comes, I'll come and treat Uncle Zhou to a drink!"

Zhou Ding looked at him and it was as if he saw the boy who stood in the same place and said similar words twenty years ago.

Back then, Chen Mu only had dreams and aspirations for the future in his eyes; but now, in addition to dreams, his eyes also hold a sense of composure and determination that comes from weathering storms.

Twenty years have passed, and many things have changed, but some things have remained the same.

"Okay, I'll wait for that day." Zhou Ding smiled and nodded, his voice calm yet carrying a reassuring power.

Chen Mu then went on and on, recounting his breakthrough, the dangers he encountered, how he narrowly escaped death, and how he ultimately succeeded in establishing his foundation.

Zhou Ding listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word or two, like a kind elder listening to a junior's complaints.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the two of them and casting long shadows on the ground.

After seeing off the spirited Chen Mu, Zhou Ding sat back down on the old wooden chair behind the counter.

The shop quieted down again, with only Xia Xiaoxing's soft breathing as she cultivated in the corner and the faint sounds of the bustling city outside the window.

Zhou Ding picked up the cup of coarse tea, which had cooled slightly, and took a small sip. The tea was bitter, but had a sweet aftertaste.

He put down his teacup and looked out the window again, at the streets and alleys he had watched for twenty years, at the faces he had seen for twenty years, and at the sky he had gazed at for twenty years.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Zhou Ding's lips.

He felt that the bottleneck that had been troubling him for so long seemed to have eased a little when he saw Chen Mu's eyes full of fighting spirit and hope.

The feeling was like a taut string that had been stretched too tight was finally plucked, producing a long-lost, clear and resonant sound.