Chapter 558 - Accepting a Disciple
Xiao Ze was quite reluctant to give up his blood, but he finally agreed after An Lin elaborated to him the reason he was asking for his blood.
Deep down, Xiao Ze still hoped that An Lin would be able to take the three treasures with him so that he could leave this island with no regrets.
With this in mind, he reluctantly slit open his wrist.
“Is that enough? I can’t keep this up anymore.”
“No, I still need more…”
“I can’t, I’m about to pass out…”
“Don’t stop! Do it harder!”
“Ahhh…!”
Xiao Ze collapsed to the ground while panting from overexertion. However, a satisfied smile appeared on his face when he witnessed An Lin stowing away the Spatial Magic Box into his storage ring.
An Lin made his way toward Xiao Ze before producing a red pill from his storage ring, which he offered to Xiao Ze.
“What’s this?” Xiao Ze murmured as he looked at the pill, which was exuding extremely potent life-force energy.
“This is an eighth-grade immortal pill, Blood Rakshasa Pill. It will help you recover all your lost blood and energy,” An Lin explained with a smile.
“Thank you, Senior!” Xiao Ze was extremely touched as he accepted the immortal pill.
Such a generous and gentle Senior… Xiao Ze finally made up his mind!
An Lin looked around the treasure vault with a wistful expression. “Looks like everything has been emptied. Is there anything else?”
“There’s one more item that I hope you may accept, Senior. It’s the most important item here.” Xiao Ze looked up at An Lin with an earnest expression.
“What is it?” An Lin’s eyes lit up with anticipation.
A light smile appeared on Xiao Ze’s fine and delicate features as he said, “Me! Please take me with you, Senior!”
An Lin: “…”
Everyone: “…”
What the hell was going on? After giving away all his treasures, he was giving himself away now?!
“What do you mean by that, Little Xiao?”
An Lin faltered slightly before asking with a gentle smile.
“Senior, I am a direct lineal descendant of the Dragon Tribe’s Xiao family. My bloodline is pure and powerful, and I personally think I have some aptitude for cultivation. On top of that, my dao heart is as scorching as the sun; I am a determined and conscientious dragon who doesn’t know the meaning of giving up…” Xiao Ze continued.
“So, what are you trying to say?” An Lin was completely baffled.
“Senior…” Xiao Ze looked up at An Lin with a scorching gaze as he said, “Can you please take me as your disciple? The inheritance of the Dragon Tribe had been completely depleted. Only a mighty figure like you can light the way for my future cultivation path. I beg of you… Please take me with you!”
Xiao Ze’s determined and passionate voice reverberated throughout the cave while An Lin stood rooted to the spot.
Cassidy and the others all had their eyes wide open in shock.
An Lin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead as he came to a sudden realization. “So… all those treasures were gifted to me so that I could take you as my disciple?”
“No.” Xiao Ze shook his head emphatically and said, “All my belongings belong to Master anyway!”
An Lin’s chest constricted, and he suddenly found it hard to breathe.
F*ck… he was already calling him Master… and he still had the audacity to shake his head!
This was clearly his plan all along!
An Lin had never thought about accepting a disciple, and he had certainly never thought about accepting a dragon at the pinnacle of the Return to Void Intermediate Stage as his disciple!
How was he supposed to teach this disciple anything when the disciple could crush the Master in seconds?
“Little Xiao… these things can’t be rushed. The path to seeking dao is a long and winding one during which you will meet many different people. You will definitely encounter a better candidate to be your master in the future,” An Lin preached in a sincere and earnest manner.
“No! Master! You are the best choice! Your personality, your power, everything about you has completely won me over!” Xiao Ze retorted stubbornly.
Veins began to pop on An Lin’s forehead. Couldn’t this dragon read between the lines and see the rejection in his words? Why was he so damn stubborn?!
“Sigh… we are not fated to be master and disciple…” An Lin shook his head with a forlorn sigh.
Xiao Ze grabbed onto An Lin’s hand. “No! Everyone makes their own fate! Besides, our paths have already crossed; that’s fate!”
An Lin: “…”
Everyone: “…”
What could he do? If things were to continue like this, Xiao Ze would get his way.
So that’s why he was so enthusiastic about clearing out his own treasure vault; it was all build-up for this final step… Never would An Lin have thought that Xiao Ze would try to become his disciple!
“Let me tell you the truth,” An Lin said with a solemn expression, “I don’t have Dragon Tribe inheritances, so I won’t be able to teach you anything even if you accept me as your master!”
He was planning to just reveal the truth to Xiao Ze and let the chip fall by itself! If worst comes to worst, it would just mean that he would have another battle to settle!
To his surprise, Xiao Ze’s expression remained completely unchanged. If anything, he appeared to look at An Lin with an even more respectful expression. “I don’t mind. I want to follow you for who you are, not what you can teach me! I can just watch and learn by following in your scintillating example!”
An Lin’s lips twitched upon hearing this. “Tell me what I need to do for you to give up on becoming my disciple?”
“I won’t give up no matter what!” Xiao Ze stood firmly by his decision.
“I’m going to tell you the truth now; I am a human!”
“I don’t mind! I am following you for who you are as a person.”
“I’m only at the Soul Formation Stage cultivation base.”
“If you’re already this strong at the Soul Formation Stage, then I’m even more determined to become your disciple!”
“I’m a Virgo!”
“What’s that? Anyway, I don’t care!”
…
After a series of self-defamation, An Lin was at a complete loss for what else he could say.
He had been completely and utterly defeated by Xiao Ze…
It was such a fortunate thing to have someone who was determined to follow you despite all your flaws.
What excuse did he have to reject someone like this…
An Lin heaved an exhausted sigh and said, “You really want to accept me as your master? You haven’t changed your mind?”
“I do! My mind has not changed in the slightest!” Xiao Ze replied with a firm expression.
An Lin massaged his brows and said, “Alright then, I agree…”
Xiao Ze was ecstatic, and he immediately fell to his knees. “Master, please accept this bow from your disciple!”
He was overjoyed that An Lin had finally agreed. He was a human? He was only at the Soul Formation Stage? Bullsh*t!
He was only saying all that as a test of determination and loyalty! Xiao Ze felt like he had passed the test with flying colors!
He would have lived all his years in vain if he couldn’t even see through such a simple test!
He could now stay by Master’s side and develop a relationship over time. Master would then teach him a few techniques here and there and life would be smooth sailing from there…
Thus, An Lin and Xiao Ze established a disciple contract, which was quite a simple contract. The contract allowed them to sense the presence of one another over long distances and prohibited the disciple from doing anything harmful to their Master; doing so would result in the collapse of their dao foundation.
And so, Xiao Ze inexplicably became An Lin’s disciple just like that…
Cassidy and the others were stunned beyond words.
Were they supposed to say that it was to be expected that the Holy Leader could subdue such a powerful black dragon as his disciple? They really didn’t know what to say anymore!
As for Mi Ya, she suddenly felt a sense of relief!
All the contents within the treasure vault belonged to An Lin, including the ancient treasures, and now, even the guardian black dragon belonged to An Lin.
Heh… They were simply from two different worlds! What else could she say…
Thus, An Lin led his ever-growing party out of the white cave.