Chapter 210: Disciple and Contract
"Junior Brother Zhang, you’re far too cautious. If you had revealed your true Spirit Root back then, you could have avoided so much trouble. The Sect would have poured all its resources into training you, and no one would have dared to bully you."
"And you would have still been able to form a Top Grade Golden Core—perhaps even faster than Yu Wan of the Cyan Cloud Sect!" the Sect Leader couldn’t help but complain.
"You have the nerve to say that? If you had managed the Sect even a little bit better, none of this would have happened."
"Fortunately, Zhang Chi is blessed with great fortune. Not only was he unharmed, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Otherwise, you would have been a sinner for the ages!"
"Besides, do you really think a Top Grade Spirit Root guarantees a Top Grade Golden Core? The Sect receives disciples with Top Grade Spirit Roots every year, so why is Zhang Chi the only one with a Top Grade Golden Core?"
Before Zhang Chi could answer, Lu Daoyi had already started scolding the Sect Leader.
"You’re right, Martial Uncle. It’s all my fault. I will certainly learn from this mistake!"
Although the Sect Leader felt wronged, he didn’t dare show it and quickly bowed his head to admit his fault.
"Zhang Chi, are you willing to become my Direct Disciple?" Lu Daoyi said, ignoring the Sect Leader and turning his attention back to Zhang Chi.
"This disciple already has a master..."
Zhang Chi politely declined.
"The two are not mutually exclusive. You can have two masters at the same time. I don’t mind, and I’m sure Elder Jian won’t mind either."
"As my disciple, you will be groomed with the highest priority. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, you will be the next Sect Leader and, in the future, the next Supreme Elder. So, think carefully before you answer!" Lu Daoyi said, cutting him off with a wave of his hand.
"Zhang Chi, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and agree!" Master Jian, who was quick on the uptake, immediately chimed in.
"This disciple pays his respects to Master!"
Left with no choice, Zhang Chi put on a pleasantly surprised expression and quickly agreed.
Afterwards, a Daoist Child brought the ceremonial tea, handing it to Zhang Chi on the spot to serve to the Supreme Elder.
"Excellent. That old fool from the Cyan Cloud Sect has a disciple with a Top Grade Golden Core, and now so do I, Lu Daoyi! HAHA."
Only then was Lu Daoyi satisfied.
"Congratulations, Martial Uncle. Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang."
The Golden Core Elders all offered their congratulations, then presented Zhang Chi with gifts to celebrate his successful Core Formation.
They hadn’t done so before because Zhang Chi had not yet passed the Supreme Elder’s test, and his future was uncertain. Naturally, they wouldn’t make an investment beforehand.
"Oh, right. These three Spirit Talismans and this Spirit Contract are for you. Take a look at the Spirit Contract first. If there are no issues, just sign it. If you have any questions, you can raise them now."
"I was also a Top Grade Golden Core cultivator back in the day and signed the same kind of Spirit Contract, so I would never try to trick you."
"These three Spirit Talismans are all Tier Three Peak. They are a Vajra Talisman, a Teleportation Talisman, and a Wind Blade Talisman. With these, as long as you’re clever, you’ll have a chance to survive even an encounter with a Tier Four Demon Beast."
At this, Lu Daoyi also gave Zhang Chi a welcoming gift.
After accepting them, Zhang Chi first took the Spirit Contract and examined it closely. He immediately saw that it was filled with countless densely packed clauses.
For example, the Sect would provide Zhang Chi with a Spiritual Vein corresponding to his Cultivation level, for his exclusive use.
The Sect would also provide him with certain assets, such as Spirit Fields, Medicinal Gardens, Pastures, and even a Marketplace.
Zhang Chi could entrust these assets to the Sect for management or find his own people to run them.
Then, the Sect would also periodically grant him a certain number of Contribution Points or Spirit Stones to support his Cultivation.
For instance, now that he was in the Golden Core Early Stage, the Sect would give him 200,000 Low Grade Spirit Stones annually.
The amount would increase as his Cultivation level rose.
In addition, the Sect would provide him with one Top Grade Cultivation Technique, and the opportunity to exchange for an Upper Grade Cultivation Technique and Magic every ten years.
There were many other benefits as well, all written in great detail and with perfect clarity.
Furthermore, as long as he didn’t cause any major problems, he would eventually inherit the positions of Sect Leader and then Supreme Elder.
However, it wasn’t as if he had to do nothing but enjoy the benefits.
He had to cultivate diligently and meet the Sect’s minimum standards.
Also, he had to serve the Sect for life.
If he were to reach the Nascent Soul realm in the future, he would have to continue serving until the Sect produced its next Nascent Soul cultivator.
Moreover, he had to be ready and willing to sacrifice himself for the Sect.
’In the words of my previous life,’ Zhang Chi thought, ’this Spirit Contract is basically a high-end indenture agreement.’
Many of the benefits were extremely tempting to Zhang Chi.
For example, the exclusive right to use a High Tier Spiritual Vein.
Without the Sect’s help, even with his Jade Pendant, it would be difficult to find an ownerless Tier Three Spiritual Vein.
The Top Grade Cultivation Technique and the assets were also very alluring.
However, Zhang Chi had no intention of serving the Sect for that long, nor did he want to be tied down by the duties of Sect Leader and Supreme Elder, toiling away and even risking his life for the Sect.
He didn’t mind repaying the Sect for providing him with resources, but he couldn’t be stuck in one place for the Sect’s sake.
But he couldn’t refuse, nor did he want to.
Because he had the protection of his Jade Pendant, he wasn’t worried, even if the Spirit Contract was high-level and very strict.
"There are no issues. This is all very good."
So, Zhang Chi nodded readily and immediately signed it with a drop of his blood.
"Excellent!"
Lu Daoyi and the others were extremely pleased to see this.
Many of the Golden Core Elders were even envious, as those with Golden Cores below the Upper Grade were not qualified to sign a similar Spirit Contract.
After that, the Sect Leader, the Supreme Elder, and the others immediately became even friendlier toward Zhang Chi.
"Elder Jian, this is for you!"
After chatting with Zhang Chi for a while, Lu Daoyi personally handed a Lifespan Extension Pill, shimmering with a brilliant Tier Three Spiritual Light, to Jian Jinfeng.
"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"
Jian Jinfeng had expected this, but she was still overjoyed.
She thanked him profusely, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
But in her heart, the one she was most grateful to was Zhang Chi.
Because without Zhang Chi, she might have gone to her grave without ever obtaining this Lifespan Extension Pill.
"Haha, you taught such a fine disciple in Zhang Chi. This is what you deserve. However, you will still be responsible for guiding his Cultivation in the future. Is that a problem?" Lu Daoyi said with a smile.
"No problem. It’s my duty!" Master Jian replied respectfully.
"Good!"
Lu Daoyi nodded in satisfaction and then waved his hand, dismissing everyone.
From beginning to end, he never once mentioned the Song Family.
Zhang Chi didn’t find this strange at all.
After all, Lu Daoyi had signed the same Spirit Contract back in his day; he was surely waiting for the next Nascent Soul cultivator to appear.
And he, Zhang Chi, was undoubtedly a source of that hope.
As for the Sect Leader and the few other Golden Core Peak cultivators, if they were able to break through, they would likely be faster than him.
But the Sect Leader and the others had average potential; even if they tried to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, they weren’t guaranteed to succeed.
Therefore, he was now naturally far more important than the Song Family.
GULP!
The moment she left Cangwu Celestial Palace, Jian Jinfeng eagerly consumed the Pill. Vitality instantly returned to her body, and the despair deep in her eyes mostly vanished.
"Congratulations, Master!"
"Congratulations, Senior Sister Jian!"
Zhang Chi and the crowd of Golden Core Elders stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
The difference was that Zhang Chi was sincere, while most of the Golden Core Elders were just being opportunistic.
"I have already investigated for you. Zhang Chi has no trace of a Corpse Puppet’s aura or the Demon Dao’s aura on him. So, he is not the Demon Cultivator who ambushed Song Youdao."
At the same time, a beautiful Female Cultivator appeared before Lu Daoyi in the depths of the Celestial Palace. It was none other than Song Yuqian, the daughter of the Song Family’s ancestor.
It turned out the Song Family had fled not only out of fear of Zhang Chi’s retaliation but also on the Supreme Elder’s instruction.
Song Yuqian had seemingly left, but in reality, she had been hiding deep within Cangwu Celestial Palace, waiting for Lu Daoyi’s return.
Without Lu Daoyi’s permission, Song Yuqian would never have dared to flee on her own.
"Thank you, my love."
Song Yuqian was a little disappointed, but she quickly expressed her thanks.
"Don’t call me ’my love’ anymore. You’re free now. Go, and don’t come back," Lu Daoyi said with a wave of his hand.
"Can I really not stay? I can have my family apologize and make amends to Zhang Chi," Song Yuqian said, unwilling to accept it.