July's fiery stars scorched the sky.
Waves upon waves churned up, ceaselessly crashing against the uneven rocks below Ao Shou Cliff.
At this moment, inside Guanlan Pavilion on the third floor of Sea View Tower atop Ao Shou Cliff, seven youths of differing elegance were waiting with solemn expressions. Some wore particularly anxious looks on their faces.
Soon after, a ruckus suddenly erupted from below.
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"He's back, the third young master is back!"
Hearing this, all seven members of the Da Generation of the Zhao Family in Guanlan Pavilion almost instantly turned their gazes toward the entrance.
Just then, a youth in white robes and a jade crown, with a handsome figure and a pair of thin lips, appeared and hurried into Guanlan Pavilion.
"Third brother, did you... make it?" Zhao Damo, who was the most impatient, immediately asked with an expectant look upon seeing the newcomer.
The other Da Generation members also watched the peer, Zhao Dali, with varying expressions.
Zhao Dali's face darkened as he shook his head.
"Alas!"
Upon seeing this, everyone sighed in unison.
The thin-lipped Zhao Damo, who was 'Third brother' Zhao Dali's cousin from the same branch of the family, couldn't help but complain repeatedly, "Mr. Zhao's standards are simply too high! Third brother is the most talented and gifted among us! Even third brother isn't good enough for him. I say he's doing it on purpose. His offer to take on a disciple is nothing but lip service!"
No sooner had Zhao Damo finished speaking, than Zhao Dali suddenly grew furious and shouted urgently, "Hold your tongue!"
"Third brother...?!" Zhao Damo looked aggrieved.
"Be quiet, do not slander Senior Zhao!" Zhao Dali said, his tone becoming even more severe.
After that, he took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Senior Zhao has decided to take Uncle Nineteen as a registered disciple."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a loud stir among the crowd.
"Uncle Nineteen?!"
"Zhao... Zhao Dingda!"
"Impossible, how could Mr. Zhao possibly fancy that lazy smooth-talker with the sharp tongue!"
"Indeed! Could it be that Mr. Zhao was fooled by 'Big Ding's' flowery rhetoric?"
"Uncle Nineteen is only at the third layer of Qi Refinement, he's not even a match for me, how could this be!"
While the Da Generation of the Zhaos were struggling with their pride, the atmosphere inside Dianjing Mansion beneath Ao Shou Cliff was quite warm.
In the reception hall, Zhao Sheng sat calmly in the center, while Zhao Yunxian of the Zhao Family sat with a stern expression at the upper seat on the left.
At this moment, a middle-aged man with an ordinary build and an unremarkable face, his greasy little mustache twitching respectfully, held out a bowl of simple-hearted tea towards Zhao Sheng.
"Disciple Zhao Dingda, respectfully offers tea to the master!"
Zhao Sheng took the Spiritual Tea and sampled it gently, then said indifferently, "Stand up! From today onward, you are my Cen Hezi's first registered disciple. Take this 'Alchemy Mastery' Jade Scroll. Memorize it thoroughly first, then come to find me. You may leave."
"Yes, Master!"
Taking the Jade Scroll handed over by his master with both hands, Zhao Dingda bowed his head in acknowledgment, then respectfully left the reception hall.
When the man had departed, Zhao Yunxian's eyes briefly flashed with cunning before he laughed heartily and deliberately asked, "Taoist Zhao, I'm somewhat puzzled. Our Zhao Family has many talented young men, any of whom are far stronger than Zhao Dingda. Why on earth did you choose him?"
"Without concealing from Taoist Zhao, the most important thing in my lineage is affinity. Zhao Dingda just barely met my criteria, so I chose him," Zhao Sheng responded with a nonchalant expression.
Upon hearing that, Zhao Yunxian was taken aback, and he looked at Zhao Sheng with a somewhat odd expression, thinking to himself, "His words imply that he looks down on everyone else. Are disciples chosen so casually nowadays?"
Considering this, he consoled himself, "Well, in the end, all the meat ends up in the pot; it doesn't matter who learns Alchemy. The key issue is whether Cen Hezi will earnestly pass on the Alchemy Technique."
Although the Zhaos were renowned for their Artifact Refining, a Cultivation Family that wants to grow and prosper cannot afford to have any significant shortcomings.
Zhao Sheng needed not just Artifact Refiners, but also Alchemists, Talisman Masters, and Array Masters, among other specialized cultivation talents.
Thus, three days prior, in casual conversation, he had subtly probed the new guest elder regarding his intentions to take disciples. To his surprise, the response came readily, agreeing to take on a member of the Zhao descendants in a single sentence.
Zhao Sheng had already intended to take a disciple to pass on his Alchemical arts. Zhao Yunxian's question was precisely what he had been hoping for, and there was no reason for him not to agree.
Why did he pick Zhao Dingda as his disciple?
For one, Zhao Dingda was Zhao Dingtian's direct younger cousin, and they shared the closest blood relationship.
Moreover, not only did Zhao Dingda possess a Fire Spirit Root, but he had also been an apprentice in Alchemy for over a decade and had a solid foundation in the Alchemy Dao, which would save him a lot of effort.
The most critical point was that the rest of the Zhao Family were disappointing, with none of them properly adjusting their mindset. Each appeared to be respectful and polite, yet each harbored their own scheming thoughts, which Zhao Sheng didn't appreciate.
Seeing Zhao Yunxian falling into an awkward silence, Zhao Sheng changed the subject, reminding him, "By the way, Taoist Zhao. According to my knowledge, the Sea Demon tide is coming again!"
Zhao Yunxian's expression changed slightly at the mention, and he nodded gravely, "Zhao has already received the warning sent from Dragon Head Island. In no more than two years, the Sea Demons will definitely encroach on the territory of the Human Clan again. I just don't know the scale of this tide; I hope it won't be the millennial kind."
"It shouldn't be. If it were a millennial event, it wouldn't be this 'calm before the storm.'
By the way, with the demon tide imminent, has your clan made full preparations? Is there anywhere that I, as a poor Daoist, need to lend a hand?"
Gratitude appeared on Zhao Yunxian's face as he heard this, and he earnestly said, "If Daoist is willing to be so righteous, I would be extremely grateful. Turtle Island's defences are secure, and I am not worried about the sea beasts' assault on the island. However, Dragon Head Island has already issued a co-defence order, commanding our clan to dispatch one Foundation Establishment and five at the Qi Refining Late Stage to station there. So, should the demon tide strike... Zhao hopes that the Daoist can command the Dome Turtle Treasure Ship to maintain open transportation between Dome Turtle Island and the outside world to the best of his ability."