Liu Tao picked up his long saber and raised it high with both hands.
Despite his reluctance, the item belonged to someone else. They had kindly lent it to him, and now that the battle was over, how could he possibly dare to keep this divine weapon that could slice through iron?
"What are you doing?"
Wan Lei looked at Liu Tao with confusion.
Liu Tao also looked at him, perplexed.
"Aren't... aren't you here to ask for the saber back?"
Upon hearing this, Wan Lei let out a chuckle.
"Why would I want this broken saber? I have plenty of them. I gave it to you, so it's yours now."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."
He didn't know the other man's official rank, so he could only address him as "sir," as he would other important figures.
"No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. Your contribution to this victory is immense," Wan Lei said with a smile.
"I have no merit, sir. It was all you who killed the demons."
Having dealt with many important figures, Liu Tao knew how to speak.
"Don't say that. I heard everything you shouted from the city walls. You were very brave, denouncing them without mercy in front of thousands.
You were also the first to step forward and charge at the demons. The others were inspired by you to do the same.
Without you, how could I have received the aid of millions of troops?
No matter how strong I am, how many demons could I have killed alone? It was you who brought reinforcements, leading to this victory. You deserve the greatest credit."
Hearing this, Liu Tao felt quite embarrassed and smiled sheepishly.
"I have no merit. We all killed the demons together. I only killed two, and others killed more. It's everyone's merit."
"Good. To be credited but not arrogant. You, my boy, are a talent with potential."
Wan Lei smiled and said seriously,
"I am the commander of this reinforcement from the Immortal Realm. My name is Wan Lei. What is your name?"
"Reporting to General Wan, my humble name is Liu Tao."
Liu Tao instinctively adopted a humble demeanor.
"Lift your head."
Wan Lei's voice suddenly turned stern.
Liu Tao quickly raised his head.
"Straighten your back."
Liu Tao straightened his back.
"Good, that's more like it. You are no more humble than anyone else, no less worthy. You are not a 'small person.' You are a hero who dared to face widespread condemnation, a great individual who dared to swing his blade against the strong with his frail body!
Heroes should have the spirit of heroes. If you bow and scrape before the strong, when will you dare to challenge the Heavenly Way?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Tao felt even more ashamed, but he did not lower his head. Instead, he puffed out his chest further.
"Now that's more like it. You're a good lad. Do you have any wishes? Feel free to tell me. I'll do my best to grant them."
Liu Tao was taken aback, his mind going blank. He didn't know what to say.
He didn't know if he had any wishes. He had lived his life in a daze, content just to survive.
He couldn't possibly say that his wish was for the demons to quickly attack, kill him, and then destroy the world.
Surely, this important figure before him would strike him dead with a single blow.
Feng An watched Liu Tao's stunned expression and laughed, scolding him,
"You scoundrel, this is a heaven-sent opportunity! Do you know who he is?
He is the strongest disciple of the Five Elements Hall, leading the strongest team. He is someone who holds significant influence within the Five Elements Hall. I wouldn't dare speak loudly in front of him. Even though we are both at the Tai Heng realm, he could easily crush me with one hand.
Make your request quickly. Be bold and ask for much. Don't be afraid. Strike while the iron is hot and get all you can.
He's about to return to the Immortal Realm. Once this opportunity is gone, it won't come again."
Wan Lei's intention was simple. When he was weak, many influential figures had supported and helped him. Now that he was powerful, truly powerful, even a casual reward from him was an immense opportunity for those less fortunate. He was willing to give back.
The cultivation world was not just about deception and life-and-death battles. There was also the strong guiding the weak, predecessors mentoring juniors, passing down knowledge through generations. Da Feng Novel Network.
Liu Tao finally regained his senses, lifted his head, and looked at Wan Lei with fervent eyes, stating his deepest desire.
"I wish to become a powerful expert like you."
Wan Lei was stunned by his words.
"From below, I saw you moving through the demon army as if no one was there. I yearn for it, wishing I could be by your side, fighting alongside you, killing demons together. It was you who inspired me to step forward and charge at the demons."
Liu Tao knelt down, his forehead touching the ground, and declared loudly,
"I implore you to take me as your disciple, to allow me to follow by your side, to learn combat skills from you, to fight on the battlefield with you, and to serve my righteous plane!"
"Stand up."
Liu Tao stood up.
"How old are you?"
Wan Lei's question startled Liu Tao. After pondering for a long time, he replied,
"I think I'm over eighty years old. However... at my age, I'm still considered young among Golden Core cultivators. I still have plenty of time to cultivate. My aptitude isn't bad either. I will cultivate and fight with all my might, so as not to shame you..."
"I am only thirty years old," Wan Lei said with a smile.
Liu Tao was stunned and looked at Wan Lei in surprise. He had originally thought the man was an ancient being, perhaps thousands or tens of thousands of years old, as many such immortals appeared young, which was normal.
But he was only thirty?
And already an immortal?
How was this possible? Even cultivating from the womb wouldn't be this fast. What kind of heaven-defying prodigy was this?
At this moment, Liu Tao believed what Feng An had said. This person before him was indeed a major figure in the Five Elements Hall.
Wan Lei shook his head and said,
"I cannot take you as my disciple. It feels strange to have someone older than me call me master every day.
Furthermore, I am very busy and don't have time to teach you. If I took you as my disciple, I wouldn't want to mislead you.
And as you saw the battlefields I fought in, my team members are all immortals, and we engage in the most dangerous battles. Your strength is too weak, and the combat is too fierce. I wouldn't be able to focus on protecting you."
Liu Tao lowered his head, unable to hide the disappointment in his eyes.
He was now severely blaming himself, wishing he could slap himself twice.
He cursed himself for being too greedy. Before, he had wanted to find a Nascent Soul stage cultivator to take him as a disciple, both for protection and to learn cultivation. However, he had spent all his savings giving gifts, and although they were accepted, he was still not taken on as a disciple. In the end, he was only given some pointers and sent away.
If it was so difficult to become a disciple of a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, how much more so with the great figure before him?
He was an immortal, a general of the Immortal Realm, a major figure in the Five Elements Hall. How high were his standards? How could he possibly look favorably upon a nobody like himself?
His bold request had not only wasted a golden opportunity but also displeased this esteemed individual.
He thought fortune would finally smile upon him, but he had ruined it through his own actions. He had fumbled a winning hand.
Liu Tao was so regretful that he wanted to draw his saber and end his own life.