"Re-reporting, senior, my surname is Zhou!"
Zhou Yan hurriedly lowered his head and replied respectfully. He had not expected that the young man who suddenly appeared and saved his life would be so terrifyingly powerful. With just a simple strike, he had killed the four guards on the spot.
"Hmm, Zhou Yan, from today onwards, you will cultivate by my side. I hope you can achieve greatness." The man in green nodded in satisfaction, then patted his palm, and a pill shot out, directly entering Zhou Yan's mouth.
"This is a Spirit Gathering Pill, it can help you increase your cultivation. Remember, you can only take it once, otherwise, the meridians in your body will burst, and by then, even if you were a reincarnated immortal, you would be beyond help." The man in green said indifferently.
"Th-thank you, senior, for your benevolence."
Zhou Yan knelt on the ground with extreme excitement, kowtowing a few times. Then, his eyes flickered with a fervent light.
The Spirit Gathering Pill, something even more precious and rare than a Profound Grade cultivation technique, worth hundreds of low-grade spirit stones. This man in green had actually given him one, and had told him that if he consumed it, he could become a peak Divine King realm expert, and even have a chance to advance to the Qi Condensation realm, reaching the level of transcending mortals and becoming a saint.
This outcome made Zhou Yan ecstatic.
"Alright, go and cultivate quickly!" The man in green waved his hand, signaling Zhou Yan to leave.
"Yes." Zhou Yan immediately stood up and ran outside.
Watching Zhou Yan's receding back, the man in green shook his head and muttered to himself, "Alas, it's a pity. Your potential is already exhausted, and it will ultimately be but a fleeting moment!"
As he spoke, the man in green's gaze swept around the surroundings, and he muttered, "Damn Nine Nether Demonic Dragon Sect. I was just bored and looking for some fun. Since I've encountered you, I'll take care of you on the way."
As the man in green spoke, his body rose into the air, and he disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye.
...
Upon returning home, Zhou Yan sat cross-legged on his bed and began to circulate the "Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Technique," absorbing the spiritual energy contained within the Spirit Gathering Pill.
Rumble~
Traces of pure spiritual energy were drawn into his meridians and circulated throughout his body, causing his originally withered skin to gradually fill out, his flesh and blood becoming crystal clear, as if it could be broken by a touch.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, exhaled a turbid breath, and a look of excitement appeared on his face. This was because he could clearly feel that his cultivation had already entered the third level of the Divine Emperor realm, and was only half a step away from the fourth level.
This speed was incredible! One had to know that Zhou Yan had extremely poor talent, and after cultivating for fifteen years, he was still stuck in the early stage of the Innate realm. Now, in just half a month, he had broken through two minor realms. Such a miracle would shock the world in the entire Northern Underworld Domain.
"Heh heh, is this called enduring hardship to finally enjoy blessings?" Zhou Yan couldn't help but laugh. For cultivators, the higher the cultivation, the longer the lifespan, but it was also more arduous. Like him, a waste, he endured daily torture that ordinary people could not bear.
However, now, he had a new life.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's heart trembled slightly. He sensed a powerful True Essence fluctuation coming from outside the house.
He frowned, a thought crossed his mind, and he instantly rushed to the window, pushed open the door, and jumped out.
At this moment, in the dark night, a man in white robes floated in the air, his hands behind his back, gazing proudly at the sky. A powerful and unparalleled aura emanated from him, sweeping in all directions.
"Who dares to trespass into my mansion and seek death!"
Zhou Yan snorted coldly, instantly darted out, and punched out with equal force. The punch grew larger as it met the wind, transforming into a thousand-zhang great mountain, and fiercely pressed down towards the man in white robes.
"Oh? You've actually broken through to the second level of the Divine Emperor?"
The man in white robes seemed to have expected this, and with a casual gesture, he extended a finger.
Immediately, his fingertip erupted with dazzling golden light, as if cast from pure gold, emitting a brilliant and dazzling radiance. With a destructive might, he fiercely poked at Zhou Yan.
Boom...
The two collided, emitting a loud noise.
"Deng deng deng~~~"
Following that, Zhou Yan retreated seven or eight steps before he could stabilize his figure.
"Divine Emperor fifth level!"
Zhou Yan narrowed his eyes, staring at the man in white robes. The opponent had made him suffer a disadvantage with just one move.
It was clear that the man in white robes' cultivation far surpassed his, and his physical fitness was also incomparably strong.
"Eh? You actually blocked my finger?"
The man in white robes looked at Zhou Yan with surprise, a look of admiration in his eyes. Although he had only used three layers of his power, he was not someone that ordinary martial artists could contend with.
However, the man in white robes still did not pay much attention to Zhou Yan, and said indifferently, "Just a mere ant. If you cultivate for a few more decades, perhaps you'll be able to fight me. As for now, you're still far from it."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his arm, spread his palm, and a vast pressure emanated, crushing down towards Zhou Yan.
Boom!
In an instant, this surging pressure, like the collapse of Mount Tai, enveloped Zhou Yan, causing all his bones to creak.
Plop!
This pressure made Zhou Yan's breathing difficult, his legs trembled violently, and finally, he could not withstand the oppressive force of this pressure and fell to the ground with a thud.
"How is this possible?"
He looked at the man in white robes with utter horror, his face filled with disbelief. He had unleashed his full power just now, yet he was completely defenseless. Who exactly was this man in white robes? How could he be so terrifying?
"However, I see that your aptitude is quite good, and I am willing to take you as my disciple. Have you considered it carefully?" The man in white robes looked down at Zhou Yan, his expression calm.
He was at the peak of the Divine Emperor realm, one step away from entering the Divine Sovereign realm, and yet he was willing to personally guide Zhou Yan. Such treatment would drive anyone mad.
"Thank you, Master!" Zhou Yan immediately knelt on the ground upon hearing this, saying with a face full of excitement.
To be able to apprentice under a Divine Sovereign realm expert, such a stroke of luck, let alone him, even other prodigies would go mad.
"Good, a promising youth!" The man in white robes nodded slightly. He waved his hand, and a gentle force surged forth, lifting Zhou Yan. He looked at Zhou Yan, pondered for a moment, then flicked his finger, imprinting a mysterious rune into Zhou Yan's mind.
"This is the 'Spirit Gathering Talisman.' It can help you cultivate, and its effect is more than ten times stronger than a Qi Gathering Pill. I hope you can make good use of it." The man in white robes said.
After speaking, he no longer paid attention to Zhou Yan and flew away on his own, leaving Zhou Yan, who was in a daze. The corners of his mouth twitched, and he felt an urge to curse. Damn it, this guy was a bit too arrogant and overbearing.