Jiang Ling could scarcely believe his eyes.
He had handed out Star-Swallowing Great Art, a despised, wicked technique from the mortal martial world.
What he got back was actually the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art—an Immortal-grade, supreme canon that pointed directly to the origin of the Devouring Great Dao?!
And ten drops of Innate Dao Embryo Source Spirit Liquid capable of defying fate!
With this stuff, even a pig could change its destiny and embark on a path to peerless immortality.
The contrast was like leaping from a stinking ditch straight up to the highest heavenly palace!
What exactly is Ye Qingshuang's origin?
To be even more ridiculously lucky than Hua Yuntian? The first return not only yielded a supreme immortal canon but also Innate Dao Embryo Source Spirit Liquid!
This is a treasure any cultivator would dream of!
When he looked again at the small figure clutching a ragged cloth doll, carefully studying the Star-Swallowing Great Art, his gaze had completely transformed.
This wasn't picking up a lump of ice.
This was accepting a future Primordial Chaos Demon God!
Her fortune must be even more outrageous than Hua Yuntian's, right?
"Master?"
Ye Qingshuang seemed to sense Jiang Ling's scorching gaze. She looked up, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
Jiang Ling snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing the tsunami in his heart. He squeezed out a profound, all-knowing smile onto his face.
With a thought, he retrieved the dark purple jade slip flowing with Great Dao runes.
"Ahem, Qingshuang," Jiang Ling cleared his throat, a barely detectable tremor in his voice. "The Star-Swallowing Great Art I just gave you... well, it was merely a stepping stone, a test of your character.
This is the true technique prepared for you—the supreme immortal canon, Devouring Heaven Demonic Art!
This art points directly to the origin of Devouring, refines all laws—it is a path to the heavens. Take it. Study it well."
He handed the jade slip to Ye Qingshuang. "However, this art is exceedingly domineering. It requires immense perseverance and resolve to cultivate. Remember, power is a means, not an end. Do not lose yourself to it."
Jiang Ling deliberately emphasized "immortal canon" and "path to the heavens," trying to wash away any association with a demonic art. But the storm in his heart still raged.
"This girl... the system said she has potential. Is it a compatibility with this path of devouring all laws?"
"And this returned technique... it's clearly a tailor-made heavenly path for her. That spirit liquid is probably meant to defy fate for her sake."
The system was being so considerate he was almost jealous.
It's just that his Primordial Sect seemed to be developing in stranger and stranger directions?
First, a chick of unknown breed that reached Foundation Establishment overnight. Then Hua Yuntian, that thorny disciple with special karma and great fortune. Now, a future little demon god who would devour all things...
Jiang Ling felt a sudden toothache.
But that didn't stop him from continuing to nurture his disciples.
He took out another jade vial and handed it over. "This is the 'Innate Dao Embryo Source Spirit Liquid.' It has the effect of cleansing marrow and defying fate. Use it to lay your foundation when you first cultivate the immortal canon; it will double your results with half the effort. Take it. Study well. Do not disappoint your master's expectations, and do not betray... your own Dao."
The last sentence carried profound meaning.
Ye Qingshuang looked at the dark purple jade slip and jade vial in Jiang Ling's hand. Deep within her deadened pupils, two nearly imperceptible vortices seemed to flash and vanish.
Without the slightest hesitation, she accepted them respectfully. "Thank you, Master."
Then, holding her cloth doll and the jade slip that could drive anyone to madness, she silently walked to the most secluded corner of the hall and sat down cross-legged.
She immediately immersed her mind, attempting to connect with the overwhelmingly domineering true intent of the Devouring Great Dao within the slip.
The small figure and the aura that devoured all laws formed a strange, yet awe-inspiring harmony.
Jiang Ling watched Ye Qingshuang in the corner, exhaling a long, heavy breath. He felt a thin layer of cold sweat on his back.
He had frightened himself with all the chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind.
Hua Yuntian stood in place, his face shifting between shades of dark and pale.
Jiang Ling's words echoed relentlessly in his mind.
Supreme Immortal Canon 'Devouring Heaven Demonic Art'... Innate Dao Embryo Source Spirit Liquid... cleansing marrow, defying fate...
Supreme Immortal Canon!
Another Immortal-grade technique, aside from the 'Divine Phoenix Treasure Art' that Jin Cancan cultivated!
Recalling the 'Star-Swallowing Great Art' Jiang Ling first bestowed upon Ye Qingshuang, a sudden thought surged in Hua Yuntian's heart.
Could it be... when that old rogue Jiang bestowed the 'Basic Breath Absorption Technique' back then, was he also testing me?
If I hadn't thrown the book away in his face back then, would he have given me an Immortal-grade technique too?
Once this thought took root, Hua Yuntian couldn't bear it.
Boundless regret threatened to drown him.
Just as his mind was on the verge of collapse, a sudden light of realization struck.
No!
Every disciple in the sect has a copy of the 'Basic Breath Absorption Technique.' I haven't seen any others receiving Immortal-grade techniques.
Even in the Scripture Pavilion, apart from that damned chicken, no one else has obtained even a single Heaven-grade technique.
It must be that old rogue Jiang playing favorites, deliberately suppressing me, trying to make my Dao heart crumble.
Yes, that must be it!
Well, I won't let him!
My 'Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Art' is the true path to the heavens!
My foundation is profound. In the future, I will surely accumulate immense strength and astound the world!
Hua Yuntian desperately burrowed into this stubborn, almost paranoid line of thinking to maintain his tottering pride and Dao heart. Unbeknownst to him, he was drifting farther and farther from a true immortal opportunity.
Jiang Ling was completely oblivious to his second disciple's mental gymnastics.
Sensing the absolute control the Master Token in his consciousness held over the Subordinate Tokens, he nodded with satisfaction.
With the Sect Command Tokens, he no longer had to fear disciples developing disloyalty. He could lounge about with peace of mind.
Out of curiosity, he checked the loyalty levels of the disciples around him and found they were all quite high.
Even Hua Yuntian, who was always looking down his nose and finding fault, had a loyalty level above 80%.
"Tsk, this guy... what a bizarre, twisted breed," Jiang Ling glanced at Hua Yuntian in surprise, feeling he still understood this disciple far too little.
…
With the techniques bestowed, the next main event arrived.
Eagerly, he refined the Master Token within the Sect Command Token system, then promptly conjured twenty Subordinate Tokens on the spot. He distributed them with a beaming smile.
"Come, my good disciples. Bind these with a drop of your blood. These are the identity tokens of our Primordial Sect. In the future, when you travel the world, showing this token means you're part of an organization!"
Jiang Ling grinned like a fox that had stolen a chicken.
Without a word, Ye Qingshuang took a token, bit her fingertip, and let a drop of blood fall.
Seeing the Sect Master's personal disciple do this, the other disciples didn't dare disobey. They each accepted a token and bound it.
Jin Cancan tilted his head, curiously pecking the edge of a token with his beak. A drop of blood containing a golden shimmer was instantly drawn out by the token and absorbed.
"Cheep!"
Jin Cancan was startled, looking at the token before him, on the verge of tears.
He was just curious and pecked it! How did it get bound?!
This damn thing cheats!
Great. Now he was locked in. How was he supposed to become the glorious, illustrious Phoenix Emperor in the future?
A fowl's life held no hope!
Jin Cancan hung his head, looking utterly despondent.
When it was Hua Yuntian's turn, his face grew even uglier.
His soul was powerful, allowing him to vaguely perceive that the token contained some profound restriction.
Once bound with blood, life and death might fall under its control.
"That old rogue Jiang really does harbor ill intentions! He wants to control me completely?!"
His inner resistance reached its peak.
"Hmm?"
Jiang Ling glanced at him with a half-smile, a faint, almost imperceptible Nascent Soul pressure brushing past him.