Liu Xi did not want to become Yao Chen's disciple.
Although he was an eighth-grade alchemist, he had enough qualifications to teach his apprentice.
However, he had already accepted Xiao Yan as his disciple.
If it weren't for Xiao Yan, Liu Xi might have become his disciple.
However, with Xiao Yan around, he couldn't go with Liu Xi, and Liu Xi couldn't go with them either.
Liu Xi couldn't possibly help Xiao Yan find the Strange Flame, much less help him go to the Yunlan Sect, or help him sweep through the Black Corner Region, or deal with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion and the Soul Clan.
Xiao Yan is such a troublemaker; Liu Xi has no desire to have anything to do with him.
If you become Yao Chen's disciple, these things will be unavoidable.
Therefore, one should not bow on a willow mat!
"A low-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique!?"
Liu Xi gasped, clearly shocked.
"Old sir, who exactly are you? How dare you make such a boast!"
Liu Xi was so shocked by the medicine that he was almost incoherent.
"Knowing too much about my identity won't do you any good. However, I can tell you that in the entire Dou Qi Continent, when it comes to alchemy, if I claim to be second, no one dares to claim to be first in front of me. I am more than qualified to teach you!"
Yao Chen was very satisfied with Liu Xi's shocked attitude, and said in a tone full of arrogance and domineering.
However, Liu Xi did not immediately become his disciple as he had expected.
Instead, he frowned, looked at him seriously, shook his head, and said:
"I'm sorry, sir. Although the conditions you offered are very tempting to Liu Xi, Liu Xi only wants to quietly cultivate the chain and refine medicine, and does not want to get involved in other disputes."
As the old gentleman said, Liu Xi was just a romantic figure. I only want to live a secluded life with my confidante, guarding a peaceful place.
As powerful as the old man, yet now only a soul remains, you must have enemies, and your enemies must be quite troublesome for you!
"I, Liu Xi, am unworthy and have little ambition to compete with the world. Here, I can only apologize to the old gentleman!"
Xiao Yan is a problem, but so is Yao Chen.
Liu Xi's own plan is to go to Canaan Academy, obtain the Fallen Heart Flame, then enter Zhongzhou, join the Pill Tower, and learn alchemy on his own.
Without taking anyone as his teacher or being controlled by anyone, he was still able to forge his own path!
Yao Chen hadn't expected that Liu Xi would still be able to resist the temptation and refuse him after he offered such generous terms.
Faced with such immense benefits, Liu Xi didn't think about how much he could gain, but rather what risks he would have to take.
This caution and composure once again impressed Yao Chen.
However, he had to admit that Liu Xi had indeed hit the nail on the head.
"Young friend, you should think this through!"
"Earth-rank fire attribute cultivation techniques and earth-rank fire attribute combat skills are something you'll likely find difficult to obtain in the entire Jia Ma Empire, or even the entire Northwest Continent, for the foreseeable future!"
"I don't deny that after you become my disciple, you will indeed find it difficult to remain unscathed. In the future, you may encounter some rather troublesome enemies!"
"But I am not without any support, nor am I without any powerful background. My current predicament is not because, as you may imagine, because the enemy is too strong to be defeated. It's just that I was blind once and trusted the wrong person!"
Even though Yao Chen was just a soul, Liu Xi could still feel his deep-seated resentment and hatred.
However, he quickly suppressed his emotional fluctuations and looked at Liu Xi, saying:
"But I believe that my eyes, which can go blind once, will never go blind a second time, much less a third time!"
Whoosh!
A red scroll floated down to Liu Xi's feet.
"A low-level Earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique, the Crimson Flame Heart-Burning Technique. If you are willing, young friend, I will immediately impart this technique to you!"
Yao Chen stared intently at Liu Xi, awaiting his choice.
He chose Liu Xi not because he was placing the chance of resurrection on Liu Xi, but because he genuinely wanted him to inherit his mantle.
He couldn't possibly find a competitor for Xiao Yan, but Xiao Yan's path of cultivating the Chain Burning Technique was indeed uncertain. Who knows, one day, he and Xiao Yan might both kick the bucket together.
Since Liu Xi appeared at this time, it meant that he had been given a stable option to inherit his mantle.
There wasn't actually much conflict between him teaching Xiao Yan and this.
Seeing the low-level Earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique floating in front of him, Liu Xi almost impulsively agreed.
However, after hesitating for a few seconds, he resolutely refused.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Um!?"
This time, it was Yao Chen's turn to be shocked.
He never expected that Liu Xi would be able to refuse a low-level Earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique.
This incredible willpower and character made him admire it even more, but also feel even more sorry for it.
"Very well, since you truly have no such wish, I will not force you!"
"But I do have a certain fondness for your talent, young friend. Very well, I will consider this low-grade earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique a gift from me!"
"I only hope that when we meet again someday, my young friend, you will not forget this old man!"
Yao Chen hesitated for a few seconds, then with a flick of his wrist, tossed the Crimson Fire Heart-Burning Technique onto the willow mat and left without hesitation.
"Sir, this..."
Liu Xi was shocked.
What the hell is going on?
First, Xiao Xun'er gifted him a high-level Xuan-rank cultivation technique, and then Yao Chen gifted him a low-level Di-rank cultivation technique.
Even Liu Xi felt her heart pounding and couldn't take it anymore.
"Depend on!"
"This joke has gone too far!"
"Does this mean that if I have a conflict with Xiao Yan in the future, I'll have to go easy on him because of Yao Chen?!"
Liu Xi was quite depressed, feeling no joy at all for getting a low-level Earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique for free.
However, Liu Xi quickly put the idea out of his mind.
Aside from women, he and Xiao Yan actually had no conflicts.
As for the strange fire, he estimated he could only refine one.
There shouldn't be any conflict, and even if there is, it shouldn't be too significant.
"A low-level Earth-rank fire-attribute cultivation technique... Now, I'll see just how powerful it is?"
"Why not try it if it's free?" Liu Xi is not a pedantic person.
...
The next day, the Canaan College recruitment team finally arrived.
Early in the morning, the entire city of Wutan became extremely lively.
The streets were bustling with traffic and crowds of people.
Everywhere you look, there are spirited, witty, and energetic young geniuses.
"Brother Liu Xi!"
Xiao Yu ran to Liu Xi's room early in the morning and threw herself into Liu Xi's arms.
After several days without intimacy, she longed for the willow mat.
She had originally intended to find Liu Xi last night.
However, she remembered that the two of them had already done something intimate.
She came to find Liu Xi, and Liu Xi probably wouldn't let her leave.
Today, she will also take Liu Xi and the others to see their mentor, Ruolin.
We can't very well awkwardly walk there with them, can we?
How embarrassing!