Wu Chen Jian Xian was naturally not foolish; he had simply broken through his inner demons, his state of mind had been elevated, and he now understood more clearly what he truly needed.
Before meeting Zhang Fan, he had always believed that with his attainments in the way of the sword, he had no rivals on Earth, nor anyone qualified to be his opponent.
However, his previous crushing defeat had made him realize that, setting aside all else, this young man before him was already far superior in sword intent, and they were not on the same level at all.
He no longer wished to remain immersed in his own world, but rather to pursue a higher realm of swordsmanship. Zhang Fan's casual words had deeply enlightened him, making him understand how crucial the guidance of a senior was to cultivation, far surpassing his own solitary efforts.
Thus, he had made up his mind to seek entry into Zhang Fan's tutelage and learn the way of the sword from him.
“Today, your presence on my Lake Heart Island is a capital offense,” Zhang Fan said, staring at Wu Chen Jian Xian. “I can sense your sincerity, but some things are not enough with mere sincerity. You have chosen the wrong moment. Becoming my disciple is no longer possible.”
“However, your talent and strength are still considerable. I will give you an opportunity: serve as my sword slave. Are you willing?” Zhang Fan stated calmly.
To have cultivated to the late stage of the Core Formation realm solely through his own efforts on this spirit-energy-scarce Earth, Wu Chen Jian Xian's talent was undeniable. Moreover, Zhang Fan was indeed short of capable subordinates. Apart from the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, the Blood Ancestor, and the three Blood Race princes, everyone else was too weak to be of much help. Therefore, if Wu Chen Jian Xian had this resolve, Zhang Fan would not mind keeping him by his side.
Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Daoist Niu couldn't help but cast a peculiar glance at him. A sword cultivator in the late stage of Core Formation wanted to become his disciple, but was refused. If this were to spread, the entire martial arts world of China would likely fall into madness.
“Sword slave?” Upon learning that he could not become Zhang Fan's disciple, Wu Chen Jian Xian was filled with disappointment. However, when he heard the term ‘sword slave,’ he fell into a daze, clearly not understanding its meaning.
“A sword slave can also be called a sword attendant. Once you become my sword slave, your life and death will be under my control, and your life will no longer be your own. However, you will still have the opportunity to follow me and learn the way of the sword,” Zhang Fan explained.
Wu Chen Jian Xian finally understood. A sword slave was the slave of the Sword Master, to be commanded at their will, but one could still remain by the Sword Master's side and learn the way of the sword.
Wu Chen Jian Xian fell into contemplation. To have condensed a Yuan Core on Earth and reached the late stage of Core Formation, he was undoubtedly a person of exceptional talent, and naturally possessed the pride of a genius. If anyone had dared to say such a thing to him before, Wu Chen Jian Xian would have considered it a grave humiliation and would have sought to wash it away with blood. But after witnessing Zhang Fan's strength, he understood that even with his breakthrough to the late stage of Core Formation, he could not stir up much trouble in Zhang Fan's hands.
“I am willing!” Wu Chen Jian Xian declared with a resounding voice, bowing three times to Zhang Fan. “Jian Wu Chen pays his respects to Master!”
It was a simple choice between dying with his pride intact or becoming a slave in humiliation, but living on and having the chance to encounter a world he had never known before. Jian Wu Chen chose the latter.
“Good. You have made a very wise choice. You may not realize it now, but you will understand in the future,” Zhang Fan said, walking up to Wu Chen Jian Xian and looking down at him. “Open your spiritual consciousness space, and I will plant a sword intent within you!”
Opening one’s spiritual consciousness space to another was an extremely dangerous act, as any intrusion and spiritual attack could cause damage far more severe than physical injury. Just like the Pope of the Holy See previously, his spiritual consciousness avatar was injured by Zhang Fan, and it took nearly a year for it to fully recover.
Wu Chen Jian Xian did not resist. Zhang Fan easily planted a sword seed in Wu Chen Jian Xian’s spiritual consciousness space. The sword seed hovered at the center, constantly exuding sword intent, which was all-encompassing and contained many aspects that Wu Chen Jian Xian had never encountered before. He knew this was Zhang Fan’s way of controlling him. The sword seed could help him comprehend sword intent, but if he harbored any thoughts of betrayal, Zhang Fan could detonate the sword seed with a single thought, causing devastating damage to his spiritual consciousness space.
Wu Chen Jian Xian had no intention of refining the sword seed, for only by experiencing it firsthand did he understand its terrifying nature, which was far beyond his ability to resist. After completing this, Wu Chen Jian Xian bowed again in thanks, then stood respectfully beside Zhang Fan, awaiting orders.
“You didn’t escape?” Zhang Fan's gaze turned towards Daoist Niu in the distance. He had stood by and watched Zhang Fan do all this without intervening or fleeing. Zhang Fan had originally thought that after his strength was fully revealed, Daoist Niu would recognize the situation and realize he was no match for Zhang Fan, and that staying would only be waiting for death.
Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Daoist Niu revealed a kindly smile. He took a large gourd from his waist, removed the stopper, and a rich aroma of wine wafted out. Daoist Niu took a deep breath; the potent aroma invigorated him. He tilted his head back and took a large gulp, sighing contentedly.
“This old Daoist has lived for over a thousand years and is nearing the end of his lifespan. Without condensing a Golden Core, I can’t transcend this world. My remaining time is spent in a desperate struggle for survival. It’s better to stay here and have a good fight with Saint Master Zhang,” Daoist Niu said, a brilliant smile on his withered old face, as if he had already resigned himself to death.
Monks in the Golden Core stage could live for up to three thousand years, but those in the Core Formation stage only had fifteen hundred years. Daoist Niu, having lived for over a thousand years and knowing he had no hope of condensing a Golden Core, had come to terms with his fate.
“Your mindset is not bad, but with your strength, it will be difficult to have a good fight with me!” Zhang Fan scoffed. Daoist Niu's strength was at the late stage of Core Formation, not much stronger than the deceased Martial Saint of Changbai Mountain, who had been utterly defenseless and easily slaughtered by Zhang Fan. How much better could Daoist Niu fare?
“It matters not. Saint Master Zhang is only in his twenties, yet his strength has already reached the height of the Half-Moon Immortal of the past. Such talent cannot be described with any words of praise; it is not an exaggeration to say he is unprecedented and unrivaled. To die at Saint Master Zhang’s hands, this old Daoist’s life will have been worthwhile.” As Daoist Niu spoke, he again lifted his gourd and took large gulps, as if wanting to finish all the fine wine before his death.
“Master, Daoist Niu’s state seems unusual. I can sense his aura constantly rising, as if… he is about to break through!” Wu Chen Jian Xian reminded him from the side.
Zhang Fan watched the scene calmly. If Wu Chen Jian Xian could sense it, how could he not?
"Boom!" As if a certain barrier had been broken, a dull thud echoed from within Daoist Niu's body. Above碧波湖 (Bìbō Hú - Azure Wave Lake), a large amount of spirit energy poured into Daoist Niu's form… His aura then surged explosively, much like Wu Chen Jian Xian’s earlier breakthrough. In a mere instant, his aura reached the peak of Core Formation.
…