Cannon Fodder Cultivation Guide

Chapter 11 - Taking Disciples

After four years at the Ninth Peak of the Outer Sect, this was the first time Zhang Yiyi stepped into the grounds of Qiao Chu's cave residence.
The place wasn't very large, but it was the most spiritually rich area among the Outer Nine Peaks. The main residence was even equipped with a large spiritual gathering array, making it comparable to the Inner Sect's First to Ninth Peaks.
As expected of the personal domain of a Nascent Soul True Lord, it wasn't too shabby. Although the space wasn't very large, it was relatively furnished.
However, Qiao Chu had neither a spouse nor any concubines, and he hadn't accepted any disciples. Living alone on such a large mountain was more than enough for him.
Zhang Yiyi thought that being a miscellaneous disciple working for Qiao Chu must be the most relaxed and leisurely job in the entire sect.
However, if Qiao Chu couldn't break through to the Transformation Realm in the next forty years, such a position would naturally cease to exist.
After reporting in, Zhang Yiyi went alone to the Sword Testing Cliff on the back mountain and immediately saw the Peak Master himself roasting spiritual beast meat with a rare Red Flame Fire Essence that was worth millions of spirit stones.
She sighed lightly. The world of the wealthy was indeed so extravagant that her imagination fell short.
"All healed?"
Qiao Chu was quite laid-back, directly inviting the young girl to sit beside him.
"Thanks to Master Qiao, the junior has fully recovered. Yiyi thanks Master Qiao for saving her life."
After sincerely thanking him, Zhang Yiyi took a seat beside him.
From their previous interactions, she knew that Qiao Chu was a very easygoing person, so she didn't need to be overly formal.
"So, what did you encounter at the bottom of the pool that day?"
While flipping the roasted spiritual beast meat, Qiao Chu casually asked Zhang Yiyi about the situation that day, not inquiring immediately about whether she had obtained the Cold Dragon Grass.
"I wasn't very lucky. Just as I spotted the three Cold Dragon Grasses at the bottom of the pool, a fifth-grade fish monster suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Fortunately, I had borrowed two high-grade talismans from Master Qiao before going into the pool, and with Master Qiao's help, otherwise, I would have been eaten by the demon beast."
Zhang Yiyi remarked with a touch of sentiment but no complaints: "Every time, I almost get eaten by demon beasts. They probably think I'm easy to bully."
"Maybe they think your meat is more delicious." Qiao Chu said with an unchanged expression, making it unclear whether he was serious or joking.
This remark left Zhang Yiyi unsure how to respond.
As an innate divine body, her meat might indeed be more appealing to demonic beasts?
But it didn't seem important. What mattered was that Qiao Chu's deep, attractive eyes were fixed on her, as if waiting for a confirmation or denial.
In any case, she couldn't continue the conversation.
"By the way, Master Qiao, here is the Cold Dragon Grass."
Zhang Yiyi decided to cut to the chase and handed over the two pieces of Cold Dragon Grass she had prepared.
"Also, here is the Water Resistance Pearl returned to you, but I can't return the two high-grade talismans. I hope Master Qiao will forgive me."
Fortunately, her storage ring had completely stopped time, so even if she had slept for three days, the Cold Dragon Grass, which wasn't stored in a jade box, would not have lost much of its efficacy.
Qiao Chu glanced at it and directly put the box containing the Cold Dragon Grass away.
The young girl's quick actions and the fact that she managed to gather intact spiritual herbs under such dangerous circumstances explained why she had no complaints even when facing a fifth-grade demon beast.
A fifth-grade demon beast already had a demon core. Even with two high-grade talismans, Zhang Yiyi's Qi Refining level cultivation could escape such a danger, which was quite impressive.
If there had been any hesitation or slight mistakes in the arrangement, the two high-grade talismans would have had no chance to be used, and the young girl would have been completely consumed.
Fortunately, her carefulness and thick skin made her request those two talismans as a precaution. Otherwise, Qiao Chu wouldn't have had the mood to roast meat today.
"Keep the Water Resistance Pearl. I don't need it anyway."
He gave away the Water Resistance Pearl as extra compensation for the young girl since he hadn't anticipated the danger at the bottom of the icy pool.
Hearing this, Zhang Yiyi happily put the Water Resistance Pearl back into her possession.
Accepting gifts from elders is something one should never refuse, and having gained an unexpected fortune made this trip to Wanze Mountain quite rewarding.
Although she almost lost her life, the gains were greater, proving that high risk brought high rewards.
Seeing Zhang Yiyi's satisfied and somewhat foolish expression upon receiving the Water Resistance Pearl, Qiao Chu suddenly found it amusing to tease the young girl from time to time.
After cutting a slice of freshly roasted spiritual beast meat and tasting it, he found it delicious but somewhat lacking due to the craftsmanship.
However, seeing the young girl eyeing the roasted meat like a hungry cat, he suddenly felt the taste was much better than before.
Qiao Chu leisurely ate, neither giving the young girl any nor letting her leave, instead making her sit aside and watch him eat.
Zhang Yiyi wasn't particularly greedy, but the old man's behavior was quite shameless.
Only allowing her to smell the aroma and not eat, it was only natural that she would subconsciously salivate.
But since it was someone else's possession and her own strength was insufficient, even though she was unhappy, she could only hold it in.
"Half a year later, during the sect's grand competition, if you can become the top of the Qi Refining rankings, I'll accept you as my disciple."
After eating his fill and feeling quite pleased, Qiao Chu threw out a huge promise.
In the past few hundred years, he had rarely met a young girl who was both pleasing to the eye and interesting. He had to act faster than his senior brothers and show off his promising disciple.
"Really?"
Zhang Yiyi was startled by this sudden statement and instinctively felt uncertain.
Seeing the young girl's disbelief, Qiao Chu asked, "Are you not confident about becoming the top, or are you worried that I won't break through to the Transformation Realm and won't be your master for long?"
The latter part of his question was too direct, making it hard for Zhang Yiyi to pretend not to understand.
"Neither."
She thought for a moment and honestly said, "Although I don't know why you haven't advanced to the Transformation Realm despite reaching the peak of Nascent Soul, it shouldn't be due to an inability to break through."
"How so?"
Qiao Chu's gaze towards the young girl shifted. He hadn't expected this little girl to be more perceptive than many old fellows who had lived for hundreds or even thousands of years.
"First, you have abundant vitality and no sign of imminent decay. Second, it's a matter of intuition. No matter how I look at it, your attitude doesn't seem like someone who's unable to break through."
Zhang Yiyi answered honestly and took the opportunity to flatter her future master.
Being able to become the top disciple under someone as exceptional as Qiao Chu was undoubtedly the best choice for her.
Regardless of why he had not advanced in so long, his achievements below the Transformation Realm and even the combat power to rival Transformation Realm experts showed that the past nine hundred years had not been wasted.
Zhang Yiyi knew this thanks to the admiration of Senior Sister Pan.
Senior Sister Pan's top idol had always been Master Qiao, even though his reputation had declined in recent centuries.