I was just making up techniques… how did all of you become Emperors? Chapter 609: Jiang Yan Becomes a Disciple

"Why are you in such a panic?"

The moment Chu Feng caught Ji Jiuwu's voice, he showed up right in the courtyard.

Ji Jiuwu spotted his master and quickly blurted out, "Master, something terrible has occurred. Ah Yan has passed out."

"Oh."

With a sweep of his large hand from Chu Feng, the master and disciple vanished from their location in a flash. The very next instant, they materialized in Jiang Yan's courtyard.

Ji Jiuwu gazed at Jiang Yan, who lay there foaming at the mouth, his heart filled with intense worry. Yet, lacking any knowledge of healing arts, he could only remain at the side, waiting powerlessly.

Chu Feng merely glanced over at Jiang Yan and declared, "This kid has been poisoned."

"Ah?"

Ji Jiuwu froze in place, shocked by the revelation.

Chu Feng offered no further words; such a poison posed no challenge to him at all. He pointed lightly, sending a thread of spiritual energy into Jiang Yan's body, and the young man's face regained its color at a pace the eye could follow.

Pfft...

Jiang Yan coughed up a glob of dark blood, then gradually lifted his eyelids and scanned his surroundings with a dazed look.

Ji Jiuwu rushed over at once and inquired, "Ah Yan, are you alright?"

Hearing this snapped Jiang Yan out of his fog, and he noticed Chu Feng standing in the yard. He promptly bowed low and stated, "This junior pays respects to the Martial God."

"No need for such formalities."

Chu Feng questioned, "Explain what occurred to you."

Jiang Yan held nothing back and described his recent ordeal. Each day after completing his tasks, he would venture into the mountains by himself to hunt for vegetation, checking if it could serve as food or medicine.

In the end, he unwittingly consumed a vibrant blossom and soon felt his head spinning. Upon regaining consciousness, he found Chu Feng and Ji Jiuwu present in the courtyard.

"You really are fearless when it comes to death, kid."

Chu Feng jested, "Seeing your eagerness to master a hundred herbs, This Seat shall pass on a scripture scroll to you. It details all sorts of plants and edibles. Once you've fully grasped this scripture, seek out This Seat to take you as an apprentice."

"Thank you, Senior."

Jiang Yan prepared to drop to his knees and kowtow to Chu Feng, but a simple wave from Chu Feng halted him.

"There's no hurry to offer such a profound bow to This Seat just yet. You can do so once you've mastered the scripture." With that, Chu Feng turned and vanished from sight.

Jiang Yan watched Chu Feng's departing form and whispered, "Senior Martial God is truly an extraordinary figure!"

Ji Jiuwu remarked, "Enough with the flattery for Master. You ought to become Master's disciple soon, so you can chase your own Great Dao."

Ji Jiuwu's words struck Jiang Yan like a sudden revelation. He clasped his hands toward Ji Jiuwu and said, "Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother. Junior Brother was too slow-witted earlier and overlooked this. I also owe Senior Brother gratitude for today's help."

"Sigh..."

Ji Jiuwu replied casually, "No need for all that courtesy between us. Get some rest."

"Mm."

Jiang Yan agreed with a nod. After seeing Ji Jiuwu off, he settled into a cross-legged position using the meditation technique Ji Jiuwu had shown him days prior and dove into examining the scripture now etched in his mind.

Before long, three bold characters surfaced in his thoughts: Shennong Scripture.

As these characters emerged, a flood of text and illustrations filled Jiang Yan's mind. Beneath each image lay thorough explanations of every herb, drawing him deep into study for quite some time.

After an extended period, a fierce ache throbbed in Jiang Yan's head. He ceased his perusal right away, and when he opened his eyes, night had already fallen.

"I didn't realize I'd been absorbed for hours on end. That explains the pounding in my skull. Still, armed with this scripture, I'll identify plants much faster."

Jiang Yan chose not to push further. Overdoing it brings no benefit; better to learn up to his daily tolerance.

Having set this modest aim, he retired for the night. Come dawn the following day, he rose and joined Senior Brother Ji for the routine of fetching water and splitting logs.

Once their chores wrapped up, Jiang Yan asked with curiosity, "Senior Brother, now that you're Master's disciple, why do you keep handling these minor tasks daily?"

Ji Jiuwu grinned and explained, "Master first used these small jobs to temper me. But I grew accustomed to them in time. Moreover, if I can't endure even these little things, how could I speak of cultivation?"

Jiang Yan nodded faintly as he listened: "Senior Brother speaks the absolute truth."

Time flies in the pursuit of cultivation, with no sense of its passage; three months slipped by unnoticed.

Jiang Yan had grown comfortable with mountain life and cultivation. Though long parted from home, he held no fears that his family fretted. He'd wandered for a year or half before on prior journeys; at most, he'd descend the mountain once he formally apprenticed.

This day marked the Mister's Dao lecture. From attending Master's teachings lately, Jiang Yan sensed a profound shift in himself, though he couldn't pinpoint the change.

An double-hour later, Chu Feng concluded his sermon. He turned his eyes to Ji Jiuwu: "Jiuwu, is there anything unclear to you?"

Ji Jiuwu rubbed his head: "Master, this disciple thinks he grasped it all, yet comprehended nothing at all."

A smile crept across Chu Feng's features as he heard this: "You rascal, trying to puzzle This Seat."

"This disciple wouldn't dare. I simply feel I must retreat and reflect on it."

Ji Jiuwu answered with a sheepish look. Though his time as Master's disciple was brief, the deeper their bond grew, the more he marveled at Master's boundless abilities.

Chu Feng instructed, "Very well, return and mull it over. Seek This Seat out only when you encounter true confusion."

"Yes."

Ji Jiuwu acknowledged and stepped back.

Chu Feng pressed on, "Ah Yan, and you?"

"Answering Mister, this disciple is slow and took in just a fraction. Yet today, this disciple came hoping Mister would quiz me on the Shennong Scripture."

Jiang Yan replied with respect.

"Oh."

Interest sparked in Chu Feng at once, and he said, "You finished poring over that Shennong Scripture so swiftly, kid?"

Jiang Yan affirmed: "Yes."

"Alright, then This Seat shall examine you."

Chu Feng proceeded to quiz Jiang Yan. Their exchange of questions and responses flew by, consuming another double-hour.

Ji Jiuwu and the White Deer nearby listened to the back-and-forth in total bewilderment.

"Good, good, good."

Chu Feng repeated 'good' thrice, his face lighting up with approval. "Ah Yan, you haven't let This Seat down. As the proverb says: better to seize the day than wait for another. Jiuwu, ready the tea. This Seat will take Jiang Yan as a disciple today."

"Yes."

Ji Jiuwu's face beamed with delight at the news. He'd anticipated this moment for ages.

The White Deer beside them eyed Ji Jiuwu with envy, pondering: When will I earn apprenticeship under this immortal?

Shortly after, the apprenticeship rite stood prepared.

Chu Feng occupied the stone seat, awaiting Jiang Yan's tea offering to seal the ceremony.

The ritual unfolded without a hitch. Once Jiang Yan completed it, Chu Feng smiled and asked, "Ah Yan, do you recall why you first joined my Wendao Sect?"

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