"It's not like that. Only a minority of spirit fires nurtured by heaven and earth possess sentience," Qiao Yunyun shook his head.
"Ordinary spirit fires only possess spirituality, so they are relatively easy to subdue."
"Spirit fires nurtured by heaven and earth basically all possess spirituality, but there's a significant difference between spirituality and sentience."
"Although they only differ by one character, the difference in their level is like night and day," Qiao Yunyun explained to the three of them, fixing his gaze on Zhang Ergou.
"Is that so? Then is the spirit fire within Zhang Ergou's body much higher grade?" the chubby Xiong Bao immediately asked upon hearing Qiao Yunyun's explanation.
"Indeed, spirit fires are divided into ranks."
Qiao Yunyun stroked his beard and continued.
"Generally, spirit fires are divided into several categories, based on their spirituality, their strength, or the time of their appearance. However, in my many years of experience, there's no unified theory on this on the Yinzhou Continent."
Alas!
Qiao Yunyun sighed, "I originally intended to borrow your spirit fire, but it seems my wishful thinking was too much. However, boy, don't hold a grudge. The allure of spirit fire to an alchemist is beyond your imagination."
Qiao Yunyun's frankness surprised Zhang Ergou.
If Qiao Yunyun wanted the spirit fire, he could have simply robbed and killed him. With his current strength, Zhang Ergou would have no room to resist.
Therefore, Zhang Ergou felt a bit more favorably towards the old man before him.
"Why is that?" the three of them asked almost in unison.
"Because the spirit fire within Zhang Ergou possesses sentience and has already recognized Zhang Ergou as its master. It will only choose someone else if Zhang Ergou dies; otherwise, it will only backlash against others."
"Since the spirit fire has chosen you, boy, it means you possess great fortune. I absolutely cannot do something as unscrupulous as snatching it."
Upon hearing this, the stone in Zhang Ergou's heart finally landed.
Although Qiao Yunyun greatly coveted the spirit fire, he wasn't so cruel as to kill Zhang Ergou for it.
This meant Zhang Ergou was temporarily safe and no longer needed to worry about the spirit fire.
"However, I promised Zilin that I would take you in, but it's not without conditions!" Qiao Yunyun coughed dryly and suddenly said with a serious expression.
"Elder, please tell me. As long as I, Zhang Ergou, can do it, I will not refuse."
"Are you willing to become my disciple?"
"Become a disciple?" Zhang Ergou was stunned. He hadn't expected the matter they had discussed with the chubby Xiong Bao to actually come true.
"Uh, Elder, I've already taken a master. Chunyang Sanren of Chunyang Peak is my master!" Zhang Ergou said with an awkward smile, scratching his head embarrassedly.
"I'll handle Chunyang. Just tell me, boy, are you willing!"
"Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
Immediately, Zhang Ergou prostrated himself and performed the kowtow to Qiao Yunyun.
"Haha, good..."
...
In the evening, Zhang Ergou left the Baodan Pavilion, having agreed with Qiao Yunyun to begin systematic alchemy studies in three days.
Walking on the road, Zhang Ergou pondered the events of the past few days.
His survival this time was partly due to good luck, and Zilin's sudden appearance to help him.
However, the schemes targeting him from Xiayang Peak, Qiuyang Peak, and the Disciplinary Hall were not completely resolved. Thinking back now, he still felt a chill.
Open attacks are easy to evade, but hidden arrows are difficult to guard against.
Even with the protection of Chunyang Sanren and Qiao Yunyun, there was still a constant danger of being killed by others.
What kind of righteous sects! The treacherous and cunning within them, Zhang Ergou had seen through them completely in the past few months.
"I'm still too weak!" Zhang Ergou clenched his fists tightly and roared, "I want to become strong, so strong that they look up to me!"
Returning to Chunyang Peak, it was already very late. Zhang Ergou stood for a long time gazing at Liu Cuilan's room in the courtyard.
The night sky was brilliant, and the stars shone brightly.
After a long while, Zhang Ergou finally moved his steps back to his own room.
He sat cross-legged and began to examine his body internally. The recent battles had taken a considerable toll.
Gradually, Zhang Ergou entered a mysterious state.
His mind seemed to wander, watching his body as if he were an observer. He found it difficult to distinguish between the illusory and the real.
In a daze, Zhang Ergou felt his body changing, but he was powerless. He could only watch with wide eyes; there was no use in rushing.
*Hoo...!*
He exhaled a turbid breath, sweat beading on his forehead. That mysterious feeling was utterly unfamiliar, yet it consumed a great deal of mental energy.
Once he stabilized his mind and confirmed he was still in his room, Zhang Ergou let out a long sigh of relief.
To his even greater surprise, his cultivation, which had been stagnant for a long time, showed a slight loosening, as if he were on the verge of breaking through to the early Foundation Establishment stage.
After breakfast, Zhang Ergou quietly went to the back mountain again to cultivate, hoping to break through to the early Foundation Establishment stage.
But Zhang Ergou was clearly too optimistic. Breaking through cultivation was not that simple.
Time passed without notice, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.
In the morning, after breakfast, Zhang Ergou informed Chunyang Sanren and Liu Cuilan that he was going to the Baodan Pavilion. Chunyang Sanren nodded and said nothing.
It was evident that Qiao Yunyun had already spoken to him about Zhang Ergou learning alchemy from him.
"Try to keep a low profile during this period. Your master cannot always step in to resolve conflicts between disciples. You must rely on yourself for everything," Chunyang Sanren exhorted Zhang Ergou as he was about to leave.
He was very angry about Zhang Ergou's previous encounter but was constrained by sect rules from seeking retribution from those brats.
In the end, the matter could only be left unresolved.
"Master, your disciple understands," Zhang Ergou bowed to Chunyang Sanren and turned to leave Chunyang Peak.
With the distinctive Ghost Spear Tianwen on his back, Zhang Ergou headed straight for the Baodan Pavilion.
Along the way, people kept pointing and whispering, "Did you hear? Elder Qiao, the Pavilion Master of Baodan Pavilion, has actually accepted Zhang Ergou as his disciple."
"What kind of rotten luck did this kid have to gain Elder Qiao's favor?"
"He survived even in that situation; Zhang Ergou's life is too tough!"
"With Elder Qiao taking him as a disciple, the disciples of Xiayang Peak and Qiuyang Peak will probably never dare to trouble Zhang Ergou again."
On the way, some people even started greeting Zhang Ergou, something that would have been impossible before.
It was clear that the status of a disciple of the Pavilion Master of Baodan Pavilion was far superior to that of a disciple of Chunyang Peak.
"Arrogant!" On the way, there were naturally disciples from Xiayang Peak and Qiuyang Peak. They were initially unable to adapt to the change in Zhang Ergou's status.
Besides harboring resentment towards Zhang Ergou, they seemed to have developed a new emotion: jealousy.
Seeing Zhang Ergou, they naturally wouldn't give him a good look.
Zhang Ergou simply ignored these disciples who only acted tough verbally.
Without paying them any mind, he went directly up to the Baodan Pavilion...