I just want to ask, are you still taking apprentices

“Oi!”

Shi Jingxian staggered backward, clutching his head, utterly dazed.

“Dream my foot!”

Shi Wanshan was so angry his whiskers twitched and his eyes blazed as he pointed a finger at Shi Jingxian’s nose and scolded, “Do you even know how strong your physical body is right now? Haven’t you got any sense? That little pathetic whining you just did—if someone scratched you, it wouldn’t even tickle!

It doesn’t hurt, and you’re still dreaming? I’ll snap you out of it!”

Without waiting for Shi Jingxian to react, Shi Wanshan delivered two sharp slaps to his arm—this time using some real strength.

“Ah—! It hurts, it hurts! Master, stop hitting me! It really hurts!”

Shi Jingxian now truly felt the burning pain and immediately came to his senses. It wasn’t a dream! This was real!

“Now you feel the pain? Now you know it’s not a dream?”

Shi Wanshan glared at him. “So what are you waiting for? Go kneel and kowtow to Uncle Gu to thank him! Such a great blessing has fallen upon you, and you still dare to think it’s a dream? I’ll whip you awake if you don’t!”

He raised his foot, making a move to kick Shi Jingxian’s knee, forcing him to kneel and kowtow.

At this moment, Li Xuanfeng, Lin Mochen, and Mu Chenyu also fully snapped out of their daze. Watching Shi Jingxian’s embarrassed state, mixed with relief and amusement, they hurried to follow suit and perform the grand salute.

“Senior Brother Shi, that’s unnecessary.”

Gu Changge gently swept his sleeve, and a soft yet irresistible force lifted the four men just as they were about to kneel.

“The intention is what matters. At Purple Bamboo Peak, we don’t encourage such formalities.”

His gaze swept over the four of them. “Remember, the foundation you’ve established today was hard-earned. Train diligently and don’t waste this opportunity.”

Held up by that invisible force, the four could not kneel, but their gratitude and reverence reached their peak.

They bowed deeply in unison, their voices solemn and earnest:

“Thank you, Uncle Gu, for saving our lives once again!”

Gu Changge looked at the four whose foundations were now thoroughly solid and whose auras ran deep. He nodded slightly, somewhat pleased with the effect of the Ten-Thousand Tribulations Profound Water.

“The foundation is set, but you still need the Way-guarding techniques.”

His gaze swept across the four, his divine sense flickering as he discerned each of their cultivation methods and the most suitable directions for enhancement.

In an instant, four jade slips, each radiating different elemental attributes yet all brimming with fierce killing intent, materialized out of thin air.

One jade slip shimmered with purple and blue hues, faintly howling with wind and thunder, and flew straight to Li Xuanfeng.

“‘Nine Heavens Wind and Thunder Slash’—channel wind and thunder into your sword. Swift and fierce, it perfectly complements your spiritual power.”

Another jade slip was earth-yellow and heavy, with illusory mountain shadows drifting on its surface, landing in Shi Jingxian’s hand.

“‘Mountain-Shaking Heaven-Shattering Art’—power coursing through a thousand peaks, with strength that can shatter the heavens. It harmonizes with your physical body.”

A third jade slip was lush green, dripping with vitality yet concealing the cycle of life and death within, drifting toward Lin Mochen.

“‘Life and Death Reincarnation Finger’—one thought brings life, the next brings death. Study it carefully.”

The last jade slip was pitch black like ink, its sword aura restrained yet icy cold and piercing, hovering before Mu Chenyu.

“‘Profound Netherworld Myriad Sword Arts’—sword energy like the cold tides of the Nine Netherworlds, piercing all things. It will help you perfect your sword intent.”

These four martial arts techniques were all precious treasures from the cache Gu Changge had acquired through sign-ins. Though not his absolute top-tier imperial scriptures, each was a supreme combat skill that struck directly at the essence of killing intent, perfectly suited to the current paths of the four disciples.

As the four took the jade slips and briefly probed them with their divine senses, a vast, magnificent, and exquisitely profound aura of killing intent surged into their minds—its power far surpassing any technique they had cultivated before!

Their hearts were overwhelmed with shock and gratitude, and once again they bowed deeply, expressing their thanks: "Thank you, Senior Uncle, for bestowing these techniques!"

Gu Changge accepted their salute calmly, but his gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep beyond the Purple Bamboo Peak, toward the other main peaks.

Lin Xiaowan of Danding Peak, Yun Qingjue of Feiyun Peak, Su Qingyuan of Luoxia Peak, and the core disciple of Zhenyue Peak…

The auras of the core disciples from each peak appeared one by one in his mind.

"Since Li Xuanfeng and the others have already received this blessing, it wouldn’t be right to favor them over the core talents of the other peaks," Gu Changge thought to himself.

His heart stirred slightly. "When I have some spare time, I’ll also help elevate theirs."

After a brief conversation atop Purple Bamboo Peak, Xuanyangzi and Ye Guying thanked Gu Changge once more, then took the still visibly excited Li Xuanfeng and Mu Chenyu and took their leave, dissolving into streaks of light that vanished on the horizon.

However, Shi Wanshan did not leave with them.

He first watched Xuanyangzi and the others depart, then began pacing beside his disciple Shi Jingxian. At times, he patted his disciple’s now more robust shoulder with a broad smile; at others, his brow furrowed as if wanting to say something but holding back.

Finally, he simply sent Shi Jingxian and Lin Mochen away: "You two, what are you still standing around for? Hurry back to consolidate your cultivation and familiarize yourselves with the techniques Senior Uncle Gu just bestowed! Don’t just stand there dawdling!"

Though puzzled as to why their master had stayed behind alone, the two dared not ask further. They respectfully bowed to Gu Changge before mounting their light beams and departing.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling summit of Purple Bamboo Peak was left with only Gu Changge and the lingering Shi Wanshan.

The atmosphere turned quiet and somewhat delicate.

Shi Wanshan’s burly frame appeared hesitant; his rough-hewn face flickered with conflicting expressions.

His large hands, like palm fans, rubbed together unconsciously, his eyes darting nervously, stealing glances at Gu Changge, who was preparing to turn back toward his bamboo hut.

Gu Changge stopped, turned, and looked at Shi Wanshan’s troubled face, asking calmly, "Senior Brother Shi, is there something else you wish to discuss?"

The sudden question startled Shi Wanshan like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, causing his entire body to shudder. The rugged face, weathered by years of physical training, flushed with an unnatural blush.

He stammered for a long moment before finally gathering his courage, stepping closer and lowering his voice, tinged with a bashful awkwardness even he found embarrassing and hard to express:

"Well… Changge… Senior Brother, I… I just wanted to ask… are you… still accepting disciples?"

His question came out abruptly and without preamble. After speaking, Shi Wanshan quickly hung his head in shame, unable to meet Gu Changge’s eyes.

That look on his face was like a burly man who wanted to ask for candy but was afraid of being rejected—a stark contrast to his usual bold and uninhibited demeanor, his voice booming like a bell.

Gu Changge, upon hearing this, showed a flicker of surprise on his face.

Why would Senior Brother Shi suddenly bring this up again?

At this moment, with Shi Wanshan left alone, he solemnly asked once more about “taking on disciples”...

Could it be that earlier, with so many people around, he couldn’t speak plainly, but in fact, he had discovered some extraordinary talent outside—someone whose aptitude and character far surpassed the ordinary, perhaps even comparable to the likes of Ruobai and the others?

And he felt that only by accepting such a prodigy as a direct disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak would they avoid wasting such potential?

Thinking this, a genuine spark of interest flashed in Gu Changge’s eyes.

A candidate who could make Shi Wanshan so hesitant and thoughtful must be truly exceptional.

He asked gently, “Senior Brother Shi, why do you bring this up? Could it be that during this recent trip, you encountered a rare gem among ten thousand—a talent so outstanding that you believe they would be suitable to join my sect and inherit the legacy?”

He thought to himself, if the person was indeed a promising talent with a pure heart, accepting them into the sect and carefully mentoring them would be a blessing.

“Ah? A rare gem? Inheriting the legacy?”

Shi Wanshan was taken aback by the question. He looked up into Gu Changge’s clear, inquisitive eyes, which held a trace of hopeful expectation, and his face flushed even redder, as if it might bleed.

His junior brother’s gaze made him think he was about to recommend a genius disciple.

This... this misunderstanding is huge!