Sharing Dragon Beard Candy with My Disciple

The villagers buried him in the back mountain and erected a simple tombstone.

The village chief gathered everyone in the village.

They didn't understand things like aptitude or Holy Lands, but they understood one thing clearly.

The child Yun Fan had the potential of an immortal. If he went out into the world, he would achieve great things.

"Go," the village chief said. "Don't let us hold you back."

The village wasn't wealthy, but everyone chipped in to gather a sum of money, enough for Yun Fan to leave this land.

The village chief pulled some strings and found a way to send Yun Fan on his journey.

Spirit stones and magical artifacts might be worth something in the cultivation world, but in a mortal village, silver and copper coins were the most practical.

That day, the entire village stood at the entrance, watching the child they had raised from a young age walk step by step toward the other side of the mountain.

Yun Fan did not look back.

He was afraid that if he did, he wouldn't be able to keep going.

In the days that followed, Yun Fan walked for three years.

He set off from a small village in the Eastern Continent, heading west toward the Heavenly Human Holy Land.

He didn't know where the Holy Land was; he only knew that if he kept walking and asking, he would eventually arrive.

He wandered outside for three whole years, enduring a life of destitution, weathering storms, and facing the brink of death several times.

But the villagers' instructions and expectations always supported him, preventing him from giving up.

To avoid drawing attention, he disguised himself as a wandering beggar, dressed in rags with unkempt hair and a dirty face.

He didn't dare cause trouble, didn't dare linger, and didn't dare stay anywhere for long.

When hungry, he gnawed on dry rations; when thirsty, he drank from streams; when tired, he made do with a ruined temple or a tree hollow for the night.

Over those three years, he crossed wastelands, climbed great mountains, and waded through rivers.

He was deceived, beaten, and chased away.

But the determination in his heart never dissipated.

Fortunately, the mortal kingdom he was in was located in the Eastern Continent, much closer to the Heavenly Human Holy Land than other continents.

Fortunately, this world wasn't entirely filled with bad people; there were always righteous cultivators who wouldn't judge him by his appearance, answering his questions and pointing out the way.

Even more fortunately, relying on his sheer tenacity, he finally reached the Heavenly Human Holy Land, stood out at the Heavenly Abyss Grand Ceremony, and became a disciple under Ren Anzhi.

After three years, he had finally reached the Heavenly Human Holy Land.

For another three years, he cultivated in the Holy Land, slowly making up for the deficits of those wandering years.

Now, he could finally go back.

Six years.

Six whole years.

He could finally return with his head held high to see his loved ones.

...

Gu Changyuan had long known of Yun Fan's past, and he greatly appreciated the boy's unwavering perseverance and gratitude.

"Right."

Gu Changyuan raised his hand, and a wooden box appeared in front of Yun Fan. Inside were four pieces of Dragon Beard Crisp, white as snow and radiating swirling spiritual energy.

"Take a few of these to eat with your master on the way."

Yun Fan was immediately flattered. He hastily took the wooden box with both hands, bowed deeply, and spoke with respectful gratitude:

"Thank you, Holy Ancestor!"

Gu Changyuan waved his hand:

"It's a small matter. If you run into any trouble there, you can come to me.

However, relying on your master should be enough. I won't delay you any longer."

Ren Anzhi and Yun Fan bowed once more, turned, and departed.

Gu Changyuan watched their retreating figures and smiled. His gaze shifted back toward the inner hall, eagerly anticipating the next batch of Dragon Beard Crisp.

He also wanted to bring a few more portions to give his disciples a taste.

...

At the peak of Heavenly Abyss Mountain.

Gu Changyuan's residential courtyard was currently bustling with activity.

Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi sat by a stone table, with Qin Yu and Fang Yuwei sitting opposite them.

Qin Yu was talking exuberantly about something, while Fang Yuwei listened helplessly beside him, occasionally interjecting.

At another stone table, Ye Qingxue, Bai Ling'er, and Yue Lingxi sat side by side. Yue Lingxi held a cup of spirit tea, while Bai Ling'er rested her chin on her hands, listening to Ye Qingxue speak.

Lin Jingyu leaned against an old tree in the courtyard, arms crossed, resting with his eyes closed.

By another tree, Han Feng mirrored his posture, but his eyes darted around; he clearly wasn't resting.

A ripple of spiritual energy lit up in the courtyard.

Everyone looked up at once and saw Gu Changyuan walking out of the house.

"Master."

Everyone stood up in unison.

Gu Changyuan nodded and walked straight to the table where Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi were sitting. With a wave of his right hand, a jade plate appeared in the center of the stone table.

"What a coincidence that so many of you are here. Come try this freshly baked Dragon Beard Crisp."

The plate was piled high with freshly made Dragon Beard Crisp, white as snow and radiating swirling spiritual energy.

A sweet, spiritual aroma mixed with a rich pastry scent instantly filled the courtyard, drawing everyone's gaze.

This was especially obvious with the siblings, Jun Mukong and Jun Anshi, whose eyes were glued to the pastries, practically unable to look away.

There was even a faint glisten at the corner of Jun Anshi's mouth—she was practically drooling.

Gu Changyuan glanced at her and teased with a smile:

"Xiao Shi, you're practically drooling. Are you really that greedy?"

Jun Anshi scratched her head awkwardly, giving a silly smile as her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Alright, eat up."

Gu Changyuan didn't say much more.

The surrounding disciples didn't make a move, waiting for their two youngest junior martial siblings to take the first pieces.

After three years together, the siblings were no longer as reserved as when they first arrived. Jun Anshi reached out first, taking a piece and popping it into her mouth.

Jun Mukong also took a piece, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment to his senior martial brothers and sisters.

Only then did the rest of the disciples step forward, each taking a piece.

They all knew about and approved of the opening of the Cloud Flavor Pavilion.

Or rather, they would comply with whatever their master requested.

Over the past millennium, the old man had sacrificed far too much, whether for the sect or for them, his disciples.

It was good to let him enjoy himself more now.

Jun Anshi took a bite of the Dragon Beard Crisp and instantly narrowed her eyes in pure bliss.

Her small hands subconsciously cupped her cheeks, her face filled with satisfaction.

Although Jun Mukong wasn't as exaggerated as his sister, the bright gleam in his eyes couldn't hide the truth.

He clearly loved it too.

The other disciples also found it delicious, though their reactions weren't as dramatic as the siblings'.

After all, these two were still children. Although they were already in their twenties—considered adults in the mortal realm—

in this cultivation world, where many were thousands or even tens of thousands of years old, being in one's twenties was truly nothing.

Over the past three years, the siblings had cultivated diligently in the Holy Land. Their cultivation bases had steadily progressed from the early Nascent Soul stage, which they had upon awakening.

Although they hadn't yet reached the Soul Formation stage, their speed of improvement was already among the very best in the entire Holy Land, and even the entire Nine Heavens Realm.

Of course, there was one person who was even faster.

Pitter-patter—

The brisk sound of little footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

A small figure ran into the courtyard, heading straight for Gu Changyuan and throwing her arms around his waist.

It was none other than Gu Xing'er.

In three years' time, the little girl was already eleven years old, and she had grown rapidly.

She used to only reach Gu Changyuan's thighs, but now she came almost to his waist.

Only her way of addressing him remained unchanged over the three years.

"Papa."