Chapter 722: Encountering the Protagonists

Chapter 722: Chapter 722: Encountering the Protagonists

However, Xu Yunfan wasn’t sure if he had refined four Dao Fruits or three.

Given that he had lived for over ten thousand years, Xu Yunfan figured he had most likely attained at least four Dao Fruits. He just didn’t know what the other three were, besides his Lifebound Dao Fruit.

As this thought crossed his mind, Xu Yunfan casually swept his gaze over the crowd.

There were some with excellent aptitude, many with sharp intellect, and the majority possessed resolute minds.

But just as True Monarch Pu Du had pointed out, from his current perspective as a Golden Core True Monarch, there was virtually no one among them who was a promising candidate—no one who could truly inherit his Divine Sky Thunderbolt Dao, one day stand on their own in the brutal Primordial Sect, or even have a shot at reaching the Golden Core realm.

Until his gaze fell upon two boys.

One of the boys was about fifteen or sixteen. His face still held a touch of childishness, but his eyes revealed a stubbornness and forbearance that far surpassed others his age.

He wore coarse, faded clothes, and his knuckles were large, a clear sign that he had done a lot of manual labor.

What was most striking were his eyes, which held an almost obsessive desire.

A thought stirred in Xu Yunfan’s mind, and the Cause and Effect Secret Technique activated automatically. A blurry yet distinct Cause and Effect Line appeared in his vision.

His family had fallen into ruin. The powerful house he was once betrothed to had forcefully broken the engagement, and the boy had made a vow in public.

"Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west. Do not scorn a youth for being poor!"

Reading this history, the corner of Xu Yunfan’s eye twitched. In the memories of his past life, such experiences were often linked to immense destiny.

He silently activated his Martial Arts Celestial Eye and focused his gaze.

The destiny surrounding the boy was a bleak, gray color, a reflection of his family’s decline and his own miserable state. Yet, hidden deep within this bleakness was an extremely faint, almost imperceptible strand of purple-gold destiny.

Though faint, this strand of destiny possessed an indescribable resilience and vigorous vitality, like a seedling stubbornly sprouting from ruins. It even showed a faint tendency to resist, and slowly erode, the bleakness surrounding it.

If he hadn’t been a Golden Core True Monarch, and if his Martial Arts Celestial Eye didn’t have the power to perceive destiny, he would have almost overlooked it.

The boy’s name was Ye Yan.

Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. ’Even his name screams protagonist?’

The other boy was around the same age as Ye Yan, but his temperament was entirely different.

He wore plain cyan robes, had a rather slender build, and delicate features. His eyes were as tranquil as the depths of an ancient well.

He just stood there, not vying for attention, yet he possessed a presence that was impossible to ignore.

Xu Yunfan’s Cause and Effect Secret Technique swept over him, but the information that returned was a muddled mess.

This boy’s origins were obscure, as if shrouded in a layer of fog. His Cause and Effect Lines were tangled and indecipherable, their source impossible to trace.

What surprised Xu Yunfan even more was that when he probed with his Divine Thought, he discovered an extremely pure Innate Qi faintly circulating within the boy’s body. His constitution...

It faintly bore the aura of an Innate Holy Spirit Dao Body.

Although it was far from awakened and only in its nascent form, such a constitution was a rare sight in the entire Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm.

His destiny was even more peculiar. It wasn’t bleak, nor was it purple-gold, but a constantly shifting chaos that contained infinite possibilities, yet also seemed to hide unknown dangers.

This boy’s name was Xiao Fan.

"Ye Yan... Xiao Fan..."

Xu Yunfan silently repeated the two names in his mind.

’They have protagonist written all over them.’

Something stirred in Xu Yunfan’s mind. He subconsciously pinched his fingers to perform a divination, and by alternately using his Triple Cause and Effect Secret Technique, he finally uncovered a few clues.

The paths these two boys had taken were too coincidental; they had clearly been guided here by someone.

True Monarch Pu Du wanted him to take on disciples, and it had to be these two.

He composed himself and swept his gaze across the entire assembly. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it was clearly imprinted upon the heart of every boy and girl present.

"That you all were able to ascend this peak proves you are not mediocre. However, the path of the Dao is arduous and cannot be walked with talent and perseverance alone."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Ye Yan and Xiao Fan for a moment, before continuing, "Today, I am establishing the Divine Sky Dharma Lineage and intend to accept two Direct Disciples to inherit my mantle.

The rest of you may join my Divine Sky Mountain as Inner Sect Disciples, enjoying the resources of the peak and learning the Divine Sky Thunder Skill."

As soon as he spoke, the crowd below fell silent. Even the sound of their breathing was clearly audible.

Direct Disciples!

What a heaven-sent opportunity that was.

It was a chance to ascend to the heavens in a single step, to directly become an Inner Disciple of the Divine Sky True Monarch.

Everyone’s gaze turned fervent as they waited in nervous anticipation.

Without much hesitation, Xu Yunfan raised his hand and pointed. "Ye Yan, Xiao Fan."

The two who were named both jolted.

Ye Yan snapped his head up, the fire in his eyes flaring as if to burn all his past humiliations to ash. He strode forward without hesitation and fell to his knees with a THUD, his voice thick with suppressed excitement and unwavering resolve.

"Disciple Ye Yan greets Master!"

Xiao Fan appeared much calmer, but a ripple passed through his deep, pool-like eyes. He also stepped forward and knelt respectfully.

"Disciple Xiao Fan greets Master."

Xu Yunfan nodded slightly.

"From this day forward, you two shall be my Direct Disciples."

"Thank you, Master!"

The two responded in unison.

The other boys and girls who were not chosen couldn’t hide their disappointment, but they quickly composed themselves.

Becoming an Inner Sect Disciple of Divine Sky Mountain was already a tremendous stroke of fortune.

They all bowed in unison. "We greet the True Monarch! Thank you for accepting us!"

Xu Yunfan waved his sleeve, and a Steward Disciple came forward to lead the new Inner Sect Disciples away to assign them their residences, distribute their Identity Jade Tokens, and provide their initial Cultivation Resources.

In the blink of an eye, only Xu Yunfan and the kneeling Ye Yan and Xiao Fan remained on the majestic Cloud Platform.

Xu Yunfan led the two of them into an even more tranquil hall deep within the Divine Sky Palace.

The hall was sparsely furnished, with only a Cloud Platform and a few meditation cushions. The air was thick with pure Thunder Spiritual Qi.

"Rise and speak."

Xu Yunfan sat cross-legged upon the Cloud Platform, signaling for the two to rise.

Ye Yan and Xiao Fan rose as instructed, standing solemnly with their hands lowered as they awaited their master’s words.

Xu Yunfan looked at the two. "Now that you have entered my tutelage, you should know what it is you seek. Ye Yan, what path do you wish to pursue?"

Hearing this, the fire in Ye Yan’s eyes began to blaze once more. He snapped his head up to look directly at Xu Yunfan, then immediately realized his rudeness and lowered his gaze slightly, but his voice remained resolute.

"In answer to Master, I seek supreme power. I want to become strong—as strong as you.

Strong enough to wash away my humiliation, seize control of my own fate, and ensure that no one can ever wrong me again!"

The obsession born from his broken engagement and his extreme craving for power were almost tangible.

Xu Yunfan’s expression remained impassive, though inwardly he wanted to laugh. He then turned to Xiao Fan.

"Xiao Fan, what about you?"

Xiao Fan was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice clear and calm.

"In answer to Master, I seek only one thing: self-preservation. I don’t seek to be invincible, but in this world where cultivators vie for the Great Dao and the weak are meat for the strong, I hope only to protect myself and find a sliver of a chance at longevity."

His answer was pragmatic and reserved, a stark contrast to Ye Yan’s overt ambition.