"When I handle things, Sect Master, you can rest easy," Fang Zaiji assured him, patting his chest.
"My eye is far better than Old Liu's—I would never misjudge talent. I'd bet every single one of these little fellows is a one-in-ten-thousand genius of cultivation.
"I traveled across over a dozen provinces just to find this handful. That alone should tell you how difficult this journey was," Fang Zaiji remarked with a sigh.
"Don't tell me you abducted these little children directly without even saying a word to anyone?" Liu San's expression soured as he watched the crowd of young children huddled together and bawling.
"What a joke! Stepping onto the immortal path, embarking on the immortal journey—how many mortals beg for such an opportunity and never get it? I kindly led the way for them. Did I really need to get their parents' permission first?" Fang Zaiji rolled his eyes at Liu San, speaking as if it were only natural.
"Besides, our Medicine King Sect is still in seclusion from the world. Naturally, we must act with even greater secrecy."
His words left Liu San completely speechless.
"Since they could be brought here by Mr. Fang, it shows they share an affinity with our Medicine King Sect. I trust Mr. Fang's judgment," Xu Bai coughed lightly and settled the matter.
"Today is not like ancient times, when countless sect cultivators roamed the realm handpicking younger disciples. The Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals governs through non-action, leaving whoever embarks on the path of cultivation entirely to their own destiny. Consequently, an immense number of extraordinarily gifted individuals are inevitably overlooked and buried.
"For our Medicine King Sect, this might just be an opportunity."
Hearing this, Liu San's eyes lit up as well. "What the Sect Master says makes sense."
"Then as for caring for these disciples, I must trouble you, Elder Liu. First teach them the methods of cultivation, and once they reach Qi Condensation..."
Even as Xu Bai spoke, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him.
Pondering for a moment, he changed his mind. "When you first impart the cultivation methods to them, do not mention borrowing the wonders of heaven and earth to establish the Dao foundation.
"Instead, tell them only to smelt the vessel of the true self to establish the Dao foundation!"
Hearing this, both Liu San and Fang Zaiji froze slightly.
Neither was foolish; both instantly understood Xu Bai's intent.
"Brilliant! That way, if any of them successfully establish their foundation, it will inevitably be establishing the foundation with oneself!" Fang Zaiji slapped his thigh in admiration.
A trace of hesitation flickered across Liu San's face. "Sect Master, doing it this way... isn't it a bit..."
Xu Bai smiled faintly. "If they truly cannot establish their foundation and have given up entirely, it won't be too late to tell them the truth."
Seeing Xu Bai say this, Liu San could only nod in agreement.
After explaining the details he knew regarding establishing the foundation with oneself to Liu San once more, Xu Bai suddenly asked, "Right, why haven't I seen Elder Jiang around?
"I clearly sensed the aura of her return."
Fang Zaiji immediately gloated, "She went off and picked a fight with someone, only to suffer a miserable defeat. Humiliated and provoked, she's currently in closed-door seclusion cultivating bitterly.
"Haha, I heard her opponent was a woman too, and even more beautiful than her, who even mocked her to boot! It would be strange if Yushan didn't go mad with rage.
"At last, I won't have to hear that grating voice of hers for a while." Fang Zaiji looked thoroughly relieved.
Liu San's expression changed slightly. "What? Why didn't you mention something so important earlier, Old Fang? Is Yushan hurt?"
Anxious, Liu San set aside the tasks Xu Bai had just assigned him and hurriedly flew off to check on Jiang Yushan.
Fang Zaiji curled his lip. "I really don't get what Liu San sees in that woman."
"Since Elder Jiang is in closed-door cultivation, the task of crafting the End Disc will be left to you, Mr. Fang," Xu Bai spoke up, breaking Fang Zaiji's train of thought.
"With your skills, it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Xu Bai looked at him with some anticipation.
Far from being annoyed at being tasked with manual labor, Fang Zaiji was overjoyed. "No problem, of course no problem! That End Stone Platter is something that can faintly rival an immortal artifact. I've long felt Yushan was far too rough when handling it.
"Rest easy, Sect Master, I will treat it with the utmost gentleness."
Fang Zaiji gazed eagerly at Xu Bai.
Xu Bai smiled and tossed the End Disc over to him.
Without waiting for further orders, Fang Zaiji, having obtained the treasure, left in high spirits.
Only then did Xu Bai turn his gaze back toward the group of children on the plaza.
Had his true body been here, he would undoubtedly have found their crying and commotion dreadfully annoying.
Yet the clone Xu Bai, watching the ceaselessly fussing children before him, felt very little impatience.
Instead, an instinctive feeling of pity and affectionate care welled up within him.
Xu Bai quietly observed and reflected on the source of the emotions within this body.
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he slowly floated down among the children.
His celestial appearance and supremely gentle aura immediately captured the attention of all the children present. They quieted down at once, their eyes widening in unison as they looked up at Xu Bai.
Xu Bai spoke with the children with great warmth.
Amid their chiming voices, in mere moments, Xu Bai had learned all of their names and their respective aptitudes for cultivation.
'As expected of someone who survived being hunted down by the major ancient sects time and again. Fang Zaiji truly has methods.
'The innate talent of these little children is hardly inferior to Zhang Haobo's.
'Moreover, Gu Xinghan...' Xu Bai had even spotted a familiar name among the children.
It was the exact same name as the cultivator who, in the previous life, was the first to publish an open call-to-arms revealing the true face of the Heavenly Profound Spirit-Locking Formation to the world.
That ten-thousand-word, stirringly passionate manifesto surfaced in Xu Bai's mind in an instant.
Looking again at the five-year-old child before him, the two figures slowly merged into one.
'It really is him. How interesting.'
In the previous life, Gu Xinghan had been one of the leaders of the Heaven-Overturning Society, leading countless cultivators against the Profound Net without ever being captured by the Heavenly Alliance.
His abilities were beyond doubt.
'It seems this kid might bring me some pleasant surprises.'
Xu Bai gently patted Gu Xinghan on the shoulder, his smile deepening.
A while later, Liu San returned, looking somewhat dejected.
Evidently, he hadn't even managed to see Jiang Yushan's face.
He had no choice but to brace himself and attend to this crowd of children with a solemn face.
Having been comforted by Xu Bai earlier, the children were much more obedient.
When Xu Bai departed, they waved their hands one after another, saying goodbye to him.
Liu San clicked his tongue in wonder at the sight.
Instead of returning to Tianling Province, Xu Bai first went to a secret chamber in the Valley of Longevity.
He was somewhat uncertain about an idea that had suddenly sprung to mind, and needed to calm his mind and ponder it carefully.
'Should I perform the ritual using this body and enter the Fallen Immortal Realm?'
This was the thought that had suddenly risen within him while facing the children.
Being so affectionate toward children, Mr. Bai truly must have been a "good person," just as Xu Ke had described.
If so, what would happen if he entered the Fallen Immortal Realm in this body?
Chapter 762