Chapter Thirty-Four: You Are Destined for Greatness!

The Bei Minglie standing before him now was entirely different from the arrogant and domineering figure Wang Ran remembered. At this moment, he stood before Wang Ran as meekly as a student, even a little nervous.

Ignoring Wang Ran’s surprised gaze, Bei Minglie bowed deeply again and spoke respectfully, “I hope you won’t hold my previous actions against me, Senior. I was too reckless before. I have come now to admit my faults and atone for my mistakes. I sincerely ask for a chance to make up for them.”

Wang Ran’s eyes flashed with curiosity at these words. It seemed Bei Minglie was trying to curry favor with him.

Of course, Wang Ran wouldn’t expose him. He simply snorted coldly, putting on airs, and said, “At least you know your place. Otherwise, you would not have left Luoyun City alive.”

Though his tone was soft, it carried a chill that struck Bei Minglie like thunder, echoing in his mind.

Bei Minglie’s face turned ashen, panic-stricken. “Please, Senior, spare me! It was all a misunderstanding. You are a Nascent Soul master; why bother with a mere Foundation Establishment nobody like me?”

Seeing the terror on Bei Minglie’s face—a look one would never see on him under normal circumstances—Wang Ran felt elated. He lifted his chin, waved his hand, and mused, “What you say is not without reason. For someone of my stature to stoop to your level would indeed tarnish my dignity. Very well. Since you’re so sincere, kowtow to me twice, and this matter will be put to rest.”

As soon as his words fell, Bei Minglie did not hesitate for a moment. He knelt down and pressed his head to the ground, knocking it twice with a resounding thud.

The sound was so loud and forceful that the ground was faintly dented. Wang Ran stole a glance and was secretly shocked.

But it wasn’t over yet. After the two kowtows, Bei Minglie pressed himself down again and gave three more.

Wang Ran was utterly astonished. Was he addicted to kowtowing?

Before he could voice his doubts, Bei Minglie raised his head. His forehead was bruised, but he didn’t care in the least. Instead, he spoke with utmost sincerity, “Senior, the first two kowtows are to apologize; the last three are my ceremony of apprenticeship!”

“Please, Senior… accept me as your disciple!”

Bei Minglie’s expression was a mixture of anxiety and hope as he bowed deeply to Wang Ran.

Wang Ran was truly taken aback. He hadn’t expected Bei Minglie to seek him out with the intention of becoming his disciple.

However, with Chen Wangran’s identity, accepting this disciple would make any future encounters in the sect rather interesting.

Wang Ran stroked his chin, his eyes shining with amusement, growing more excited the more he thought about it.

Casting a glance at Bei Minglie, still prostrate at his feet, Wang Ran gave a light cough and maintained an air of composure. “You are indeed a promising seedling. Very well, I’ll accept you. But I wander the world without much wealth, and my stay in Luoyun City is only temporary. I fear I cannot teach you much…”

Hearing this, Bei Minglie immediately understood the implication. Overjoyed, he respectfully presented a storage pouch. “Master, your disciple may be of little ability, but I do have some savings. Here are a few spirit jades, a small token of my respect.”

Wang Ran’s eyes lit up, though he put on a troubled expression. “This… would not be appropriate, would it?”

“Master! How could it not be appropriate?” Bei Minglie stood up, placing the pouch into Wang Ran’s hand as he spoke. “Master, you are a teacher for a day and a father for life. Please accept this as a sign of my filial devotion!”

“You have always been too upright, Master,” Bei Minglie continued, “and that habit must change. After all, spirit jades are but material things—what truly matters is your disciple’s sincerity.”

Listening to Bei Minglie’s flattery, Wang Ran couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

Outwardly, however, he maintained the air of an unrivaled expert. After considering for a moment, he declared, “Honor resides in the heart, not the form… Very well, I shall reluctantly accept it.”

He took the storage pouch and, without drawing attention, swept it with his spiritual sense. His heart was immediately stirred—there were no less than five thousand spirit jades inside.

As expected of the descendant of a formation elder—truly substantial, incomparable to ordinary disciples.

Wang Ran couldn’t help but sigh. The gap between ordinary outer disciples and these prodigies lay not only in their cultivation talent, but also in their financial resources.

Ordinary disciples received only fifteen spirit jades as annual stipend. If they relied solely on the sect’s distribution, they might never amass such wealth in a lifetime.

Even the sect itself could do little about this disparity. With so many disciples, even a minor increase in stipends would become a burden.

Through trading Daoist arts, exploring ruins, and now Bei Minglie’s generous apprenticeship fee, Wang Ran’s wealth had soared overnight—he had, by sheer luck, become something of a nouveau riche.

For a moment, Wang Ran felt the spirit of a wealthy upstart possess him; he looked down on everyone in the auction hall.

He swept his gaze across the entire room.

At the center stage, Huang Huifeng stepped forward, clasping his fists to the crowd, signaling that the auction was about to begin.

The cultivators below were full of anticipation and excitement, ready to spend extravagantly.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Huang Huifeng, the host of this auction. Welcome, one and all, to Luoyun City.”

Huang Huifeng spoke in a clear voice, looking all around. “There are nine main items in this auction; the rest are Daoist arts and spiritual tools, all to be auctioned in spirit jades. Equivalent items may also be exchanged.”

“I now declare the auction open! Without further ado, let us bring forth the first item—one of the nine featured treasures…the Spirit Core!”

As he spoke, a maid appeared carrying a radiant object, dazzling as the sun. Spiritual energy overflowed from it; even the merest wisp swept through the hall, making all present feel as if they were bathing in a sea of spirit.

Many cultivators below stared at the stage with shining eyes.

“I can’t believe the first item is a Spirit Core!”

“It’s said they only form in Spirit Sea Tides, and even then, not always. Only one will appear in ten tides!”

“Indeed, the Spirit Core condenses nearly all the essence of a Spirit Sea Tide—the energy within is astounding!”

“If one could absorb and refine it, their cultivation would soar!”

The crowd grew excited—the appearance of the Spirit Core electrified the atmosphere.

Huang Huifeng smiled faintly. “There’s no need to rush, friends. You all know the value of this Spirit Core, so the price won’t be low. The starting bid is one thousand spirit jades!”

“I’ll bid thirteen hundred!”

Immediately, someone called out from the crowd. Those who had come to this auction were either wealthy or noble, save for a few who were just here for the spectacle.

Bidding quickly escalated.

“I’ll bid fifteen hundred!”

“Eighteen hundred!”

“Two thousand—I must have it!”

In just a few breaths, the price had doubled.

In the VIP room, Wang Ran eyed the Spirit Core with interest, debating whether to make a move.

At that moment, Bei Minglie, who had been quietly observing Wang Ran the whole time, noticed a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. His own eyes lit up, and he suddenly stood and shouted, “Three thousand spirit jades! My master will take it!”

The hall fell silent for a heartbeat; countless eyes turned toward them.

Wang Ran was stunned. He had only been considering it, not decided. How could Bei Minglie make such a decision on his own?

He frowned. “You—”

Before he could finish, Bei Minglie interrupted, bowing respectfully with a sycophantic smile. “Master, I think the Spirit Core suits you well. Your disciple is willing to purchase it as an offering to you!”

Hearing that his disciple would be paying, Wang Ran was speechless.

After a while, he could only cough lightly, pat Bei Minglie on the shoulder, feeling a mix of guilt, shyness, and awkwardness, and say with emotion, “You… truly are destined for great things…”