Seasons and years seem to have lost their meaning on Jade Pot Peak.
This vast Spirit Peak remains clad in silver, resembling the scenery of the northern lands.
Gu Yuan’s Escape Light dashed forward and halted in front of a cold pond.
To the left of the cold pond, on the Jade Platform, a graceful figure with an indistinct face was playing a zither. The music was melodious and joyful, suggesting an excellent mood.
"Disciple Gu Yuan, pays respects to Sword Fox Immortal!"
Gu Yuan bowed deeply, exhibiting a respectful attitude.
"Achieving late-stage Foundation Establishment in twenty-two years, your speed is truly astonishing. It seems your Dharma Pill Technique is even more profound than imagined..."
Sword Fox Immortal ceased the zither music, looked at the handsome Daoist below the Jade Platform, and couldn’t help but sigh.
In her youth, with all the support from Jade Pot Peak, it took her twenty-five years to break through to late-stage Foundation Establishment.
Yet this person before, merely possessing a Five-Aperture Body.
"Thanks to the pill bestowed by you, Ascendant, this disciple has achieved today’s success!"
Gu Yuan bent over, not daring to claim credit.
"This is your own fortune and has nothing to do with me. Could a mere Demon Pill possibly hinder you?"
Sword Fox Immortal chuckled softly.
She had watched Gu Yuan grow step by step, deeply aware of the strength of the young man before her.
Any Exotic Beast possessing a Demon Pill that caught his attention was truly unfortunate.
Bestowing the pill, in retrospect, was like saving an Exotic Beast somewhere in the dark.
"This disciple owes his current achievements entirely to the grace of the Ascendant. When successful in the future, I shall repay generously!"
Gu Yuan solemnly bowed, speaking with gravity.
"My Jade Pot Peak has no disciples within, and I had no intention of contending for this Daoist School’s True Inheritance to continue the Dao Lineage."
"Things like Spirit Island and Golden Core are of no benefit to me; ultimately, cultivators must rely on their own swords."
Sword Fox Immortal slightly shook her head upon hearing this, but then sighed helplessly: "Yet, your journey has heavily involved me, and to ignore you now would be too heartless."
"After all, this entire Daoist School has already regarded you as one of mine..."
There was a hint of helplessness in Sword Fox Immortal’s tone.
In the Daoist School, other Golden Core cultivators had subtly inquired many times whether she intended to take Gu Yuan as a disciple.
If she was unwilling, some would send Gu Yuan off to "slay demons and destroy devils."
Yet others wanted to form alliances with Gu Yuan or take him as their disciple.
In short, such a flawless jade should either be recruited or given free rein.
"To serve you, Ascendant, is a sweet honor for this disciple!"
Gu Yuan hurriedly seized the opportunity to respond.
Relying on the Daoist School’s power to break through to Golden Core required paying respect at the gate first.
And the person before him was the one he felt least averse to and most willing to approach.
"After Linglong’s death, I resolved not to take any disciples in this life..." Sword Fox Immortal sighed slightly, then continued, "But my Jade Pot Peak also manages the Pill Furnace Hall. With your current cultivation, you can serve as a Vice Hall Master."
"Should you achieve the Golden Core one day, you will be the Vice Peak Master of Jade Pot Peak!"
Pill Furnace Hall’s Vice Hall Master?
Gu Yuan was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a position.
As they say, "one’s title must be proper for their words to be just."
Calculating strictly, Gu Yuan was merely an Inner Sect Disciple at the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute within Cyan Peak Daoist School, without a master, only ancestors, unaffiliated with any faction.
When outside, he could only claim to be an Inner Sect Disciple of Cyan Peak Daoist School, holding no other titles.
Becoming a Vice Hall Master of the Pill Furnace Hall would officially make him part of the Jade Pot Peak lineage.
Moreover, this status, converted to Jade Pot Peak, would make him Sword Fox Immortal’s junior.
However, given his current cultivation, joining mid-way, he was still unqualified.
Only by achieving the Golden Core and becoming a Vice Peak Master could he properly bow to Jade Pot Peak’s ancestors, becoming Sword Fox Immortal’s junior officially.
But in any case, becoming a Vice Hall Master of the Pill Furnace Hall would already align him with the Jade Pot Peak lineage.
"This disciple reveres the decree!"
Gu Yuan did not hesitate much, nodding in agreement, accepting the position.
"Good!"
"The Vice Hall Master of the Pill Furnace Hall receives thirty thousand Spirit Stones and various precious pills as an annual salary. But with your current insight, you might disregard such modest earnings..."
Sword Fox Immortal nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with Gu Yuan’s attitude.
"This disciple dares not!"