novelzi Chapter 79 No way out
Chapter 79 No way out
Nothing could ever shake Wen Ran as much as the fact that he had been exposed. His first instinct was to flee—his leg twitched, ready to dash at the first opportunity. But he was smart enough to know that if the old man truly wished for his death, he would already be lying lifeless on the ground.
Wen Ran took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, releasing his frustration and fear, grounding himself in the present.
"What exactly do you want from me?" Wen Ran demanded, his gaze locking with the old man's. He glared into his so-called master's eyes, searching for any hint, any clue that might reveal whether he would live or die today.
"Since I'm still breathing, I assume I have something that you want." His voice was calm and steady, but sharp at the same time.
"Good perception, my dear disciple. You've seen right through my intentions," the old man said, his voice full of approval. He stood up and walked toward the large pill furnace, gently patting it as he let out a deep, weary sigh.
From this, Wen Ran still couldn't piece together the full picture, but he knew it had something to do with alchemy.
"You see," the old man began again, his voice taking on a reflective tone, "I have been in this place for over six hundred years. And yet..." Suddenly, a large, brilliant fire ignited beneath the furnace. It was multicolored, the energy it emitted full of vitality, almost alive in its intensity.
"As long as you promise me power and resources, I will truly think of you as my master, and I will help you with any pills you need, as long as you teach me well," Wen Ran said, his voice steady and resolute. He understood the power dynamic now, but he also knew that there were strings attached to every word he spoke.
The oppressive pressure around him dissipated almost instantly, and Wen Ran felt as if he were as light as a feather once again.
"This is what I like to hear," the old man grinned, his expression softening slightly. "But aren't you a little demanding?" He joked, his tone now lighthearted, though the underlying tension was still there. He had already prepared many cultivation pills and manuals for Wen Ran, eager to accelerate his progress.
The old man wanted Wen Ran to grow quickly, to reach a point where he could still guide him, but also have the ability to craft Nascent Soul level pills. With Wen Ran's vast dantian, it was theoretically possible—especially in the lower realms. In practice, however, it was almost an impossible feat.
Yet the desperation in the old man's heart was palpable. His time was running out, and he needed Wen Ran to advance quickly. If Wen Ran tried to run, the old man was prepared to capture him and turn him into a slave, binding him with chains of power that would be impossible to escape.
"Master, if you want my power, you better be prepared to sacrifice everything," Wen Ran said, his voice unwavering. "I wish to grow strong, and nothing will stop me as long as I'm willing. Therefore, I will be demanding, as I wish. I'm not afraid of death."
The old man studied Wen Ran's eyes, and what he saw there reassured him. He believed he had found the perfect disciple, someone willing to sacrifice anything for power, someone who would follow his guidance without question.