Chapter 52

Zhu Yi asked solemnly, "Dare I ask, Daoist Master, in this world, is reason or power the greatest?"

"Without strength, your reason cannot be upheld. Having strength without reason is nothing more than brute force." Lin Feng smiled calmly, "What is the greatest in the world? When a powerful person speaks with reason, that reason is the greatest!"

Zhu Yi's eyes sparkled with remarkable brilliance.

"Exactly! If I had the strength of a Daoist Master, I would certainly argue my case before my father. What is the greatest in the world? Reason is the greatest, and even father and son can argue based on reason, just as ruler and minister can!"

"If the ruler makes a grave mistake, one should advise him. If he repeatedly refuses to listen, then he should be replaced! My father's submission to reason deviates from the true meaning of a scholar. However, with my lack of strength, how can I argue with him?"

"If the emperor makes a grave mistake, scholars should dissuade him. If he repeatedly refuses to listen and acts on his own, then he should abdicate! This is the true reason of a scholar, but unfortunately, without strength, I cannot uphold these principles."

"Just as Master said, with strength, one can speak with reason, this is the right path!"

With that, Zhu Yi lifted the hem of his robe, knelt down, and bowed deeply, "I beg Master to accept me. Zhu Yi is willing to cultivate under Master, to learn Daoist arts and reason!"

Lin Feng let out a long breath, "The third one, all the hard work these days has been worth it!"

Formally accepting Zhu Yi as a disciple, the third slot in the disciple system was filled with Zhu Yi's information.

Name: Zhu Yi

Age: Fifteen years and three months

Current Cultivation: Guiding Qi into the Body, about to reach the first level of Qi Cultivation

Potential Attributes: Constitution -> 7; Insight -> 9; Willpower -> 8; Fortune -> 10

Recommended Education Plan: Suggest practicing Thunder Daoist Arts or Buddhist Daoist Arts. In terms of supernatural abilities, recommend focusing on spell development.

Lin Feng thought for a moment. Although he had the top-tier Buddhist Daoist Arts, the Dizang Sutra and the Unmoving Mingwang Mantra, he decided to teach Zhu Yi the Nine Heavens Thunder Righteousness, for no other reason than that he had more Thunder Daoist Arts and spells, which would be more beneficial for practical combat when combined with the Nine Heavens Thunder Righteousness.

"This is your eldest brother, Xiao Yan, who is currently my chief disciple," Lin Feng pointed to Xiao Yan, then to Little Point, "This is your youngest brother, Shi Tianhao. He was actually the first disciple I accepted, but he is very lazy and chose to be the youngest."

Zhu Yi looked at Xiao Yan, his eyes flashing, and then bowed, "Zhu Yi greets Eldest Brother."

Xiao Yan, with his arms behind his head, smiled lazily, "No need for formalities, among us fellow disciples, there's no need to be so polite."

Zhu Yi smiled slightly but still bowed solemnly to Little Point, pausing for a moment, "Younger Brother Tianhao."

Little Point smiled and bowed to him, "Shi Tianhao greets Second Brother."

Zhu Yi looked at him deeply, saying nothing more, thinking to himself, "They say learning has no order, and the one who reaches the goal first is the leader. Compared to this youngest brother, I am far behind. I must strive to catch up and surpass him to set an example as an elder brother."

After the three brothers had finished their greetings, Lin Feng said, "I travel the world and will not stay in the Great Zhou for long, nor do I plan to reside in the capital. What are your plans?"

"If you wish to stay in the Great Zhou, I can record the Daoist arts for you and visit you regularly."

Zhu Yi thought seriously for a moment and replied, "The ancients said, 'Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.' I wish to travel the world with Master." He paused and said softly, "I do not plan to participate in this year's imperial examination, but I hope Master will allow me to return to the capital to take the examination three years from now."

Lin Feng smiled, knowing that besides Zhu Yi's desire to repay his wish by passing the imperial examination, he also had the intention of returning home in glory to argue with his father, the Marquis of Xuanji.

"Joining my sect, you only need to follow the rules of my sect. I will never restrict your personal freedom," Lin Feng said with a smile, "Remember, your path is your own to walk, and your decisions are your own to make."

Zhu Yi smiled, "I understand, Master."

Lin Feng then led the three disciples out of the Black Cloud Palace. Standing at the entrance, Lin Feng felt a sense of regret, "I have the Black Cloud Banner, so this palace is like my home. If not for the disturbance of the Netherworld Blood River, it could have been my base. Alas, truly a pity."

As with the previous two times, accepting Zhu Yi as a disciple earned him another chance to draw a prize and 500 exchange points.

Lin Feng saved the exchange points, as he had already set his eyes on a good item in the exchange system, but it was expensive and required more savings.

After looting Huikǔ and the six Marquis estate cultivators, Lin Feng had obtained many pills that aided cultivation. Although Zhu Yi was now an additional mouth to feed, there was still enough for everyone.

Lin Feng entered the prize drawing system, "Let's see if this draw can yield something good."

This time, Lin Feng hoped to draw a martial arts skill. Zhu Yi was suitable for practicing spells, and the Cloud Dragon Escape and Nine Heavens Thunder Summoning would keep him busy for a while. However, for Little Point, who was suitable for both Daoist arts and martial arts, Lin Feng had not yet truly taught him a martial arts skill, let alone for Xiao Yan, who specialized in martial arts.

The White Bone Hammer of the Vulture Elder was actually a martial arts skill called the White Bone Continuous Hammer. The old man was skilled in martial arts, but as he aged and his Daoist realm could not advance, his vital energy gradually declined, so he used his martial arts to refine the White Bone Hammer as a magical tool to defend himself.

The White Bone Continuous Hammer was not bad, but considering that the Unmoving Mingwang Mantra, known to come from the Great Thunder Sound Temple, if Lin Feng always taught his disciples skills from other sects, it might make them suspicious.

Therefore, Lin Feng hoped to obtain a martial arts skill with a less clear origin, of course, with decent power. If the draw did not yield anything, Lin Feng would have to use his exchange points to obtain a martial arts skill from the system.

"Green Wave Palm? Not bad, but no potential."

"Thunder Sound Arhat Fist? A foundational martial arts skill from the Great Thunder Sound Temple, not good, not only is it low-grade, but anyone can recognize it as a skill from the Great Thunder Sound Temple."

Unfortunately, the three skills drawn by the wheel system were all spells.

The three skills drawn by the dice system were all martial arts, but either they were not powerful enough or they were signature skills of other sects, easily recognizable.

"The third one? Yes, the Vulture Spirit Palm, a famous martial arts skill of the Vulture Ascetic from thousands of years ago, but it has been lost since the Vulture Ascetic's passing... This is quite good!"

Finally, his luck was not too bad. After reading the description of the third martial arts skill, Lin Feng's eyes lit up.

The Vulture Spirit Palm was in the eighth slot, meaning Lin Feng needed to roll an eight to obtain this martial arts skill.

"The number is auspicious, it's you!"

With a thought, the three dice immediately began to spin.

As before, the three dice did not stop at the same time but one after another. The first die quickly stopped.

A large "six" was facing up.

Lin Feng's heart sank. With the first die already showing six, to get the "eight" for the Vulture Spirit Palm, the next two dice needed to show one each.

Even one more would not do, the probability was extremely low.

The second die soon stopped, showing one!

Lin Feng let out a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the last die, silently repeating, "Just one, just one!" while quickly scanning the various items.

The first two dice showed a total of seven, so the possible total after the last die stopped would be eight to thirteen.

Slot 8: Vulture Spirit Palm

Slot 9: Nothing

Slot 10: A green spirit pill for detoxification

Slot 11: A one-time use, fairly powerful lightning spirit gold talisman

Slot 12: A mysterious box with a question mark

Slot 13...

"Hmm? Wait, a mysterious box?" Lin Feng was slightly stunned, his mind racing as the third die stopped.

Lin Feng swallowed hard, looking closely, the third die showed a "five"!

Six plus one plus five, twelve.

Lin Feng looked at the mysterious box that had appeared before him, feeling a mix of emotions. To say his luck was not bad, he had drawn a special prize twice out of four draws.

But who knew what the box would contain? Lin Feng urgently needed a reliable martial arts skill.

With a nervous heart, Lin Feng opened the box, and three light points flew out.

Lin Feng was taken aback, then saw the first light point fly to his face, the light dissipating, and a fire-red pill landed in Lin Feng's palm.

"Nine Revolutions Flame Soul Pill, refined from the essence of heaven and earth's fire, hot but not dry, extremely effective for treating cold injuries."

Lin Feng sighed, "I have no use for this, but I'll keep it just in case."

Drawing a special prize, only to get something completely useless, Lin Feng was somewhat depressed. After putting away the Nine Revolutions Flame Soul Pill, the second light point landed before him, the light dissipating to reveal its true form.

"Martial arts, Wu Fang Flying Sword?"

"A secret sword art passed down from the Wu Fang Sword Saint a thousand years ago, the Wu Fang Sword Saint used this sword art to challenge Mount Shu and returned unscathed, but it has been lost since the Wu Fang Sword Saint's passing?"

This was a more powerful martial arts skill than the Vulture Spirit Palm.

Looking at the Wu Fang Flying Sword manual before him, Lin Feng's depression vanished, and he felt like laughing out loud.

Lin Feng smiled and carefully put away the manual, then stared at the third light point, his heart filled with joy, "This special prize is quite powerful, it seems to be a three-in-one package. I wonder what the third item is?"

The light point landed in Lin Feng's palm, the light dissipating.

Lin Feng looked at the item and was suddenly stunned, blinking his eyes, not knowing what to say.

"Lanhuan Jade Tree Leaf, a leaf from the Lanhuan Jade Tree, one of the four great divine trees of heaven and earth."

Lin Feng was puzzled, "What use do I have for this? The Lanhuan Jade Tree... Isn't that the true form of Long Ye, the female demon?"

"Do you have no use for this? Why not give it to me?" A lazy voice suddenly sounded in Lin Feng's mind.

It was a woman's voice, not pleasant and clear, but low and hoarse, yet it had a strange charm, extremely alluring, making one willing to sink into the bottomless abyss.

But Lin Feng felt a chill all over his body, his face showing a look of shock, almost screaming, "Are you Long Ye?!"

(PS: Three updates complete, please recommend and follow!)