Chapter 00220: Disciple
# Disciple
Chapter 220
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 220: Disciple
"Speak, and I'll consider it," Ding Huan said, not particularly eager to save Ji Xinting.
Although Ji Xinting's physical body was destroyed, who knew if this guy had any other tricks up his sleeve?
Ji Xinting's tone grew even more sincere: "If I can restore my body, I wish to become your disciple and join your sect."
Ding Huan was stunned by the man's words.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Old Ji, are you running a fever? I'm just a small True Dan Realm cultivator, and I've only just entered the True Dan Realm. You, the strongest cultivator in the entire Three Heavens Star Continent, want to become my disciple? Even if you dare to say it, I wouldn't dare to accept you."
Though he said this, Ding Huan was secretly calculating what Ji Xinting's true intentions might be.
Ji Xinting tried to make his words more acceptable to Ding Huan: "Brother Ding, my body is now completely filled with toxins. I've been fantasizing about finding a top-grade spiritual herb that could neutralize the toxins in my body. Such herbs do exist, but without someone to help me search for them, it's all in vain. Even if someone were to help, there's no guarantee they could find it. I was hesitating between reshaping my body or seizing another's body, but after sensing the Dao you cultivate, I've made up my mind. I will start over."
Ding Huan fell silent.
It wasn't that he didn't believe Ji Xinting.
If Ji Xinting could truly sense the aura of his Great Universe Technique, it was understandable that he would want to cultivate it.
Not just Ji Xinting, but anyone who sensed the Great Universe Technique, a technique capable of merging with the vast cosmos, would covet it.
The only question was whether he could actually save Ji Xinting.
Should he save him?
Ding Huan was conflicted.
He hadn't met many people who repaid kindness, but he had seen plenty who were ungrateful.
"Is there anyone who can help you completely remove the toxins from your body?" Ding Huan asked.
Ji Xinting hesitated before replying, "There is one person who could, but he would never come to save me. Even if the toxins were removed, it might not be better than seizing another's body."
"What do you mean?" Ding Huan was puzzled.
"Because my cultivation would completely disappear. That's not the main issue, as I plan to start over. The real problem is that all my meridians and acupoints would vanish, leaving me worse off than a mortal."
Ji Xinting's words were filled with resentment.
Ding Huan suddenly understood.
He didn't think Ji Xinting was lying.
Even without the Great Universe Technique, staying in such a toxic environment for so long would cause his meridians and acupoints to disappear, turning him into a useless being, worse than a mortal.
But for Ding Huan, this wasn't a problem at all.
The Great Universe Technique was about creating everything anew.
He could even use his own body as a universe, forging his own path of the Great Universe Technique.
If Ji Xinting had no meridians or acupoints, Ding Huan could modify the Great Universe Technique to create a branch suitable for Ji Xinting to rebuild his meridians and acupoints.
With this in mind, Ding Huan no longer hesitated: "Old Ji, I have an idea. If you're willing, I can save you right now."
"..."
Ji Xinting was stunned by Ding Huan's words.
After a long pause, he urgently transmitted his thoughts: "Brother Ding, please tell me."
Ding Huan said, "I have a forbidden technique that can help neutralize the toxins and free you from this predicament. As you said, you would become a cripple without meridians or acupoints, and even your dantian and sea of consciousness would cease to exist..."
Ji Xinting sighed, transmitting his thoughts: "In that case, surviving would be no different from being pinned here. You might as well take my soul and find a suitable body for me to seize."
Ding Huan calmly replied, "Let's not talk about whether you can find a suitable body to seize. Even if you did, could you be sure the person you seize could withstand the toxins in your soul? How many years have you been pinned here? Your entire body is filled with toxins, let alone your soul."
Ji Xinting was struck by this realization.
If his soul was also filled with such toxins, who could he possibly seize? At this moment, he suddenly remembered that he was in a soul state and couldn't remove the toxins from the body he seized.
Did that mean he was doomed?
Ding Huan continued, "The technique I cultivate isn't suitable for you, but I can create a new technique for you. This technique would be based on the one I cultivate, rooted in the universe. I can tell you this much: it won't be much worse than my own technique. Are you willing to learn it?"
"You can create techniques?" Ji Xinting was shocked by Ding Huan's words.
"Haven't you already seen it?" Ding Huan replied naturally.
Ji Xinting's heart was once again filled with awe.
He had always considered himself the most talented, but now he realized that compared to Ding Huan, he was nothing.
Although he was strong and cultivated a technique passed down from his sect, the thought of creating his own technique was beyond him—he wouldn't even dare to dream of it.
Ding Huan cultivated a self-created technique, and it was undoubtedly stronger than the one passed down in Ji Xinting's sect.
Otherwise, Ji Xinting wouldn't have been so eager to cultivate Ding Huan's technique.
Seeing Ji Xinting fall silent, Ding Huan spoke again: "The technique I cultivate isn't suitable for you because it's tailored to me. Similarly, the technique I create for you might only be suitable for you."
There was actually someone in the world so extraordinary.
Ji Xinting was speechless.
If he could speak or move, he would have already prostrated himself in worship.
"Master, I agree. Please save me."
Ji Xinting had no other thoughts.
He immediately agreed to Ding Huan's proposal.
Ding Huan said, "Before I save you, take out that treasure of yours that contains the toxic mist. I need to refine it first. The toxins I extract from you will be stored in this spatial treasure."
With a clatter, a dark red orb fell at Ji Xinting's feet.
The orb was made of an unknown material.
"Master, this is the Great Universe Pearl. I obtained it by chance. So far, I've only refined three of its restrictions."
"Good, thank you."
Ding Huan's divine sense swept over the Great Universe Pearl, and it landed in his hand.
Even with his divine sense, he couldn't penetrate it.
"Wait for me for a few days. I need to refine this Great Universe Pearl," Ding Huan said, focusing his divine sense on the pearl.
The first three restrictions of the Great Universe Pearl had already been refined by Ji Xinting, but Ji Xinting no longer had the ability to remove them.
Ding Huan would have to start from scratch.
The first day passed, and Ding Huan barely managed to locate the restrictions on the Great Universe Pearl.
He sighed inwardly.
If he hadn't advanced to the Star Condensation level, he wouldn't have been able to refine the Great Universe Pearl in such a short time.
Ten days later, Ding Huan had barely refined the first restriction of the Great Universe Pearl.
A vast, hazy space appeared under Ding Huan's divine sense.
Ding Huan was deeply shocked.
This was only after refining the first restriction.
How large would the space inside be once he fully refined the Great Universe Pearl?
"I've refined the first restriction. I'll remove the Flying Smoke Sword and then detoxify you."
As Ding Huan spoke, his divine sense landed on the Flying Smoke Sword.
Ji Xinting wasn't surprised that Ding Huan had refined the first restriction of the Great Universe Pearl in ten days.
Given that Ding Huan could set up a fifth-level formation and had such formidable talent in the Dao, refining the first restriction in ten days was nothing.
"Master, if you can take the Flying Smoke Sword and store it, do so. If not, just leave it be."
Ji Xinting was worried that Ding Huan might end up like him, so he offered a reminder.
Ding Huan understood without needing the reminder.
Such a divine sword would have its own pride.
If the sword didn't approve of its master, forcing it to submit would only lead to the same fate as Ji Xinting.
Only if the sword approved would it willingly submit.
To be honest, Ding Huan didn't really care.
He wasn't a sword cultivator, so why bother with a divine sword?
The Yellow Flower Slaughter swirled, forming invisible vortexes of killing intent.
In the next moment, the Flying Smoke Sword let out a series of hums before being swept up by the vortexes of killing intent and landing in Ding Huan's hand.
Ding Huan was stunned.
Was it really this easy?
Seeing the Flying Smoke Sword still emitting a faint hum, Ding Huan knew that the sword had accepted him.
"Master, it seems the Flying Smoke Sword approves of you. It must have been meant for you."
With the Flying Smoke Sword removed, Ji Xinting's body collapsed to the ground.
"Indeed, this is a good sword," Ding Huan said, stroking the Flying Smoke Sword with delight.
Although he wouldn't have regretted losing the sword, having it now filled him with joy.
This trip to the Sword Mountain had been quite fruitful.
After storing the Flying Smoke Sword, Ding Huan didn't hesitate any longer.
He landed beside Ji Xinting and placed a finger on Ji Xinting's forehead.
The endless toxins within Ji Xinting's body, under the influence of Ding Huan's Great Universe Technique, found an outlet and were drawn into Ding Huan's finger, then stored in the Great Universe Pearl.
Feeling the toxins being drawn out of his body, Ji Xinting was more than just shocked.
He was certain that Ding Huan's method was stronger than that of the First Poison Demon of the Three Heavens, Jia Baihe, and by a significant margin.
Previously, he had wanted to become Ding Huan's disciple because of the technique Ding Huan cultivated.
Now, he felt that even without that technique, Ding Huan was more than qualified to be his master in other aspects.
For Ding Huan, detoxifying Ji Xinting was no difficult task.
In fact, he felt somewhat idle while doing it.
So, he extended his divine sense, drawing in the toxic mist from a hundred miles around and storing it all in the Great Universe Pearl.
Half a day later, Ding Huan stopped drawing in the toxic mist, and Ji Xinting's blackened body returned to normal.
However, Ding Huan knew that Ji Xinting now had no cultivation whatsoever.
His body lacked any meridians or acupoints.
(That's all for today's update.
Goodnight, friends! I've been updating daily for a month now.
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(End of Chapter)