A Demon's Path Chapter 106

This day was of utmost significance to the Sunken Wind Valley and Ling Xiao. For the former, a new Elder would be accepting disciples, while for the latter it was his first day officially accepting disciples under his wing. As such, it was very lively in the Sunken Wind Valley.

The branch sects sent a total of 200 disciples. These were disciples who had passed the mental strength test, yet didn't have much prospects in cultivating. This also meant their only hope of standing out amongst their peers, was Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao stood before these 200 youngsters who were all around his age. When he felt their scorching gazes fixed on him, he felt the hairs on his body involuntarily stand on their ends. "I'm not some hawthorn fruit[1] beauty. Why are you guys staring at me like that for?" he scolded them, uncomfortable with their stares.

"Hawthorn fruit?" The disciples looked at him blankly at first. Following which, a few understood what he meant and burst out laughing. Those who couldn't figure out what it meant for the life of them had no choice but to laugh along with the crowd, fearing others would catch onto their stupidity. The only exception was a youngster no older than 17. He had a blank look on his face as he asked, "What do you mean by a hawthorn fruit? Is it some red fruit?"

Everyone roared with laughter. Some of the disciples wore kind smiles, whilst others sported mocking smiles out of malice. But when they noticed Ling Xiao's poker face, all of them stopped smiling without exception. They feigned a solemn, serious, naively romantic appearance.

Ling Xiao approached the youngster and amiably asked, "What's your name?"

"Du Zhong," came the respectful reply.

Ling Xiao nodded approvingly at him. "Good, very good."

No one understood why Ling Xiao treated this disciple so favourably. He was clearly an idiot, lacking even a basic comprehension ability! Could this be Elder Ling Xiao's kink? Teaching idiots?

Ling Xiao's next words answered all of their questions. "Some of you might wonder why I praise Du Zhong for asking this question. It is because he possesses a valuable trait none of you do." He glanced over the crowd, focusing his gaze on those who laughed but didn't understand the joke. "It's because he's eager to seek the truth."

The disciples finally understood the meaning behind Ling Xiao's words. They lowered their heads in shame.

Ling Xiao continued, "There is no space for you to be the least bit negligent in the field of medicine. If you know, you know. If you don't, you don't. Don't pretend to understand something you don't. It's only a small matter if you're the cause of someone else's death. But if the moment were to come where you treat yourself to death, that's where there's a serious problem."

Even though Ling Xiao was being humorous, not a single disciple dared to laugh this time. That was because they understood Ling Xiao was talking about a very solemn matter.

Ling Xiao increased the volume of his voice, making every effort to deeply imprint his words into the brains of his disciples. "Let this be a reminder to everyone. You can be careless in picking up girls. But when it comes to medicine, never put in a half-assed performance. You have to commit 110% if you wish to succeed!"

In reality, Ling Xiao didn't need to speak so loudly. Every single one of his disciples were listening to him in earnest for fear they would miss even a single word he said. A few of them originally thought he was some lucky bastard, that his achievements had nothing to do with skill. Or at the very least, they believed he wasn't nearly as good as he was made out to be. But now they started to admire him from the bottom of their hearts.

As it stood, Elder Ling's first lesson was on his ideology. These kind of classes were something normal teachers couldn't hope to compete with.

The Sect masters observing Ling Xiao's lesson nodded in praise. "Elder Ling really does know how to give a lecture. We're inferior to him!"

Shen Nanfeng also had a smile on his face. Even though Ling Xiao had placed a thorn in the depths of his heart, his teachings were like a temporary plaster to heal the wound.

In the following month, Ling Xiao seriously imparted various fundamental knowledge in practicing medicine and key information in concocting medicine to his disciples.

In the second month, Ling Xiao took the disciples outside to provide free medical treatment to the citizens of Sunken Wind City. After which, he brought them to the Sunken Wind Valley's medicinal mountain to pluck and distinguish various herbs and other medicinal ingredients.

In the third month, Ling Xiao personally demonstrated how to concoct medicine and guided his disciples in putting his teachings into practice.

In the fourth month, the more talented disciples achieved the initial stages of success.

Finally, in the fifth month, Du Zhong who had the worst comprehension ability could also complete the task in Ling Xiao's initial medicine course successfully.

In just five months, Ling Xiao nurtured a batch of qualified red ranked pill cultivators. All 200 of them passed with flying colours and not a single one was left behind. Every sect under the Sunken Wind Valley marvelled at this result!

When these disciples realised they could finally concoct the highest grade pill in the red rank, the Crimson Soul Pill, they were overflowing with joy. From here on out, they possessed the skill to make a name for themselves in the Clear Sky Continent! Not to mention supporting their families, they could even become millionaires! All of this was made possible by their respected Master, the Sunken Wind Valley's Elder Ling!

Ling Xiao's lofty and imposing figure was deeply imprinted in these disciples' hearts. No matter how successful they would become, they couldn't erase the impression Ling Xiao left on them for the rest of their lives.

The Sect Masters willingly took their apprentices back with them, but only after Ling Xiao promised them the second course would start in the same period next year in the Sunken Wind Valley. Naturally, the fresh pill cultivators were given ample homework. They had to use their newfound pill concocting skills to earn 1,000 orange gems. Those who couldn't didn't need to return next year.

The disciples were slightly puzzled with this target Ling Xiao set them. So, Ling Xiao fiercely glared at them, seemingly saying, Don't tell me you don't know how to earn money and show filial respect to your Master?!

The disciples felt dizzy, showing signs of having a heatstroke.

In the blink of an eye, Ling Xiao's lofty and imposing figure shortened a wee bit in their eyes. "Oh, I almost forgot. I have another request. Your Elemental Souls must be at the orange rank next year. Your Elemental Soul Fire also has to reach the level of a raging two-part flame. If not, I can't continue teaching the new material."

The disciples agreed and clasped their fists at Ling Xiao before leaving.

Shen Nanfeng was very pleased too. Amongst the 200 disciples Ling Xiao nurtured, 50 of them were deemed worthless trash. Even after cultivating in the Sunken Wind Valley, they still couldn't amount to anything. So, he was naturally over the moon with this turn of events. Ling Xiao had turned trash into treasure! Even the Blue Moon District couldn't nurture a batch of red ranked pill cultivators in the span of five months, right?!

Reality was different from imagination. If Shen Nanfeng knew it took the Blue Moon District two years to nurture a red ranked pill cultivator, he might just hug Ling Xiao and take a nibble out of him.

…

"You selflessly teach your disciples everything. You don't keep anything from them. Aren't you afraid that by teaching your disciples like this, the Master will starve to death? When the time comes and Shen Nanfeng kills the donkey once the grinding is done, you'll have to face the consequences." Li Yuanchong took a sip of tea in Ling Xiao's residence, a cold look ever present on his face.

Li Yuanchong was really a monster. In just five months, he'd actually broken through to the yellow rank. It was impossible for Ling Xiao to fight him on equal footing if he wanted to now. As such, this fellow didn't come looking for Ling Xiao to spar as of late. He only came over to take a glance at Ling Xiao because he said he was leaving tomorrow, expressing the little bit of concern he had for his former comrade-in-arms.

Ling Xiao was already very content with getting that tiny bit of concern from Li Yuanchong. One had to know that Li Yuanchong was practically a stone in a latrine pit. He was stinky and hard. For him to be able to behave in such a manner today, even Ling Xiao felt this stone was blooming.

"Relax. It'll take those disciples at least a year to reach the standards of an orange ranked pill cultivator. I wouldn't dare bet my money on how long the kind of pathetic relationship binding Shen Nanfeng and I together will last." Ling Xiao picked his tea cup up and calmly took a sip. He continued with a smile, "Besides, I've always been confident in myself. These disciples will acknowledge me as their Master, whatever happens. Even though I didn't give them my all, it is their all."

Looking at Li Yuanchong who seemed to appear pensive Ling Xiao raised his tea cup. "Little Brother Yuanchong, your Elder Brother Ling substitutes wine for tea and proposes a toast to you. I pray you'll crush the other outstanding disciples fighting for Zhao Danyao's hand in marriage in seven months to pieces. Seize that beauty as yours!"

[1] Hawthorn fruit means naked in Chinese, but since the Chinese characters for the word naked are censored in Chinese, people on the Internet were creative and used variations of the Chinese characters which correlated with an actual word.

Chapter end