Qin Wentian was exceptionally taken aback. Although his performance wasn’t bad in any of the three trials, the Eastern Sage Great Emperor was a supreme existence in the immortal realms after all, and was extremely powerful. If such a person wanted to recruit a disciple, even the immortal realms would be sent into a fervor. Just news of that spreading out caused so many from the immortal realms to search for the coordinates of this particle world, appearing here.
He was very clear on how far the distance between his strength and the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor’s strength was. In the eyes of supreme existences like an immortal emperor, talent counts for nothing. To them, they had seen too many talented people. A single sentence from them was sufficient to cause the most talented geniuses in the immortal realms to seek them out.
No matter how talented you are, can your value be comparable to any of the existences who attended this banquet?
And these immortal kings all even had to show respect to the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. The word ‘talent’ in their eyes, was simply just a stellar martial cultivator with a just a little higher potential.
Qin Wentian had already prepared himself to endure an even harsher test. He thought that the next trial would be even more difficult because none of the other remaining seven participants were weaker than him by much. At the very least, that was how it appeared to be currently.
Yet, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor directly called out his name, willing to accept him as a disciple.
"Is it because of Qing`er?" Qin Wentian mused as he drew in a deep breath, feeling some fluctuations in his heart. This was a supreme existence from the immortal realms. As long as he takes the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as his master, the Royal Sacred Sect would be as inconsequential as a speck of dust to him.
"Qin Wentian, congrats." The Undying Immortal King smiled, nodding his head to Qin Wentian.
"Congratulations on entering his Majesty’s tutelage." The other immortal kings were all smiling at him, including Deepflame. He no longer showed a cold expression to Qin Wentian. Although he was somewhat shocked in his heart, since this was his Majesty’s decision, he could only accept this.
Currently, in an immortal region boundlessly far away from here, Qing`er and the Evergreen Great Emperor stood together as they watched the scene play out. The Evergreen Great Emperor accompanied his daughter and watched the entire process. In fact, even the words spoken by the immortal kings could be heard by them. Right now, a slight smile appeared on the face of the Evergreen Great Emperor as he spoke, "Qing`er, since Eastern Sage has already promised me, he won’t go back on his word. And he also intentionally allowed us to observe the whole process, it’s clear that he wouldn’t intentionally make things difficult for him. As long as his talent meets the mark, Eastern Sage would grant him an opportunity. In reality as you can see, although Qin Wentian hadn’t demonstrated the difference between him and the other seven, the Eastern Sage still chose him directly."
"Mhm." Qing`er crisply replied, as traces of happiness could be seen in her eyes. The cold-looking face of hers was much gentler than before.
At this moment, at the banquet, Qin Wentian drew in a deep breath as he stared at the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. He knew why he came here to day. And now, the Eastern Sage Majesty issued an invitation to him and although he was taken aback, the ending was still what he desired. As long as he could enter the tutelage of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, he would work hard in cultivation, doing his best. He will never let down Qing`er’s good intentions.
"Junior naturally is agreeable." Qin Wentian replied.
The faces of everyone was painted with smiles. They weren’t astonished by Qin Wentian’s reply. Even immortal kings would feel their hearts stirring if the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor wants to take on a disciple, let alone Qin Wentian. He didn’t have any reason to reject. To him, this was a heaven-sent opportunity.
"Since you are willing, why are you still not paying respect to your master?" Dongsheng Ting stood at the side of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as he spoke.
Qin Wentian nodded. He took a step forward and bowed to the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor before kneeling to the ground as he respectfully stated, "Disciple Qin Wentian, pays his respect to master."
"Rise." The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor waved his hands as a powerful force propped Qin Wentian up, allowing him to stand back up. Laughing as he spoke, "Since you entered my tutelage, I naturally have a responsibility towards your cultivation. Your origin is from this world right?"
"Yes." Qin Wentian nodded as he replied.
"Mhm," The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor lightly nodded as he continued, "It’s truly rare for someone in a particle world to possess this degree of talent. But no matter what, you still lack some cruel tempering to reforge yourself. No matter how high one’s talent is, only through tempering yourself would you become someone worthy to be called an expert. Regardless of my sons, or my disciples, they cannot always rely on my protection. If not, in the end that person would be useless, doomed to mediocrity."
"Disciple understands." This was Qin Wentian’s belief as well.
"It’s good that you understand. Don’t expect to live a life of leisure after entering my tutelage." The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor laughed. After which, he turned his attention to Deepflame and spoke, "Deepflame, your regiment of troops would occasionally be sent on punitive expeditions, experiencing combat. In normal days, I won’t have time to guide him in cultivation; hence, I will leave him in your care. There’s no need to keep a special look out for him, treat him like a member of your troops and train him well."
"Deepflame’s troops?" Looks of astonishment appeared on the faces of the other immortal kings. They had naturally heard of this before, Deepflame’s troops were tightly disciplined and lived in extremely strict conditions. The mortality rate was extremely high as well. However, for those who could survive and walk out, they all became exceedingly powerful and there were some lucky ones who would be selected as guards for the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor’s immortal palace. To think that the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor actually wanted to place his new disciple into Deepflame’s troops for training.
However, they naturally could not tell what the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor’s intentions were.
If Qin Wentian could withstand the tempering of Deepflame’s troops, he would definitely have a limitless future.
"I obey the Emperor’s orders. To clarify, how long must he train before I release him for a break?" Deepflame asked.
"Once per thousand years. Each break would last for three months and if I have the time, I will guide him personally." The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor calmly spoke. Every mission undertook by the Deepflame Regiment were all exceedingly dangerous. Their movements and freedom were restricted, no one is supposed to be absent without leave. All deserters will be killed with no mercy.
"Understood, your Majesty. What realm should he reach before he is released from the regiment?" Deepflame asked again.
"When he steps into your current realm. After becoming an immortal king, let him come to my immortal palace and I shall personally guide him on his cultivation." The Eastern Sage Immortal King replied.
"Your Majesty’s kindness will be appreciated. Even your subordinate me, who has stepped into the Immortal King Realm for so long, hasn’t had such an opportunity." Deepflame nodded. He glanced at Qin Wentian as he spoke, "Qin Wentian, from today onwards you will follow me. I will temper you on behalf of his Majesty."
Qin Wentian had been quietly listening to their conversation, and a peculiar expression could now be seen on his countenance...
"Master, if I join the Deepflame Regiment, I would only have three months of freedom every thousand years?" Qin Wentian asked the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.
"Yes. This regiment is the harshest among the troops controlled by Deepflame. But those who can come back alive would all become exceedingly strong, all of them would at the very least, be at the immortal foundation level. There were even quite a few who managed to break through to the immortal king realm. That place would be a good tempering grounds for you to train yourself." The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor nodded his head.
"Master, a thousand years is too long for me. Is it possible to allow disciple to choose my own tempering methods?" Qin Wentian respectfully spoke. Defying his master the instant he acknowledge him wasn’t something Qin Wentian wanted to do. But, he hadn’t even cultivated for thirty years. A thousand years of time was truly a concept too long for him.
Could he toss Mo Qingcheng aside for a thousand years? He could not. And for Qin Wentian although he works hard in his cultivation, freedom was carved into his bones. He was ill suited to be restricted hence he wanted to try and see if there are any other methods.
The main reason why he wants to enter the tutelage of the Eastern Sacred Immortal Emperor was because he wanted to enter the immortal realms, allowing him to have an opportunity to look for Qing`er. However, if he could only be free for a period of time after every thousand years, wouldn’t that make the distance between him and Qing`er further and further?
The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as well as the others at the banquet were all stunned by Qin Wentian’s suggestion. After which, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor replied, "Qin Wentian, everyone in the immortal realms know that regardless if it is my own heirs, disciples or subordinates, I treat them equally and strictly. Since you acknowledged me as your master, I will be responsible for your cultivation. Maybe you have only cultivated for a short while but you must know that in the immortal realms, a period of a thousand years is really very short. If you want to become a supreme existence in the future, you have to be able to endure the test of time. This is also extremely important in tempering your heart. The only reason why the Deepflame Regiment is so strict is because the people that place nurtures, are all talents."
"Master." Qin Wentian spoke once more, "Disciple has no wish to rebut Master’s kind intentions. Only that disciple is only twenty-nine years of age this year. A thousand years is really too long to me, and maybe, I might even be able to break through to the Immortal King Realm within that time frame. If Master can consider my circumstances and arrange other forms of tempering exercises, this disciple would truly be gratified in my heart."
"Qin Wentian, a thousand years in the immortal realms is really extremely short." The Undying Immortal King seemed as though he wanted to persuade Qin Wentian.
Deepflame’s eyes flashed with cold intent as he spoke, "Qin Wentian, it’s immensely difficult to break through to the Immortal King Realm. Of all present here now, Bai Wuya used the shortest time but even so, he still took 8,000 years. Yet you actually said… Not only that, his Majesty only has your best interests at heart. It isn’t appropriate that you instantly question his Majesty’s plans the instant you entered his tutelage."
"Do you know how difficult it is for my royal father to accept a disciple?" Dongsheng Ting spoke. Qin Wentian inclined his head and stared into the eyes of Dongsheng Ting. Dongsheng Ting’s eyes were sharp and contained a hint of heavy mockery, and this involuntarily made Qin Wentian recall the fact that back then Dongsheng Ting was arranged to come here to escort Qing`er.
Would becoming the disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor truly be a great boon for him?
Earlier, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor said that he would only have a period of freedom after a thousand years and would only guide him if he was free. This meant that if the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor was busy, he as his disciple couldn’t even be able to meet him if he wanted to. Unless…
Unless there’s one day when he stepped into the immortal king level. Only then would he be qualified to receive guidance from the Eastern Sage Great Emperor.
The reason why Qin Wentian acknowledged a master wasn’t because he wanted the personal guidance of the Immortal Emperor. But if the master truly appreciates the disciple, this sort of personal guidance need not be put into words and would happen naturally unless the master didn’t even have any intentions of valuing this disciple.
If that was really the case, maybe his conjecture earlier was right. It was only because of Qing`er that the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor chose him to be his disciple. Hence, there was no need for another trial. And it might also be because of this reason that the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor didn’t truly value him and wanted to toss him into one of the armies under Deepflame for training instead of nurturing him personally.
Inclining his head, Qin Wentian stared at the emotionless eyes of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor as well as the cold mockery in the eyes of the immortal kings and Dongsheng Ting. Right now, he could truly feel the arrogance from these supreme existences. In their eyes, just simply accepting him as a disciple was already an opportunity hard to come by in a millenia. It was a heaven-defying opportunity for him and he should respectfully accept his master’s arrangement and not try to suggest some other ideas.
The vast majority of people on the scene all felt that it was only proper and to be expected. Because, he was simply a genius from a particle world, while the other party, was an immortal emperor from the immortal realms.
They all thought that as long as the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor waved his hands, countless geniuses of Qin Wentian’s level would come flocking over. It was his fortune that he was able to acknowledge a supreme existence as his master yet he actually dared to defy the arrangement made by the Immortal Emperor, showing his disrespect!