chapter 5 Apprenticeship

"Hehe, head of the family, please return, after all, I have just become a core disciple of the Divine Transformation Sect, and I can't bring many people with me. No matter what you say, I'm already at full capacity and can't take any more."
In the heart of the Chadwick family estate, within the Hundred Flowers Marvelous Garden, at this moment, Isiah said to Bowie, who was following him, with a smile. Immediately, Bowie also nodded, "Alright, then we'll talk about it later. I won't disturb Strategist Xu's cultivation now. If there's anything, Strategist Xu can just send a message directly."
"Mm."
Isiah also nodded. Seeing this, Bowie didn't stay any longer. With a turn of his body, he led a large group of Chadwick family disciples out, leaving Isiah alone in the Hundred Flowers Marvelous Garden.
"Rajsaun, hmm, Rajsaun..."
Murmurs escaped from Isiah's mouth, his gaze shifting, "So young, yet possessing such excellent roots and bones, truly an astonishing talent. However, how could the son of a menial worker have such roots and bones? Such roots and bones can't be nurtured even with daily consumption of spirit herbs and medicines unless he has had a fortuitous encounter, or there's someone behind him. I need to see his true capabilities."
Thinking this, a whooshing sound echoed through the Hundred Flowers Marvelous Garden, and the figure of Isiah, who was standing in the center of the garden, disappeared.
Simultaneously, in Rajsaun's courtyard, at this moment, Rajsaun was sitting cross-legged on the ground, cultivating the Eternal Life Technique.
"Inhale... Exhale... Inhale, inhale... Exhale, exhale..."
Unique breathing sounds emerged from Rajsaun's nostrils. With each breath, whether inhaling or exhaling, Rajsaun tried to extend the duration as much as possible, starting from one breath to two, then three... all the way to ten, then returning to one breath and continuing to ten, repeating the cycle. After the first cycle of ten breaths, Rajsaun's breath had become barely noticeable. After the second cycle of ten breaths, his breath had disappeared, as if merging with the courtyard.
When the third cycle of ten breaths ended, Rajsaun seemed to have separated from the courtyard itself, entering a state of merging with the air.
"Breath merging with the air, this is a manifestation of the Fivefold Realm of Mortal Body and Internal Organs. I didn't expect you to show such signs now. It seems your breakthrough to the fifth level is not far away."
A faint voice suddenly emanated from Rajsaun's courtyard, startling Rajsaun, causing him to abruptly exit his cultivation state and look towards the source of the voice.
A young man in green clothes stood before him, his calm gaze fixed on Rajsaun.
Upon making eye contact, Rajsaun felt as if everything about him was seen through. Fortunately, having mingled among the menial workers for many years, Rajsaun's reaction was swift. In the next moment, he quickly stood up and bowed deeply to the young man.
"Subordinate Rajsaun hereby greets Strategist Xu, Lord Xu."
Silence fell over the courtyard, without any response. Rajsaun's heart tightened.
"It seems my performance truly piqued his curiosity for him to come observe me in secret. However, I must not reveal anything about the Spirit Demon or the Swallowing Spirit Demon Technique. These are my lifelines. Revealing them would likely lead to him taking them away, leaving me with nothing. I cannot speak."
Resolved, Rajsaun maintained his bowing posture, motionless, waiting.
"Rise."
After a long while, three words came from Isiah's mouth. Hearing this, Rajsaun straightened up and looked at Isiah.
"The son of a menial worker, yet possessing such roots and quality, is truly rare and unreasonable."
Looking at Rajsaun, Isiah spoke indifferently, "If you were born with such talent, your cultivation speed must be incredibly fast. I don't know what issue you have with Manager Wang, but he cannot hinder your progress. Yet now, you and Manager Wang are at the same realm, which proves one thing, your talent is not innate, it's cultivated."
These words from Isiah, though spoken lightly, struck Rajsaun like thunder, causing his breathing to become erratic.
"Oh? Your breathing has become erratic. Then, it seems what I said is true."
Isiah's gaze flashed, "Next, I'll give you a chance. Tell me what you've obtained. Be truthful, and I won't harm you. If you lie and I find out, you will have only death."
At these words, Rajsaun's eyes flashed, and the next moment, he revealed a smile.
"Hehe, to be expected of Strategist Xu, to see through my true nature at a glance. I intended to hide it for a lifetime, but it seems impossible now."
Saying this, Rajsaun took out a round jade pendant from his bosom and threw it to Isiah.
"Strategist Xu, all that I have comes from this jade pendant. Inside it lies a martial art called the Eternal Life Technique..."
Rajsaun spoke a mix of truth and lies, revealing the fact that he obtained a technique from the jade pendant but concealing the existence of the Spirit Demon.
After Rajsaun finished speaking, Isiah's gaze flickered, "You mean to say, your blood accidentally came into contact with this jade pendant, and it gifted you a technique called the Eternal Life Technique, along with a surge of pure spiritual energy?"
"Yes."
Rajsaun nodded.
"Mm." Isiah also nodded, stretched out his hand, and the jade pendant in Rajsaun's hand flew towards him instantly. Then, Isiah began to observe it closely.
After observing for a moment, Isiah raised an eyebrow and then, with a swift movement, he was suddenly beside Rajsaun, grabbing his arm with one hand.
Faced with this sudden change, Rajsaun did not resist at all, and simply let Isiah observe him obediently.
"The tendons and bones have indeed undergone changes due to the infusion of spiritual energy."
A moment later, Isiah nodded and said, "It seems that you really weren't lying."
With these words, Rajsaun also let out a sigh of relief, but he respectfully said, "In front of Strategist Isiah, how would I dare to lie?"
"Hehe, don't say that. I had issued an order not to kill anyone, yet you still killed. If you have the courage to defy my order, would you be afraid of lying?"
Isiah smiled lightly.
Hearing this, Rajsaun was startled and immediately said, "Lord Isiah, please do not misunderstand, I was forced to kill, not intentionally defying Lord Isiah's order..."
"It's alright, these are trivial matters, no need to explain."
Isiah said indifferently, "Let's talk about the fortune you've encountered. Inside this jade pendant, there indeed is a strand of spiritual energy, and you have indeed been changed by the infusion of this spiritual energy, improving your talents. But do you know that there is a cost? Your realm is too weak, forcibly changed by the spiritual energy, this has already caused great damage to your lifespan. In my opinion, you have at most ten years to live."
"What!"
Upon hearing this, Rajsaun immediately showed a look of great shock, yet he felt fortunate in his heart that his practice of the Swallowing Spirit Demon Technique was interpreted by Isiah as a downside brought by the infusion of spiritual energy, which saved him from having to lie.
"You heard me right."
Isiah nodded, "Your realm is not enough, yet you forcibly absorbed higher powers, causing damage to your lifespan. Practicing this way, you will surely die within ten years. However, you've met me, which is also an opportunity. You are a person of fate and fortune, such people have variable destinies, either soaring to the skies or plunging into the abyss. So, I actually want to see your future. Would you like to become my named disciple?"
"Disciple, I hereby greet you, Master!"
Hearing this, Rajsaun immediately performed a big bow.
"Hehe, good, being so wise at the moment, your future is definitely not bad. The next part might be somewhat painful, endure it."
Isiah then smiled, and the next moment, his palm was suddenly placed on Rajsaun's forehead. Instantly, a severe pain surged from Rajsaun's mind, making him feel as if a piece of his spirit was being forcibly ripped away.
Fortunately, the pain did not last too long. After a few breaths, the pain disappeared, and Rajsaun was gasping for breath, his face much paler.
On Isiah's palm, however, there was a faint green glow, identical to Rajsaun's aura.
"This is your spiritual power, in other words, a part of your soul's power."
Isiah said, "With this in my hands, it's like holding your life. If you dare to disobey my orders, or betray me, I just need to destroy this spiritual power, and you will directly become a madman who has lost all memories."
Hearing this, Rajsaun's face turned even paler, and the next moment, he bowed deeply and said, "Disciple, would never dare to betray Master!"
"Hehe, good."
Isiah smiled, and the next moment, with a flick of his finger, a pill landed in Rajsaun's hand.
"This pill is called the Internal Organ Cultivation Pill. Take it, and it will slowly release its medicinal power as you practice, quickly allowing you to break through to the Fivefold Realm of Mortal Body and Internal Organs."
"Thank you, Master!"
Rajsaun said again and directly swallowed the pill.
"Hmm, rest for a bit. Three days later, follow me on a journey."
Isiah nodded again, waved his hand, and threw the jade pendant back to Rajsaun, then disappeared without a trace.
Watching Isiah's disappearing figure, Rajsaun's gaze quickly flickered.
"I really didn't expect that, just after escaping from slavery, I turned around and again someone controls my life. It's an endless cycle of troubles."
"However, this may not necessarily be a bad thing. Although the hardships are more, it can temper my willpower, and with the Swallowing Spirit Demon Technique and Eternal Life Technique in hand, within ten years, I must be able to achieve something. This temporary control, is not much at all."
With countless thoughts flashing through his mind, the next moment, Rajsaun sat down cross-legged and entered into cultivation once again.