"I want to ask you about something clearly. Yesterday someone came to you asking you to be promoted to outer sect disciple, why did you refuse? Isn't this a very good opportunity for you?" Dongfang Wunian asked.
Actually, becoming an outer sect disciple was something Xiaoyao could have achieved through his relationship with Dongfang Wunian when he returned from that training trip, but Xiaoyao didn't request it. The people of Heavenly Gate also didn't want to be misunderstood about anything, so naturally they wouldn't actively give Xiaoyao this outer sect disciple status.
Now that over a year had passed, Xiaoyao's qualifications and performance could allow him to become an outer sect disciple. This was an opportunity that all Heavenly Gate peripheral members wanted.
"As long as you become an outer sect disciple and work hard, I'll help you get the inner sect disciple matter settled. It's not very difficult!" Dongfang Wunian said. Her "no thoughts" also included this - she wouldn't stick to convention. As long as she felt it was necessary, she would use her connections to do convenient things for herself.
Connections were a kind of strength - why not use them? Of course, this was limited to things that weren't harmful to others. But one could believe Dongfang Wunian wouldn't have such thoughts. If she did, she would care even less about using connections.
Xiaoyao also knew he could very likely become an inner sect disciple. The person who came to discuss this matter before had already hinted at this. Given Xiaoyao's special circumstances, becoming an inner sect disciple probably wouldn't be difficult. Those inner sect disciples also wouldn't feel Xiaoyao was a threat, because Xiaoyao was someone who practiced the Divine Farmer's Art.
The inner sect disciple status was actually just giving Xiaoyao an identity, nothing else!
Regarding this, Xiaoyao, who didn't care to begin with, cared even less. He had never planned to stay at Heavenly Gate long-term, so he definitely wouldn't become any inner sect disciple. Although leaving as an outer sect disciple would also be convenient, there would be some restrictions, so Xiaoyao still refused.
"I think this is best - I have food and lodging, things to do, and wages to take. Very good!" Xiaoyao waved his hand, saying indifferently.
...
...
"As an outer sect disciple it would be the same, and the conditions would be better." Dongfang Wunian immediately said.
"I know, but if conditions are better, there would only be more demands. I still prefer how things are now," Xiaoyao shook his head, saying gently.
"??" Dongfang Wunian was momentarily puzzled, looking at Xiaoyao. After a while, she seemed to understand somewhat and didn't continue with this topic. Originally she wouldn't say too much on this topic, even though she had come for this reason.
"Then what do you plan to do in the future? Continue staying here, or go somewhere else?" Dongfang Wunian asked. She had a feeling that Xiaoyao would leave this place. This feeling was getting stronger, especially after hearing Xiaoyao's words just now, her feeling became even stronger.
"I want to go out and see the world. A man's ambitions lie in all directions," Xiaoyao smiled. He didn't want to hide anything from Dongfang Wunian, at least such matters could be disclosed.
"Oh, then after you leave, won't I have nothing to eat?" Dongfang Wunian said somewhat wistfully, but she had no intention of stopping Xiaoyao.
"You'll get used to it. Perhaps after a long time, you'll be able to eat other things. My being here isn't necessarily a good thing." Xiaoyao smiled. He had also thought about this matter. After he left, in the long-term situation of Dongfang Wunian not being able to eat food, it might trigger her inner desire for food. This desire might suppress her psychological shadow and allow her to accept food.
"I hope so!" Dongfang Wunian smiled and didn't deny it. After that, she chatted with Xiaoyao for a bit. Since she had come, she might as well chat.
This time, she discovered that Xiaoyao actually sat down to brew tea for her to drink. The two sat on small bamboo chairs in front of the house chatting like this, giving people a feeling of tranquil atmosphere.
For Dongfang Wunian, this was very rare. She had chatted with Xiaoyao many times, but usually Xiaoyao would be doing things on the side while she watched and chatted incidentally. Rarely did they sit down to chat like this.
She liked this feeling. This feeling seemed more harmonious, more equal, more like friends!
Before when Xiaoyao was doing work, it felt like a young miss talking to a servant. However, she didn't care much about that at the time - everything was about the same anyway.
"Xiaoyao, what kind of person are you exactly?" Dongfang Wunian looked at Xiaoyao and suddenly asked. Originally at this moment, they were still talking about some outside matters.
Although Dongfang Wunian was the daughter of Heavenly Gate's sect master, she had never left Heavenly Heart Mountain, or could even be said to have never left a certain range of Heavenly Gate. So she would often ask Xiaoyao about the outside world, seeming to yearn very much for the outside world and wanting to go out and see it.
However, at this time, her qualifications weren't enough, and her strength wasn't enough either, so she still couldn't go out. Of course, this "not enough" was relative to Heavenly Gate. For people of the world, her current strength was already among the highest of experts, sufficient for roaming the martial world.
"I'm an ordinary little servant. The reason I know so many things is also because I often read books and like to gather information." Xiaoyao smiled. At this moment, he thought Dongfang Wunian was asking about this question.
Dongfang Wunian shook her head at this time and said, "I'm not asking about that. I want to ask you, why are you so open-minded? Even when the snow wolf wanted to follow you, you refused!"
Compared to the snow wolf matter, refusing to become an outer sect disciple was nothing.
"That's because I already have Chi Chi!" Xiaoyao said indifferently. "You can only have one Innate Spirit Beast!"
"It's true that you can only have one Innate Spirit Beast, but the snow wolf was willing to follow you and become your follower, protecting you for life. This doesn't require an innate contract! For you it would be the same - you'd have one more powerful helper, but you still refused," Dongfang Wunian said.
At that time, when the snow wolf learned that Xiaoyao already had an Innate Spirit Beast, it proposed to follow as a subordinate, accompanying Xiaoyao in the form of a follower, letting Xiaoyao command it. No matter what it was asked to do, it would have no complaints, even if it meant sacrificing its life.
For Xiaoyao, this was equivalent to having another Innate Spirit Beast - an Innate Spirit Beast without signing a contract. Anyone else would immediately agree and wouldn't refuse!
However, Xiaoyao refused at that time. No one knew why he refused. When asked, he didn't give an answer - accurately speaking, he didn't give a convincing answer.
Reason one: Xiaoyao felt he was a small person who didn't need such a powerful follower;
Reason two: Xiaoyao felt the snow wolf was female, and having it follow would be too inconvenient;
Reason three: Xiaoyao said looking at the snow wolf's fur made him unable to resist wanting to pluck it;
...
"Actually, to be honest, I would very much like to have such a powerful monster beast. I believe in a few years, when it can transform into human form, it would be even better! But not now. Right now it's a trouble-attracting existence. Compared to the troubles it might solve for me, I believe the troubles it brings would be much greater!" Xiaoyao said slowly, revealing a more reliable reason. This was also the first time Dongfang Wunian heard Xiaoyao give this reason.
Indeed, the snow wolf was a powerful bodyguard that could escort Xiaoyao, but the snow wolf itself was a big trouble. Taking it along would invite troubles that originally wouldn't exist. It was this reason that made Xiaoyao not want to take the snow wolf - at least not in his current situation.
"I understand. But I think it doesn't seem like it will give up easily. It might come back to find you, though it needs to cultivate now." Dongfang Wunian said.
"It needs to practice to consolidate its realm and should transform at the same time. This might take quite a bit of time. Generally, Monster Clan transformation takes at least three to seven years to accomplish. So even if it has some thoughts now, by that time they would be gone!" Xiaoyao said unconcernedly.
"Perhaps it will still remember..." Dongfang Wunian said.
"Perhaps. Even if it remembers, it might not be able to find me by then. This depends on fate." Xiaoyao smiled, still unconcerned. By that time, perhaps Xiaoyao might need the snow wolf and might not refuse.
But these were all "perhaps" - perhaps they would come true, perhaps they would remain just "perhaps"...
...
Time passed another ten days or so, and the commotion about Xiaoyao refusing to become an outer sect disciple also subsided. Originally not many people knew about this matter anyway.
Even so, everyone was a bit surprised about Xiaoyao refusing to become an outer sect disciple, wondering why Xiaoyao gave up such a good opportunity. But thinking again, Xiaoyao had previously given up the snow wolf, so this wasn't much.
Moreover, everyone knew Xiaoyao practiced the Divine Farmer's Art, plus had the burden of Chi Chi as an Innate Spirit Beast. In terms of cultivation, it was almost impossible to compare with others. At most in this lifetime he would reach General Level - this was the case under normal circumstances.
Everyone knew that having an Innate Spirit Beast would drag down cultivation progress by half. With Xiaoyao's current qualifications still at Human Level, being able to reach General Level would be good fortune!
However, they didn't know that Xiaoyao had already cultivated to Scholar Level at this time. If they knew, they would definitely be shocked!
Using less than two years to break through from Human Level to Scholar Level - even for ordinary people, this was impossible. This was something only geniuses could accomplish.
That Xiaoyao could accomplish this could definitely be called genius-level. But the problem was, Xiaoyao still had a burden - he would have half his cultivation progress consumed by Chi Chi. Therefore, what he accomplished wasn't something only geniuses could do, but something even geniuses couldn't do.
Besides showing that Xiaoyao had decent qualifications, this was also because Xiaoyao's foundation was extremely solid. Don't forget, Xiaoyao spent over ten years in the foundation stage. Even considering Chi Chi's burden, this was very deep - it could be said to be unprecedented.
(End of Chapter)