Jia Ma Empire, Monster Mountain Range.
Beside an ordinary lake, three figures emerged from the dense undergrowth. The combination of one large and two small seemed unthreatening, yet they instantly sent some of the monsters that inhabited the area fleeing.
"Master... Master, where are we going?" the little boy following the young man asked.
Although he hadn't officially become his disciple, the boy's uncanny premonition, coupled with the loose-lipped tone of the people around him, had already clued him in on the young man's intention of bringing him and his sister back to the Heavenly Alliance.
Having experienced darkness before, he understood the value of this opportunity. Calling the master ahead of time was a sign of his youthful cleverness.
Compared to him, the girl was more innocent. She held the young man's hand, scanning the surroundings like a curious child, seemingly fascinated by everything.
Chen Guan glanced at the boy, but didn't correct his address. He had brought them here for precisely this purpose.
Therefore, arriving a little earlier or later wouldn't make much difference.
However, the boy's behavior did give Chen Guan a better understanding of his character.
"This is our destination. Wash off the sweat, change your clothes, and I'll take you to meet someone."
He took out two sets of new clothes and handed them to the brother and sister. Then, he raised his hand and cast a barrier. Instantly, a thick fog enveloped the entire lake, obscuring all sight.
On the way here, Chen Guan hadn't ripped through space to lead the brother and sister. Although he walked slowly, it still took the two of them all their strength to keep up, which was why they didn't look very good at the moment.
Hearing this, the brother and sister didn't ask any further questions. They each picked up their new clothes and headed off into the mist to either side.
Deep within the Monster Mountain Range, tier three and four monsters were everywhere, each a formidable threat to them. But with Chen Guan by their side, the two of them had no concerns.
Chen Guan stood by the lake, waiting for them, his eyes gazing at the shimmering water, his mind wandering far away.
He had once told Zi Yan that this was the place that would change his destiny, and it wasn't an exaggeration.
Without the mutant snake king's guidance, allowing him to discover the opportunity within the lake and find a teacher, Chen Guan might still have grown, but his progress would have been much slower!
With the invisible pressure of the Soul Clan, time is precisely the most precious commodity on the Dou Qi Continent.
It was precisely because of his rapid growth that he was able to intervene in the Xiao family's affairs and secure a Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade. From then on, his pressure was drastically reduced, and he was invincible!
Over the past decade or so, both the spiritual power boosted by the grains of soul-forming dust and the nearly lost puppetry had provided him with immense assistance.
Consequently, this deceased teacher held a profoundly high position in Chen Guan's heart, even more so than Xuan Kongzi.
Chen Guan naturally took on the responsibility of promoting the puppetry technique that his teacher had so deeply cherished. Even though he knew the legacy was flawed and its personal benefits were not comparable to those of alchemy, he still told himself it was worth it!
After all, people are emotional!
With a sigh of relief, Chen Guan smiled.
Though he might have been lazy, accepting two disciples to inherit the art of puppetry suddenly lifted a significant amount of responsibility from his shoulders.
From now on, the mission of promoting puppetry could be entrusted entirely to the brother and sister; all he needed to do was provide support.
As he pondered this, a rustling sound echoed; the brother and sister had returned.
Recovering his composure, Chen Guan removed the barrier, his fighting spirit surging within him. He reached out towards the lake.
With a flick of his wrist, the surface of the lake began to churn, rapidly retreating to either side, revealing the rugged riverbed and a path through the center.
"Let's go,"
he said, leading the eagerly awaited pair toward the stone gate. Sensing that his old tricks were intact, Chen Guan felt a growing sense of relief.
Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.
The intense light vanished instantly, leaving behind a soft, dark yellow glow that was quite unfamiliar at first.
But for Chen Guan, this wasn't a problem. Even without using his mental power, he could find every little object in this place with his eyes closed. He had lived in this dark stone chamber for a long time.
Without giving the two more time to examine him, Chen Guan headed for the inner chamber.
Seeing this, the brother and sister hurried to follow. In this unfamiliar environment, staying close to Chen Guan provided them with a sense of security.
They were also curious about who could have lived so long at the bottom of this murky lake?
This mystery was soon solved.
As they entered the inner chamber, they happened to see Chen Guan standing before a memorial tablet, respectfully bowing and offering incense.
Although they didn't know the origin of the tablet, the brother and sister followed suit, clasping their hands together and bowing slightly.
Turning back and observing this, Chen Guan smiled slightly.
Then, his expression suddenly became serious.
"Kneel!"
At this emotionless call, the brother and sister, without a second thought, both knelt on the ground.
When they came to their senses, they were not surprised but delighted, their faces filled with unconcealed anticipation.
Although they already knew the answer, Chen Guan still went through the motions.
"Tang Xi, Tang Zi, you two siblings possess exceptional soul strength, a gifted talent. Unfortunately, you lack the necessary skills to become alchemists. However, I possess another path that also requires a powerful spiritual force: puppetry!"
"Would you like to become my disciples?"
"Yes!" x2
replied crisply, without the slightest hesitation.
Chen Guan nodded slightly, a smile returning to his face.
"Alright, since you've joined my sect, you'll be my only two disciples. As a teacher, I don't have many rules. Don't be so rigid around me. As for what you can and can't do, there's no point in saying more. As you grow older, you'll naturally understand."
"And one more thing you need to remember: you're not just members of the Heavenly Alliance, you're also members of the Heavenly Puppet Sect. The Heavenly Puppet Sect is..."
Considering their age, this was Chen Guan's first time accepting disciples. He didn't want to overload them with information all at once, and wouldn't offer detailed instruction. He would only give a brief overview.
He immediately explained the Heavenly Puppet Sect to them and asked them to burn a stick of incense.
As for the rest of the process, including the rules and regulations, he could guide them gradually.
If he really wanted to achieve everything all at once, Chen Guan wouldn't know how to handle it, let alone whether they could digest it.
"Just listen to these things. Don't worry if you can't remember them. When you grow up, I'll explain them in more detail."
"Next, you only have one thing to do."
"I'll arrange for someone to teach you how to practice, and I'll also provide you with enough resources to help you complete your Dou Qi training as quickly as possible!"
(End of this chapter)