Seeing Su Mo’s continued reluctance, Master Mo could only look to the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, pleading for him to put in a good word.
"Sigh..."
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley let out a soft sigh and said to Su Mo, "Elder Su, you should just reluctantly accept the two of them."
"What, are you here to add to my troubles too?"
Su Mo said, speechless.
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley explained, "I’m only thinking of your clansmen, Elder Su. Just think, you’re managing a myriad of affairs and have so much to do. It must be hard to find time to perform alchemy for your clan. With these two, plus this old man, you won’t have to worry about these things at all."
"Yes, yes! We can perform alchemy for your clansmen. We don’t need any offerings or payment. We only ask that you accept us, Elder Su," Master Jia chimed in.
’For Su Mo to possess such masterful alchemy skills at his age... who knows what heights he’ll reach in the future?’
’His future is limitless.’
’This was a golden opportunity they absolutely couldn’t miss. They had to latch on tight.’
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Master Jia repeatedly slammed his head against the floor, pleading, "Please accept me as your disciple, Elder Su! If you don’t agree, I’ll keep kowtowing until I die right here! Master Mo, hurry up and kowtow to Elder Su too!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Master Mo also began to slam his head against the floor.
"Sigh, why must you two go to such lengths?"
Su Mo sighed and said, "Fine, I’ll take you. But you are not to call me Master. Just call me Elder Su, like Valley Master Lu does."
"Yes, Master... No, no, no, Elder Su."
The two were overjoyed.
’Even though Su Mo was unwilling to take them as disciples, as long as they could stay by his side, they would have opportunities. At worst, they could just be his medicine boys.’
Su Mo instructed, "As it happens, I brought a patient with me when I arrived. The three of you will work together to treat him. Consider it a test of your alchemy skills. If you can’t cure him, then you can all get lost."
"Yes!"
The three of them replied in unison.
Su Mo waved to Daoist Xuanqing. "Leave your disciple’s Dantian to the three of them to treat."
"Thank you, Elder Su."
Daoist Xuanqing thanked Su Mo, then turned to the three masters. "I’ll have to trouble you three."
"Daoist Brother Xuanqing, you’re too kind. We’ve known each other for a while; there’s no need to be so formal."
"That’s right. This was a task assigned by Elder Su. The three of us will certainly do our best. Otherwise, we would be failing to live up to his guidance."
"The three of us must perform well this time, no matter what. We absolutely cannot disappoint Elder Su."
Hearing their conversation, Su Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
’Guidance?’
’What guidance have I ever given them?’
’The achievements the three of them had today were the result of their own hard work. It didn’t have a damn thing to do with him.’
Master Mo said, "Daoist Brother Xuanqing, please lead the way. We’ll go treat your disciple’s Dantian now."
"Alright!"
Daoist Xuanqing led the three to the main hall of Medicine King Valley, where Fan Jian was lying on the floor in agony.
Seeing the three approach, Fan Jian struggled to his feet. "Master, these three are..."
Daoist Xuanqing pointed to the men. "Disciple, let me introduce you. These are the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Master Mo, and Master Jia. The three masters have come this time to treat your Dantian."
"What? All three masters are here for me?"
Fan Jian asked in disbelief.
"That’s right!"
Daoist Xuanqing replied with certainty, "Disciple, rest assured. With these three masters here, your Dantian can definitely be healed."
HISS...
Hearing Daoist Xuanqing’s reply, Fan Jian sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
Whether it was the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Master Mo, or Master Jia, all were Great Alchemists famous throughout the Eighteen Kingdoms.
The three even had a considerable reputation throughout the entire Northern Profound Domain.
’Normally, just inviting one of them would require burning incense and praying to Buddhas, not to mention calling in a massive favor.’
’And now, his master had actually managed to invite all three.’
’This was a scene that would shock even the gods.’
Daoist Xuanqing saw what Fan Jian was thinking and said with a wry smile, "I don’t have that much pull. It was all arranged by Elder Su."
"Elder Su has that much pull?"
Fan Jian said, astonished.
Master Mo instructed, "Worthy Nephew, you’d better lie down quickly. If we fail to cure you, not only will Elder Su refuse to take us as disciples, he’ll also kick us out."
"Ah..."
Fan Jian was so surprised he blurted out, "Master Mo, you can’t be joking with me. You, becoming Elder Su’s disciple? How old is Elder Su?"
"Hmph! So what if Elder Su is young? Are we Martial Artists the kind of people who care about age?"
Master Mo said, displeased.
Fan Jian stammered, "But..."
Daoist Xuanqing stepped forward and explained patiently, "Disciple, you don’t understand. This is what they call ’there’s always someone better, and a heaven beyond the heavens.’ It doesn’t matter how old someone is. As long as they’re stronger than us, we must learn from them. If Elder Su weren’t unwilling to accept disciples, I would want to become his student and learn swordsmanship from him myself."
’To this day, he could not forget the shocking scene of Su Mo defeating Qi Bian in an instant with just a withered branch.’
’That single move was something he would probably never be able to learn in his entire lifetime.’
Master Jia lectured, "Your master isn’t wrong. As the saying goes, ’anyone who is an expert can be a teacher,’ it has nothing to do with age. Worthy Nephew, from now on, you must never judge a book by its cover."
’Just a moment ago, he himself had looked down on Su Mo, and not only was he taught a lesson, but he was also completely humiliated. His face still hurt.’
’And in the end, he shamelessly tried to become his disciple, only to be rejected.’
Fan Jian nodded heavily. "Yes, Elder, I’ll remember."
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley said anxiously, "Worthy Nephew, you’d better lie down. What if you delay our test, and Elder Su kicks us out?"
"Ah... My apologies, Elders! I’ll lie down right now for you to treat me. I won’t delay your test at all."
With that, Fan Jian lay flat on the floor.
And just as Su Mo was refining the Nine Dragon Venerable Pill, Han Sect had arrived at the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion in the Desolate Empire.
At this moment, the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion was in a state of utter ruin.
Only a single squad of Black Armored Soldiers stood guard at the gate, and most of them were wrapped in bandages, looking as if they were seriously injured.
"Is this the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion?"
Han Sect arrived at the gate and asked, unable to believe his eyes.
’The last time he came here, the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion had been the very picture of splendor and magnificence. It had never looked so dilapidated.’
"That’s right. This is the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion."
The leader of the Black Armored Soldiers stared coldly at Han Sect. "What, are you here to cause trouble for the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion too? Think you can bully us in our time of weakness?"
"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"
Han Sect quickly explained, "I am Han Sect, a Grand Elder of the Celestial Moon Sect. I am an old acquaintance of the Heaven-Suppressing King. I have come this time specifically to pay him a visit."
The Black Armor leader asked, "Do you have any proof?"
"I do!"
Han Sect took out his Celestial Moon Sect identity token and handed it to the leader of the Black Armored Soldiers. "This is my identity token. As long as you present this to the Heaven-Suppressing King, he will immediately come out to welcome me."
"It’s a real token!"
The leader of the Black Armored Soldiers had a look of complete surprise on his face.
Han Sect said proudly, "Since you’ve confirmed that my identity token is real, hurry up and announce me. Just say that I have an extremely urgent matter and must see him in person."
However, the leader of the Black Armored Soldiers returned the token to Han Sect. "My apologies, Elder. I’m afraid I cannot announce you. I must ask you to leave."