Chapter 1909: A Crazy Idea

"Disciple?"

Ye Yuan frowned, thinking hard but couldn't recall when he had taken on a disciple.

But then again, it seemed unlikely that anyone would dare impersonate his disciple now, right?

"Let him in," Ye Yuan instructed.

Before long, Ning Tianping led in a young man with a face like jade, handsome and elegant.

"Master!" The young man's face lit up with ecstasy upon seeing Ye Yuan, and he immediately knelt and bowed.

Seeing him, Ye Yuan finally remembered who this disciple was, and a surge of joy filled him.

"Bai Chen!"

This young man was none other than Bai Chen, the disciple Ye Yuan had taken in the Tianlu Small World and the lord of the White Night Sacred Palace.

Nearly a thousand years had passed, and Ye Yuan hadn't expected him to come seeking him; a wave of warmth washed over him.

Ning Tianping and Zuo Shujie, standing by, watched the scene with peculiar expressions.

A peak Ninth Heaven Celestial God powerhouse calling Ye Yuan 'Master'—it looked rather odd.

It wasn't that they thought Ye Yuan unworthy, but a disciple surpassing his master in cultivation was indeed unusual.

Moreover, Bai Chen was so young, yet he had reached peak Ninth Heaven Celestial God, which struck them as very strange.

"Tsk, tsk, the boss is the boss—even his disciple is this impressive!" Ning Tianping remarked.

"You've been with the boss for so long; have you ever seen him take on a disciple?" Zuo Shujie asked.

Ning Tianping shook his head. "Never."

Zuo Shujie's pupils contracted. "Does that mean the boss took this disciple before coming to Tianying? This disciple... is too monstrous, isn't he?"

Bai Chen was even younger than Ye Yuan; how could he have such terrifying cultivation speed?

"Haha, get up! I didn't expect you to have refined a peak Ninth Heaven Celestial God Dao Fruit and now surpass me in cultivation!" Ye Yuan laughed heartily, a rare sight.

Bai Chen was someone he had watched grow.

Seeing him achieve such success naturally delighted Ye Yuan.

Peak Ninth Heaven Celestial God might not be a major figure, but it was still a formidable level.

Hearing this, Ning Tianping and Zuo Shujie suddenly understood—Bai Chen had cultivated so quickly by refining a Celestial God Dao Fruit.

Bai Chen said sheepishly, "Master, don't tease me. Your cultivation speed is truly terrifying. In less than a thousand years, you've gone from the Cave Profound Realm to your current level—unheard of! Moreover, you have boundless potential, while I have no hope of further breakthroughs!"

As he spoke, a flicker of disappointment passed through Bai Chen's eyes.

For him back then, the Celestial God Realm was an unattainable peak, a realm he could never reach in a lifetime.

But now, as the lord of Tianlu and a Ninth Heaven Celestial God powerhouse, his horizons had broadened immensely.

The Tongtian Realm held another world entirely!

Ye Yuan had warned him back then, but on one hand, circumstances forced his hand, and on the other, he believed he could never reach his current level.

Now that he had fully refined the Dao Fruit, he felt a sense of loss.

He had chosen his path and didn't regret it, but the disappointment was inevitable.

Especially after seeing Ye Yuan, this feeling grew even stronger.

Seeing Bai Chen like this, Ye Yuan sighed.

Bai Chen's talent was good in the Tianlu World, but it would have been very difficult for him to break through to the Celestial God Realm.

Refining a Dao Fruit was indeed a good choice for him.

But human desires keep expanding; who can be content with never advancing again?

Moreover, Bai Chen was still so young.

With this thought, a crazy idea suddenly popped into Ye Yuan's mind.

Was there truly no hope for those who refined Dao Fruits to advance further?

Perhaps... perhaps he could invent a pill that would allow Dao Fruit refiners to advance!

Once this idea took root, it couldn't be suppressed.

"Bai Chen, heaven never seals off all exits! Maybe there's still a way. What plans do you have for coming to me this time?" Ye Yuan smiled.

Bai Chen thought Ye Yuan was just comforting him and forced a faint smile.

After refining the Dao Fruit, Bai Chen found he could no longer comprehend the Heavenly Dao, and his cultivation wouldn't increase by even a shred.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't change this outcome.

Only then did he realize his master hadn't lied to him.

There was truly no hope at all!

Unlike those who seized Dao Fruits when on the verge of death, he was too young.

Unwilling to accept this, he left the Tianlu World and came to the Tongtian Realm seeking opportunities.

He had come looking for Ye Yuan, but by then Ye Yuan had already left Tianying, whereabouts unknown.

So he began wandering the Tongtian Realm.

But the more he learned, the more despairing he became.

He knew that once a Dao Fruit was refined, there was no possibility of breakthrough unless he refined an even stronger Dao Fruit.

But that was too difficult!

The higher the Dao Fruit, the rarer it became, and the probability of appearing was extremely low.

Moreover, whenever one appeared, countless experts would fight over it.

Thus, Bai Chen grew increasingly hopeless.

"Master, I want to stay by your side. If there's anything you need me to do, I won't refuse!" Bai Chen said.

Bai Chen was deeply grateful to Ye Yuan; without him, he would have died long ago, let alone become the ruler of the Tianlu World.

Now, with his cultivation, he could still do something for Ye Yuan, but in a few more years, he might not even have the chance to run errands for him.

Ye Yuan nodded. "Tianping, gather everyone. I'll introduce my disciple to them."

Ye Yuan introduced Bai Chen to all the Celestial Gods of Tianying, and everyone got to know this disciple of his.

But inwardly, they still looked down on his Ninth Heaven Celestial God cultivation, though none showed it.

Among these people were Ning Tianping, Bai Guang, and Leng Qiuling.

Martial artists who refined Dao Fruits were often looked down upon.

First, it was seen as getting something for nothing; second, such people had exhausted their potential and could never break through again.

If Bai Chen had gone to an ordinary imperial city, no one would have thought this way, but staying by Ye Yuan's side, everyone had a bright future.

Only Bai Chen would never progress.

Thus, although Bai Chen was the highest in cultivation and second in combat power among the ten cities of Lingnan, many secretly held him in contempt.

Bai Chen himself could sense this subtle atmosphere.

But for Ye Yuan's sake, he endured it.

Ye Yuan saw it clearly too, but he said nothing.

He wasn't sure about this matter himself, so he didn't mention it to anyone.

And just then, someone arrived from the Nine Xu Imperial Capital.

On this day, the city lord's mansion of the Nine Xu Imperial Capital sent several martial artists escorting a prisoner to the Tianying Imperial City.

Leading them was a young man.

This young man was slightly older than Yu Jinsong, with a somewhat similar brow.

Upon seeing Ye Yuan, the young man bowed and said, "I am Yu Changyun, sent by my father to pay respects to the Inspector General."