"How about this, I see a few similarities between us, so I’ve developed a fondness for your talent."

"Show me your strongest technique and let me take a look. If it’s satisfactory, I’ll give you the opportunity to become my apprentice. How does that sound? Being taught by a Nascent Soul Cultivator is a chance you might not get even in other Holy Lands."

What’s being taught by a Nascent Soul cultist? My master is far beyond Nascent Soul.

But this is something Ji Yuan can only think to himself.

And with the offer being like this, there was even less room for refusal. Bone Nightmare Old Demon personally wanted to recruit him, even said he wanted Ji Yuan as a disciple. If he still refused... that wouldn’t just be a rejection; it would be like using Bone Nightmare Old Demon’s face to clean his shoes.

’Huh—’

Ji Yuan sighed deeply in his heart.

Maybe it truly is fate between him and Bone Nightmare Sect.

If it’s a blessing, it’s not a curse; if it is a curse, there’s no avoiding it.

Thought flashed through Ji Yuan’s mind: his strongest technique was definitely the Purple Sky Divine Thunder, known as the nemesis of Demon Dao, but using this in front of Bone Nightmare Old Demon...

What’s the meaning?

Not even an apprentice, and you’re trying to subdue me?

What will you want when you become my apprentice, to ride on my head?

Pee and poop on me?

So with thoughts swirling, Ji Yuan stepped back, and mana surged all around him.

With a light "bang" sound.

A green ring of fire appeared behind Ji Yuan, a chilling presence filled the air. Though the flames burned brightly, the surrounding seemed to darken.

"Hmm?"

Bone Nightmare Old Demon, who wasn’t paying much attention initially, became instantly alert upon seeing the flame, even the eyes half-narrowed were now wide open.

"Yin Corpse Demon Fire... it’s actually this thing."

He stepped forward a few paces, came before Ji Yuan, extended his right hand to pinch the flame, and plucked a strand from the ring of fire, holding it in his hand, as if carefully sensing it.

Ji Yuan watched his deadly Yin Corpse Demon Fire being so easily plucked by the Bone Nightmare Old Demon, and was deeply shocked.

’This is the power of the Nascent Soul Monster? Isn’t this too terrifying, really...’

"Truly Yin Corpse Demon Fire, not bad, not bad."

Bone Nightmare Old Demon casually flicked the strand of demon fire back behind Ji Yuan, then patted his shoulder with the same hand, laughing loudly:

"Seeing you’re a promising young man, still you’ve secretly cultivated Yin Corpse Demon Fire, you truly are beastly in human’s clothing, a sanctimonious hypocrite."

Ji Yuan: "..."

Clearly an insult, yet why does it sound somewhat like praise?

"Senior... Senior, you flatter me." Ji Yuan put away the demon fire, and could only say this.

Bone Nightmare Old Demon had an unknown thought, laughed joyfully, and continued saying: "Mutual understanding."

...So you’re the beastly hypocrite in human’s clothing?

Ji Yuan thought to himself.

"I remember there’s someone in the Soul Refining Hall who refined Yin Corpse Demon Fire as well. The Soul Hall Master has shown off to me countless times. Excellent, excellent, to think I’d find another one today."

The more Bone Nightmare Old Demon looked at Ji Yuan, the more pleased he was.

The approval in his eyes was apparent, he spoke while patting Ji Yuan’s shoulder harder.

"Kid, you better not think of running today. Join my Bone Nightmare Sect, what do you say?"

"Thanks to the senior’s attention, it’s a blessing for this junior."

Ji Yuan could only say this.

"Very well."

Bone Nightmare Old Demon was very satisfied with Ji Yuan’s response, "You kid are sensible, if you still refused me, I’d let you know why people call me the Old Demon."

Ha... Haha.

Just as Ji Yuan thought Bone Nightmare Old Demon would have him call him master, his words took a turn, but fortunately, they were still accompanied by a cheerful look.

"Originally I did intend to take you as my apprentice personally, but upon seeing you’ve cultivated Yin Corpse Demon Fire, I changed my mind."

Ji Yuan was about to ask.

But Bone Nightmare Old Demon interrupted, directly saying: "There’s someone better suited to be your master, don’t worry, it’s also a Nascent Soul Cultivator."

"Alright... thanks, senior."

Ji Yuan could only bow once more.

"Alright, what are you standing there for, pack up and return to the sect with me." Bone Nightmare Old Demon said as he strode out the door, heading straight for the sky.

Obviously, he didn’t want to linger here, but waited outside for Ji Yuan.

Once he left, Ji Yuan felt he could breathe easier.

’Nascent Soul, damn Nascent Soul Old Demon, just wait till I achieve Nascent Soul Formation. I’ll definitely ask you for an explanation!’

Ji Yuan cursed internally, but his hands were quick. He first put the Thousand Souls Banner and Yin Ghost Banner into the Storage Bag, dispelling the Yin Ghost Array.

Then he stepped outside, planting the Array Flag of the Inverted Dipper Array all over the island here and there, pulling them up quickly after planting.

The movement was fluid and graceful, really looking as though he was cleaning up the Array Flags.

But in reality... Ji Yuan merely thought of closing the effects of [Celestial Craft Square], and the Inverted Dipper Array vanished.

Just as earlier when facing Bone Nightmare Old Demon, Ji Yuan discreetly shut down the other building effects.

Since nothing was truly laid out, there was nothing really to clean up.

He glanced at Bone Nightmare Old Demon seated in the clouds, who would have thought the notorious fierce-looking Old Demon would appear so refined?

’Yet going this way, I’m truly joining Bone Nightmare Sect.’

’But thinking further, it might be quite convenient. Now Lindong City is hunting me down, all due to that Bone Nightmare Sect’s Ma Gui. He’s likely searching everywhere for me, but who could imagine that I would transform into his junior brother?’