HPMC Chapter 2

　　Yu Tianze frowned, feeling unhappy.

　　He has always been a person who “loves those who want him to  live, and hates those who want him to die.” He has a clear distinction between love and hate. How much he originally respected his master, he hated him after he was killed. Nevertheless, the relationship between master and disciple still existed, so he chose to walk to the other side with a cold face.

　　He’d just go and solve some things that need to be resolved along the way.

　　On the left side of the mountain, a mansion was visible, dotted with flowers, plants, and trees arranged in an orderly manner. It gave off an abundant spiritual aura and looked particularly peaceful.

　　Not only was this mansion very exquisite, but it was also a magic weapon in itself. Yu Tianze obtained it from an ancient ruin and dedicated it to his master after he came back. It served as a congratulatory gift to his master for forming his golden core.

　　At that time, their relationship was exceptionally deep, but now Yu Tianze seemed to be even more displeased.

　　In an instant, the air pressure around him became even lower.

　　There are two wood demon spirits guarding the door, both with beautiful faces. Save for the light blue color of their skin, they were no different from ordinary women. When they saw Yu Tianze, they were shocked and hurriedly lowered their heads, rushing to welcome him in.

　　Yu Tianze treated his visit to Minghua Mansion as if he were entering his own home. In the past, he would have given face to his master and asked someone to inform him of his arrival, but now he couldn’t care less and just barged into the cave.

　　There were treasures everywhere in Minghua Mansion, and Yu Tianze’s hand was undoubtedly indispensable in everything. The more he looked at it, the angrier he became.

Barely restraining himself, Yu Tianze finally reached the depths of the Mansion and stopped.

　　In front of him, bathed under the soft light, the slender figure of a cultivator was seen, standing quietly under the shade of flowers. He was dressed in an elegant white shirt, with his sleeves rolled up slightly, revealing a thin forearm. He has a delicate appearance and a calm temperament. He slowly lifted a small bucket with his seemingly delicate fingers, and holding a wooden spoon in his other hand, scooped up water and gently watered the flower.

　　This scene gave people a sense of tranquility.

　　As if sensing his arrival, the white-robed cultivator turned his head and smiled:

“Tianze, you are back.”

　　Yu Tianze suppressed a sigh: “…yeah.”

　　It was ironic how warm hearing this sentence made him feel before, Yu Tianze thought silently. Now, even the word “Master” couldn’t be uttered.

　　Master Ming Yuan is a cultivator with three spiritual roots. With this kind of qualification, he could only belong to the most common type of cultivators who could enter the inner sect. His comprehension was also not good. If there were no accidents or opportunities, he would be able to build his foundation at the age of around a hundred years, but it would be extremely difficult to hope to form his golden core, and he would eventually die like other ordinary disciples.

　　However, an opportunity presented itself after he established his foundation at the age of one hundred and two.

　　Though the possibility of forming a core was extremely small, Ming Yuan was quite a meticulous person; therefore, he was given the task of taking care of young cultivators, especially the babies and young children with spiritual roots brought back by the sect. The task was left to him alongside several equally hopeless cultivators. If he did well, ten years later, he would be allowed to choose a young boy with similar qualifications as his disciple to accompany him until his death.

　　Ming Yuan did indeed do a good job. In the year that he completed his mission, someone randomly stuffed him with a two-year-old child with three spiritual roots. He returned to the cave where he lived and began to teach him how to cultivate.

　　Though the child’s aptitude was average, his comprehension was extremely high. Compared to Ming Yuan, his cultivation speed was many times faster. Ming Yuan was very pleased and took even better care of the child. Unfortunately, one day, as the child was meditating on the mountain, thunder suddenly fell and struck him!

　　Ming Yuan was shocked, but all that was left was the charred corpse of the child.

　　Heartbroken, he took the body away, intending to find a better place to bury it. However, just as he was digging the grave, the hard shell on the corpse’s body fell off, revealing the child who still had signs of life.

　　The child who was struck by lightning and survived was Yu Tianze.

　　Later on, Yu Tianze’s cultivation speed increased, soaring like a comet. He quickly broke through the Qi refining stage and established his foundation. At this time, the speed of his cultivation attracted the attention of the sect. After further investigation, it was discovered that he had mutated from three spiritual roots into twin thunder and fire spiritual roots, which were comparable to the heavenly spiritual roots.

This kind of spiritual roots were naturally the most suitable for practicing the sect’s top technique, the ” Nine Heavens Thunder and Fire Technique”. Yu Tianze became a treasure of the inner sect, receiving extremely preferential treatment. The sect intended to let Yu Tianze change his master, but Yu Tianze refused and insisted on living with Ming Yuan. Because of Yu Tianze, Ming Yuan’s reputation and status also rose, allowing him to enjoy the sect’s favor.

　　Following that, Yu Tianze’s cultivation rose uncontrollably. In just a few decades, he formed his golden core and became a nascent soul cultivator, winning numerous honors for the sect. Ming Yuan also forcibly formed a core because of the treasures he took, extending his lifespan.

　　From then on, Ming Yuan could be called a true immortal, and his status was greatly different from before.

　　Yu Tianze didn’t understand. Has he ever wronged his master in any way over the years? He would provide whatever his Master needed, and was even willing to share the Immortal Palace with him. And as for the sect, it’s just an Immortal Palace. He didn’t care if he had to hand everything in it over. Cultivation didn’t solely rely on external things. If it weren’t for his master’s qualifications and comprehension being mediocre, he wouldn’t have been so miserable. He had been searching desperately for the unique and rare treasures that would allow Ming Yuan to break through. And yet the sect could disregard his many years of contribution, and his master could turn a blind eye to their master-disciple relationship, regarding him as an obstacle.

　　However, compared to the sect, what he hated more was his master. If there are all kinds of people in the sect, and they always have to consider their interests, what about the master? They had been dependent on each other for so many years, yet his master betrayed him and actually tried to kill him himself.

　　Why? Why!

　　Yu Tianze was angry and full of grievances, wanting to question him.

　　But when he saw Ming Yuan’s current calm appearance, he suddenly couldn’t bring himself to say a word.

　　Why did it matter anyway? It doesn’t change the fact that he was betrayed by his master. In his heart, the relationship between master and disciple had been severed the moment he died.

Thinking of this, the confusion caused by the familiar scene just now dissipated, and his mood when facing Ming Yuan again became even colder. The person in front of him was now his enemy. He wished to slap him dead, but he still had to endure it for the sake of their master-disciple status.

　　Ming Yuan smiled calmly: “Tianze, did you have a smooth trip out this time?”

　　Yu Tianze replied with a frown: “I encountered a dangerous region and was seriously injured.”

　　Ming Yuan’s face showed concern: “How is the injury? What happened? Why didn’t you let me know that you were safe?”

　　Yu Tianze continued with a frown: “I originally intended to tell  you, but I couldn’t hold on any longer and had to deal with  my wounds first.”

　　Ming Yuan’s worried expression worsened: “How are you feeling now? “

　　Yu Tianze: “I’m fine.”

　　There was a moment of silence between the two, and Yu Tianze felt even more agitated.

      In the past, he would have assumed that his master was worried about him, but now he realized that  Ming Yuan was looking for him to ask for his gains. Had it been in his previous life, he would have immediately taken out the most precious treasures and offered them to his master as he had done so many times before. But now he didn’t wish to even think about it at all!

　　Ming Yuan spoke again, this time with an accusatory tone: “I heard that you placed a restriction on demon spirits?”  He sighed, “Tianze, demon spirits are also living beings; you shouldn’t do this to them. “

　　The line of reasoning was correct, and Yu Tianze also followed it before. Afterall, then he had felt that his master was pure and kind, but now he feels that he couldn’t be more hypocritical. Even the disciples who depended on each other could be betrayed at any time. Ming Yuan expected him to actually sympathize with the enslaved demon spirits? Don’t joke!

　　Yu Tianze was not good at hiding his emotions, and even after being reborn, he still wasn’t good at it.

　　Fortunately, he had an unpredictable temper. Although it was better around Ming Yuan, it wasn’t by much.

　　He said coldly: ” When I went out this time, I realized that this kind of thing was not worthy of kind treatment.”

　　Ming Yuan was stunned.

　　Yu Tianze added, ” I saw with my own eyes that there was a cultivator who sincerely trusted his friends and was indulgent and lenient towards demon spirits. He was betrayed by his friends and demon spirits, dying without a burial place. It was all very miserable. I thought that I must not follow in his footsteps. Shameless things like them must be controlled as soon as possible. One  must not be like that cultivator, realizing how stupid you are only when you die.”

　　Ming Yuan frowned: “You shouldn’t do it just because of this! It’s a special case…”

　　Yu Tianze immediately interrupted, asking: “Master, do you want your disciple to be betrayed?”

　　Ming Yuan did not expect that Yu Tianze would interrupt him like this, and replied in shock: “That’s not what I meant. …”

　　Yu Tianze looked at him and replied, “This disciple has already decided.”

　　The atmosphere became a little stagnant.

　　Yu Tianze stilled his mind and spoke: “I came back this time to report something to Master. I plan to move out of Yinxiao Peak in three days and move into Feixiao Peak, where the Nascent Soul Masters dwell.”

　　Ming Yuan’s smile froze: “Tianze wishes to… establish his own residence ?”

　　Yu Tianze’s expression was cold: ” When I was out this time, I realized that the most important thing in the world is strength. It is too difficult for me to improve my realm on Yinxiao Peak. Only by going to Feixiao Peak can I improve faster. Although I can’t bear to leave Master, only by becoming stronger can I be more filial to Master. I hope Master won’t worry. Even if I go to Feixiao Peak, I will still be Master’s disciple.”

He looked at Ming Yuan, the light in his eyes proof of his determination, “I believe that master will support this disciple’s decision.”

　　Ming Yuan finally couldn’t maintain the smile on his face: “Yes… as a master, I naturally support Tianze’s decision.”

　　Yu Tianze curled his lips and said, “Thank you, Master. I have other things to do, so I’ll take my leave now.”

　　After saying that, he stood up and strode away.

　　Ming Yuan looked at his back with a somewhat melancholic expression. He whispered to himself, ” Has Tianze been in a bad mood recently? He wishes to move out, which really makes me feel reluctant. If he fails to remember me as his master, how can I miss him?”

He then spoke again, sounding a little apologetic, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you this time.” As he spoke, three short demon spirits emerged from the nearby flowers and trees. They replied in shrill voices,

　　“It’s not Master Ming Yuan’s fault. Tianze was seriously injured before, and must be in a bad mood!”

　　“Master Ming Yuan, don’t be sad. Even if the master leaves, he will still respect you.”

　　“We all know Tianze’s feelings for Master Ming Yuan in our hearts!”

　　Ming Yuan’s mood improved a little, but he was still worried.

　　If a disciple’s cultivation level was equal to that of his master, then he was allowed to move out and set up his own residence, which was also considered as leaving their master. Although the disciples still had the responsibility of supporting their masters in their old age, the depth of their feelings was not guaranteed to last.

　　There was a difference between a disciple who had a deep relationship with their Master and one who lacked a deep relationship with their Master.

　　This time, after Yu Tianze came back, Ming Yuan felt that he could no longer understand this disciple of his.

　　‘What exactly did he encounter outside that changed him?  After he moves away, will he still respect and love me as much as before?’ Ming Yuan wondered.