Chapter 22: Gifted Disciple Blessed by the Father of the "Blind Douluo," Part II
Ye Wen pointed to the little girl with the Blue Silver Grass spirit, Lanlan.
"Let's start with your spirit, Lanlan. Your Blue Silver Grass spirit awakened with a level one innate power, which is pretty normal. From what I've read, the chance of Blue Silver Grass awakening with innate spirit power is less than three percent. You should consider yourself lucky to have even that much. Blue Silver Grass is one of the most basic spirits out there."
Lanlan looked confused, unsure whether to laugh or cry. Ye Wen continued, though, which lifted her spirits.
"Don't feel too discouraged. It's true that Blue Silver Grass isn't strong, but it has unique potential. Precisely because it's so basic, when it gains spirit rings, it can undergo transformations that no other spirit can achieve. And Blue Silver Grass has an advantage it works very well with a specialized training method."
"Specialized training?" Lanlan asked, her expression hopeful.
"That's right," Ye Wen said with a slight smile. "In spirit master training, there's something called a simulated environment usually used by nobility. It involves creating a habitat that replicates the environment your spirit belongs to, which helps improve your training speed. Your Blue Silver Grass could benefit a lot from this."
Seeing her eyes brighten with understanding, Ye Wen gave a knowing smile. "You understand what I mean?"
Lanlan hesitated, but soon nodded. "Yes, I think I get it now!"
The village chief, Mike, on the other hand, looked completely baffled by the conversation. Shrugging, he poured himself another cup of water from Ye Wen's flask, impressed that even the water from a spirit master seemed better.
"So," Ye Wen continued, "for your training, find a place with plenty of Blue Silver Grass. That way, you'll train faster. It may not make a huge difference, but it could bring your progress to that of someone with level two or three innate power. That may not mean much in a big city, but here in Nuoding City, that speed is impressive. If you keep it up every day, you might reach Spirit Elder level by age thirty, and then you'd receive a monthly stipend of 100 gold coins."
Lanlan didn't fully understand all the details, but the idea of receiving 100 gold coins each month by reaching the Spirit Elder rank was enough to lift her spirits.
Beside her, Huo Rui listened with growing interest. She didn't expect a spirit like Blue Silver Grass to have so many nuances for growth. However, as a naturally gifted child, she couldn't help but wonder if her own training path would be similar. Realizing she didn't know how to proceed, she felt a bit downhearted.
Ye Wen noticed Huo Rui's distress but didn't immediately address it. Instead, he took a sip of water to refresh his throat.
Huo Rui, however, could hardly contain herself. She tugged on Ye Wen's arm and pleaded, "Big brother, what about me? What should I do?"
Village Chief Mike, frowning at the outburst, chastised her, "Huo Rui, mind your manners!"
Chief Mike, greatly impressed by Ye Wen's knowledge, felt this behavior was disrespectful. They had seen spirit masters before, but none had offered such detailed guidance, especially for a "useless" spirit like Blue Silver Grass. Ye Wen's claim that she could reach the Spirit Elder level with proper training had left the chief in awe.
Ye Wen, sensing Mike's reverence, waved him off gently. "It's alright, Chief Mike. No need for strict formality. Huo Rui here has far more potential than Lanlan's Blue Silver Grass. With the right guidance, she could grow into a formidable spirit master, perhaps even reaching the Spirit Ancestor rank someday. That's a spirit master of the fifth level a position of real authority in Nuoding City."
Huo Rui's eyes sparkled with excitement as she imagined herself as a powerful spirit master. But her excitement quickly faded. Her spirit was her heart, after all she couldn't exactly pull it out to attack people.
Ye Wen chuckled, scratching his head. Though he'd technically grown up in this world, he still had the perspective of an adult from his past life. He wasn't always sure how to navigate the world of children.
"Listen closely, Huo Rui," he said with a serious tone. "I said you had potential, but that depends on properly planning your training. You know how unique your spirit is. If you don't train carefully, it could become a real limitation. Without the right development, you could struggle to even reach the Spirit Elder rank."
"What should I do, then, Big Brother?" Huo Rui asked, looking at him with a hopeful gaze. After seeing him devise a plan for Lanlan's growth, she trusted Ye Wen would have something just as good for her.
Ye Wen's expression turned thoughtful. "I'd love to help you, but advanced training methods are a valuable commodity among spirit masters. With Blue Silver Grass, a bit of basic guidance is fine. Her potential is limited. But for you, Huo Rui, it's different. To give you the best training would require something in return. Spirit masters don't share advanced training methods easily, as they're usually the guarded secrets of their sects."
For the first time in her life, Huo Rui understood the harsh reality of the world. She clenched her fists tightly around the patched up fabric of her dress, hesitantly asking, "But I don't have anything…"
"Yes, you do," Ye Wen said firmly.
He looked her in the eye. "Become my disciple. If we enter a life and death bond as master and apprentice, I'll teach you everything I know about your spirit's potential. With my guidance, you'll at least reach the rank of Spirit Sage one day. And I can say confidently, there's no one else in the world who understands your spirit as well as I do."
Huo Rui, too young to fully grasp the weight of apprenticeship in the world of spirit masters, made her decision instantly. "Yes, I'll be your disciple."
Seeing the determined look in her eyes, Ye Wen felt a surge of pride. He rose to his feet, and though he was only three years older, his tall stature at nearly 1.7 meters made him seem like a much older brother as he placed a hand on her head.
"Very well, Huo Rui. I, Ye Wen, accept you as my first disciple. From now on, call me 'Master.'"
"Yes, Master."
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