Chapter 26 Chu Feng: Disciple, You're Not Useless—You Just Took the Wrong Path
"Master, I want a drink."
The moment Cao Youqian returned to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, he went straight to Chu Feng asking for wine.
Chu Feng didn't ask much. He simply pulled out a jar from his storage pouch and handed it over.
"Here."
"Thank you, Master."
Cao Youqian hugged the jar and walked away.
Watching his disciple's back, Chu Feng muttered, "Looks like my little disciple has something weighing on his heart."
"Oh well, every disciple has their own fate. When he's ready, he'll come talk to me."
In the days that followed, Cao Youqian came to ask Chu Feng for wine almost every day.
What started as one jar every three days turned into one jar per day.
If Xiao Chen hadn't stocked up a thousand jars for Chu Feng before going down the mountain, Chu Feng wouldn't have had any left for himself.
Months passed, and Cao Youqian visibly sank deeper into a slump.
Seeing his disciple like this, Chu Feng decided it was time for a heart-to-heart.
No matter how much of a slacker Cao Youqian was, he was still Chu Feng's disciple.
In contrast, Xiao Chen had only been down the mountain for six months and had already reached the eighth layer of Dao Foundation.
That alone had granted Chu Feng an extra sixty years of cultivation.
Now, Chu Feng's cultivation time had reached ninety years.
"I wonder how strong I really am now?"
Chu Feng murmured to himself, feeling an itch to test his strength in a fight.
But he quickly dismissed the idea. As a transmigrator, caution was key. He still wasn't strong enough.
When I have a few hundred—maybe even a thousand—years of power, then I'll see what this world really has to offer.
That afternoon, during lunch—
Chu Feng looked at the gloomily drinking Cao Youqian and said, "Da Qian, what happened to you? Where's the proud young master from before?"
Cao Youqian gave a bitter smile. "Master, please don't tease me. I'm nothing more than a homeless failure now.
If you hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't even know where to go."
"Why don't you tell your master what happened?"
Chu Feng asked.
Cao Youqian didn't hold back. Maybe it had been bottled up too long—he poured out all the grievances he had suffered.
"That's it?"
Chu Feng looked at him, speechless.
"Master, isn't that miserable enough?"
Cao Youqian replied, aggrieved.
Chu Feng chuckled. "You think that's miserable? Compared to your senior brother, this is nothing."
Cao Youqian paused. Thinking it over, he realized Chu Feng was right. Compared to Xiao Chen—who had lost all his cultivation and been expelled from Wendao Academy—he had only suffered a few setbacks.
"Master, you're right. Compared to Senior Brother, what I've been through is nothing."
Chu Feng said, "Good. As long as you've figured that out. From now on, no more drowning yourself in alcohol. Find something to do."
Cao Youqian scratched his head awkwardly. "But I don't know what to do… I'm not good at anything."
Chu Feng patted him on the shoulder. "There are no useless people in this world—only those who walk the wrong path. I'll give you some time. Think things through, then come talk to me."
"Alright."
Cao Youqian nodded. After lunch, he pulled himself together and returned to his courtyard to seriously consider what path he wanted to walk.
...
In Yunmeng Swamp—
Two figures, one in black and one in white, worked together to slay a True Fate Realm demon beast.
Both wore veils over their faces—no one knew their true identities.
But passing cultivators who saw them from afar would immediately avoid them.
Because these two were the infamous Black and White Fiends of Misty Swamp.
The man was the Black-Robed God of Slaughter who had vanished for months. The woman beside him was his Dao companion, the White-Clothed Asura.
The pair were terrifying enough to wipe out a five-person True Fate Realm adventuring team with ease.
In Yunmeng Swamp, as long as no Heaven Origin Realm cultivators interfered, no one could stop the Black and White Fiends.
Fortunately, Heaven Origin cultivators usually didn't show up in areas they frequented.
These two were none other than Xiao Chen and Liu Yu'er.
In the past half-year, Liu Yu'er's cultivation had advanced rapidly. She was now at the ninth layer of Dao Foundation, and not far from reaching its peak.
After Xiao Chen slew the serpent demon, he skillfully began processing the beast.
Liu Yu'er searched nearby and soon called out with joy:
"Senior Brother, this Blackwater Mysterious Serpent was guarding a stalk of Profound Yin Grass—and it's already bearing fruit."
Xiao Chen glanced over. Several crystal-clear fruits had already formed. Judging by their appearance, they had ripened within the last few days.
"We're in luck. Profound Yin Grass blooms after a hundred years and bears fruit after three hundred. For Dao Foundation cultivators, one fruit can break a minor realm.
Even True Fate cultivators can gain a large boost. That serpent was mid-True Fate Realm, and with five of these, it could've reached the late stage."
Liu Yu'er smiled. "So if we eat these, can we both reach the True Fate Realm?"
"You have an innate Cold Yin Physique. You'll almost certainly break through—and maybe even awaken a Sacred Physique. If not that, then an Imperial one at least."
Xiao Chen added, "But I won't take them to reach the True Fate Realm. Just Dao Foundation ninth layer."
"Why?"
Xiao Chen said, "I've hit a bottleneck. I plan to ask Master about it and break through at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
Liu Yu'er nodded and didn't question him further.
Xiao Chen scattered the serpent's blood and hung its head on a tree to keep other beasts away.
Seven days later, the Profound Yin Fruits ripened. Liu Yu'er picked all five but left the plant itself untouched.
Though a few beasts were attracted by the scent, they kept their distance upon seeing the serpent's head.
A few reckless ones were quickly slain by Xiao Chen.
As for the cultivators hiding in the shadows—once they saw the black-and-white pair, they didn't even dare show themselves.
After collecting the fruits, the two left Yunmeng Swamp and returned to Wendao City by the following evening.
Xiao Chen didn't return to Wendao Academy right away. He sold his materials for spirit stones and cultivation supplies, then returned to an inn and consumed a Profound Yin Fruit.
Liu Yu'er stood guard.
...
The next morning—
At the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, Chu Feng saw a refreshed and spirited Cao Youqian.
"Disciple greets Master."
Cao Youqian bowed respectfully.
Chu Feng gave him a glance and smiled. "You figured things out?"
"Yes."
Chu Feng asked, "What's your plan now?"
Cao Youqian replied, "Reporting to Master, I'd like to learn to cook from you. I'm not good at anything and have no cultivation talent. I'd rather live happily."
Chu Feng didn't expect his disciple to so casually choose a laid-back life. He tried to guide him one more time:
"Like I've always said, you're not talentless—you just haven't found the right path yet."
"Master, please don't comfort me. I know what I am. Oh, right—we're running low on supplies. I'll head out and restock."
After days of thought, Cao Youqian had made his choice: the Miscellaneous Dao Institute was now his home.
With his master and senior brother around, he could live out a peaceful life.
"Alright. Since you've made up your mind, I won't press you further."
Seeing that the kid couldn't be persuaded, Chu Feng pulled out over a hundred spirit stones and placed them on the table.
"Go buy some food. Starting today, I'll teach you how to cook."
"Got it!"
Cao Youqian happily took the spirit stones and tucked them into the storage pouch his senior brother had left for him.
Once he left, Chu Feng wandered over to his study, grabbed a random book, and began reading.
Just as he was getting into it—
[Senior disciple has broken through to Dao Foundation ninth layer. Reward: ten years of cultivation.]
====================================================================================
Get access to 20 chapters in advance and enjoy 2 daily updates by supporting the series. Available on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Alex_Cruise or Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/anish_44