"Dylan, this is more like it." The gray-robed elder stroked his beard and laughed heartily, pointing a finger at Dylan Chen''s forehead. "I won''t make you swear an oath. Today, I''ll use my remaining Divine Sense to help you open your Sea of Consciousness. If you break your promise, it will collapse."

    "Ah!" Dylan screamed in agony, his head feeling like it was being hammered and chiseled.

    The gray-robed elder snorted coldly, "Cultivation is about defying the heavens. If you can''t endure this pain, you might as well give up now."

    "I... can do it!" Dylan gritted his teeth, forcing out the words.

    With a loud "boom," Dylan''s mind seemed to explode.

    His weak spiritual sense transformed into wisps of mist, swirling in a vast space.

    This space was his Sea of Consciousness!

    Although his spiritual sense hadn''t grown, the opening of his Sea of Consciousness laid a solid foundation for him to strengthen his spiritual sense in the future.

    Dylan rubbed his aching head, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and bowed deeply.

    "Thank you, Senior."

    The gray-robed elder formed a sword with his fingers and inserted it into his own forehead, letting out a muffled groan as he extracted a black seed, his expression extremely complex.

    "I can''t understand why the Extinct Spirit Seed chose you. But since it did, it''s also my choice. You have a good temperament, but you''re not ruthless enough to be a true demonic cultivator. Whether it''s the righteous path or the demonic path, cultivators are not as detached as mortals think. They must strive against the heavens, the earth, and other people. You have a long road ahead of you!"

    "Enough, enough. This is your own business; why should I worry?" The elder pressed the Extinct Spirit Seed into Dylan''s forehead, waving his hand impatiently. "Go now. I''ll handle the rest. If you ever reach that point, don''t forget what I''ve told you."

    "Master, please accept my bow." Dylan respectfully clasped his fists and was about to kneel when a gentle force lifted him.

    The gray-robed elder nodded almost imperceptibly and said in a weathered voice, "I don''t care for these formalities. Just do what I''ve told you, and you won''t let me down. As for being your master, I''ve never taken a disciple in my life and don''t intend to. But given the circumstances, I''ll take you in. I am Adam Dao. From now on, you are my only successor."

    "Master, I can never repay your life-saving grace..." Dylan watched as Adam Dao''s body gradually dissipated, tears welling up in his eyes.

    Adam Dao cursed angrily, "Hold back those tears! I hate crying the most! Remember what I''m about to tell you. Don''t speak of today''s events to anyone, not even those closest to you. Don''t investigate my origins or the Extinct Spirit Seed. When you reach a certain level, you''ll understand everything. Now, let me teach you how to handle the situation outside."

    ... Sёarch* The ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    By the stone pillar, Mark Ye stepped onto the pile of bones, raising his sword to strike at the lifeless Dylan.

    Even if Dylan was dead, he wanted to decapitate him to vent his anger!

    A pitch-black light suddenly shot through the stone pillar, pushing Mark away. The entire pillar exploded with a deafening roar.

    "Hmm?"

    Nearby disciples of the Demonic Extreme Sect looked up and quickly flew towards the commotion.

    A hundred miles away, in a grand hall, a stern-faced middle-aged man in black robes suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing in them.

    "Hahaha, I was right! There truly is a treasure in that pillar. It was worth all those lives!"

    The black-robed man flickered and appeared dozens of miles away in an instant.

    "Yun, come with me."

    It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ".

    "Yes." A white-robed young man floated up, looking gentle and serene.

    On the pile of bones, Dylan slowly opened his eyes, looking at the stunned Mark Ye below, and laughed heartily.

    He had survived!

    A jade-like fragment fell into his hand, and Dylan''s eyes filled with sorrow. This was the life-saving gift from his master, who had perished to save him.

    He couldn''t understand why his master would sacrifice himself for someone he had only met once.

    Mark Ye hesitated for a moment, then charged up the bone pile with his sword again.

    "If you live once, I''ll kill you once. Today, I''ll tear you to pieces!"

    "Stop!"

    Mark''s body was pushed back again. He looked up to see the black-robed man and the white-robed youth descending, quickly sheathing his sword and bowing deeply, his expression extremely respectful.

    At the same time, many disciples of the Demonic Extreme Sect arrived, all bowing in unison.

    "Greetings, Master. Greetings, Senior Brother!"

    "At ease." The black-robed man nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Dylan, or more precisely, on the fragment in Dylan''s hand. "Come here."

    Dylan immediately stepped forward, respectfully offering the jade fragment to the black-robed man.

    It was easy to guess his identity—an elder in the Core Formation stage, the true master of this place.

    The black-robed man took the fragment, closed his eyes to sense it, and then laughed heartily.

    "Good, good, good!"

    The three consecutive "goods" made the surrounding disciples even more puzzled. Their master was usually stern; what could make him so happy?

    After laughing for a long time, the black-robed man put away the fragment, looking at Dylan with satisfaction.

    "Years ago, a sage told me that I would have a lucky star in my life, bringing me great fortune. It seems to be you. I am Aaron Ouyang, an elder of the Demonic Extreme Sect. Would you like to become my personal disciple?"

    Before Dylan could speak, Mark Ye hurriedly interjected, "Master, you mustn''t. He''s just a Spirit Slave with a broken Qi Sea. How can he be your disciple? Moreover, he''s ruthless, poisoning me and attacking me. If not for the Magical Tool you gave me, I''d be dead by his hand."

    The surrounding cultivators looked at Dylan in disbelief.

    A mere Spirit Slave had such means, almost killing Mark Ye!

    "You''re embarrassed to say you were injured by a Spirit Slave?" Aaron Ouyang glanced coldly at Mark, grabbing Dylan''s wrist. A surge of spiritual energy flowed through Dylan''s body. "Your Qi Sea has recovered. It seems you gained some benefits from the treasure''s emergence. Since your Qi Sea isn''t broken, you can be my personal disciple. What''s your name?"

    Mark Ye wanted to protest, but seeing the white-robed youth shake his head slightly, he chose to remain silent.

    A master''s decision was not to be questioned.

    Dylan smiled, seeing a shadow of Adam Dao in Aaron Ouyang. It seemed the fragment had influenced Aaron, allowing him to be accepted as a personal disciple.

    Adam Dao''s final words echoed in Dylan''s mind.

    "The name Dylan is too weak. The character ''Ze'' implies giving, but cultivators must strive and not yield. This name won''t do. From now on, you shall be called Ghost Guest. The honored guest among all ghosts, never to fall into reincarnation!"

    Dylan bowed deeply, performing the three kowtows and nine bows.

    "Disciple Ghost Guest, greets Master!"

    This bow was not for Aaron Ouyang but for Adam Dao, who had given him a second life.

    From now on, he would be Ghost Guest.

    "This doesn''t seem to be your real name," Aaron Ouyang raised an eyebrow.

    "Master, I walked through the gates of death and wanted a new name to start anew," Ghost Guest replied respectfully.

    Aaron Ouyang didn''t press further, turning away with the fragment in hand.

    "Good name. Your talent is average, so you must work hard and not slack off."

    "Yes, disciple sees Master off!"

    After Aaron Ouyang left, Mark Ye gripped his sword tightly, glaring at Ghost Guest with murderous intent.

    Ghost Guest slowly turned his head, meeting Mark''s gaze with equal intensity.