Chapter 6, oh, brothers!

Unless the master is in seclusion, the protective formations guarding the mountain gate will generally not be activated, as the consumption of spirit stones is not insignificant, and there is no need to do so.

Xu Ying

Although he has not yet begun his cultivation, his eyesight is indeed quite sharp. Those three junior disciples are certainly not to be underestimated; each possesses considerable cultivation, and their backgrounds are likely significant.

After a long silence, as he watched the second senior brother maintain his smile, it was ultimately Shentu Hong who broke the stalemate. He raised his hand and released a giant crimson flying sword, looking down and asking, "Second senior brother, it is getting late. What do you think? Would you like me to escort you a bit?"

"Fan'er, did you not have a good time yesterday?" Han Hao asked with a smile, his tone gentle, in stark contrast to the authority he displayed in front of Xu Ying and the others.

At that moment, when Zhang Fan approached, he directly flipped him over.

Zhang Fan did not feel as good as Han Hao, especially when the three of them were leaving. Without needing to look back, he could sense that a series of piercing gazes were directed at his back.

"Yes, Master," the three of them replied in unison

"Good, having ambition is what matters." Han Hao, however, did not find anything inappropriate and exclaimed with great joy

Zhang Fan seemed completely unaware of the intense gaze fixed on his face. He boldly stepped onto the flying sword and patted Shen Tu Hong's shoulder, saying: "Then I will trouble you, junior brother. I have endured much for the sake of the books."

Hello, what a coincidence!" Zhang Fan seemed completely unfazed by the appearance of the three of them, responding with a warm smile that rivaled the gentle sunlight.

Hmph! I absolutely must..." Shen Tu Hong scoffed coldly, his words hanging on the tip of his tongue before he suddenly stopped. He looked at Jiang Tuo and Xu Ying with suspicion and said, "Third Senior Brother, Junior Sister, I haven't offended either of you. Why does it sound like you intend to use me, Shen Tu Hong, as a pawn?"

What is effective? The three individuals under Han Hao's command immediately perked up their ears, especially the woman in the middle, whose gaze was utterly unabashed as she scrutinized Zhang Fan from head to toe

Outside Han Hao's cave, Jiang Tuo and the other two have been waiting for quite a while

"Yes, Master, I will definitely work hard to strive to surpass..." Zhang Fan paused before continuing, "to surpass my junior brothers and sisters"

"Yes, Master, the disciple takes their leave"

After Zhang Fan left, Zhuo Hao raised his eyebrows and, with a hint of concern, said to Han Hao: "Master, will the Third Junior Brother and the others... not run into any trouble, right?"

The formation of Han Haodong's cave is naturally closed; however, at the entrance of the cave, a small restriction has been set up, which serves merely as a function similar to that of a doorbell

"It is not necessarily the case that he is a descendant of the master," Xu Ying interjected. "Perhaps this Senior Brother Zhang possesses extraordinary talent, which is why the master regards him with special favor."

The disciple solemnly remembers the master's teachings. Zhang Fan tightly grasped the jade slip containing the martial arts techniques, speaking absentmindedly.

Upon hearing the words "for brother," the faces of his three fellow disciples involuntarily stiffened. The youngest among them, Xu Ying, was already sixteen years old, while Shen Tu Hong had even surpassed twenty. To be called "brother" by a thirteen-year-old kid while having one's shoulder patted was truly a situation difficult to bear.

In the spacious hall, the master sat at the head of the table, while below him stood three individuals in a row: two men and one woman, all standing solemnly.

... ...

"Second Brother!" the three of them greeted in unison. Even if they felt disdain in their hearts, they still had to maintain appearances.

Immediately after, he furrowed his brows and said: "Fan'er, your third senior brother Jiang Tuo and your fourth senior brother Shen Tu Hong come from families of cultivators. Xu Ying is a direct descendant of our Law Manifestation Sect's water lineage, but she only became my disciple after inheriting the fire attribute Law Manifestation. It is good that you aspire to surpass them, but do not be overly eager for quick success. The path of immortality is long and arduous; seeking immediate results may harm your foundation. Fan'er, you must remember this."

This is Zhang Fan, your Second Senior Brother, why don't you come forward to meet him

... ...

This is the cultivation method I have selected for you. After you return, make sure to practice diligently. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. With that, Han Hao took out a jade slip and handed it to him

Zhang Fan quickly returned the courtesy, secretly shaking his head and bitterly smiling. His master truly had little experience in teaching disciples.

Zhang Fan's face showed a sense of frustration; he never expected that his first goal upon entering the realm of cultivation would be to surpass his junior disciples... Life is truly full of irony

Just as he was hesitating whether to find another time, Zhuo Hao walked out of the cave, smiling as he looked at his disheveled appearance. With a casual gesture, he cast a spell, as if a small stone had been thrown into a calm surface of water, and the ripples flashed by, causing the barrier to disappear

What should I do? The sound transmission talisman is tucked away in the Qiankun bag, but I haven't started cultivating yet, so where would the magical power come from? This is the downside of a cultivator's cave; it's not convenient for sneaking in and out

That was it; the three little foxes exchanged glances and finally set aside their curiosity for further probing, thinking it best to save it for another day, and each returned to their own homes

At the first glance, Zhang Fan noticed the Qiankun bags they wore at their waists, which were of the same dull yellow color distributed by the sect, resembling patched-up items. He believed they must have noticed this as well; otherwise, why would Xu Ying, that girl, be so desperately trying to conceal it during the greeting, appearing as if she was afraid of showing any weakness

Upon seeing Zhang Fan enter, Han Hao revealed a smile on his face, sizing him up from head to toe, and said with satisfaction: "Clear inside and out, free from blemishes, the effect is quite good"

"Just wait, there's no need to rush," Jiang Tuo said leisurely. "Perhaps our 'Second Senior Brother of the Library' is actually a descendant of our master in the secular world, which certainly gives him more to say than we do"

"Alright, you may go now! Remember my words, cultivate diligently and do not be negligent," Han Hao said, feeling quite satisfied with the atmosphere of brotherly respect among the disciples, as he stroked his beard and smiled.

Zhang Fan awkwardly nodded. Now, whenever he thinks of the words "Xisui Dan," he instinctively feels a twisting pain in his abdomen, which indicates that the suffering he endured was indeed considerable

It is somewhat embarrassing, and Zhang Fan could only awkwardly reply, "Yes, Senior Brother."

I have met the Second Master.

Shentu Hong was not as foolish as he appeared, the two little foxes thought to themselves, coincidentally raising their opinion of this seemingly rough man. As the struggle between Chu and Han was about to transform into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fan timely emerged from the cave.

Zhuo Hao nodded in agreement, having heard of Master Bo's deeds as well. With such a great-grandfather, it is truly uncertain whether it is a blessing or a misfortune for the second junior brother

Who else is there besides the master

Standing outside Han Hao's cave, Zhang Fan felt quite helpless

Among the three, Shen Tu Hong has the least patience. After pacing around in circles a few times, he complained, "Third Senior Brother, Junior Sister, when are we going to wait until? I really don't understand where all this chatter is coming from"

Shentu Hong, feeling quite helpless, had no choice but to reluctantly serve as a coachman for Zhang Fan after everything had been said.

Shentu Hong

When Zhang Fan was able to say the words "What a coincidence" in such a gentle tone without changing his expression, the three little foxes couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking to themselves that he was not an ordinary character.

Zhang Fan followed Zhuo Hao with confusion, and upon arriving at the hall, he understood.

Han Hao fell silent for a moment and sighed: "The petty squabbles among brothers should be resolved by themselves! Fan'er is the descendant of the eldest senior brother, and the matters he will face in the future will be far more serious than this. It is also good for him to adapt a little."

After Jiang Tuo and the other two left, they did not return to their residence, but instead waited at the entrance of the cave dwelling. With Master’s spiritual sense, it was impossible not to notice them. What puzzled him was that, given Master's affection for the Second Junior Brother, he neither intervened nor offered any reminders, allowing the situation to unfold as it pleased, which was truly uncharacteristic of his usual demeanor

"Disciple, strive to cultivate diligently. Look, is it appropriate that you cannot even enter your master's cave?" Zhuo Hao said with a smile

"Alright, you can go back now!" Seeing his eager expression, Han Hao chuckled in silence.

Jiang Tuo

Moreover, with Han Hao revealing a hint of information in the first sentence of their meeting, and given that Zhang Fan himself lacks any cultivation to maintain control over the situation, how could it not lead them to indulge in wild imaginations

Alright, let's go in. The master and the others are all inside!" Zhuo Hao said no more and led him into the cave.

"Senior Brother Shentu, you are being too modest. I assure you, I did not mean that at all."