"Is this your disciple? How about this: you take my disciple as your apprentice, and I take your disciple as mine. How does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Simon nearly lost his balance and almost fell. Skylar Loft's hand froze mid-air, still holding the book. Anna Yang leaned back slightly, on the verge of another outburst.
Jade Cauldron, still oblivious, stood there staring blankly at everyone and said, "What? Not allowed? If you can take my disciple as your apprentice, why can't I take yours? So, Monkey, what's your name?"
"Simon Sun," Simon replied in a daze.
"Simon Sun? Sun, Sun... sounds so dull, like a monk. There's no trace of boldness in it. As cultivators, we need names with presence! Look at Lord Genesis or Master Tongtian—they're role models for us. A bad name can ruin your life! I'll give you a fierce one later. How about Skypride? Sounds just like a protagonist's name! Listen, Skypride, your talent is quite similar to my senior disciple Erik Yang. When it comes to training prodigies like you, I dare say, no one in the world can claim first place if I say I'm second!" Jade Cauldron grew more animated as he spoke, rolling up his sleeves.
Anna Yang's face turned completely purple.
Sensing the tension, Simon and Skylar Loft took a step back. Yet Jade Cauldron remained oblivious and was about to continue.
"Are you done yet? Shut up—!"
A hysterical scream echoed from the cave, instantly scattering the birds perched in the green trees outside.
Half an hour later, Skylar Loft sat at the cave entrance with Simon, both crouched down, holding the untouched Limitless Marvelous Cloud Scripture.
"Skylar Loft, now that we've finished this stop, can we go back?" Simon asked.
Skylar Loft brushed aside the hair falling over his forehead and shook his head. "We're here to pay our respects, so by tradition, we should stay for a few days."
"A few days?"
"Yes, the exact number depends. Usually, we discuss Dao, spar a bit, things like that." Skylar Loft glanced back into the cave and said, "But it looks like we can skip all that this time—just treat it as sightseeing. It's rare to visit Avalon Mountain, so let's explore. Let me see your staff."
"Here." Simon handed over the Cloudwalker Staff he was holding.
Skylar Loft lowered his head to carefully examine the staff's patterns. After a moment, he stood up, gripped it with both hands, and infused some spiritual power.
Suddenly, the pitch-black staff seemed to gain a glossy sheen!
"This is..."
Releasing his grip, Skylar Loft handed the Cloudwalker Staff back to Simon. "It's a fine weapon—clearly crafted by Master Sage Subhuti himself. Only about a hundred pounds, so it's a bit light for me, but just right for you. It's a magical artifact, but with only one function."
"What function?" Simon asked, gripping the Cloudwalker Staff.
"As long as you grip the staff with both hands and channel your spiritual power into it, you'll quickly coat the entire staff with energy. It's not a particularly remarkable artifact, but it's exactly what you need right now."
"How so?" Simon mimicked Skylar Loft, gripping the Cloudwalker Staff with both hands and channeling his power. Instantly, the energy spread across its surface, and the staff felt noticeably heavier.
"You're still in your growth phase, far from your peak. If you had a powerful weapon now, you couldn't even lift it, let alone wield it. If you had something just right, it would soon become unsuitable. The Cloudwalker Staff's only function is to let you use your own energy to protect it. As your strength grows, so does its protection and weight, though the limit is about two thousand pounds. Right now, if you give it your all, it can reach about three hundred pounds. This way, no matter how strong you get, you'll always be able to use it without it breaking. But in the long run, it'll limit your potential, so eventually you'll need a heavier weapon."
"Oh?" Simon grinned. "Master really thought this through."
"Of course—he's the master. He wouldn't overlook something like this."
Thinking of this, Simon suddenly asked, "Skylar, do you know about the Ocean Pillar Rod?"
"The Ocean Pillar Rod?" Skylar Loft frowned. "That iron rod from Great Yu? I heard it's tossed in the Eastern Sea. Why?"
"Nothing."
"Simon, we're talking about weapons here. Why bring up a fire poker?" Skylar Loft's expression changed slightly. "Wait... you don't actually want that as your weapon, do you?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Skylar." Simon quickly denied it. "I've just heard it's really heavy, so it came to mind."
"Good, as long as you don't have such plans. I've met the Dragon King a few times—don't be fooled by the countless treasures in the Sea King's Palace. He's a miser who won't part with a single coin. That fire poker is useless to him, but even a single pearl he wouldn't give away, let alone the Ocean Pillar Rod, which is a collector's item. But that's just how dragons are." Skylar Loft glanced into the cave and whispered, "Anna Yang's sister-in-law is the same way."
Suddenly, Simon thought of another question and asked, "So what's the story with Erik Yang? How did he win and then accept a pardon?"
Skylar Loft burst out laughing. "Did he really win?"
"Didn't he?" Simon looked puzzled.
"That was Lord Lao giving Erik Yang face. Do you really think the Heavenly Court couldn't beat him? Truth is, the Jade Emperor killed Erik Yang's mother first, so Erik's rebellion was justified. So, when the Jade Emperor fought Erik Yang, Lord Lao didn't step in, letting the Emperor lose, letting him lose face, and letting Erik Yang slap him in front of all Three Realms. It helped Erik vent his anger. In the end, the Jade Emperor is still the Emperor, and Lord Lao won't let Erik keep causing trouble... Others may not know, but Erik himself surely understands." Skylar Loft pulled out a wine gourd from somewhere, took a sip, and offered it to Simon. "Want some?"
(Irrelevant message about reading the next page—skip translation.)
Simon took the wine gourd, sipped, and said, "So that's how it is. But why is Anna Yang still..."
"She's too close to the situation. If everything in the world could be reasoned out, there wouldn't be so many tangled messes. Erik Yang sent his followers away, divorced his wife, and even sent his sister to me as a disciple—just in case the Jade Emperor comes after him, he'd target those close to Erik. I used to wonder why he didn't send her to his own master, but now I get it. Sending her to Spirit Peak, Crescent Cave is much safer." Skylar Loft glanced at the cave again.
Simon smirked. "You're quite the loyal one, Skylar. Right now, everyone's trying to distance themselves from Erik Yang, but you took his sister as your disciple?"
Skylar Loft sighed deeply, patted Simon's thigh, and stood up to stretch. "In this world, some people, if you treat them as friends, they'll treat you as friends. If you help them in a pinch, they'll do the same for you. Others—friend or foe, it doesn't matter. When trouble comes, they just do their own thing. Erik Yang is the former, Jade Emperor is the latter. I've never liked fair-weather friends, but I do like helping those in need. Hahaha. Come on, the fuss is over. Let's go inside."
Just then, Anna Yang stormed out of the cave, her face full of anger.
"Where are you going?"
Anna Yang shot Skylar Loft a glare and snapped, "I'm going out for some air. If I stay here, I'll suffocate."
"You don't..."
"You go in and say what needs to be said. If I'm here, I might lose control again. Just seeing him makes me furious." Anna Yang stomped her foot and walked out of the cave.
Seeing this, Skylar Loft could only smile awkwardly.