Ethan Price's words left Leonard Price and Julian Price both stunned on the spot. This talk of taking on a disciple was truly unprecedented for Ethan Price. After all, if it weren't for the fact that Ethan Price hadn't accepted a disciple in over a hundred years, the strength and status of Chun Jun Peak would definitely rank among the top ten of the 108 peaks of the Supreme Xuanyang Sect.

Looking across the 108 peak lords, Ethan Price's profound cultivation at the ninth stage of the Golden Core, combined with the superior treasure he wields—the "Grand Pure Yang Sun-Burning Wheel"—makes him undoubtedly the strongest Golden Core cultivator within the Supreme Xuanyang Sect.

If this time, because of Evan Parker, he was moved to take on a disciple and thus start a new lineage, in time, Chun Jun Peak's status within the sect would surely skyrocket like a rocket.

After the initial shock, Leonard Price was unwilling to give up the contest. He frowned slightly and muttered, "Senior brother, I didn't expect even you to be interested in taking a disciple. But this child possesses both an immortal root and a spiritual bone, and can enter the innate realm on his own—such talent is rare among millions. My Flame Peak has no successor, so I can't just let this opportunity slip by."

Ethan Price still wore a faint smile, as if he had already anticipated Leonard Price's words. At some point, a jade gourd appeared in his palm. "I understand your concerns, junior brother, and I can't expect you to give up for nothing. Here I have three 'Nine Yang Rebirth Pills.' Each one can raise the cultivation level of a disciple under your tutelage by one stage. Consider it compensation for your loss this time. What do you think?"

"Nine Yang Rebirth Pills…"

"Senior brother, these are the pills you spent sixty years refining, using countless rare ingredients. If I remember correctly, only five pills were produced in a single batch. When the Grand Elder tried to exchange a mid-grade treasure for one, he failed. And now you're willing to trade three of them for him?"

The onlooking Julian Price wore an expression of utter disbelief and exclaimed in astonishment.

After all, the value of the "Nine Yang Rebirth Pill" was truly extraordinary. For any cultivator below the Golden Core stage who had reached the ninth stage, taking one would allow them to break through their bottleneck and step into the next realm in one leap—its effects were nothing short of miraculous. Although one could only take a single pill in a lifetime, its allure to cultivators was unparalleled.

Cultivating immortality is arduous; far too many cultivators spend their entire lives unable to break through their bottlenecks. For mortals, cultivating immortality is already an act against the heavens. Breaking through a bottleneck is like asking a person only 1.2 meters tall to dunk a basketball, or a sickly person to lift a thousand-pound stone lock—perhaps even harder. This shows just how precious these three "Nine Yang Rebirth Pills" truly were.

At this moment, Leonard Price understood Ethan Price's resolve. Although he was reluctant to give up a disciple like Evan Parker, who seemed to possess both an immortal root and a spiritual bone, it was clear that the temptation of these three "Nine Yang Rebirth Pills" had already surpassed his limit.

After hesitating for a moment, Leonard Price accepted the jade gourd handed over by Ethan Price, his face flushing slightly as he said, somewhat embarrassed, "Senior brother, I, Leonard Price, accept this favor from you. To call this an exchange is really me getting the better end of the deal… sigh…"

"There's no need to be so polite, junior brother. This is a matter of mutual consent—how could it be considered taking advantage?"

Ethan Price replied with a smile, and in a movement almost like teleportation, he gracefully landed beside Evan Parker, who stood a dozen steps away, and said calmly, "I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing to follow me?"

Because Ethan Price's serene and transcendent demeanor was very much to his liking, and because of the magnanimity he had just shown by trading three seemingly precious pills for the right to choose a disciple, among the three Golden Core masters, Evan Parker naturally was most happy to become his disciple.

Without hesitation, he immediately performed the formal disciple's bow to Ethan Price right there, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master, you really went all out to take me as your disciple, but up to now, I still don't know what exactly is so special about me?"

Ethan Price smiled calmly at these words and said, "Back when your grandmaster took me into the sect, I asked the same question as you. In the blink of an eye, three hundred and sixty-one years have passed. I have already achieved great success in the Golden Core, at the peak of the ninth stage. In this lifetime, I may yet hope to form a Nascent Soul from my core…"

"That is the answer I give you."

Evan Parker frowned slightly, nodded as if half-understanding, and gained some new insight into his newly acknowledged master.

Chapter Twelve: Supreme Xuanyang

"Up ahead is the Supreme Xuanyang Sect…"

Following the direction pointed out by Ethan Price, Evan Parker gazed into the distance and saw a vast, majestic mountain range stretching for thousands of miles, shaped like a dragon, winding endlessly beyond sight—truly magnificent and awe-inspiring.

Looking down from a height of a thousand zhang, all he could see were strange peaks and deep valleys, countless in number.

Within the clouds beneath his feet, spirit birds would occasionally soar by, letting out clear cries. The surrounding world was filled with spiritual energy, at least a hundred times richer than that of the Cloud Transformation mines.

If one focused their gaze downward, they could vaguely see magnificent waterfalls, like the Milky Way pouring down, cascading straight down thousand-zhang cliffs in a myriad of forms.

Ethan Price did not take Evan Parker directly to Chun Jun Peak, but instead descended in front of the mountain gate, took out a piece of jade-green spirit jade engraved with strange patterns, and handed it to Evan Parker, saying, "This is the token of Chun Jun Peak. With this Chun Jun Token, you may pass unimpeded. Although I have already accepted you as my disciple, the sect's rules must still be followed. Go up the mountain along this path—someone will naturally come to receive you. Once everything is settled, I will come find you."