Hou Yuan broke out in a cold sweat!
Although Cao Rufeng had resigned from his position as State Preceptor!
Everyone knew that.
Even after his resignation.
His influence in the imperial court was second to none.
Even the current State Preceptor was his nominal disciple.
Not only that.
During festivals and holidays, even the Prince of Wu would visit him here.
One could imagine how terrifying his influence was.
"It's just as I predicted, that guy is no ordinary person!"
Hou Yuan felt a surge of fear.
He didn't know what Chen Nan's relationship with Cao Rufeng was.
But one thing was obvious.
If he had escalated the matter yesterday.
Even if his father was the Prefect of Zhongzhou City, he wouldn't have been able to protect him.
No!
To be precise, both father and son would have faced utter destruction.
"Young Master, should we continue the surveillance?"
A bitter smile played on Hou Yuan's lips. "Surveillance?"
"Heh!"
"If the other party is unaware, and you are tracking them from the shadows, that is surveillance!"
"But now..."
"Your whereabouts have long been exposed to Elder Wu!"
"Forget it, forget it. You wait there patiently."
"When they come out, inform them that I will host a banquet at Zuixiang Pavilion in five days to apologize to both of them!"
Although he had apologized to Chen Nan yesterday.
His attitude at the time was not sincere enough.
He didn't know that Chen Nan had Cao Rufeng backing him.
------
"Elder Cao, this junior has come uninvited, specifically to thank you for your tutelage!"
"I heard you enjoy osmanthus cakes and peach blossom wine, so this junior has brought some to express my sincerity!"
Chen Nan bowed to Cao Rufeng, who was playing chess!
Cao Rufeng sat quietly in front of the chessboard, without even looking up, but a cold smile flickered across his face. "Are you truly thanking me for my tutelage?"
Chen Nan's heart stirred.
If nothing unexpected happened.
Cao Rufeng should also have sensed the person tracking him outside.
But he was not flustered at all, and said earnestly, "This junior, from a novice in formations, has suddenly achieved enlightenment in the Way of Formations. This kindness is etched in my heart, and I dare not harbor any other intentions!"
Cao Rufeng: "You dare not, or you fear being exposed by this old man?"
Chen Nan bowed his body. "This junior fears being ashamed of his conscience!"
Cao Rufeng burst into laughter. "Good, good, 'fears being ashamed of his conscience'!"
Even Elder Wu Jiu looked at Chen Nan with eyes full of gratification.
Cao Rufeng looked at Chen Nan and smiled. "Since you are grateful for my tutelage, then calling me Master is not too much, is it?"
Chen Nan put down the osmanthus cakes and peach blossom wine in his hands, knelt on both knees, and kowtowed three times. "Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
For Cao Rufeng's kindness.
Chen Nan was truly grateful.
This bow also held no other intentions.
Elder Wu Jiu looked at Chen Nan with envy. "Madman, you've taken a good disciple!"
"His achievements will surely surpass yours."
He knew that.
Cao Rufeng had never formally taken a disciple.
Although he had a few nominal disciples.
They were all registered disciples.
In Cao Rufeng's words.
No one in this world could become his disciple.
No one could impress him with their attainments in formations.
Even the Human Emperor was the same!
Now that his old friend had taken a disciple, he was happy from the bottom of his heart.
Consort Yu was also very happy.
She knew that Cao Rufeng had never taken a disciple in his life.
Now that he had taken Chen Nan as a disciple, who in the vast Wu Kingdom would dare to trouble Chen Nan in the future?
Let alone a mere Hou Yuan.
Even those princes wouldn't dare, right?
Cao Rufeng was in a good mood and quickly got up to help Chen Nan. "Good disciple, quickly rise!"
"Go, go, go, you old fellow, go play by yourself."
"You're so happy when I take a disciple?"
"I'm telling you, don't even think about my disciple!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for getting angry with you!"
Elder Wu Jiu looked displeased. "Ungrateful wretch, have you forgotten who accompanied you in chess to pass the time?"
Cao Rufeng completely ignored him, looking at Chen Nan with burning eyes. "Good disciple, I know you still have many unresolved questions about formations. Speak, tell me everything you don't understand."
"Today, Master is happy, and I will impart all my insights and experiences to you."
Chen Nan felt a shiver looking at him.
He said awkwardly, "Master, I really want to find some things I don't understand to ask you."
"But..."
"I understand everything you said."
Cao Rufeng looked at him in disbelief. "You understand everything? What do you understand? How can you be so arrogant at such a young age? Do you know this is not good?"
"You should be humble and eager to learn!"
Chen Nan said with a wry smile, "But your disciple truly understands!"
Elder Wu Jiu asked with a smile, "What do you understand?"
Chen Nan: "Using the myriad things in heaven and earth as the formation base!"
Cao Rufeng: "Anyone understands this point, but understanding does not mean you can set it up!"
Chen Nan: "But your disciple can already set it up!"
"What did you say? You can use the myriad things in heaven and earth as the formation base?" Cao Rufeng suddenly stood up, his disheveled hair standing on end as if struck by lightning.
Elder Wu Jiu's eyes were also filled with shock.
They knew Chen Nan was exceptionally talented and had achieved enlightenment overnight.
But they couldn't believe it.
Chen Nan had actually succeeded in setting up a formation.
Seeing their shocked expressions, Chen Nan felt even more awkward. "Actually, it's not using the myriad things in heaven and earth as the formation base. Your disciple hasn't reached that level yet."
"I've only just set up the formation."
"Well, I've set up a formation of luck."
Elder Wu Jiu couldn't help but ask, "What is a formation of luck?"
Chen Nan said with shame, "Master's books record that all things in heaven and earth can be used as formation bases, but I can only use 'qi' as the formation base to set up a formation for now."
Elder Wu Jiu gasped. "Abandoning traditional formation bases and using qi as the formation base to set up a formation?"
Chen Nan nodded.
Elder Wu Jiu and Cao Rufeng were dumbfounded!
They had never heard of such a formation.
Then Elder Wu Jiu asked, "Can you see the luck in heaven and earth?"
Chen Nan said, "I've studied this area in the past, but I haven't put in the hard work!"
Elder Wu Jiu asked curiously, "Can you tell me the name of the cultivation technique you are practicing?"
"Senior, it's not that your disciple is unwilling to say, but Master has ordered that the name of this cultivation technique must not be leaked!" Chen Nan said with an apologetic expression.
Because Wushan had warned him!
No matter when or where.
No matter whom he met.
He must never reveal the "Wang Qi Shu" (Qi Observing Technique).
Elder Wu Jiu did not press further.
Cao Rufeng: "Can you set up a formation of luck for this master to see?"
"Okay, but it will take some time!" Chen Nan looked at Cao Rufeng. With the help of the Qi Observing Technique, he could see a very dense aura of sickness on the other person!
He cleared his mind and communicated with that aura of sickness!
Then he formed a hand seal.
Instantly.
Cao Rufeng felt much more relaxed.
An aura of sickness was being drawn out of his body.
Then, a gray formation the size of a fingernail appeared in front of everyone's eyes.
"How did you do that?" Elder Wu Jiu was stunned.
Chen Nan smiled. "It's nothing, I just made an agreement with this wisp of sickness. As long as it behaves, I can make it stronger!"
Unexpectedly, Cao Rufeng's expression changed instantly.
A terrifying energy swept out. "Take your gifts and get lost, the farther the better!"
Chen Nan was confused.
Is this person truly crazy or just pretending?
Consort Yu's face changed drastically!
Hou Yuan's men were still monitoring them from a distance.
If Hou Yuan knew they had been kicked out, would he have no qualms about killing them without hesitation?