On the treasure gourd.
The elder Gu Qian hospitably offered spiritual wine, immortal fruits, and other delicacies to entertain Ji Mo.
Ji Mo, who was both hungry and weak, did not stand on ceremony and ate heartily.
His body was frail and urgently needed a large supply of energy.
These spiritual foods were already considered luxurious for ordinary cultivators, but to fill his empty body, they were like a drop in the ocean.
However, it was better than nothing. Ji Mo, like a bottomless abyss, continued to eat, astonishing everyone around him.
Gu Qian nodded secretly. Just as he had guessed, this young man was indeed no ordinary person.
He had struck gold!
The younger disciples, however, were displeased.
They only received a few of these good things as rewards from the Sect Master when they performed well.
Yet now, a beggar was devouring them all. It was a complete waste of good food. They wondered what the Sect Master was thinking, if he had gone senile.
While eating, Ji Mo conversed with Gu Qian, gaining a general understanding of his current location.
It turned out he had arrived in Blood State. To return to the Void Sword Sect or the Wind Flower Snow Moon Sect, he would have to traverse several major continents, a journey of immense distance.
For now, he could only find a place to recuperate his body, resolve his physical ailments, and then find a way back.
"Young Master Ji, do you have a sect? If you don't mind, this old man would be honored to take you as a personal disciple."
Gu Qian observed Ji Mo's every move and was very satisfied.
Apart from his prodigious appetite and emaciated physique, and not being particularly handsome, his demeanor, cultivation, and temperament were all top-notch. He was undoubtedly a talent.
Eager to nurture talent, he intended to accept him as a disciple.
"Sect Master, you truly intend to take this fellow as a personal disciple?"
The others were stunned.
It was known that even though the Myriad Beast Sect was only a third-rate force, its overall strength, due to its ability to control various immortal beasts in combat, was comparable to some second-rate forces. It held some renown throughout Blood State.
Countless young talents had desperately sought to join Gu Qian's tutelage, only to be ruthlessly rejected.
Gu Qian had always been rigorous and demanding in accepting disciples. Yet, he was now willing to take in a young man he had just met as a personal disciple. It was truly perplexing.
When everyone expected Ji Mo to be overjoyed and accept without hesitation.
Ji Mo, to their surprise, shook his head and politely declined, "Thank you for your kind offer, Sect Master Gu. Although I have no sect, I accidentally became the leader of another sect a few days ago, so..."
"It was I who was presumptuous."
Gu Qian was somewhat taken aback, clearly not expecting Ji Mo, so young, to already be a sect leader.
But what did this "accidentally" mean?
"You? A sect leader? Are you bragging?"
"Look in the mirror first and see what you look like. And you accidentally became a sect leader? What is the name of your sect, and is it legitimate? Does it even exist?"
"To refuse to be the Sect Master's disciple, do you know you've missed a tremendous opportunity? You'll regret it for the rest of your life."
More than a dozen young disciples of the Myriad Beast Sect chattered and pointed at Ji Mo, mocking him and expressing their dissatisfaction.
They all believed Ji Mo was talking nonsense and putting on airs.
How old was he to have become a sect leader? No one believed it.
Moreover, what fueled their resentment the most was jealousy. Why would Gu Qian want to take Ji Mo as his successor?
It was known that a personal disciple of the Sect Master had the opportunity to inherit the position of Sect Master in the future. Who wouldn't covet that?
Ji Mo remained silent, unwilling to argue with these beardless youths.
He also did not mention the Wind Flower Snow Moon Sect. After all, it was rather embarrassing for a grown man to become the leader of a sect composed entirely of women.
"All of you, shut up! Do not be impertinent."
Gu Qian roared, his expression one of disappointment in his disciples.
Although he also found Ji Mo's words somewhat unbelievable, given Ji Mo's unassuming appearance and extreme youth, he lacked any semblance of a sect leader's bearing.
However, out of politeness, he would not allow his disciples to be so presumptuous.
Ji Mo was not angered. He spoke with passion, "Why can't I be a sect leader? As the saying goes, are kings and generals born to their positions? Know this: as bold as a man is, so fertile is the land. As long as one possesses an unyielding heart and the ambition of a soaring roc, even a sparrow can flap its wings and ascend to the heavens."
The young disciples of the Myriad Beast Sect were stunned by his words, feeling a surge of excitement and emotion.
However, Ji Mo's subsequent words made them shiver.
Ji Mo said to Gu Qian, "Sect Master Gu, filial piety comes from discipline, and genius is born from strict guidance. To cultivate talented disciples, you must be more stringent."
The disciples' faces turned black. They felt Ji Mo was truly insidious, openly bad-mouthing them and seeking revenge. It was detestable.
In reality, Ji Mo, in his simple-mindedness, had no ill intentions. He was merely offering a friendly reminder.
Gu Qian mused, somewhat agreeing with Ji Mo's viewpoint.
He was of a gentle disposition and had always been lenient with his disciples. Otherwise, these young people would not sometimes be so disrespectful and often cause trouble.
Blood State was a land where the law of the jungle prevailed. If these young people were not properly disciplined, they might bring disaster upon the sect.
"Alright, I should take my leave now. Thank you for your warm hospitality, Sect Master Gu. I will remember this kindness. If you ever need my help, please do not hesitate to ask."
Ji Mo, seeing the hostile glares from the disciples around him, felt it was inappropriate to stay any longer.
After consuming a pile of spiritual wine and immortal fruits, his body had not improved; instead, it had become weaker.
Clearly, the energy consumed by his body far exceeded the energy absorbed. He needed to replenish himself quickly, or the bean sprout-like physique might be lost again.
Ji Mo cupped his fists, leaped off the treasure gourd, and his figure quickly disappeared into the wind and sand.
"Hmph, he leaves after eating his fill. Truly shameless."
"Exactly. He even says he'll remember the favor, as if the Myriad Beast Sect would ever need help from this brat."
"Always bragging. I think this fellow is just a con artist."
The group of young disciples could not help but point and murmur again.
"All of you, shut up."
Gu Qian roared, his expression one of frustration.
He said sternly, "How many times have I told you to mind your words when you are out? If you accidentally offend someone you shouldn't, not only will your lives be in danger, but the sect itself could be implicated."
This time, Gu Qian had originally taken his outstanding young disciples out for training, but he found their performance along the way to be rather disappointing.
"Sect Master, stop being alarmist. Is this beggar-like brat some kind of reclusive master?"
A stubborn disciple retorted, unwilling to accept it.
Gu Qian pointed to the straight footprints Ji Mo had left behind and said, "Haven't you noticed? Both before and now, he has walked in a perfectly straight line without deviating. You must know that this desert is full of quicksand, and countless Golden Immortals have been swallowed by it. Not to mention the sudden, evil winds that can claim lives at any moment. Even an Immortal Emperor might not dare to walk straight through this desert, yet this Young Master Ji dared to do so."
All the disciples suddenly understood, and a chill ran down their spines.
"Perhaps, he's just a simpleton who doesn't understand the danger,"
A young girl said cautiously, still not believing Ji Mo could be a powerful expert.