Chapter 7: You Resemble an Old Acquaintance

Ban Wan’er followed behind Ke Li Nü for about half an hour.

She stared at the gray-robed figure ahead, her heart churning with indescribable thoughts.

Who exactly is this Senior?

He neither covets my Spirit Root nor my Innate Dao Body.

If he truly had ulterior motives, I would likely be dead by now.

We met by chance—why go this far?

Could it be…

He wants my body!

Ban Wan’er’s face suddenly flushed crimson.

She quickly patted her cheeks.

What am I thinking!

Someone as great as Senior—how could he have such thoughts?

If that were the case, with me completely defenseless as I am, why would he wait until now?

But if none of that…

“Senior.”

Ban Wan’er finally spoke.

Ke Li Nü didn’t stop walking, only turning his head slightly.

“Hm?”

“Why are you… helping me so much?”

Ke Li Nü paused mid-step.

Why?

He couldn’t exactly say it was to earn Fantasy Value from her, could he?

He was silent for a moment, then resumed walking, his voice drifting back lightly:

“I see you… as someone I once knew.”

Someone once known!

Ban Wan’er was momentarily stunned.

“So I lent a hand.”

Ke Li Nü glanced back at her, then shook his head slightly.

“In the end, there’s only a slight resemblance.”

That glance carried a hint of melancholy.

Ke Li Nü felt his performance was absolutely flawless.

Ban Wan’er’s heart stirred.

Someone once known. Who could that someone be to Senior?

Ban Wan’er’s childhood had been spent in a small city.

She lowered her head, her thoughts drifting far back.

Her mother, An Zhi, had once been a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Her father, Ban Chengyuan, was a minor branch member of a declining immortal cultivation clan, with mere Qi Refining Layer 2 cultivation—practically nobody in the cultivation world.

Her mother’s origins were a mystery.

Ban Wan’er only knew she took her maternal grandfather’s surname, An, and seemed to come from an even larger clan’s branch.

When that clan declined, her mother ended up in that small city and met her father.

Her parents loved each other deeply.

In Ban Wan’er’s memories, her mother was always smiling, telling her wondrous tales of the cultivation world before bed, and often mentioning one person—”Lao Ke.”

That’s what her mother called him.

“Mom, who is Lao Ke?” young Ban Wan’er would ask, looking up.

“He’s your mom’s master, an old man, always without a proper demeanor.”

An Zhi patted her head, a nostalgic look in her eyes.

“But he’s a very, very powerful person.”

“More powerful than the city lord?”

An Zhi laughed.

“The city lord isn’t even fit to polish his shoes.”

Little Ban Wan’er’s eyes went wide.

“Mom followed her master in cultivation for three years. Though it wasn’t long, it was the most precious time of your mom’s life.”

An Zhi’s voice grew soft.

“Later… Master left. He told me to cultivate well, saying if fate allowed, we’d meet again.”

“Did you ever meet again?”

An Zhi shook her head, silent for a long time.

“Your mom probably never got the chance.”

She looked at little Ban Wan’er with tender eyes.

“Wan’er, if one day you meet a Senior with the surname Ke… that might be your mom’s master. On your mom’s behalf, kowtow to him three times. Tell him An Zhi did not fail his teachings.”

“Then what?”

Later, when Ban Wan’er was six, her father died in a beast attack.

Her mother took her on a hard journey, ultimately suffering severe injuries protecting her in an accident.

Just when mother and daughter were at their wit’s end, cultivators from the Great Phoenix Temple happened to pass by and saved them.

But her mother couldn’t hold on.

Ban Wan’er was brought to the Great Phoenix Temple and, because she possessed a Top-grade Water Spirit Root, was accepted as a disciple.

She cultivated there for ten years, never forgetting her mother’s words, but she never encountered any Senior surnamed Ke.

Ban Wan’er’s eyes reddened slightly.

She stopped abruptly, staring at the gray-robed figure ahead, her heart pounding in her chest.

Could it really be such a coincidence in the world?

“Senior…”

her voice trembled.

“The one you mentioned… what was their surname?”

Ke Li Nü stopped and turned to look at her.

Huh?

He just made up “someone once known” on the spot—there was no specific name!

But since the words were already out, he couldn’t exactly say “I made it up.”

He paused for a moment, his tone still flat:

“Come to think of it, I don’t know her name either.”

“You don’t know?”

“Only that her surname was An.”

Ke Li Nü finished speaking, turned, and continued walking.

Ban Wan’er’s pupils contracted sharply.

Her mother’s surname was An.

“Then… may I ask your esteemed name?”

Ke Li Nü paused mid-step.

Seriously? Now she’s asking for his name!

He kept walking nonchalantly, his tone light:

“My surname is Ke.”

In an instant, Ban Wan’er’s mind went blank.

Lao Ke.

A Senior surnamed Ke.

All the fragments pieced together into a complete picture in that moment.

Thump—!

Ke Li Nü heard a dull sound behind him.

He turned to see Ban Wan’er kneeling, her forehead pressed into the dirt, her whole body prostrate, shoulders trembling.

“What are you doing, girl?”

Ke Li Nü was startled.

Ban Wan’er looked up, eyes red, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I am… the daughter of the one you once knew.”

Ke Li Nü froze.

“My mother’s surname is An, given name Zhi.”

Ban Wan’er’s voice was choked, but she spoke clearly.

“She once said she had a master, surname Ke. If I ever met him, I was to kowtow three times on her behalf…”

She kowtowed heavily three times.

“I beg Senior to take me as your disciple!”

Ke Li Nü stood there, thunderstruck.

No way!

An Zhi! My disciple!

This girl isn’t just making up a connection, is she?

I just randomly said a surname, and it actually ties in?

But the words caught in his throat.

He opened his mouth, about to deny it directly.

He was a transmigrator, only arrived in this world three years ago—where would he have a disciple?

But then he reconsidered.

If he accepted Ban Wan’er as his disciple now…

Wouldn’t he be able to act however he wanted?

A master-disciple bond, natural trust.

He wouldn’t have to exhaust himself maintaining the “Senior’s” mystique, nor worry about her doubting him.

A disciple’s admiration for her master—that’s a very stable source of Fantasy!

And Ban Wan’er’s contribution was already at the Late Foundation Building Stage level.

If she trusted him more, admired him more, she might even contribute higher cultivation!

Golden Core, Nascent Soul, even higher…

Ke Li Nü’s heartbeat quickened.

“An Zhi…”

he murmured the name, a hint of reminiscence in his tone.

“That girl—is she still alive?”

Ban Wan’er’s tears fell.

“Mother… is no longer with us.”

Ke Li Nü was silent for a moment.

His expression didn’t change much, but in his eyes, something seemed stirred.

“Get up,” Ke Li Nü said.

“I’ve been wandering the world for years, and I no longer take disciples.”

Ban Wan’er’s shoulders trembled.

“However—”

Ke Li Nü shifted his tone.

“You are An Zhi’s daughter, so you have some affinity with me.”

Ban Wan’er, still kneeling, was stunned for a moment, then kowtowed three more times.

“Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!”

Ke Li Nü looked at her, ecstatic with tears, and sighed inwardly.

Little girl, the master you’ve just kowtowed to is an empty shell!

But it’s okay.

Though your master is an empty shell, his acting skills are top-notch.

“Let’s go,” Ke Li Nü said, turning to continue along the mountain path.

“Yes!”

Ban Wan’er scrambled to her feet and hurried after him.

Her injuries weren’t fully healed, but her steps were as light as if she were walking on clouds.

[Master-Disciple Bond generated: Fantasy Value conversion efficiency increased by 20%]

[Prompt: Claim your System Fantasy Value reward]

[Current Fantasy Value: 100/100]

Ke Li Nü’s lips curled slightly when he saw this prompt.

This time, it can’t screw me over again, right?

He focused his mind and clicked Claim.

[Tier 1 Fantasy Value Reward Contents:]

[1. “Void Dragon Transformation Art”—Large Edition (No cultivation permissions; cannot cultivate)]

[2. “Third-grade Spirit Cleansing Pill” ×1]

[3. “Ten-Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman” ×2 (One-time consumable; can transmit sound within ten thousand miles)]

[4. Sect Token ×1 (Blank; customizable sect name)]

Ke Li Nü’s smile froze.

Another useless book he couldn’t use!

Plus a bunch of pills and talismans that were useless for now.

And what was that last Sect Token supposed to be?

[Sect Token Description: The Host can customize and create a sect. The token will automatically record sect information. After creation, the Host can recruit disciples under the sect’s name, obtaining more high-quality Fantasy Sources to convert into cultivation.]

Ke Li Nü’s eyes gradually lit up as he read the description.

A sect!

He could build his own sect!

Then recruit a bunch of disciples and let them fantasize daily about how mighty their master was!

Ke Li Nü’s lips slowly curled, then quickly straightened.

No, can’t laugh.

Ban Wan’er was still behind him.

He took a deep breath, maintained the image of a lofty expert, and walked forward slowly.

The morning breeze swept the mountain path, stirring his gray robe.

Behind him, Ban Wan’er gazed at that figure, her heart full of reverence and gratitude.

She had finally found her mother’s master.

She finally had someone she could rely on.

Although that person was currently plotting in his mind how to “cheat” more cultivation out of her.