In Xinfaxian Sect, Fan Wen felt like he has been shot, because Fei Yinzi's words indirectly meant that Fan Wen looked like a father since he was called by Cheng Sheng 'shifu'.

Cheng Sheng felt relieved. "Er zi. You are good with your words. As expected of my disciple." he said and fondly patted Fei Yinzi's head, but with more force.

Fei Yinzi who felt his skull is about to break and cave in. "..." crap. Shizun knows I am fooling him. He thought as his face was covered in dark lines.

Cheng Sheng's brows raised as he evilly chuckled. You sly child. You think you can outsmart a scum like me? You're a million years early for this fox! He thought. "I'll let you off for today since I found you have learned." he told him as he let him go.

"..." I have learned what? Coaxing? Fei Yinzi thought but he didn't dare talk back again in case he'd finally poke the hornet's nest. "Thanking shizun for his kindness." he said and respectfully bowed. Whatever. Today, I can call shizun 'shizun' however I want! He gleefully thought.

However, Cheng Sheng's next words poured cold water on him. "You cannot use this method tomorrow. You have to call me 'shifu' starting tomorrow." he told him and resumed walking.

"..." I really have poked the hornet's nest! Fei Yinzi thought. And it's a scum hornet's nest! This is the worst! He heaved a sigh and gloomily followed Cheng Sheng as they left the town.

The fog covered their figures, and then they disappeared.

…

Five years have passed after Wu Ran was defeated, and peace was restored in the continent. But, this peace was paid with a big price.

Fei Huang, the previous sect leader of the Shanliangde Sect, died after formulating a hundred years-long plan to defeat Wu Ran. Luo Shi also died, and was the first casualty of the demonic cultivator's outbreak after everyone was deceived by Wu Ran, who disguised as Ming Ye – Luo Shi's confidant. Many righteous cultivators have also lost their lives during that week-long battle.

But, the Zunjingde Sect was the one that's the most affected. Jing Rui, their current sect leader, is still in a coma, after he bore the brunt of Wu Ran's attack to save Zheng Fu Gong, Chen Jing, Xie Lan and Qian Tian. Fortunately, peace was restored and no one is making trouble towards the Zunjingde Sect. The Righteous Alliance also has their back.

The Qianxu Sect and the Nanxu Sect revitalized themselves during this past five years, and now are flourishing once again. The same can be said for the Shanliangde Sect, which has a new sect leader who is from the Sun family – the third powerhouse of the Shanliangde Sect. Fei Yin, who was expected to be the sect leader, said that it was time for the Fei family to step down from the sect leader position. Then, he disappeared, along with Xi Ling.

The Youxiwang Sect, on the other hand, didn't have it easy as during the first two years, they were branded as traitors because of Wu Ran disguising as Ming Ye, a former elder of their sect. Fortunately, the humans easily forget things as time pass by. And since the Youxiwang Sect also is one of the main contributors during the battle against Wu Ran, the stigma disappeared and was replaced by gratitude. Wu Yuan is still the sect leader, and made the Youxiwang Sect and Xiwang more prosperous.

Meanwhile, the Xinfaxian Sect was the most astonishing, as they expanded and gained more disciples the past years as one of the main contributors of peace. Xie Lan, although the founder, but still is acting on the frontline to lend a hand to Fan Wen when teaching the new disciples. Cheng Sheng, Li Tian, Feng Mo, Lei Qing, Lei Ling and You Rou were appointed as the new elders of the sect.

But, there were some who secretly disagrees of Cheng Sheng being an elder. Of course, these voices aren't from the Xinfaxian Sect disciples, but from some people who likes to create troubles. Fortunately, they are the minority, as many people knows that Cheng Sheng was the key to Wu Ran's defeat. If not for him, they don't know if peace will ever be restored in the continent.

However, to everyone's surprise, Cheng Sheng refused to accept disciples. Those who were dissatisfied with him complained, saying that he is acting very picky when he's just a waste. But, who can change the scum's mind? He doesn't even listen to a word they say, much less their criticisms. So, they can only give up and choose from the other five elders who to study under.

Li Tian is a spell caster. Feng Mo and Lei Qing are sword cultivators. Lei Ling is a talisman maker and You Rou specializes in magic pills and potions. It is really unfortunate that Cheng Sheng, this master mage, doesn't accept disciples. He is also the master of Li Tian, Lei Ling and You Rou in alchemy. Even though Cheng Sheng's cultivation has dropped, but he still has his knowledge about alchemy left in him, and no one can surpass him.

And they really thought that Cheng Sheng would never accept any disciple. Well, he really didn't, because he took in one.

"Er zi. Do you finally want to train?" Cheng Sheng asked as they stopped by the river.

Fei Yinzi who was practicing his swordsmanship. "..." what do you mean 'finally'? I've been telling you that since I was eleven! The sixteen-year-old thought.

Cheng Sheng ignored his disciple's accusing gaze. "Er zi. Which method do you want to learn? The hard way, or the soft way?" he asked.

"..." Fei Yinzi didn't feel like answering. He has a bad feeling. Whichever he chooses, he knew it'd end up the hard way. The only difference is which is worse of the two.

This always happens every time Cheng Sheng makes someone choose - including his only disciple, because even if he is his disciple, Cheng Sheng didn't give him the privilege to escape this harsh reality.

"The hard way!" he immediately answered.

Cheng Sheng was surprised. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Fei Yinzi resolutely nodded. "Yes, shizun!" he answered. He felt Cheng Sheng's 'soft' way is worse than the hard way. He knew he was right when CS suddenly snapped his hand, and they appeared at the peak of the ice mountain.

Cheng Sheng used a teleportation array. Because Hujing is his favorite place to visit, he made a teleportation array in Hujing, going to Xinfaxian.

The Xinfaxian looked like a dust as they stood at the peak of the mountain. "COLD!" Fei Yinzi exclaimed and he immediately tried to regulate the qi in his body. However, his cultivation isn't enough since he still hasn't reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, much less formed his golden core. Thus, he immediately suffered a frostbite.

He collapsed on his knees, and he felt his skin and muscles turned frigid.

However, Cheng Sheng doesn't care. He even sat next to him in a lotus position and started to meditate. "Do you know why I brought you here?" he asked. He didn't wait for Fei Yinzi to answer, since he know the child couldn't answer because his lips had turned purple and stiff due to the extremely cold temperature. "Your soul's attribute is ice. Thus, you had to gather the cold qi into your body to reach Foundation Establishment." he explained. "Well, you're talented like me. Or else, I wouldn't pick you up at the foot of the mountain. So, you might suddenly form a golden core." he told him. "Start now and don't waste time. This cold can't kill you." he then finally started to meditate, though it wouldn't change anything and he'll always remain at the Peak Level of Golden Core Stage.

Fei Yinzi looked at his shifu in disbelief. Are you kidding me?! No. You're trying to kill me! He thought as he suddenly felt he's going to faint. No... I can't fall asleep - he thought as his teeth chattered. His hands holding his arms to rub it had already frozen and stuck to his arms. No... I can't... shizun... help me - He thought as he started to lose his consciousness. He felt even his brain is being invaded by the cold. Shizun... he called in his mind before he finally fainted.

Cheng Sheng opened his eyes after he heard a thud. "Weakling." he muttered when he saw Fei Yinzi had turned to an ice statue. He's nothing compared to da shixiong. He thought and sighed before he resumed meditating. If he'd die, he'd die. I can just pick up another child. He thought and became immersed in cultivating.

He didn't know, after he closed his eyes, the ice covering Fei Yinzi's body was absorbed by Fei Yinzi's skin and the cold qi started rushing inside Fei Yinzi's body. Fei Yinzi's body jolted violently and his limbs started to twitch, then jerked uncontrollably. The cold qi began to crazily swirl inside his body, forming his foundation, before the excess cold qi formed a golden core.