Hughie couldn’t help but let out a small, incredulous chuckle. "I appreciate the generous offer," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, "but I already have a master, thank you very much."

The old man's laughter boomed in Hughie's mind, so loud Hughie wondered if others could hear it. "Fine, fine! No need to be so formal. How about this: I'll take your master as a disciple too! With my unparalleled wisdom, I’m sure they'll leap at the chance to learn from a true immortal. Who wouldn't?"

Hughie's mouth twitched. This ring isn’t just ugly, it's eccentric too! "I'm not quite sure he’d go for that," Hughie retorted. "He's a bit old-fashioned. Doesn't believe in switching masters willy-nilly, especially for ones living in...uh, jewelry."

The old man harrumphed, the sound vibrating through Hughie's skull. "Living in jewelry! I’ll have you know, this is a highly sophisticated form of existence! Free from the mundane needs of the flesh! And besides, what's not to love? I’m like a wise mentor you can carry in your pocket!"

Hughie's eyebrows knitted as he glanced at the ring on his finger, "How did you end up in a ring in the first place?"

The old man cleared his throat, an awkwardness seeping into his usually boisterous tone. "Ah, well, you see, there was a minor incident where my body got, er, destroyed."

Hughie raised an eyebrow. "And you couldn’t find anything better than a ring to inhabit?"

The old man's voice bristled with indignation. "Now, young man, I'm sure many respectable elders get trapped in rings! It's probably quite common in the higher realms, you know!" In his mind’s eye, Hughie could easily imagine the old man shaking his fist at him, trying to appear intimidating while stuck in an accessory.

Sighing, Hughie asked, "Alright, what's your name? I don’t want to keep calling you 'old man'." I have enough old men in my life, he thought bitterly.

Puffing up with pride, the old man announced, "I am Li Fenghao, the illustrious Sect Leader of the Heavenly Cloud Sect!" He paused for dramatic effect, letting his words hang in the air. "A 9th Stage Greater Immortal, I’ll have you know!"

Hughie looked at him, or rather the ring, a little confused. "Never heard of it," he replied dismissively.

Li Fenghao laughed heartily. "It would surprise me more if anyone from such a...backward place like this had heard of it."

Hughie smirked. "You talk big for someone stuck in a ring, former Sect Master." He emphasized the word 'former', drawing out each syllable.

The old man quieted for a second, then muttered, "If it wasn’t for that damned chicken, I—" He halted, then cleared his throat. "Never mind that. Just know I’ll be out of here soon."

Not entirely convinced, Hughie simply nodded. "Sure."

Li Fenghao, sensing the skepticism, pounced on the opportunity to reassert his prestige. "Aren’t you the least bit impressed? Me, a Greater Immortal, 9th stage at that! Almost at the—"

Hughie waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off. "Listen here, old man. How do I know you're not just trying to trick me? Anyone can talk a big game. Why don’t you prove your grand claims?"

Li Fenghao spluttered, "Prove it? I'm in a ring! How do you suggest I do that?"

Hughie had to bite his lip to keep from smirking. Time to swindle an old monster. Memories of his younger days flitted across his mind—those times he'd scam unsuspecting victims out of their money. Initially, it was to fend off starvation, but eventually, it became a game. A game he was really good at.

With a contemplative expression, Hughie mused aloud, "Hmm, let me think..." He feigned deep thought for a moment before leveling his gaze at the ring. "You say you're a Greater Immortal at... what was it again?"

Li Fenghao's voice interrupted with a mixture of pride and impatience, "9th Stage!"

"Yeah, yeah," Hughie waved dismissively. "So, as a Greater Immortal, you must know some Heaven Rank techniques. I mean, any immortal worth their salt would surely possess one."

Li Fenghao burst out laughing, the sound echoing strangely in Hughie's mind. "Boy, I practically breathe Heaven Rank techniques! Heavens, I even know a few Obsidian Rank techniques."

Hughie's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Obsidian Rank? He'd never heard of such a thing. Yet he kept his expression neutral. "All I've heard so far is a lot of bragging, old man. Where's the proof? Show me these techniques!"

The old man huffed, sounding somewhat defensive. "Fine! Since you're so insistent, I'll teach you the Dimensional Slide. It's an Obsidian R-," he began, then stopped abruptly. "Wait just a moment! You're trying to pull one over on this old man, aren't you?"

Shaking his head with exaggerated innocence, Hughie retorted, "If anyone's attempting any tricks, it's you. Why on earth would a 'Greater Immortal' be desperate to take on someone like me as a disciple? Unless... you're hoping I might help free you from your... ring-shaped prison?"

Li Fenghao fell silent. How did this seemingly simple-minded brat figure it out? The old man wondered, genuinely taken aback.

Hughie leaned in, a sly smirk on his face. "I think you need to prove your worth to me. In fact," he said with feigned magnanimity, "maybe, just maybe, if you impress me enough, I'll consider taking you on as a master."

Trapped for millennia, the old man had grown frustrated, even as a Greater Immortal. No matter how powerful he was, life had its limits, and his was inching closer to its end. Not a single one of his descendants, neither cultivator nor mortal, had ever sensed his presence in the ring.

"You know, in my prime," the old man began, sounding irritable, "disciples would climb mountains, cross vast oceans, just for a chance to learn from me. And here you are, demanding a technique like you're asking for pocket change!"

"You really have some nerve, brat.” With a sigh that sounded suspiciously like a defeated groan, he continued, “But so be it. You want to learn the technique? I'll teach you."

Hughie couldn't help the grin spreading across his face. Another one swindled, he thought gleefully. In truth, he wasn't entirely sure he could assist the old man, but it seemed his bluff had spectacularly paid off.

Li Fenghao started detailing the technique. "It's called the Dimensional Slide. It allows the user to momentarily traverse into a pocket dimension, enabling them to instantaneously appear at another location." He paused, seriousness creeping into his voice, "But this dimension is not a sanctuary. It's a viper's nest with its own perils. Linger too long, and it might just be the death of you."

Hughie's eyes widened in awe. This is leagues beyond anything I imagined he'd cough up.

Noticing Hughie's impressed expression, the old man couldn't help but chuckle, a sound that seemed to warm him slightly. "With this technique, lad, you'll be untouchable. No one could catch up to you."

Yet Hughie couldn’t resist poking fun. "And yet, it didn't save you from a chicken."

Li Fenghao's voice caught in his throat, a mixture of irritation and embarrassment. "That was no ordinary farmyard fowl! That chicken was..."

Hughie interrupted, a playful smirk on his face, "A chicken is still a chicken, old man."

The old man let out an exasperated sigh. "Regardless of your... poultry opinions, know this: With the Dimensional Slide, you'll be unmatched in speed. Absolutely no one in this realm, will be able to catch you."

"Hmm, let's test that out," Hughie declared, searching for a suitable spot for training. After wandering for a bit, he found a secluded area distant from the village. Standing at the village’s edge, he cast a lingering glance backward, nostalgia briefly touching his eyes. Will I ever return here?

Li Fenghao, seemingly oblivious to Hughie's introspection, piped up with, "Your talent shines brightly, lad. Quite impressive." He mumbled under his breath, "...at least for this realm." Clearing his throat, he continued, "I believe you'll grasp the Dimensional Slide without much difficulty."

Awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, Hughie couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Yes, breakthroughs in cultivation came somewhat easily to him, but learning new techniques? That was a different story. He'd always envied how his Senior Brother Caelum seemed to master numerous sword techniques effortlessly while he struggled. Hughie decided it was best to keep this bit of information from the old man.

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Now, listen closely," the old man started, his tone serious. "First, you need to focus your Qi, but don't rush it. Let it build steadily, feel it flow through your body, ready to burst forth, but under your complete control...”

As the old man continued, detailing the intricacies of the Dimensional Slide, Hughie found his teachings surprisingly clear and intuitive. But despite that, his mind stubbornly refused to grasp the concept. It's like trying to catch fish with your bare hands, he thought in frustration.

Sensing Hughie's readiness – or at least what he mistook for readiness – the old man asked, "Are you prepared to give it a go?"

Swallowing his apprehension, Hughie nodded. Taking a deep breath, he tried to summon the image the old man had described, focusing on his feet and visualizing... something. But instead of a rift, all he managed was a small puff of dust as his foot stomped the ground.

The old man's chuckle filled the air. "Well, at least you’ve managed to master the 'Dusty Foot Stomp.' Very impressive!"

Hughie grimaced, feeling a pang of embarrassment. "Well, practice makes perfect, right?"

The old man continued to chuckle, clearly enjoying himself. "Indeed, brat. But perhaps let's start with something simpler... like standing still."

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After a few grueling hours of practice, Hughie had nothing to show for his efforts. Not even a hint of a rift had materialized.

Fed up, he flung his hands up, "Are you certain this move isn’t exclusive to Nascent Soul cultivators?" He groaned. Nascent Soul practitioners held the ability to create minor rifts in space, albeit only stretching across short distances. The Dimensional Slide, on the other hand, offered access to the vast expanse of the void, a wholly different dimension.

Li Fenghao snorted. "Why, I utilized this technique all the time when I was at the Core Formation stage." He paused, his brows knitting in thought. "Although, now that you mention it, I don’t recall anyone else managing it until they'd reached Nascent Soul..."

Hughie's eye twitched in exasperation. This ring-wearing, rambling old geezer... "So," he mumbled, "the technique's practically useless then?"

The old man's voice took on an intrigued tone. "Hmm, hold that thought, I might have a little idea to speed up your progress."

Suspicion flared in Hughie's eyes. "What sort of idea?"

Li Fenghao responded, "I'll impart my comprehension of the technique directly to you. An information dump of sorts."

Hughie's face scrunched in confusion. "If you could do that all along, why waste hours watching me fail repeatedly?"

The old man's lamenting sigh sounded almost like a deflating balloon. "You youngsters have no patience. Who even is your master? Didn't he teach you anything about the Dao?" He paused to gather his thoughts. "Imparting comprehension directly can be a double-edged sword. Yes, it can speed up initial learning, but it might hinder your personal understanding of the Dao later on. The Dao isn't a one-size-fits-all; it needs to be understood and interpreted by each cultivator individually."

Hughie grimaced, clearly unimpressed. "Everyone always goes on and on about the Dao. I just want to get stronger, plain and simple." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "What's so great about this Dao everyone keeps yammering about anyway?"

Li Fenghao's voice turned contemplative. "Ah, lad, the Dao is... well, it's many things. But that's a lesson for another day. Everyone's got a different answer, and it's up to each to find their own."

Then, in a more biting tone, he added, "Now, cease your relentless questions and let me concentrate!

After a few moments, a surge of green qi spiralled out of the ring, it slowly made its way to Hughie's temple, embedding itself there. It was like a river of knowledge, every twist and turn, every ripple, explaining the intricacies of the Dimensional Slide. For Hughie, it felt like thousands of pages of instruction compacted into mere moments of understanding.

After processing the flood of information, Hughie blinked a couple of times, looking bewildered. "Old man, why didn’t you explain it like this from the start? It's so straightforward!"

Li Fenghao merely huffed, rolling his eyes. "Arguing with a fool is truly a waste of breath." He then nudged Hughie forward, “Give it another try. If my comprehension doesn’t help you open a rift now, then I'm afraid nothing will."

Ignoring the jab, Hughie took a deep breath and began channeling the technique. The air around him seemed to shimmer, and then, with a tearing sound, a rift appeared. It was like a doorway to another world, the edges glowing with a bluish tint, and the center was pure, endless darkness.

"Do I just... walk in?" Hughie questioned, pointing towards the rift.

Li Fenghao's voice dripped with sarcasm. "No, you dance your way in. Of course, you walk!"

Hughie scowled. "Hey, I'm just being cautious. What if it leads to the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons or something?"

"If you had been paying attention," Li Fenghao responded with a huff, "you'd remember it leads to the void plane. From there, you can decide where to emerge next."

Hughie mumbled, "Sounds like an unnecessary extra step..."

Taking a tentative step, Hughie entered the rift. The world around him shifted. Everything was in stark black and white, like an old photograph. It was eerily silent. Just as he was about to question the aesthetics of the void plane, a cold shiver ran down his spine.

A massive, ethereal beast hovered in the distance. It was translucent, its body like that of smoke, but its form was clear. The beast possessed twisted, antler-like horns atop its head, long, jagged claws, and piercing eyes that seemed to glow.

Though it was a distance away, Hughie felt ensnared by its gaze, like a rabbit facing a predator.

Li Fenghao's voice screamed in Hughie's mind. "Move, you imbecile! MOVE!"

But Hughie felt paralyzed, ensnared by the otherworldly gaze of the phantom beast. All he could think was, Why didn't the old man mention this?

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Ding! Your Disciple Hughie Has Encountered An Otherworldly Being Warning: Your Disciple Is In Mortal Danger Task: Save Hughie Reward:

· Disciple Loyalty Increases

· 10,000 Karmic Credits Failure:

Outcome 1: Death Of Disciple

Outcome 2: Your Disciple Has Been Saved By Another, Disciple Loyalty Will Be Adjusted