This kind of bond exists not only in martial arts but across every conceivable profession, having been passed down through human history for unknown millennia, gradually forging its own unique culture.

It is a special yet deeply intimate connection, capable of binding two people with absolutely no blood relation tightly together, forming a bond that is in no way inferior to kinship.

This relationship retains a formidable vitality, even within a sacred martial arts sanctuary like the Holy Martial Hall.

In any field, the more accomplished a master is in their craft, the more cautious and demanding they become in selecting a disciple.

Though everyone entering the Holy Martial Hall possesses commendable innate talent for martial arts, a master cannot simply accept students en masse.

The more powerful the martial artist, the less likely they are to accept a disciple. Even if you possess exceptional talent, you would need to present a substantial offering—significant wealth—just to have a chance at acceptance.

Within the Holy Martial Hall, the influence of currency is not as paramount as it is in the outside world; here, medicinal elixirs hold far greater value. Thus, the Dan has become the crucial token for initiating discipleship.

Through the long accumulation of instances regarding master-disciple acceptance, the more observant individuals have even developed a tiered system for these ceremonial gifts.

In the Holy Martial Hall, many Fourteenth Star martial artists have reached the level of Quasi-Martial Arts Master and are provisionally qualified to take on students. These practitioners, based on their varying strengths within this rank, have specific, detailed requirements for the corresponding gifts needed for apprenticeship.

If one surpasses the Fifteenth Star, it signifies they have successfully undergone Nirvana. Although both Fourteenth and Fifteenth Star martial artists belong to the Stellar classification, there exists a fundamental, massive distinction: a Fifteenth Star martial artist has formally stepped into the realm of Martial Arts Master! This level of being commands a discipleship gift not just marginally higher than that required by Fourteenth Star Quasi-Masters; increases of several, even ten times the value are common.

As for Sixteenth Star martial artists, very few bother to accept apprentices. Firstly, they are wholly focused on breaking through to the Seventeenth Star and ascending to the level of Great Stellar martial artist; secondly, the tribute required to become their apprentice is astronomically high—so high that few can possibly afford it.

For those who reach the Great Stellar level... any martial artist fortunate enough to enter their tutelage either already shares a familial bond, has paid an absolutely massive fee, or possesses an extraordinary, unrivaled talent among the multitude of martial artists. In terms of sheer numbers, they are exceedingly rare.

The Head Seat taking on a disciple? Such an event in the history of the Holy Martial Hall could be tallied easily, counted on the fingers of one hand.

Regarding these matters, Tai Yi, a veritable novice in the Holy Martial Hall, was quite knowledgeable. Bai Sheng had spent no small amount of time giving Tai Yi comprehensive explanations of the Hall’s workings; it would have been difficult for Tai Yi not to know.

Hearing abruptly that the Head Seat intended to take a disciple, Tai Yi paused slightly; such a development was profoundly unexpected.

"Huh?" Ferrero’s reaction was even more astonished than Tai Yi’s. His sapphire-like eyes locked onto Tai Yi: "Kid, your composure is perhaps a bit too good, wouldn't you say? While I can sense your shock, the index of surprise is far too low! If I told any other young martial artist in the Holy Martial Hall that I intended to take them as a student, I wouldn't be surprised if they went mad with joy on the spot."

Qin Fen pursed his lips, his smile tinged with bitterness, thinking inwardly: If you, venerable sir, saw a throng of monstrously powerful experts every time you slept, all casually sipping their tea while declaring themselves Black Abyss-level masters, and then heard that a Great Stellar martial artist wanted to take you as an apprentice, your shock level would likely be quite contained as well.

"Disciple!"

Di Shitian’s reaction, however, was far more intense. The purple pupils of his eyes suddenly shot out two beams of light, almost tangible as lightning, instantly engulfing Ferrero.

This gaze, sharp as a thunderbolt, carried an oppressive aura so substantial that any ordinary martial artist under its scrutiny would count themselves lucky not to vomit blood and faint instantly.

Ferrero smiled faintly, meeting Di Shitian's imposing gaze. "We are both Great Stellar martial artists, and we are both Hall Seats; our strengths are nearly equal. Such an aura holds no sway over me."

"Well? Kid?" Ferrero shifted his gaze back to Tai Yi. "You haven't been at the Holy Martial Hall long; perhaps you don't fully grasp the apprenticeship environment here..."

"Sir, I am aware of that," Tai Yi replied, scratching the back of his head again. The codified rankings for discipleship gifts within the Holy Martial Hall clearly detailed the required price for the student of any given martial realm. Behind the bracket for a Head Seat, however, were only two characters: 'Heavenly Price!'

'Heavenly Price!' This could no longer be measured by tangible tiers; it demonstrated just how arduous it was to become the direct apprentice of a Seat.

"You wish to take him as a disciple?" Di Shitian’s expression turned so frigid it seemed capable of condensing the surrounding air into ice. The two purple orbs of his eyes rapidly tracked a faint, knowing look.

Ferrero smiled, resting both legs crossed upon the coffee table, gently tapping his toes—adopting the complete demeanor of a local ruffian as he looked at Di Shitian: "What? Who I choose to take as a disciple—do I require your consent?"

Di Shitian, who had been standing, abruptly sat back down onto the sofa. He placed one hand squarely on Tai Yi’s shoulder and said something.