Chapter 1441: Chapter 599: Awakening Potion

Wang Tao had not considered taking disciples before, merely thinking this group of people was worth cultivating, and possibly bringing to the Starfire Society.

His Starfire Society consisted only of his own people; since establishment, no new members had been added, indicating how much Wang Tao valued Xu Quan and the others.

However, upon seeing Xu Quan’s willingness to follow him, Wang Tao suddenly had the idea that perhaps it would be better to take him as a disciple.

Wang Tao actually had many students–he was the headmaster of the Awakeners School, and all the students there were considered his students.

The students’ characters were fine, they all had hidden attributes, potential, and were worth cultivating.

However, they had one flaw that wasn’t exactly a flaw–they were called students, but they were actually not young.

The youngest student in the Awakeners School was over 20 years old.

Hidden attributes don’t appear automatically; one needs to hunt zombies. With good luck, hidden attributes might appear after hunting the first zombie, just like Ding Yuqin; with bad luck, one might never manifest them even after hunting zombies for a lifetime, which is the case for most people now.

Without help, hunting zombies is too difficult for minors and, under permissible conditions, no one would let minors take such risks. Thus, at Changhe Base, everyone with hidden attributes is an adult.

Both Xu Quan and Lin Meng, however, are minors and quite young. Being young means they are malleable, with endless possibilities for the future.

Wang Tao had never come across someone so young, sensible, and yet also talented.

This delighted Wang Tao, and he took the two as disciples immediately, intending to personally cultivate them, as their talents should not go to waste.

At this moment, Xu Quan was still excited.

He originally just wanted to follow Wang Tao, hoping that Wang Tao could mentor him; he was willing to undertake any arduous tasks to repay Wang Tao. But unexpectedly, Wang Tao took him as a disciple!

In modern society, master-disciple relationships are rare, but even if one hasn’t eaten pork, one has likely seen pigs run. Xu Quan clearly understood this was not the type of master-disciple relationship where “one teacher teaches countless generations of students” in schools, but rather the kind that goes by “once a master, forever a father figure.”

Initially, when Wang Tao gave him the ascension crystal cores and awakening keys, Xu Quan already regarded Wang Tao as a parent. Now that Wang Tao had become his master… Xu Quan felt that considering Wang Tao as a foster father was not an exaggeration!

Thud, thud, thud–

Xu Quan immediately gave Wang Tao three respectful kowtows.

Wang Tao did not stop him; this was considered a ritual of apprenticeship.

Lin Meng was still stunned. Prompted by Yan Guoyi, she also dutifully gave Wang Tao three kowtows. Only then did she come back to her senses…

Master? Brother Wang is my master now? Is this a dream?

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to?”

Seeing Lin Meng still in a daze, Wang Tao said with a smile.

“Yes, of course I want to!” Lin Meng instinctively nodded, then looked at Wang Tao. “I just feel it’s a bit surreal… Master, is this real?”

“Could this be fake?”

Wang Tao said, smiling.

“Master!”

Once she was sure it wasn’t a dream, Lin Meng suddenly hurled herself into Wang Tao’s arms, tears welling up in her eyes.

At the beginning of the apocalypse, she had basically lost all her relatives and friends, and she struggled to survive on the supplies stored at home. Later, when she finally encountered other humans, she didn’t expect them to be more terrifying than the zombies. Thankfully, she could vaguely sense the malice from others and was prepared ahead of time, managing to escape that ordeal. But her house was taken over; she couldn’t go back. Then, she unexpectedly met Xu Quan, who had similar experiences, and since they were relatives, they struggled together in the apocalypse…

Lin Meng was still young after all. Although the apocalypse had forced her to mature, sometimes she was still a child, like when she would silently cry in her bed at night missing her parents. She longed for familial affection, which was sorely lacking. After joining Yan Guoyi’s team, she felt a bit of a family environment, but everyone was too young. She yearned for an elder to take care of her.

Wang Tao, judging by his previous actions, seemed like a kind and nurturing elder. Even though Wang Tao had previously frightened her so much, she had a good impression of him; she felt that Wang Tao bore no ill will towards her.

Now that Wang Tao had become her master, it instantly made Lin Meng feel like she had found a relative, explaining her excitement.

After hugging Wang Tao tightly, Lin Meng felt a bit embarrassed and quickly let go, dabbing at her red eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Tao did not show partiality and hugged Xu Quan as well.

Then, he looked at the two and said,

“Now that you two are my disciples, is there anything you want? Consider it a gift for our meeting.”

“Thank you, Master, I don’t need anything! The ascension crystal cores and awakening keys you gave me are already very precious, how could I ask for more!”

Xu Quan immediately shook his head.

He wasn’t a greedy person. He was grateful enough that Wang Tao was willing to teach him and would definitely not ask for more things from him.

As for Lin Meng, she bit her silver teeth then spoke somewhat hesitantly,

“Master, I, too, want to awaken…”

Without awakening, one remained just an ordinary ability user, and a Level 3 would be her peak for life. Lin Meng was clearly not satisfied with this; she also wanted to awaken, so she gathered her courage to speak up.

Wang Tao had previously taken out two sets capable of triggering awakening, giving one to Xu Quan. He still had one set left, which should be for her… right? Lin Meng wasn’t sure, but she had to try.