Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A Personal Disciple Title Given as Charity

In the solemn Dust Cleansing Grand Hall of Heaven’s Evolution Sect, a soft girlish voice rose at an ill-timed moment: “Master, this disciple wants her to become my Junior Sister!”

Today was Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s triennial entrance examination for new disciples. All the sect elders were gathered, and ordinarily no one would dare to make a racket. Yet the speaker, a female cultivator named Yu Ruan Ruan, was the most beloved little disciple of the sect’s foremost powerhouse, Immortal Venerable Ze Yu, Jun Xiu Ran, so the elders collectively overlooked her breach of decorum.

In the crowd, Rong Shu, the one abruptly singled out, felt a flicker of doubt pass through her eyes. [Since crossing into this world, I have never met Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s favored disciple; why would she, before everyone, name me to be her Junior Sister?]

Rong Shu had transmigrated five years ago. The original owner had fallen from a cliff, her abdomen slashed open by jagged rock, and died of blood loss. Rong Shu retained the original owner’s memories, except for the fall itself; others merely believed that the seven-year-old had been playing carelessly and slipped. During her convalescence, when she learned from those around her that this was a cultivation world where the weak were prey and mortals were like ants, she resolved to join a cultivation sect for no other reason than to stay alive. Under her family’s arrangements, she came to Heaven’s Evolution Sect, the greatest sect of the Southern Wilds, to participate in the entrance examination held today, five years later.

Thinking thus, Rong Shu could not help glancing upward. A fifteen-year-old girl in Personal Disciple Robes, her features clear and delicate, was clinging affectionately to the sleeve of the man beside her. The man’s looks were austere, but when his gaze fell upon the girl, a trace of helplessness softened his eyes as he said, “Ruan Ruan, stop making trouble.” Yu Ruan Ruan would not relent, and she insisted in a spoiled tone: “Master, that junior sister looks quite good to me, we get along at first sight; just accept her as an ordinary disciple.”

“Very well.” Jun Xiu Ran had not intended to accept any more disciples, for he already had four personal disciples. Moreover, as Heaven’s Evolution Sect’s foremost expert, with cultivation at late-stage Divine Transformation, he was exceedingly cautious in selecting any who entered his tutelage. He turned his eyes to Rong Shu below and asked coolly: “State your name and spiritual root.”

Rong Shu lowered her gaze and replied respectfully: “Disciple Rong Shu, mid-grade dual spiritual roots of wind and fire.”

The first checkpoint of the entrance trials tested spiritual roots; those without spiritual roots could not set foot upon the path of cultivation. Jun Xiu Ran’s eyes shifted slightly as he echoed, “Mid-grade dual roots?” then said, “Very well. Your talent is passable. Today this honored one will accept you as a disciple.”

At that moment, Sect Master Ming Xuan interjected: “Junior Brother, this disciple has only dual roots, and her roots are of ordinary grade. To take her under you, is that not somewhat…” Everyone in Heaven’s Evolution Sect knew that Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s four disciples were unparalleled geniuses. Even Yu Ruan Ruan, the youngest and with the shallowest cultivation after only five years in the sect, possessed the extremely rare ice-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Jun Xiu Ran answered mildly: “Sect Master Senior Brother, aptitude is important, yet affinity also matters. My mind is made up.”

From beginning to end, the two great figures of the cultivation world never asked Rong Shu’s opinion. As for that so-called affinity, it was merely his beloved disciple’s passing whim, a casual word no one cared to scrutinize. And just like that, Rong Shu’s fate within the sect was decided.

After they finished speaking, Jun Xiu Ran cast a detached glance toward the quiet, well-behaved Rong Shu and flicked his sleeve, sending out a streak of flowing light: “From this day forth, you will be this honored one’s fifth personal disciple.” The light flew to Rong Shu and condensed into an identity token. On its front were the two characters for Personal Disciple; on the back were engraved Limitless Peak, where Immortal Venerable Ze Yu resided, and the characters for Limitless.

Rong Shu received it with both hands and bowed toward Jun Xiu Ran above: “Disciple Rong Shu pays respect to Master.” As soon as she rose, her body suddenly drifted toward Jun Xiu Ran; in the blink of an eye, she stood at his side. She looked to Yu Ruan Ruan, who was also looking at her and even smiled slightly, seeming very friendly. Because they were unfamiliar, Rong Shu merely offered a polite greeting of “Senior Sister,” then fell silent.

Once all three hundred new disciples had been assigned, only Rong Shu had been made a personal disciple on the spot. For a time, she drew all eyes and became the center of attention. Inwardly, Rong Shu felt helpless; [I only want to cultivate quietly and live in peace.]

When the assignments ended, Jun Xiu Ran took his two disciples and rode the sect’s flying spirit beast, the Red Crowned Cinnabar Crane, back to Limitless Peak. It was Rong Shu’s first time riding a spirit beast, and a flying one at that, and she was quite excited. Looking down, she saw clouds curling around layered mountain ridges, with the faintest dots below that might be people moving.

Yu Ruan Ruan asked gently from beside her: “Little Junior Sister, is this your first time riding a spirit beast, are you frightened?” She added softly, “Do not be afraid. With Master here, once you ride a few more times, you will be used to it.” Rong Shu thought to herself: [This Senior Sister Yu is a bit too enthusiastic.] Back in the Dust Cleansing Grand Hall, Yu Ruan Ruan had been watching her the whole time, her gaze tinged with surprise, now and then turning obscure and heated.