Disciple?
For a moment, Jiang An was confused.
Does she want to take me in as her disciple… and become my master? Her thoughts ran wild, but the more she thought, the dimmer her eyes grew. A moment ago, they had been full of hope; now they lost their shine.
"But Elder Mo, I…" Her voice trembled. "I don't have any talent for cultivation."
Her words carried bitterness.
Xiao Mo's brows furrowed slightly, her expression strange. No talent? For a moment, she didn't understand. Then it clicked.
Ah, she doesn't know. She was unconscious when her bloodline awakened.
Xiao Mo shook her head lightly. She still doesn't know… But even so, having this attitude of accepting weakness just because she lacked talent in the past is no good. Her serene eyes softened as she regarded the girl.
With a sigh, Xiao Mo spoke gently yet firmly.
"Jiang An, you've just experienced a life-and-death situation. You should now understand, perhaps even more clearly than seasoned cultivators, how it feels to be powerless. If such a situation arises again in the future, what can you do to save yourself—or your brother?"
Her voice deepened with authority.
"If I'm not mistaken, the reason you joined this trial was to seek a better life, a safer life. But let me tell you this: in this world, relying on the kindness of others is the greatest threat to survival. Without power, even beauty, happiness, and wealth are meaningless. Strength itself is beauty. Strength itself is happiness."
Jiang An lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground. Sadness and frustration glimmered in her eyes.
"But about your talent…" Xiao Mo's voice softened again, carrying certainty. "You do have talent."
Jiang An's head snapped up, her eyes flickering with disbelief.
"What? I… I really have talent?" Her voice wavered as if she feared her own hope.
"You do," Xiao Mo replied with calm assurance.
Jiang An's eyes widened. Her talent had been tested many times before, always yielding the same result: failure. She had given up long ago.
"I… can cultivate?" she whispered. Her voice was faint, but the depth of emotion within it shook even her.
Xiao Mo held her gaze for a moment, then spoke with grave seriousness.
"You have talent, but… it cannot be cultivated through orthodox methods. Once the orthodox sects discover it, they will do everything in their power to erase you."
Her words sank heavily into Jiang An's heart.
"What do you mean… orthodox methods?" Jiang An asked cautiously.
"Orthodox methods are—" Xiao Mo began, but stopped abruptly. Her brows knitted as her senses flared. She raised her eyes toward the heavens.
The sun had already set. Stars now reigned over the night sky.
Suddenly, a vortex of blue light swirled above them, twisting space itself.
All cultivators within the trial—those still alive, whether injured or whole—began to glow faintly, their bodies reacting to the vortex. The dead remained unmoved.
"It seems the trial has ended," Xiao Mo murmured, her gaze locked on the spiral.
She turned back to Jiang An and tossed her a copper badge.
"Take this. If you wish to become my disciple, contact me with it before tomorrow evening. I won't remain in Mistveil Town after that."
Jiang An caught the badge tightly, just as she, her brother, and Bai Ling's group were swallowed by the spiral vortex.
Xiao Mo's crimson robes fluttered in the glow. She looked at the spiraling sky, her lips curving faintly.
"Even though I've found a disciple, I cannot force it. If she truly has fate with me, she will come."
With that, her figure vanished into the night.
.....
Mistveil Town — Recruitment Grounds
The trial's survivors reappeared in the plaza under the vast night sky.
Ye Kaishan's eyes immediately fell on Jiang An, who carried her brother on her back.
"Are we going to recruit her into the Song family?" he asked Song Yan quietly.
"That would have been good," Song Yan said calmly, shaking her head. "But no. We can't."
Ye Kaishan frowned. "Why not? She survived. Isn't that enough?"
"Remember what I said?" Song Yan's tone was steady. "She cannot cultivate through normal means. Her talent doesn't fall under orthodox methods. Standard cultivation techniques are useless to her. If we bring her into the Song family, we'll only hinder her growth."
Ye Kaishan's eyes lingered on Jiang An as his thoughts deepened.
As I thought… controlling blood, those rampaging scarlet eyes—it's not a normal talent. It seems dark, dangerous, even evil. And yet… she's alive. Could it be that the figure I glimpsed earlier was the reason?
His expression remained calm, but doubt lingered in his mind.
If Song Yan never intended to recruit her, then why did she approach Jiang An in the first place? Why give her so much importance?
He exhaled softly. Sigh… I'll ask her about it later tonight.
Turning away from his thoughts, Ye Kaishan focused on the high platform where an old man stood, his aura radiating dominance.
The recruitment trial had officially ended.
Among the female cultivators who had entered, barely one-fourth emerged from the trial. More than half of them were injured, their clothes torn and bodies weakened.
But above all, the crowd's attention was drawn to Jiang An and the group of Bai Ling, who still lay unconscious beside her.
"Hey, how did they survive?!" someone exclaimed.
"Yes, I saw them—slashed apart!""And that boy, his abdomen was pierced through! How are they still alive?"
The cultivators in the audience began whispering among themselves, one voice after another rising in disbelief.
On the high wing where Ye Kaishan and Song Yan sat, the expressions of the sect representatives were no less curious. Though confusion lingered in their eyes—wondering how Jiang An's group had survived and what had truly happened to the Abyssal Antarch—not a single one voiced their questions.
After all, prying into the life and death of ordinary mortals would only lower their dignity before others. No one wished to risk their image by asking aloud.
The chatter in the crowd grew louder with each passing moment.
"Silence!"
The old man on the high platform thundered. His Soul Star Realm aura swept across the square, suppressing all noise at once.
In an instant, the murmurs ceased. The crowd fell quiet, every gaze drawn to the old man's figure.
He looked down first at the audience seated around the grounds, then shifted his gaze to the cultivators who had emerged alive from the trial.
The elder's voice echoed, carrying the weight of a Soul Star Realm cultivator.
"The trial has ended. Tend to your injuries. This year's trial had heavy casualties and unexpected accidents. Because of that, the disciple selection will be held tomorrow.
"Those who have gathered enough points may choose the sect they wish to join. The rest—those who merely survived—will be chosen by the sects and clans themselves. Until then, recover your strength. Be present at dawn tomorrow."
His powerful aura swept through the crowd, silencing all chatter. With those words, he departed.
The recruitment grounds erupted into quiet activity. Representatives of the sects rose from their seats, exchanged greetings, and began to leave.
"Brother Ye, we'll also take our leave," Sun Yu said as he and his companions bid farewell.
Ye Kaishan nodded faintly before rising to his feet. "Let's go," he said to Song Yan.
"Mhm."
The two left the recruitment building, stepping into the lively night streets of Mistveil Town.
The town was bustling. Vendors shouted as they sold steaming food, the aroma drifting through the air. Lanterns swayed outside shops and houses, their gentle light mingling with the starlit sky. Cultivators and common folk alike filled the streets, drinking in pavilions, laughing, and celebrating after the great event.
It was as though the stars had descended from the heavens, illuminating the mortal world with ethereal brilliance.
Ye Kaishan and Song Yan walked side by side, weaving through the lively streets, their gazes drawn to the colorful stalls and glittering goods that lined the path.
The atmosphere was pleasant, with the cool air of the night brushing against their faces as Ye Kaishan and Song Yan walked down the road.
Ye Kaishan observed the scenery with a faint smile. This world, he thought, though mysterious and dangerous, still holds rare glimpses of ordinary beauty.
Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a small meat bun shop. Without hesitation, he gently took Song Yan's hand and led her toward it.
"Wait!" Song Yan exclaimed in surprise as Ye Kaishan suddenly pulled her closer to the shop. "Hey, what are you—"
"Here, take this."
He bought two buns filled with fragrant meat paste, handing one to her. "Try it. It's really good."
Song Yan stared at the meat bun with a strange expression. What good could this possibly be? It's just beast meat, not even from a demon beast. I, who have tasted the most exquisite dishes…
Her thoughts trailed as she glanced at Ye Kaishan, who was eating his bun with simple happiness. The serene look in his eyes made her pause. A soft smile touched her lips. Well, it might not be that bad, she thought, before taking a delicate bite.
"Mmm… it's good,"
she said with a hint of surprise, taking another bite.
"Right? These meat buns are amazing!" Ye Kaishan grinned, his eyes bright. "Come on, let's keep going."
Hand in hand, they continued exploring the bustling town, the warmth of shared simplicity lingering between them.