The Azure Cloud Sect stood like a majestic beast against the backdrop of the misty mountains, its floating islands and cascading waterfalls is a testament to the pinnacle of cultivation in the eastern region.
The grand plaza at the foot of the mountain was packed with thousands of young hopeful individuals.
They were a sea of anxious faces, dressed in everything from silk robes to rough hemp tunics, all praying for a chance to ascend to the heavens and turn their fate.
Wang Tianmo stepped out of the carriage, stretching his limbs. He adjusted his golden robes, making sure the Wang family crest was prominently displayed.
He isn't a powerful Young Master but he is indeed a nobleborn.
Beside him, Wang Ling'er smoothed out her dress, clutching her bag of spirit stones as if it were a lifeline, after all, she didn't have a storage ring.
And the storage pouch in itself was a treasure.
Behind them, Liu Ruyan followed silently, carrying their luggage, her head bowed low.
"Remember," Tianmo said lazily, not looking back at his sister. "Don't embarrass the family. And don't let anyone touch your money."
Ling'er rolled her eyes but nodded. "I know, Brother. I'm not an idiot."
They joined the queue. The air was thick with tension and the smell of sweat. Around them, disciples of the Sect maintained order with stern expressions and whips in hand.
If someone dares to break the order, they won't hesitate to whip. They will beat you without any mercy.
"Next!"
A burly man standing before a massive, obsidian pillar shouted. The pillar was the Spirit Root Tester. It is a legendary artifact capable of discerning a person's affinity with the Dao.
A nervous boy stepped forward. He placed his hand on the pillar.
Woosh!
A faint red glow appeared at the bottom.
"Mixed-grade, no affinity. Waste. Step down. Reject!" The Elder overseeing the test waved his hand dismissively.
Guards dragged the boy away, his wails lost in the noise of the crowd.
Tianmo watched with amusement. It was a slaughterhouse. Ninety percent of these people would leave today with broken hearts. Well, that is to be expected.
After 2 hours...
"Next."
Ling'er took a deep breath, shooting a glance at Tianmo for reassurance. He gave her a slight nod. She walked up to the pillar, placed her delicate hand on the cold stone, and closed her eyes.
Hummmm!
The pillar trembled. A brilliant blue light shot up, stopping at the upper third of the obelisk.
"Second-grade Water Spirit Root! Not bad!" the Elder announced, his tone softening slightly. "Take a Green Token. You are an Outer Disciple. If you manage to reach the foundation stage realm within 10 years, you will be promoted to Inner disciple."
A cheer erupted from the crowd. Second grade was respectable. It guaranteed a spot in the sect and a steady supply of resources, though true greatness would be hard to reach.
Spirit roots are divided into: Mixed-grade, fifth-grade, fourth-grade, third-grade, second-grade, first-grade, Earth, Saint, Heaven, Emperor, Immortal-grade.
From bottom to peak.
Ling'er beamed, grabbing the green jade token from the tray. She ran back to Tianmo, her face flushed with excitement. "Brother! Did you see? I did it!"
"Well, decent enough," Tianmo said, though a small smirk played on his lips. With his money backing her, that Mid-grade root would allow her to soar past the geniuses here.
"Next!"
The crowd parted as Tianmo strolled forward. He radiated an aura of arrogance that naturally drew attention.
"Who is that?"
"Wow... Such a handsome Daoist untouched by mundane impurity."
"I am wet..."
"Ahhh! I have a strong desire to have babies..."
"This fairy never believed in love at first sight but today, I have changed my mind."
He ignored the hushed whispers and admiring gazes. With a casual, almost lazy movement, he placed his hand on the obsidian pillar.
He already knew the outcome.
He didn't even bother to close his eyes.
Hummmm...
The ground beneath them seemed to vibrate. The obsidian pillar didn't just glow; it screamed on top of its lungs.
A blinding pillar of violet light erupted from the stone, shooting straight into the sky, piercing the clouds above.
Woosh!!!
The light was so intense that the surrounding disciples had to shield their eyes, gasping in shock.
"V-Violet... Violet Light?!" The Elder overseeing the test shot up from his seat, his tea spilling over his robes. His eyes bulged as he stared at the phenomenon.
The vision of the Dragon and Phoenix dancing within the violet light lasted for a full hundred breaths before slowly fading back into the obsidian pillar.
The plaza, previously a cacophony of whispers and shuffling feet, fell into a deathly silence. It was the kind of silence that comes exactly before a storm.
The Elder, a man usually stoic and unmovable of the Golden core realm, was now trembling. His teacup lay shattered on the floor, dark liquid soaking into his robes, but he didn't care.
"V-Violet... Extreme Grade Spirit Root?" The Elder's voice was hoarse, cracking under the weight of the revelation. "A legendary constitution that appears once in a lifetime?"
He looked at Wang Tianmo, his previous arrogance replaced by undisguised greed and reverence. A disciple with such talent wasn't just a genius; he was the future Sect Master, perhaps even a figure who could shake the entire continent.
"T-This... this is unprecedented!" the Elder stammered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Young Master, please, wait here. I must inform the Sect Master immediately!"
He didn't even wait for Tianmo's response. He burned a talisman in his hand, sending a streak of fire shooting straight toward the main peak of the sect.
Wang Tianmo withdrew his hand, smoothing his sleeve as if he had simply touched a dusty railing. He turned around, his expression calm and composed devoid of emotions, like a true immortal.
The crowd looked at him differently now.
The gazes were no longer just admiring; they were filled with fear, envy, and awe. Even the arrogant sons of noble families lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
Tianmo walked back to where Ling'er and Ruyan were waiting.
Ling'er was staring at him, her mouth open, completely forgetting to close it. She clutched her green token so hard her knuckles turned white.
"Brother... You... You actually..." she stammered, her brain failing to process the magnitude of what just happened. The Wang family was a small fish in a small pond. A second-grade root was already a cause for celebration for them. But Violet Extreme Grade? That was a legend found only in storybooks.
This is above Earth grade... Spirit roots above earth grade, just what kind of concept is this?
"Close your mouth, sister. You look like a dying fish," Tianmo said lightly, patting her head. "Keep your composure. We do not gawk like peasants."
He turned his gaze to Liu Ruyan. She was still kneeling on the ground, holding their luggage, her face pale. She hadn't dared to look up at the pillar, but the collective gasp of thousands of people told her everything.
Her master was a monster. A real monster.
"Rise," Tianmo ordered.
Ruyan stood up immediately, keeping her eyes lowered.
"Follow me."
Before the Elder could return, a terrifying pressure descended from the sky.
The clouds above the plaza parted, and a beam of golden light shot down, landing directly in front of Tianmo.
When the light faded, an old man with white hair and a beard that reached his chest stood there. He wore robes that seemed to be woven from starlight, and his eyes held the depth of the cosmos.
"Wow... That's Great Elder Xuan Ji!" someone in the crowd screamed, dropping to their knees in terror.
Great Elder Xuan Ji?
Everyone got on their knees instantly.
"Young Man, what is your name?" The Great Elder's voice boomed, though it carried a strange gentleness, like a grandfather addressing a favorite grandchild.
"Wang Tianmo," he answered, bowing slightly. It was a polite bow.
The Great Elder's eyes twinkled. "Good. Very good. I haven't seen a talent like yours. The Sect Master is currently in closed-door cultivation, so I will take the liberty of accepting you as my personal disciple."
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Personal disciple of a Nascent Soul powerhouse? In the cultivation world, that status was second only to the Sect Master himself. It meant Tianmo would have access to the entire sect's treasury, the best techniques, and absolute protection.
"Thank you, Elder," Tianmo said, his face showing the appropriate amount of gratitude, though inside, he was calculating.
'Faster than expected. This old fox wants to secure his investment early.'
The Great Elder nodded, then his gaze shifted. It swept past Ling'er, who was trembling with excitement, and landed on Liu Ruyan, who was still clutching the luggage.
The Elder frowned. "Who is this? Her aura is chaotic... her meridians are blocked with Yin poison. She is a cripple."
The temperature around them seemed to drop. In the Azure Cloud Sect, resources were precious. A cripple was seen as a waste of air.
"She is my maid," Tianmo said calmly, stepping slightly in front of Ruyan. "I am fond of her service. I intend to keep her by my side."
The Elder looked at Tianmo, then back at Ruyan. He stroked his beard, considering.
Usually, a personal disciple bringing a crippled servant would be laughed at, but for a genius with a Violet Extreme Spirit Root, rules were merely suggestions. After all, rules for thee not for me.
"If she is your wish, so be it," the Elder waved his hand dismissively.
He waved his hand, and a grey token appeared in the air, floating toward Liu Ruyan. She caught it instinctively.
"This is a Gray Token," the Elder announced. "It grants her entry as a Service Disciple."
Tianmo took the token from Ruyan's hand, inspecting it.
Gray. The lowest of the low. Even the servants of outer disciples usually held a white Token. This was essentially slavery with extra steps. However, it doesn't matter, she will be maid.
"Acceptable," Tianmo said with a nod. He tossed the token back to Ruyan. "Do not lose it, girl."
"Thank you, Great Elder. Thank you, Master," Ruyan whispered, her voice filled with genuine relief. She knew the alternative was being thrown off the mountain.
The Great Elder nodded in satisfaction. "Good. As for you... This is my token, keep it."
A jade token made from flawless obsidian pure jade materialized before Tianmo with the name "Xuan Ji" written on it.
It wasn't just simple letters, it was the imprint of a nascent soul cultivator with a powerful aura.
"Follow me. As a personal disciple, you reside on the Purple Bamboo Peak, separate from the rabble," Great Elder Xuan Ji said, his robes fluttering as he summoned a flying boat.
"You two follow me..." Tianmo said. As a direct disciple, he knew he would be given a personal abode, but he didn't want to leave his sister in the Outer Sect dog kennels.
Outer sect disciples usually share a room with another disciple.
"Brother, I can't," Ling'er whispered, clutching her Green Token tightly. "I am an Outer Disciple. I have to report to the Outer Sect quarters. If I don't, I'll be punished."
She looked at the magnificent flying boat hovering in the air, then at the dirt path leading down to the crowded dormitories where hundreds of disciples would be crammed together like sardines. The difference in status was painfully clear.
Tianmo glanced at the Great Elder, who was watching the interaction with mild interest.
"Elder," Tianmo said, his voice respectful but firm. "My sister is young. The Outer Sect is... chaotic. I fear for her safety and focus. If she is harassed, it will affect my cultivation. I cannot cultivate with a troubled heart."
The Great Elder raised an eyebrow. He had lived for hundreds of years and heard every excuse in the book. But looking at the girl's pitiful, hopeful expression and then at the boy's extraordinary talent, he simply chuckled.
"Ha! You have the heart of a protector. Good. A cultivator who does not protect his own is not worth teaching," Xuan Ji boomed. He flicked his wrist, and a white light shot towards Ling'er.
She caught it instinctively. It was a White Token.
"From today forth, Wang Ling'er is no longer an Outer Disciple. She is registered as a Guest Disciple residing on Purple Bamboo Peak," the Elder declared. "However, boy, understand this. She will not receive the monthly stipend of a direct disciple. You must provide for her yourself."
"Understood," Tianmo bowed. Providing for her was the least of his worries. Outer disciple merely receives 100 spirit stones.
Ling'er looked at the White Token in her hand, tears welling in her eyes. She had gone from a small village girl to a guest of the most powerful Elder on the mountain in a single day. She bowed deeply to Tianmo. "Thank you, Brother! I will cultivate hard, I promise!"
"Get on the boat both of you," Tianmo said, stepping onto the deck. It would be better if they didn't act as if they were seeing the world for the first time.
It's a little disappointing.
***
Purple Bamboo Peak lives up to its name.
As the flying boat descended through a layer of ethereal mist, the landscape below revealed itself to be a paradise. It is a heaven.
Towering bamboo stalks with deep violet hues stretched towards the sky, swaying gently in a breeze that carried the scent of spiritual energy and fresh earth.
The boat landed on a smooth stone platform near the peak. In the center stood a magnificent pavilion, constructed from fragrant sandalwood and jade, surrounded by a serene lotus pond.
"Your residence," Great Elder Xuan Ji announced, gesturing grandly. "The Purple Bamboo Pavilion. It comes with a defensive formation, a Spirit Gathering Array that is ten times stronger than the Outer Sect, and a personal pill furnace."
He looked at Tianmo with a serious expression. "I will enter closed-door cultivation for three months to stabilize my realm. During this time, familiarize yourself with the sect. Do not cause trouble... unless you can finish it."
With a laugh, the Elder vanished into a streak of light, leaving the three of them alone in the silence of the mountain.
Silence, except for the sound of Ling'er hyperventilating.
"We... we live here?" Ling'er dropped her bags on the polished jade floor, the sound echoing in the vast silence of the main hall. She spun around, her eyes wide, taking in the intricate carvings of dragons on the ceiling and the translucent walls that filtered the sunlight into a soft, calming blue.
"This is bigger than our entire village estate," she breathed out, rushing to touch a vase made of glowing spirit crystal. "Brother, is this real? Am I dreaming?"
"If you were dreaming, you wouldn't be sweating," Tianmo muttered, walking past her. He kicked off his boots and flopped onto a cloud-soft couch made of beast silk.
"System, check the defenses."
[Defensive Array: 'Nine-Palace Star Lock'. Status: Active. Capable of repelling attacks up to late-stage Nascent Soul. Warning: Host is currently in Qi Refinement realm. Activating offensive features requires the Host's Qi signature.]
Tianmo smirked. Not bad. A fortress that could withstand a nuclear bomb... Well, metaphorically speaking.
"Ruyan," he called out lazily.
Liu Ruyan was still standing near the entrance, clutching the luggage. She looked out of place amidst the opulence.
"Put the bags down. Prepare a bath. And bring me some wine," Tianmo ordered, his eyes closed as he sank into the comfort of the couch. "Ling'er, pick a room. The one on the east has a better view of the sunrise. Good for your water cultivation."
"Yes, Brother!" Ling'er didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed her bags and practically skipped towards the east wing, her earlier arrogance completely replaced by the excitement of a child in a candy store.
Ruyan, however, moved slowly. She placed the heavy luggage gently by the wall and walked towards the back of the pavilion where the bathing springs were located.
But as she entered the bathing chamber, she froze.
The pool was carved from a single massive piece of white jade. Steam rose from the water, which was infused with pale pink petals—Spirit Gathering Lotus petals.
Just breathing in the steam made her dizzy with the rush of spiritual energy.
This water... one drop of this could feed a mortal family for a month. And they were using it to bathe?
She bit her lip, tears stinging her eyes. The injustice of it all burned in her chest. Why was she born with a crippled body? Why did she have to be a slave?
"Are you going to stand there all day?"
Ruyan jumped, spinning around to find Tianmo leaning against the doorframe, watching her with an amused glint in his eyes. He had removed his outer robe, leaving only a thin layer of white silk that clung to his waist.
She can't help but blush... He was basically naked.
"M-Master! I... I was preparing the bath for you," she stammered, lowering her head.
"I know," Tianmo walked into the room, the air around him suddenly feeling oppressive.
"I know," Tianmo walked into the room, the air around him suddenly feeling oppressive. He stopped right in front of her, his shadow falling over her trembling form. "But a good maid doesn't just prepare the bath. She helps her master wash."
Ruyan's breath hitched. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with shock and a dawning horror. "M-Master? I... I—"
"Silence!"