Chapter 1

"Sir Daoist, please, take me in as a disciple. I come from a noble family, but we were brutally slaughtered by evildoers. Three hundred of us were killed by their swords, leaving only me and my little sister, who are now wandering the world. I have come to the mountain gate, begging and admiring the prestige of the Daoist sect, just to seek a master and learn the Dao. If you take me in, I will surely..."

In the southern part of Danbu Province, in the Chu Feng Dynasty, at the foot of the Taihang Mountains, one of the nine great spiritual veins in the world, the entrance to the Qingyun Dao Sect was lined with hundreds of young people waiting to be interviewed by a fat Daoist. At the front of the queue, a boy of about ten years old, with tears streaming down his face, was pleading. His face was dirty, but his eyes were bright, and his pitiful cries evoked sympathy.

The fat Daoist glanced at the boy impatiently and asked with a squint, "Do you have a recommendation letter?"

"No..." the boy replied sheepishly.

"Do you have any treasures to offer?"

"No..."

"Do you have a rare constitution?"

"No..."

The fat Daoist asked three questions in quick succession, then glared and kicked the boy, sending him rolling. He shouted, "Without a recommendation letter, you're a lowlife. Without treasures, you're a pauper. Without a rare constitution, you're a waste. You, a beggar, dare to come to our Qingyun Sect to seek a master? Open your eyes and look, this isn't a charity!"

The long queue behind burst into laughter at the scene.

Everyone found the boy's situation laughable. He had nothing and yet wanted to become a disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect?

The Qingyun Dao Sect was the Daoist sect of the Chu Kingdom, with a three-thousand-year legacy, esteemed status, and profound heritage. Any disciple within was a top-notch expert. For example, not long ago, in the northwest of the Chu region, a group of bandits wreaked havoc, even the government couldn't stop them. A true disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect, Xiao Jianming, heard about it and, with a single sword, entered the bandits' hideout, Ghostly Smoke Valley, and killed nine of the ten most notorious bandits, leaving only one to escape. This act made him famous throughout the Chu region.

Because of this, the Qingyun Dao Sect's reputation among the common people of the Chu region grew even stronger. Now, during the sect's once-a-decade recruitment ceremony, countless officials and nobles were vying to send their children to the sect for cultivation. Those with connections used their connections, those with treasures offered treasures, all trying their best to find a way in.

And this boy, empty-handed and looking like a beggar, wanted to become a disciple. It was truly a pipe dream.

The boy, after being kicked, remained silent and walked ten paces back. Suddenly, he jumped and shouted, "You fat pig with sores on your head and pus under your feet, with your short and ugly face, you dare to call me a pauper? I came to your Qingyun Sect to seek a master because I respect you. Today, you fail to recognize my worth, and one day, I'll burn down your rotten temple..."

"Brat, you dare to insult me!"

The fat Daoist, enraged, picked up a long sword and rushed over. The boy, seeing the situation, fled, darting through the crowd with surprising agility. The fat Daoist, unable to catch him, stood there, brandishing his sword and cursing.

The solemn and dignified recruitment ceremony of the Qingyun Dao Sect suddenly turned into a scene of laughter.

"Someone like me, a prodigy, coming to your Qingyun Dao Sect to seek a master is a sign of respect. You'd better take me in, or I'll go to another sect, cultivate supreme powers, and beat you all until you cry for your mothers..."

The boy, seeing the fat Daoist couldn't catch him, became even more confident and taunted him.

The fat Daoist was so angry that steam seemed to come out of his ears. He wanted to chase the boy, but the crowd was too dense, and his fat body couldn't move easily. Suddenly, he had an idea and shouted, "Whoever helps me catch this brat can register first..."

Hearing this, the boy was shocked and tried to run away.

But many in the queue, eager to avoid the long wait, rushed forward to catch him. They thought that even if they saved the wait, the most important thing was to make a good impression on the sect's disciples.

The boy was incredibly agile, and several young men couldn't catch him. Just as he was about to escape, a young man with a pale, thin face and cold eyes jumped out and sneered, "You have some skills, but they're not enough!" He reached out and grabbed the boy by the collar, lifting him up.

The boy struggled fiercely but couldn't escape, like a snake caught by the throat.

"Thank you, sir, what's your name?"

The fat Daoist, panting, ran over, delighted, and thanked the young man.

"Brother, I'm Hou Qing. It was just a small favor to help you catch a little monkey, nothing to mention..."

The young man was very polite, bowing respectfully to the fat Daoist.

"Thank you, thank you. I'll teach this brat a lesson and then help you register..."

The fat Daoist smiled, then turned to the boy with a menacing look. "I'm an outer sect disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect. You, a lowly beggar, dare to insult me? Today, I won't take your life, but I'll give you a lesson!"

He jumped over, rubbing his hands, and laughed menacingly.

But as a Daoist disciple, he couldn't just hurt someone, even a beggar. At most, he would give the boy a couple of slaps to teach him a lesson.

"Don't... don't hurt my young master..."

Suddenly, a little girl emerged from the crowd, blocking the fat Daoist. She was as dirty as the boy, about seven or eight years old, thin, but with very delicate features. Her eyes were lively, and most strikingly, her ears were slightly pointed, like a fox's, and her eyes had a greenish tint, making her look somewhat otherworldly. She appeared to be a mixed-blood barbarian, not a pure human.

"Stinky little barbarian, why did you come out? Didn't I tell you to stay hidden?"

The boy, still being held, immediately shouted at her.

"Young master, if I don't come out, he'll hit you..."

The barbarian maid said, her voice trembling, but she stubbornly stretched out her small hands to block the fat Daoist.

"Young master is very capable, I don't need you to stand up for me. Go away..."

The boy, flailing his arms and legs, looked ridiculous, but his spirit was strong.

"A beggar like you, with a barbarian maid?"

The fat Daoist clicked his tongue in surprise, looking at the maid with a hungry gaze.

In this world, these people were called "barbarians," the lowest of the low. Neither the demon race nor the human race respected them. Even if they were kept, it was either as concubines or servants. But even servants were not something ordinary families could afford. For a beggar-like boy to have a barbarian servant was indeed strange.

"Hmph, a dirty, lowly race..."

Hou Qing, holding the boy, sneered and kicked the girl, sending her flying.

"You bastard, you dare to bully my little barbarian? I'll kill you..."

The boy shouted, struggling and flailing.

The barbarian maid was kicked dozens of feet away, hitting a tree. Although the young man didn't kick to kill, she still fell with a bloody head, lying motionless. The onlookers were shocked but no one spoke up, as barbarians were considered insignificant, even in the secular world.

"Brother, I hate barbarians the most. I apologize for my actions..."

Hou Qing, realizing he had gone too far, smiled awkwardly.

"Ah... no problem... no problem..."

The fat Daoist said, though he also found Hou Qing's actions cruel but didn't want to say it.

The boy, struggling in Hou Qing's grip, was ignored by everyone.

"Ah, the blood of that little barbarian girl... how is it like that?"

Suddenly, someone whispered, and everyone turned to see the girl's blood flowing onto the surrounding grass. The grass, which had turned yellow due to the autumn and winter, slowly came back to life, new leaves sprouting, green and vibrant, almost dripping with moisture, a sight that was quite astonishing.

"Wood Spirit Bloodline... this girl has a rare Wood Spirit Bloodline..."

Among those seeking to become disciples, many were wealthy and had some knowledge, and one of them whispered.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, some amazed, some disdainful, some envious.

The Wood Spirit Bloodline was one of the rarest bloodlines in the world, with a unique effect on plant growth.

Such a bloodline was highly sought after by all Daoist sects.

From the earlier conversation between the fat Daoist and the boy, it was clear what the sect valued in potential disciples.

Either you had a recommendation letter, meaning you were recommended by someone with connections to the sect, and you could become a disciple.

Or you were wealthy, able to offer valuable treasures to the sect, and you could become a disciple.

Or you had a rare constitution, in which case, even if you were poor, you could still be highly regarded by the sect.

The boy had none of these, causing a great deal of laughter.

But who would have thought that the barbarian maid of this boy had such a rare Wood Spirit Bloodline?

Soon, the commotion caught the attention of the sect's inner circle, and a major figure was alerted.

About half an hour later, a cold-faced woman in white, riding a giant white crane, flew over. The crane was at least ten zhang long, and its wings flapped, creating a powerful wind at the mountain gate, clearly a tamed demon bird. On the crane's back were two young girls with braids.

"Ah, Outer Sect Disciple Yu Sanliang, greets Senior Sister Lingyun..."

The fat Daoist, seeing this, quickly knelt and bowed deeply.

The young people waiting to become disciples, though they didn't recognize the woman, also hurriedly bowed, calling her Senior Sister.

Senior Sister Lingyun seemed to ignore them, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing on the barbarian maid lying in the grass. She directed the crane to land, approached the maid, picked up a blade of grass, and touched the maid's blood with her finger, sniffing it lightly. She nodded, smiling, as if confirming something.

"In this batch of disciples, add this one to the list!"

Senior Sister Lingyun picked up the maid, stood up, and instructed the fat Daoist without looking at him.

"Yes... yes... Senior Sister Lingyun, I understand..."

Although just a barbarian girl, with Senior Sister Lingyun's word, she was now a legitimate disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect.

The crowd watched, envious, as a barbarian girl became a legitimate disciple of the Qingyun Dao Sect, a leap from rags to riches.

Even the boy in Hou Qing's grip was stunned, his mouth agape.

Senior Sister Lingyun, holding the maid, was about to leave on the crane when the maid stirred and whispered, "Don't hit the young master... don't hit... Young Master Fang Xing..."

Senior Sister Lingyun paused, her expression unchanged, and asked, "Who is Young Master Fang Xing?"

The boy, stunned, quickly raised his hand and shouted, "I... I am Young Master Fang Xing, give me back my maid..."

Senior Sister Lingyun looked at him and said coolly, "From today, she is no longer your maid."

She waved her hand, and a small purple jade pill appeared, which she tossed to the boy.

"先天紫气丸..."

The fat Daoist, seeing this, gasped and swallowed hard.

To help a barbarian maid gain freedom, she had directly given such a precious pill?

Many in the crowd, seeing this, had a mad gleam in their eyes, wishing they could swallow the boy whole.

先天紫气丸, a pill for enhancing one's constitution, how could it be so easily given to a beggar?

Many had the urge to snatch it.

The boy, looking at the pill, also swallowed hard but, seeing Senior Sister Lingyun about to leave with the maid, suddenly shouted, "You can't leave! Who said you could trade this pill for my maid? I don't want the pill, give it back and leave the maid with me..."

"Hmm?"

Senior Sister Lingyun's gaze turned back, and the cold, murderous intent made him shut up.

"I... I don't want the pill..."

The boy, gathering his courage, stammered, "Unless... unless you take me in as a disciple..."

The people waiting to become disciples, who had been secretly scolding the boy for his lack of sense, suddenly understood his strategy.

Senior Sister Lingyun was also slightly surprised, then laughed, saying to the fat Daoist, "Count him in, but his talent is average, and his temperament is wild. Put him in the herb garden to be tempered."

"Ah, understood, Senior Sister..."

The fat Daoist, stunned, bowed and agreed.

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