At high noon, the long-awaited initiation ceremony held once every three years at Qinglan Sect was finally about to begin!
Though the weather was stifling and the sun beat down mercilessly, the Dao Comprehension Plaza outside the mountain gates was already teeming with ambitious youths from all across the Divine Continent, eager to embark upon their cultivation journey.
The square buzzed with voices, surging with excitement—at a glance, the crowd easily numbered in the tens of thousands.
For Qinglan Sect, whose teachings embraced the creed "The Dao knows no boundaries, and none shall be turned away," the range of candidates was astonishingly diverse.
Among them were descendants of martial clans and imperial bloodlines, humble sons of farming villages, and even a handful of idle young nobles attending on a whim.
Although the five Peak Masters and other elders had yet to make their appearance, the gathered youths were already deep in animated discussion:
"Longshou Peak! I have to join Longshou Peak! That's where Ziyun, the Sect Master himself, resides—it's bound to be the most formidable lineage!"
"You're wrong, brother! Even though Ziyun is the Sect Master, the true voice of authority among the Five Peaks is Elder Chisong of Chiyun Peak! That's where I'm aiming!"
"If you ask me, Yuanyi of Tiandang Peak is the better choice. He may not be as famous, but he's kindhearted—they call him the Smiling Immortal. Training under him would surely be the easiest path."
"Tch, your horizons are too narrow. What about Fengming Peak and Shenluan Peak? Don't tell me you're not even considering the two most beautiful Peak Lords?"
"Since you put it that way, I'll admit it! I'm going with Shenluan Peak's Lady Xiao!"
"Seconded! To have the first immortal beauty of the cultivation world as your master… My state of mind would be so clear, my path to immortality so smooth!"
"Heh, Su Mei of Fengming Peak isn't bad either! Before she married, she held the title of 'First Immortal Beauty' herself!"
"Too bad she's a widow now."
"A widow? That just makes her even more tempting!"
…
Amid the raucous crowd, one figure stood out starkly from the rest.
Clad in simple black robes, the young man sat cross-legged in absolute stillness, his face emotionless and his bearing aloof—exuding a pride that seemed to reject the entire world.
It wasn't a posture cultivated with effort, but a natural aura of supremacy.
"Hey brat, have you figured out which master you're going to pick?" came a voice in his mind—, the ancient soul sealed in the ring on his finger.
"It doesn't matter. I came to Qinglan for three things only," Ye Chen said coldly.
"Opportunity. Opportunity. And more opportunity."
"If, as you say, someone has stolen my destined fortune, I will kill them without hesitation."
His boyish face turned icy, emanating a killing intent as fierce as a winter gale.
"Hahaha, didn't I tell you? I can read your mind! And I know that beyond all this fortune nonsense, your heart can't forget that cheerful little lass with the bell on her ankle, the one who rode the Crimsonflame beast."
"So, you'll pick Shenluan Peak's Xiao Peak Lord, won't you? Hahaha…"
"Shut up, Old man!"
Ye Chen's face flushed red with anger. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "So what if I did? A true man should embrace all the beauties under heaven!"
"No argument there. Too bad she's already taken though. That impressive Senior Brother of hers—"
"Say no more!"
The thought of the girl he'd fallen for at first sight clinging to another man's arm made Ye Chen's blood boil.
"Damn it! You just wait! I'll make that Yinyang-faced bastard of a Senior Brother understand that he's nothing compared to me!"
"I, Ye Chen, am the only one worthy of her!"
Just as his furious words faded into the void—
A powerful voice rang out through the plaza: "The Chief Disciple of Shenluan Peak has arrived!"
Thousands of heads turned upward.
High above them, a white-robed youth approached, riding atop a snow-like blade.
Long black hair fluttered behind him, his robes flowing like celestial clouds. Hands clasped behind his back, he descended like a painting come to life.
At that moment, awe swept through the crowd like a tidal wave.
Gasps broke out on all sides.
"Wow! What a breathtaking immortal nobleman!"
"This… this is what a cultivator should be!"
"Though I can't reach it, I long for it still!"
"As expected of the First Immortal Beauty's disciple! Put the two of them side by side, and you'd think they were a divine couple descended from the heavens!"
"Careful what you say—don't you value your life?"
…
While the crowd swooned in admiration, Ye Chen's face only grew darker, jaw clenched tight, fingers trembling with rage.
"What absolute nonsense… Just a pretty boy with a fancy face. I swear—"
But before he could even finish his bitter thought—
The white-clad figure descended directly toward him.
A ripple passed through the gathered crowd. Thousands of eyes swiveled toward Ye Chen.
For the first time, a flicker of unease passed through the black-robed youth's heart.
And sure enough, the graceful immortal youth landed right before him.
Instinctively, Ye Chen gripped the short sword hidden beneath his robe, true energy rising within his meridians.
"Stay calm!" The old Shi's voice rang in his mind. "This is the sect's chief disciple. You can't afford to make enemies yet."
"…Fine," Ye Chen muttered, forcing himself to release the energy he'd gathered.
The two young men now stood face to face.
Tension gripped the entire square.
Then, to the utter shock of everyone present—
The ethereal, elegant youth reached out, grabbed Ye Chen by the collar, and snarled with venomous contempt:
"You little bastard, didn't I warn you last night? Still dared to show your face, huh? Looking to die?"
Dead silence.
Then—
Ding!
"Plot Restoration Successful! Reward Obtained: Charisma +5, Root Aptitude +1!"
"Looks like I nailed that entrance," Lin Xiao thought with satisfaction.