Chapter 107: Becoming an Apprentice

“The heavens and earth are severed; the Way’s law begets immortals… The earth divides the immortals; flesh and bone become demons… The path of immortals and demons governs time and space… Fate’s decree must be summoned…”

In a haze, the ancient chanting echoed ceaselessly through Lu Daolin’s soul.

The voice seemed to come from an age beyond endless time, as if emerging from the depths of infinite space, converging here at the ultimate juncture of yin and yang, as though destiny itself had triggered this moment.

As the primitive scripture reverberated in his mind, Lu Daolin felt as though he were seated cross-legged by the bank of a phantom river imbued with supreme majesty.

Around him, countless stars twinkled endlessly. This river appeared to flow somewhere deep within the boundless cosmos.

Fixing his gaze, he could neither discern its origin nor its destination; within it seemed inscribed the infinite origins and conclusions—everything that ever was or would be.

“Ha…”

At the sound of a heavy breath, the river before Lu Daolin began to fade, as did the vast starry glow overhead.

“What is this…”

Slowly opening his hazy eyes, Lu Daolin found himself in a quaint, delicately adorned chamber.

Soft sunlight filtered through the window paper, casting enchanting shadows of the lattice upon the floor. The room was modest; besides a redwood table by the window sat a chair of unknown material.

“It’s gone… Could this be the work of the Immortal Elder Grandfather spoke of?” Lu Daolin murmured with delight, noticing that the dark veins on his arms had vanished.

“Awake? Then come out.”

A gentle voice drifted from outside the door. Pausing briefly in contemplation, Lu Daolin rose slowly from the bed without hesitation.

“Gurgle…”

At the doorway, his stomach suddenly groaned, and a tantalizing aroma of roast meat wafted to his nostrils.

Tempted by the scent, his mouth watered, eyes gleaming faintly as he smacked his lips, then opened the door and stepped outside.

Before him was a small clearing beside a rocky mountain path leading somewhere unknown.

Farther off stood an expansive and exquisite pavilion complex.

Dim peaks soared like clouds, veiled in light mist; the verdant mountains and deep ravines formed a scene of ethereal beauty, like a fairyland.

On the clearing sat a man in a blue Daoist robe, his smile gentle and serene. Though middle-aged, he radiated a calm, transcendent aura that marked him as no ordinary mortal.

Beside him was a little girl in a red cloth garment, seemingly under ten years old. Her eyes sparkled with liveliness as she curiously scrutinized Lu Daolin.

They were seated by a campfire, roasting something.

“Here, take this.”

The middle-aged man smiled warmly upon seeing Lu Daolin and tossed a nearly roasted beast leg toward him.

Caught off guard, Lu Daolin stared, the beast leg tumbling toward the ground—but just three feet off the earth, it halted, then began to float upward gently!

“Immortal Arts!”

Breath quickening, Lu Daolin’s heart surged with admiration. He hurriedly bowed respectfully to the man.

“I am Lu Daolin. I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace, Immortal Elder.”

The man raised an eyebrow, reflecting for a moment, then spoke gently, as if enlightened:

“I am no immortal. I am Li Tianyuan, one of the three peak leaders of the Qingyun Sect.”

“Yesterday, I sensed the scent of the soul guide incense you were given years ago. Upon investigation, I found you collapsed beside a large rock with no unusual circumstances and did not intervene. No need for formalities.”

Li Tianyuan sighed softly, a tinge of melancholy coloring his voice as he gazed toward the distant horizon.

“Decades have passed. I wonder if the old friend who gave you that incense still lives.”

As he spoke, an aura of warmth radiated from him, as if he wished to comfort Lu Daolin.

His spiritual perception also studied Lu Daolin’s expression closely.

“Thanks for your concern, Immortal Elder. The village chief grandfather is now over seventy. Though weaker than before, he remains in good health.”

Lu Daolin’s heart brimmed with gratitude and curiosity. After a moment’s thought, he bowed deeply to Li Tianyuan and spoke earnestly.

Li Tianyuan smiled faintly and nodded, still exuding his usual gentle demeanor. After clearing his throat, he said:

“It is a great blessing that your old friend remains well. I can rest easy.”

Then, as if recalling something, his immortal aura deepened, and he continued:

“I see potential for cultivation in you. Would you be willing to join my sect and train under me?”

“Hmm…”

The little girl glanced at Li Tianyuan with some surprise, then looked thoughtfully at Lu Daolin.

Lu Daolin remained silent, hesitating. After a long pause, he bowed respectfully and spoke solemnly:

“My grandfather, the village chief, is old and may not have many years left. I’m unworthy of seeking immortality; I only wish to accompany him through his final days. I hope Immortal Elder will understand if I decline your invitation.”

“This youth…”

Li Tianyuan’s brow furrowed, clearly unprepared for the refusal. His expression grew serious.

“Do you understand what it means to embark on the path of immortality?”

Rising slowly, Li Tianyuan’s aura radiated a subtle but commanding presence. Gazing toward the horizon, he embodied the solitude of a master.

“Immortal Elder…”

Before Lu Daolin could respond, a terrifying pressure erupted from Li Tianyuan. The surrounding mountains trembled under its weight, and his majestic voice thundered across the valley:

“As cultivators, we soar the heavens, traverse the earth, move mountains, and sever seas. Whatever you can imagine, nothing is impossible. Only by becoming a cultivator can one unravel the mysteries of the world and live a life without regret!”

As Li Tianyuan spoke, his hands formed intricate seals, and the landscape around them shifted swiftly.

A blazing domain of fire erupted, and overhead a great river appeared. Between these forces, a violent hurricane surged forth.

At last, Li Tianyuan appeared, stepping on air with a sword in hand. Drawing it, a terrifyingly fierce sword light slashed downward, shattering the strange sounds encircling them.

“This…”

Lu Daolin’s eyes widened in awe, deeply shaken by the spectacle.

“Well?”

After the demonstration, Li Tianyuan’s gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, his voice calm.

“Very… impressive…”

Lu Daolin bowed again, brow furrowed in deep thought. Unable to find the right words to praise, he finally said with resolve:

“The path of immortality indeed beckons, but my heart is burdened. I beg Immortal Elder not to force me.”

Though naive, Lu Daolin sensed Li Tianyuan’s intention to sway him and felt both grateful and regretful.

To earn the favor of an immortal was a blessing—one could explore his origins, roam the vast world freely. Who would not desire that?

Yet, how could he abandon the years of care his grandfather had given him?

If he truly left now, his soul would not find peace.

“You stubborn boy…”

Li Tianyuan’s face darkened slightly as he watched Lu Daolin’s steadfast resolve. The little girl, unable to suppress a giggle, snickered nearby.

Li Tianyuan shot her a look full of exasperation, then gritted his teeth:

“Your concern is only for the elders of the Lu family. If you join the sect, I will gift a Spirit Origin Pill to your grandfather. This pill, when taken by mortals, extends life by twenty years.”

“That’s right, big brother. The Spirit Origin Pill is a genuine treasure. If your grandfather takes it, he will surely feel much better. And once you reach certain cultivation levels, you can leave the sect to visit him.”

The little girl stuck out her tongue playfully, looking at Lu Daolin earnestly.

“Well? Have you thought it over?”

“But…”

“Seven-foot-tall man, yet so sentimental. Don’t you want your grandfather to enjoy more years of happiness?”

Lu Daolin hesitated, but Li Tianyuan snorted coldly and pressed on:

“As a disciple of the Qingyun Sect’s Third Peak, you’ll have unrestricted access to the Scripture Pavilion. You have ten breaths to decide.”

Li Tianyuan, a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator, perceived Lu Daolin’s wavering and, using a tactic of seeming retreat, sought to compel him.

“One, two…”

“Immortal Elder… I accept your offer…”

Li Tianyuan’s voice was calm as Lu Daolin suppressed a bitter smile, bowed deeply, and solemnly declared:

“Disciple Lu Daolin pays respects to Master.”

“Well, well, well!”

Li Tianyuan beamed with delight, waving forth a strange power to help Lu Daolin up. With a flick, he presented a token and a delicate pouch.

“This is a storage pouch containing two sets of robes. The identity token can be blood-sealed. As for cultivation techniques and other items, your senior sister will take you to the Scripture Pavilion later.”

Glancing briefly at the little girl, clearing his throat, Li Tianyuan continued:

“Regarding the Spirit Origin Pill, give me the location, and I will visit your old friend immediately.”

“Master, the village chief of Lu Family Village is about twenty miles north. Thank you, Master.”

Lu Daolin bowed deeply again. Just as he was about to say more, Li Tianyuan’s figure flickered and vanished far away, leaving only a clear voice echoing overhead.

“Wait patiently. It will arrive soon…”

“Where could senior sister be now…”

Watching Li Tianyuan disappear into the distance, Lu Daolin sighed softly. When his gaze met the little girl’s, his expression froze, breath quickening as a sudden unease rose within him.

“You wouldn’t… be my senior sister, would you…?”

The little girl regarded him with keen interest. Lu Daolin’s heart skipped a beat, disbelief coloring his quiet words.

“I am Ji Yao, proudly at the sixth level of Qi condensation. Being your senior sister when you are only first level Qi condensation—do you feel it’s unfair?”

With a pout, the little girl showed a hint of dissatisfaction but spoke with a coquettish childish voice, then rose unsteadily and ambled toward the mountain path.

“Remember my name: Ji Yao.”

“If Master can keep a decades-old promise and come, he must be trustworthy… Senior sister should be reliable too.”

Ji Yao’s words lingered as Lu Daolin’s mind whirred. After a moment’s thought and sealing his identity token with his blood, he followed her down the path.

Meanwhile, within a valley in the Qingyun Sect’s domain:

A grand hall of blue-green stone stood. Inside, an elder sat cross-legged at the head seat. Below him stood two men and one woman, silent.

One man wore a blue Daoist robe, radiating warmth.

The other wore coarse hemp garments, carrying a massive sword on his back. His chiseled visage conveyed unyielding resolve.

The woman wore a purple robe and a violet half-mask, revealing only exquisitely beautiful eyes that stirred the soul.

Yet none spoke; the atmosphere was thick with tension.

“Tianyuan, you surely know that the Qingyun Sect’s supply of Spirit Origin Pills is running low.”

After a long pause, the elder sighed, his aged voice tinged with helplessness.

“I am willing to forgo one chance to enter the secret realm if the sect leader grants me a Spirit Origin Pill.”

Li Tianyuan chuckled lightly, shook his head, and replied calmly but firmly:

“Even if one has an ancient rare constitution, with such low aptitude, it’s unlikely they could even reach Foundation Establishment stage. You are still the top among Qingyun Sect’s novices.”

The sword-bearer scoffed disdainfully:

“If you are a teacher, then lead by example.”

Li Tianyuan cast a casual glance at him, seemingly unbothered by the sneer.

“Enough. What Tianyuan says is approved.”

The elder’s eyes flickered subtly with sharpness as his voice continued:

“Qingyun Sect has traditions of one hall, two treasures, three peaks, four rivers, and five celestial caves. The one hall is the leader’s seat; the two treasures are the sect’s sacred artifacts—the mountain-protecting formation and the Absolute Spirit Blade.”

On the mountain path, two figures walked slowly, one following the other.

The little girl in red, chewing on a roasted beast leg, glanced at the misty peaks and spoke in her youthful voice:

“The three peaks are Tianyuan, Zining, and Lingxiao, each named after their respective peak leaders’ Daoist titles.”