“I’m willing.”


    Those three simple words sparked a wave of joy among everyone present.


    “From now on, Shen Yu will be in your care, Saintess,” Bai Tian said with a nod.


    He felt no trace of displeasure about his disciple joining the Suzhen Palace. On the contrary, he was delighted. For Shen Yu, this was the best path forward. A martial school was like a academy—its students were destined to graduate eventually. As her master, Bai Tian harbored the same hopes any parent would: he wanted Shen Yu to soar to greater heights. To study and grow in a superior place like Suzhen Palace was, without a doubt, a golden opportunity.


    If she stayed in Taibai, once Shen Yu reached the Bone Refining Realm, this place would have little left to offer her. But Suzhen Palace was different. Even if Bai Tian were to leave one day, Shen Yu’s current destination far surpassed anything he could have arranged for her. Besides, her joining Suzhen Palace didn’t change the fact that he was still her master—a bond that would never waver.


    “Rest assured, Master Bai,” Jiang Yanyao said warmly, turning to Shen Yu. “Come with me first. Let’s introduce you to everyone.”


    “Okay, Sister Jiang,” Shen Yu replied with a shy smile.


    The two—one older, one younger—headed toward the Suzhen Palace group. After they departed, Shen Long pumped his fist, his face alight with excitement. “I never imagined my little sister would stumble into such an incredible opportunity!”


    “Senior Sister Yu is going to be a standout disciple of Suzhen Palace,” Han said with a grin. “Shen Long, as her big brother, you might not be able to keep up with her now!”


    “That’s fine by me,” Shen Long laughed, unbothered. “The farther she leaves me in the dust, the better.”


    He turned to Bai Tian. “Master, thank you.”


    Bai Tian waved it off with a smile. “It’s all Shen Yu’s own hard work.”


    Bai Ruoyue was equally thrilled. Someone from Taibai had joined one of the top-tier sects—and a local powerhouse in Tianzhou, no less. Once word of this spread, it would undoubtedly boost Taibai’s reputation tremendously.


    “Dad, what did you say to Little Fish just now?” Bai Ruoyue asked, curious.


    Bai Tian shook his head. “Nothing much. Just a bit of encouragement.”


    Shen Long didn’t bring up their earlier conversation either.


    Bai Ruoyue’s eyes sparkled with mischief, but she let it drop. Instead, a hint of worry crept into her voice. “Little Fish is only sixteen. The farthest she’s ever been is the county town. Now she’s off to Suzhen Palace—I wonder if she’ll adjust, or if anyone might pick on her.”


    “Senior Sister Yu is sharp as a tack,” Han reassured her with a chuckle. “And she’s not going in alone. Master’s a True Blood Realm expert, and she’s got the Saintess’s personal recommendation. She’ll be fine.”


    At that moment, Lu Qingmo spoke up. “No need to fret. I’ll write a letter for Jiang Yanyao to take when she leaves Black Cloud Town. She can pass it to the former Saintess of Suzhen Palace, asking her to look after Shen Yu.”


    Shen Long’s face lit up even more, and he thanked Lu Qingmo profusely.


    Bai Ruoyue clung to Lu Qingmo’s arm, her voice soft and sweet. “Aunt Mo, you’re the best.”


    A little while later, Shen Yu returned to the group. Over on the Suzhen Palace side, Elder Lin Ge of the Yin God Realm watched her retreating figure and quietly asked Jiang Yanyao, “Why the sudden decision?”


    It wasn’t that she opposed the choice—just that she was puzzled. When the Saintess herself declared she’d take an inner disciple, no one, not even the Palace Master, could object. It was a small matter, and Jiang Yanyao’s word was law—provided, of course, the recruit wasn’t a man.


    “Shen Yu’s got solid talent,” Jiang Yanyao replied. “Since we crossed paths, bringing one more back with us isn’t any trouble.”


    “Fair point,” Lin Ge agreed. “The palace recruits disciples at year-end anyway. Taking a promising one early is a good start.”


    “What about her rewards?”


    “I’ll handle it when we’re back,” Jiang Yanyao said. “Resources, contribution points—she’ll get some preferential treatment.”


    Lin Ge nodded, understanding the intent: a little extra to sweeten the deal. She had no objections. For a top-tier sect like Suzhen Palace, such rewards were a drop in the bucket. And with Jiang Yanyao personally vouching for it, no one would dare meddle.


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    Lin Ge added, “Bai Ruoyue’s talent is impressive too. If we could bring her in, she’d have a shot at becoming a true disciple.”


    Another true disciple seed would be a boon, after all.


    “No chance with Bai Ruoyue,” Jiang Yanyao said, shaking her head with a faint smile. “Her background’s likely complicated.”


    Then she chuckled. “Elder Lin, don’t you think this Taibai Martial School is fascinating? A True Blood Realm master, a prodigy who appeared out of nowhere, and a hidden gem whose brilliance has yet to shine.”


    “Now that you mention it, you’re right,” Lin Ge mused. “A place like this doesn’t belong in a backwater like Black Cloud Town.”


    “Remarkable luck,” Jiang Yanyao said with a knowing look.


    Lin Ge caught the hint. It clicked why Jiang Yanyao had abruptly decided to take Shen Yu under her wing. If Han and Bai Ruoyue matured into their potential, Taibai Martial School might just become something extraordinary.


    After a moment’s thought, Lin Ge instructed the nearby disciples, “When we return, treat Shen Yu well. Look out for her.”


    Jiang Yanyao said nothing, tacitly approving. After all, she’d personally invited Shen Yu into Suzhen Palace. If anyone dared mistreat her, it’d be a slap in the Saintess’s face—a disrespect to the immortal artifact, the Tai Su Yuan Zhen Diagram itself. Who’d risk that?


    Bai Ruoyue turned to Shen Yu. “How were they?”


    Shen Yu nodded. “The elder and the senior sisters all seemed really nice.”


    “Once you’re at Suzhen Palace, train hard,” Bai Tian said with a gentle smile. “I hope one day you’ll surpass me.”


    “I will!” Shen Yu promised, then hesitated. “Master, will you and Little Junior Brother come visit me?”


    Bai Tian paused, then nodded with a warm smile. “Of course we will. All of us will.”


    Suzhen Palace didn’t accept male disciples, but family visits were permitted. If prisons allowed visitors, a sect certainly would.


    “Hey, hey, Little Fish!” Bai Ruoyue cut in, feigning indignation. “You only asked if Dad and Little Junior Brother would visit? What about me, your big senior sister? Don’t tell me you don’t want to see me!”


    “No way! I’d love to see you too, Senior Sister!” Shen Yu protested.


    Bai Ruoyue ruffled Shen Yu’s hair with a laugh. “Soon you’ll be a disciple of a grand sect. I’ll have to bow when I see you!”


    Laughter rippled through the group. Shen Yu, blushing, grabbed Bai Ruoyue’s arm. At her age, she was already mature enough to understand the expectations everyone had for her—which was exactly why she’d chosen Suzhen Palace.


    Recalling Bai Tian’s earlier words to her and Shen Long, her resolve hardened. She’d train with everything she had at Suzhen Palace.


    Watching the scene, Han felt a quiet joy. Life was looking brighter by the day. No matter what happened after their master left, at least Shen Yu would thrive.


    Bai Ruoyue suddenly piped up. “When Yunduo apprenticed under Aunt Mo, it was a big deal. Little Fish joining Suzhen Palace deserves more than a quiet send-off.”


    “Apprenticeship and joining a sect aren’t the same,” Bai Tian said, shutting down his daughter’s idea. “No need to make a fuss. It’s not a secret, but it doesn’t call for a celebration either.”


    “Master’s right,” Han chimed in—only to earn a glare from Bai Ruoyue.


    Oh, great, Little Junior Brother’s siding with the enemy again, she seemed to say.


    Han could only shrug. Facts were facts.


    Shen Yu’s situation differed from Yunduo’s. Yunduo’s formal apprenticeship under Lu Qingmo meant she’d joined Xuandu Temple and aligned herself with Lu Qingmo’s faction—a significant backing within the temple, complete with connections to Lu Qingmo’s master, senior sisters, junior brothers, and allies. Shen Yu, though, was simply entering Suzhen Palace without a specific master. Jiang Yanyao’s support was more a favor than a formal tie. It was something, but not quite a foundation.


    Now, if Shen Yu could apprentice under the former Saintess, that’d be a game-changer—worthy of a grand celebration. A Saintess’s master was always a Saintess too, but any Saintess could take additional disciples if she wished. For a non-Saintess to study under one meant a direct line to the Palace Master’s inner circle—a rocket to the top.


    Half an hour slipped by unnoticed until Venerable Tianhe spoke again. “Everyone, it’s time. Follow me up the mountain.”


    “The Origin Divine Pool requires a lengthy soak,” he added. “There’s no need for the rest of you to wait here. Please return to Black Cloud Town and rest.”


    “Master, we’re heading up now,” Han said.


    “Go on,” Bai Tian replied.


    The seven who’d passed the trial gathered around Venerable Tianhe. They briefly explained Shen Yu’s situation, and Yunduo dashed over, playfully massaging the Venerable’s shoulders while filling him in. With a fond pat on Yunduo’s head, he smiled and approved Shen Yu’s slot transfer.


    A Suzhen Palace disciple who’d failed the trial for unknown reasons clutched a glowing token, casting Shen Yu a grateful glance.


    Once all the successful candidates assembled, Venerable Tianhe unleashed his power, enveloping Han and the others. In a flash, they shot skyward, racing toward the heart of Black Mountain.


    This isn’t like last time, when we blinked and arrived at Tianxu, Han thought. That trip must’ve involved a power beyond the Yin God Realm—maybe the Mountain God or some hidden Yun family expert.


    Venerable Tianhe moved swiftly. They passed countless flying beasts along the way, but none paid them any mind, as if he were invisible. It reminded Han of that Death Plague Corpse from before. Though wild beasts lacked intellect, the Yun family clearly had ways to handle them.


    In moments, the towering Black Mountain loomed ahead—the deepest region Han had never reached before.


    Venerable Tianhe set them down and gestured to the left. There, a smaller hill was riddled with caves, each sealed by a shimmering black barrier.


    “Each cave holds an Origin Divine Pool,” he explained. “Based on your trial performance, you’ll be assigned one. The tokens I gave you will guide you to your designated cave—no fighting over them.”


    “Enter the pool directly once inside. No need to worry about beasts or interruptions. After absorbing the pool’s power, wait in the cave for the others. Once everyone’s done, I’ll take you all back together.”


    The group thanked him and dispersed to find their pools. But a few lingered: Han, Bai Ruoyue, and a handful of prodigies from top sects and first-rate factions.


    Venerable Tianhe turned to them. “You all excelled in the trial. Beyond the Origin Divine Pool, the ancestors have prepared additional rewards.”


    The Yun family wouldn’t favor just Han and Bai Ruoyue—the other prodigies had earned their due too.


    “Follow me up the mountain,” he said, leading them toward the true Black Mountain.


    This was their privilege.


    Even a bath had to be taken atop the peak.