“Esteemed Daoist, I beg of you, take me as your disciple. I once hailed from a well-to-do family, but it was slaughtered by evil men—three hundred souls, all lost to the sword, leaving only me and a younger sister, abandoned and alone. I wandered the world, relying on the reputation of the Daoist sect, begging my way here. All I wish for is to join your sect, learn the Dao, and cultivate my skills. If you accept me, I will do everything I can in return…”


    In the southern part of the Daanbu region, under the Taihang Mountain range of the Chu Dynasty, stood the majestic gates of the Qingyun Daoist Sect. Hundreds of young people were lined up outside the sect’s entrance, waiting for a portly Daoist to conduct an inquiry. At the head of the line stood a boy of around ten years old, his face streaked with tears, begging in a pitiful tone. His face was grimy, but his eyes were bright and full of innocence, and his voice carried a sense of sorrow that stirred the heart.


    The portly Daoist cast a disdainful glance at the boy, squinting as he asked, “Do you have a recommendation letter?”


    “No…” the boy answered awkwardly, lowering his head.


    “Do you have any treasures to offer?”


    “No…”


    “Do you possess a rare physique?”


    “No…”


    With each question, the boy’s response grew more reluctant, and the Daoist, clearly unimpressed, kicked the boy, sending him tumbling for two full rolls. “No recommendation letter? Then you''re a nobody. No treasures? Then you’re just a beggar. No rare physique? Then you''re worthless. You, a beggar in ragged clothes, dare to come to our Qingyun Sect to beg for apprenticeship? Open your eyes and look—this isn’t a charity!”


    The long line of people behind them burst into loud laughter, watching the boy with mockery in their eyes.


    Everyone thought the boy was laughably naive. With nothing to his name, how could he dare to dream of joining Qingyun Sect?


    It’s worth noting that Qingyun Sect was one of the most respected Daoist sects in the Chu Dynasty, with a lineage spanning three thousand years. It had a deep and rich heritage, and its disciples were all exceptional. Just recently, for instance, in the northwest of Chu’s domain, a band of notorious bandits had been terrorizing the region, unchecked even by the local authorities. Upon hearing of this, a true disciple of Qingyun, Xiao Jianming, took matters into his own hands. Armed with only his sword, he single-handedly infiltrated the bandits’ stronghold in Yan Valley, where he defeated nine out of the ten infamous bandit leaders with a single strike each, leaving only one to escape. His name quickly became known throughout the Chu Dynasty.


    This incident had only amplified the Qingyun Daoist Sect’s reputation among the common folk of Chu. Its fame was now unparalleled. At this very moment, the sect was holding its once-every-decade disciple recruitment ceremony, and countless officials and nobles were sparing no expense to send their children to join. Those with connections used their influence; those with treasures offered them freely. They exhausted every means at their disposal, yet still found the gates of the sect shut to them.


    But this boy, empty-handed, looking like a beggar, dared to approach the sect seeking apprenticeship. It was nothing short of delusional.


    After the boy was kicked away, he said nothing. Instead, he silently walked ten paces back, before suddenly jumping up and shouting angrily, “You fat pig, with boils on your head and pus oozing from your feet! You dare insult me? With your ugly, stubby figure and pig-like nose, how dare you mock me! I came to Qingyun Sect to see if you were worth it. Now, you don’t know any better, but mark my words: One day, I’ll burn down your broken temple!”


    “You little bastard! How dare you insult me!”


    The portly Daoist was infuriated. He grabbed a long sword nearby and charged at the boy. The boy, seeing him come, immediately turned and fled, weaving through the crowd with surprising agility. The Daoist, unable to catch up, stood still, shaking his sword in frustration while cursing loudly.


    What was supposed to be a solemn and dignified disciple recruitment ceremony at Qingyun Sect had suddenly turned into a farce, drawing loud laughter from the onlookers.


    “You think I’m coming to join your Qingyun Sect because I look up to you? You’d better accept me, or I’ll join another sect and cultivate supreme skills. Then, I’ll come back and beat all of you, making you cry to your mothers!”


    The boy, seeing the Daoist unable to catch him, grew more arrogant and called out to him in a mocking tone.


    The portly Daoist was livid, his face turning red. He wanted to chase after the boy, but the crowd was so thick that his plump body couldn’t break through easily. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He raised his voice, calling out, “Whoever captures this little brat for me and gets him registered first will be rewarded!”


    Upon hearing this, the boy froze in surprise and turned to flee.


    But the others waiting to register, having heard the Daoist''s words, were immediately tempted. A narrow mountain path was already crowded with thousands of people, and the line had barely moved despite waiting for half a day. Hearing the Daoist’s offer, many couldn’t resist the temptation to catch the boy and avoid the long wait.


    Others, too, thought that even if they had to grab this boy, it wasn’t so bad. After all, getting into the good graces of a Daoist sect disciple was far more important.


    The boy was slippery and nimble. Four or five young men tried to catch him, but he evaded them easily. Just when he seemed to be about to escape the encircling crowd, a pale-faced young man with cold, calculating eyes suddenly emerged from the crowd. He sneered and said, “You’ve got some skill, but it’s not enough to impress me.” With that, he swiftly reached out and grabbed the boy by the collar, lifting him off the ground.


    The boy struggled with all his might, but in the young man’s grip, he was like a snake held by its weak point—completely unable to escape.


    "Ah, thank you, brother! May I know your name?"


    The portly Daoist panted as he ran over, his face full of joy. He hurriedly thanked the young man.


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    "Senior Brother is too kind. I am Hou Qing, merely helping to catch a little rascal. It was no trouble at all," the young man replied politely, bowing respectfully to the Daoist.


    "Not at all, not at all! I''ll deal with this little brat first, then take you to the front to register," the portly Daoist said with a smile, then turned his gaze to the boy, his eyes flickering with malice. "You, a filthy beggar, dare to insult me, a Daoist disciple? Today, I’ll not take your life, but I’ll make sure you remember this lesson!"


    With that, he hopped over, cracking his knuckles and grinning ominously.


    However, as a Daoist disciple, he naturally couldn’t just harm someone at will. Even if the boy was a beggar, a couple of slaps to teach him a lesson would suffice.


    "Don’t… don’t hurt my young master!"


    Suddenly, a little girl emerged from the crowd, standing in front of the Daoist, blocking his way.


    Like the boy, she was filthy, but she appeared to be no older than seven or eight years old. Despite her skinny frame, her features were exceptionally delicate. What stood out the most were her ears, which were slightly pointed, reminiscent of a fox’s. Her eyes also glimmered with a strange, greenish hue, giving her an almost otherworldly appearance. It was clear that she wasn’t purely human but likely of mixed heritage, possibly a half-blooded barbarian.


    "You little savage! Didn’t I tell you to stay hidden?" The boy, still hanging in the air, immediately yelled at her.


    "Young master, if I didn’t come out, he was going to hit you…" the little barbarian girl said, her voice small but persistent, as she held out her arms to block the Daoist.


    "I’m perfectly capable of handling things myself! Get out of the way!" The boy tried to strike a threatening pose, even though it was clear he wasn’t very strong, his words carrying more attitude than power.


    "This little beggar has a barbarian for a servant?" The Daoist looked at the girl, seemingly intrigued and somewhat drooling at her youthful beauty.


    In this world, those like her were called "barbarians," the lowest of the low. Even the demon race looked down on them, and humans were no better. If they were kept as servants, they were either concubines or lowly slaves. But this beggar child, possessing such a servant, was indeed unusual.


    "Hmph, dirty, lowly vermin…" Hou Qing sneered coldly, and with a swift movement, he kicked the girl aside.


    The little boy went wild. "You bastard! How dare you bully my little barbarian! I’ll slaughter you!"


    The barbarian girl was kicked away by Hou Qing with such force that she flew more than ten feet before crashing into a tree. Though the young man didn’t aim to kill, the girl still lay motionless on the ground, blood trickling from her head. The crowd stood silent, shocked, but no one dared to intervene. After all, she was just a lowly barbarian—an insignificant life that no one cared about.


    "My brother here has always despised these filthy barbarians. I hope you won’t find me too harsh, Senior Brother," Hou Qing said, a bit sheepish but still smiling.


    "Er… no problem… no problem…" The portly Daoist replied, a bit embarrassed, but deep down, he thought Hou Qing was too brutal, though he didn’t say it aloud.


    Meanwhile, the boy still struggled in Hou Qing’s grip, but no one paid him any mind.


    "Ah! That little barbarian’s blood… What’s happening?"


    Suddenly, someone in the crowd gasped in surprise. People turned to look, and they saw blood trickling from the barbarian girl’s forehead, staining the surrounding grass. To everyone’s astonishment, the grass—already withered from the autumn chill—began to slowly revive, with new green shoots sprouting out, as though the plants were coming back to life. The vibrant green leaves seemed almost to glisten, as if they were made of jade and could almost drip with dew.


    "Wood Spirit Bloodline… This little girl actually possesses the rare Wood Spirit Bloodline!"


    Among the crowd of would-be disciples, many were wealthy or noble, and some had knowledge of rare bloodlines. Immediately, one of them murmured in awe.


    The crowd buzzed with excitement, some astonished, others disdainful, and still others envious.


    The Wood Spirit Bloodline was one of the rarest and most extraordinary bloodlines in the world, capable of promoting the growth of plants.


    Such a bloodline was highly sought after by Daoist sects.


    The earlier exchange between the Daoist and the boy clearly showed what the sect valued in prospective disciples: either a recommendation letter from someone connected to the sect, wealth and treasures to offer, or a rare physique. The boy had none of these, making him the subject of ridicule.


    But who would have thought that the boy’s barbarian servant would possess such a rare and valuable bloodline?


    Not long after, the whispers spread throughout the crowd, reaching the inner sect and drawing the attention of a high-ranking figure.


    Before long, the sound of a large bird’s wings flapping filled the air. A white crane, over ten yards long, soared down from the sky. On its back was a cold-eyed woman in white, accompanied by two young girls with horns on their heads.


    "Ah, Senior Sister Lingyun, we greet you!" The portly Daoist immediately dropped to his knees, offering a deep bow.


    The young men around them, though they didn’t recognize the woman, hurriedly followed suit, calling her "Senior Sister."


    Lingyun, the woman in white, paid no attention to the others. Her gaze swept across the crowd, landing on the barbarian girl lying in the grass. She motioned for the crane to land, and she knelt beside the girl. After examining the surrounding grass and smelling the blood on her finger, she nodded with a smile, as though confirming something.


    "Add this girl to the list of disciples for today," she said calmly, picking the girl up in her arms.


    "Yes, yes, Senior Sister Lingyun. I understand!" The portly Daoist stammered, bowing deeply.


    Though the girl was a barbarian, Lingyun’s word was law. With that, the girl became an official disciple of Qingyun Sect.


    The crowd looked on in awe, filled with envy. From a lowly barbarian to a disciple of Qingyun Sect, it was a leap to greatness.


    Even the boy in Hou Qing’s grip stared wide-eyed in shock.


    As Lingyun prepared to leave, holding the girl in her arms, the girl stirred and weakly called out, "Don’t hit my young master… Don’t hit… Young Master Fang Xing…"


    Lingyun paused for a moment, then asked indifferently, "Who is Young Master Fang Xing?"


    The boy, still dumbfounded, raised his hand and shouted, "I… I’m Young Master Fang Xing! You’ll return my servant to me!"


    Lingyun glanced at him with a faint smile. "From today onwards, she’s no longer your servant."


    With that, she waved her hand and tossed a small jade talisman in his direction. It was a tiny, purple-hued jade pendant, delicate and exquisite.


    "The Innate Purple Qi Pill…" The portly Daoist gasped in shock, unable to suppress his excitement.


    To help a barbarian servant girl escape her status as a mere servant, she had actually given up such a precious pill?


    The surrounding disciples, who were all waiting to be accepted, watched in stunned disbelief. Many of them couldn’t help but show a greedy gleam in their eyes, as if they wished they could swallow the boy whole.


    The Innate Purple Qi Pill was a legendary treasure, capable of strengthening the body and improving one''s martial potential. Yet, this priceless item was just casually handed over to a little beggar?


    How many people, in that very moment, had thoughts of seizing the pill for themselves?


    The boy stared at the Innate Purple Qi Pill, unable to control the saliva that pooled in his mouth. But when he saw Lingyun, the woman in white, preparing to leave with the barbarian girl, he suddenly snapped out of his daze and shouted, “You can’t leave! Who said this pill can exchange for my servant? I don’t want it! Take the pill back and leave my servant here!”


    "Mm?"


    Lingyun’s gaze turned back, her eyes cold with murderous intent. The boy immediately shut his mouth, too terrified to speak.


    "I… I don’t want the pill…" The boy, still holding on to a bit of courage, stammered, "Unless… unless you take me into your sect…"


    At that moment, the other disciples, who had been silently criticizing the boy for his impudence, suddenly understood what was happening. They realized the boy had been waiting for this very moment.


    Lingyun was slightly taken aback, then smiled, though her expression was tinged with disdain. She turned to the portly Daoist and said, "I’ll take him as well. But his talent is average at best, and his temper is wild. Let’s put him to work in the herb garden and let him temper himself there."


    "Uh… Understood, Senior Sister," the portly Daoist replied, a bit stunned. He bowed, though his face held a strange look of uncertainty.