Song Yao: “Why?”
“Last night, you were invaded by malevolent energy, and your body was extremely weak. You needed to take medicinal pills, but only disciples of the Nine Saints Hall are qualified to use them. So, I took the initiative and joined the sect on your behalf.”
The boy looked rather pleased with himself. “No need to thank me.”
Song Yao: “...”
She had gone to so much trouble to escape from the Nine Saints Hall, yet she had ended up right back there in the blink of an eye.
It felt like she had been set up.
She couldn't be sure.
She would wait and see.
She suddenly thought of something and clutched at it like a lifesaver. “I remember the Nine Saints Hall requires disciples who have never cultivated before to be under seventeen? I'm already twenty. It's not appropriate, definitely not appropriate.”
“Twenty?”
The boy cast a bizarre glance at her. “We measured your bone age last night. You're only fifteen, a year younger than me.”
Song Yao: “Who? Me? Fifteen?”
“Of course. You're barely a kid, yet you're acting all mature.”
For some reason, the boy looked exasperated with her. He turned and walked out of the room. “Hurry up, change your clothes, and clean yourself up. I'll wait for you outside. Don't miss the time for the apprenticeship ceremony.”
The moment the door closed, Song Yao lunged toward the bronze mirror by the table.
Seeing the familiar, slightly immature face, she froze on the spot.
This was actually her own body from before she transmigrated.
Back then, she was exactly fifteen when a speeding truck sent her flying straight into the cultivation world.
Getting it back now filled her with an inexplicable sense of nostalgia.
However, this face was currently incredibly dirty, her hair was a messy nest, and her clothes were in tatters, making her look like a beggar who couldn't even scrounge up a meal.
Song Yao weighed her options and decided to change her clothes first, then head to the ceremony to find someone in charge so she could withdraw from the sect.
It wasn't that she didn't want to just run away, but she already had the Nine Saints Hall's mark on her wrist.
Disciples of the Nine Saints Hall often traveled far and wide, and this mark existed to protect them, helping to locate their whereabouts as quickly as possible.
But on Song Yao, it was nothing more than a tracking device.
Without erasing the mark, she would be found by the people of the Nine Saints Hall no matter where she fled.
Rather than alerting them unnecessarily, it was better to leave in a dignified and upright manner.
...
The mountains rose in majestic peaks, and a sea of clouds surged.
In front of the Fuguang Platform, a dense crowd of youths dressed in plain Daoist robes stood in several neat lines. Their faces were flushed, and their eyes shone with uncontrollable excitement.
Those who could stand here had already crossed the first threshold to become disciples of the Nine Saints Hall.
Within the Tianshu Realm, who didn't know the name of the Nine Saints Hall?
With a thousand years of heritage and orthodox sword cultivation, cultivators across the world fought tooth and nail just to squeeze their way in. Even being an outer sect disciple was a tremendous stroke of good fortune.
Song Yao blended into the crowd, her brow slightly lowered.
The boy beside her was chattering endlessly. “Yesterday, I tested positive for a water-earth dual spiritual root, though I don't know what grade it is. Sigh, you're too pessimistic. What's so bad about staying in the Nine Saints Hall? The two of us can look out for each other...”
After talking for a long time without receiving a response from Song Yao, he changed the subject. “By the way, my name is Ning Zhou. I haven't asked for your name yet.”
Song Yao, who wanted to be an ordinary person, made up a very ordinary name for herself: “Lin Mu.”
“Lin Mu? Is your five-elements profile lacking wood or something...?”
Before he could finish, a dazzling burst of light suddenly erupted from the spirit-testing platform at the front of the queue to their right.
“Jiang Jin, bone age seventeen, Heaven-grade peak metal spiritual root!”
The crowd in front of the Fuguang Platform instantly erupted into an uproar.
Single spiritual roots were extremely rare in this world; most people could only cultivate three or four spiritual roots, let alone a Heaven-grade peak metal spiritual root!
This was truly a talent born for sword cultivation!
Even Song Yao couldn't help but look up and glance in that direction.
It wasn't for any other reason, but because...
Jiang Jin.
The Mary Sue male lead of this book was actually only appearing now.
In the book, as soon as Jiang Jin made his appearance, his ultimate talent amazed everyone. He was fought over by a crowd of elders, and eventually, he was taken in as a disciple by the Hall Master, becoming the last legacy disciple of this generation.
Sure enough, just as written in the book, the morning mist over the distant mountains was torn apart by streaks of light from incoming flying swords.
Several figures arrived riding on their swords, their robes fluttering as a heavy spiritual pressure descended.
Leading them was the Third Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, his hair and beard completely white. His gaze burned with intensity as he looked at Jiang Jin. “A Heaven-grade metal spiritual root is most suited for the Artifact Refining Hall! Why not join my lineage?”
“Bullshit! A metal spiritual root is a natural-born sword cultivator. What would he do in your Artifact Refining Hall? Strike iron? What a waste! Of course he should follow this old man!”
“Does the Nine Saints Hall lack sword cultivators? Naturally, he should follow me for spiritual cultivation!”
“Alright, alright.”
The Third Elder cut off the bickering and looked at Jiang Jin with blazing eyes. “This old man won't beat around the bush. I'm afraid all the elders present today want to take you under their wings. If you are willing, I can guide you personally, and the position of the Law Enforcement Hall leader might even be yours in the future.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around was shocked.
What kind of place was the Law Enforcement Hall?
It was the head of the seven halls of the Nine Saints Hall, in charge of the sect's rules and discipline. Its power was so immense that ordinary people could hardly imagine it.
The Third Elder's words were practically a blatant hint that he would groom him as his successor.
The envy in the eyes of the surrounding youths almost overflowed, and hushed exclamations rose one after another.
“Heaven-grade peak... I wouldn't even dare to dream of it.”
“For the Third Elder to personally speak up, how much face is that?”
“Comparison really is the thief of joy. If I had even a Mysterious-grade spiritual root, I'd be thanking my lucky stars.”
“Stop talking. If you say any more, my Dao Heart is going to shatter.”
Amidst the whispering, the other elders couldn't sit still either, and they began throwing out olive branches one after another.
For a moment, the front of the Fuguang Platform was as bustling as a marketplace.
Surrounded by everyone like a star cradled by the moon, the young man smiled with slightly curved eyes, looking somewhat bashful.
Only Song Yao noticed that his gaze would occasionally dart toward the main peak, looking somewhat anxious.
Song Yao knew what he was waiting for.
He was waiting for the Hall Master.
Logically speaking, the Hall Master should have appeared by now, swept him up with a wave of his hand, and put an end to this farce.
Why hadn't he arrived yet?”
Standing lazily in a corner, the Twelfth Elder spoke up to interrupt everyone's bickering. “Alright, it's just a Heaven-grade metal spiritual root. Is there really a need to squabble like this? Let's wait for the Hall Master to arrive before making a decision.”
These words were rather blunt. Remembering something, the elders didn't refute him, nor did they have any intention of leaving, clearly planning to wait right there.
Only the warm smile on Jiang Jin's face froze.
A few people behind him couldn't help but mutter, “What does he mean by 'just a Heaven-grade metal spiritual root'? Isn't that already heaven-defying?”
“Surely that's enough to become a legacy disciple?”
“How could it be that simple? Have you forgotten? There's a real monster among the legacy disciples! She had a God-grade peak metal spiritual root. God-grade! I heard she achieved great mastery in the sword path in just five short years. Everyone called her the Sword Demon.”
“God-grade?! Then a Heaven-grade really is a bit lacking in comparison...”
As they spoke, seeing that Jiang Jin's expression didn't look right, they quickly leaned in to comfort him. “But I heard she was utterly wicked and has already died in the Earth Realm. No matter how extraordinarily talented someone is, they still have to be alive.”
“What do you mean utterly wicked? Didn't the Earth Realm actually quiet down for a while because of her?”
Ning Zhou squeezed to the front and listened for a while, then turned his head, his face full of envy. “I wonder what it feels like to be that kind of genius.”
Song Yao: “Average.”
Ning Zhou cast a disdainful glance at her. “You say that as if you've actually been one. Come on, it's our turn.”
Rate on N.U.
