Dongxuan frowned deeply.
“Forget it,” said Emperor Lingzhen, her tone faintly exasperated. “That man has never liked getting involved in these things.”
“But he’s still Hengluan’s personal disciple,” said Emperor Yuanguang softly. “If he continues to stay hidden, won’t the Tianyan Sect’s spellcraft branch wither away?”
Dongxuan pondered for a long while, then nodded slowly.
“Yuanguang is right. Invite him. Even if not for our Sect’s sake, we cannot let Hengluan’s spell techniques end with him.”
Lingzhen, though reluctant, finally nodded seriously.
“Mm. Then let’s summon him.”
While the elders discussed this above, the young candidates below were whispering among themselves—full of curiosity and chatter.
“Hey, hey, do you know who they’re talking about?” a young man in a purple brocade robe asked those nearby.
Li Tiankuo, dressed in plain robes, sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, pretending not to hear.
The purple-robed youth pouted, disappointed, until a girl in a goose-yellow dress leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, “I heard it’s Pei Yuan, the personal disciple of Emperor Hengluan—the one who sealed the demons with her own body a hundred years ago!”
“Whoa! No wonder!” the purple-robed youth exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to learn Emperor Hengluan’s unmatched illusion techniques!”
The girl snorted. “You? Don’t even think about it!”
“Why not?”
She smiled proudly. “Because I’ll be the one he chooses, of course!”
“…Tch.” The boy rolled his eyes. “Arrogant.”
“Hmph! Say what you want!” she tossed her hair smugly.
Bai Yuheng, listening to their chatter, couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her lips. But when they mentioned Pei Yuan—her former disciple—her amusement faded, replaced by a soft, distant melancholy.
That brat… I wonder how he’s doing now.
She still remembered the day she resolved to seal the demons with her own body. Her quick-witted disciple had knelt outside her hall for hours, begging her to give up the thought.
“Come in and speak,” Bai Yuheng had said, disliking others kneeling before her. With a flick of her sleeve, she drew him into the hall.
“Master, are you going to abandon me again?” the boy asked hoarsely, his voice trembling. For the first time, he pressed his forehead against her lap, eyes red and glistening as he looked up at her in silent plea.
She said nothing, only stroking his hair, her eyes full of both pride and sorrow.
“Yuan’er has grown so much,” she murmured.
“Master…” He grasped her hand and rubbed his face against her palm, his tone desperate and pitiful. “Master, I’ll help you. Please… don’t leave me.”
She ignored his plea. When he saw she wouldn’t yield, Pei Yuan suddenly formed a seal—the very binding technique she had taught him—and trapped her within his own barrier.
“Yuan’er, don’t make trouble.” She stood calmly within the hall, gazing at him helplessly.
Outside the barrier, the young man’s robe whipped in the wind, his eyes full of fierce, desperate resolve.
“So you’re abandoning me too, Master?”
“I have not abandoned you,” she said softly. “Be good. Remove the barrier.”
“I’m not a child anymore,” he said bitterly. “You can’t deceive me with empty words.”
“I’m not deceiving you.” Her voice carried quiet patience. “The world is in chaos, Yuan’er. As cultivators, we must uphold Heaven’s heart, bring peace to all living beings, and protect the people. Have I not always taught you this?”
Pei Yuan pressed his lips together, saying nothing. Then he suddenly formed another seal, reinforcing the barrier.
“You won’t leave this place today.”
You won’t leave me.
“Pei Yuan!”
It was the first time she had ever shouted his name in anger.
His body trembled, but his eyes were full of stubborn, unyielding darkness.
In any other situation, Bai Yuheng might have praised his mastery—he had perfected the technique she taught him. But right now, all she wanted was to smack him on the head.
“Master, you should give up,” Pei Yuan said with a smirk. “I created this formation myself. You can’t break it.”
His tone held a twisted satisfaction. “You once promised to stay by my side forever, Master. You can’t leave me.”
Bai Yuheng’s lips curved into a cold smile. The boy’s expression was almost deranged. With a flick of her fingers, she effortlessly shattered his barrier.
The stunned look on his face made her chuckle.
“Foolish boy. If your skills are weak, practice more. Trying to trap your master? You’ll need a few more decades for that!”
With another gesture, she bound him tightly.
“Master!” Pei Yuan struggled, the ropes only tightening further. His eyes were filled with confusion, anger, and heartbreak—but she had no time to dwell on it.
“Hengluan, it’s time.”
Emperor Yuanguang appeared in the doorway. His brows drew together when he saw the bound disciple glaring at him, but he said nothing.
Bai Yuheng nodded, then turned to scold her disciple.
“You’ll stay here and reflect on your behavior. When I return, I’ll make sure to discipline you properly! You’ve grown far too unruly.”
“Master, don’t leave me! Please—”
But her mind was made up. She ignored his cries and mounted her luan bird, departing with Yuanguang toward the battlefield.
The young man fell to his knees, tears spilling as he watched her vanish into the sky.
Pei Yuan had always been her most talented disciple—brilliant, composed, and resourceful. No matter how difficult the challenge, he always found a way. He had even learned to undo seals she had never taught him.
When she saw him again on the battlefield, she’d felt a flicker of pride. But she had no time to tell him that she was proud of him—of the man he had become.
There was only one step left to seal the demons. Concentrating her spirit, she began fusing her very soul.
“Master!”
The Four Directions Mirror floated in the air as strands of her soul wrapped around the rampaging demon below.
Pei Yuan ran toward her, desperately trying to shatter the self-sacrificing array.
Just a little closer.
Almost—
BOOM—
A burst of golden light filled the sky.
The backlash of her shattered soul knocked everyone to the ground.
“NO!!!”
“Yuan’er,” her fading voice echoed faintly in his mind. “Wait for me on Mount Wangxian.”
“No… no… please…”
“Don’t go!”
The grand hall was dark and silent now, save for the low murmur of a grown man’s voice.
“Master…”
On the bed sat a tall, broad-shouldered man, his back hunched slightly. His long black hair slowly turned silver with every wave of his unstable spiritual power.
Knock, knock—
Urgent knocking broke the silence.
“Master Uncle, the three elders request your presence.”
It was a young celestial attendant’s trembling voice.
Inside, the man stirred. The hollow despair in his eyes dimmed slightly as he exhaled.
Barefoot, he rose and walked across the cold floor. His silver hair gradually darkened again with each step.
Bang!
The doors burst open from within.
The little attendant jumped, his wings fluttering in fright.
“M-M-Master Uncle, th-the elders… they request your presence…”
He was terrified—this cold-faced master uncle was the one person everyone in the sect feared most.
He stammered through his message, bowed clumsily, and bolted away.
“….”
Pei Yuan exhaled slowly, turned back inside, and changed out of his sweat-dampened robe.
In the Main Hall.
The elders were busy with their own matters and didn’t intend to wait long. Having already sent word to Pei Yuan, they began selecting disciples. But after hearing Dongxuan’s suggestion, they hesitated.
All three turned to look at Bai Yuheng. To shatter a Spirit Testing Stone—none of them had ever seen such a thing. Regardless of which master she followed, she was clearly a peerless talent.
Yuanguang flicked his sleeve and set up a soundproof barrier so their discussion wouldn’t unsettle the disciples.
“I believe her sword bones are exceptional,” said Lingzhen first. “She’d fit well under my Sword Sect.”
“Heh, not necessarily,” said Dongxuan. “Didn’t you see how she used everything around her as a weapon? That adaptability suits my Artifact Sect perfectly!”
“You old man!” Lingzhen glared. “You stole Sui Qing from me three years ago, and now you want her too? Let’s settle this with a duel—whoever loses gives her up!”
“Ha! Who’s afraid of you?”
They were seconds from fighting right there in the hall.
Yuanguang sighed, rubbing his temples. “Children are still watching. Mind your dignity, both of you.”
“Then what do you suggest?” Lingzhen demanded.
Yuanguang smiled kindly. “This disciple’s temperament seems calm and steady. She’d be best suited for alchemy.”
“…”
“…”
“Then you fight too!” both retorted at once.
Yuanguang laughed and waved them off. “My martial strength can’t compare to either of you. Let’s think of another way.”
Lingzhen crossed her arms. “Enough thinking. Let’s hold a test. Whoever’s chosen disciple displays the best aptitude wins.”
Dongxuan and Yuanguang exchanged glances—then nodded.
“Agreed.”
Each would assess the disciples’ abilities, then consult their preferences before deciding.
“I’ll go first,” said Yuanguang, stepping forward. “Those who wish to join my Alchemy Hall, step forward.”
Of the seven candidates, only one remained still—Li Tiankuo.
Bai Yuheng hesitated, then stepped forward. She might as well try; this was only part of the process anyway.
Others followed suit—most thinking the same: being chosen by any of the three was an honor.
Yuanguang waved his sleeve, and alchemical tools appeared before them.
“Watch carefully as I refine a pill. Then, replicate it. The best result earns the highest mark.”
“Yes!”
They watched closely as he demonstrated. The process seemed simple, but controlling heat and timing was exceedingly difficult.
Several began sweating halfway through, but none gave up.
A Solidifying Pill, Bai Yuheng noted immediately.
Having watched Yuanguang countless times before, she easily mimicked his method, though not quite correctly—her movements a bit too casual.
Yuanguang stood in front of her, struggling to find words. His expression changed several times before she offered him an embarrassed smile.
“…”
He sighed inwardly. The steps were wrong, the fire control sloppy—but somehow, the result was still… fine.
Just like her old self, he thought helplessly, rubbing his forehead.
Moving on, he stopped before the goose-yellow girl, eyebrows lifting in surprise.
“You’ve refined poison before?”
The girl brightened immediately. “Yes! My father is the Sect Master of the Five Poisons Sect.”
Yuanguang’s eyes flashed. “You’re Cen Ying?”
She grinned. “The very same! You know me, Emperor?”
“I attended your hundred-day banquet once,” he said with a kind smile. “You have great potential.”
Cen Ying’s cheeks flushed pink, her eyes shining. “Thank you, Emperor, for your praise!”
Though the pills weren’t finished, Yuanguang already knew his choice. Glancing back at Bai Yuheng, he sighed again.
How can two people be so alike—so gifted, yet so hopelessly chaotic in alchemy?
“Alright,” said Dongxuan, stepping up. “Now for my test.”
He waved his hand, and a mechanical device appeared.
“Whoever can disassemble and reassemble this the fastest wins.”
Again, everyone except Li Tiankuo participated.
Artifact-making was something Bai Yuheng excelled at. After all, she’d lived for centuries; such beginner-level mechanisms were child’s play.
She and a shy boy in blue finished nearly at the same time—almost simultaneous. They exchanged smiles.
Next came Lingzhen’s sword test.
This time, even Li Tiankuo joined in.
They entered a sword array. Whoever could defeat the sword spirit the fastest would win.
The array was alive—both offensive and adaptive, nearly impossible to predict.
As the disciples fought within the glowing formation, a new presence quietly entered the hall.
End of Chapter 3 – Pei Yuan: “You’re abandoning me too, Master?”