Lin Changkong suddenly laughed.
Just moments ago, he was fighting desperately, using his life to gamble on a slim chance.
But now...
I have a cheat.
Even if I can't join the Azure Cloud Sect, so what?
As long as I find a place to hide and cultivate quietly, given time, I can still become a great cultivator.
One level per year, limitless advancement, with such a golden finger in hand, all I lack is time.
At this moment, he no longer hoped to join the sect.
But... if he could join, it would indeed be safer in the early stages, just a place to settle down.
Just as Lin Changkong was about to step down the mountain.
The world suddenly changed.
The clear sky, without a cloud in sight, suddenly burst with radiant light.
Not just a beam, not just a patch, but as if the heavens had been torn open, endless purple-gold radiance poured down from the rift, like a waterfall from the nine heavens cascading into the mortal world.
Where the radiance passed, the clouds were dyed gold and purple, the sky seemed to transform into a vast ocean, shimmering and glistening.
Seven figures emerged from the depths of the radiance, walking on air.
Leading them was an exceptionally beautiful woman, her figure tall and graceful.
She walked on air, and with each step, a golden lotus formed from spiritual qi bloomed beneath her feet, each step leaving a lotus that lingered.
Her moon-white flowing celestial dress fluttered gently in the wind, making her appear even more ethereal and celestial.
Her figure was perfectly curved, the peaks and valleys outlined in breathtaking arcs.
Her waist was so slender it seemed it could break with a gentle twist.
Beneath the hem of her dress, a pair of long, straight legs were faintly visible, their proportions astonishing, each step carrying an indescribable rhythm.
Her skin was fairer than snow, her bones like jade.
Sunlight through the radiance cast a faint, lustrous glow on her, as if she were not of flesh and blood, but a celestial body carved from heavenly jade.
Her face was veiled with a thin layer of white gauze, revealing only her eyes.
Those eyes, cold as the frost moon, deep as a dark pool.
With just a casual glance, they seemed to see through one's heart, see through everything.
Beneath the veil, surely lay a face capable of toppling nations.
Behind her were six white-haired elders.
Unlike the woman, these elders did not deliberately restrain their aura, the pressure of their cultivation prowess poured out like mountains and seas.
In an instant, the sky above Azure Cloud Mountain changed dramatically.
Figures surrounded by spiritual light, some encircled by pale golden lightning, crackling.
Some surrounded by countless tiny sword lights, flickering.
Others shrouded in a faint starlight, seemingly resonating with the stars above.
Their white hair fluttered gently in the wind, each strand seemed to contain a certain Dao rhythm.
Their faces were aged but not decrepit, instead exuding a return to simplicity, an immortal elegance.
In the opening and closing of their eyes, faint runes could be seen flowing.
Truly immortal bearing and Daoist bones.
Truly extraordinary grace.
The seven figures, just standing quietly in mid-air, seemed to merge with heaven and earth.
Their auras intertwined, subtly resonating with the world.
Clouds and mist surged in the mountains, forming shapes of dragons and tigers, coiling and lingering.
The radiance in the sky flowed, gathering behind them into layers of colorful halos, like immortals descending to the mortal realm.
At this moment, heaven and earth lost their color, all things fell silent.
On the high platform, the previously imposing inner sect elders all rose, cupping their fists and bowing deeply, their posture extremely respectful.
"Welcome, Sect Master! Welcome, Supreme Elder!"
The mighty voice echoed across the mountain gate's peak, from the mouths of those Foundation Establishment and Purple Palace stage elders, shaking the surrounding trees.
On the mountain gate plaza, thousands of Azure Cloud Sect disciples awoke as if from a dream, kneeling in unison.
"Welcome, Sect Master! Welcome, Supreme Elder!"
The sound shook the heavens.
An invisible pressure enveloped the scene, the previously noisy crowd now silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Luo Qinghan and Qin Hao were also intimidated by this pressure, yet they did not bow their heads.
Lin Changkong stood on the Heaven Ascension Steps, slightly raising his head, looking at the seven figures walking on air, his heart filled with shock.
His gaze met that of the leading woman, through the radiance, through the vast sky, lightly touching.
Su Luoxia's figure descended slowly from the radiance, her robes fluttering, like a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.
She walked straight towards Luo Qinghan.
Luo Qinghan couldn't help but tense up, instinctively clenching the hem of her clothes.
Although the invisible pressure had been almost entirely withdrawn by Su Luoxia, the earth-shattering entrance had already filled the young girl's heart with awe.
Su Luoxia stopped three feet in front of her.
Those eyes, cold as the frost moon, looked her over from top to bottom.
After a moment, she nodded slightly, and from beneath the veil came a clear, pleasant voice, like a mountain stream striking stone:
"Not bad, I have seen everything just now. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
"Ah?"
Luo Qinghan was stunned.
She never expected that the first thing this powerful celestial being would do upon descending was to take her as a disciple.
She didn't answer immediately, but instinctively asked, "Senior, are you the Sect Master of Azure Cloud Sect?"
"Young girl, do not be rude! This is our sect..."
An elder nearby scolded immediately upon hearing Luo Qinghan dare to question the Sect Master.
However, before he could finish, a cold gaze swept over.
"Stand down!"
Su Luoxia's voice wasn't loud, even gentle, but the pressure in those two words made the elder tremble, cold sweat instantly appearing on his forehead.
He hurriedly lowered his head, retreating several steps, not daring to say more.
Su Luoxia withdrew her gaze, looking back at Luo Qinghan, her voice softening a bit: "I am indeed the Sect Master of Azure Cloud Sect."
Upon hearing this, a look of delight appeared in Luo Qinghan's eyes.
The Sect Master personally taking a disciple, what a great opportunity!
She bit her lip, mustering her courage, cautiously asking:
"Sect Master, if I become your disciple, can... can I..."
She turned her head, her gaze passing over the crowd, landing on the tall figure at the foot of the Heaven Ascension Steps.
Lin Changkong.
However, Lin Changkong's expression changed, he immediately shook his head, his eyes filled with urgency and a warning, signaling her not to continue.
Everyone around held their breath.
Was this girl crazy?
The Sect Master of Azure Cloud Sect personally taking a disciple, this was an opportunity many could only dream of.
Did she dare to bargain at this moment?
Did she really think the Sect Master was a kind and easy-going ordinary person?
Some of the older disciples looked at Luo Qinghan with a gaze of pity.
Yet Luo Qinghan, seeing Lin Changkong's signal, a struggle flashed in her eyes.
She knew Brother Lin was looking out for her, but...
She turned her head, still determined to speak.
"Qinghan!"
At this moment, Lin Changkong's voice suddenly rang out.
He quickly stepped forward, standing before Su Luoxia, bowing respectfully, then turned to Luo Qinghan, his face carrying a gentle smile:
"The senior is willing to take you as a disciple, this is a great blessing.
Qinghan, why don't you quickly acknowledge your master?
The Sect Master is a very powerful immortal, being accepted into her tutelage is an opportunity many can only dream of."
Saying this, he reached out, gently patting Luo Qinghan's shoulder.
That hand, steady and strong.
Luo Qinghan trembled all over.
She looked up, meeting Lin Changkong's gaze.
In those eyes, there was no blame, no resentment, only gentleness, only firmness, only reassurance.
Luo Qinghan's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She understood.
Brother Lin was protecting her in his own way.
Not letting her offend the Sect Master, offend the entire Azure Cloud Sect because of herself.
Not letting her ruin her bright future in a moment of impulse.
He clearly... clearly knew he couldn't stay.
Yet the first thing he thought of was her.
Su Luoxia stood quietly to the side, watching this scene.
Her gaze fell on Lin Changkong, lingering on that young face for a moment.
Her eyes were deep, revealing no emotion.
Luo Qinghan took a deep breath, holding back the tears in her eyes.
She gave Lin Changkong one last look, then turned her head, kneeling solemnly before Su Luoxia.
"Disciple Luo Qinghan, pays respects to Master!"
Her voice was clear, each word distinct.
A hint of satisfaction appeared in Su Luoxia's eyes.
"Good, good, good, my obedient disciple, rise."
She raised her hand slightly, and Luo Qinghan felt a gentle force lifting her to her feet.
Just then, another voice, old yet full of vigor, rang out:
"Young man, are you willing to become my disciple?"
The Supreme Elder, with his crane-like hair and youthful face, fiery temperament, had somehow appeared before Qin Hao, his eyes bright as he looked at him, as if seeing a rare uncut gem.
Qin Hao instinctively looked at Lin Changkong.
Lin Changkong nodded at him, his smile warm.
Qin Hao withdrew his gaze, kneeling solemnly before the Supreme Elder: "Disciple Qin Hao, pays respects to Master!"
Besides Luo Qinghan and Qin Hao, two other young boys and girls in the crowd were also chosen by other Supreme Elders.
One had a stern face, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, exuding a faint sharpness.
The other was burly, though only twelve or thirteen, already showing signs of future prowess, standing there with an overwhelming battle intent.
These two were the other geniuses with top-grade spirit roots besides Luo Qinghan and Qin Hao today.
At this moment, they too were each taken as disciples by a Supreme Elder.
Moments later.
"Come, my disciple, follow me back to the peak."
The Supreme Elder who had taken Qin Hao as a disciple waved his hand, a stream of light enveloping Qin Hao, ready to soar into the sky.
Beside Luo Qinghan, Su Luoxia also gently waved her sleeve, a cloud rising beneath her feet.
Standing on the cloud, Luo Qinghan looked back at Lin Changkong on the ground.
Tears finally flowed uncontrollably.
"Brother Lin..."
Her lips moved slightly, silently calling.
Lin Changkong stood where he was, looking up at her, a smile on his face, waving vigorously.
"Go! Cultivate well, don't worry about me."
The stream of light shot into the sky, carrying Luo Qinghan and Qin Hao, flying towards the main peak deep within Azure Cloud Sect.
In an instant, they disappeared into the horizon.
Lin Changkong looked at the empty sky, the smile on his face lingering for a long time.
Relief. Truly relieved.
These little ones finally had a good place to belong.
He lowered his head, ready to turn and leave.
But just then.
A stream of light suddenly flew from the sky, like a shooting star chasing the moon, arriving in an instant.
The stream of light fell straight into Lin Changkong's hand.
Lin Changkong looked down, seeing an ancient token.
Neither gold nor jade, warm to the touch, with the character "藏" carved on the front, and layered cloud patterns on the back.
(PawRead P/N: In Chinese, '藏' means a repository, storehouse, or collection of sacred scriptures )
Immediately, a clear, pleasant voice came from the nine heavens, echoing across the mountain gate plaza:
"Grant Lin Changkong the status of a menial disciple of the Scripture Repository, responsible for the menial affairs of the Scripture Repository."
As the voice fell, its lingering sound echoed in the mountains.
On the plaza, everyone was taken aback.
Thousands of gazes instantly focused on Lin Changkong.
There was shock, confusion, envy, jealousy, and disbelief—
A waste with a mortal-grade spirit root, actually being personally retained by the Sect Master in the sect?
Though just a menial disciple, but... still a menial disciple of Azure Cloud Sect.
Moreover, it's the Scripture Repository.
What is the Scripture Repository?
It's the place where Azure Cloud Sect stores its martial arts and scriptures.
Even as a menial, being there every day, exposed to it, is a thousand times better than being outside.
This kid... what kind of luck did he stumble upon?
Lin Changkong was also slightly taken aback, looking down at the token in his hand, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
After a moment, he understood.
It was Luo Qinghan.
It must be that little girl.
He looked up towards where Luo Qinghan had disappeared, smiling and shaking his head.
That little girl, still so stubborn.
Well then.
The Scripture Repository...
He gripped the token in his hand, a gleam appearing in his eyes.
Such a place, for someone with a system, is practically a natural treasure trove.
Beside him, the elder presiding over the entrance ceremony was momentarily stunned, then came to his senses, respectfully cupping his fists towards where the Sect Master had left:
"We will obey the Sect Master's command!"
Then, he turned, looking at Lin Changkong, his gaze complex.
"Lin Changkong, come with me."