Ye Xuan looked at the hand extended toward him.
For an ordinary thirteen-year-old, being accepted as the direct disciple of a powerful Saint Realm cultivator would have been an unimaginable opportunity.
For Ye Xuan...
It was also an opportunity to leave the village and finally see the world.
He reached out and gently placed his hand in hers.
Mu Qingxue's hand was soft and cold.
The moment their palms touched, Ye Xuan felt a faint chill spread through his body.
He blinked.
Her cultivation is terrifying.
Mu Qingxue noticed his reaction.
"You can feel my spiritual energy?"
"A little."
Her eyes flashed with surprise.
At his cultivation level, he shouldn't have been able to sense anything from her.
"You truly are unusual."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"I've been hearing that a lot lately."
Mu Qingxue looked at him.
"Don't become arrogant because of your talent."
"Too late."
"..."
Mu Qingxue stared at him.
Ye Xuan immediately coughed.
"I mean, I will try my best."
The corner of Mu Qingxue's lips moved slightly.
It was barely noticeable.
But Ye Xuan caught it.
She almost smiled.
Interesting.
This supposedly cold Elder wasn't completely emotionless.
Grandmother Lin approached them.
Her expression contained both happiness and worry.
"Senior..."
Mu Qingxue turned toward her.
"Call me Elder Mu."
Grandmother Lin nodded.
"Elder Mu, will Xuan'er be safe in your sect?"
Mu Qingxue's expression became serious.
"I can guarantee that no ordinary disciple will be able to harm him."
She paused.
"But the cultivation world is not peaceful."
"There will always be conflicts."
"However, as my direct disciple, he will receive the best resources available to me."
Grandmother Lin looked at Ye Xuan.
"Xuan'er?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Grandma, don't worry."
He gently held her hand.
"I'll be fine."
Grandmother Lin's eyes became slightly red.
"You've only just recovered..."
"I know."
She sighed.
"Then promise me you'll come back."
Ye Xuan's expression softened.
"I promise."
Mu Qingxue watched the scene quietly.
Something about the relationship between the old woman and the boy surprised her.
They weren't related by blood.
Yet their affection was genuine.
After a moment, Mu Qingxue spoke.
"We don't have to leave immediately."
She looked toward Ye Xuan.
"You can spend the rest of the day with your grandmother."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Thank you, Master."
The word came naturally.
Master.
Mu Qingxue's eyes softened.
"Tomorrow morning, we leave."
That evening, Ye Xuan sat outside his house.
The sun was disappearing behind the mountains.
The sky had turned orange.
Grandmother Lin was preparing dinner inside.
Ye Xuan looked toward Mu Qingxue.
She was sitting beneath a large tree several meters away.
Her white robe fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
She appeared almost like a painting.
Ye Xuan quietly stared.
[Host.]
The system's voice suddenly appeared.
"Yes?"
[You have been staring at your master for exactly thirty-seven seconds.]
Ye Xuan's expression stiffened.
"I was observing her cultivation."
[The system recommends inventing a more convincing excuse.]
"I was."
[The system does not believe you.]
Ye Xuan clicked his tongue.
"You're becoming increasingly annoying."
[The system is merely helping the host maintain his dignity.]
"I have plenty of dignity."
[The system has reviewed the host's thoughts.]
"Hey!"
[Dignity level: Questionable.]
Ye Xuan nearly choked.
He looked around.
Fortunately, nobody seemed to notice.
He lowered his voice.
"Don't read my thoughts."
[The system cannot freely read the host's thoughts.]
Ye Xuan paused.
"Cannot?"
[Correct.]
"Then how did you know?"
[Your facial expression.]
"..."
Ye Xuan covered his face.
He really needed to control himself.
After dinner, Ye Xuan returned to his room.
Mu Qingxue had already given him a temporary cultivation technique suitable for his current realm.
But Ye Xuan didn't need it.
He already possessed the
Nine Heavens Body Tempering Art
.
He sat cross-legged.
"System."
[Yes?]
"I have a question."
[Ask.]
"If I obtain another physique or bloodline, what happens?"
The system remained silent for a moment.
Then its voice became slightly more serious.
[The host currently possesses two special inheritances.]
[Primordial Chaos Physique.]
[Ancient Golden Bloodline.]
[If the host obtains additional compatible physiques or bloodlines, the system may unlock a special function.]
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Origin Fusion?"
[The host has discovered the function before its official unlock.]
"Can I use it now?"
[No.]
"Why?"
[The system does not wish to explode its host.]
Ye Xuan's face darkened.
"That sounds concerning."
[It is.]
He sighed.
"Fine."
He closed his eyes.
"Then I'll grow stronger first."
He began cultivating.
Spiritual energy gathered around him.
His breathing became steady.
One cycle.
Two cycles.
Ten cycles.
The night slowly passed.
The next morning.
A golden notification appeared.
[Ding! Daily Check-In Available.]
Ye Xuan opened his eyes.
A smile appeared.
"Check in."
[Daily Check-In Successful.]
[Congratulations!]
[Reward: 1,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]
Ye Xuan nodded.
Not amazing.
But useful.
He stored the spirit stones.
Then another notification appeared.
[Special Condition Fulfilled.]
[Host has become the direct disciple of a Saint Realm cultivator.]
[Special Check-In Location Unlocked.]
[Heavenly Frost Sect.]
[Special Check-In Reward will be determined after arrival.]
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"So the sect itself is a special check-in location."
[Correct.]
"Can I get another physique?"
[Possible.]
"Bloodline?"
[Possible.]
"Divine weapon?"
[Possible.]
"Immortal pill?"
[Possible.]
Ye Xuan grinned.
"This is going to be fun."
[The system agrees.]
Outside.
Mu Qingxue was waiting.
She had changed into a light-blue robe today.
Her long hair was tied with a jade ornament.
She looked even more elegant than yesterday.
Ye Xuan walked toward her.
"Master."
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
She looked toward the village.
"Say your farewells."
Ye Xuan turned around.
Grandmother Lin stood outside the house.
Her eyes were slightly red.
Ye Xuan walked toward her.
He hugged her.
"Grandma."
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Eat properly."
"I will."
"Don't fight with people."
Ye Xuan paused.
"...I'll try."
Grandmother Lin immediately understood.
"You definitely will."
Ye Xuan laughed.
She wiped her eyes.
Then she handed him a small cloth pouch.
"What's this?"
"Some dried food."
Ye Xuan opened it.
There were several small steamed buns inside.
He stared at them.
"Grandma..."
"What?"
"I'm going to a powerful cultivation sect."
"I know."
"You still packed food?"
"You'll get hungry."
Ye Xuan's heart warmed.
He hugged her again.
"I'll come back."
"I'll wait."
After a final farewell, Ye Xuan walked toward Mu Qingxue.
She looked at him.
"Ready?"
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
Mu Qingxue raised her hand.
A powerful spiritual force surrounded him.
Ye Xuan suddenly felt his body become weightless.
The ground disappeared beneath his feet.
"Whoa!"
He looked down.
The entire village was becoming smaller.
Smaller.
And smaller.
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
"We're flying?!"
Mu Qingxue glanced at him.
"Naturally."
"This is amazing!"
Despite possessing memories of another world, Ye Xuan couldn't suppress his excitement.
He was actually flying.
Above the clouds.
Without an aircraft.
Without anything.
Just cultivation.
Mu Qingxue watched his excited expression.
For some reason, her normally cold heart felt slightly lighter.
"Don't fall."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"You won't let me fall, right?"
"Of course not."
"Then I'm not worried."
Mu Qingxue looked away.
But there was a faint smile on her lips.
The journey had begun.
Neither of them knew what awaited them at the Heavenly Frost Sect.
Neither knew that Ye Xuan's arrival would soon disturb the peaceful balance between several young geniuses.
And neither knew that the seemingly ordinary direct disciple accepted by Mu Qingxue...
Would soon become the center of attention of the entire sect.
Thousands of kilometers away.
A gigantic mountain range pierced the clouds.
At its center stood an enormous sect.
Palaces floated above the mountains.
Waterfalls flowed upward.
Immortal cranes flew between peaks.
Thousands of disciples cultivated throughout the mountain.
A massive formation covered the entire region.
At the entrance stood four ancient characters:
HEAVENLY FROST SECT
Mu Qingxue stopped in the sky.
Ye Xuan stared at the enormous sect before him.
His golden eyes shone.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"Your sect is..."
He searched for the right word.
"Beautiful."
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"Welcome to your new home."
At that moment—
[Ding!]
[Special Location Detected.]
[Heavenly Frost Sect.]
[Special Check-In Available.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Looks like we're going to have a very interesting first day."
[The system predicts trouble.]
Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
[Because the host has just entered a sect containing thousands of beautiful women.]
"..."
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
Then he looked toward the sect.
A slow grin appeared on his face.
"System."
[Yes?]
"I think I'm going to like this place."
[The system is reconsidering its choice of host.]
And with that—
Ye Xuan officially stepped into the
Heavenly Frost Sect
.
His new life had truly begun.