The moment Ye Xuan stepped through the sect's entrance, he felt the difference.
The spiritual energy was several times denser than Azure Wind Village.
Every breath seemed to carry traces of pure spiritual Qi.
The mountain roads were paved with white jade.
Clouds drifted between enormous peaks.
Spirit cranes flew through the sky.
Ancient trees covered the mountainsides, and occasionally, Ye Xuan could sense powerful auras hidden deep within the sect.
He quietly swallowed.
This is a sect.
Not some village martial arts school.
This was a genuine cultivation force.
And according to Mu Qingxue...
It was one of the strongest sects in the entire Lower Realm.
Ye Xuan looked around.
"This place is enormous."
Mu Qingxue walked beside him.
"It is."
"How many disciples?"
"Nearly fifty thousand."
Ye Xuan stopped walking.
"Fifty thousand?"
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"That includes outer, inner, core and direct disciples."
Ye Xuan whistled.
"That's basically a city."
Mu Qingxue glanced at him.
"A city?"
"Forget it."
They continued forward.
As they walked through the main entrance, several disciples immediately noticed Mu Qingxue.
Their expressions changed.
"It's Elder Mu!"
"Greetings, Elder!"
"Greetings, Elder Mu!"
One after another, disciples bowed.
Mu Qingxue simply nodded.
But then they noticed the young man walking beside her.
The disciples became curious.
"Who is that?"
"Isn't that a new disciple?"
"Why is he walking beside Elder Mu?"
"Wait..."
Someone suddenly widened their eyes.
"Could he be..."
The whispers spread rapidly.
Ye Xuan heard everything.
He looked at Mu Qingxue.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Are you famous?"
Mu Qingxue glanced at him.
"Somewhat."
"Somewhat?"
Ye Xuan looked at the dozens of disciples staring at them.
Then he looked at her again.
"Master, if this is 'somewhat,' I don't want to know what famous looks like."
Mu Qingxue ignored him.
They continued walking.
Not far away, several young disciples were watching.
Among them stood a handsome young man wearing a blue robe.
His name was
Gu Zhan
.
He was a Core Disciple of the Heavenly Frost Sect.
His cultivation had reached the
Spirit Sea Realm
.
He looked at Ye Xuan with curiosity.
"Elder Mu personally brought him back?"
A female disciple beside him nodded.
"Looks like it."
"Do you know who he is?"
"No."
Gu Zhan frowned.
Elder Mu was notoriously selective.
She had never accepted a direct disciple.
Not once.
And now she had suddenly brought back a thirteen-year-old boy.
Something was clearly unusual.
Ye Xuan and Mu Qingxue eventually reached a quiet mountain.
Unlike the main sect, this place was peaceful.
There were only a few buildings.
A waterfall descended from the cliff.
A bamboo forest surrounded the mountain.
At the very top stood an elegant palace.
Mu Qingxue stopped.
"This is my mountain."
Ye Xuan looked around.
"All of this?"
"Yes."
His eyes widened.
"So you're telling me..."
He pointed toward the palace.
"That giant mountain is your private residence?"
Mu Qingxue nodded.
Ye Xuan looked toward the sky.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Can I adopt you?"
Mu Qingxue's expression went blank.
"...What?"
"I suddenly feel that having a Saint Realm master is an excellent life decision."
Mu Qingxue stared at him for several seconds.
Then she sighed.
"You really are shameless."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Thank you."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"I choose to take it as one."
Mu Qingxue shook her head.
She walked toward the palace.
"Come."
Ye Xuan followed.
Inside the palace, everything was surprisingly simple.
There were no excessive decorations.
A few paintings.
A tea table.
A bookshelf.
A cultivation room.
And several rooms for guests.
Mu Qingxue pointed toward one.
"That will be your room."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Thank you, Master."
She then handed him a jade token.
"This is your disciple token."
Ye Xuan looked at it.
The words
Direct Disciple — Mu Qingxue
were engraved on it.
"This token grants you access to most areas of the sect."
"Most?"
"Restricted areas are excluded."
"Naturally."
Mu Qingxue looked at him seriously.
"Your identity as my direct disciple will attract attention."
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
"I understand."
"Some will envy you."
"Expected."
"Some will challenge you."
"Fine."
"Some may attempt to harm you."
Ye Xuan's golden eyes narrowed.
"And then?"
Mu Qingxue looked at him.
"I will handle anyone who goes too far."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"That's reassuring."
She nodded.
"But you cannot rely on me forever."
"I know."
"You must become strong yourself."
Ye Xuan's expression became determined.
"I will."
Mu Qingxue studied him.
For some reason, she believed him.
DING!
Ye Xuan's eyes suddenly brightened.
The system appeared.
[Special Location Check-In Available.]
[Location: Heavenly Frost Sect.]
[Would the host like to check in?]
Ye Xuan almost laughed.
Of course.
"Check in."
The world seemed to become silent for a moment.
Then—
DING!
[Special Check-In Successful!]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[You have received: Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame.]
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
A tiny blue-white flame appeared before him.
It floated quietly in the air.
Even though it was only the size of a candle flame, Ye Xuan could feel terrifying energy contained within it.
Mu Qingxue suddenly turned around.
Her expression changed.
"What is that?"
Ye Xuan froze.
Oops.
He quickly thought of an explanation.
"My... talent?"
Mu Qingxue stared at the flame.
She immediately recognized it.
Her eyes widened.
"Impossible."
Ye Xuan blinked.
"What?"
"That is the Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame."
"What?"
"It is a rare spiritual flame."
Mu Qingxue's expression became complicated.
"Even among the treasures of the sect, it is considered extremely precious."
Ye Xuan looked at the flame.
"Oh."
Mu Qingxue stared at him.
"Where did you get it?"
Ye Xuan smiled awkwardly.
"Uh..."
The system remained silent.
Ye Xuan internally cursed.
Help me here.
Nothing.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"Can you keep a secret?"
Mu Qingxue's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
Ye Xuan raised a finger.
"I found it."
"..."
Mu Qingxue stared at him.
"You found it?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"Somewhere."
"Where exactly?"
"Somewhere mysterious."
Mu Qingxue's expression became colder.
Ye Xuan immediately laughed.
"I'm joking."
Mu Qingxue sighed.
"Keep it hidden."
"I will."
"This flame can attract powerful enemies."
"I understand."
Mu Qingxue waved her hand.
The flame immediately disappeared into Ye Xuan's body.
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
A strange warmth spread through his meridians.
The Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame settled inside his Dantian.
Then—
[Special Reward successfully integrated.]
[Host's Primordial Chaos Physique has begun adapting to the Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame.]
Ye Xuan's expression changed.
Adapting?
The system continued.
[Compatibility: 12%]
[Future evolution possible.]
Ye Xuan's eyes narrowed.
His physique was reacting to the flame.
Interesting.
Mu Qingxue stood up.
"I have something to tell you."
Ye Xuan looked at her.
"What is it?"
"You'll officially enter the sect tomorrow."
"Already?"
"Yes."
"You'll be assigned a status as a direct disciple."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Understood."
"You'll also meet the other direct disciples."
"How many?"
"Five."
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Five?"
Mu Qingxue nodded.
"They are all talented."
"Beautiful?"
She stared at him.
Ye Xuan coughed.
"I mean... talented."
Mu Qingxue sighed.
"You should be more concerned about cultivation."
"I am."
"Good."
"After all, beautiful senior sisters are probably cultivating too."
"Ye Xuan."
"Yes, Master?"
"Go cultivate."
"...Yes, Master."
He turned around.
As he walked away, he muttered under his breath.
"Strict."
Mu Qingxue heard him.
Her lips twitched.
That night.
Ye Xuan sat inside his room.
The sect was silent.
Moonlight entered through the window.
He looked at his cultivation status.
Ye Xuan
Cultivation:
Body Tempering — Fourth Layer
Physique:
Primordial Chaos Physique
Bloodline:
Ancient Golden Bloodline
Talent:
Supreme — Unrated
Special Flame:
Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame
Ye Xuan nodded.
"Not bad."
Then he noticed something.
His Primordial Chaos Physique had already begun absorbing the energy of the Heavenly Frost Spirit Flame.
The compatibility had increased.
12% → 13%
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Looks like this thing really can evolve."
He closed his eyes.
"I wonder what will happen when it reaches one hundred percent."
The system remained silent.
Ye Xuan opened one eye.
"You know?"
[Yes.]
"Tell me."
[No.]
"Why?"
[The system enjoys watching the host suffer from curiosity.]
Ye Xuan's face darkened.
"You really are evil."
[The system prefers 'entertaining'.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
Then he closed his eyes again.
He began cultivating.
The spiritual energy around him slowly gathered.
One hour.
Two hours.
Three hours.
His cultivation continued rising.
Meanwhile, on another mountain.
A young woman stood beside a cliff.
She had long silver hair and wore a white-and-blue disciple robe.
She was beautiful.
Cold.
Elegant.
Her cultivation had already reached the
Spirit Sea Realm
.
She suddenly opened her eyes.
"Someone has entered Master's mountain."
A male disciple beside her nodded.
"Apparently, Elder Mu brought back a new direct disciple."
The silver-haired woman remained silent.
"A new direct disciple?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"No idea."
She looked toward the distant mountain.
For some reason, she felt curious.
At the same time—
On another peak—
A young man opened his eyes.
He had sensed the same thing.
A new direct disciple.
And unlike the silver-haired woman...
His expression was not curious.
It was cold.
"Another person competing for Master's attention?"
His hand slowly clenched.
"I hope he's not useless."
The arrival of Ye Xuan had already begun attracting attention.
He didn't know it yet.
But tomorrow—
He would officially enter the Heavenly Frost Sect.
And his first meeting with the sect's young geniuses...
Would not be peaceful.