Volume 1, Chapter 64 – Disciple Assignments

Three days quietly passed amid the new disciples’ hopes and anxieties about the future.

In the faint morning light, all 136 new disciples had assembled in the white-jade square before the main hall.

Unlike the curiosity and nervousness they had shown when they first arrived three days ago, they were now dressed in matching uniforms.

They wore basic moon-white robes or long dresses, with simple cloud and star patterns embroidered in pale golden thread along the cuffs and lapels.

Although the garments were not particularly high-grade artifact robes, they were made from carefully selected materials. They were soft, durable, and comfortable to wear.

Following the instructions they had been given, the disciples stood in neat rows.

Every young or still-childish face was filled with nervousness, anticipation, and excitement.

What happened today would determine the direction of their lives for a long time to come, perhaps even the course of their entire cultivation journeys.

For the many disciples who had yet to formally begin cultivating, whose tutelage they entered was unquestionably a matter of the utmost importance.

Just as everyone waited with bated breath, several sounds of figures tearing through the air came from the horizon.

The first to arrive was a multicolored streak of light. It was Elder Die Wu.

Today, she wore a more formal palace dress. The butterfly mark between her brows shimmered with dreamlike radiance, leaving many of the disciples below dazzled and entranced.

Next came the gentle and serene Elder Yun Miaoyi.

Elder Mo Lin and Elder Fushan then arrived together. One was as steady as a mountain, while the other was as bold and imposing as a towering peak.

To everyone’s surprise, Grand Elder Li Hanyi, who normally kept to herself and spent her days practicing the sword on Snow Moon Peak, had also appeared today.

She was dressed in white robes purer than snow and held the Listening Rain Sword in her arms. Her cold, transcendent figure seemed to have been carved from profound ice of the Nine Heavens.

Simply standing there seemed to lower the temperature of the square.

Even though she deliberately restrained her pure sword intent, it still made the souls of many disciples tremble, leaving them too intimidated to look directly at her.

“Is that the Grand Elder who never shows herself? She feels so cold…”

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“Did she come to select disciples too?”

“It would be incredible to catch the Grand Elder’s eye…”

Many disciples in the formation began whispering among themselves.

Just then, five more streaks of light in different colors cut across the sky and landed at the front of the square.

They were the five newly arrived outer sect elders: Jin Feng, Qingluo, Canghai, Hongying, and Xuanya.

Their bearing was calm and composed. Some appeared sharp, some gentle, some refined, some valiant, and some steady. Their five-element auras faintly blended together, making them an impressive sight.

Finally, Deputy Palace Master Yun Yun walked out from the side of the main hall.

Yun Yun wore a simple and elegant long dress today. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, with only part of it pinned up by a white-jade hairpin.

The rest hung naturally behind her. Her graceful bearing carried a wisdom and composure that inspired heartfelt admiration.

She swept her gaze across the square. Seeing that everyone was present, she nodded slightly.

“Three days have passed. By now, you should have gained a basic understanding of the Immortal Palace and its rules.”

“Today, you will be assigned to the various peaks and pavilions according to your potential, temperament, and individual strengths. From this day onward, you will formally begin your cultivation.”

“Let us begin.”

As her words fell, the atmosphere immediately became tense and subtle.

The gazes of the many elders swept across the young faces like searchlights.

Unexpectedly, the first person to speak was the usually cold and taciturn Li Hanyi.

Her gaze, as tangible as a beam of sword light, slowly moved across the crowd before finally settling on two figures.

The first was a little girl in a disciple’s uniform. Her small face was tense, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and resolute.

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It was Xiaocao, who had displayed peak seven-star potential during the assessment and was suspected of possessing an Innate Sword Bone.

The other was a cold and beautiful girl of around fifteen or sixteen named Murong Xue. She had displayed eight-star potential during the spiritual aptitude assessment.

“You, and you. Step forward.”

Li Hanyi’s voice was cold, yet it carried an authority that brooked no refusal.

Xiaocao and Murong Xue were both taken aback. Under the envious and astonished gazes of the disciples around them, they hurriedly left the formation.

They came before Li Hanyi and bowed respectfully.

“What is your name?” Li Hanyi asked, looking at the thin little girl.

“G-Grand Elder, this disciple is an orphan and does not know her parents’ surname. Everyone calls me Xiaocao.”

Xiaocao was nervous, but she tried her best to straighten her back.

Li Hanyi nodded slightly. Her gaze lingered on the girl for a moment, as though she could see the sharpness of the sword bone hidden within her.

“From now on, you will cultivate under me.”

“As for your name… Since you have entered under me, you may take my surname. You shall be called Li Zhiwei. What do you think?”

She had bestowed both a surname and a name upon her!

This was an extraordinary honor and sign of recognition.

Xiaocao trembled when she heard this, and her eyes instantly turned red. She nodded vigorously, her voice choked with emotion yet firm.

“Li Zhiwei… Thank you for granting me a name, Grand Elder! This disciple will work hard!”

Li Hanyi then turned toward Murong Xue.

“Are you willing to cultivate under me?”

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Excitement appeared on Murong Xue’s usually cold face, and she bowed deeply.

“This disciple, Murong Xue, is willing to cultivate under the Grand Elder!”

The Grand Elder had personally accepted disciples!

And she had taken two at once!

The sight made countless disciples so envious that their eyes nearly turned red.

Having completed her selection, Li Hanyi gave the crowd a slight nod.

She took her two newly accepted disciples with her and transformed directly into a streak of sword light, returning to Snow Moon Peak and leaving the square filled with gasps of amazement.

Next, Yun Miaoyi smiled gently and turned her soft gaze toward Zhao Ling’er and Wang Zhaojun.

She then looked at several boys and girls in the crowd who possessed dual fire-and-wood spiritual roots.

“Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, Lin Yan, Su Mu, Han Qianqian, Chen Yu, and Sun Miao. Are the seven of you willing to enter my Alchemy Pavilion and study the Alchemical Dao?”

Zhao Ling’er and Wang Zhaojun were naturally overjoyed and hurriedly stepped forward.

The other three boys and two girls whose names had been called were equally excited. Being able to enter under Elder Yun was something they had only dreamed of.

“We are willing!” the seven answered in unison.

“Very good.”

Yun Miaoyi nodded with satisfaction, then gave Yun Yun a slight nod.

Elder Die Wu was next.

A strange light flowed through her dreamlike eyes, making it seem as though she could see directly into people’s hearts.

“Xiao Ya.”

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Xiao Ya was the first person she called.

Xiao Ya’s heart tightened, and she hurriedly stepped forward.

“You possess a unique understanding of all things and an unconventional way of thinking. You have considerable talent in the Dao of formations.”

“Are you willing to study the arts of formations and illusions under me?”

Xiao Ya’s eyes lit up. Formations!

This was precisely the field that interested her, and one she believed could be combined with “science.”

“This disciple is willing!”

Xiao Ya gave an elegant bow.

Die Wu then called another five boys and girls and accepted them under her.

Afterward, Elder Fushan opened his broad mouth in a grin, his voice booming like a great bell.

“What I need are those with strong bodies and straightforward temperaments!”

“Zhang Xiaohu, Shi Yong, Wang Meng… You ten, step forward!”

Every disciple he selected looked especially strong and had a simple, forthright personality.

Although the disciples he called were somewhat apprehensive, they were even more excited. After all, they had long heard of the Mountain-Covering Ape King’s formidable reputation.

Becoming the disciple of a Mahayana demon king was more than enough to bring honor to their ancestors.

Mo Lin was much steadier in his selection. Most of the disciples he chose possessed water or lightning attributes, and he selected eight in total.

Among them were the juvenile jiao and two avian demons.