Mountain ranges resembled swords, thrusting straight into the clouds.
Immortal vapor curled softly and flocks of flying cranes swept past, forming the grand spectacles of the immortals.
Only one mountain was completely bare, overgrown with withered grass and thorns.
At the summit sat a thatched hut, a lone pine growing at a slant from the bizarre rocks along the front cliff, and a few broken swords stuck upside down in the overgrown weeds behind the hut.
Rather than an immortal dwelling of cultivators, it resembled a bandit stronghold.
Near the eastern front cliff, the ancient pine's roots coiled and interwove.
A woman draped in a cyan robe sat cross-legged upon the pine roots, taking a sip from a bamboo wine tube before speaking to the young man standing respectfully beneath the pine: "As your master, I have cultivated for a millennium and served as this sect's Sword-Wielding Elder for over five hundred years. I have never taken a disciple until now. Do you know why I suddenly chose you as my direct disciple?"
The young man was named Xiao Ran.
Hailing from twenty-first-century Earth, he had three years ago been fortunate enough to catch the wave of transmigrators, arriving in this very cultivation world before him.
Yet his arrival had been in vain; with mediocre talent, he possessed nothing save for his striking good looks.
Still, since he had transmigrated to a cultivation world, failing to cultivate immortals was out of the question.
Over the past three years, he had participated in the entrance trials of dozens of sects, only to stumble and fall at the very first round each time.
Today, however, he had unexpectedly struck the jackpot! During the entrance trials of the renowned sect Zongzhi Mountain, he was actually accepted by the Sword-Wielding Elder, Lingzhou Yue, as an exceptional choice for her direct disciple, causing a sensation throughout the entire sect.
A renowned sect!
A direct disciple!
Happiness had arrived much too suddenly.
Even at this moment, immersed in the rich spiritual energy of Zongzhi Mountain, wearing the pale cyan disciple robes, holding his direct disciple token, keeping his High-Level Space Ring and treasured sword properly stored, and having even received his ten-spirit-stone disciple stipend in advance... he still remained completely dazed.
Could this female elder perhaps be an idiot? Filled with a sense of unearned guilt and excessive elation, Xiao Ran kept his head lowered, not daring to glance at the elder even once, and had not even heard the question she put to him...
Having finished a flask, Lingzhou Yue only then realized that her newly accepted disciple had yet to answer her, leaving her somewhat displeased.
"I asked you a question!"
Xiao Ran started slightly, hurriedly replying, "Please go ahead, Master."
Lingzhou Yue's eyelid twitched. Suppressing her emotions, she repeated her question in a severer tone: "Do you know why Master chose you to be her direct disciple?"
Xiao Ran drew a complete blank.
"This disciple does not know."
Seeing Xiao Ran keep his head bowed all the while, Lingzhou Yue sharply rebuked, "Is there a Wraith on your master's face? Lift your head!"
Hearing the word Wraith, Xiao Ran turned pale at the thought, hurriedly calming his emotions before raising his head to look toward this unfamiliar master.
This was a young woman wearing a cyan robe, holding a bamboo wine flask in one hand, dressed in tattered clothes and never far from her wine.
Her face was unadorned, decorated only by the flush of intoxication, yet this could not conceal her sword-like brows, starry eyes, and peerless celestial beauty.
Her attire was even more casual; her rough, chestnut hair was tied into a short braid at the back of her head with a bamboo twig, while her loose cyan robe lacked lapels and sleeves, draped directly over her slender figure.
When a gust of wind rose, her sleeves rustled, the floating light shimmering brilliantly.
Where whiteness was vaguely exposed, it was plump as jade, rising and falling in undulating waves.
This gave Xiao Ran the feeling that her excessively loose cyan robe existed solely to conceal that outrageous figure.
This was the first person Xiao Ran had met since transmigrating to the cultivation world who was even more striking than himself.
With her wide robes and abundant grace, unadorned and peerless features, her unconstrained bearing carried a natural, otherworldly powerhouse aura.
Who would have thought that such unconstrained heroism... was actually a pretty woman wielding ethereal sword qi!
Xiao Ran fell into deep thought.
Why would a woman like this take a cultivation good-for-nothing as her direct disciple? Her face? Absolutely flawless. Her figure? A bit outrageous, but hardly a problem. And as the Sword-Wielding Elder of Zongzhi Mountain, her strength was beyond question either...
Then there must be something wrong with her brain!
Reaching this conclusion, Xiao Ran spoke respectfully:
"Forgive this disciple's dullness, for I truly do not know why Master took me as a disciple. I ask that Master please enlighten me."
Lingzhou Yue nodded in satisfaction, retrieved another flask of wine from somewhere, and chugged it down greedily.
Glancing sideways at her handsome and honest disciple, she unexpectedly felt a rare trace of intellectual superiority.
Heh, would I tell you that the Dao Alliance just rolled out the Preaching Act for the Dharma Ending Era, and if I don't take on disciples and teach them, I'll be driven out of the sect? As for why I picked you? Because only by finding a fool can I prove that I truly lack teaching talent, and those bastards won't be able to force my hand anymore.
There are thousands of mediocre people in this world; why on earth did I pick you? Because only I can tell that you are a heavenly discarded talent with a balanced five-elements endowment, completely incapable of practicing Qi!
Besides, you're handsome, and since we'll see each other every single day, at the very least you aren't unpleasant to look at. If you can help me execute the Divine Dragon Tail Swing, it'll be even better.
Thinking thus, Lingzhou Yue gulped down a few more mouthfuls of wine, almost blurting out her true thoughts.
"Why? Because you possess the legendary, extremely rare Balanced Five-Elements Endowment, and Master happens to possess some soon-to-be-lost original ultimate techniques that only someone with your Balanced Five-Elements Endowment can cultivate."
I believe you, you old ghost! Xiao Ran bowed respectfully and said, "Many thanks for Master's high regard."
Though Xiao Ran's talent was poor, over the past three years he had spared no effort in studying theoretical knowledge to prepare for the entrance trials of various major sects.
The Balanced Five-Elements Endowment meant that one's spiritual roots were thoroughly mediocre, lacking any prominent advantages and rendering them incapable of gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—a textbook definition of a heavenly discarded talent.
It would be difficult enough to refine Qi in a lifetime, let alone cultivate any ultimate techniques.
Fortunately, no matter what medicine his master was selling in her gourd, he had successfully stepped through the gates of immortality and was about to take the first step of his cultivation journey.
No matter how difficult the future might be, his master was ultimately his guide, and the performance required cooperation must be played out to the best of his ability.
Opportunities always favored those who were prepared; cultivate well, and perhaps a system would strike him one day. Since even with this kind of talent he could be chosen as a renowned sect's direct disciple, being struck by a system wouldn't be all that surprising.
Ultimate Filial Piety System loading...
Xiao Ran was suddenly startled.
What system?
Ultimate Filial Piety System successfully loaded, permanently binding to host Xiao Ran. As long as the host performs acts of filial piety toward Master, you will grow stronger.
Can it even be like this?
Please select the target Master for the host.
Xiao Ran had no other choices right now.
"Master, Lingzhou Yue."
Target Master Lingzhou Yue successfully bound, unalterable for all eternity.
I let my guard down! Xiao Ran couldn't wait to check the system panel.
Host: Xiao Ran Cultivation Level: Mortal Master: Lingzhou Yue Filial Piety Points: 0 Skills: None Storage: None Shop: Can be opened with Mind Concentration
There was actually a quantified Filial Piety Points system...
Wasn't this getting perverted? I, Xiao Ran, am naturally devoted to filial piety! Without immediately rushing to earn Filial Piety Points, Xiao Ran concentrated his mind to open the system shop and see what kind of treasures it held.
Flipping through several pages, he discovered that everything sold in the shop consisted of virtual items related to cultivation levels, cultivation methods, and techniques, with no physical goods whatsoever.
The most expensive items were cultivation level packages, which could elevate the host's cultivation level—for instance, advancing to the first layer of Qi Refining required 100 Filial Piety Points.
Next came cultivation methods, blood replenishment packages, and longevity packages—purchasing cultivation methods for the Qi Refining realm, or fully replenishing health for the Qi Refining realm during combat, or extending one's lifespan by several decades typically cost only a few dozen Filial Piety Points.
The cheapest items were mortal-grade life skills, which generally cost only a few Filial Piety Points—such as Max Level Musical Skill, Max Level Chess Skill, Max Level Calligraphy, Max Level Painting, and Max Level Cooking Skill.
There were even things like Max Level Nest Building Art, Max Level Field-Tilling Art, Max Level Channeling Art, and postpartum care for spirit beasts...
If you could think of it, there was nothing you couldn't buy! These techniques were primarily meant to be used in showing filial piety to Master in exchange for Filial Piety Points.
Xiao Ran was utterly destitute and could only start from scratch, putting his traditional skills to use.
In the Dharma Ending Era, everyone was busy and had no time for romantic sentiments. Thick-skinned and unafraid of being abrupt, seeing that his master's posture was drowsy and lazy, he stepped forward and said with utmost seriousness:
"Master spent a whole day selecting a disciple and finally fancied this one, so you must be exhausted. Let this disciple massage your shoulders for you."
Lingzhou Yue's pretty face froze as she stared straight at Xiao Ran, perceiving the genuine sincerity in his eyes.
Did a disciple this sensible still exist in the Dharma Ending Era? Fine, so long as he wasn't cultivating, anything was fine!
Though she didn't like men, having a handsome young man beat and massage her back was rather pleasant indeed.
"Not bad, you are very filial."
With that, Lingzhou Yue closed her picturesque brows and eyes, straightened her posture, and let Xiao Ran massage her back and shoulders from behind.
Mhm... Though she felt her disciple's technique was a bit rusty, it made up for it by his youth. The movements were steady and forceful, pressing her in a way that left her feeling refreshed and her shoulders exceptionally comfortable.
Accompanied by the gentle mountain breeze and the lingering fragrance of wine, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Xiao Ran's hand speed was divine as he frantically sheared the wool.
Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 Filial Piety Point!
Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 Filial Piety Point!
Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 Filial Piety Point!
He kept massaging until the Filial Piety Points hit their upper limit and stopped increasing, yet Xiao Ran continued to ramp up his efforts, shifting locations to see if there were any newly generated Filial Piety Points.
As a result, he massaged until his hands grew sore and his shoulders swelled, without a single additional Filial Piety Point entering his account.
"Fool, you're hurting me!"
Lingzhou Yue scolded drowsily.
Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Ran halted his movements.
Five Filial Piety Points had already reached the limit, and massaging any further would be a waste of effort.
He might as well try again tomorrow to see if he could repeatedly shear some wool.
Sighing in satisfied contentment, Xiao Ran glanced at his master's slender, plump, and dissolute posture, sighing inwardly—
What a plump experience package! Unexpectedly, an extremely lazy yet irresistible voice drifted over from ahead:
"Don't stop."
A new book sets sail! Being delayed by learning to drive during summer vacation has kept you all waiting for a long time, my friends.
Additionally, the background of this book is not the sort of cultivation world you all imagine; please do not argue with the author about the settings. If you feel anywhere is unreasonable... that's right, it must be foreshadowing!
Before you continue