The next day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the thick white mist over Qingyou Peak, Lingyun was getting ready to take Ling Tian to Qingyun Peak.
Little Ling Tian was dressed neatly today. His tiny, milky-white robe was embroidered with several green lotus leaves. Paired with his jade-white skin, it made him look even more tender and adorable. Only his little face was full of reluctance. His small mouth stayed pursed, and his eyes blinked again and again. He looked so pitiful that anyone would have wanted to cuddle him.
"Little guy, don't be unhappy. Your mother and I will come visit you often. Besides, the Storage Ring I prepared for you contains a Communication Jade Pendant I modified. Whenever you miss us, you can talk to us with it. I already told you how to use the ring and everything else, so I don't need to explain it again, right?" Lingyun coaxed him.
"Mm, I know, Father." Ling Tian's little face relaxed a bit, but inside, he was full of anticipation for the outside world.
"You have one of my specially made Amulets on you. If you're ever in danger, crush it and it'll protect you. I don't think anyone on Qingyun Peak could—or would dare to—hurt you." Lingyun reminded him once again.
"Yip, yip." Humei chirped, her expression full of affection.
"I'll take good care of myself, Mother." After spending ten years together, Ling Tian could understand Humei's language.
Humei stroked Ling Tian's tender little cheek, as if trying to imprint his face in her mind.
"Let's go, Humei. Tian'er." Lingyun steeled himself.
"Oh." Ling Tian's little mouth was so pursed it could have held an oil flask.
"Flowers, birds, and little grasses—you're the naughtiest of all. I'm going to learn cultivation now, so I won't be able to play with you as often. Be good and behave, okay?" Ling Tian was saying goodbye to the flowers and plants in the courtyard, just like a child leaving home for a long journey.
Astonishingly, all the plants stretched their leaves a few times, as if they understood Ling Tian's words and were waving goodbye to him. Lingyun and Humei weren't surprised; they had clearly seen Ling Tian's "ability" before.
"Wait for me. I'll come back." Ling Tian's voice rang out again.
At those words, the flowers and plants immediately curled up and trembled. They were clearly still afraid of this "little devil." One could only imagine what kind of "torment" Ling Tian had put them through over the years.
"Haha..." Ling Tian was quite pleased with himself. He turned, waved goodbye, then hurried over to Lingyun.
"Up!" A Green Shadow shot away in a flash.
Qingyun Peak was the tallest peak on Qingyun Mountain. The other eight towering peaks surrounded it, like stars clustering around the moon.
It was home to one of the Qingyun Sect's Nine Meridians—the Qingyun Meridian—which was also the sect's main lineage.
Qingyun Peak was beautiful and steep, brimming with spiritual energy. From afar, one could see a waterfall more than a thousand meters long plunging down from the far side of the mountain. Its white torrent hung like the Milky Way overturned, and its thunderous roar was like ten thousand galloping horses. It was a magnificent, dazzling sight. Spiritual energy shimmered in the air, making it a true Blessed Land, with scenery so extraordinary it seemed cut off from the rest of the world.
The Qingyun Sect's Great Hall stood atop Qingyun Peak. Long ago, a mighty senior had leveled the mountaintop with divine powers. The solemn, imposing hall stretched as far as the eye could see. Before it lay a vast plaza, ringed by pavilions and towers, palaces of jade, and countless other buildings, packed closely together.
The entire main peak was protected by the Sect Protection Array. It was usually inactive, only activated by the peak lord and several others to repel enemies when the peak came under attack. Out of respect for the sect, flight was generally forbidden before the Great Hall.
That day, with a whistle of wind, several figures landed halfway up Qingyun Peak. Looking closely, one could see a middle-aged man and a child just over a meter tall. Oh, and there was an eight-tailed white fox on the man's shoulder.
The middle-aged man stood straight as a peerless sword, with a lean frame, sword-shaped brows, and bright, starry eyes. He truly was as elegant as jade. The child wore a milky-white robe. Who else could they be but Lingyun and the others?
They slowly climbed the winding steps, which snaked upward into the mountain's lovely depths.
Ancient trees towered overhead, their sturdy, twisted branches like coiling dragons. Here and there, halls could be glimpsed through the greenery, blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings.
Along both sides of the mountain path were Herb Gardens carved out by hand. The ginseng inside was as thick as a child's arm, and Lingzhi grew tall, each with nine leaves... Many rare, unfamiliar herbs shimmered with light, their leaves brimming with powerful spiritual energy. Their fragrant scent filled the air, refreshing the mind and heart.
As they walked, Lingyun casually introduced the surrounding herbs and ancient trees to Ling Tian, explaining their names, uses, growing seasons, and more.
Ling Tian nodded now and then, sometimes pondered, and occasionally asked a few questions. He was clearly fascinated by Lingyun's explanations, carefully committing the knowledge to memory.
The man, fox, and child walked and talked until noon, when they reached the Great Hall. Green Cloud Master and the others were waiting respectfully outside. They had been waiting for a long time, but not one of them dared to show the slightest resentment.
"Benefactor, you've arrived." Seeing Lingyun, Green Cloud Master hurried forward and bowed. The others followed close behind and paid their respects as well.
"No need for formalities. You already know why I've come. From now on, I leave Tian'er in your care." Lingyun gently stroked Ling Tian's little head and spoke calmly.
"We will follow your instructions, Benefactor." Green Cloud Master nodded at once.
"Very good, then. I'll be off." Without waiting for Green Cloud Master to reply, he turned and left. A moment later, a streak of blue light whistled away.
Ling Tian watched Lingyun depart with easy, carefree grace, his heart stirring with emotion.
"That senior really is quick and decisive," Xiong Xiong said helplessly.
"Those great seniors have their own temperaments. We'd best not discuss them too much. Come, let's go inside and talk." Green Cloud Master took Ling Tian's little hand and led the way into the Great Hall.
While one flower bloomed, the other side of the story unfolded.
Lingyun flew away, but instead of heading straight for Qingyou Peak, he stopped in the air not far from Qingyun Peak.
"Uncle Ling, please show yourself." Astonishingly, Lingyun was speaking to empty air.
Suddenly, the space before him rippled and twisted. A moment later, a short, elderly man stepped out. His back was hunched, his hair a wild, tangled mess, and his eyes cloudy and dull. Anyone would have thought he could die at any moment. Who could have guessed he was actually a profoundly powerful expert?
"Greetings, Young Pavilion Master." The old man dropped to one knee and bowed to Lingyun.
Lingyun hurriedly helped him up. "Uncle Ling, how many times have I told you not to bow? You're making me feel ashamed. Besides, Lingxiao Pavilion is already..." Lingyun's expression darkened as he trailed off.
"Etiquette must not be abandoned." Old Man Ling spoke sparingly, but his tone brooked no argument.
"Ah, fine. Have it your way." Lingyun sighed.
"Young Pavilion Master, please give your orders." Old Man Ling glanced at Humei on Lingyun's shoulder, his voice tinged with coldness.
"Go protect Tian'er. He comes from no ordinary background, and he has something on him even more powerful than an Immortal Artifact. I'm afraid someone might covet it and try to harm him." As if aware that Old Man Ling disliked Humei, Lingyun turned slightly, blocking the old man's view of her.
"The Old Pavilion Master's final command was for me to protect you and never leave your side." Old Man Ling's expression was respectful.
"Who in the Five Elements Domain could hurt me? Besides, Father has already..." Lingyun's face filled with guilt. Then came a surging hatred, mingled with the helpless despair of someone who could no longer turn back the tide.
"Better safe than sorry." Old Man Ling remained stubborn.
"Tian'er is my legacy. Perhaps one day, he'll be the hope of Lingxiao Pavilion. I'm already a cripple. Surely you can tell which matters more?" Lingyun's voice was distant, heavy with the sorrow of a fallen hero.
"This..." Old Man Ling hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
"Enough with the 'this' and 'that.' Go protect Tian'er. I'll take good care of myself." Lingyun cut him off.
"Mm, all right. Take care, Young Pavilion Master." Before his words had even faded, his figure had vanished.
"Ah!" Lingyun sighed.
"I hope that one day Tian'er can rebuild Lingxiao Pavilion and make it powerful again, fulfilling Father's last wish. Then perhaps my guilt toward him will lessen a little, and he'll be able to rest a bit easier beneath the Nine Springs." Lingyun murmured, his expression filled with endless grief and loneliness.
"Yip, yip." Humei looked just as despondent.
"But it's too cruel to make Tian'er bear such a heavy burden all by himself." Lingyun gazed toward Qingyun Peak, as if he could see through its majestic, beautiful slopes and look straight at Ling Tian.
"Tian'er, take good care of yourself. Green Cloud Master, don't think I'm unaware of what you're planning. I hope you don't make the wrong choice this time. Otherwise, hmph..." Lingyun's expression changed, his face dark with killing intent.
It turned out that the Qingyun Sect was not as peaceful beneath the surface as it appeared.
"Let's go, Humei." As he spoke, blue light rose around him, and he shot away with a whistle.
Inside the Great Hall on Qingyun Peak, Green Cloud Master and the others took their seats according to rank.
Ling Tian looked around, casually surveying the Great Hall and the people inside, his expression full of curiosity. He wasn't shy in the slightest.
"Let's hear it. What should we do with this child?" Green Cloud Master glanced at Ling Tian, who was looking around, and spoke with a touch of authority, getting straight to the point.
"I say I'll take the child as my disciple." Xiong Xiong's voice boomed like a bell, his manner imposing. He spoke first, afraid that if he fell behind, he wouldn't get the chance to claim the child.
"Cackle, cackle. Xiong Xiong, you young rascal, every member of your Qingshi Peak is a burly man. Since when did a bunch of grown men learn how to look after children?" Yuan Ming laughed mockingly.
"Hmph, that's still better than your bunch of old men at Qingming Peak. You're all obsessed with researching formations, and every one of you is a little crazy. You'd scare Ling Tian half to death." Xiong Xiong glared, firing back.
"You..." Yuan Ming was so angry that his beard stood on end.
"Sect Master, the moment I saw this child today, I took a liking to him. It seems we're fated to meet; perhaps we share a destiny from a past life. Why not let him join my Qinghuang Meridian?" Before Yuan Ming could get a word out, Huang Se hurriedly spoke up.
As soon as Huang Se finished, someone among them stood up with a cold laugh. "Elder Huang, you already have several hundred disciples—the most of any Meridian except the Qingyun main lineage. If every disciple under you shares some past-life bond with you, then you've got an awful lot of fate to go around, don't you? Heh." The man paused, then continued, "My Qingquan Meridian has the fewest people of the Nine Meridians besides the Qingyou Meridian, with barely a dozen. That's hardly presentable. I say this child should join my lineage."
Huang Se's old face flushed red. He was just about to speak when a seductive woman cut in first. "I don't think this is about being 'fated,' Peak Master Huang. You're hoping to use little Ling Tian to smooth things over with Senior Lingyun, aren't you? You were terribly disrespectful to him before, after all. Heehee."
Huang Se's face turned redder than pig liver. He used to call Lingyun a "cripple" behind his back. After witnessing Lingyun display his divine might that day, he had been badly frightened. Afraid Lingyun might remember him and seek revenge, he wanted to make a good impression through Ling Tian and smooth things over with Lingyun.
"Haha..." Several people nearby burst into laughter, clearly delighted at his misfortune.
Ling Tian, who had been looking around the Great Hall, deliberately glanced at Huang Se. His eyes held a trace of hostility and mockery. Huang Se and the others were arguing so heatedly that none of them noticed.
"Big Brother Gu Yuan, even though your Qingquan Peak has the fewest people, over the years all the talented disciples have been assigned to your Meridian. The rest of us haven't taken in a single disciple all this time. Don't fight me for Ling Tian, okay?" The woman winked seductively, her eyes brimming with allure.
"Ahem, all right. Since Sister Wu Yun has asked, I won't compete with your Qingsong Meridian." Gu Yuan was momentarily dazed by Wu Yun's seductive expression. His face reddened, and he secretly felt ashamed of his poor self-control.
"Little brother, come with Big Sister. There are lots of girls your age at my Qingdie Peak. I'll have them play with you, all right? And I have lots of beautiful butterflies, too. Do you like butterflies?" Just then, a young woman with delicate features and a slender figure came over to Ling Tian and picked him up, openly trying to tempt him.
Ling Tian's bright eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. With a sly look, he said, "Mm, I like them."
"Then you agree to join my Qingdie Peak!" The woman was delighted.
"No." Ling Tian shook his head even faster than he had nodded.
"You—you—you! Ah, you're driving me crazy..." The woman was so angry she nearly flew into a rage. She put Ling Tian down and returned to her seat in a huff.
"Haha..." The crowd burst into laughter again.
"Even Ye Feidie can be turned down? Haha, now that's rare." Wu Yun covered her mouth, laughing as she teased her.
"Hmph, this little rascal won't be swayed by anything." Ye Feidie looked thoroughly disgruntled.
Ling Tian smiled faintly and said nothing.
"Leng Jian, aren't you going to compete for him?" Green Cloud Master asked, surprised that the young man was the only one who hadn't spoken.
The Qingyun Sect had a long history. Though the various Meridians appeared harmonious, beneath the surface they were always competing with one another. Who wanted their own lineage to be weaker than the rest?
In the path of cultivation, talent was crucial. There was a saying that a genius might comprehend the Dao in a single day and surpass an ordinary person's hundred years of cultivation. Seeing that Ling Tian had extraordinary talent, no one could say whether he might one day surpass the geniuses of earlier generations. Besides, taking him in as a disciple would at worst mean one more student, while leaving another Meridian the chance to claim him.
What was more, taking him in would also help them build a good relationship with Lingyun, a peerless expert and senior. Why wouldn't they want to?
"I'd like to, but I can't win." Leng Jian was like a giant sword with its sharp edge sheathed, yet its sword intent still seeped out, cold as water. He spoke little and was as cold as ice.
"Oh? What do you mean?" Green Cloud Master was taken aback.
"This child is so composed. He must have already made up his mind." Leng Jian was brief and to the point.
"Mm, that's probably it. I was wondering why he wouldn't join our Meridians. So that's the reason." They were all clever people; a moment's thought was enough for them to understand.
"Ahem, let's not rush. We should first test Ling Tian's talent and Innate Attribute." Green Cloud Master spoke.
"Good." Everyone agreed in unison.
Before you continue