Ye Ping had already made up his mind.
He must have encountered one of those Hidden Sects. They looked utterly ordinary, but every one of them was actually a Peerless Expert.
Such people had grown weary of the mundane world and already stood atop it. There was truly no more pleasure to be found, so they disguised themselves as ordinary people in search of a thrill.
Of course, this was only his conjecture. Whether it was true or not still required careful investigation.
But this senior brother was definitely an expert.
If he wasn't an expert, then who was?
Sensing the excitement Ye Ping could not conceal, Su Changyu understood that his bluff had worked.
"Alright, Ye Ping, come into the sect with me. Do not disturb your senior brother's quiet cultivation."
Grand Hua Daoist spoke.
Ye Ping immediately nodded, then respectfully cupped his hands and bowed to Su Changyu.
Then he followed Grand Hua Daoist toward the sect gate.
After Ye Ping left.
Su Changyu finally let out a breath.
His tense mood gradually settled as well.
Then he muttered to himself.
"Three million Sword Immortals in the heavens—when they see me, they must lower their brows. Heh heh, that was pretentious enough."
Su Changyu smiled, and his immortal, Dao-boned demeanor instantly vanished without a trace.
Qingyun Dao Sect.
Ye Ping followed Grand Hua Daoist inside.
The dilapidated mountain gate, along with the lone stick of incense in the censer, perfectly spelled out the words poor and shabby.
Even Grand Hua Daoist could not help feeling embarrassed when he saw it.
Yet when Ye Ping saw Qingyun Dao Sect's surroundings, not only did he show no disdain, he instead revealed delight.
This left Grand Hua Daoist rather dumbfounded.
You could look happy even in a place like this?
Had you never cultivated immortality before?
Grand Hua Daoist was somewhat puzzled. He had even prepared himself for Ye Ping to turn around and leave on the spot, yet Ye Ping actually looked delighted. Were there still such simple and honest young cultivators these days?
This child had great prospects.
Grand Hua Daoist thought to himself.
The reason Ye Ping had revealed delight was simple.
This was practically the style of a Hidden Sect.
As a transmigrator, Ye Ping did not know how many webnovels he had read. Their descriptions of Hidden Sects could be summed up in two words.
Abnormal.
That was right—abnormal.
Other sects were resplendent in gold and jade, wishing they could carve their awesomeness right onto the mountain gate. But truly powerful Hidden Sects preferred to keep a low profile.
The lower-profile, the better. The plainer, the better. They gave people the illusion that, at a glance, they were a trash sect.
But in truth, this was a test—a test Hidden Sects gave their newly admitted disciples.
Just like in mythological tales, those immortals loved using such tricks to fool mortals. Guanyin Bodhisattva used a tattered cassock to trade for Tang Sanzang's wealth and glory. Such stories were everywhere.
Having thought this far, how could Ye Ping fail to understand?
Thus, Ye Ping became even more certain that this was a Hidden Sect.
"Ye Ping, follow me."
Grand Hua Daoist spoke.
Ye Ping immediately nodded.
Then he followed Grand Hua Daoist into the main hall.
Although Qingyun Dao Sect looked extremely rundown, Ye Ping still keenly noticed something unusual: it was clean and orderly.
That was right—clean.
If it were a fallen sect, how could it have been cleaned so thoroughly?
Though the Sect Leader had emphasized before arriving that Qingyun Dao Sect was a third-rate sect, this alone allowed Ye Ping to sense that Qingyun Dao Sect was definitely not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Sure enough, even a hundred careful measures left one oversight.
Though they had tried their utmost to conceal it, they still could not escape his discerning eyes.
Ye Ping could not help praising himself for his keen wit.
Just as the two entered the main hall.
Grand Hua Daoist's voice rang out.
"Ye Ping, now that you have arrived at the Dao Sect, there are still a few words I must say. Do not rush to answer. Listen to me first."
Grand Hua Daoist did not refer to himself as master, but used "this Daoist" instead, making him appear solemn.
Ye Ping immediately returned that solemnity and looked seriously at Grand Hua Daoist.
"As the saying goes, cultivating immortality is difficult—more difficult than ascending to the blue heavens. The path of cultivation appears to be a broad road, but in truth it is covered in thorns. Leaving aside its countless dangers, cultivation itself is measured in decades at the slightest turn. Therefore, if you truly wish to walk this path, you must maintain a child's innocent heart."
"Do not aim too high, nor may you give up halfway because you fail to see results for a long time. Without perseverance, one cannot accomplish great things. You must think this through carefully."
Grand Hua Daoist spoke with utmost seriousness, his words carrying an indescribable desolation.
But the reason he said this was to administer a precautionary dose in advance. Ye Ping's aptitude clearly did not look all that impressive. What if he cultivated for three or five months and still could not even sense spiritual energy, then patted his backside and left?
So he had to scare him first.
"This disciple understands. The path of cultivating immortality is inherently one destined for loneliness. By the time immortals emerge from seclusion, seas may have turned into mulberry fields. Since this disciple has chosen this path, I will surely calm my spirit and steady my heart. I will never let my thoughts run wild or stray onto a crooked path."
Ye Ping greatly agreed with those words.
Having read so many novels, even if he had never eaten pork, he had at least seen pigs run.
If cultivating immortality were so easy, then everyone might as well cultivate immortality.
"Very good."
Grand Hua Daoist nodded in satisfaction. Though Ye Ping's aptitude might not be much, this mentality was quite good.
Unlike those previous newly admitted disciples—after cultivating for barely a few months, they were already wishing to reach Qi Refinement Perfection today, Foundation Establishment Perfection tomorrow, form a Golden Core the day after, and become a Nascent Soul Patriarch the day after that.
They were truly indulging in wishful thinking.
"Since you can endure loneliness, this Daoist has nothing more to say. However, Ye Ping, this Daoist will emphasize one final time: during your trial cultivation period, the sect will not provide you with any stipend. Only after you become an official disciple will you receive one. Can you accept this?"
Grand Hua Daoist asked even more seriously.
At the same time, there was a trace of nervousness in his eyes.
But that trace of nervousness was difficult to detect, and Ye Ping did not pay attention to it.
"Please rest assured, Sect Leader. Wealth is but an external possession. The sect teaching me how to cultivate immortality is already a great kindness. How would this disciple dare ask for material goods? As the saying goes, do not always think about what benefits the sect can give you; think more about what benefits you can bring to the sect."
Ye Ping spoke with boundless fervor.
For a transmigrator, having someone teach him how to cultivate immortality already made them a great benefactor. Whether there was silver or not was far too shallow a concern.
"Good!"
Upon hearing this, Grand Hua Daoist was immediately invigorated.
Ye Ping's words had struck straight into his heart.
Do not always think about what benefits the sect can give you; think more about what benefits you can bring to the sect.
Wonderful, wonderful.
Who had said that? They were practically kindred spirits—he should invite them for tea sometime.
Grand Hua Daoist rejoiced inwardly.
He had truly picked up a treasure this time.
But Grand Hua Daoist quickly steadied his emotions and looked at Ye Ping.
"Since that is the case, this Daoist will accept you as my disciple. However, for now, you will only be a registered disciple. Once you become an official disciple, we will hold a grand apprenticeship ceremony."
Grand Hua Daoist said.
"Thank you, Master. This disciple will surely not fail Master's generous favor."
Hearing that he had been accepted into the sect, Ye Ping excitedly cupped his hands and bowed.
"Since that is the case, I shall take you to your residence. Spend these next few days becoming familiar with the sect's surroundings. In a couple of days, I will have your eldest senior brother teach you cultivation. Remember, haste makes waste. On the path of cultivation, you must leave one footprint at a time. Do not be impatient, understand?"
Grand Hua Daoist said seriously.
"Yes! This disciple understands."
Ye Ping nodded solemnly.
He was also filled with anticipation for the future.
Before you continue