New Golden Trait

Wisps of smoke curled up from the incense burner beside the disciple in charge of recording. At the exit of the Bamboo Sea, the recording disciple loudly announced name after name.

Most of those who passed looked utterly bedraggled. Some were covered in mud, others had their clothes torn by bamboo branches, their faces still bearing traces of lingering fright or relief.

Yet compared with the first trial, far fewer people were eliminated in the second. At most, there were only slight differences in the time they took.

When the incense in the burner finally burned out, only a few people had failed to pass this trial.

At that moment, Master Juechen stepped forward again, her cool voice reaching everyone's ears.

"The final trial is an examination of your innate constitution."

"Come forward in the order you emerged from the Bamboo Sea. Outer sect elders will use True Qi to examine your bones and check the condition of your Meridians."

As soon as she finished speaking, the disciple previously in charge of recording called out.

"Gu Shaoan."

For a moment, everyone's eyes fell upon Gu Shaoan.

Under the crowd's gaze, Gu Shaoan stepped forward and stopped before the outer sect elder responsible for examining innate constitutions.

Looking at Gu Shaoan's bright eyes, handsome features, and outstanding bearing, the outer sect elder in his forties wore a gentle smile.

"Hold out your hand."

Gu Shaoan did as instructed, extending his right hand. The outer sect elder then gripped his wrist.

Gu Shaoan immediately felt an icy-cool energy enter his body through his wrist, traveling along his Meridians.

As the True Qi circulated, the outer sect elder's gentle expression stiffened slightly, and a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes.

"Strong Meridians... an excellent innate constitution?"

Upon hearing of Gu Shaoan's innate constitution, the surrounding Emei Sect disciples all looked at him, their eyes filled with surprise as well.

A Martial Artist's innate constitution was divided, from lowest to highest, into inferior, ordinary, excellent, outstanding, and peerless.

Comprehension could not be measured and could only be glimpsed through a Martial Artist's cultivation progress.

But innate constitution could be tested through bone examination or a Martial Artist's True Qi.

An excellent innate constitution might seem neither outstanding nor poor, but it was actually quite rare.

Across the entire Emei Sect, fewer than twenty people possessed such talent.

Just then, as if Master Juechen had noticed something, her expression turned solemn. She raised her left fist to her right wrist and formed a sword-finger salute with her right index and middle fingers. "Greetings, Sect Leader."

At her words, everyone's attention shifted behind Gu Shaoan.

The instant their eyes fell upon Master Miejue, all the Emei elders and disciples hurriedly saluted.

"Greetings, Sect Leader."

Noticing everyone's gaze, Gu Shaoan quickly turned around as well.

After catching a fleeting glimpse of Miejue's face, he immediately lowered his head.

Master Miejue ignored everyone. Her eyes, as though tempered in ice that had endured ten thousand years, settled on Gu Shaoan.

Her gaze was like tangible shackles, cold and heavy, causing every muscle in Gu Shaoan's body to tense instantly, as though an invisible giant hand had seized him.

Just as Gu Shaoan felt the air around him seem to freeze solid, Miejue suddenly spoke.

"Has his background been investigated?"

Master Juechen immediately understood whom Master Miejue meant. Stepping forward, she bowed and said, "In reply to Sect Leader, according to the records kept by disciples at the foot of the mountain, this boy is from Jiangnan. His family was originally wealthy, but three months ago, while passing through Jade Mountain Town, they encountered Mountain Bandits. Both of his parents perished."

Master Miejue's gaze returned to Gu Shaoan. Her thin lips parted, and though her voice was quiet, it held less of its usual chill and more gentleness. "Are you willing to take me as your master?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, envious gazes fell upon Gu Shaoan.

Gu Shaoan was briefly stunned by Miejue's offer, but after recovering, he knelt and said, "This disciple greets Master."

"Good!"

Looking at Gu Shaoan as he completed the three bows, the gentleness in Miejue's eyes deepened.

[The player has become Master Miejue's disciple and a Personal Disciple of Miejue. Achievement Points +1000.]

[Successfully taking a master opens the path of the martial world and unlocks the second talent trait.]

[New talent trait acquired: Anointing (Gold)]

[Achievement Point roulette unlocked. The player may spend Achievement Points on roulette draws. Each draw costs 1000 Achievement Points.]

After several system notifications appeared in succession, Gu Shaoan's attribute panel popped up as well.

[Player: Gu Shaoan]

[Innate Constitution: Excellent]

[Cultivation: Not unlocked]

[Internal Cultivation Method: None]

[Martial Skills: None]

[Current Traits: Abbess's Favor (Gold), Anointing (Gold)]

[Achievement Points: 1000]

Looking at his attribute panel, Gu Shaoan's eyes flickered.

This function came with me too?

Gu Shaoan had originally thought that only the trait function had accompanied him after his transmigration.

He had not expected the attribute panel and roulette draw function to come along as well.

After examining and understanding his second trait, Gu Shaoan's pupils contracted.

It's actually this talent trait?

[Anointing (Gold): While cultivating, you have a very high chance of receiving tremendous inspiration.]

The description of Anointing seemed simple, but Gu Shaoan knew that Anointing was a hidden trait designed by the developers.

Even among all Gold traits, it ranked among the very best.

That was because this trait gave Martial Artists an extremely high chance of entering a state of enlightenment during cultivation.

In that state of enlightenment, a Martial Artist's comprehension could be greatly enhanced.

Obtaining this talent trait truly made Gu Shaoan feel that his luck had exploded.

"Juechen, later, have everything delivered to the rear mountain according to his measurements and the standards for the Sect Leader's Personal Disciple."

At that moment, Miejue's cool voice rang out again, carrying an unmistakable note of command.

Master Juechen bowed slightly. "This disciple obeys."

Miejue turned her gaze to Gu Shaoan. "Follow me."

With that, she ignored everyone else, turned around, and walked step by step toward the cloud-shrouded mountain peak.

After bowing to Master Juechen, Gu Shaoan quickly took several steps and followed behind Miejue.

Before long, the two of them vanished from everyone's sight.

Master Juechen withdrew her gaze and continued presiding over the disciples' Beginner Level examinations.

The mountain breeze drifted gently. In winter, it might have felt piercingly cold.

But in the height of summer, the breeze sweeping through the area brought a touch of coolness.

Combined with the fresh, moist air of the mountains, it quickly calmed the mind.

Gu Shaoan had originally only wanted to join the Emei Sect and find a temporary place to settle.

He had never expected to become Miejue's Personal Disciple directly.

Although the Emei Sect had declined somewhat in recent years, it was still a notable force west of Great Wei.

The Huashan Sect, Songshan Sect, Hengshan Sect, Mount Heng Sect, and Taishan Sect had formed the Five Peaks Sword Sect, whose reputation had grown increasingly prominent in recent years.

But compared with the Emei Sect, they still stood a level below.

Miejue's strength and Emei's standing were plain to see.

As for sects like Wudang Sect and Shaolin, they were certainly top-tier forces, far surpassing the Emei Sect.

But if he joined them only to become an ordinary disciple and failed to catch the eye of people like Song Yuanqiao or True Master Zhang, what would be the point?

Those whose hearts were higher than the heavens often had lives thinner than paper.

Gu Shaoan was no longer an ignorant youth. He knew that one had to eat one bite at a time.

Unless he could live off a woman.