Yu Qiao'er Joins the Sect

Ask-Dao City, early morning.

Chen Xian pushed open the door, and the crisp air rushed in, clearing his mind considerably after a sleepless night.

Behind him, Yu Qiao'er had changed into a simple, elegant green silk dress—one he'd had the innkeeper buy in a rush this morning.

Yu Qiao'er's original clothes were no different from a thin veil; not only were they improper to wear, but they'd also leave her cold.

"Not bad, not bad. You look like a proper young lady."

Chen Xian appraised Yu Qiao'er's outfit with satisfaction.

Stripped of her makeup, the girl had shed some of that brothel's seductive charm, gaining instead a purity like an orchid in a deep valley.

Yu Qiao'er kept her head lowered, her hands tightly twisting the hem of her dress. Every step she took was cautious, as if afraid that walking too loudly would displease Chen Xian.

Chen Xian knew she wouldn't adapt overnight, so he said nothing more.

The backyard of the Like-a-Dream Inn.

"Un—Uncle-Master... th-this young lady is...?"

Jian Shan was yawning as he wiped down his precious Flying Boat, but when he looked up and saw Chen Xian emerging with a stunning girl, the rag nearly slipped from his hand.

"Oh, her name is Yu Qiao'er. This old man noticed her exceptional bone structure—she should have some talent for cultivation. I'm bringing her back to the sect to have a look."

Chen Xian's tone was flat.

"Bring her back to the sect?"

Duan Cui happened to step out of the side room. Hearing this, his honest face flushed beet-red, and he stammered, "Uncle-Master... th-this doesn't follow sect rules, does it? Mortals ascending the mountain have to go through the spring sect selection..."

"Rules?"

Chen Xian shot him a sidelong glance. This kid was too honest for his own good. "I am the rules."

Duan Cui was so choked up he didn't dare speak for a long while.

Lin Xiaoyan emerged from the side room, looking like he hadn't slept either. He patted his groggy head, leaned against a corridor pillar, and glanced at Yu Qiao'er. His eyes lit up for a brief moment.

What a beautiful girl... Where did Uncle-Master find her? And it looks like they spent the night together!

"Alright, don't just stand here drawing attention. Jian Shan, that broken boat of yours can't carry this many people—it'll fall out of the sky if overloaded. You take this old man and Qiao'er on the Flying Boat."

Chen Xian waved his hand and turned to Lin Xiaoyan. "Xiaoyan, you and Duan Cui fly back on your swords. Once you're back at the sect, go about your own business."

"Yes."

Lin Xiaoyan nodded, grabbed Duan Cui by the scruff of his neck, and without any visible effort, shot up like a streak of ink-colored light, startling Duan Cui into a pig-like scream midair.

Yu Qiao'er trembled at the sight. Chen Xian patted her shoulder and said gently, "Come on, you're taking the boat with this old man. No need to be afraid."

The three boarded the vessel. The Flying Boat rose, piercing through clouds and mist.

Chen Xian pulled a Sound-Speed Jade Pendant from his bosom—one Lei Qingyang had specially left for him to communicate.

Infusing a thread of Dao Power, the pendant lit up.

"Qingyang, busy? This old man picked up a good seedling for talisman arts down the mountain. Looks very gifted. I'm bringing them back to the sect now. Got time to take a look?"

A moment later, the green jade pendant trembled, and Lei Qingyang's steady, slightly amused voice came through: "If Uncle speaks, how could Qingyang dare not have time? As it happens, Talisman Peak's Elder Leng Lingxue is at Sect Master Peak discussing matters today. Just bring them over."

Half an hour later, Sect Master Peak's great hall.

Cloud seas churned; cranes cried out.

When the Flying Boat landed steadily on the white-jade-paved plaza, two figures were already waiting there.

Chen Xian spotted Lei Qingyang at once, stepped off the boat, and walked forward slowly.

Lei Qingyang stood with his hands behind his back. Beside him was a woman in an ink-wash long dress.

She appeared to be around twenty, with skin like frost and an air of distant coldness in her brows.

On her back was a dao artifact of unknown rank—a White Jade Brush, crystal-clear throughout. The whole person exuded a sharp, scholarly aura.

"Greetings, Uncle." Lei Qingyang smiled and clasped his hands, then introduced, "This is Talisman Peak's Elder Leng Lingxue."

"Uncle, let me introduce you. Lingxue is the backbone of our sect's Talisman Peak. She's only forty and already at the Sixth Heaven of Dao Sect Realm, with hope of attaining Dao Venerable!"

"Greetings, Uncle. The Sect Master's praise is excessive; pay it no mind." Leng Lingxue also clasped her hands in greeting. Her tone was cool and detached, but not unpleasant—as if it were only natural.

Chen Xian smiled and nodded. "No need to be so formal."

He was inwardly startled. A Dao Sect Sixth Heaven before forty—her talisman talent must be formidable!

Leng Lingxue gave a slight bow, her voice flat without a trace of fluctuation. "May I ask which seedling Uncle-Master speaks of?"

"Qiao'er, come here." Chen Xian beckoned.

When had Yu Qiao'er ever seen a scene like this?

The magnificent Sect Master Peak hall, the unfathomably powerful figures before her faintly radiating pressure—it made her legs go weak.

She shrank over to Chen Xian's side and timidly bowed. "Qiao'er greets the seniors."

Leng Lingxue said nothing. She reached out and produced a fist-sized, transparent stone.

"Place your hand on it, calm your mind and spirit, and do not resist." Her voice was as cold and crisp as shattering ice.

Yu Qiao'er shot a pleading look at Chen Xian. Chen Xian smiled and nodded slightly.

The young girl took a deep breath, then tremblingly pressed her delicate little hand onto the Talisman Dao Stone.

In an instant, the entire Talisman Dao Stone seemed to awaken some kind of power. Patterns flowed across its surface, emitting a hazy white mist.

Yu Qiao'er's eyes gradually grew vacant, and she sank into a strange state of meditative absorption.

One breath, two breaths...

After about thirty breaths, the Talisman Dao Stone suddenly erupted with a dazzling yellow radiance. The light was so dense it nearly turned solid, and faintly, the sound of zither music and song could be heard within it.

"Indeed, she possesses mid-to-upper grade Talisman Dao talent, and her heart is pure, aligning with the Great Dao of Literature."

For the first time, Leng Lingxue's perpetually icy face showed clear emotion.

Talisman Dao cultivators were already rare, and those with Talisman Dao talent were one in a hundred—let alone a mid-to-upper grade aptitude.

This girl was truly a fine seedling.

Leng Lingxue put away the Talisman Dao Stone and looked at Yu Qiao'er, who was still dazed. A trace of warmth entered her eyes. "Sect Leader, Uncle-Master, I accept this disciple."

"That is naturally a good thing." Chen Xian nodded in satisfaction.

"Uncle-Master truly has keen eyes. One trip down the mountain and you've found a fine seedling." Lei Qingyang's face was full of delight.

Leng Lingxue addressed Yu Qiao'er: "Are you willing to enter the Sword Sect and first become my nominal disciple? If within one year you can break through to the Talisman Master realm and enter the Inner Sect, I will formally take you as my personal disciple and pass down the True Talisman Dao Method to you."

Yu Qiao'er snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream. Though she didn't fully understand terms like "Talisman Master" or "personal disciple," she knew that joining the Sword Sect meant her fate would be utterly transformed from this point on.

She would never have to return to that den of demons, the Qian Family!

"Thump!"

She fell heavily to her knees, and tears instantly streamed down like a broken string of pearls: "Qiao'er is willing! Thank you, Master, for taking me in! Thank you, Senior, for saving my life!"

She kowtowed to Leng Lingxue, then turned and knocked her head heavily three times against the ground before Chen Xian.

Her forehead struck the white jade floor with a dull thud. When she lifted her head, it was already bruised and swollen.

Everyone was startled. This girl was certainly one who knew gratitude.

"Aiyo! What are you doing! Alright, alright, from now on you are a cultivator. This old man doesn't stand on such mortal formalities."

Chen Xian chuckled and quickly helped her up, his eyes filled with the affection of an elder. "Cultivate well from now on. Strive to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible. Don't embarrass this old man."

"Mm! Qiao'er will give it her all. I will not let Senior or Master down!"

Yu Qiao'er nodded firmly, unable to stop the tears from flowing down her face.

Leng Lingxue was a woman of swift and decisive action.

"Sect Leader, Uncle-Master, I will take my leave now." Seeing the seedling settled, she bowed to Lei Qingyang and Chen Xian respectively, then swept her sleeve, wrapping Yu Qiao'er in a stream of cloud before vanishing into the mountains.

Watching the departing streak of light, Chen Xian stroked his white beard, feeling a surge of emotion. In the span of a single night, Yu Qiao'er's fate had changed beyond recognition.

Last night, she had been a pitiful wretch at others' mercy. Today, she was the nominal disciple of a Dao Sect powerhouse.

"Uncle-Master truly has an eye for talent." Lei Qingyang praised from the side.

Chen Xian withdrew his gaze and looked at Lei Qingyang with a faint, knowing smile. "Qingyang, let's skip the pleasantries. This trip down the mountain, I've gained quite a bit regarding the Qian Family."

Lei Qingyang's expression turned serious, and he extended a hand in invitation: "Uncle-Master, let's discuss this in detail inside the hall."