Establishing a Sect, Taking in a Disciple

Seeking Dao Mountains, west.

On a path about eighty li from the Seeking Dao Mountains, two figures were making their way toward the range.

Both wore splendid clothes and were plainly wealthy or noble. They were father and son.

The father, about forty, was Zhang Qingping, head of the Zhang Household, the foremost lineage in Clearwind Town.

Clearwind Town lay a hundred li west of the Seeking Dao Mountains. It was the only town near the range.

Behind Zhang Qingping walked his son, Zhang Xingfeng. Only seventeen, he was tall and straight, dressed in golden finery, with swordlike brows and bright eyes.

Their destination was the Cloud Offering Sect on Lone Cloud Peak, thirty li from Clearwind Town. In five days, the sect would hold its disciple recruitment gathering.

"Father, I might not even have Spiritual Wisdom. Why do I have to attend the Cloud Offering Sect's disciple recruitment gathering?"

Zhang Xingfeng asked in puzzlement.

"If you don't try, how will you know?"

Zhang Qingping answered calmly.

Even so, Zhang Qingping did not hold out much hope.

He knew that people from Clearwind Town almost never possessed Spiritual Wisdom.

The last person born with it had appeared forty years ago. Still, they had to try.

"But we don't have to go this early! It's still five days away!"

Zhang Xingfeng sounded faintly aggrieved.

"What do you know? This is called sincerity!"

Zhang Qingping spoke with a perfectly straight face.

"Oh..."

At a loss for words, Zhang Xingfeng silently followed his father.

Whoosh!

Just then, a figure flashed past them like lightning, stirring a breeze.

"Father, did you see that? That expert flew past like a shooting star!"

Zhang Xingfeng stared at the fading afterimages, his eyes trembling.

"Could it be a disciple of the Cloud Offering Sect coming down the mountain?"

Zhang Qingping was astonished too.

"Hmm? Those two? Heading in that direction?"

Already several hundred zhang away, Li Moqing raised an eyebrow, turned, and flew back to Zhang Qingping and Zhang Xingfeng.

"E-expert, what... what business do you have with us?"

Startled to see Li Moqing return, Zhang Qingping addressed him respectfully.

Zhang Xingfeng gazed at Li Moqing with still greater awe, not daring to speak.

Mortals naturally revered cultivators, especially those of the Cloud Offering Sect, the only sect within a hundred li.

These must be the people the system called fated to meet me.

The distinctive patterns on their clothes mark them as members of the Zhang Household, Clearwind Town's foremost lineage.

The one who spoke is dressed like a wealthy merchant. He must be among the Zhang Household's leaders.

Li Moqing did not answer. He studied the two of them, then asked a question he already knew the answer to: "Are you gentlemen from the Zhang Household?"

"Yes, expert. I'm Zhang Qingping, head of the Zhang Household, and this is my son, Xingfeng."

Zhang Qingping answered at once.

So they're Zhang Qingping, head of the Zhang Household, and his son, Zhang Xingfeng.

At Zhang Xingfeng's age, why else would he be heading into the deserted Seeking Dao Mountains? He must be going to the Cloud Offering Sect's disciple recruitment gathering in five days.

The Zhang Household is praised throughout Clearwind Town, and Zhang Qingping has an excellent reputation.

As his son, Zhang Xingfeng can hardly be of poor character. He must be the fated one. I can't let this chance slip by; I need to take him as my disciple.

Li Moqing silently worked through it all.

"Head Zhang, you and your son are heading toward the Seeking Dao Mountains. Are you going to the Cloud Offering Sect's disciple recruitment gathering in five days?"

Li Moqing asked, though he already knew.

"That's right." Zhang Qingping nodded. "I'm taking Feng'er there early to show our sincerity."

"After all, the Cloud Offering Sect holds a disciple recruitment gathering only once every ten years. An opportunity like this is rare..."

Zhang Qingping kept talking.

Then something struck him. He frowned. "Wait. 'The Cloud Offering Sect'?"

"From the way you said that, expert, could it be that you aren't a cultivator of the Cloud Offering Sect?"

Zhang Qingping looked astonished.

"That's strange. Are there other sects near Clearwind Town?"

Zhang Xingfeng finally spoke, just as puzzled.

"No. I am not a cultivator of the Cloud Offering Sect."

"I am Li Moqing, sect master of the Heavenly Mist Sect, a secluded sect hidden in Misttrace Valley about eighty li from here."

Li Moqing answered with a smile, beginning to make up details about the sect.

"Misttrace Valley? A secluded sect? The Heavenly Mist Sect? Its sect master?!"

Zhang Qingping fired off one startled question after another.

Eighty li from here lies the Seeking Dao Mountains. Since when has there been a Misttrace Valley there? And where did a secluded sect come from?

Why does the master of the Heavenly Mist Sect look so young?

Zhang Qingping looked at Li Moqing, his mind full of questions.

"Expert, is what you said true?"

Zhang Xingfeng stared at Li Moqing, wide-eyed and incredulous.

Whoosh!

Li Moqing could not be bothered to explain. He rose straight into the air and hovered there.

His long hair streamed, and his white robes snapped in the wind. He looked like an immortal descended from heaven!

"Is that... riding the wind through the void? An ability only someone at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm or above possesses?"

Zhang Xingfeng's eyes widened until they seemed ready to pop out.

What kind of Spiritual Wisdom and talent does Sect Master Li have? How could he cultivate beyond the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm in a place as thin in Source Qi as the Seeking Dao Mountains?

Unbelievable! Lin Shanghai, master of the nearby Cloud Offering Sect, is only at the first level of the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Just what I'd expect from the master of a secluded sect!

Zhang Qingping was shaken to the core.

Now both men believed every word Li Moqing had said.

[Ding! Congratulations! Zhang Qingping and Zhang Xingfeng believe the story the host fabricated. The secluded Heavenly Mist Sect is now real. The host may travel to Misttrace Valley, eighty li away, to see it!]

[This fabrication has become reality. The gifted chance to make a fabrication real for everyone has been used. The host has no such chances remaining!]

The system's words left Li Moqing's heart as still as an ancient well.

No chances left? Then I just need to complete the task by taking Zhang Xingfeng as my disciple, don't I?

With a faint smile, he turned into a streak of light and landed.

"Sect Master Li, you're not merely an expert but a mighty cultivator. We failed to recognize Mount Tai before our eyes. Please forgive us if we offended you."

Zhang Qingping hurried to apologize.

"But you came back specifically to find us, Sect Master Li. May I ask what you need?"

He changed tack, asking in confusion.

"I want to take your son as my disciple!"

Li Moqing got straight to the point.

"What? Really?!"

Zhang Xingfeng froze for a moment.

"Sect Master Li, do you truly mean that?"

Zhang Qingping was overjoyed.

"Of course I do!"

Li Moqing answered solemnly.

"Feng'er, what are you standing there for? Hurry and pay your respects to your master!"

Beside himself with excitement, Zhang Qingping urged his son on.

"Yes, Father!"

Zhang Xingfeng immediately knelt.

"Master, please accept three bows from your disciple, Zhang Xingfeng!"

With that, Zhang Xingfeng respectfully knocked his forehead against the ground three times.

"Good. Rise!"

Li Moqing smiled faintly and waved a hand.

"Yes, Master!"

Zhang Xingfeng sprang up, unable to contain his joy.

"Come. Follow me to Misttrace Valley and see our sect!"

Li Moqing spoke calmly.

"Yes, Master!"

"Of course, Sect Master Li!"

Before Zhang Xingfeng and Zhang Qingping had finished speaking, they felt as though they were among the clouds, with the wind howling in their ears.