My Heart Was Set on the Dao

As Chu Bai stepped out of the Scripture Repository, the afternoon sun struck his eyes. Its warmth spread across his body.

He was about to tuck the Jade Slip he had just acquired into his robe when a voice sounded beside him, faintly amused and carrying a young man's unmistakable arrogance.

"You're Chu Bai of Anping County?"

Chu Bai paused and turned toward the voice.

Several young men approached head-on, blocking his path.

Their leader was about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a Cloudbrocade Dao Robe with a jade belt at his waist and a crown on his head. He was handsome enough, but his slightly raised chin and the inborn sense of superiority between his brows made him seem hard to approach.

Half a step behind him stood Li Han, head lowered and hands hanging awkwardly at his sides. His expression was troubled, his gaze wandered, and he did not dare meet Chu Bai's eyes.

Chu Bai understood at once.

His expression did not change. He merely nodded. "I am. What advice might you have for me?"

The richly dressed young man did not answer at once. He looked Chu Bai up and down as though inspecting merchandise, then fixed his gaze on the gray-white Jade Slip still in Chu Bai's hand.

"The Origin Return Formula?"

The young man raised an eyebrow, looking surprised. "You passed over a water-aspected cultivation method suited to your own attributes and chose such a middling, one-size-fits-all formula... You have rather unusual ideas for a top-ranked candidate."

"What suits me best is best," Chu Bai said calmly, unmoved by his tone.

"Heh. Interesting."

The richly dressed young man gave a soft laugh and snapped his folding fan shut. At last, he looked Chu Bai in the eye. "Allow me to introduce myself. Dong Feng,