Qi Daolin

Ancient stone steps, broken walls, rubble strewn everywhere, weeds running wild-this place was utterly desolate. Every ruined wall and remnant spoke of decline and decay.

Lin Fan struggled to prop up his little body, which had nearly fallen apart, and surveyed his surroundings. Everything here felt strange, steeped in the weathered breath of ages and an air of sorrow.

But more than any of that, he was concerned about the somewhat sleazy-looking old man before him. The man kept staring at him, making him uncomfortable all over.

"Um... Grandpa, were you the one who saved me?" Lin Fan finally asked in an innocent, childlike voice, his large, dewy eyes utterly clear.

"Mm!" The old man instantly grew solemn and nodded with an air of unfathomable wisdom. With his Immortal Bearing Dao Body, he looked every bit like a reclusive master beyond the mortal world.

"Oh, my mama said I should be grateful when someone helps me... Thank you, Grandpa!" Lin Fan's childish face was round and plump, making him look adorable.

Over his years with Ye Qingxian, acting had become part of his personal cultivation. Lies rolled off his tongue without the slightest blush, and he remained cautious at all times.

"Little one, how did you end up here?" the old man asked with the warmth of a spring breeze, a gleam of wisdom in his deep eyes.

He was quite curious how a child with no cultivation whatsoever had reached this place, and was already planning how to coax him into becoming his disciple. This was a First Generation, someone every sect would treasure like a priceless jewel.

His lineage had languished for years. Although he had taken in two disciples a few years ago, both had perished. Now that someone with decent talent had finally delivered himself to his doorstep, he certainly could not let him slip away.

"I don't know either. I only remember playing in the mountains with Little Monkey and the others from the village, then stepping on an altar. Whoosh, I got sent away!" Lin Fan looked utterly bewildered, making it clear he knew nothing.

Oh? I've stumbled upon a real bargain. Looks like he doesn't belong to any faction. Well, that makes sense-he's already four and hasn't started cultivating. The old man secretly rejoiced, determined to coax this child into his fold.

There was no room for doubt. If a First Generation like this came from an established lineage, even a minor one, there was no way he would still not have begun cultivating at four. That would be far too wasteful!

No sect would do such a thing. This was a seed for the future, tied to the fortunes of its Dao. They ought to be thinking about how to strengthen his foundations.

Generally, the best age to begin cultivating was two, before the body had taken its fixed shape. Baptisms with various Treasure Medicines and precious blood could establish the firmest possible foundation.

Some powerful lineages would even use Divine Medicine and precious blood from Primordial Pureblood Vicious Beasts for the very first baptism of their exceptionally gifted disciples, refining them together to ensure greater potential for cultivation.

Seeing the old man fall silent with the corners of his mouth lifted in a vaguely sinister smile, Lin Fan immediately sensed trouble. This sleazy old man isn't going to do that to me, is he? I've heard some creepy old men have a taste for children.

I, Lin Fan, have remained pure as ice and jade, guarding my chastity through two lifetimes. Am I really going to fall into this old man's hands? The thought sent a wave of revulsion through him.

He immediately slipped into actor mode and said in a clear, childish voice, "Grandpa, can you take me home? My papa and mama will treat you to yummy meat!"

His sincere, wide eyes brimmed with fear, watery tears rolling inside them as though they would spill over at any moment.

Faced with this innocent, helpless child, Qi Daolin felt too embarrassed to begin coaxing him. His old face could hardly bear it.

After all, the boy was far too young, merely a newly weaned little child still sheltered beneath his parents' wings. Had he been a little older, Qi Daolin would have shamelessly lured him in without this sense of guilt.

"Little one, do you know where your home is? I'll need to know before I can take you back," Qi Daolin asked, trying to communicate.

Though his reputation was somewhat notorious, he still had a few boundaries. Before accepting the boy as his disciple, he ought to at least let the child's parents know.

Nor did he believe the parents would refuse. Would ignorant people from some little mountain village really turn down a highly accomplished cultivator offering to teach their child?

Yes, that was exactly what Qi Daolin intended: take the child home first, then bring him into the Supreme Dao Arena.

"My home is in Lin Village. Do you know it, Grandpa?" Lin Fan asked softly.

He was probing the old man, trying to discover his true intentions and whether he harbored any other designs on him. If absolutely necessary, he could only invoke Ye Qingxian's name.

She was quite famous among those at the Cultivator Leader level. The question was whether this strange old man knew her.

Otherwise, I'm in grave danger!

"Little one, there are plenty of villages bearing the Lin name in this world. That alone won't help us find your way home. Do you know anything else, such as the name of the region?"

"Mm..." Lin Fan scratched his head and swayed it from side to side, as though trying hard to remember. Suddenly, he said, "I think I heard Grandpa Village Chief say our place was... some Border Pass!"

"Border Pass?!" Qi Daolin exclaimed, particularly sensitive to those two words.

"Mm!" Lin Fan carefully observed his reaction. He had deliberately mentioned those words to gauge the old man's cultivation, since ordinary people knew nothing of the Border Pass. Only those with high cultivation could go there.

From what he could see, this old man's cultivation should be considerable. He had at least attained godhood, and was probably a True God or higher.

"Little one, I'm afraid getting home will be very difficult. This is the Three Thousand Provinces, very far from the Border Pass, with the terrifying Uninhabited Zone lying between them."

Qi Daolin had not expected this child to come from so far away, beyond even the Three Thousand Provinces. He must have arrived through a teleportation formation, and an extraordinary one at that, spanning an endless sea of stars.

"Ah... waaah... What do I do? I miss my papa and mama. They must be waiting for me to come home." Lin Fan's eyes instantly misted over, crystal-like tears sliding down his cheeks.

Even he had to admire himself now. He truly was a fine actor. Life was a play, and acting was everything.

Lin Fan was also astonished that he had actually reached the Three Thousand Provinces. Ye Qingxian had tossed him so far away, straight from the Uninhabited Zone at the Border Pass to here, crossing untold billions of miles from the Nine Heavens to the Ten Lands.

Still, all he wanted now was to leave quickly and find a major sect to join so he could begin cultivating. Having his life and death held in someone else's hands felt truly awful.

"Don't cry, little one. Getting home is difficult, but it isn't impossible," Qi Daolin soothed gently, as kind as an affectionate elder.

"Really?" Lin Fan blinked his large eyes, sparkling like jewels, and wiped away his tears, as though he had glimpsed hope and light at that very moment.

Under that burning gaze, Qi Daolin's old face could not help reddening. He was rather unused to it. This was the first time a child had looked at him like this, and he almost could not bear to draw the boy into his lineage.

His sect was no simple affair. Everyone clamored to strike it down, and enemies watched from every side. He did not know whether bringing such a small child into it would harm him.

Nevertheless, he answered, "Of course it's true. Once your cultivation is high enough, you can naturally go anywhere you wish."

Hearing that, Lin Fan immediately wilted again, his face full of disappointment. "But our village is poor and weak. I don't know how to cultivate..."

"Ahem, don't you have me? Join my sect, and I can make you a peerless expert!" Qi Daolin shrugged as he spoke.

Suddenly, luminous mist swirled around the old man, and auspicious clouds of radiant color illuminated the ruins. He shone like the blazing sun, giving the impression that he was about to ascend to immortality, ethereal and beyond the dust of the world, a celestial immortal descended to earth.

"Wow!" Lin Fan exclaimed, freezing in astonishment. Meanwhile, he thought, This old man really knows how to show off. Any ordinary kid would definitely be fooled.

Still, he felt relieved. As long as the man had no intentions of that sort-defiling him and stealing his bone. Especially defiling him; that would be worse than killing him.

As it happened, this also fit his plans. The old man seemed exceptionally powerful, saving him the trouble of finding a sect to join. For now, being able to cultivate was enough.

"Are you willing to enter my sect and fight for it?" the old man asked, suddenly majestic. Chaos Qi spilled down above his head, and his true form seemed to stand shoulder to shoulder with heaven and earth, looking down upon all living beings.

"I am!" Lin Fan answered.

He had no choice. In this unfamiliar place, he would join first to ensure his own safety. Besides, he had underestimated this old man, who might have reached the Heavenly God level, or even the Cultivator Leader level.

This was no losing bargain. It seemed this was no minor sect, either. The man might simply be living in these ruins as a recluse to cultivate his character. His actual lineage should be flourishing.

At any rate, that was what Lin Fan believed.

The old man nodded, then solemnly took Lin Fan by the hand and made him swear an oath. Stern beyond measure, he offered prayers to heaven and earth, then took a drop of the boy's blood, dripped it onto a written text, and set it alight.

Lin Fan watched it all in stunned bewilderment, his jaw hanging open. Was joining a sect really this strict?

Once everything was finished, Lin Fan asked, "I still don't know what to call you, Grandpa. And what is our lineage called?"

"Qi Daolin. As for our lineage, it is the Supreme Dao Arena. How does that sound? Imposing, isn't it? Feeling proud already? You'll understand in time-no one who emerges from our lineage is weak!" the old man said with a confident smile.

"Ah..."