This Disciple is Too Miserable

The Returning Heart Sect has a full twenty-four halls, and within each hall, there are positions such as Hall Master, Protector, Sitting Hall Master, Ceremonial Hall Master, Executive Hall Master, Sword Protector, Seal Protector, Black Banner, Blue Banner, and so on.

Furthermore, since this world lacks the internet or photo albums, many disciples can't even distinguish the high-ranking figures within their own hall, let alone those from other halls.

Just as Jiang Beiran was about to cup his hands in reply, three options appeared before him.

[Option One: "This disciple does not know." Completion Reward: Thunderclap Overlord Break (Profound Grade Low Rank)]

[Option Two: "I guess you must be Protector Yu from the Water Mirror Hall." Completion Reward: White Mist Sword (Yellow Rank Middle Grade)]

[Option Three: "Such exceptional grace and bearing, it's hard to find a second person like you even in the entire Returning Heart Sect. You must be Protector Yu from the Water Mirror Hall. This disciple has long admired you."] Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]

Jiang Beiran was stunned when he saw the three options. He was indeed different from other disciples. Because he spent his days "wandering" around the mountains, he had seen and experienced far more than disciples who spent all their time diligently practicing.

However, he had originally planned to follow the crowd and act like most disciples, appearing to know little about people from other halls. He hadn't expected that this would be the most dangerous option.

Despite his confusion, Jiang Beiran chose option three without any hesitation and bowed, saying, "Such exceptional grace and bearing, it's hard to find a second person like you even in the entire Returning Heart Sect. You must be Protector Yu from the Water Mirror Hall. This disciple has long admired you."

[Option Mission Completed. Reward: Fishing +1]

Jiang Beiran's words were by no means flattery. The Protector Yu standing before him had a full and graceful figure, with light steps. She wore a blue one-piece dress inside and a white silk gauze outer robe, cinched at the waist with a white sash. Her black hair was styled in a flowing cloud bun, adorned with a few pearl flowers. A pearl dangled from her forehead. Her skin, like jade, had a rosy hue. With crescent eyebrows and starry eyes, she was undoubtedly one of the top beauties in the Returning Heart Sect.

After hearing Jiang Beiran's respectful reply, Yu Manwen was taken aback. Before coming, she had assumed Jiang Beiran was a disciple who liked to "conceal his strength." Therefore, whether he truly didn't recognize her or was pretending, he would surely act like most disciples and feign ignorance of the high-ranking figures from other halls. However, the reality proved otherwise.

'And he has a sweet tongue.'

After re-evaluating Jiang Beiran in her mind, Yu Manwen nodded and said, "You do have some insight. However, I don't recall seeing a disciple like you. How did you recognize me?"

Jiang Beiran bowed again respectfully, "This disciple was fortunate enough to hear Protector Yu playing the zither on Creek Joy Peak. The music was played to perfection, so exquisite that the roaring tiger heard and did not roar, and the wailing ape heard and did not cry. It was pure, elegant, tragic, and lingering. This disciple was deeply impressed."

Upon hearing this, Yu Manwen's eyes lit up, and she said with a hint of excitement, "Well said, 'the roaring tiger heard and did not roar, and the wailing ape heard and did not cry.' I never expected to find a kindred spirit like you in this Blue Heart Hall. Interesting, truly interesting."

Yu Manwen then closed her eyes and shook her head for a moment before continuing to Jiang Beiran, "Since you are so forthright, this Protector will not hide anything from you. I have come today with a few matters to inquire about."

"This disciple will tell you everything he knows."

"Good!" Yu Manwen nodded with satisfaction. "You have been a registered disciple in the Blue Heart Hall for five years, is that correct?"

"Yes, this disciple is dull-witted and truly lacks talent in cultivation, disappointing my Masters."

"Extend your hand to me."

'As expected, they're going to test my cultivation...'

Sighing inwardly, Jiang Beiran extended his right arm towards Yu Manwen.

Yu Manwen placed her slender fingers on Jiang Beiran's spiritual meridian, and after a moment, her expression became somewhat complex.

'He really is only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?'

On the Profound Dragon Continent, to become a strong individual, one must first cultivate Qi, and the foundational cultivation methods of the major sects are born for this purpose.

Generally, as long as one can pass the sect's talent test, even with slightly poorer talent, it is sufficient to reach the Qi Refining Tenth Layer within a year, thereby breaking through to become a Mystic Practitioner and embarking on the cultivation path towards a Profound Emperor.

But Jiang Beiran has been in the Returning Heart Sect for a full five years, and his Qi Refining is only at the fifth layer. This is simply worse than being a good-for-nothing.

Seeing Yu Manwen's increasingly complex expression, Jiang Beiran remained calm because he was already accustomed to it. Yu Manwen was certainly not the first person to test his cultivation, nor would she be the last.

However, Jiang Beiran had stopped worrying after the first test because he discovered that the Strength Points, Constitution Points, Agility Points, and so on, rewarded by the system, were not on the same system as this world's "combat power." Even if his strength was sky-high, these experts couldn't measure it at all.

Therefore, from that moment on, Jiang Beiran understood! He and the people of this world were on different paths. If a real fight broke out, he would definitely be underestimated infinitely, truly deserving the title of the strongest "pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger" physique in history!

With a light sigh, Yu Manwen released her finger and looked at Jiang Beiran with regret in her eyes.

Seeing this, Jiang Beiran immediately cooperated by looking up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle and showing a look of relief.

This smile almost made Yu Manwen want to hug Jiang Beiran.

Too pitiful! He could clearly pass the sect's test, yet he was a peerless good-for-nothing rarely seen in a century. Yu Manwen could hardly imagine how much hardship and suffering this child had endured in the fiercely competitive, survival-of-the-fittest Returning Heart Sect. She had actually come to him with an accusatory tone just now, which was truly wrong.

'No wonder he ran when he saw me. He must have gone through this many times already and didn't want to be looked at with pity again, so he...'

'What a resilient, good child.'

Turning her head to secretly wipe away the tears welling up in her eyes, Yu Manwen put on an expression devoid of any emotion and said to Jiang Beiran, "Can you tell this Protector how you manage to ensure that Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters pass their trials every time you act as the Iron Seal?"

"Nothing else, just caution and meticulousness. Before making any decision, this disciple observes and thinks more, which helps avoid many disasters."

"Well said," Yu Manwen nodded with great satisfaction. "This is what the Mountain Descent Trial truly aims to teach you. It seems Beiran, you have fully grasped its essence."

"Protector Yu flatters me. This disciple merely knows his own weakness, so he must be more cautious than his Senior Brothers."

"Alas~" Yu Manwen waved her hand. "One cannot say that. Strength is not necessarily only reflected in profound cultivation; inner strength is also very important. Beiran, although you are only at the Qi Refining Fifth Stage, you have managed to ensure that all Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters safely pass the trial missions. This is remarkable, truly remarkable!"

"Thank you for your praise, Protector Yu. Beiran will definitely redouble his efforts in the future."

"Good! To express my trust in you, I've decided to let you be the Iron Seal for my most beloved disciple, to help her complete her first trial mission."

"This disciple obeys... Huh!?"