This Disciple Was Simply Too Miserable

The Returning Heart Sect had a full twenty-four halls, each with positions such as Hall Master, Protector, hall attendant, Ceremony Hall, Hall Proctor, sword guardian, seal guardian, Black Banner, Blue Banner, and more.

And since this world had neither the internet nor photo albums, many disciples could not even distinguish the higher-ups in their own halls, let alone those from other halls.

Just as Jiang Beiran was about to cup his hands and answer, three options appeared before his eyes.

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

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

[Option Three: "With such exceptional grace, I fear there is no second person like you in the entire Returning Heart Sect. You must be Protector Yu of Water Mirror Hall. This disciple has long admired you." Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]

Jiang Beiran froze when he saw the three options. He was indeed different from the other disciples. Because he spent every day "wandering" through the mountains, he had seen far more people and events than those disciples who kept their heads down in bitter cultivation all day.

Yet he had originally planned to follow the crowd and act like most disciples, pretending not to know much about people from the other halls. He had never expected that to be the most dangerous option.

Still, confusion was confusion. Jiang Beiran chose option three without the slightest hesitation, then bowed and said, "With such exceptional grace, I fear there is no second person like you in the entire Returning Heart Sect. You must be Protector Yu of Water Mirror Hall. This disciple has long admired you."

[Option mission completed. Reward: Fishing +1]

Jiang Beiran's words were by no means empty flattery. Protector Yu, who stood before him, had a lush, slender figure and light, graceful steps. She wore a long blue dress beneath a white gauze robe woven of silk, with a white sash at her waist. Her jet-black hair was gathered into a cloudlike bun adorned with several pearl flowers, and a single pearl hung before her forehead. Her jade-like skin bore a rosy flush, and with moon-shaped brows and starry eyes, she was unquestionably one of the foremost beauties in the Returning Heart Sect.

Yu Manwen could not help but pause after hearing Jiang Beiran's respectful reply. Before coming here, she had believed Jiang Beiran to be a disciple fond of keeping a low profile. Whether he truly did not recognize her or merely pretended not to, she had expected him to act like most disciples and feign complete ignorance of the higher-ups from other halls. Yet the facts proved otherwise.

And his mouth is rather sweet too.

After reevaluating Jiang Beiran in her heart, Yu Manwen nodded. "You do have some insight. Still, I do not recall seeing a disciple like you before. How did you recognize me?"

Jiang Beiran bowed again and replied respectfully, "This disciple was fortunate enough to hear Protector Yu play the qin at Creek Joy Peak. Your music reached the utmost heights of beauty and perfection—tigers that heard it would cease their roars, grieving apes that listened would cease their cries. It was pure and strange, secluded and elegant, mournful and stirring, its echoes long-lasting. This disciple was deeply impressed."

Yu Manwen's eyes immediately lit up, and she said with slight excitement, "What a line—tigers that heard it would cease their roars, grieving apes that listened would cease their cries. To think I found someone who understands me here in Blue Heart Hall. Interesting. Truly interesting."

Yu Manwen closed her eyes again and swayed her head for a while before continuing to Jiang Beiran, "Since you are so candid, this Protector will not hide it from you. I came today because there are several things I wish to ask."

"This disciple will answer everything he knows."

"Good!" Yu Manwen nodded in satisfaction. "You have been a Registered Disciple of Blue Heart Hall for five years. Is that correct?"

"Yes. This disciple is dull-witted and truly has no talent for cultivation, disappointing several masters."

"Hold out your hand to me."

So she really is going to test my Cultivation Power...

With a silent sigh, Jiang Beiran extended his right arm toward Yu Manwen.

Yu Manwen placed her slender fingers on Jiang Beiran's spiritual vein. Before long, a somewhat complicated expression appeared on her face.

He really is only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?

On the Profound Dragon Continent, one first had to cultivate Qi in order to become strong, and the foundational cultivation methods of the great sects had been created for precisely that purpose.

Generally speaking, as long as one could pass a sect's talent test, even someone with slightly poorer aptitude could cultivate to the Qi Refining Tenth Layer within a year, then break through to become a Mystic Practitioner and embark on the path toward the Profound Emperor.

Yet Jiang Beiran had spent a full five years in the Returning Heart Sect and was still only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. This was simply more useless than useless.

Seeing Yu Manwen's expression grow ever more complicated, Jiang Beiran remained calm. He had long since grown used to it. Yu Manwen was certainly not the first person to test his Cultivation Power, nor would she be the last.

However, Jiang Beiran had stopped worrying after the first time he had been tested. He had discovered that the Strength Points, Constitution Points, Agility Points, and other rewards granted by the system belonged to an entirely different system from this world's "combat power." Even if his strength soared to the heavens, these Experts could not detect it at all.

So from that moment onward, Jiang Beiran understood! His whole style was different from that of this world's people. If they ever truly fought, he would definitely be underestimated without limit. He could absolutely be called the strongest pig pretending to be a tiger in history!

With a soft sigh, Yu Manwen released his wrist, her gaze upon Jiang Beiran now filled with regret.

The moment Jiang Beiran saw it, he immediately cooperated by raising his head at a forty-five-degree angle toward the sky and revealing a relieved smile.

That smile nearly made Yu Manwen's heart ache so badly that she wanted to pull Jiang Beiran into her arms.

Too miserable! He had clearly passed the sect's test, only to turn out to be a peerless piece of trash rarely seen even once in a hundred years. Yu Manwen could hardly imagine how much hardship and suffering this child had endured in the fiercely competitive, weak-devouring-strong Returning Heart Sect. And she had even come to him just now looking as though she meant to demand answers. She truly should not have.

No wonder he tried to run when he saw me. He must have gone through this sort of thing many times already. He did not want people to look at him with pity again in the end, so he...

What a strong, good child.

Turning her head, Yu Manwen secretly wiped away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Then she put on an expression devoid of emotion and asked Jiang Beiran, "Can you tell this Protector how you managed to ensure that your Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters passed the trial every time you served as Iron Seal?"

"Nothing more than caution. Before making any decision, this disciple observes more and thinks more. That way, many calamities can be avoided."

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

"You praise me too highly, Protector Yu. This disciple merely knows that he is weak, so he must be more cautious than his senior brothers."

"Ah." Yu Manwen waved her hand. "You cannot put it that way. Strength does not necessarily manifest only through deep Cultivation Power. Strength of heart is equally important. Though you are only at the Qi Refining Fifth Stage, you can ensure that all your Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters safely complete their Trial Missions. That is remarkable—truly remarkable!"

"Thank you for your praise, Protector Yu. Beiran will certainly work twice as hard in the future."

"Good! To show this Protector's trust in you, I have decided to let you serve as Iron Seal for my most beloved disciple and assist her in completing her first Trial Mission."

"This disciple obeys... Ah!??"