"This can't be real!" Yun Ding grumbled sourly.

  "Never expected that the biggest winner this year would be Senior Brother Wu Dao," Yun Qianren muttered, equally bitter.

  "Senior Brother Wu Dao not only took in a little girl with a seventh-grade spirit root but now has also accepted a boy with a supreme-grade spirit root. It's truly enviable," Hong Niang sighed.

  She had really wanted Shen Xian'er to join Piaomiao Peak—it was the most fitting place for her. But who could have predicted that Ye Qingqing would fail, and that little rascal Du Ming would trick her away with a plate of seven-colored pastries? It was simply ridiculous.

  Wu Dao slowly opened his eyes. "We are all disciples of Luo Xian Sect. My disciples are also your disciples. I hope everyone will take care of them in the future."

  For someone as reserved as Wu Dao, saying so many words was already quite rare. On one hand, he had indeed taken in two extraordinary talents, which was a bit excessive—though undeniably satisfying. On the other hand, he was subtly reminding everyone that Luo Xian Sect was a whole. Internal conflicts were fine, but outright hostility was unacceptable, as that would lead to the sect’s downfall.

  "Wu Dao is right," Yun Yangzi said in a solemn tone. "All of you understand what a supreme-grade spirit root represents and what it means for Luo Xian Sect. Until Han Luo fully establishes himself, this information must not spread. Otherwise, we may bring unnecessary disaster upon ourselves."

  "Senior Brother speaks wisely," Yun Ding agreed, retracting his playful tone.

  "The sudden appearance of demonic cultivators near the sect is no coincidence, and with the influx of talented disciples this year, I have a bad feeling that something big is brewing. We should start preparing in advance," Hong Niang warned.

  As someone skilled in divination, she had a vague sense of an impending crisis.

  Everyone exchanged looks, realizing that they all shared similar concerns. If word got out that Luo Xian Sect had a disciple with a supreme-grade spirit root, it would undoubtedly attract trouble. Compared to the truly elite sects, Luo Xian Sect wasn’t even as powerful as a single peak of theirs.

  "It might be a good thing that Han Luo has joined Senior Brother Wu Dao. At least he will avoid unnecessary attention," Yun Qianren commented.

  "Han Luo ," Yun Yangzi said, turning to him with a serious expression. "I trust that you are intelligent enough to understand. A supreme-grade spirit root is exceedingly rare, and if the wrong people find out, your life will be in danger. Before you reach the Nascent Soul stage, you must not reveal this secret. Can you do that?"

  "I understand."

  Han Luo had already considered this. If he were stronger, he might have even forced the others to swear an oath not to disclose it.

  "That settles it. Dismissed," Yun Yangzi said, waving his hand.

  Yun Ding, Yun Qianren, Hong Niang, and Lei Xing left. Wu Dao was about to take Han Luo away when—

  "Master, wait!"

  Han Luo called out, turning to Yun Yangzi.

  "Um… Sect Master, I recall you saying that if I managed to break the Ancient Bronze Mirror, you'd give it to me, right?"

  Han Luo had been keeping this in mind. The Ancient Bronze Mirror looked extremely valuable, and even if it was damaged, it was still far superior to an ordinary magic treasure. If he could get it, it would be a great asset.

  "Hmm, Senior Brother, you did say that," Wu Dao unexpectedly chimed in.

  Han Luo 's eyes lit up. His master was always a man of few words, yet he had just given him a helping hand at the perfect moment!

  Yun Yangzi looked at the two of them. For some reason, he suddenly felt a chill around his storage ring…

  Forget it.

  A promise was a promise.

  He retrieved the Ancient Bronze Mirror and handed it to Han Luo . "Han Luo , though the Ancient Bronze Mirror is damaged, it remains a postnatal spiritual treasure. As you cultivate and nourish it with your spiritual energy, it will gradually repair itself. However, I must warn you—do not use it for anything improper. If I find out, I will not spare you."

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  "I understand."

  Han Luo carefully accepted the Ancient Bronze Mirror. This was his first magic treasure, and he cherished it deeply.

  Wu Dao then led Han Luo away.

  Yun Yangzi sighed and shook his head, but soon, his expression turned serious.

  What kind of catastrophe awaited them that would require such monstrous talents to counter?

  The Eastern Domain… would not remain peaceful.

  ——

  Wu Dao brought Han Luo to a secluded mountain. A massive phoenix tree stood tall, its dense leaves casting a vast shadow. Beneath the tree was a stone table and four stone stools, and not far away stood a thatched hut—simple, yet far from ordinary.

  Behind the mountain, a thousand-foot-high cliff loomed. A silver-white waterfall cascaded from the heavens, feeding into a deep blue lake below.

  "This place is called Luo Xian Mountain. According to legend, an immortal once descended from the Milky Way and landed here. With your talent, you are worthy of this place," Wu Dao said calmly.

  "Thank you for your generosity, Master," Han Luo quickly expressed his gratitude.

  This was undoubtedly a treasure trove of a cultivation ground. He had discreetly checked the spiritual energy concentration using a testing talisman and found that it was at least ten times denser than other places. Cultivating here would be twice as effective with half the effort.

  "From today onward, you are my disciple. Pay your respects."

  Wu Dao’s tone remained indifferent, as if this were an insignificant matter. Even though Han Luo ’s talent was unprecedented, to Wu Dao, it made no real difference.

  "Thud!"

  Without hesitation, Han Luo knelt and kowtowed three times.

  Wu Dao, seeing his sincerity, revealed a rare hint of emotion. He extended a finger and gently touched Han Luo ’s forehead.

  At that moment, Han Luo felt an influx of information flood his mind. However, the sheer amount was overwhelming, making it impossible to process all at once. He could only vaguely sense that it contained sect rules and cultivation techniques.

  "I have passed down Luo Xian Sect’s rules, along with the foundational technique, Luo Xian Art, to you. Focus your mind, and you will be able to comprehend it."

  Following his master’s guidance, Han Luo concentrated.

  Sure enough!

  His mind quickly organized the information, and the part that intrigued him the most was the Luo Xian Art.

  It was the most basic technique of Luo Xian Sect and the first cultivation method every disciple was required to learn.

  Curious, he began mentally reciting it.

  "One more thing," Wu Dao interrupted.

  "Yes, Master?"

  Wu Dao gazed at him. "Han Luo , your talent is exceptional, but talent alone is not enough. The world is filled with countless geniuses, like the stars in the sky. However, only a handful ever reach the peak and ascend to the immortal realm. You must not become complacent."

  "Master’s teachings—I will remember them."

  "Good. Cultivation must be taken step by step. The transition from a mortal to a cultivator is the hardest hurdle in this journey. It often takes one or two years for most to cross this threshold. As for you…"

  Wu Dao suddenly fell silent, his eyes filled with doubt.

  "You… already broke through?"

  Han Luo froze.

  Wait, had he really?

  He had only been silently reciting the Luo Xian Art when he suddenly felt a warm sensation spreading through his body, as if he had just drunk a cup of hot water.

  Was that all it took to step into cultivation?

  Where was the dramatic transformation? The overwhelming rush of power? The grand ceremony?

  Why did it feel so… underwhelming?

  "Master, I just recited the technique once, and then…"

  "Yes, you’ve already broken through," Wu Dao confirmed, his emotions complicated.

  Others struggled for a year or more to cross this threshold.

  This kid? He did it while casually chatting.

  What kind of monstrous talent was this?

  Wu Dao was about to finish speaking when he suddenly noticed Han Luo looking as if he were suffering from constipation. A large bead of sweat formed on his forehead.

  "Master, I feel a surge of energy gathering inside me… could it be that I'm about to break through again?"

  "Yes, that is indeed a sign of another breakthrough."

  "Master, I'm sorry! It’s my fault—I couldn’t control myself and ended up reciting Luo Xian Jue again."

  Han Luo immediately apologized, feeling guilty for causing his master this embarrassment. It was his own curiosity that got the better of him.

  Taking deep breaths, he forced himself to calm down.

  After some effort, he finally managed to suppress the force within him, preventing it from shattering his current bottleneck.

  "You did well," Wu Dao nodded approvingly.

  "Cultivation is like building a tower. The Qi Refining stage serves as the foundation—its stability determines how high you can go. With your talent, your ambitions should not be limited to the mortal realm, but should instead be aimed there."

  Wu Dao lifted a finger and pointed toward the sky.

  "I understand, Master." Han Luo nodded seriously.

  "Good. You’ve had a long day, rest for now. If you encounter any difficulties in cultivation, come find me at Wu Dao Peak."

  Wu Dao turned to leave, then suddenly stopped.

  "One more thing."

  He raised his hand and tossed a bronze ring toward Han Luo .

  "This ring is something I crafted personally. If you ever find yourself in danger, focus your thoughts on it, and I will come to your aid."

  Han Luo ’s eyes lit up with excitement. He took the ring with great care.

  "Thank you, Master!"

  Wu Dao gave a small nod. "Go rest."

  With that, his figure turned into a stream of light and disappeared.

  Feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders, Han Luo let out a breath and turned toward his new residence. The sight of the humble, almost primitive thatched hut made him shake his head.

  "First things first—I need to set up a proper shelter for the night. Everything else can wait until tomorrow."

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