Seeing Gu Ze holding the pendant, she didn’t even dare to speak up for fear of angering him and losing her chance at the immortal gate.
The two locked eyes for a moment.
Gu Ze felt a sudden jolt, as if waking from a long-forgotten dream. Had he seen this face somewhere before?
Maybe it was just an illustration of Li Xunmiao from the book in his last life. Gu Ze didn’t dwell on it.
“The pendant…” Li Xunmiao spoke softly, her voice almost inaudible.
“This is very important to you, isn’t it? Keep it safe this time.” Gu Ze watched as the girl stood up and handed her the pendant.
“Eh?” Li Xunmiao looked shocked.
Just like that—it was handed back to her so easily?
Did he really believe it was hers? For a split second, Li Xunmiao saw in the “immortal’s” eyes a warmth rarely found in the mortal world.
Perhaps cultivators weren’t as cold as she imagined—at least this one had emotion in his eyes, giving her fairness.
“S-senior brother, how could you just give it back to her… That’s a real treasure!” Bai Yazhi scratched her head in anxiety.
“Oh? You yourself said it’s her pendant? Could it be that a petty thief dares knock on the immortal gate?!”
With her own words turned back at her, Bai Yazhi pointed at them in speechless fury.
But the gap between mortals and immortals was too great—she didn’t dare provoke Gu Ze further. Seeing her hopes dashed, she turned and squeezed into the crowd, disappearing in a flash.
With an immortal stepping in, the wiser onlookers realized the whole farce had been orchestrated by Bai Yazhi.
Some even clutched their bulging pouches and backed away, afraid she might target their treasures next.
Gu Ze calmed the crowd, then turned and gently said to Li Xunmiao, “Come with me. I’ll take you for the talent test.”
“Thank you…” The girl followed him away, head bowed, speaking so softly it was barely a whisper.
Gu Ze, meanwhile, stared fixedly at his panel.
Damn System, hurry up and bind!
【Ding~ Successfully bound to Li Xunmiao】
【Li Xunmiao】
【Ren Race】
【Age: 14】
【Favorability: Unknown】
【Cultivation: None】
【Divine Abilities: None】
【Magical Treasure: Yulong Jade】
Yulong Jade: Contains endless Dragon Qi. Outwardly an ordinary jade, it greatly boosts the bearer’s fortune.
During cultivation, it automatically channels Dragon Qi into the body, strengthening the bearer’s physique.
Seeing Li Xunmiao’s panel appear, Gu Ze breathed a sigh of relief.
All these years of endurance—wasn’t it all for this day?
A thigh like Feng Aotian’s… Heh, whether he could survive in this perilous cultivation world now depended on Li Xunmiao!
Behind him, Li Xunmiao suddenly felt something, a mysterious force nudging her to look at Gu Ze’s back.
He was a good person—maybe someone worth trusting. Whether it was the influence of the System, or simply Gu Ze’s willingness to stand up for her, Li Xunmiao chose, for now, to trust him.
In a corner of the crowd, Bai Yazhi bit her finger and glared hatefully at Gu Ze.
Who did he think he was? For the sake of so-called justice, he ruined her opportunity, snatching away the treasure that was nearly hers.
Gu Ze, huh? Bai Yazhi would remember this. When she entered the sect, neither he nor that girl would have it easy!
She too had her own trump card—a deeply hidden innate talent known only to herself.
Little did she know, there was a second person who knew her secret: Gu Ze.
***
Testing talent at the trial platform.
The two of them stepped onto the green jade platform, where Li Xunmiao saw a gilded water basin before her.
“My name is Gu Ze. May I know your name, junior sister?”
“…Li Xunmiao.” Her voice was soft and hesitant.
She really wasn’t used to socializing, and had walked all this way without so much as glancing at Gu Ze’s face.
Her eyelashes flickered as she finally looked at Gu Ze’s chiseled features, those bright eyes—he seemed in a good mood.
His gentle smile made her feel at ease—at least, Li Xunmiao felt so.
And… she felt as if Gu Ze’s gaze was treating her like a rare treasure.
Maybe it was just her imagination.
Stepping forward, Li Xunmiao placed her hand in the basin, testing her talent amidst the liquefied spiritual energy.
In that instant, the jade pendant at her chest gave a barely audible dragon’s roar.
The basin blazed with light, its energy soaring skyward.
A canopy of auspicious clouds gathered overhead, dyeing the clouds above the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion in rainbow hues.
While all the surrounding disciples stared, Li Xunmiao calmly withdrew her hand, and the celestial aura faded away.
Gu Ze was startled as well.
The book had never described Li Xunmiao triggering a vision of heaven and earth during the entrance test.
If she had shown such talent, how could a mere cannon fodder like Bai Yazhi have dared oppose her?
Or… was this anomaly triggered because he helped her regain the Yulong Jade?
As he pondered, the Cloudsea shook. Gu Ze watched in astonishment as space before him tore open and a figure clad in violet burst forth.
Her face was obscured—or perhaps his cultivation was just too low to pierce her protective spiritual aura.
“A peerless genius… Your talent already points straight to Golden Core… No, the Nascent Soul path!”
The mysterious woman was shrouded in even more violet light. Pinching her fingers to divine Li Xunmiao’s fate, she found she could hardly discern anything.
“Li Xunmiao… Yet I can’t divine any further? Even destiny is hidden—you, what burden do you carry?”
She muttered.
“No matter! No matter your trials, I can help you—overcome them. Li Xunmiao, will you become my Direct Disciple?” Her voice was bold, and her hands pressed on Li Xunmiao’s shoulders.
The overwhelming pressure made Li Xunmiao instinctively hold her breath.
Gu Ze, standing aside, nearly dropped his jaw in shock.
This isn’t right! His Feng Aotian-level “thigh” was about to be snatched away by some mysterious, powerful master?
He’d spent three years in the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion and never once seen this violet figure.
If Li Xunmiao took this offer, would he even have a chance to see her again in the future?
Wait… Opportunity?!
If Li Xunmiao gained an opportunity, what reward would he receive in return? Gu Ze felt a flicker of anticipation.
“I… I…” Li Xunmiao stammered.
From the utter silence around them, this immortal’s identity was certainly extraordinary.
To receive such an olive branch meant a future as smooth as glass.
A Direct Disciple! Of the eight million disciples of Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion, there weren’t even a hundred Direct Disciples.
“Why are you hesitating?” The woman puffed her chest slightly. “Ah, I came in such a hurry, I forgot to introduce myself.
I am Qingquan, Peak Lord of Biluofeng in the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion. Below Nascent Soul, none are my equal.
If you become my Direct Disciple, your future Golden Core is assured.”
Within the Cloudsea, twenty-four immortal peaks lay hidden. Though united under the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion, competition among the peaks was constant.
Fighting for resources, vying for territory—the struggle within the pavilion was fierce.
Hearing her identity, Gu Ze relaxed.
So it was the reclusive Peak Lord of his own Biluofeng.
As long as Li Xunmiao remained on Biluofeng, he’d have chances to stay in her orbit.
But how to use his knowledge of the novel to help Li Xunmiao gain even greater fortunes? Gu Ze fell deep in thought. He couldn’t just let his golden ticket wander off, could he?
Suddenly, as he looked up, Gu Ze saw Li Xunmiao glancing sidelong at him.
What about me?
You’re the protagonist, about to discuss your future with a Nascent Soul powerhouse—why are you suddenly looking at me, a mere cannon fodder?
Noticing her look, Qingquan followed her gaze and also noticed this unfamiliar Qi Refinement Third Layer disciple.
Yun Pattern White Robe—she realized he was under her own peak.
Pity he was too weak; Qingquan had never noticed Gu Ze before.
Though his expression was hidden under violet spiritual light, Gu Ze could feel a forceful gaze fall on him.
“Disciple Gu Ze greets the Peak Lord.” He bowed formally, announcing himself.
“Li Xunmiao, do you know this person?”
“Gu… Senior Brother Gu is also your disciple, Peak Lord?”
“Sort of.”
Though he barely qualified to meet her, he was technically registered under Biluofeng.
Secretly calculating with her fingers, Qingquan saw that Gu Ze’s background was utterly ordinary—except for a faint karmic thread with Li Xunmiao.
“Just now, Senior Brother Gu helped me. If I can train under Peak Lord, I hope to one day repay Senior Brother Gu’s kindness,” Li Xunmiao said softly.
She was always clear about gratitude and grudges—when treated well, she repaid in kind.
“Oh?” Qingquan looked surprised, glancing up and down at Gu Ze.
Cultivators rebelled against the heavens by nature; they were always proud and aloof.
Yet Gu Ze had stepped in to help a mere mortal.
Glancing at Li Xunmiao’s ragged clothing, Qingquan seemed thoughtful.
Maybe seeing a weak Li Xunmiao bullied had reminded him of himself? Just sympathy among the weak, she thought.
“Very well. There is still unresolved karma between you two. If it delays Li Xunmiao’s cultivation, that would be unfortunate. Gu Ze, are you willing to become Li Xunmiao’s attendant and accompany her in cultivation for a time?”
Qingquan thought, since the karma couldn’t be severed, she might as well settle it herself.
Clinging to Li Xunmiao’s rising star, even as an attendant to a Direct Disciple, would be enough to pay back Gu Ze’s favor.
For cultivators, nothing was more taboo than karmic entanglement. Qingquan herself was as pure and cold as a spring on a snowy mountain, untouched by worldly ties, untouched by karma.
When Gu Ze heard the Peak Lord assign him as Li Xunmiao’s attendant, he was overjoyed.
This was a backdoor opened for him, all thanks to Li Xunmiao. At this rate, she could surpass his cultivation in two months.
But as her attendant, he could sit in on Peak Lord’s lectures and have access to more resources.
He’d latched onto a Feng Aotian-level thigh—how sweet it was!
Surrounded by envious stares from the other disciples, Gu Ze cupped his hands: “Disciple accepts the command.”