Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Lu Shitu stood frozen in place.

A person already numb from wind and snow might lose all sensation when suddenly enveloped in warmth.

Rong Yu extended his hand and waited for a moment, then frowned and abruptly withdrew it.

A sudden panic welled up in Lu Shitu's heart, as if something profoundly important was about to be snatched from his life once again. With difficulty, he pushed himself up from the ground, eager to rise and grab hold of that person.

The next second, before Lu Shitu could even stand, the world suddenly swayed before his eyes, and then he was scooped into someone's arms.

Raindrops trailed down Rong Yu's jade-white cheek and gently dripped onto Lu Shitu's chest.

Lu Shitu stared at Rong Yu's suddenly close face, inhaling the faint fragrance from his embrace, his entire body stiffened completely.

Rong Yu hadn't used spiritual energy to protect himself; his black robes were already soaked through by the rain, and his body felt icy cold.

But to Lu Shitu, the arms holding him felt so secure, so resolute, as if they had always been that way and would never change.

Rong Yu, too, felt the child in his arms was as cold as ice and couldn't help looking down at him with concern. "Are you cold?"

The child in his arms merely stared at him with wide eyes, as if afraid he would vanish in the blink of an eye. After a long pause, he finally shook his head gently.

Seeing him like this, Rong Yu felt even more distressed. This child had truly suffered too much. Just being pushed and falling on such hard stone steps earlier must have been excruciatingly painful.

Noticing the child didn't seem to resist, Rong Yu continued holding him and step by step ascended the Mirror Terrace.

Just as they were about to pass through the Dragon Gate, he caught sight of the male lead, Jiang Ziliu, still sitting dazedly on the ground as if stunned.

Rong Yu snorted inwardly. With so many people around, it wasn't the right time to confront the male lead, but there would be plenty of suffering in store for him later.

He withdrew his gaze and announced to everyone on the Mirror Terrace, "I am taking this child. From now on, he will be my direct disciple."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place fell into complete silence.

Even these inner sect disciples rarely had the chance to see an elder, and Taiqing Elder Rong Yu, who spent his years in secluded cultivation, was almost never seen by anyone.

This was his first public appearance to take a disciple, and he made such a shocking move that shook the entire sect—not only did he directly take a direct disciple, but he chose an outer sect labor disciple whose spiritual roots were destroyed and who had no talent whatsoever; not only did he take an outer sect good-for-nothing, but he chose Lu Shitu, the notorious sinner of the entire sect!

Even though Lu Shitu had been released from the dungeon, everyone knew it was only because the sect leader doted on him. His actions of coveting the sect's sacred artifact and harming fellow disciples were utterly inexcusable.

The sect leader took a few slow steps forward, standing opposite Rong Yu from a distance, and said, "Junior Brother, the Sect Tournament hasn't begun yet. This is against the rules."

Rong Yu very much wanted to say, "None of your business," but he held back. He had expected to be opposed and remained silent, waiting for the sect leader's next words.

Sure enough, seeing Rong Yu remain firm, the sect leader looked troubled, pondered for a moment, and then continued, "Moreover, given the incident with the Twelve Floors and Lu Shitu's special status, for the safety of the sect and for your own integrity, this matter... I'm afraid I cannot agree."

All the disciples immediately broke into an uproar, most understanding the implied meaning behind the sect leader's words.

So it begins. Rong Yu sneered inwardly.

The so-called Twelve Floors incident was the first major turning point in the book. It was during this event that the good-for-nothing Jiang Ziliu turned the tables and began his path to becoming a success story. Meanwhile, Lu Shitu's spiritual roots were completely destroyed, and he was branded a sinner from then on.

The cultivation world had long been known for its Five Great Sects, referring to the five major cultivation sects. The Taixu Sword Sect had always been the leader among them, not only because of the semi-immortal Rong Yu but also largely due to the sect's treasure—the divine artifact, the Twelve Floors.

The Twelve Floors was a divine artifact once used by an ancient true immortal. It possessed an ability that could drive everyone in the cultivation world mad: it was a space-time artifact capable of breaking through the boundaries of time and space. With it, one could freely travel through three thousand minor worlds. It was said that those destined could even directly open the gate to the immortal realm, avoiding the hardships of cultivation and the limitations of talent to ascend directly to immortality.

It was said that the true immortal, by chance, sealed the Twelve Floors within the territory of the Taixu Sword Sect and instructed the sect's founding ancestor at the time to guard it until the destined one arrived, warning him not to act recklessly. In return, the immortal left behind several cultivation techniques, allowing the ancestor to establish the sect, which later became the three great techniques of Taixu.

Even if the tale of directly reaching the immortal realm was merely a legend, ascending to immortality was the ultimate dream of everyone. No matter how illusory it seemed, it was enough for this divine artifact to be revered as a supreme treasure by all and for the Taixu Sword Sect to firmly hold its position as the leader among immortal sects.

A year ago, Lu Shitu led a team into the sect's secret realm for exploration. Jiang Ziliu was also in the team, and this secret realm happened to be where the Twelve Floors was sealed.

While they were inside the secret realm, the Twelve Floors suddenly emitted fluctuations of energy, an unprecedented event since the sect's founding.

After emerging from the secret realm, both Lu Shitu and Jiang Ziliu were injured by the sealing array of the Twelve Floors, with Lu Shitu's spiritual roots completely destroyed.

At the time, the sect leader was in seclusion, so the two were brought before Elder Lingxiao to explain themselves. In the end, Elder Lingxiao announced the verdict: Lu Shitu had evil intentions and attempted to steal the divine artifact, while Jiang Ziliu was innocently injured.

For an entire year after that, Lu Shitu was imprisoned in the dungeon. The sect leader emerged from seclusion a year later and immediately released Lu Shitu, assigning him to be an outer sect labor disciple.

Even though he was released, everyone knew it was merely an act of the sect leader's benevolence.

After all, Lu Shitu was a child personally brought back by the sect leader and raised by him all these years. Although Lu Shitu's cultivation level was insufficient and he hadn't officially become a disciple, everyone knew that, unsurprisingly, he would be the sect leader's designated first disciple.

Now, with the sect leader saying this to Rong Yu, the implied meaning was that Rong Yu had ulterior motives for taking Lu Shitu as a disciple—to exploit his connection to the divine artifact and attempt to steal it.

The disciples who understood whispered among themselves: "Yeah, why would the elder want to take Lu Shitu as a disciple in his state? Who would want a good-for-nothing as a disciple, let alone a direct one?"

"Exactly. Disciples are chosen based on talent. Lu Shitu's talent is even worse than an ordinary mortal's..."

Amid these voices, Lu Shitu's face gradually grew paler. From the beginning, he had been unconsciously clutching a corner of Rong Yu's sleeve, and upon hearing these words, his grip tightened involuntarily.

When he realized this, his face turned even paler. Gently, slowly, he let go.

He didn't even dare to lift his eyes to see Rong Yu's expression.

Then, Rong Yu let out a cold laugh. The vibration from his speech traveled through to Lu Shitu as he said, "Sect Leader, you worry too much. I am taking him as a disciple solely because he is exceptionally talented and the ideal candidate to inherit my sword path."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

"What??"

"Is Taiqing Elder joking? With his spiritual roots destroyed, it's impossible for him to cultivate again!"

Some even disregarded the elder's dignity and laughed openly: "Really? How can anyone say something like that?"

The sect leader's expression grew even more solemn. He sighed softly and said, "Junior Brother..."

Lu Shitu, too, stared wide-eyed in shock, looking up at Rong Yu.

Rong Yu looked down at him with a smile, gently patted his head, and whispered, "Trust me."

He had no desire to look any longer at the hypocritical faces around him. As for the truth of the Twelve Floors incident and the schemes each of them harbored, those within the situation might not see clearly, but Rong Yu knew all too well.

Sooner or later, he would bring the truth to light.

Rong Yu raised his head again and met the sect leader's gaze silently. The words sounded lofty and considerate, as if spoken for the sake of the sect and his junior brother, but beneath that righteous facade lay a thoroughly rotten black heart, and Rong Yu saw it clearly.

With that, Rong Yu looked at the sect leader, raised his hand, suddenly bit his fingertip, and used his blood to draw an array in the air, slowly chanting, "I, Rong Yu, swear upon my cultivation that in six years, at the Sect Tournament, Lu Shitu will undoubtedly take first place."

As these words were spoken, the array before him flashed with red light and vanished into his body.

The field fell into silence once again, everyone too shocked to speak. The heart's blood oath, drawn from the fingertip connected to the heart, was the most solemn vow, witnessed by heaven and earth, and no one could break it.

But this was a complete good-for-nothing! Participating in the Sect Tournament? And taking first place?

It was nothing short of a fantasy.

The Sect Leader's gaze shifted from Rong Yu to Lu Shitu, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

From start to finish, Lu Shitu only looked at Rong Yu, not sparing the Sect Leader a single glance. Something had gone wrong somewhere...

His expression was grim, but he could only stand there silently, no longer having any reason to stop Rong Yu.

Rong Yu no longer paid them any attention either. Just as he was about to form a hand seal to leave, he suddenly felt someone tugging at his clothes.

Rong Yu turned around and saw Jiang Ziliu staring at him with an incredulous look, as if he'd seen a sure thing slip through his fingers. Moreover, there was a hint of hurt in his eyes.

The disciples held their breaths at his bold move, but Jiang Ziliu, acting on impulse, hadn't thought things through. Impossible—the best things should all be his!

Jiang Ziliu blurted out on impulse, "Please reconsider, Elder Taiqing! Lu Shitu’s spiritual root is destroyed. I am the one who..." I am the best candidate to inherit your sword path! I am the only disciple you should want!

He simply couldn’t believe that Rong Yu would choose that waste over him.

Before Jiang Ziliu could finish, Rong Yu coldly cut him off: "None of your damn business."

After saying this, he felt a wave of satisfaction.

Finally, he’d said it! Those words! He’d been holding them back for so long!

So damn satisfying!

If he couldn’t openly retort to the Sect Leader, why should he hold back against Jiang Ziliu?

Having said his piece, Rong Yu turned cold, not sparing Jiang Ziliu another glance. Feeling pleased with himself, he formed a hand seal and carried Lu Shitu straight back to his cave.

Jiang Ziliu stood frozen under the majestic Dragon Gate, clutching only a torn piece of black fabric in his hand—a remnant sliced off by sword energy. From beginning to end, Elder Taiqing had not touched him even once.

The onlookers stared in stunned silence as Rong Yu departed. The day's shocks probably outweighed those of decades.

Just what was Elder Taiqing planning to do??