Chapter 11: Lin Yu Takes the Supreme Elder as Master

Chapter 11: Lin Yu Becomes a Disciple of the Supreme Elder

"Young Friend Lin Che, your cultivation is profound. This Seat will make an exception and grant you the title of Distinguished Guest Elder of the Taiyi Sect. You need not hold regular duties or keep watch—you shall be free of all constraints."

He raised a hand, gesturing toward the sea of clouds and mountain peaks beyond the hall. "My residence is on Qingxuan Peak. The entire empty peak next to it shall be allotted to you as your private dwelling."

"For his cultivation, you need only bring the young friend to me here. Once lessons are done, you may take him back. You can cultivate and still stay together—no conflict between the two."

Such an arrangement was an unprecedented privilege and supreme honor in the history of the Taiyi Sect.

Hearing this, Lin Yu felt a weight lift from his heart. He looked up at the kind and gentle Supreme Elder before him, tugged at Ling Xuance's sleeve, and gave a small nod.

"Brother Che, I can do it."

Seeing the genuine willingness in the youth's eyes, with no hint of reluctance or unease, Ling Xuance inclined his head in agreement. "Then we shall follow the Elder's arrangement."

With the matter settled, the Supreme Elder's eyes crinkled with a smile, and he immediately raised a hand to send a transmission.

"Summon the Sect Master to the Qinglian Hall to discuss matters."

At the words "Sect Master," Lin Yu's settled nerves instantly tensed up again, and he shrank back further behind Ling Xuance.

Jin Ling noticed his nervousness and softened her tone, speaking gently to soothe him.

"Don't be afraid. Our Sect Master is really nice—nothing to be scared of."

With that, she quietly turned aside and shot her master, True Person Lianhua, a quick wink, silently signaling her to help smooth things over.

True Person Lianhua caught sight of her disciple's little gesture and sighed inwardly.

Others might not know, but she knew all too well.

Their Sect Master had an extremely violent fire-type spiritual root, with a hot-tempered, explosive nature prone to thunderous fury. The word "amiable" had nothing to do with him.

Yet meeting Lin Yu's expectant gaze, she could not bear to shatter the youth's peace of mind. Going against her conscience, she gave a slight nod of agreement.

"Indeed, he is quite mild. There's no need to be afraid."

With that, she turned and stepped out of the Lotus Hall, stationing herself outside. When a figure clad in fiery red approached in the distance, True Person Lianhua reached out to stop him, reiterating her warnings with great seriousness.

"Sect Master, the two honored guests inside—the young friend is delicate and sensitive. The Supreme Elder has instructed that you must not release your spiritual pressure and must suppress all your aura."

The Sect Master was immediately displeased at this, his brows knitting tightly as he fumed inwardly.

As the head of an entire sect, exalted in status—when had he ever needed to deliberately hold back his temper for anyone?

Hearing True Person Lianhua speak so gravely, as if the people inside were extremely fragile, he could not help but feel a flicker of irritation.

But out of deference to the Supreme Elder's authority, he dared not defy the elder's wishes. Forcing down his fiery temper, he answered in a low, grudging tone, "Understood."

After reining in the restless fire-type spiritual energy around him and suppressing all his fierce aura and aggression, the Sect Master finally stepped into the Qinglian Grand Hall.

The first thing he saw upon entering was a white-robed masked cultivator standing in the hall, radiating an imposing, extraordinary presence. Behind him hid a small figure, only the nape of a pale neck visible—the rest of the person completely hidden.

"This disciple greets the Supreme Elder."

Suppressing his surprise, the Sect Master stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the Supreme Elder.

After paying his respects, he learned that an unfamiliar youth was to become the Supreme Elder's personal disciple, and that an unfamiliar cultivator was to receive the high honor of guest elder. He was just about to voice his objection.

But the moment he looked up, four gazes fell upon him simultaneously.

Under the weight of invisible pressure, the fiery words at the tip of the Sect Master's tongue died in his throat. His normally sharp and booming voice unconsciously softened.

He did his best to soften his tone, speaking to the corner of fabric peeking out from behind the masked cultivator. "Young friend, why not come out and meet me? Since you've joined the Taiyi Sect, you should at least know your own Sect Master."

Hearing his tone so peaceful, without the slightest hint of the stern ferocity he had imagined, Lin Yu's fingers clutching Ling Xuance's robes loosened slightly. He slowly raised his head, revealing a youthful, boyish face.

His gaze landed timidly on the Sect Master, and his voice carried a hint of shyness. "Greetings, Sect Master."

The Sect Master saw a youth of only fifteen or sixteen, slender and pure-featured, clean as if untouched by dust—the very picture of an innocent boy.

His gaze swept over Lin Yu, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He could detect not the slightest ripple of cultivation from the youth, as if he were merely an ordinary mortal boy with no spiritual power at all.

Doubt rising, he turned and cast a subtle glance at the Supreme Elder beside him, silently asking a question.

The Supreme Elder gave a slight nod, his gaze gentle yet carrying hidden meaning.

The Sect Master understood instantly, and a storm of thoughts surged within him.

This youth was by no means as simple as he appeared on the surface—he was likely someone destined by heaven, bearing a special opportunity.

His expression grew even warmer as he responded to the youth's greeting.

"Well met, young friend."

With that, he turned to face the others, his voice steady and clear, carrying throughout the entire Taiyi Sect.

"From this day forth, Cultivator Lin Che shall join the Taiyi Sect, bestowed the position of Guest Elder, enjoying the honors of a sect elder, unbound by sect regulations."

"The Supreme Elder shall accept Lin Yu as his personal disciple. The initiation rites will be properly arranged, and an auspicious day will be chosen for the grand sect ceremony, where all disciples will come to know him and the formal apprenticeship ceremony will be held."

A few brief words settled all their identities and honors within the Taiyi Sect—both unprecedented privileges.

Yet the phrases "grand sect ceremony" and "all disciples shall come to know him" struck Lin Yu's heart like a thunderbolt.

At the thought of thousands upon thousands of disciples gathering across the entire sect, countless unfamiliar gazes falling upon him all at once, his composure shattered in an instant.

Lin Yu's legs gave way beneath him. He could not hold himself up and slid straight down, landing on the cold floor behind Ling Xuance.

"A Yu!"

Ling Xuance's heart clenched. In an instant, he bent down and gathered the fallen youth into his arms, his fingers stroking the youth's trembling back.

The composure Lin Yu had barely maintained moments ago crumbled entirely. He buried himself in Ling Xuance's embrace, clutching his robes, his voice breaking into sobs as he shook his head.

"I don't want... I don't want to see so many people... Brother Che, I don't want to take a master. Can we go back... I want to go back..."

The youth's reaction was intense and genuine—he was truly terrified by what had just been described.

Everyone in the hall was startled. True Person Lianhua and Jin Ling tensed, instinctively stepping half a pace forward before forcing themselves to stop, afraid of startling him further.

The Supreme Elder sighed inwardly.

This child was pure by nature, fond of quiet and fearful of crowds. Forcing him to appear publicly for the apprenticeship ceremony would only backfire and shake his dao heart.

He immediately set aside the formal rites and relented. "It's fine, it's fine. Child, don't be afraid—you don't need to face the crowd."

"Given your shy nature, there's no need to force yourself to appear in person for the ceremony. This..."

This ceremonial rite can be performed on your behalf by your dao companion, Lin Che, who will undergo the apprenticeship and registration for you. Would that be acceptable?"

Allowing someone else to stand in for the apprenticeship ceremony was an unprecedented, absurd exception in the entire cultivation world.

Lin Yu froze for a moment, his trembling gradually subsiding. He looked at the Supreme Elder and asked in a small voice, "R-really?"

"Of course. This Seat's word is ironclad."

The Supreme Elder nodded gently, his tone brimming with certainty.

With that definitive answer, the weight in Lin Yu's chest finally lifted. Remembering how he'd lost his composure just now, a faint blush crept across his fair cheeks.

"Brother Che, I want to go back."

"Alright."

Ling Xuance gently wiped the dampness from the corner of his eyes, his voice full of indulgence.

The Supreme Elder, True Person Lianhua, Jin Ling, and the Sect Master all nodded in unison, indulging the young man completely.

"Go on, get some rest. Cultivation takes time—no need to rush."

With permission granted, Lin Yu clung tightly to Ling Xuance's hand, his fingers gripping hard as if holding onto his one anchor, desperate to return to the familiar small world.

Ling Xuance raised a hand to gently shield the top of his head, and with a single thought, sent the young man safely into the jade pendant's small world.

Once the young man's presence had fully faded, he gave a slight bow to the four in the hall.

"Thank you all for making an exception for A Yu."

He knew full well that the master-disciple ceremony was a tradition spanning ten thousand years.

Today, the Taiyi Sect had broken millennia-old rules for A Yu, letting a dao companion stand in for the ceremony—that alone warranted his thanks.

The Supreme Elder waved a hand dismissively, his kind features radiating calm magnanimity.

"No need for thanks. Since he's my personal disciple, he's family of Qingxuan Peak. A small tweak to the rules is hardly worth mentioning."

The Sect Master chimed in at the right moment: "Elder Lin's personal cave dwelling is already prepared on the empty peak next to Qingxuan Peak, as the Supreme Elder instructed."

With that, he called out to summon a composed, steady outer-sect steward.

"Take Elder Lin Che to the new peak's residence. All supplies and privileges are to be provided in full accordance with elder standards."

"Yes." The steward bowed in acknowledgment and stood respectfully outside the hall, waiting to lead the way.

Ling Xuance nodded in thanks, exchanged brief farewells, and followed the steward out of Qinglian Hall.

Wreathed in clouds and mist, with spiritual winds brushing his face, he reached the secluded, untouched lone peak in no time.

The moment he stood at the summit, a group of sect disciples came up from below, methodically delivering the elder-standard supplies to the hall at the peak.

After paying their respects, the disciples bowed and withdrew without lingering a moment.

The summit fell back into tranquil stillness.

Ling Xuance stood at the cliff's edge, gazing over the sea of clouds surrounding the peak, his eyes clear and calm, a thought stirring within.

"From this day on, this peak shall be called Xuan Yue Peak."

It shared the name of his life-bound Dark Moon Sword, and it would be the new home where he and A Yu would live in peace within this sect.

With the name settled, he set about laying down protective formations.

With a wave of his hand, high-grade formation jade talismans—refined and condensed from materials he'd gathered in secret realms—flew out one after another. Layer by layer, he set down concealment and maze formations, shrouding the entire Xuan Yue Peak.

The maze at the mountain's foot concealed the peak's spiritual aura, causing intruders to lose their way and cutting off any disturbance from idle visitors at the source.

Not stopping there, he also laid down spiritual power barriers, sealing every flaw and blind spot inside and outside the summit residence, layer after layer.

Only after the entire peak's defenses were fully in place did Ling Xuance raise a hand to touch the warm jade pendant at his sleeve and call out softly.

"A Yu, come on out. Let's take a look at our new home."