Chapter Sixteen: Passing Strangers, What Cause and Effect Is There to Speak Of
“Master.” Xu Chen bowed respectfully.
“No need for excessive ceremony. I summoned you here to discuss something.”
“Recently, I discovered a child with spiritual talent in a small town in Leizhou, one with whom I feel a rare affinity.”
“I wish to take him as a registered disciple and teach him personally, but according to the rules of our sect, an elder may have no more than five registered disciples.”
“Thus, our bond as master and disciple ends here. From now on, you are an ordinary disciple of the Great Creek Sect.”
“If you encounter hardship, I will assist you as I see fit.”
His indifferent words left Xu Chen feeling displeased. Now that their relationship was severed, shouldn’t there at least be some compensation?
But this was all?
“Then, I shall call you ‘Master’ one last time.” Xu Chen bowed again.
In the distance, a wind spirit bird pierced through the clouds and landed in the small square.
Xu Chen understood at once, and mounted the wind spirit bird, soaring down toward the earth.
From beginning to end, You Xian never looked back at Xu Chen.
“A mediocre talent born to a comfortable family—what does it matter? Three or five centuries, nothing more.”
“A fleeting passerby, what talk is there of karma?”
You Xian raised his gaze, peering through the clouds to the Floating Palace high above.
“A saintly talent, favored by the heavens. I wonder to what heights he might raise the sect.”
By the river outside his home, Xu Chen sat on a stone after returning, staring blankly at the flowing water, unable to describe the taste in his heart.
He remained there for an hour before finally smiling in relief.
“Since crossing over, my mindset has faltered. The beatings I took in society in my previous life were far harsher than this.”
“The only pity is that I’ve lost my chance to enter the secret realm reserved for registered disciples.”
He picked up a small stone and tossed it into the river.
The next day, outside the sect, Xu Chen, dressed in a brand-new Great Creek Sect robe, stood at the plaza to welcome guests.
The important figures had special people to greet them. Xu Chen’s role was to guide disciples from other sects.
“Please follow me, brothers.” Xu Chen led three disciples from the Palace of Sacred Words onto a spirit vessel, taking them to the lodgings prepared for visiting disciples.
As for the Floating Palace, only those who had embarked on the path of immortality could set foot there.
The spirit vessel traversed the sect swiftly; behind him, the three disciples of the Palace of Sacred Words wore looks of disappointment.
“Doesn’t your sect have many disciples from the Three-Colored Fox Clan and the Spirit Flower Clan? Why don’t they come out to greet us?” asked one, clearly let down.
“This grand event is a celebration for the humans of Leizhou. Foreign clans are not eligible,” Xu Chen replied kindly, echoing the official response agreed upon before welcoming guests.
“If those alluring female disciples from other clans came to greet guests, wouldn’t it be merely trading on their beauty?” This was a direct quote from one of the elders.
“What a pity. Rumor has it those female disciples are all exquisite beauties. Their strength may be lacking, but they’d make fine concubines to bring home.”
“I heard the Three-Colored Fox Clan—the red-tailed ones—are the most tempting.”
“Is that true, little brother?”
Just then, the spirit vessel arrived at their lodgings.
“Brothers, your quarters have been arranged,” Xu Chen took the chance to change the subject.
Having seen them off, Xu Chen went to the gate to await the next group.
While queuing to receive more visiting disciples, the distant sky suddenly revealed a colossal white vessel, vast as a sci-fi spaceship from his previous life.
A grand banner fluttered above its quarters.
“That’s the Divine Wood Sect of Divine Wood Continent—the strongest sect there.”
Before Xu Chen’s curiosity could deepen, someone answered his question.
A mysterious voice echoed from the Floating Palace.
“Daoist Muyuan, it’s been three thousand years, hasn’t it?”
“That little town lies closest to my Divine Wood Continent, but in the end you snatched the prize,” came a disgruntled voice from the colossal vessel.
“Haha, for the human race, for the Human Emperor, to discover a saintly talent—we would do anything.”
“I trust Daoist Muyuan will find a suitable disciple as well.”
The colossal vessel descended. On the Floating Palace, the Supreme Elder of Great Creek Sect personally led the senior leadership down the steps to greet the guests.
Thus, after half a year in the sect, Xu Chen had his first glimpse of its highest authorities.
“A sight to behold—these are grand occasions,” Xu Chen couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
The Supreme Elder’s disciple initiation ceremony would last three days, with the final day marking the formal acceptance.
The first two days were for exchange and sparring among the elders and disciples. Each sect would send forth their prodigies to compete with others.
But all this took place within the Floating Palace, and Xu Chen lacked the privilege to enter.
“I feel like a mere NPC,” he thought.
At the banquet, Xu Chen served as a waiter, weaving among the tables to deliver dishes.
The remainder of his time was spent resolving various issues for visiting disciples.
Three days passed. That long-lost feeling of being a busy office worker returned, haunting him.
Even at the climax of the ceremony, he never caught a glimpse of the prodigy with saintly talent.
When the ceremony ended, Xu Chen received his wages for the three days.
“Two hundred spirit coins—at least the sect is decent.”
Riding atop a cloudfinch, Xu Chen weighed the small pouch of spirit coins in his hand, a bitter smile on his lips.
“This won’t do. Last time, I chatted with a crane, and learned that in other major sects, similar tasks pay two hundred spirit coins per day.”
The cloudfinch, soaring through the air, shook its head.
“Be satisfied. Take what you’re given.”
Xu Chen discovered that each flying spirit beast had its own personality. Some were silent, others talkative, mostly the latter, occasionally offering useful information.
Once home, a wave of fatigue swept over Xu Chen.
He checked the time—just past noon.
“No cultivation today. I’ll rest for half a day.”
Alone, he brought his fishing rod to the riverbank.
“For someone like me, having a cheat but still muddling along—could there be a more pitiful fate?”
Still waiting for a bite, Xu Chen couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
“Little brother, the task rewards have just been settled. Want to go enjoy yourself?”
“Recently, the market run by the Three-Colored Fox Clan has opened Spring Breeze Pavilion. Want to try it out?” Huang Kaishan sidled over, a lewd grin on his face.
In that moment, Xu Chen regretted befriending him.
Huang Kaishan lived less than three miles from Xu Chen, making him Xu Chen’s closest fellow disciple.
“Huang, I’m not yet of age.”
“If you take me to such a place, whether by imperial law or sect rules, you’ll end up getting whipped,” Xu Chen replied calmly, rod in hand.
“I just want to take you for a massage. Don’t get me into trouble!”
Huang Kaishan immediately retreated three steps.
“Forget it. If you won’t go, I’ll go. The fox girls’ massage techniques are utterly intoxicating.”
“With their illusion arts, it’s truly unforgettable.” As he spoke, Huang Kaishan raised his token, and a spirit bird landed on the riverbank.