Chapter 3: The Sect Has Leveled Up

As Xiao Yi followed Ye Chentian up the mountain, his heart grew increasingly uneasy.

This was nothing like the gateway to a major sect. There was not even a proper path; the weeds grew taller than a man, and the jagged gravel bit painfully into the soles of his feet.

When they finally reached the summit—

Xiao Yi was completely dumbfounded.

All that met his eyes was a solitary, dilapidated wooden shack. The wall plaster had mostly peeled away, a corner of the roof had collapsed, and it creaked and groaned in the wind as if it might fall apart at any moment. On the tattered wooden plaque above the door, the three characters for "Xuantian Sect" were scribbled so messily they looked like demonic charms.

This... this was the sect of the great master who had effortlessly slain a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Xiao Yi’s mouth twitched. The longing he had just begun to feel was extinguished as if doused by a basin of ice water. He hailed from the Xiao family, and while they were not a top-tier cultivation clan, any house in his family compound was far more impressive than this shack!

"Master, is this... really our Xuantian Sect?" Xiao Yi couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with unconcealable hesitation.

Ye Chentian turned around, his expression remaining as calm and detached as ever. "Indeed. My Xuantian Sect is a hidden sect; we have always disdained using pavilions and towers to put on a show. Cultivation is, after all, a matter of the heart."

"A h-hidden sect?" Xiao Yi paused, then suddenly realized.

Of course! Isn't that how true masters always act? And the Xuantian Sect was a hidden sect, after all.

Just as he was pondering this, he saw Ye Chentian take two steps forward—

In the next second, he was already standing at the door of the wooden shack.

A single stride covering nearly a hundred meters?!

"Is this... Space-Folding Step?!" Xiao Yi’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he gasped in shock.

The blood in his veins felt like it was boiling!

Space-Folding Step! That was a divine ability that only a Nascent Soul powerhouse could barely hope to perform! He hadn't just apprenticed himself to a common expert; he had found a Nascent Soul ancestor!

Xiao Yi’s mind buzzed, and his heart hammered against his ribs. He knew that in the entire Wuwei City, a Nascent Soul ancestor was a legendary figure, someone a family would worship as a living deity! And he, a mere third-layer Qi Refining cultivator, had actually been chosen by a Nascent Soul powerhouse to be his disciple? This was not just a sign of good fortune from his ancestors—it was as if his ancestral grave had exploded with auspicious omens!

The disappointment he had felt toward the shack vanished, replaced by wild ecstasy. We mortals cannot fathom the world of a master! Perhaps this broken shack was merely a disguise crafted through some heaven-defying method?

"What are you gawking at? Come in and pay your respects," Ye Chentian’s voice came from the doorway.

Xiao Yi snapped to attention and scurried over. He reached the front of the shack and fell to his knees with a loud thud. The impact of his knees against the gravel caused him to wince, but he didn't care.

He straightened his back, clasped his hands together, and spoke with a voice that trembled from excitement, yet rang out clearly:

"Disciple Xiao Yi pays respects to Master!"

"Mm," Ye Chentian nodded slightly, his tone indifferent. "Rise. From this day forward, you are the first disciple of my Xuantian Sect. Cultivate diligently, and I will not treat you unfairly."

No sooner had the words left his lips—

*Ding! Newbie mission complete!*
*Distributing rewards...*
*Sect level upgraded to Level 1! Rewards: Sect Main Hall x1, Pavilion of Myriad Laws x1, First-Grade Spirit Vein x1, Low-Grade Spirit Stones x100,000.*

*Hum—!*

A surge of majestic spiritual energy erupted from Ye Chentian’s body, only to be instantly withdrawn.

Immediately following, a scene even more astonishing unfolded!

The dilapidated wooden shack cracked into fragments with a sharp sound and dissipated into motes of light. In its place stood a magnificent, imposing hall!

A black-gold plaque hung above the entrance. The three characters "Xuantian Sect" radiated a majesty that seemed to suppress the ages, leaving anyone who looked upon it filled with awe.

To the left of the main hall, a three-story pavilion appeared out of thin air. With its upturned eaves and ancient charm, a plaque above the door read "Pavilion of Myriad Laws," and faint phantoms of turning pages seemed to swirl around the structure.

"This... is this... creation from nothing?!" Xiao Yi took a sharp breath, his eyes practically glued to the main hall.

He had read in his family’s ancient texts that only experts above the Spirit Severing stage could manipulate the essence of heaven and earth to manifest physical objects, yet even they could not instantaneously conjure two such magnificent buildings!

"Could Master be... at the Spirit Severing stage? No, perhaps he is at an even higher realm?!" Xiao Yi’s heart raced, and his gaze toward Ye Chentian was now filled with a near-fanatical reverence.

Before he could recover from the shock—

*Rumble!*

A slight tremor emanated from the back of the mountain. A visible, pale cyan current of energy surged from the ground like a swimming dragon, spiraling upward and rapidly spreading across the entire mountain peak. Wherever it passed, the withered, yellow weeds instantly turned lush and emerald green. The barren earth sprouted patches of spiritual flora, and several high-grade medicinal herbs even broke through the soil, radiating an alluring spiritual glow!

The concentration of spiritual energy in the air doubled in just a few breaths, making him feel refreshed with every inhale.

"Is this the aura of a spirit vein?"

"The Xuantian Sect actually possesses a spirit vein?" Xiao Yi was utterly stunned.

He understood well the importance of a spirit vein to a sect. It was the foundation of the sect and the source of its spiritual energy. Its presence allowed disciples to absorb purer, denser energy, effectively doubling their cultivation speed. Furthermore, it nourished the surrounding flora and herbs, providing the sect with abundant resources.

This was crucial for long-term growth and the development of disciples, offering twice the result for half the effort. It was precisely because of this that battles between major powers often erupted over such veins. Once a new one was discovered, the major factions would stop at nothing to seize it.

What kind of unfathomable hidden sect had he stumbled into? The depth of its heritage was truly profound.

Ye Chentian noticed the shock on Xiao Yi’s face and allowed a faint smile to play on his lips. "Since you have just joined the sect, your master shall bestow upon you a gift."

With a flick of his wrist, a storage bag appeared in front of Xiao Yi. "There are ten thousand low-grade spirit stones inside. Take them and use them for your cultivation."

"T-ten thousand low-grade spirit stones?!" Xiao Yi’s hands trembled as he took the bag, nearly dropping it in his shock.

The Xiao family he came from only gave him one hundred low-grade spirit stones a year for his resources. These ten thousand stones were equivalent to a hundred years of his allowance! Had his master just... handed them over so casually?

Clutching the heavy bag, Xiao Yi felt a sudden sting in his nose. He had endured cold glares in his family, forced to beg and grovel for a few measly stones. When had he ever been treated with such importance? Having received such a generous gift the moment he joined, he was filled with gratitude toward Ye Chentian.

"M-Master, this... this is too much!" Xiao Yi held the heavy bag, his hands shaking and his face flushed red. "How can this disciple possibly deserve such a generous reward?"

Ye Chentian raised an eyebrow, feigning severity. "What? Do you dare to disobey your master?"

"This disciple would not dare!" Xiao Yi shivered, quickly bowing his head, though his eyes welled with tears.

He had grown up in the family watching people’s expressions, groveling for crumbs—who had ever treated him like this? This master he had just met had not only saved his life but had gifted him such a vast sum of wealth without hesitation. A warm current surged from his heart, tightening his throat.

"Take it." Ye Chentian pressed the bag into his hands, his tone softening. "On the path of cultivation, resources are of the utmost importance. Only when you grow stronger can the sect grow stronger. Do you understand?"

"This disciple understands!" Xiao Yi nodded vigorously, tears threatening to fall. "I will cultivate with my life; I will never let Master down!"

*Ding! Host gifted the disciple ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, triggering a hundredfold return! Congratulations on obtaining ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones!*

Ye Chentian felt a surge of joy but remained calm on the surface.

Mid-grade spirit stones! Ten thousand of them! This was a massive profit!

"Oh, right, I almost forgot," he said, as if just remembering, and pointed toward the Pavilion of Myriad Laws nearby. "There are techniques suitable for you inside. Go in and pick one."

"Thank you, Master!" Clutching the storage bag, Xiao Yi was so excited he nearly jumped for joy, turning and sprinting toward the Pavilion of Myriad Laws.