"Wow, am I seeing things? Someone dared to hit a disciple of the Soaring Heavens Sect?"

"This is going to be interesting. How long do you think it will take for the Heavenly Dao Sect to be wiped out by the Soaring Heavens Sect in retaliation?"

"I'd say three days at most. If it weren't for the fact that the Soaring Heavens Sect's deacons in Yunshui City are all out on business, they might have already come!"

"Three days? If they last a day, the Heavenly Dao Sect is impressive!"

........

The square was abuzz with chatter, and many shook their heads, as if they could already foresee the tragic fate of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

For hundreds of years, sects have challenged the Soaring Heavens Sect's status, but the outcome has always been the same.

Total annihilation, turning into dust of history!

How could an ordinary sect even dare to look up to a superpower ranked among the top five hundred of the Immortal Alliance?

In the entire Great Zhao Empire, the only one qualified to speak on equal terms with the Soaring Heavens Sect is the Yuntian Sect, also among the Immortal Alliance's top five hundred!

Even the imperial family of the empire doesn't have that privilege!

"Master, I'm sorry. With this commotion, even fewer people will dare to join our sect."

Zhuge Feng lowered his head in guilt. At this moment, no one in the square dared to approach the Heavenly Dao Sect's sign, fearing being caught in the Soaring Heavens Sect's retaliation.

Today's disciple recruitment might end up with nothing.

Su Bai smiled faintly, "This is good news. You've already made the name of our Heavenly Dao Sect known."

"Not only is there no harm, but it's actually beneficial."

"When the Soaring Heavens Sect finds they can't do anything to us, everyone's eyes will turn to our Heavenly Dao Sect. By then, people will line up to join us."

"However, what you did just now wasn't good enough."

"Huh?" Zhuge Feng was taken aback, not understanding what his master meant.

He had already hit so hard, and his master still thought it wasn't good enough?

"For people like that, you should hit them until they're dead."

"Remember, strength is the only truth."

"The weaker you are, the more others will bully you. The stronger you are, the more they will respect you!"

"If you show weakness and fear, others will trample all over you and not even see you as a person!"

"Remember, this world is always ruled by the strong."

Su Bai said indifferently.

"I... I understand, Master." Zhuge Feng's eyes became more resolute, as if he had realized something.

"Don't worry about who the other party is. As long as it's not your fault, I'm here for everything." Su Bai continued.

Hearing this, Zhuge Feng's heart surged with emotion.

If only he had his master's strength!

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists!

He didn't like a mediocre life! He longed for battle, for strength, to become a top expert, so no one could ever bully him again!

"Awesome!"

Xiao Lingxi clapped excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Su Bai.

She also recalled how Su Bai had decisively killed the Soaring Heavens Sect's deacon before.

Decisive!

Swift!

No hesitation!

Simple and direct, clean and efficient.

And, so cool!

.........

At the entrance of the Hundred Sects Gathering, a strange girl appeared.

She was about fourteen years old, wearing tattered clothes like a beggar, her figure thin and frail, her skin pale.

She walked unsteadily, as if her legs were weak, or perhaps she had been hungry for a long time, looking extremely weak.

Only her brows were filled with stubbornness, like a resilient little sapling, giving off a sense of tenacity.

As soon as she entered, she knelt on the ground, holding up a broken wooden sign with crooked writing on it.

"Seeking Immortal Art to practice, willing to be a slave or servant."

As she knelt, some people in the crowd walked away in disdain, some showed sympathy, and some remained expressionless.

At the same time, voices of discussion could be heard.

"Alas, poor child, she's been kneeling here for five days straight. If this continues, her legs will be ruined!"

"These sects are places that devour people without spitting out bones. How could she get in without money?"

"I've seen this child before. She seemed to have an older sister. Why is she alone now?"

"Three days ago, a chivalrous immortal took pity on her and wanted to take her as a disciple, but found she had no spiritual roots, no aptitude for cultivation."

"What a pity, this girl's life is bitter. She was abandoned as a baby and relied on her sister. Now, who knows what happened to her sister."

"In this world, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Without money or power, how can one have a chance at immortality?"

The crowd sighed endlessly.

Hearing the voices around her, the girl's murky eyes moved slightly, but she remained steadfastly kneeling, not moving an inch.

Little did she know, her actions would only garner some sympathy from ordinary people, but no real response!

At some sect recruitment signs, several sect disciples watched the scene with amusement.

"Tsk tsk, even a random passerby has some spiritual roots. A pure non-spiritual root, isn't that just a mortal body, destined for a life of mediocrity."

"Non-spiritual roots don't mean you can't cultivate, but with such a slow cultivation speed, you'd probably never get past the Qi Refining 3rd Level in a lifetime."

"If she had money, it would be different. With a lot of resources, she might have a chance to reach late-stage Qi Refining, but she has no money!"

"Which sect would take in such a liability? They'll go bankrupt sooner or later!"

"If her figure was better, she could be sold to a high-class brothel to earn some silver, but she's so skinny and pale, which brothel would take her?"

They talked without restraint, not caring whether the girl heard them or not.

After all, they were "immortals," why would they care about the gaze of mortals?

And this scene naturally caught the attention of Su Bai and the others.

"This poor girl, Master, can we take her into our sect? I'll take care of her, is that okay?" Xiao Lingxi couldn't help but ask softly.

But when she turned to look at Su Bai, she found he was already gone.

When she turned back, Su Bai was already standing in front of the girl.

Su Bai looked at the girl kneeling on the ground and asked, "What's your name?"

The girl raised her head, her face covered in dirt, looking filthy and unremarkable, but her tired eyes showed a hint of brightness.

She spoke dully, "Ye Qingyao."

Entering the Heavenly Dao Sect, Ye Qingyao.

"Ye Qingyao, that's a nice name. Would you like to join my sect?" Su Bai asked gently.

"Me?"

Ye Qingyao was stunned, as if doubting whether she was hearing things.

To read the uncut version, go to [pawread.com].

Someone was willing to take her in?

"But... the immortal said... I have no spiritual roots... just... a mortal body, unworthy of joining an immortal sect..."

Ye Qingyao bit her lip, struggling to utter a sentence.

Last time, an immortal took pity on her, but after testing her and finding no spiritual roots, he shook his head and left.

The immortal had even assured her that she was destined to have no fate with the immortal path, and she should give up on it.

But if she had no fate with the immortal path, where could she go to find her sister?