The next morning, Su Bai was awakened by the sound of a whip cracking.

He got up and looked over to see Zhuge Feng holding a small whip, striking a shirtless young man.

"Snap!"

"Snap!"

Each lash left red marks on the young man's back, with traces of blood seeping out.

Yet the young man seemed impervious to the pain, gritting his teeth and enduring it.

"Senior Brother Zhuge, put more strength into it, I can handle it!" the young man insisted through clenched teeth.

Zhuge Feng frowned and asked, "Junior Brother Xiao Yan, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" Xiao Yan nodded firmly, continuing to endure.

Zhuge Feng paused for a moment, then suddenly increased the force, delivering a harsh lash across the young man's back, leaving a bright red scar.

"Ah—!" Xiao Yan screamed in agony, his face showing intense pain, but he stubbornly held on, gritting his teeth.

"Liu Yanran, the humiliation you gave me is far more painful than any physical pain!"

"In three years, I will prove to you that I, Xiao Yan, am not a worthless person!"

He roared in his heart.

Su Bai watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction.

With such diligent disciples, how could the sect not prosper?

"Master, Xiao Xier left last night. I feel like her background is quite unusual," Xiao Lingxi approached and whispered.

To access the premium content, go to [ ℙawℝead.com ].

"Don't worry about it. I'm well aware of her origins," Su Bai replied nonchalantly.

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the main hall.

"Master, Junior Sister Ye Qingyao is awake!" Xiao Lingxi exclaimed with delight.

Hearing this, Su Bai smiled and quickly walked towards the main hall.

Ye Qingyao slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in an exquisite room, with glazed tiles hanging from the ceiling and a fresh scent in the air.

Wasn't she... living in a rundown temple?

Oh, right, it seemed that an immortal wanted to take her as a disciple?

She thought it was just a hallucination before dying...

So it appears...

As Ye Qingyao recalled, a figure suddenly appeared in her sight.

It was a handsome young immortal, dressed in white robes, with strikingly good looks.

"I... pay my respects to the immortal!" Ye Qingyao struggled to get up, but Su Bai stopped her.

"Is your body feeling better?" he asked.

"Thank you for your concern, Immortal. I'm much better," Ye Qingyao quickly replied.

Her physical condition was indeed much improved from the previous day, likely due to the immortal healing her with Immortal Art.

However, when she looked down and saw her tattered clothes replaced by a beautiful new dress, her face flushed slightly.

Did this... immortal change her clothes?

"Junior Sister, I was the one who changed your clothes. How is it? Isn't the dress beautiful?" Xiao Lingxi peeked out from behind Su Bai, winking and smiling at Ye Qingyao.

"Yes... it's very beautiful... but... it must be expensive, right?" Ye Qingyao said, her head lowered, twisting the hem of her dress with trembling hands.

How could she afford such a beautiful dress?

"Oh, Junior Sister, you're my junior sister. What's a mere dress!" Xiao Lingxi said generously, waving her hand.

"This..." Ye Qingyao hesitated.

"Once you're in the sect, we're all family. Even Master hasn't said anything!" Xiao Lingxi held Ye Qingyao's hand affectionately.

"Family..."

Ye Qingyao murmured, seemingly in a daze.

It had been so long since she heard such warm words, except from her sister.

Sister...

I must find my sister, even if I have to go to the ends of the earth!

Thinking of this, she looked up at Su Bai and said, "Immortal, can I really practice Immortal Art?"

She asked cautiously, fearing Su Bai would shake his head.

"Why not?" Su Bai replied.

"But I'm a mortal body, without a spiritual root," Ye Qingyao said sadly.

"Didn't I say that even a mortal body can ascend to immortality? From now on, you are my fourth disciple," Su Bai said seriously.

"Really... really? I'm not dreaming?" Ye Qingyao said in a daze.

She had thought it was all an illusion, a beautiful dream.

But it turned out to be real.

"Junior Sister, hurry and thank Master!" Xiao Lingxi urged, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Disciple Ye Qingyao... pays respects to Master!" Ye Qingyao knelt and kowtowed, her eyes red.

Now, she too had a wonderful master, a family.

Name: Ye Qingyao

Age: 14

Cultivation: Mortal

Spiritual Root: None, Mortal Body

Sect Loyalty: 90 (Note: Reaching 100 loyalty unlocks a super reward)

Looking at Ye Qingyao's information, Su Bai was slightly surprised.

It should be noted that Xiao Lingxi and Zhuge Feng had only reached a sect loyalty of 90 today, yet Ye Qingyao, who hadn't even received any Immortal Art, already had such high loyalty!

"Lingxi, take her to the Immortal Arts Pavilion to choose a suitable Immortal Art," Su Bai instructed.

"Yes, Master." Xiao Lingxi led Ye Qingyao to the Immortal Arts Pavilion.

"Junior Sister, go on in. There's a stone tablet inside and a Guardian Spirit. If you have any questions, you can ask the Guardian Spirit," Xiao Lingxi said.

"Thank you, Senior Sister," Ye Qingyao nodded and pushed the door open.

"Please place your hand on the stone tablet in front of you," the Guardian Spirit's voice sounded.

Thanks to Xiao Lingxi's reminder, Ye Qingyao wasn't afraid despite being alone. She obediently placed her hand on the stone tablet.

Moments later, a light flickered, and the Guardian Spirit's voice echoed.

"Though you are a mortal body without a spiritual root, your determination and dedication to cultivation are commendable. You have a promising future."

Ye Qingyao looked up and asked, "Guardian Spirit, can I... also cultivate?"

The Guardian Spirit nodded, "Of course."

Hearing this, Ye Qingyao's eyes reddened, and tears fell.

She could cultivate!

On the stone tablet, a scroll appeared.

"This is the 'Mortal Cultivation Technique: Qi Refining Chapter.' The path of the great Dao is alive. May you never forget your original intention and strive forward," the Guardian Spirit said.

"Thank you, Guardian Spirit!" Ye Qingyao bowed respectfully.

Then, holding the scroll, she walked out of the Immortal Arts Pavilion.

"Master, thank you for letting me see hope again!"

Ye Qingyao knelt before Su Bai with a thud, choking with emotion.

"Stand up," Su Bai helped Ye Qingyao up and smiled, "Since you've taken me as your master, I can't just ignore you. Otherwise, wouldn't people say I'm an irresponsible master?"

"Master..." Warmth surged in Ye Qingyao's heart.

In this world, besides her sister, there was now someone else who treated her so well.

"That's it... Xiao Lingxi is on this mountain!"

Suddenly, a commotion arose from the foot of the mountain. Xiao Lingxi looked over and saw a large group of people appearing at the mountain's base, each exuding an imposing aura.