The white clouds gather as they are gazed upon, the green mountain mist becomes invisible upon closer view.

In the Ninefold Mountain Range, beneath Qingyun Ridge, the Heavenly Interence Sect’s mountain gate plaza was bustling with people; it was the time for recruiting new disciples.

In previous years, Hong Tao would be standing in the front, watching the six-year-old children testing their Spirit Roots. This year, having smoothly reached the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment and received a promotion within the lnner Affairs Hall, he only needed to sit in the back, sipping tea, watching the two individuals he had promoted busily working in front.

The early spring wind blew, and Hong Tao set down the newly released Yuan Nourishing Green Tea from Huaxi Valley, observing the noisy scene in front, where the children all looked vibrant and lively.

Whenever this moment arrived, he would think of Jiang Yuebai. On his journey, from a Qi Cultivation Cultivator to his current state at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, he hoped for Core Formation, and even received the favor of the Great Elder, who intended to nominate him to take charge of the lnner Affairs Hall after Core Formation. All these were influenced by Jiang Yuebai.

Take this advancement as an example; it was because he bet all his assets on Jiang Yuebai’s victory at the Wind and Cloud Meeting that he obtained a large number of Spirit Stones, allowing him to concentrate on cultivation without worrying about cultivation resources.

Otherwise, it would take him another ten years to reach Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

"I wonder what cultivation level Junior Sister Jiang has now; if she breaks through to the late stage, I might have to call her Senior Sister."

Thinking of this, Hong Tao felt a little strange. Clearly, it was the little girl he watched growing up, but now she had become a ’senior’. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"What’s wrong with you, little monk? I already told you this is a Daoist sect; we don’t accept Buddhist disciples. Why don’t you listen?"

"I... I was just abandoned outside the temple gates and became a monk. I don’t want to be a monk anymore. Why don’t you let me test? What if I have a Spirit Root and can cultivate?"

The sound of an argument came from the front, prompting Hong Tao to rise and part the crowd to see a six or seven-year-old with a shaven head, wearing worn-out gray-blue monk robes, carrying a conical hat.

He was covered in dirt, his knees tattered, his feet full of blood scabs and wounds, nearly sticking together with the straw sandals, looking pitiable.

Hong Tao suddenly remembered Jiang Yuebai from years ago.

"Did you also climb up from beneath the Ninefold Mountain?" Hong Tao asked aloud.

The miscellaneous disciple in front of the Heavenly Interence Sect, upon seeing the dignified figure of Hong Tao with a mustache, quickly cupped his hands in salute.

The little monk turned his head, sniffed, and nodded vigorously.

"Mm, I heard from a Daoist at my hometown’s Daoist Temple that there’s an Immortal Sect up the mountain. Ascend it, and you can enter the Immortal Gate. Before my master died, he gave me these prayer beads, and wolves, tigers, and leopards on the road wouldn’t eat me."

The little monk, full of innocence and without a hint of defense, showed Hong Tao the Buddha Beads in his hands.

"Are you really not planning to be a monk anymore and want to cultivate?" Hong Tao asked.

The little monk troubledly scratched his shaven head. "I don’t know, but my master told me to live on. I heard Immortals can achieve eternal life..."

"Test his Spirit Root."

Hong Tao instructed, and the Heavenly Interence Sect’s miscellaneous disciple immediately took the little monk to the Spirit Testing Stele. The little monk hesitated but eventually placed his hand on it.

A yellow-white dual-colored light gradually emanated from the Spirit Testing Stele, growing increasingly intense, with the yellow light representing Earth Spirit Root surpassing the eighth scale, approaching the ninth.

The sounds of astonishment surged.

"Gold and Earth Dual Spiritual Roots, predominantly Earth with secondary Gold, rooted... Earth eight, Gold seven."

The yellow light ultimately did not surpass the ninth scale, but this kind of qualification was already at the extreme of Dual Spirit Roots.

Hong Tao personally handed a Token to the little monk, who clutched his robe corners without taking it, eyes filled with a certain expectation, and asked, "Once I enter the Daoist sect, will I not be able to recite sutras or worship Buddha anymore?"

Hong Tao nodded, and a misty mist suddenly rose in the little monk’s eyes as he hesitated and stepped back half a pace.

"Does the little monk want to cultivate in Buddhism? How about I point you in the right direction?"

A clear and forthright voice rang out, and the crowd split into two to look back, only to see a female cultivator in white, veiled in light silk, stepping into the air. Her immortal demeanor was ethereal, her glance sparkled like stars, leaving everyone in the plaza momentarily entranced.

"Fairy Sister! Is she a Fairy Sister from the heavens?"

The children gazed at the newcomer with stars in their eyes, while the Heavenly Interence Sect’s cultivators scrutinized her with curiosity, having never seen such a Golden Core Stage female cultivator, though she wore the Token of a Direct Disciple of the Heavenly Interence Sect at her waist.

The female cultivator landed, flicked her large sleeves, removed her veil, and smiled at the crowd.

"True Monarch Wangshu of Heavenly Cry Peak is here."

Hong Tao’s heart shook, almost crushing the Token in his hand, while all the Heavenly Interence Sect cultivators who recognized Jiang Yuebai were equally stunned, mouths agape.

When she left the sect two years ago, she was still at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, and now returning in just two years, she’s already at Core Formation?

She’s only how old? She started cultivating at six, reached Foundation Establishment at fifteen, and achieved Golden Core at twenty-nine?

This speed, even among the Heavenly Interence Sect, surpassed the founders!

Hong Tao simply couldn’t believe Jiang Yuebai had Five Spirit Roots, as he himself had measured her Five Spirit Roots – this speed is beyond what Heavenly Spirit Roots could achieve.

Back then, Hong Tao thought Jiang Yuebai’s claim of being the second Lu Xingyun was childish talk, but now, it seems she might not become the second but surpass the founder himself!

Jiang Yuebai still stood there; Hong Tao was the first to react, quickly leading the surrounding disciples in cupping their hands in salutation.

"Greetings Master Wangshu."

The crowd echoed, albeit erratically, causing the children’s scalps on site to tingle with exultant excitement.

"Mm."

Jiang Yuebai softly responded; now, as a Golden Core Master, she had to remain steady before others, learning from how True Monarch Fuyi carried himself.

Jiang Yuebai turned to see her master nod at her from high in the sky, returning first to the sect.

Before she had even reached the mountain gate, her divine sense had seen everything occurring here from afar. She immediately favored the little monk upon seeing him, explained to her master, and obtained her master’s approval to come.

Ignoring the others, Jiang Yuebai walked directly to the dazed little monk, thought briefly, and squatted down to meet his eyes.

"Do you want eternal life but not to cultivate in the Dao?"

The little monk’s face slightly flushed under Jiang Yuebai’s gaze, bashfully lowering his head, "Mm, I still want to recite sutras and worship Buddha."

"Buddhist cultivation can also lead to eternal life. I promised someone to find a disciple to continue his legacy. He was also a monk, an unconventional one... Would you like to hear his story?"

Jiang Yuebai’s voice was gentle, her brows and eyes smiled, making the little monk feel a sense of intimacy, prompting him to nod.

"Alright, I will take you back to my place first. After you hear his story, if you wish to accept his legacy, I’ll pass it to you. If not, I will send someone to the Vajra Platform, a Buddhist Holy Land."

"Okay, thank you, Fairy Sister."

Jiang Yuebai smiled; having reached thirty this spring, she found hearing herself called ’sister’ somewhat unfamiliar.

"Master Hong..." Jiang Yuebai stood up, almost habitually calling him senior brother, paused, and corrected, "Manager Hong, I’ll take this little monk back to Heavenly Cry Peak. My master knows of this matter and will report to the Sect Master, so you need not worry."

Hong Tao snapped out of his daze, "Ah? Okay! Thank you, Master Wangshu."

Jiang Yuebai nodded; her large sleeves swept up a breeze, while a clear and pleasant Crane Cry echoed.

Under the envious gazes of the children present, Jiang Yuebai took the little monk by crane, flying towards the cloud and mist shrouded Qingyun Immortal Mountain.

At that time, on Heavenly Cry Peak.

The twelve-year-old Jiangg Ziying shot like the wind, holding a scythe and chasing a little cat demon with three tails all over the mountain.

The cat demon had in its mouth the Red Fruit she had painstakingly cultivated.

"Stop! You naughty cat, when Master Jiang returns, I’ll report you!"

Meow! Meow!!

Ah~~

Mountain Lord Qionglin lay in the shadow under the tree, yawning.