The sky was a canvas of deep gold and vermilion as Li Yao stood on the deck of his master's flying boat, gliding smoothly toward the towering silhouette of Cloudveil Peak. The mountain, draped in layers of white mist like an immortal's robe, shimmered faintly under the afternoon sun. Below, the sprawling expanse of the Embercloud Sect stretched endlessly, a testament to its vastness and prestige.
Li Yao's heart stirred with anticipation. Today marked the opening of the Myriad Heaven Realm, and soon, he and the other chosen disciples would step into its mysterious domain.
Yet even as the boat approached the summit, he noticed something unusual—gatherings of elders, their robes fluttering in the breeze, flanked by several inner disciples. They stood at respectful attention, their eyes fixed on the peak's platform where the Peak Masters awaited. The sight of so many high-ranking figures assembled in one place was awe-inspiring.
As the flying boat drew closer, whispers rippled through the gathered crowd. The quiet, unassuming Deacon Bai, known to many merely as a herbal garden caretaker, had appeared aboard a flying boat—an act bold enough to stir murmurs among even the most stoic elders. It wasn't the use of a flying boat itself that raised eyebrows; rather, it was the audacity to sail it directly onto Cloudveil Peak, before the very eyes of the Peak Masters.
Yet despite the surprise, no elder voiced disapproval. The Peak Masters themselves stood in calm silence, their expressions serene. One by one, they inclined their heads in greeting to Deacon Bai as he landed. Though they said nothing, their gestures spoke volumes.
Li Yao glanced around, observing the baffled expressions of the surrounding elders. They didn't expect my master to arrive this way, he thought. But why?
The answer was simple, though unspoken. Deacon Bai, due to his injuries, was unable to fly to the peak. And Li Yao, still in the Foundation Establishment Realm, lacked the strength and ability to fly. The flying boat was their only option to cross the vast distance between peaks. After all, the Embercloud Sect was immense, so sprawling that a careless disciple could easily become lost in its outer sectors. The boat, though conspicuous, was practical.
Still, the respect shown by the Peak Masters puzzled many onlookers. To bow, even slightly, to a Core Formation Realm elder—a position many of them equaled or surpassed—was almost unthinkable. Some elders exchanged glances, silently resolving to pay closer attention to this enigmatic Deacon Bai. Clearly, he was no ordinary figure.
Li Yao scanned the assembly and quickly recognized familiar faces among the disciples: Yan Mu,, Lan Yue, and Wei Shan, his senior brother from the herbal gardens. Standing beside them were three other unfamiliar disciples, each exuding their own distinct presence. They were undoubtedly the other chosen entrants for the secret realm. Li Yao nodded respectfully to Yan Mu and Wei Shan, although both of them were baffled to see Li Yao as a chosen for the reversed spot for the secret realm, nonetheless, returned his greeting with quiet acknowledgment.
He stayed by his master's side, silently absorbing the atmosphere.
A ripple passed through the gathering as an imposing figure approached—the Sect Leader himself, accompanied by a young girl with a saber strapped across her back. Li Yao's breath caught. Recognition struck him like a lightning bolt: she was the same girl who had once saved his life. Just like that day, her gaze was sharp and resolute, her posture relaxed but ready for action.
Li Yao's heart stirred with silent gratitude. I must repay my debt, he vowed inwardly.
When the Sect Leader reached Deacon Bai, he dipped his head slightly in greeting. This subtle gesture sent another wave of confusion through the surrounding elders. To see the Sect Leader himself paying respect to the quiet deacon of the herbal gardens was almost unthinkable. Murmurs buzzed like bees in the minds of many, though none dared voice their thoughts aloud. Still, it was clear that conjectures and speculations about Bai's true identity were forming.
Time passed, and soon a new presence descended upon Cloudveil Peak—one so overwhelming that even the Peak Masters and the Sect Leader visibly stiffened. Five figures clad in simple, ancient robes materialized at the edge of the platform. Their presence was suffused with an indescribable aura of majesty, their very breath resonating with the pulse of the heavens.
The elders reacted immediately, bowing in unison with reverence.
"We greet the Ancestors."
Their voices rippled across the peak like rolling thunder. Even Deacon Bai and the Sect Leader bowed deeply, followed by the Peak Masters.
Li Yao, startled by the sudden shift in atmosphere, quickly followed the example, lowering himself in a deep bow alongside the other disciples. His heart pounded wildly in his chest. So these are the sect's Ancestors, he realized, awe washing over him. They're on a level I can't even begin to fathom.
The Ancestors surveyed the crowd, their gazes piercing yet calm. When their eyes fell on Deacon Bai and his disciple, a faint smile appeared on the faces of two of them.
"Bai, you were not wrong," one Ancestor said, his voice echoing like a bell across the platform. "Your disciple's talent is indeed exceptional. To achieve such accomplishments at his age and cultivation realm is nearly unheard of."
The other Ancestors, initially puzzled, received a brief mental message from their companions. Comprehension dawned, and smiles of approval spread across their faces.
"Indeed," another Ancestor added. "Only a monster can discover and teach another monster."
These words sent ripples through the assembly. Elders and disciples alike cast glances toward Deacon Bai, their curiosity deepening. Even Deacon Fu, standing quietly among the crowd, felt his long-held perceptions shatter. Once, he'd dismissed Bai as an unremarkable figure. But now, confronted by the admiration of the sect's highest authorities, he realized he'd grievously underestimated the man. The older core formation elders, and the elders who'd delved into the sect's deeper records, recognized Bai's name—the once-acknowledged genius recorded in the Embercloud Sect's archives.
Li Yao's gaze shifted and caught sight of twin girls standing quietly beside the Ancestors, their expressions serene.
One of the Ancestors raised his hand. "Enough standing around," he said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. He produced ten shimmering tokens, each inscribed with intricate runes. With a flick of his wrist, the tokens floated through the air, landing gently before the chosen disciples.
"These tokens are your lifelines," the Ancestor explained. "Activate them, and you'll be transported safely out of the secret realm. But remember—once used, you cannot re-enter. Many have lost precious opportunities due to rash decisions. After six months, you will be drawn back automatically."
Li Yao held the token in his palm, feeling the faint pulse of energy within it. This token could save my life.
The Ancestors rose, their figures blurring into the sky. They hovered above Cloudveil Peak, gathering vast quantities of qi into the ancient formation at the mountain's center. The air trembled, thick with power, as if the heavens themselves were responding. Beads of sweat dotted the Ancestors' foreheads as the formation absorbed their combined might.
Moments later, a brilliant light blossomed at the peak's summit. A swirling purple portal, vast and shimmering like a liquid mirror, tore open the fabric of space. It pulsed with a faint hum.
Bai's gaze softened. "Li Yao," he said, his voice calm yet tinged with pride. "It's time. Step into the secret realm."
Li Yao's breath caught as he stared at the enormous portal. Its beauty and vastness drew him forward, like a moth to a flame. He turned toward his master, bowed deeply, and whispered, "I will not disappoint you."
With that, he joined the other nine disciples, stepping into the portal's embrace. The swirling energies enveloped them, and in a flash of violet light, they vanished, leaving behind the astonished gazes of the elders and the proud, knowing smile of Deacon Bai.