Lianyun Prefecture, Xinghe Sect.
Ye Kong, clad in a spotless white robe, sat tranquilly by the Bitter Sea, fishing. The Bitter Sea, of course, was not an actual sea but merely a small lake within the Free and Unfettered Peak, one of the nine peaks of the Xinghe Sect. Upon becoming the peak master of the Free and Unfettered Peak, Ye Kong renamed the lake the Bitter Sea and spent his days fishing.
"Uncle Ye Kong," a sword-cloaked Taoist arrived on a flying sword. "Uncle Ye Kong, the Sect Master and the eight other peak masters are holding the Ascension Ceremony. They've requested your presence to select disciples."
The Ascension Ceremony was the Xinghe Sect's disciple selection event, where countless mortals gathered each year in pursuit of immortality.
"I see," Ye Kong replied without moving an inch, still fishing.
A trace of sarcasm flashed across the sword-cloaked Taoist's face. He thought, 'What difference does it make if you go? Will anyone even choose to join your Free and Unfettered Peak?'
'If not for your father being the former Sect Master, how could you, with your mere Qi Cultivation level, hold the position of peak master?'
"Then I shall take my leave, uncle." The sword-cloaked Taoist floated away.
Ye Kong gave him a brief glance before retracting his gaze and silently said, "System, display the fishing panel."
"Ding, detected that the host has been fishing for nine years and 265 days."
It's almost been a decade, and I haven't even broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm...
Ye Kong sighed inwardly.
He was originally from Earth, where he squandered his fortune to make his girlfriend famous, only to find out that she secretly got engaged to someone else, causing him to die of anger.
It's been ten years since he arrived in this world.
These ten years, devoid of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, the system forbade him from doing anything but fishing in the Bitter Sea.
He enjoyed the leisure and gradually became complacent.
He broke through one cultivation level automatically every day he fished.
Currently, he had reached the 3550th layer of Qi Cultivation!
He didn't know how powerful he was now, but he felt that the entire Xinghe Sect's spiritual energy paled in comparison to a fraction of his own.
"Ah, I haven't had meat in a long time. I wonder if that little phoenix in the Forbidden Ancient Ruins has grown fat."
...
Xinghe Sect, Ascension Ceremony.
A vast square was packed with outer disciples who had passed the assessments.
Nine towering pagodas surrounded the square, representing the nine peaks of the Xinghe Sect.
"I never thought I, Lin Yaoyao, would have a chance to be reborn." A red-robed woman of unparalleled beauty stood before the Heavenly Sword Tower, muttering to herself.
She was once a Quasi-Empress, but during her breakthrough to the Emperor Realm, she was betrayed by a friend and perished in the Emperor's Burial Pit.
Now reborn into the body of a wealthy young lady on the fringes of the Great Wilderness, she had the opportunity to join the Xinghe Sect.
"Although this Xinghe Sect is a small and insignificant sect, it can at least give me the identity of a cultivator."
"After decades of secluded cultivation here, I will emerge invincible!"
Lin Yaoyao thought to herself.
"Silence!" A commanding voice echoed.
An old man with white hair and a Xinghe Sect robe hovered in mid-air, emanating a faint aura of authority.
"There are three thousand paths to immortality, and you must choose a cultivation method suitable for yourselves in the early stages!"
"The nine peaks of our Xinghe Sect represent different paths of cultivation. Once chosen, it cannot be changed!"
As soon as the old man finished speaking, a commotion arose from below.
"We want to join the Heavenly Sword Peak!"
"Please accept us, Heavenly Sword Peak!"
Upon hearing the disciples' cries, a young man on the Heavenly Sword Tower smiled.
Their Heavenly Sword Peak was the foremost among the nine peaks of the Xinghe Sect!
"Nephew Changqing, every year during the Ascension Ceremony, your Heavenly Sword Peak is the most sought-after." The peak master of the Flower Blossom Peak smiled charmingly.
The young man calmly picked up a falling petal and narrowed his eyes. "Since ancient times, strength has been respected."
His gaze flicked towards the Free and Unfettered Tower, and seeing no one there, a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
What use is such a waste of a peak? Why keep it around?
Chen Changqing stood up and flicked the petal in his hand, causing sword intent to surge and roar.
"Wow! How amazing, who is he?" A female disciple exclaimed.
"Haha, that's Chen Changqing, the youngest and strongest disciple of the Xinghe Sect, known as the 'Little Sword God'!"
"I must join the Heavenly Sword Peak and learn swordsmanship from Brother Chen Changqing!"
Disciples flocked to register for the Heavenly Sword Peak, much to the envy of the other peak masters.
After all, the more talented disciples a peak had, the more resources it could obtain, ensuring its continued prosperity.
"Can't be helped, the Heavenly Sword Peak produced the Sword God of the previous generation, and now they have Chen Changqing, who with one sword can suppress the younger generation. It's undeniable." The peak master of the Pill Tower sighed beside the Flower Blossom Peak's master.
Lin Yaoyao frowned, watching the crowd surge towards the Heavenly Sword Peak. She sighed and turned to leave.
Too many people would interfere with her cultivation.
Within half an incense stick's time, the Ascension Ceremony concluded, and the Elder stood in the air, announcing the number of disciples for each peak.
"Heavenly Sword Peak, one thousand two hundred disciples."
Gasps of surprise came from the peak masters.
There were only around two thousand disciples at this year's Ascension Ceremony, and the Heavenly Sword Peak had taken up more than half of them.
"Flower Blossom Peak, one hundred and thirteen disciples." The Elder continued.
The peak master of the Flower Blossom Peak's pretty face contorted slightly in embarrassment.
"Free and Unfettered Peak, one disciple."
One disciple for the Free and Unfettered Peak?
Everyone present was stunned.
Hadn't the Free and Unfettered Peak become a "waste peak," devoid of even the slightest cultivation resources? Why would anyone choose to join it?
Everyone looked towards the Free and Unfettered Tower and their eyes lit up.
Beautiful!
There stood a red-robed girl, quietly standing in front of the Free and Unfettered Peak, her beauty unparalleled.
Chen Changqing's attention also shifted to her.
Upon first glance, the red-robed girl resembled a stunning rose, her colors vibrant.
Upon closer inspection, there was a faint aura of dignity on her face, akin to that of an emperor's majesty and the elegance of a lotus flower.
These two distinct types of beauty converged in one person, making her incredibly alluring.
Chen Changqing's gaze heated up, and he cleared his throat, saying calmly, "Young lady, the peak master of the Free and Unfettered Peak is only at the Qi Cultivation level and cannot guide you. Why not join my Heavenly Sword Peak?"
Wow!
The deputy peak master of the Heavenly Sword Peak, the Little Sword God, had actually invited a female disciple proactively?
The crowd's expressions turned intriguing. The girl's beauty had even captivated the Little Sword God?
Lin Yaoyao was taken aback. She only wanted to join an ordinary peak for cultivation, never expecting to attract such attention.
Why is this Free and Unfettered Peak so useless?
But being useless is also good. No matter what she cultivates, no one will disturb her.
In a place like the Heavenly Sword Peak, she would be constantly pestered by annoying people, hindering her cultivation of the Emperor's Arts.
"Thank you for your kind offer, but my mind is set on cultivating the 'Xuanhuang Manual' of the Free and Unfettered Peak."
Chen Changqing's expression froze. He didn't expect the girl to reject him.
With his status, a mere nod of his finger would have countless people crawling at his feet.
"Young lady, I have a 'Sword Disciple' position here. Won't you reconsider?" Chen Changqing persisted.
Sword Disciple?!
The crowd erupted in an uproar again.
A Sword Disciple was one of the heirs to the Sword Peak, a position that countless disciples fought tooth and nail for, promising immense resources and rapid advancement.
aoyao kneeling before him.
'Younger sister has no interest in cultivation matters, preferring instead to roam the skies daily, go fishing, and cook. My mind is made up.' Lin Yaoyao declined gracefully, her exquisite features etched with tranquility.
She knew that joining the Sword Peak would undoubtedly lead to endless troubles.
Eventually, she might even have to serve tea and water to Chen Changqing, a mere thought that made her nauseous...
As for the title of Little Sword God, given a few months of training, she could suppress it with a mere gesture!
'Are you refusing to give me face?' Chen Changqing's face darkened.
Since embarking on his cultivation journey, who had ever dared to defy his wishes?
Today, a mere junior disciple, in front of the Masters of various peaks, dared to reject him repeatedly?
Just as Chen Changqing was about to lose his temper, a languid voice suddenly echoed from outside the plaza.
'Chen nephew, why are you trying to poach my disciple from the Free and Easy Peak?'
A white-clad youth appeared, his face pale and steps somewhat unsteady, a colorful 'pheasant' dangling from his hand as he approached slowly.
Ah, I'm so tired. Killing a little phoenix almost exhausted me.
Ye Kong dropped the phoenix to the ground and stretched his arms with a yawn.