Facing the wooden sword pressed against his throat, Li Xing Tian quickly backed down. After all, in his previous life, he was no stranger to submitting. He raised his hands high and said, "I'm not involved; I don't know any of those people you mentioned."
Li Yingling's eyes narrowed as she coldly replied, "Then what are you doing here?"
Li Xing Tian's mind raced as he tried to think of an excuse to deflect the question.
From the direction of the temple came a leisurely voice.
"It's definitely because our sect has gained notoriety. This young talent must be here to join us, right?"
Li Xing Tian turned his head to see a young man in a tattered Daoist robe leaning against the door, a smile on his face as he looked at him.
Li Yingling rolled her eyes and said, "Master, I think… that's unlikely."
If she didn't understand what kind of people her so-called sect was composed of, she would truly be foolish.
Her master might have decent cultivation, but he probably couldn't dominate the Xuanwu Kingdom; his identity was questionable, and he didn't seem to have access to many top-tier techniques.
But to say they were well-known enough to attract talent was pure fantasy.
Chu Xingchen slowly approached, carefully observing the young man before him.
Short hair, slightly skinny, and even with a sword at his throat, he looked entirely unperturbed.
He glanced at the system.
[Target: Li Xing Tian]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Level 2]
[Gold Tag: Reincarnator]
[Purple Tag: Decisive in Killing]
[Blue Tag: Loyal and Righteous]
[Meets Apprentice Criteria]
The system had just informed him that someone nearby met the criteria for apprenticeship.
With a sweep of his divine sense, he confirmed that this person had been captured by Li Yingling.
Chu Xingchen looked at the young man in front of him, intrigued.
What a remarkable reincarnator! This one clearly fit the protagonist template.
Especially the loyal and righteous tag—he was obviously the headmaster's little cotton-padded jacket, though unfortunately, he was male.
When an eager disciple was presented on a silver platter, he had to be taken under his wing.
Li Xing Tian felt a chill as he noticed Chu Xingchen's scrutinizing gaze.
He hadn't expected the protector to not come but for his master to appear personally.
Taking a deep breath, Li Xing Tian cautiously asked, "May I ask the name of your sect, senior?"
Upon hearing this question, Li Yingling also looked at Chu Xingchen with curiosity.
She had no idea either; whenever she asked, her master would always dodge the question without answering.
This question had troubled Li Yingling for a long time.
It had also troubled Chu Xingchen for a long time. As someone who struggled with naming, he had always wanted to come up with a name that was both meaningful and elegant.
Looking at Li Xing Tian's puzzled expression, Chu Xingchen knew that he had to speak up this time.
Otherwise, this potential disciple might slip away.
He glanced at the sky and then said nonchalantly, "The name of our sect is the Heavenly Path Alliance."
Heavenly Path Alliance? Li Xing Tian's pupils shrank; how dare they take the name of the Heavenly Path?!
In truth, his previous self had been too narrow-minded.
He had heard that there were many hidden immortal sects in the Central State; it seemed these two were indeed part of one of those hidden sects.
Li Xing Tian quickly clasped his hands together and said, "I'm just passing through and didn't mean to disturb…"
Chu Xingchen swiftly raised his hand to interrupt Li Xing Tian, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to sense something:
"You have the scent of cause and effect on you. Is this… time?"
Hearing this, Li Xing Tian's heart raced, and he dared not look into Chu Xingchen's eyes any longer.
This person could see through the causal threads of time?!
What kind of cultivation was this? Spirit Transformation or Tribulation Crossing?
To encounter such a powerhouse in the remote regions of the Southern Zhanbu Continent?
Could it be he was also here for the Bone Jade?
Yet in his previous life, he had obtained the Bone Jade, which meant this senior hadn't found it!
What was he thinking about the Bone Jade at a time like this?! This person had already seen through his causal connection to time; did he know he was a reincarnator? Would this big shot capture him for research?
As Li Xing Tian's mind raced, someone else was racking their brains, trying to figure out how to deal with this reincarnator.
After a moment, Chu Xingchen spoke slowly, "Kid, carrying great cause and effect can be both good and bad."
Li Xing Tian was taken aback, sensing that the senior seemed to be offering a warning. He quickly asked, "What do you mean, senior?"
Chu Xingchen pretended to be profound, saying, "Time is a torrent, a great trend, a law; to go against the current either ends in destruction or leads to fame."
Taking a deep breath, Li Xing Tian seemed to understand Chu Xingchen's hint and resolutely said, "Whether it's destruction or fame, I've already understood what I need to do in this life."
Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, displaying an approving look. "Cultivating immortality is, after all, an act of defying heaven."
A look of contemplation crossed Chu Xingchen's face, then he sighed, "Well, it seems you and I are fated. Are you willing to join my sect?"
Li Xing Tian was momentarily stunned, looking at Chu Xingchen in disbelief, his words caught in his throat.
Chu Xingchen noticed his hesitation.
It was just a fear of being tricked.
Since Li Xing Tian was a reincarnator and currently only at Qi Refining Level 2, judging by the blood on his feet, this dilapidated temple must hold something very important for him.
What could that thing be?
Clearly, it was something crucial for Li Xing Tian's rise, a significant opportunity!
Chu Xingchen, seeming to read Li Xing Tian's thoughts, sneered, "You underestimate the world too much. What you consider a treasure is just something insignificant to us. Go inside and claim your opportunity."
Li Xing Tian felt as if his hidden concerns were laid bare, surprise washing over his face as he looked at Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen maintained an air of superiority and said, "It's a pity you have a narrow view and don't recognize what true opportunity is."
Li Xing Tian struggled internally but still clasped his fists, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, senior, but I'm not accustomed to the constraints of a sect. I hope for your understanding."
Chu Xingchen silently shook his head, turning away to no longer look at him.
"Yingling, let him go."
Though she didn't understand what her master was playing at or what they were discussing, Li Yingling naturally wouldn't hesitate to show her master respect.
She retracted the wooden sword and respectfully nodded to Chu Xingchen. "Yes, Master."
At the same time, she secretly winked at Chu Xingchen when Li Xing Tian wasn't looking, signaling that she was obedient.
Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction.
Li Xing Tian once again clasped his hands in thanks, then climbed up the small slope, not daring to look back.
He stepped into the temple.
At this point, the temple showed signs of life, vastly different from when Li Xing Tian first arrived.
Even the wooden planks under the idol had been cleared away.
His heart raced as he hurried to the idol, reaching out to touch the ground.
But the small stone he remembered was nowhere to be found.
What was going on?
Had the senior taken it? But he had spoken so casually, and his cultivation was unfathomably deep.
Currently, he was only at Qi Refining Level 2; there was no need for him to deceive himself.
Where had that thing gone?
"The thing you're looking for is under my table leg now," came Chu Xingchen's voice from behind.
Li Xing Tian didn't turn to look but followed Chu Xingchen's words to glance at the nearby table leg.
The thousand-year Bone Jade he had longed for was indeed being used to prop up the corner of the table.