Chapter Sixteen: The Personal Apprentice

The Five Sect Grand Tournament had concluded.

Lingji Cave won 15 matches, Zhengyi Sect 10 matches, Wuxin Pavilion 7 matches, Immortal Farmer Garden 7 matches, and Peach Blossom Sect 6 matches.

The results stunned everyone. Both the top spot in the Golden Core stage and the Foundation Establishment stage were claimed by disciples from Lingji Cave, while the first place in the Qi Refining stage was seized by Zhou Qi of Zhengyi Sect, who contributed 4 of their 10 victories.

In previous tournaments, Zhengyi Sect typically hovered around fourth or fifth place; this time, they astonishingly took second, almost as if fate itself had intervened.

Zhou Qi did not attend the grand award ceremony. He lay bedridden, unable to rise. The injuries were severe; his spiritual power exhausted, his chest and shoulder pierced by sword wounds, and an unknown number of broken ribs. Had he not been a cultivator, he would surely have died; it was only thanks to Fifth Star Wen’s timely administration of medicine that he survived at all.

Fifth Star Wen was elated—the results far exceeded his expectations. He went on stage to accept the awards, flaunting the achievements, irritating the other four sects.

Lingji Cave, despite claiming first place, did not seem as pleased as expected.

Liu Piaopiao patiently cared for Zhou Qi, eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at his wounds. She never imagined this boy would go to such lengths for the sect.

He was only twelve and should not have such deep feelings for the sect. Was it for her? Liu Piaopiao’s thoughts wandered. She recalled Zhou Qi’s words that age was no barrier, and her heart fluttered, unable to regard him as a mere child any longer.

Zhou Qi had awakened long ago. The words of Master Tianxuan left him anxious and forlorn; he never expected a soul bearer to appear so swiftly, nor did he know the person’s cultivation level, or whether they were within the Gate of Life and Death.

Time waited for no one—his own cultivation was still too low. If he faced a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wouldn’t even have a chance to fight.

A disciple from the Gate of Life and Death came to see him; it was the one who ran the betting pool, who, after much internal struggle, decided that reputation was important and dutifully handed over four thousand spirit stones.

Adding the five thousand low-grade spirit stones awarded for first place, Zhou Qi felt as if happiness had fallen upon him; spirit stones were wonderful, and for now, he no longer needed to worry about being penniless.

He handed a thousand spirit stones to Liu Piaopiao, who refused them, saying that Zhou Qi’s contribution had secured second place for the sect and the resources to be distributed would be unimaginable. Upon returning to Zhengyi Sect, there would be further rewards.

Seeing Liu Piaopiao’s firm stance, Zhou Qi did not insist. As the sect leader’s daughter, she would never lack spirit stones.

Fifth Star Wen finally returned, his expression complicated. After handing Zhou Qi the rewards, he delivered a piece of news that shocked Zhou Qi.

"Elder Liu Ruicai of the Gate of Life and Death wishes to accept you as his personal disciple," Fifth Star Wen said helplessly.

"What? Why?" Liu Piaopiao was equally astonished.

"Liu Ruicai is a Nascent Soul cultivator, said to be a long-time ascetic who never had a disciple. Upon seeing you, he was delighted and wishes to find someone to inherit his legacy," Fifth Star Wen explained, feeling somewhat frustrated. Zhengyi Sect had finally produced a promising disciple, only for the Gate of Life and Death to want him. Could they refuse? Even Zhengyi Sect was, in a way, under their jurisdiction, so its disciples naturally counted as theirs.

Though it was phrased as a question, it was more a notification.

"Has this ever happened before?" Zhou Qi asked.

"Of course. Many elders of the Gate of Life and Death watch the Five Sect Tournament and select promising disciples from subordinate sects. You are not the first. This is a good thing for you," Fifth Star Wen explained.

He could not help but be cautious—he now possessed the Mysterious Heaven True Art and was still young. It was said that young disciples were favored by those old monsters, not due to any perverse desires, but because their longevity was near its end; before dying, they would seize a young disciple’s body to continue cultivation. He had read too many novels from his previous life.

If he had a choice, Zhou Qi certainly would not agree. He had just become Zhengyi Sect’s hero, and upon returning, would bask in glory. Becoming an inner sect disciple was assured, and he was acquainted with his beautiful senior sister; in time, winning her heart would not be difficult.

Now he had to serve a mysterious, high-level, and temperamental elder. Who would want that, even if it were a great opportunity? If it were a female elder, beautiful and well-built, he would not hesitate at all.

However, upon reconsideration, with a soul bearer appearing as described by Master Tianxuan, staying beside Liu Ruicai might deter others from making a move.

If someone wanted to seize his body, there was already another soul living in his sea of consciousness.

Liu Piaopiao was reluctant but powerless; once the Gate of Life and Death made a decision, who dared oppose it?

They had set out with twelve, but only six returned, two of them seriously injured.

Liu Piaopiao followed the Zhengyi Sect disciples, looking back every few steps.

Zhou Qi remained bedridden, unable to rise. The wounds had healed, leaving two large scars, but the depletion of spiritual power left him weak.

Watching everyone depart, he hurriedly activated the Mysterious Heaven True Art to restore his strength.

Soon, someone arrived—it was Shen Bai, the Gate of Life and Death’s guide, sent by Elder Liu to fetch Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi still could not move, so Shen Bai carried him on his back, flying by sword to Liu Ruicai’s residence.

Zhou Qi quickly handed five hundred low-grade spirit stones to Shen Bai, who was amused. As a Golden Core cultivator, he hardly cared for five hundred spirit stones, but he appreciated Zhou Qi’s gesture and accepted them with a smile. Even a small fly is still meat; better to have something than nothing.

Zhou Qi asked Shen Bai about Elder Liu’s character. Shen Bai replied that Elder Liu was quite mysterious; disciples knew little about him except that he was a Nascent Soul cultivator and had never taken a disciple. Now, having chosen Zhou Qi as his only personal disciple, it was a tremendous honor.

He hoped Zhou Qi would achieve greatness and remember him in the future. Zhou Qi responded humbly, saying Shen Bai’s kindness in guiding and carrying him would never be forgotten.

He hoped they would stay in touch and support each other, and after exchanging compliments, both were satisfied.

Liu Ruicai’s residence was remote. The Gate of Life and Death was built into the mountains, with the sect sprawling across several peaks. After half an hour of sword flight, they reached a modest mountain with Liu Ruicai’s abode.

From the outside, it appeared unremarkable, overgrown with weeds. The defensive array outside shimmered with a ghostly blue light, as if the cave’s entrance was covered by a watery curtain, constantly shifting.

"Elder Liu, I have brought Junior Zhou Qi," Shen Bai called toward the array.

"Leave him there. You may go," an aged voice replied from within.

"Yes," Shen Bai gently set Zhou Qi down, bowed toward the cave, and departed by sword.

After a long while, the array opened, and a man in white robes emerged, fixing his gaze on Zhou Qi.