The rewards were undeniably generous.
Li Bai's legendary Green Lotus Sword Song, the profound Sword Intent, and even the assistance of a Peak King Realm cultivator—each one alone was enough to shake the heavens. Together, they formed a prize beyond imagination.
Yet, as Xuan Yi carefully examined the system's task panel once more, a subtle frown crept onto his otherwise serene face.
No matter how enticing the rewards, neither the Main Quest nor the Side Quest would be easily accomplished.
The Main Quest required that at least one of his disciples attain combat strength equivalent to the Soul Condensation Realm. At first glance, it seemed straightforward enough. But when Xuan Yi's gaze fell upon the names listed on the panel—Lin Zhiyin and Wang Hu—his certainty wavered just slightly.
Lin Zhiyin, the more promising of the two, had only just broken through to the second level of the Qi Foundation Realm. As for Wang Hu, his cultivation remained modest—stalled at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, seemingly stuck at a stubborn bottleneck.
Could either of them truly reach Soul Condensation-level strength?
Doubt flickered in his eyes, but as he reread the quest's phrasing, a sudden realization lit up his expression.
"Wait..." he murmured, his voice soft but sharp. "The quest doesn't demand a breakthrough to the Soul Condensation Realm. It says 'reach Soul Condensation Realm combat strength.'"
The distinction was subtle—but in the world of cultivation, it was crucial.
A cultivator's realm represented their foundation, but combat strength told the true story on the battlefield. Some extraordinary geniuses, through supreme techniques, divine artifacts, or battle-hardened experience, could leap across realms and defeat enemies far stronger than themselves.
As this understanding settled into place, Xuan Yi's frown gradually lifted.
"Combat strength, is it..." he mused, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Then it's not impossible after all."
Lin Zhiyin had only recently become his disciple. Up until now, she had trained alone—without guidance, without powerful techniques, relying solely on her own limited resources. Now, however, she had him.
With Xuan Yi's identity as a Nascent Soul expert—and the hidden backing of the System—he could provide her with elite cultivation manuals, precious spiritual medicines, formidable martial techniques, and the kind of personal instruction that could transform a fledgling cultivator into a monster of the battlefield.
Elevating Lin Zhiyin's strength to the level of Soul Condensation, even if her realm lagged behind, was not beyond reach. It would simply be a matter of careful nurturing, patience, and calculated risk.
"In that case," Xuan Yi said, half to himself, half to the morning mist curling outside the pavilion, "the Main Quest might be easier than I thought."
But even as a sense of ease washed over him, his eyes darkened again, a shadow flickering across his tranquil demeanor.
"It's the Side Quest that's truly troublesome," he muttered.
The requirement: to accept a disciple whose aptitude exceeded 100 points.
Aptitude, as measured by the System, reflected a cultivator's innate potential—the breadth of their future achievements. The higher the number, the greater the chance of ascending to the pinnacle of cultivation. But an aptitude score of over 100?
That was not merely rare. It bordered on the realm of myth.
Even Bai Zisong, lauded as the number one genius within the Profound Sword Sect, possessed a mere 92 points of aptitude.
"Still a bit short," Xuan Yi said under his breath, a trace of frustration tightening his jaw.
Which meant that, even among the cream of the sect's talents, a 100-aptitude disciple was unlikely to exist.
The upcoming recruitment ceremony was his best chance—or else, he would need to venture beyond the sect's borders, scouring distant lands for a peerless seedling.
His gaze shifted toward the mist-shrouded horizon, where the sounds of gathering crowds drifted faintly toward him.
He would not miss this opportunity.
The Profound Sword Sect's Annual Recruitment Ceremony was one of the most anticipated events across the Southern Province. Held once each year, it stood as a beacon of hope for countless young cultivators dreaming of rising above their humble origins.
For many small clans and minor cities, sending even a single member to the Profound Sword Sect was a badge of immense honor—something to elevate their prestige for generations.
Although the Profound Sword Sect did not rank among the absolute top forces within the Heavenly Wind Kingdom, it held dominion over the Southern Province, a vast region filled with countless cultivation clans, sects, and martial organizations.
The Southern Province was but one of the kingdom's 108 provinces. Yet even within this single expanse, Nascent Soul cultivators remained exceedingly rare.
At present, the Profound Sword Sect boasted four Nascent Soul Realm experts, including the venerable Sect Master, Jian Nantian, who himself had reached the peak of the second level.
To ordinary cultivators, this was enough to regard the Profound Sword Sect as a sacred land.
It should be understood: within the Nascent Soul Realm, each step forward represented a tremendous chasm. Even advancing from the first to the second level required immense resources, luck, and perception.
The third level? That marked the true threshold of mid-stage Nascent Soul. Not a single cultivator at that level had appeared in the Southern Province for several generations.
By the time Xuan Yi arrived at the sect square, the place was already a sea of life and excitement.
Young men and women gathered from every corner of the province, their faces a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, and fierce determination. Some wore the emblems of local clans; others had traveled alone, dressed in simple robes worn from the road.
Above all, their eyes burned with ambition.
This ceremony was not merely about joining a sect—it was a trial, a battlefield where only the strong would advance.
While many would be accepted as Outer Disciples—tasked with performing menial chores and undertaking years of training—a chosen few, the true gems, would be selected by the elders themselves to become Inner Disciples or even Personal Disciples.
For these youths, the distinction meant everything.
In a world ruled by strength, the difference between obscurity and greatness could hinge upon a single moment of recognition.
Most of the participants came from minor cities or lesser clans. Prominent noble families and major forces usually sent their prodigies to grander sects, such as the Imperial Academy of Tianfeng—one of the Ten Great Sects and the cradle of countless legends.
Nonetheless, within the Southern Province, the Profound Sword Sect reigned supreme.
"I heard that man in the embroidered robe up front is Jian Nantian, the Sect Master! A real Nascent Soul expert!" someone whispered excitedly.
"What?! Nascent Soul?! I'm still struggling to break through to Soul Condensation..." another replied, his voice tinged with awe.
"Ha! Our clan doesn't even have a single seventh-level Soul Condensation cultivator!" laughed a third. "If I get accepted here, even the Patriarch will have to bow when I return!"
"They say Sect Master Jian has already reached the peak of the second level of Nascent Soul! One step more, and he'll be mid-stage!"
Gasps and murmured conversations rippled through the crowd like waves.
For many of these young aspirants, this was the first time they had ever laid eyes on cultivators of such overwhelming might.
On the elevated platform, several elders flanked Jian Nantian, their presences vast and profound, like mountains looming over the earth. To most of the spectators, even breathing in the same air as these figures felt like a privilege.
Among the mass of hopefuls stood a girl, no more than seventeen or eighteen, with long black hair cascading like silk down her back. Her eyes, clear and calm, shone with an inner strength that set her apart even amid thousands.
Her name was Gui Yiyi.
She hailed from Half Moon City, nestled deep in the southernmost reaches of the province. Her clan, the Gui Family, stood among the Three Great Clans of the city, giving her considerable status at home.
Yet Gui Yiyi understood well: prestige was a fickle thing, limited to one's small corner of the world.
Beyond Half Moon City, the name Gui carried little weight.
It had taken her and her companions nearly two weeks to travel here. Unlike others who flaunted their origins and boasted loudly, Gui Yiyi maintained a quiet dignity, her demeanor composed and unyielding.
"Only strength matters in this world," she reminded herself, repeating the mantra that had carried her this far.
If she could gain admission to the Profound Sword Sect—better yet, if she could catch the eye of a powerful elder—her future, and that of her clan, would be secured. Even the looming threat of the Witherwood Gate, a hostile sect that eyed their territory hungrily, could be neutralized with her rise.
Her heart thundered within her chest as her gaze swept across the array of elders atop the platform.
"I must stand out today," she whispered, her hands clenching slightly at her sides.
Unbeknownst to her, fate was already stirring.
On the platform above, Xuan Yi's gaze moved lazily across the sea of fresh faces, half-absent, half-bored. Hundreds of hopefuls, thousands of dreams. He had seen it all before.
But then—he paused.
For the briefest moment, his eyes locked onto Gui Yiyi, a flicker of interest sparking within his otherwise placid demeanor.
A ripple in destiny.
And thus, without a word exchanged, the threads of the future subtly shifted.